Chapter Six
Hatred is a horrible feeling, and it is only right to hate someone or something if they had done something incredibly awful. For instance, the Baudelaire's had a good reason to hate fires, because one of them had destroyed their house and parents. Klaus had a good reason to hate Mr. Stevens, because as he walked in the room he could see terrified expressions on the other children's faces, and he knew that some day he would be just as afraid as them.
"Now, you all know your stations. You will get to them and finish the job at 7 'o clock sharp. March!" he yelled.
All the kids squeezed their way out of the room and ran out of sight. Klaus was the only one remaining.
"Well you must be the new kid, eh? Well, since it's your first day, I'm gonna make it easy on you. All you have to do is clean up the kitchen and living room, where my wife is sitting watching the news so I suggest you be quiet when your there. Do you understand me?"
"Uh, yes, sir." said Klaus quietly.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"YES SIR!" yelled Klaus as loud as he possibly could. He didn't like to have to live in a place that was more like a military school than a home.
"MARCH!" yelled Mr. Stevens.
Klaus ran out of the room and went into the living room. He saw Mrs. Stevens indeed watching the news, but he saw something that made his jaw drop. There was a lady on the news reporting live from the fire at Hotel Denouement.
"This tragedy will be remembered by those who lost loved ones. As you can see here, all that was left of this once attractive hotel is this enormous entrance. Our firemen think it was made of some sort of steel that there is no more of today. 'This hotel was pretty old from what I heard, maybe there was some sort of steel back then that was fire-proof that is no more of now.' says Fireman Futoonacla. We'll get back to you…" Klaus didn't listen to the rest. He really didn't listen to the first part either, because he saw two familiar faces in the background that can be described in three words; Violet and Sunny.
"Violet!" said Klaus aloud.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Get back to work!" screamed Mrs. Stevens.
"I—I'm supposed to clean the living room, Ma'am." said Klaus.
"THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING WATCHING THE NEWS!?!?" bellowed Mrs. Stevens.
"I'm sorry." said Klaus. "I just saw two people that looked… familiar."
"Well get back to work, and I mean NOW!"
"Yikes!" muttered Klaus.
"Sorry?!"
"Oh nothing…"
"No really tell me what you said?!"
"I didn't say anything!" said Klaus.
"THEN GET BACK TO WORK!"
"I'm trying to!" said Klaus, a bit annoyed at the rudeness of this woman. He finished cleaning the living room and kitchen and about 6:55, so he went back to the room and was surprised to see that many of the children, including Eva and Kim, were back already from their work.
"So how'd it go?" asked Eva when Klaus walked in, covered in dust.
"Awful." said Klaus throwing himself on the bed.
"Well, that was nothing. Your real work begins tomorrow." said Kim.
Klaus sighed and slumped on his bed. "I wish my sisters could find me and get me out of here…" he said.
"So do we. But we don't have sisters, or brothers. So you're rather lucky in a way."
"I guess you're right." he said.
"I wish my mom was here to take me. She's going to be late for her V.F.D. meeting." said Kim.
"Wait, what day is it?" asked Klaus.
"Thursday, why?"
"The V.F.D. meeting was supposed to be today! At hotel Denouement! But now it's been canceled because of the fire!"
"What fire?" asked Eva and Kim in unison.
"There was a fire—the hotel—that's not the point!" said Klaus. "Kim, how do you know about the meeting?"
"My mom works for V.F.D., of course. Along with my dad while he was still alive."
"But then—why—how long have you been here that you knew about this meeting?" asked Klaus.
"Just a week or so." said Kim.
"This is so strange!" said Klaus. "But the meeting was canceled! I totally forgot about it anyways while we were still at the hotel!"
"You were at the hotel?" asked Kim.
"Yeah. Along with my sisters. Why is that surprising to you? Eva was there too."
"But only members of V.F.D. are allowed in. Eva, you never told me your parents worked for V.F.D.!" said Kim.
"So that means all the people there were part of V.F.D.?" asked Klaus
"Yes! Except for those people who slept outside in tents. Look Kim, my parents did work for V.F.D., and when the Stevens told me to go pick up the groceries, I decided to stop by and see how things were going on, since there was the big meeting today." said Eva.
"But then Klaus what are you saying about a fire?" asked Kim.
"There was a fire. But I think it was after Eva left. And I think Count Olaf knew about the V.F.D. meeting, so he set off the fire so it would have to be canceled, and while doing that he hoped me and my sisters would die within its flames."
"Whose Count Olaf?" asked Kim.
"A horrible man after the Baudelaire fortune and the sugar bowl." said Klaus. "After my parents died, my sisters and I have been constantly on the run from him."
"That's awful!" said Kim.
"Yeah, it is." said Klaus. He paused for a moment. "Why don't any of you ever run away from here?" he asked.
"We've thought about it. But where would we go? It miles until we reach town, and the little ones will get tired." Kim said.
"But have you ever tried it?" asked Klaus.
"Well… no. But it seems like it'll turn out to be a disaster." said Eva.
"You'll never know how it'll be unless you try." said Klaus, eager to have the girls agree with him so they could leave this place.
"Well, I suppose you're right," said Kim, "but when will we leave?"
"Tonight." said Klaus. "Tell the others. I don't even know why you guys stayed here all that time. There's more of you than them."
"Come to think of it, he's right!" said Eva.
"I'll go tell the others, you guys start packing." said Kim.
"Ok." said Klaus and Eva together.
"Do you know where they keep food? And a first aid kit?" asked Klaus.
"Food's in the kitchen. And I don't think they have a first aid kit." said Eva.
"Well, you know this place better than me. Take someone with you to get those things, and then get back in here. And don't get caught." said Klaus.
"I won't." said Eva. "Hey, Irene, come with me to get some food."
"For what?" asked Irene. "You know we're not allowed in the kitchen unless we're cleaning it."
"Who cares? We're leaving this place!" said Eva happily. Irene shrugged.
"If you say so." And they both skipped to the kitchen.
"Everyone else get packing!" said Klaus.
"Klaus, we'll never get out. They'll spot us; there's too many." said Kim.
"You're not suggesting that—"
"We must. It's the only way we'll get out safely."
"We can't just leave them here! Look, Vera's only 5 and she cleans the chimney as well as a chimney sweep! Don't you understand?"
"Alright Klaus, but if we get caught we're under triple this protection."
"We won't get caught." said Klaus. "We won't."