Hey guys, here's Chapter four! Enjoy ^-^

There's more than what meets the eye

"Rick4983, why are you showing me all of this" I ask. "I thought you wanted me to give up on finding her."

Rick4983 gives a small sigh and then answers me.

"The reason I'm doing this is to return a favor."

"A Favor?" What favor? You don't owe me anything," I reply confused.

Rick4983 doesn't say anything more as he hands me another folder.

"This is...sensitive material...please be careful with it," he informs.

"What is it?" I ask, opening the folder.

"Information about the case...that's wasn't shared in the media."

I look through the papers to find contact information and a lot of other details that were not in the police report.

"I don't get it." I mumble, "these don't make any sense. How come this contradicts what's in the police report?"

Rick4983 watches me in silence, as I read the report.

"Wait a second," I state.

I slowly make an unbelievable conclusion. Time seems to slow as I continue to flip through the pages.

"Rick4983?" I ask, just above a whisper.

"Yeah?" He answers, slowly.

I pick up the folder and take out all the papers. Then I show him what's inside folder.

"Yes?" Rick4983 asks again.

"What is this?" I question, "where did you get this folder?"

Inside the folder is an official stamp with the letters E.P.F. printed on it. Rick just smiles and then takes my empty bowl of soup down on the side table.

"I was hoping you wouldn't make that connection...but what am I saying? Of course you would." He exclaims, going around my questions.

"Rick4983?"

"Yeah...I know, we need to talk" he sighs and then looks at my empty bowl of soup.

"However today's not that day...and I promised to leave after you were finished eating your soup."

"Rick! Hang on...now wait a second!" I jump from my bed and run after Rick as he walks out the door.

"Just hold on! I..."

I fling open the door and step outside. Rick4983 is no where to be seen.

"That's impossible!" I gaps, "...he can't..."

I quickly scan the snow. There's no footprints leaving the igloo. I sigh and then close the door. I walk back to my room and then look at the folder. My eyes land on the stamp. EPF...what does that stand for? I start to look for any clues about the EPF in the papers with no success. No, I've got to focus. I've got to find Macey490. I pick up the first report and reread it.

"Entry 1: Macey490, age 23, disappeared after leaving the coffee shop Friday evening. A penguin, close friends to her, tells us that she left after being chosen to hold the annual Christmas party. [Will look into possible run away motive]" I look at Sky and then back at the paper.

"Entry 2: claims that Macey490 has been spotted in the forest. [Will check lead]. Many are saying that it's Macey490's ghost. Question...where is she now and why did she disappear. Entry 3: Macey490's puffles have been found. They were taken to a friend's igloo. Entry 4: Macey490 may still be alive, we found something that belongs to her. Her friend confirms that it's hers. Entry 5: It's been a while but we have decided to close the case to the public. This case is getting dangerous. Entry 6: A body washed up on shore. It's...it's one of us... Entry 7: Macey490's friend refuses to let the case closed. However they don't realize that we have taken over the case and that has it become highly classified. [Note: keep an eye on this penguin, he may interfere]. Entry 8:..."

The entries just kept going but they all pointed to the horrifying truth. Macey490 may still be alive but whoever the EPF are, they want to keep that fact a secret. Why would they do that? What exactly is the EPF? What is their motive behind all of this?

The next day, I decide to visit the Club Penguin Newsroom but no one seems to around. Strange, where is everyone? I am half tempted to look around but I decide against it. Then I head over to the last sighting of Macey490, the forest. I didn't expect to find anything, considering the sighting took place several months ago.

"What are you doing here?" A voice asks as I turn the corner.

"Huh?" I answer, then recognize the voice. "Maxie? What are you doing here?"

"First off..." the red penguin informs. "Don't call me Maxie."

"Well then what do I call you?"I ask.

The penguin hesitates before answering.

"Max," he states. "You can call me Max."

"Okay and my name is..." I start to say but then Max pulls me behind a tree.

"What the...Max?" I ask but then he signals for me to be quiet.

That's when I hear footsteps approaching.

"You are being followed," Max whispers.

The footsteps pause for a second. Max grabs my fin.

"Follow me but step in my prints," he informs. "and quietly!"

The crunching of the snow is agonizing as we start to walk. We hear the footprints start to follow.

"The tree" he mutters, only audible to me. "Do you trust me?"

Max looks into my eyes and reads them.

"I'm going to climb that tree," he exclaims. "You have to keep going until you reach the dojo."

"The what?" I ask.

"The dojo...Really? You've never been there?"

"No, I haven't even heard of it."

Max sighs.

"Just keep going straight, then run. You'll see a big tall building. Go inside and stay there until I get there. You'll be safe. Now go!"

I quickly start to walk deeper into the forest. One things for sure, Max climbed into that tree without making a sound. I start to run and I don't look back. I finally reach the tall building that Max described.

There are penguin statues there, almost like they were guarding the entrance. I knock on the door but no one answers. Okay?...Uh...what now? I sit by the steps and wait. That's when three penguins wearing strange costumes arrive. They chat excited and then enter the dojo without even knocking.

I shrug and I stand up and open the door.

"Ha fire beats water!" Yells one of the penguins, talking to his opponent.

"No, fire beats snow, dummy" the other remarks. "My water beats your fire."

The orange penguin shakes his head.

"No fire heated over 212 degrees Fahrenheit can evaporate water. Ergo...I win!"

The pink penguin rolls her eyes. No wonder no one answered the door...it's way to noisy in here. I quickly dodge a fireball that is heading in my direction. It surprisingly doesn't damage the wall as it makes impact.

"Sorry!" Yells a dark blue penguin, running over. "Are you okay?"

"Yea, I..."

"Hey Jlance920, we aren't finished yet!" Interrupts his opponent, a little annoyed.

Jlance920 throws me another apologetic glance before returning to the mat. I sigh. What am I supposed to do now? Max told me to wait for him...but for how long? I just sit in the shadows and I begin to watch the other penguins as they play...practice something. I don't even know why I'm here.

About an hour passes and I'm still waiting in the dojo. I'm worried. I stand up and start to head for the door.

"Are you going to train, young grasshopper?" A calm, elderly voice asks me.

I shake my head as I turn to face the grey penguin.

"No, sorry." I reply, "I'm not interested in this."

As I leave the dojo, the grey penguin says one last thing.

"You're always welcome here, Cheyenne21."

I turn around but the penguin is gone, as if he vanished into thin air. I don't understand where Max has gone. Fearing that he got into trouble on my account, I head back into the forest. That's when a fin grabs me...and I scream.

"Stop it!" A familiar voice shushes, "it's just me."

I look at the penguin and then sigh with relief.

"I thought you were...I'm just glad that you aren't..." I stare at him in question. "Are you all right? Who was following me?"

Max looks at me before he talks.

"When you left, I climbed up the tree to catch the intruder." He begins to recall.

*Flashback begins

Max jumps out of the tree and tackles the penguin.

*Flashback ends

"So who was it?" I ask, nervously.

Max continues to stare at me as if trying to read my mind.

"It was a tourist" he informs, "the penguin was new to Club Penguin and was lost. So I apologized."

*Flashback begins

"You?!" Max exclaims in both surprise and rage, after recognizing the penguin.

The penguin smiles. Max punches him in the face.

*Flashback ends

"Did he say why he was following me?" I question.

Max nods.

"Yeah, they did." He replies. "They got lost while trying to explore the woods. They overheard us talking and tried to see if we were friendly or not, and then ask for directions to the path back to town."

*Flashback beings

"What are you doing here?" Max snaps, "why are you following her?"

"The same reason you are" the penguin announces.

Max gets a shiver down his spine as those words are spoken. The penguin laughs softly.

"She's somewhere safe." Max states, "you can't reach her."

The penguin gets up and turns around, but not before leaving this final statement.

"But not for long," they correct. "Besides how could you know what you do not?"

"What?" Max demands, curling his fin into a fist.

The penguin just laughs and then disappears into the shadows.

*Flashback ends

"So that's all?" I ask, kind of disappointed. "A lost penguin was following me?"

Max nods.

"What? You expected something more?" He asks back, as if reading my mind.

I kind of did. I sigh.

"Well I should go" I announce, starting to walk back to town.

"You shouldn't...You shouldn't go home," He advises.

"What?" I inquire, turning to face him once more.

Max avoids eye contact with me as he answers, "go stay with some friends for a few days...Just promise me...that you won't spend the night at your igloo."

He finally locks eyes with me and I can read his thoughts.

"I promise," I confirm before he lets me leave.

I don't know why...but I have this strange feeling that Max was lying to me...but why?

Uh oh...what's going on here? What does E.P.F. stand for? Is Rick4983 a part of it? And...what's up with Max? Why did he lie to Cheyenne? What's going on? Macey490...might not be dead after all?! Find out what happens next, September 10th.

RR:

Steven2Desmond. CommSylveon2930 - I'm glad your mind has been blown...but I don't think it will stop there. You're coming up with interesting theories. *shrugs* who knows...