Hey Guys, here's the next chapter enjoy!

Chapter Four

Slyder's POV

Ah a new day! I groan and hide my head from the light that's creeping into the cave. Wait a second...I focus my hearing and turn my head back toward the entrance of the cave. Beep … Beep?... Beep! I jump out of my bed and look wildly towards the cave entrance. Oh please...don't be what I think it is! I rush toward the entrance.

Set up in the entry is a bomb attached to the ceiling. Big enough to bury this cave with me in it! Within seconds, I packed up everything I could find and ran out the entrance. Seconds later, the explosion knocks me off my feet. I land face down into the snow. Great, just great! I get up and look back at the now blocked off cave. They found me.

I look cautiously around the area before descending down the mountain. And just when I found the perfect home too. Guess I have to crash Lewis' place... again. After walking for about a half and hour, I finally reach his igloo and I knock on his door. When Lewis opens it, I keel over laughing. He had awful bed hair.

"Yeah, Yeah" he notes. "What do you want? It's like seven in the morning?"

"I thought you'd be up by now?" I reply.

"Are you serious?" He announces in surprise, "coming from the guy who sleeps till noon almost everyday."

"It's not my fault I have to go on all these heists," I counter defensively. "I'm a very busy guy who needs to keep up his energy."

"Yeah right," he dismisses. "Busy enough to somehow lose his house again?"

He lets me in and I explain what happened.

"Okay dude, seriously call the cops." He says.

"Are you dumb?" I state, "I can't. I'm a thief."

"Yeah but it's better to be in jail then dead," he counters. "Besides you still have no idea who's after you or for what for?"

"Yeah but...Lewis, you know I can't do that." I reply simply.

"I know," he remarks.

I make my home in the guest room as Lewis fixes breakfast.

"While we're at it, any leads on what the crystal is supposed to do?" He asks.

I shake my head, "not a clue...but I did notice something strange about it."

"Oh yeah? What?" Lewis asks, passing me a waffle.

I take out the crystal and put it in my hand.

"It started to glow yesterday." I inform, "at the Coffee shop. The crystal began to heat up again."

"You said that it did that before," he remarks.

"Yeah, but I still have no clue why." I admit, "but I have a feeling it's been activated somehow."

Lewis looks at the crystal in my hand and nods, "come to think of it. It looks like it's still glowing."

"Yeah..." I say and then think about to one month ago. "But it's not a bright glow, not like the one I saw before and it's not giving off the heat either. It's just a small glow."

"It might be some progress," Lewis suggests.

"True," I answer.

"Why'd you take the crystal, Slyder16191?"

"For the challenge."

"No really, why did you take it."

I shrug, "it sounds stupid."

Lewis looks at me with an unsurprised look, "and I've known you for how long?"

"You're right." I answer, "I broke into Penguin Secret Headquarters just to see what they do and then I stumble upon the entrance to the real agency. The Elite Penguin Force Headquarters and...well when I snuck in...I felt drawn to a certain area. I...I think the crystal was calling out to me."

"Calling you?"

"Forget it, it's stupid."

"No, seriously continue."

"...when I touched it, I felt like it was...crying...like it had actually feelings and for that one moment, I could understand it. I felt a connection."

Lewis looks at the wall with thoughts racing around in his head.

"Okay...you're right. It is stupid." He remarks, "I think you've lost it."

I look at him and smile, "I told you so."

"Seriously, did you just make that up on the spot?" He jokes.

"Maybe I did," I state neither confirming nor denying the story.

Lily's POV

"Lily...Lily!" Shouts a familiar voice.

I turn and see Ph trying to get my attention.

"What?" I ask, then looking down to see me pouring too much water into Flit's bowl. "Oh...uh ahh!"

"Take a break, Lily" she orders quietly.

I don't bother to argue with her this time. I walk out of the shop and take a stroll in the forest. Maybe...I still need some more time.

"Don't be all down in the dumps," a voice exclaims handing me a cup of tea.

I look up to see Matt grinning at me.

"What do you mean down in the dumps," I announce. "Ph is just concerned about me messing up again."

The scenery changes and we're back at the coffee shop.

"Why are we here?" I ask, "I have work that needs to be done."

"You'll get to that later," he dismisses. "Time to stop worrying about that mistake you made. Seriously she's not going to get mad at you just for accidentally calling Skit...Skip!"

"Well that's not the only reason!" I stammer, "I've messed up the orders on puffle food and..."

"Hey, calm down" Matt encourages. "just because it's your first day doesn't mean Ph is going to throw you under the gutter for a few small mistakes."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." I start to smile. "Matt, I..."

I look up and he disappears again, along with the coffee shop. I'm back in the forest, alone again. Matt...I'm sorry. I fall to my knees and start to cry. I must have been there for an hour before I finally calm down.

"Hey, are you all right?" Asks a voice behind me, "don't be all down in the dumps."

I look up startled, "Matt?"

I turn around and I see a penguin in a hoodie and a baseball cap approach me.

"Who are you?" I ask confused.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He says, "it's just...well I was passing through the forest when I heard you crying."

I turn my back to him and try to wipe the remaining tears from my eyes.

"I'm...all right," I tell him. "I just...got lost."

I turn back around to see him slowly walk toward me.

"Well, my dad use to say that when you ever get lost, look to the sky and it will show you the way." He informs, with a gentle smile.

The penguin looks up at the sky and notices that it's cloudy.

He frowns, "well normally you try not to get lost on any other day then when it's a clear sky. That way you can follow the sun's direction or even the stars. I know sounds corny right...but it's pretty good advice."

A gentle breeze blows through the air as I continue to look at the penguin. He seems like a nice penguin with a friendly personality but his eyes...seem to tell a different story.

"My name's Slyder16191." He introduces, "and you're lucky that you got lost here at this time of day. I'll help you find your way back."

"Mine's Lily," I say quietly. "I...think I'll be fine from here but thanks."

Slyder16191 looks deep into my eyes and then nods.

"Okay then," he answers. "Just to let you know, town is that way. See you around."

He points in the direction behind me and then disappears farther into the forest. I turn and start to walk back but out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw a flash of light come from the forest.

NOOOo not the cave! Slyder16191 lost his home again! Just who is after him? And why? What does the crystal do? Find out what happens next time, November 4th!