1 The Two Strangers

I think this goes without saying, right? (PG)

2 CHAPTER EIGHT: Beware of Attack Cat!

As everyone tried to guard their sinuses against the foul stench of Lars' stink bombs, Amber crawled over to a wall and pushed a large, red button. That button opened a hidden door on the side of the wall.

Amber quickly lifted her hand off her mouth. "Hurry!" she yelled. "Get inside! I'll explain in a minute!"

No one hesitated to ask- they ran inside the concealed room without question. Choosing between a hidden room with clean air and the room they were in… well, it's simple logic that even Twister could figure out.

As soon as everyone was inside the room, Amber pushed a button next to the inside of the door. "Follow me," she insisted as the door closed behind them. "I need to show you something."

They walked down a dark hallway, much like the one leading to the skate- park, only shorter. The walls were decorated with patterns of animal skins: jaguar rosettes, tiger stripes, lion sable coats, and cheetah spots just to name a few.

They walked into what looked like an open office. There was a huge desk with a large computer monitor and five small televisions. A faint laughing sound could be heard from one of the tiny TVs.

Amber looked at Twister. "Is that Lars?" she asked, pointing at the television screen.

Twister nodded slowly. It wasn't that he did not want to get Lars in trouble- it would be pay back for all the times Lars pushed him around! It was just…

Amber pushed the enter key on her computer keyboard. A video screen began loading onto her computer, and since this would take a few minutes, she considered using this time to ask and answer questions.

The teenage girl kneeled down to Twister's eye level. "Tell me about Lars," she requested, "and tell me how he found out about this place."

Twister gladly gave away some information about Lars. It was the least he could do. Besides, after all the torturing he's gone through, this boy was ready to see his older brother get in trouble.

Amber nodded. It was sufficient information, but she still needed to know something…

"Tell me something," she said, staring coldly at Twister, "how did Lars find out about this place?"

Twister hesitated for a moment. He looked to his friends for help, but they all looked too aggravated to offer any assistance.

Finally, Twister sighed as he began to admit the truth. "I…" he started, hesitating once more. "I… I kind of told Lars about you and thi-"

"You did WHAT?!" Amber barked at him in fury.

"Well, he got suspicious," Twister explained. "I tried all my excuses, but he wouldn't leave me alone until I told him."

Amber rubbed her chin. "Interrogation…" she thought aloud, then placing her hand on Twister's shoulder. "I forgive you for this particular instance, but please don't let it happen again."

The video screen uploaded onto Amber's computer, and after pressing a few keys, she got a closer view of the one they called Lars. "Hey, you!" she called. "Get over here!"

Lars was standing in the yard and could see the small television screen on the side of the house. Since he could see Amber's image as she could see his, he had no problem figuring out whose voice it was.

Lars laughed. "Well, well, well," he teased. "If it isn't the kid that hangs out with the dork patrol. Should I be treating you like one of the munchkins, or maybe worse?"

Amber simply rolled her eyes. "Lars," she started, "your attempt at jeering, like the chair I sit on, is beneath me. Because of your childish prank, I hereby ban you from this area. Please leave the premises now."

Lars crossed his arms in protest. "And what if I don't?" he refused.

"Then, I have no choice but to let my associate, Sabrina, deal with you." Amber replied.

Otto looked around. "Who's Sabrina?" he asked.

Amber gave him a sidelong look. "I'll tell you in a minute," she said, clicking a small icon on the computer screen and looking back at Lars. "Sabrina's on her way. I hope that you're satisfied, Lars."

Lars looked into the television screen, mockingly scared. "Oh no!" he fake- whimpered in a high-pitched voice. "Sabrina's gonna get me! I'm so scared! Help me, lameos! Help me!" He then went back to his normal insulting self. "Bring it on!" he challenged.

Then, Sam screeched from the back of the room. A large, dark, bulky figure passed behind him and he was nearly scared out of his mind.

"Sammy, what's the matter?" Reggie asked, concerned.

Sam took a moment to catch his breath before speaking. "I'm fine now," he confirmed, "but I just thought I felt-"

"Oh, Lars!" Amber interrupted. "I almost forgot to tell you something about Sabrina."

Lars laughed. "Yeah, like what?" he asked.

As Lars was saying this, a large black body moved behind him. Though the shape was indistinctive, it looked like a killer.

Amber laughed mockingly. "Sabrina's a Black Panther," she admitted bluntly, "and if you know what's good for you, you'll pass on the opportunity of being a potential meal, like now."

Lars turned around, expecting to see Twister and his friends in a big black fur coat. However, he had his opportunity to taste the irony when he realized that the figure behind him really was a Black Panther.

Sabrina snarled in anger. She wasn't fond of company, especially unwanted company. She let out a growl, to warn the unfortunate human of his possible fate.

Lars didn't need to think twice- at the sight of Sabrina, he high-tailed it over the fence that separated Amber's yard from the rest of Ocean Shores. There was no way he'd stick around with a Black Panther!

Amber clicked the small icon on the computer once more before shutting down the video program on her computer. "Well, I hope you all enjoyed that," she said, sarcastically. "Now, does anyone want an explanation, or should we just forget this nasty incident and go home?"

None of them looked like they wanted to forget the incident, so it was an easily decided vote. Otto and Reggie were curious about Sabrina- it wasn't normal to see a Black Panther in Ocean Shores. Sam was looking for an explanation about why she was there- not many people owned wild animals that actually served an everyday purpose. Twister just wanted to see Sabrina up close- maybe even borrow her to torture Lars with sometime!

Amber nodded. "I thought so," she said, unlocking the door next to her office desk. "Follow me and I'll tell you everything you'll need to know."