Chapter 5. Madam Freeda the Mushroom breeder (part 1).


The trio of friends walked upto Pete's house, Chloe out in front, They had decided to return to the scene of the crime, so to speak' as chloe had said. Upon entering the house they all made their way to the dinning room.

Lucky no ones home Pete, that way we can take a good look round and not have to dodge your parents questions about why we are looking for signs of unidentified mushrooms Clark piped up, narrowing his eyes and looking all around him with and odd gaze, Pete just hrumphed.

Ok Pete, where were you sitting, and where did the soup land, we can start the search from there. Chloe surveyed the scene, wondering what Clark was staring at.

Um, I was here. Pete said, moving to the position he had been sitting at, and the soup was spilled all over this area. But as you can see it was cleaned up pretty good, you know what my moms like. After he said that a smug grin crossed his face My brothers caught so much heat from that I can tell you, they spent a loooooong time cleaning up this room! Heh heh.

Clark suddenly came forward and tried his best to look inconspicuous, Pete, maybe they missed a spot somewhere, like under the dresser or something, we should look under the furniture, don't you think? Clark looked pointed at Pete, darting his eyes to the dresser and back.

That's not a bad idea Clark, nice to see some of Lex's intelligence is finally rubbing off onto you. Chloe got down on her knees and started looking under the table, I'll take the table, Pete, you get the dresser, and Clark, check the rest of the room, and don't forget the doorways! Clark and Pete jumped to the work, following Chloe to ground level.

Pete suddenly froze, unable to believe what he was seeing. Under his dresser was a collection of smallish mushrooms crowded around a bigger one, the glowed a sort lurid green and seemed to be swaying from side to side slowly. Umm, uh, Guys, I think I found what we are looking for, you really need to get over here. As the words left his mouth, Clark was beside him in a suspiciously small amount of time, and his eyes widened at what he saw. Behind them they heard Chloe gasp.

Damn, now that's what you call some fucked up mushrooms, and Pete, eww, you ate them, god no wonder you doing the freaky eye dance.


************************************


Chapter 5b. Madam Freeda the Mushroom breeder (part 2).

Chloe scooted back from the mushrooms quickly after taking some quick snapshots with her camera. Clark and Pete followed her lead but Clark stood a little further back than the others.

Right, Pete, you go get some sort of knife, gloves and a bag, oh and disinfectant or bleach or something. Clark, go look around back in the trash to see if Pete's mom has some packaging that could tell us where these freaky fungi are from. Chloe smile evilly to her self when she dished out trash duty to Clark, it felt good, a bit petty, but she didn't care.

How come Pete gets to go fetch stuff, and I have to rife through garbage! Clarks indignant tone rang out through the room. Even though I really would like to get away from those mushrooms, they have definitely come into contact with the meteors somehow, and damn, Chloe was right!'

Way to make me sound like Lassie, Clark, thanks a lot for that! Pete shot back at his mentally challenged friend.

Shut up the both of you! And just go, stop being babies. I am get to these mushrooms, ooh, Clark, actually before you go, could you help me move the dresser, I wanna be able to get a good shot of these things before me and Pete remove them. She motioned over to the side of the room and while Pete went to collect the things from the kitchen, she and Clark moved the dresser. They watched in amazement as the mushrooms seemed to shrink away from the sudden light, as if they were trying to hide.

Ok, Chlo', got the stuff you wanted, now what. Pete entered the room with his arms full, and he dumped the stuff on the table.

Now, now Clark goes to root though the trash and you and me go a mushroom picking Pete, that's what we do. With that, Clark huffed in resignation and mumbled discontentedly as he wandered out to the back of the house. Chloe grabbed the kitchen knife, gloves and the bag from the table and advanced on the unwelcome addition to Pete's household.

Pete watched as Chloe quickly hacked of the mushrooms from the carpet and bagged them up. Handing her the bleach and disinfectant he Helped her spray the area until it was soaked in the chemicals.

Damn, now that's one nasty smell. commented Pete as the doused mushroom stumps stated to fizzle and smoke slightly. He noticed Chloe gag and step to the far side of the room, but he couldn't seem to move, the world was tipping on it axis again and he had the sinking feeling that he knew just what was about to happen.

.....The room was small and the only thing that broke the surface of it's grey walls was a small bed covered in white sheets and the slumped figure of a blond haired girl. As she started to stir she wiped her her unruly short hair out of her eyes but moaned as she brushed over the large burs on her temple.

Chloe sat up, took of her bag and surveyed the room around her, no windows or doors. She narrowed her eyes and then looked upwards to the celling and saw the small trapdoor, with no visible handles, just a keypad, even if she could reach it 15 foot up. Looking around with clearer eyes and mind she started to notice strange things about the room, like the fact that there were cameras in small glass bubbles in the corners where the walls and the celling met. But it was the 5 inch hole in the middle of the grey expanse above her that really had her worried.

Frowning, chloe wondered why all the electrical stuff in the room was set behind glass or plastic. She studied the lights that sat each side of that damn hole in the celling. They were exactly like the ones you would see on ships, protected my a shielded of glass so that the water couldn't get to the bulbs.

Just as that though ran though her mind, she heard a rumbling noise, and then a dull rushing sound. Oh now that can not be good, I hate it when you hear ominous machines turn on, Its always the bit in the moves where the walls start moving in or rats drop on people or something. Backing away towards the small bed, Chloe got up onto it and shifted nervously, waiting for something to happen.

There was a gurgling noise, and then water exploded from the hole in the celling, and poured forth in a constant torrent. You have got to be fucking kidding me! Chloe spat out as the water quickly made it's way to the level of the bed, and showed no signs of stopping.....

Pete crumpled to the ground as he tried to shout out to Chloe. As his vision returned he felt not only Chloe but Clark supporting him, and dragging him towards the couch in the other room. After laying him down, Chloe rushed back to the kitchen t get a glass of water.

Pete, Pete, buddy, are you ok? Clark question his best friend with a concerned voice.

Pete felt his world right itself and he slowly sat up, shaky, but feeling a little better. Chloe, oh god Chloe, she was in a room, with water pouring in on her, someone was trying to drown her! Clark, damn, I really hope that these things arn't true. Pete's voice was quiet, and filled with a deep fear.

Just then Chloe busseled back in and gave Pete the water, which he drank gratefully while she and Clark looked on. So what was the vision about this time Pete, and please, if it's about lionel again then spare the details, please! Chloe tried for some humour to try and lighten her friends mood which seemed to have taken a dramatic nose dive.

Um, no Chlo'. No Lionel, but you were in it again. But, But you were locked in a small room, and, and it was filling with water. Someone was trying to drown you Chloe, I saw you being drowned. Chloe listened, horrified, to Pete's soft explanation of his vision.

Um, ok, that is slightly more than disturbing. Um, lets just hope that these things arrant real shall we guys. Chloe turned around and tried to block out the wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. Viciously she squelched it, and then turned around quickly with the intent of distracting them all from this. So anyway, what did you find in the trash Clark?

What, uh, trash? OH, trash, yeah, I was just about to call you guys when Pete had his vision thingy. I found this. Clark held out a crumpled bag, it was a rich brown colour with a large bright cream coloured mushroom printed on it, and the words Madam Freeda's Speciality Organic Mushrooms'.

Well well well, I think we have our second clue boys, and a great big fat neon sign of a one too! I think we need to pay This Madam Freeda a visit, don't you?


TBC.....