Dark Prospects

MTG: Thanks! You're so much nicer than my English teacher is. One time she made me write 100 times in English that I'm a complete failure. Nice, don't you think? She's really a lovely person… (Do you believe me?)

Angelic One: Thank you. I'll try to finish this fic reasonably fast… *maniacal laughter*

TheAlmightyMasterT-Chan: Finally I read your fic! It was certainly worth my time, it's a great story. ^_^ Sorry it took me a while…

Sanely Challenged: Thank you so much! I can't believe I'm actually on a Favorites list! *dances* YAY!

Criminally Insane: Haven't I told you to go away before? Oh well, I'll say it again. GO AWAY!

A/N: Okay, the story will actually go some where now. You tell me whether it's a good or bad direction, but a lot is going to happen before the end (surprise? Me? No… why would you say that?).

Chapter 5: Curtis?

Bernard was concerned. As much as he would have loved to, he could not ignore the fact that Noel was acting very oddly; more so than usual. She'd been in a distinctly pensive mood for two days now. What was wrong with her? Even worse, she was always in the same area as he and Charlie were. When questioned, she would rudely sum it up to a coincidence, but Bernard was sure she was stalking one of them. The idea worried him.

"Charlie!" Curtis came up to the pair one day. Santa needs to talks to you—" he glanced pointedly at Bernard "—alone. He said it's important. You'll want to come right away."

Charlie shrugged. "Okay. Where is he?"

"I'll take you to him." The elf offered and started off, motioning for Charlie to follow.

When Charlie started to walk after the other, someone called him back. "Wait!"

Noel. Bernard was perplexed. He recognized the voice, but not the tone. It was almost… desperate.

Charlie furrowed his brow. "Why?"

"I… you—you have to—Curtis is lying! Your dad isn't really that way he's in the kitchen…" She finished lamely. It was so obviously a lie that the other three fought laughter.

Charlie gave her a shrewd look. "Right. And why exactly should I believe you over Curtis?"

But the girl would not be deterred. "Because I'm right, you moron!"

Curtis sighed impatiently. "Charlie, come on. Your dad will be worried if we don't come."

Charlie followed Curtis.

"And really, Noel," the 900-year-old continued. "You keep following them around like some love-sick puppy. What's wrong with you?" And with that, the two walked away.

Noel started to follow them, but Bernard held her back, having to physically restrain her.

"Let go of me!" Noel demanded, trying to get out of his grip on her wrist.

"What's with you? You've been acting like a mad woman!" Bernard ignored her order.

Still struggling, she replied, "I'll tell you later, just let me go!"

"And what would you do? Throw yourself on the floor in front of them? They'll walk right over you, you know. And why don't you want them to go?" Bernard easily held her thin wrist in his hand, despite her best attempts to get free.

Noel was still. "Why don't you let go of my arm and watch what I do? If I get trampled then you'll just have something else to laugh at."

Bernard sighed and released her.

She ran in the direction Charlie had went like all of hell was at her heels. And, for lack of anything better to do, Bernard followed her.

But eventually she got lost. In her struggle to get free from the elf's grip, she hadn't noticed which way they'd gone. Noel whirled around. "Bernard! You—"

A loud bang cut off what would most likely have been a long string of curse words.

By an unspoken agreement, the two ran in that direction.

Several yards away, the door to a small, bare room was hanging off its hinges. Bits of the metal door were charred and there were black marks all over the room.

And also covered in black burn marks was Charlie's jacket.

A/N: Okay, I know this chapter is weird and confusing, but it will be explained (really, it will). Mrs. Clause should be in the next chapter, but not for sure. Oh, and Curtis fans don't shoot me just yet, okay?