Wow! So many reviews! Whenever I read a good review like the ones you guys have sent me, it really helps me stay cheery as I write this fic, which is good, seeing how it's kinda sad...(lol)

Here are the Respectful Reviewers:

Powerof1P3PadfootsGrl: Wow, I'm truly flattered...I'm so very very very very glad that you're enjoying my fic this much! And I also hope to go professional someday... Right now I guess I'll have to settle for my school journal assignments, which aren't as fun to write...(Bleh :P)

LolliPopsAreTears: Thank you very much! And don't worry, I've got plenty of ideas for future stories in my head, so remember that you haven't seen the last of me! There is this one plot I've been debating whether or not to start writing, before anyone else takes the idea... But if I started now, I probably wouldn't get this story done, and you guys don't want that do ya?

Micartne: Thanks a million! I'm guessing there will be at least 15 chapters or so...I'll try to stretch it out as far as I can (and as far as I should, don't want it to get boring!) Oh yes, and you probably shouldn't eat stories alive; you'll get a stomachache.

Visualpurple: Don't worry; I won't be stopping any time soon! Thanks for the review!

Lady Emily: He'll get around to telling her sooner or later...or maybe someone else will, hmm? And don't fret, Violet is not gone forever!

WonkaVision: Thanks! Klaus was always my favorite character. I like writing about him, so when I got the idea for this story I thought, Hey, why not let it be about Klaus?

NewbiaTheElf: Thanks to you, also. I try to end each chapter like that, so people will keep coming back for more. And I try to be careful when grammar and spell checking. Sometimes mistakes can be distracting, so
I watch out for them. Aunt Josephine would be so proud! And I was planning on putting some action and adventure in the future chapters like the when they go to France... Oops. I think I've said too much...

Phoenix72389: Yes, it's easy to sympathize with Klaus... But I like sad stories, kinda how Sunny likes sad songs... And like I said before, Violet will show up eventually! (Oh happy day!)

Thank you all SO much!!! I love getting reviews from my readers!

Chapter 7: M i s s i n g

A lone figure sat amidst the ruins. They were the ruins of the former home of his two friends, a home that used to fly.

But it wasn't flying anymore.

There was only one person there, or at least that's what he thought. There was only him. The others were gone. They were gone and he didn't know where they went.

He couldn't be the only survivor of the crash; if he was really all alone, he was sure he'd go crazy. And he was still just a kid.

The boy already wasn't in the best shape. A black ring circled his eye and a dried thread of blood traced down the side of his face. His skull throbbed and there was a small cut in his bottom lip.

But he didn't notice any of it. The only thing he could think of was the fact that they were all gone, and he had been left behind. Hot tears stung his eyes.

"Klaus?"

Klaus jumped and turned around. Another lone figure now stood at the edge of the rubble. It was a man, and he was wearing a hat and a plain brown coat.

"Mr. Snicket," Klaus said. "My sisters, they're gone."

He nodded gravely. "Are there any others?"

Klaus looked down and shrugged. "I was out for a couple hours. I haven't found their..." Klaus wasn't sure he could even say it, fearing that he would find his siblings after it was too late. "...their...bodies. They might have left, but I just can't figure out why they would..."

"I saw tire tracks. Somebody took them. I'm pretty sure I know who," Mr. Snicket said.

"Yeah, me too. That's what I kinda figured anyway..." Klaus swallowed hard. "I...I think I might have found Isadora, but I'm afraid to check..." He pointed a shaky finger at a nearby pile of wreckage.

Mr. Snicket nodded understandingly, stepped over some debris to take a look at Klaus's friend, and reached down to take her pulse. Klaus turned away, afraid that Mr. Snicket was about to tell him the worst.

"She's fine. Unconscious, but alive."

Klaus breathed a sigh of deepest relief.

"I don't see anyone else," Mr. Snicket said. "He must have taken them all with him."

Klaus's eye twitched. A twitch that hadn't been there before. He tried to rub it away.

"I've been thinking about that..." Klaus said quietly. "About something he told me a long time ago. 'It takes a village to raise a child, but only one child to inherit a fortune.'" He looked at Isadora's unmoving body. "We're both inheriting our family fortunes when we come of age. He only needs one of us for each fortune. Do you think he took everyone else just to...just to...?" More tears sprang to his eyes at the very thought.

"Klaus," Mr. Snicket said firmly. "I'm a professional in tracking down missing persons, as you already know. So let me tell you that I'm going to do everything within my power to find your sisters."

Klaus rubbed his eye again and nodded.

Mr. Snicket bent down and picked up Isadora. "You better stay with me for now Klaus. I might need your help."

"Alright," Klaus said.

Klaus and Mr. Snicket, with Isadora in his arms, walked away from the ruins and towards his small automobile. Away from a series of unfortunate events that had been Klaus's old life, and towards a completely different journey.

Klaus opened his eyes. He found himself staring at the table, and guessed he must have fallen asleep at the typewriter again.

Sunny had stayed at Isadora's the previous night, and Klaus figured they probably chatted late into the night, gossiping about movie stars and fixing up each other's hair. After all, that's what girls do at sleepovers right? Not sleep?

Klaus squinted and pushed his glasses back into place. He read what he had written the night before.

That's right. He had been copying what he had put down in his notebook.

Klaus read the last lines over and over again, debating what he should do.

But something's missing.

It's Violet.

There was more truth in the words than what he had intended. It was supposed to be more metaphorical. But now it seemed too real to Klaus.

Violet is missing.

He went over a list of facts in his head.

Violet was on The Prospero.

She's going to France.

The ship should take a few days to get to France, if they don't stop, and they're traveling at a fast speed. A week tops.

Then Klaus went over a list of things they needed to know.

Why is Violet going to France?

Has she arrived there yet?

Where in France is she?

Klaus thought. And then he thought some more. After staring at the rain dripping down his window for about five minutes, he was done thinking. There was one more thing he needed to know

When do we leave for France?

Isadora would probably want to come. She always said she was a Parisian at heart. Of course, they had to bring Sunny.

He thought a little longer, wondering if Duncan would want to come. Klaus shrugged. Maybe he'll want to write a story on it.

He rubbed his eye and wheeled his chair over to his telegram device. Klaus glanced at his watch. He had slept later than he thought. Duncan would be awake by now, for sure.

He tapped out the message.

To: Duncan Quagmire

From: K. Baudelaire

We found Sunny STOP. Your article really helped STOP. Too bad they gave it the boot STOP. We're going to find Violet soon STOP. We're pretty sure she's in France STOP. I was wondering if you were interested in coming STOP. We'll be leaving within the next few days STOP.

Hope to see you soon STOP.

With all due respect, Klaus STOP.

P.S. All these stops are annoying STOP.

Klaus only had time to prepare his morning cup of coffee before he received an answer.

To: K. Baudelaire

From: Duncan Quagmire

E rtfg sdfee dskkkls fjsnes senfejsf ee e sss ods.

Oh yes, that's right. Duncan never learned Morse code.

The old two-way AM radio crackled to life. It made a noise that sounded like someone clearing his throat.

Klaus pressed a button on the radio. "Some Volunteer you were," he said, as if he always greeted people that way.

"Excuse me, but I was just supposed to be the spy at The Punctilio, not some army brat," Duncan's voice countered. "Why don't you just use the radio?"

"Well, sometimes it's easier to notice you're getting a message on the telegram device. I didn't want you to think you had voices inside your head again."

"Klaus, that was years ago, and I was JOKING."

"Right."

"Yes. Right."

Klaus shook his head. "So, what do you think?"

"About what?"

"About the voices in your head," he retorted sarcastically. "Duncan, did you even read the telegram?"

"Oh! Yeah, I did. Has she changed much?" he asked.

"Well, she grew a couple of feet, and she has all her teeth in. She likes to read, too," he said proudly.

"Boy, can't wait to see you guys again. So much has been happening lately," Duncan said.

"Yeah," Klaus replied. "So, you want to tag along when we leave?"

"Hmmm... France huh?"

"Yup."

The radio was quiet for several seconds. Klaus could picture Duncan scratching the stubble on his chin thoughtfully. He wondered what he was thinking about. Klaus didn't ponder much about it though. Duncan always had a few secrets.

"Sure, I'll come."

"Great," Klaus said. "We'll meet you at the train station tomorrow at 3:00, okay?"

"Alright."

Klaus paused. He had to put in one last parting retort.

"Don't let the voices scare you Duncan."

"Ha. I can't wait till tomorrow either, Twitchy," he answered.

The classic comeback. Denial.

"See ya Duncan."

"Bye Klaus."