DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters created by Alexander Key and
owned by Walt Disney Pictures. This is fan fiction, and not endorsed by
Mr. Key, his estate, or the Walt Disney Company. No copyright infringement
is intended, and no money is being made from this story. It is based on
plot elements used in the books Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from
Witch Mountain, as well as the movies of the same name, although the books
and the movies differ extensively. Please direct all queries, comments,
etc. to kevinpkhaynes@yahoo.com. It is my sincere desire that you enjoy
the story as the pure entertainment it was intended to be. Your feedback
is welcome as well!
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 33
Painting was easy compared to this, Tony thought. Knowing someone was after you, and that you couldn't stop them, was much more difficult than anything he'd ever attempted in his life. He was at the same downtown corner, with the same easel and canvases, and the same business cards, keeping his eye out. But this time, he was watching for more than Homedwellers - he was also watching for danger.
If he had been looking up, instead of around him or at the café across the street, he might have noticed the pair of eyes peering through Venetian blinds from a window in a building right next to the café. The apartment building was hardly that - two stories of run-down studios - but the owner made good money by renting the small units out. One of those was rented to Travis Pluck.
Truck was glad to have found such an easy way to spy on Tony and not be seen, as he had been at the café. He had been watching Tony for three days since his release. He knew what time Tony arrived, when he stopped for lunch, and what time he finished for the day. Truck had never followed Tony after work - he didn't want to risk another encounter. But he didn't need to . he would execute his plan from here, where he could plan the details.
And plan he had. He noticed that Tony's stand was a few feet down from the entrance to an alley. He could conceivably hide in the alley, and when Tony was busy painting, sneak up behind him and inject him. The problem was that it was at least 20 steps from the alley to the easel, and he would be heard or seen before he could get him.
It was actually Jake who had suggested a way to get Tony to move down closer to the alley. He had carefully stolen some construction cones and barriers, and that night he was going to set them up where Tony's easel normally was. He would also put up a sign that said "Cable Work Underground." Tony would either have to move closer to the street corner, where he would actually be right on the street corner, or retreat farther back, closer to the alley. They were betting on the latter.
Tony started packing up at the same time he did every day. Truck was almost giddy - he could almost taste all the money Vic was going to give him! Tomorrow was the day he would deliver his prize. And it was actually something he had wanted to do all of his life. Truck had never felt it fair that Tony had a sister to be with. It wasn't fair that Tony got to be adopted so soon. Truck had always believed that, although the person that adopted Tony and Tia wasn't related to them, at least the guy was loaded! Truck had never gotten the same opportunities Tony had . but now he would be rich and important, and Tony would be the one no one heard from.
That night, Truck and Tony both hardly slept. Truck kept dreaming about his plan succeeding, repeating each step in it over and over again. Tony felt deeply that the next day would be a turning point. He wanted to retreat from this, but it had to be played out . whatever it was. The fate of his people depended on it, but the risk was so great he couldn't help but be frightened.
The next morning was overcast, and the promise of rain hung in the air. Tony didn't want to even get out of bed. No one would have blamed a street artist for sleeping in on a day like that. But Tony had a strong sense of duty and honor. He was expected to be there . and he would be.
When Tony arrived at his usual spot, he somehow wasn't surprised that construction was going on there. It just seemed right - this day wasn't going to be a normal day! He decided to avoid the rush of traffic at the corner, since his heart really wasn't in painting today, and set up on the other side of the construction site, closer to the alley.
Watching through the blinds across the street, Truck saw Tony setting up - right on time. The location Tony had chosen was perfect! He laughed to himself and told Jake to get into the car and get ready to pick up Truck's "suddenly unconscious" friend.
Tony tried to paint. He started and restarted several times. Something wasn't right . he just knew it. Finally he began to paint the sun peeking through the menacing clouds. The brightness of the sun, muted by the atmosphere, but still trying to break through, represented Tony's soul. A darkness hung over him, an uneasiness and despair. Yet through it all, hope and reassurance were trying to be seen and make themselves known. Tony decided to paint the clouds and sunshine, since they represented how he felt.
Finally beginning to enjoy the scene he was painting, he felt the sunshine really did represent his belief that everything was going to be okay. He was painting with fervor, when suddenly an alarm went off in his head. It was the same as the night the strange car was spying on him, and when the man in the café, who he now knew to be Truck, tried to follow Ty. He wanted to turn around, and look behind him, but hesitated.
Pain! A sharp stinging in his back! Tony felt an incredible rush of déjà vu as he was transported in his memory back to the day that Dr. Gannon kidnapped him. All of the sensations of that day - wondering what was happening, wondering if Tia was alright, wondering if he'd ever see Uncle Bené again - all came screaming back to his mind.
And then he fell, unconscious. He was afraid no longer.
Truck looked around to see if he needed to put on an act for any passersby, but no one was there, and no one was watching. So, he picked Tony up and carried him to the waiting black sedan. Jake opened the back door, and Truck unceremoniously pushed Tony's unconscious form into the back seat.
Jake and Truck got back into the car, and Jake drove off down the street as Truck pulled out a cell phone. He dialed a number he had memorized long ago. When someone answered, he simply said, "Vic . we got him!"
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 33
Painting was easy compared to this, Tony thought. Knowing someone was after you, and that you couldn't stop them, was much more difficult than anything he'd ever attempted in his life. He was at the same downtown corner, with the same easel and canvases, and the same business cards, keeping his eye out. But this time, he was watching for more than Homedwellers - he was also watching for danger.
If he had been looking up, instead of around him or at the café across the street, he might have noticed the pair of eyes peering through Venetian blinds from a window in a building right next to the café. The apartment building was hardly that - two stories of run-down studios - but the owner made good money by renting the small units out. One of those was rented to Travis Pluck.
Truck was glad to have found such an easy way to spy on Tony and not be seen, as he had been at the café. He had been watching Tony for three days since his release. He knew what time Tony arrived, when he stopped for lunch, and what time he finished for the day. Truck had never followed Tony after work - he didn't want to risk another encounter. But he didn't need to . he would execute his plan from here, where he could plan the details.
And plan he had. He noticed that Tony's stand was a few feet down from the entrance to an alley. He could conceivably hide in the alley, and when Tony was busy painting, sneak up behind him and inject him. The problem was that it was at least 20 steps from the alley to the easel, and he would be heard or seen before he could get him.
It was actually Jake who had suggested a way to get Tony to move down closer to the alley. He had carefully stolen some construction cones and barriers, and that night he was going to set them up where Tony's easel normally was. He would also put up a sign that said "Cable Work Underground." Tony would either have to move closer to the street corner, where he would actually be right on the street corner, or retreat farther back, closer to the alley. They were betting on the latter.
Tony started packing up at the same time he did every day. Truck was almost giddy - he could almost taste all the money Vic was going to give him! Tomorrow was the day he would deliver his prize. And it was actually something he had wanted to do all of his life. Truck had never felt it fair that Tony had a sister to be with. It wasn't fair that Tony got to be adopted so soon. Truck had always believed that, although the person that adopted Tony and Tia wasn't related to them, at least the guy was loaded! Truck had never gotten the same opportunities Tony had . but now he would be rich and important, and Tony would be the one no one heard from.
That night, Truck and Tony both hardly slept. Truck kept dreaming about his plan succeeding, repeating each step in it over and over again. Tony felt deeply that the next day would be a turning point. He wanted to retreat from this, but it had to be played out . whatever it was. The fate of his people depended on it, but the risk was so great he couldn't help but be frightened.
The next morning was overcast, and the promise of rain hung in the air. Tony didn't want to even get out of bed. No one would have blamed a street artist for sleeping in on a day like that. But Tony had a strong sense of duty and honor. He was expected to be there . and he would be.
When Tony arrived at his usual spot, he somehow wasn't surprised that construction was going on there. It just seemed right - this day wasn't going to be a normal day! He decided to avoid the rush of traffic at the corner, since his heart really wasn't in painting today, and set up on the other side of the construction site, closer to the alley.
Watching through the blinds across the street, Truck saw Tony setting up - right on time. The location Tony had chosen was perfect! He laughed to himself and told Jake to get into the car and get ready to pick up Truck's "suddenly unconscious" friend.
Tony tried to paint. He started and restarted several times. Something wasn't right . he just knew it. Finally he began to paint the sun peeking through the menacing clouds. The brightness of the sun, muted by the atmosphere, but still trying to break through, represented Tony's soul. A darkness hung over him, an uneasiness and despair. Yet through it all, hope and reassurance were trying to be seen and make themselves known. Tony decided to paint the clouds and sunshine, since they represented how he felt.
Finally beginning to enjoy the scene he was painting, he felt the sunshine really did represent his belief that everything was going to be okay. He was painting with fervor, when suddenly an alarm went off in his head. It was the same as the night the strange car was spying on him, and when the man in the café, who he now knew to be Truck, tried to follow Ty. He wanted to turn around, and look behind him, but hesitated.
Pain! A sharp stinging in his back! Tony felt an incredible rush of déjà vu as he was transported in his memory back to the day that Dr. Gannon kidnapped him. All of the sensations of that day - wondering what was happening, wondering if Tia was alright, wondering if he'd ever see Uncle Bené again - all came screaming back to his mind.
And then he fell, unconscious. He was afraid no longer.
Truck looked around to see if he needed to put on an act for any passersby, but no one was there, and no one was watching. So, he picked Tony up and carried him to the waiting black sedan. Jake opened the back door, and Truck unceremoniously pushed Tony's unconscious form into the back seat.
Jake and Truck got back into the car, and Jake drove off down the street as Truck pulled out a cell phone. He dialed a number he had memorized long ago. When someone answered, he simply said, "Vic . we got him!"