Chapter 10. Yes!

ENJOY! XD

Stoick sat in his office looking through the business' transactions and double checking them with his balance book. He took joy in his work because his life was as bland as his office. The wooden desk was organized and neat with not a speck of dust. The walls were painted an off white with no pictures hanging on it to give it a personality. There was a TV and a couple of chairs along with the desk. Other than that, it was quite empty.

As he sat there, he stopped and squirmed in his seat. He felt like he was being watched. He quickly turned around to look behind him. He figured he wouldn't see anything, given that all that was behind him was a large window, but he did see something and his heart skipped a beat. For a split second, he could have sworn he saw the head of a masked figure peeking around the corner. The head disappeared when he blinked in disbelief.

Stoick got up and pressed his head against the glass to see if he could find the figure again, but nothing was there. He stepped back and shook his head. There wasn't anyone there. You're on the third floor and this building doesn't have a single ledge a person could stand on. You're just tired. You imagined it.

Stoick sat back down at his desk and turned on the TV. As he continued to double check his business' finances, the news blared in the room.

There has been no update on the two missing children, Jackson and Emma Overland. Their strange disappearance still has police baffled. The children's father has written a statement.

"Jack. Emma. If you can hear this, please come home. If they have been kidnapped, to their kidnappers all I have to say is this: please release my children. I will pay anything, do anything to get them back. I just want my children safe and sound. They are my life, all I have left of my beautiful wife. Please, let them come home."

Stoick's heart twisted painfully, though he didn't know why. He wasn't someone who cried during sad scenes in movies. He usually remained strong and firm. He tried not to be affected by things like this but he was.

Well, I'm not a monster. Of course I feel for him. Stoick grumbled mentally. He wanted to help, to call and tell him that he knew where his son was but he also knew that Gobber was right. What would I tell him about his daughter? He sighed wishing he could do something.

Now to other news, a child has been found murdered in the forest. More after these messages.

"What is it with this place?!" Stoick hollered. "Children kidnapped! Murdered! This is crazy!"

As the commercials commenced, Stoick focused on the books. Very quickly, something grabbed his attention. He double checked the numbers and checked them again. He swiveled to his computer and pulled up a map. He typed in a location and gapped at it in curiosity.

"Could it be?" Stoick whispered.

A young boy was found early this morning by a group of hikers. They quickly reported the encounter and what officers were met with brought several of them to empty their stomachs. The child, Dereck Murry age 10, was found completely shriveled up. One officer described it as 'a skeleton with an oversize covering of skin'.

'What makes this even more bizarre', the head of medics stated. 'Was that his body seems to have been aged. He was a boy of 10 yet the medical information of his skin and bones say he lived to be 83.'

According to police reports, this isn't the first incident to have been reported. Police are calling this the Mummy Murder. More this evening at 10.

Stoick dialed his phone. He tapped the desk impatiently as the other end rang several times.

"Hello?"

"Gobber. We need to talk."

"Oh? Did something happen? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," Stoick reassured his friend. "I think I might have found something."

Hiccup sat under a tree in the courtyard in the early sunset, leaning against Toothless as he took a nap. Hiccup liked the quiet and the warmth the courtyard gave off as he drew in his journal. He quickly snapped the book close when a shadow engulfed him.

"Hi!"

He looked up to see Rapunzel standing over him, holding a book of her own against her chest. "Um-hi."

"Can I join you?" Rapunzel asked. Toothless growled quietly at the blonde as she began to sit down. "If it's ok with your dragon."

Toothless closed his eyes and laid his head back on his forearms and went back to sleep. "I guess he says it's ok," Hiccup shrugged.

"Is it alright if I join you?" Rapunzel asked Hiccup directly. "I don't want to invade if you're having personal time."

"You can join if you want," Hiccup said. "Don't know why you wou-"

"Because you draw like me!" Rapunzel plopped down excitedly. "I see you drawing almost all the time. Whenever I see you. In class, during meals, during breaks."

"Ok," Hiccup held up his hands to calm her down. "I get it. I draw a lot."

"Can I ask what you draw?" she smiled.

Hiccup darted his eyes from Rapunzel to the ground to his journal and back to Rapunzel. "Well," Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't do anything spectacular like you. I just doodle. I don't do large mat paintings."

Rapunzel giggled. "I only do those every once in a while. I doodle too."

"Oh?" Hiccup cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah! Look," Rapunzel scooted over next to Hiccup and opened her book. "I do a lot of flowers and nature but I do a lot of people too."

She flipped through her book and showed Hiccup her doodles. With each page, he smiled wider. "Wow. These are really good. I love the one of Snotlout. I feel you really got his personality. A jerk but with feelings."

"You see that too?" Rapunzel gasped. "I just felt like I was the only one."

"Nope," Hiccup shook his head. "Sometimes though, it's like I know him better than-hey! Is that me and Toothless?"

Toothless perked up his head and twisted it around Rapunzel to see what they were looking at. "Oh!" Rapunzel jumped slightly at the sudden appearance of the dragon's head. "Um yeah. I've drawn almost everybody here. Sometimes more than once. I like capturing the story of people."

"Look bud," Hiccup glanced over to the dragon. "I'm not the only one who draws you."

Toothless sniffed at the book in curiosity. "I hope you don't mind," Rapunzel addressed the dragon. Toothless looked at her and cooed as he nuzzled her. "I'm glad you like it. In fact, I have more of you two. I have some of flying, which is amazing by the way. You two are so graceful."

Hiccup ducked his head and blushed slightly at the compliment. "Thanks. But Toothless is the one who does the flying." Toothless gurgled in a reprimanding way as he narrowed his eyes. "Alright!" Hiccup held his hands defensively. "I contribute just as much to the flying as you do. You happy?"

Toothless grumbled satisfied then went back to resting. "What was that all about?" Rapunzel questioned.

"He just told me not to sell myself short."

"Ah," Rapunzel nodded as she elbowed him. "Being too modest huh?"

"I guess."

"So," Rapunzel ran her hands through her hair and cocked an eyebrow at Hiccup. "Can see some of yours?"

"Um-I-well-I-I-guess so," Hiccup stammered. He grabbed his journal and opened it to the page he was on. "It's just mostly nonsense or Toothless."

Rapunzel looked at his doodles in amazement. There was so much life and color from just a simple pencil sketch. "These are really good." As he tried to unstick two pages, the front of the book opened a bit and a figure caught her eye. "What's that?"

Hiccup looked to where she was pointing and opened the book to that page. "I don't know. Just shadows. I have quite a few of them." He flipped through till he found the pages that had shadow figures on them to show her.

"They're all the same shape," Rapunzel observed.

"Yeah I never get it myself," Hiccup nodded. He flipped to another page but quickly tried to turn to the next one so Rapunzel wouldn't see it.

"Was that who I thought it was?" Rapunzel grinned.

Hiccup sighed in defeat and went back to the previous pages. On them were sketches and doodles of Astrid in different stances, doing different activities. She was sitting, throwing her axe, running, in the classroom, in the courtyard, and more. "Yes. It's Astrid," Hiccup blushed.

"You must like her as a model for drawing or," she cocked an eyebrow playfully. "You have a crush on her."

"Don't say anything to her please," Hiccup begged. "I don't think I could take the embarrassment."

"What embarrassment? I think she would be flattered."

"Astrid? Flattered that the lamest kid in the school has a crush on her?" Hiccup eyed Rapunzel questioningly. "When there are guys like Snotlout or even Jack in this school. Guys much more attractive, more popular, smarter, and just all around better."

"Maybe she doesn't like that kind of thing," Rapunzel suggested to raise his spirits.

"Yeah," Hiccup scoffed softly. "And I'm related to Snotlout."

Astrid walked into her room, her adrenaline still racing through her veins. She had a little talk with Snotlout about his behavior towards Hiccup and felt that she finally got through to him. Maybe he'll lay off now.

"Hey girl," Merida smiled from her bed as she entered the room.

"Hey," Astrid nodded.

"So I have a question to ask," Merida put her book down on her nightstand.

"Alright. As long as it has nothing to do with dating advice because I know nothing," Astrid deadpanned.

Merida's face dropped into confusion before she broke out into laughter. "Girl. Why would I ask you? You're like four whole years younger than me! Besides, I'm not interested in anyone at the moment."

"Then you can ask your question," Astrid nodded as she picked up a glass of water.

"What happened between Hiccup and Snotlout before?"

Astrid lost her grip on her glass and almost dropped it. She flared about to catch it before it hit the floor and shattered. "What?"

Merida cocked an eyebrow. "You mentioned something about 'remember what happened last time' in the cafeteria earlier today."

"You were eavesdropping?" Astrid spun around slightly angry.

"I'm pretty sure the entire room was considering how loud the two of you were being," Merida placed her hands on her hips.

Astrid's face fell in understanding and sat down on the bed. "It's not some big secret Mer," Astrid said quietly. "You were there. Your mother was one of the people that watched him when Hiccup was in his coma."

Merida thought for a second and her eyes went wide in remembrance. "Oh! I remember that! Snotlout caused it? How?"

Astrid shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know. I just know he did. I watched it happen." She then got up and walked past Merida's bed, avoiding eye contact. "I'm going to take a shower."

Merida watched Astrid's slumped form enter the bathroom and lock it. She had never seen Astrid so uncomfortable before. She couldn't understand why Astrid would be so affected by that event.

Tadashi was sitting at his computer, surfing for…something. A place to hide, a place to hide his family, someone to help him. He needed to find somewhere to go or send Hiro and Aunt Cass if they ever came after him.

"What are you building?" a small voice asked from behind a whirling machine.

Tadashi turned to see his brother watching the lasers cut his material. "A robot," he smiled. "For you and Aunt Cass."

"Oooh!" Hiro jumped in excitement. "Why? Did we do something extra special?"

Tadashi smiled weakly. "No. Just figured you two needed one."

Hiro tilted his head in suspicion. "Your face is doing that weird thing again."

"What weird thing?" Tadashi shrugged.

"Like you're not telling me something. What is it?"

Tadashi starred at Hiro, debating on whether or not to tell him. Tadashi sighed as he knelt down. "Hiro. Come here."

Hiro slowly walked up to his brother's kneeling form in caution. "Dashi?" he asked worriedly.

"Listen Hiro. I'm not going to be around forever."

"You're going somewhere?" Hiro's eyes went wide. "Like college?" he smiled.

"Um-yeah," Tadashi nodded. "Like college. I'm building this robot to protect you and Aunt Cass when I'm gone."

"Oh!" Hiro nodded in understanding.

"Just promise me something," Tadashi held Hiro's shoulders.

"Yes?"

"Be the best person you can be. Use that big brain of yours," he tapped Hiro's forehead.

"Of course I will," Hiro laughed. "You never stop telling me that. You never give up on me."

"That's right!" Tadashi smiled. "I will never give up on you. No matter what or where I am."

Hiro smiled as he hugged his older brother. "You're a big sap you know that right?"

Tadashi smiled as he hugged Hiro tightly. "Someone in this family has to be." He pulled away and motioned with his head toward the door. "Go on. Go play."

Hiro ran out of the room, pausing to look at the lasers still doing their job, before running out into the sunshine. Tadashi turned back to the computer to see that the skeleton was only 69% done. He pulled up the internet tab to continue his search.

He suddenly came across a page for a school: North's School for the Gifted. Tadashi clicked on the link but nothing came up. It was just a blank page. Great. A dummy website.

Tadashi ran his finders through his hair in frustration and exhaustion. "I need a backup plan. Someplace for them to go that those horrid people would never look to find them." He leaned back in his chair and starred at his college logo.

An idea popped in his head and he grabbed his phone. He dialed a number and swung back and forth waiting for an answer.

"Yo."

"Fred. I have favor to ask."

Dagur walked through the ice tunnels towards the cells. He wanted to get a feeling for the boy by questioning the sister. I'm sure she'll tell me something I could use against him. He rounded the corner and walked right up to the cell.

Emma was wrapped in a blanket, leaning against the frozen walls. Her breath came out is quick cloud puffs as she tried to keep the heat in. Having a feeling like someone was watching, she slowly opened her eyes to see the red headed man standing there.

She gasped in fear and curled up tighter in her blanket. She lowered her eyes and head to avoid looking at the man.

"Hiding in that thin piece of material isn't going to make me go away," Dagur laughed. He unlocked the cell door and entered. "I'm still here."

Emma looked up and her eyes widened even further to see that he was only a few feet away from her. Not even the bars separated them. "Wh-what do y-you want?" she shivered.

"Tell me about your brother."

Emma's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the man bravely. "No."

"No?" Dagur laughed. "And why not?"

"Because you want to hurt him," she spat.

"While that is true," Dagur nodded. "I need to know how to get him for that."

"And you really think that I'm going to help you d-do that?"

"Just because he's your sibling doesn't mean shit," Dagur leaned in close to her. "People will do anything if given the right price."

"Not all people."

"Kid," Dagur got up in her face. "You're living in a fairytale. But this is reality. Everyone has a sellout price. Even you."

"No," Emma turned away, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Yes," Dagur smiled as he grabbed her chin and turned her back to his face. "Now tell me about your brother."

"No," she yelled. "I won't tell you anything. Jack loves me and he'll find me. You'll be sorry you messed with us. He'll do anything to find me."

Dagur chuckled. "You're right. He will. And that's his weakness." He stood up and walked out of the room. "His love for you will be his downfall. This I already knew. But now you confirmed it. You have cooperated beautifully."

Dagur slammed the door making Emma flinch at the echoing sound. She jumped up and ran to the bars of the cell. "What do you mean cooperate? I didn't tell you anything."

Dagur put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a recorder. "I have a recording of your voice. Not only that, but with also you saying his name. With this, I will have the perfect bait." He pocketed the recorder and laughed as he walked away.

Emma watched in horror as he left, sliding down to the floor. She finally gave into the tears and cried. "Oh Jack."