Chapter Three-Thunderborough, the Abandoned Park

"Are we almost there, Espa?" Chris asked him from his seat behind Andy. They were on a charter bus.

"I think so, Chris. Listen to me, all of you. Stay together in this place. Do not separate for anyone." Espa spoke a little sharper than he intended, earning him looks from Jon and Chris.

"What do you mean, Big Brother? Aren't you going to be with us?" Jon questioned him.

"I don't think so…I told you there is something funny about this whole thing." Espa said in a low voice. "We…we're going to be separated. I saw it in a vision last night."

"Then why did we come?" Jon asked him.

"We had to, in case we have to help someone else." Espa replied, which was the truth. He'd seen a lot more than he let on to his brothers. "Just make that promise to me. Stay together."

"We promise." The older Robas chorused. Little Espa just giggled at them.

"And keep Little E close." Espa added, worriedly.

"No worries, Big Brother. Nothin's going to happen to E." Chris reassured him.

Espa then turned to look out the window, watching the city pass by. He hoped that his brothers would be alright. It wasn't everyday they had to fend for themselves.

"Hey,Roba…got a minute?"

Espa turned to see Joey Wheeler standing by his seat,. Holding a little girl with teal hair. "Sure…What's up, Wheeler?"

"I'm a little nervous about this whole thing." Joey sat down beside Espa, settling the girl in his lap. "I mean…what if we're supposed to bet our siblings or somethin'?"

"That's barbaric!" Espa exclaimed. He had the feeling that Wheeler might be on to something though.

"I know I know…Listen,Roba. I lied to you before. I'm not just baby sitting anyone. This is my cousin. "

Espa smiled kindly at the girl, softening up a little. "Hey there…I'm Espa."

"Lacey." She said plainly. She looked no more than six, but her voice was clear as a bell.

"Eh…don't mind that." Joey said. "Her parents are having problems. I think it's rubbing off on her a bit."

"Ah…." Espa looked at him. "Listen, Wheeler…I know we're not the best of friends, but I have a feeling we're going to need to work together to ensure our families' safety."

Joey nodded. "Yeah…that's what Rex said too. We were trying to convince Underwood, but you know him. Mr. Indpendence."

"I'll talk to him before we get there." Espa told him. "Besides, if he cares half as much for Kendra as we do for our relatives, he'll have to listen to me."

"I hope so." Joey stroked his cousin's hair. "Hey, Lacey, are you ready for some fun?"

"Yeah. I just wish Mommy and Daddy coulda camed." Lacey looked up at Joey. "They never play no mores."

"Awww…don't cry on me, Lace. I'm sure they miss you too." Joey stood up with her, and Espa watched him go back to Rex and Weevil.

When the bus stopped half an hour later, the Robas clamored out. Instantly, Espa's ears were ringing with the boys' excited shouts. "Guys! Remember our talk." Espa warned uselessly. His brothers were already through the entrance. "Guys! Wait for me!" Espa hurried to follow them.

"Wow! Look, Espa! A whole park all for us!" Jon was gawking at the empty streets.

Espa stared too, a shiver running down his spine. Jon was right. The park looked like it hadn't been used in years. "Guys…come over. Stay with me." He called to them.

"Can't we explore, Espa? Please?" Chris looked up at Espa imploringly.

"Later. Right now, we've got to find out where this dueling event is supposed to take place." Espa took Little E from Jon, and held him close. The baby seemed to feel uneasy too, for he clung to his older brother tightly. "What's the matter, E?" He asked him worriedly.

"Bad pwace." The baby stated, with a whimper.

"Bad place?" Chris looked up at Espa. "How would he know? He's just a baby."

"Maybe he inherited second Sight from someone else in our family, like I did." Espa suggested, as he cradled baby Espa in his arms. "At any rate,I think he's right. This doesn't look good at all." He followed the other duelists then. "Come on."

"What do you make of this place?" Weevil Underwood asked Espa as they got closer to a booth that seemed to be checking them all in.

"I don't know. ..are you worried?" Espa asked him.

"Nah. I've been in worse places..Kendra, stop clinging to me." He scowled at his sister.

"I don't like it, Weevil. I wanna go home. Please!" Kendra seemed to know things weren't, as they appeared either.

"We're not leaving until I get revenge on Wheeler. Do you have a problem with that?" Weevil challenged her. "I told Ma I didn't wanna bring you."

"Couldn't you've gotten revenge at home?" Kendra demanded. "Why'd it have to be here?"

Espa scowled at the way Weevil treated his sister. "Underwood. There's a lot more at stake than you realize. They're in danger." He gestured around to all the children. "It's not about getting revenge. It's about winning your family back." Espa watched as Rex and his sister Monica signed in. "We could all lose them. Don't you understand? Please be careful." He stepped up to the booth then.

"Espa Roba plus four." He told the man.

The man nodded. "Your brothers are to go over there. House of Mirrors." He pointed the direction. "They'll be well taken care of, I assure you."

Espa nodded, feeling a coldness settle in him. As they walked away from the booth, he turned to face his brothers. "Did you guys hear that? We're separated already."

They all nodded. "Espa…what's going to happen to us?" Andy's voice quivered, clinging to his older brother.

"Nothing. I promise. I'm going to win this tournament, and we'll be together before you know it." Espa knelt down, and hugged them all tightly. "Here, E…go stay with Jon, okay?"

The baby wasn't having it though. Little E screamed and cried every time Espa tried to pry him off of his shirt. "NO! No GOING!"

"E….." Espa sighed and finally pried him off, handing him to Jon. He gave Chris his diaper bag. "Stay together.." He choked out.

"We will, Espa. Don't worry!" Jon called over Little E's shrieking, as they followed Kendra, Lacey and some girls they didn't know to the House of Mirrors.