A/N: This is a real Bible verse, the rest will be, it was just chapter seven that I had to make one up, but the rest I've already chosen out and everything. Anyway, there's not much to say about the rest of the chapter, so I will go on with the story now, lol.

Chapter Eight: A Time to Keep, and A Time to Lose

December 4(maybe 5?), Tuesday late evening or Wednesday early morning

Kuki didn't bother fighting back. She followed her brothers and sisters slowly down the hallway. The boys dragged a furious Wally down the hallway. He kicked, yelled, tried to punch them. At one point he even tried choking the tallest boy with his tie. But they kept a tight grip on his arms. He was exhausted by the time they reached the prison, deep in the basement of the house.

Kuki refused to look at Wally as the boys threw him into the cell.

"Kuki! Get out of here! Run!" Wally yelled, "What the hell do you think you're doing, just standing there!? You have a chance..." His yells continued but Kuki blocked them out. She stared at the ground.

Funny, she thought, Soon this will be my home. Soon I will stare at the ground and know that I live here. Soon I will forget. Soon Wally will be nothing to me. I don't have to worry, the guilt won't last long...

She knew her thoughts were heartless, cold, but in order to be one of her brothers and sisters again, that's what her thoughts would have to be. She didn't even look back as she walked out of the basement, away from Wallabee Beetles...forever...

Tears of frustration stung Wally's eyes. How could she just join them!? he thought furiously. She had betrayed the Kids Next Door, whatever that was. Wally sat back, his sadness taking over him. No! He couldn't be like Kuki! He would fight back! He would win Kuki back! Those Delightful Dopes wouldn't know what'd hit them!

Wally stood up and pulled at the bars of the cell. He wasn't about to stick his head through the bars again. He already knew that was a bad idea. He kicked the bars. Unfortunately, these ones were obviously stronger than the others. Unless the Delightful Children had planned on Wally escaping. Maybe this time they were planning on keeping him in the cell.

Wally explored the cell, hoping to find a way out. He couldn't find any weaknesses in the door.

"Help!" he yelled, "Let me out! Help! HELP ME! LET ME OUT OF HERE!" his voice grew and grew until suddenly, it broke, and Wally leaned against the walls, choking on his tears. This was beyond the worst punishment. The one girl he loved was about to completely forget everything they'd shared and he was about to be killed. This was unfair. "Please..." he whispered pathetically, "Please...help me...give her back...give her back..."

The words seemed common in this house.

Kuki walked down the hallway, her brothers and sisters walking with her. They guided her to the right room.

"Please, sister, sit, make yourself comfortable." they said kindly. "We only want our little sister to have the best treatment of course." Kuki smiled weakly and sat like she was told. She slipped her hand in her coat pocket and took out a small ticket, the fake train ticket from the Christmas Village, the miniature train. Tears came to her eyes.

"How much will I remember?" she asked softly. Their faces were impassive as they answered.

"You will remember who is who, but you will hate most of them. The feeling will not be strange to you." they said. Kuki tried to imagine it to feel normal, hating Abby, Nigel, especially Wally...

"What about my mommy?" she asked, sounding like a little girl, "Will I hate her too?" Their faces softened for a moment.

"You won't hate her. You can't hate any adults. But you won't love her like you do now." they answered. Their answer almost comforted Kuki. A sudden panic came to her.

"What about Mushi!?" she asked. They suddenly held a look of sympathy.

"You will hate her." they answered. Their faces looked kind but their voices were cold. Kuki's chin trembled as she fought to hold back tears.

"But...I can't...I can't hate my little sister..." she gasped out as she fought for breath.

"You won't even remember loving her by the time it's over." they assured her. Kuki sobbed as they turned back to the equipment. The first thing they did was put metal straps over her wrists and ankles, to stop her from escaping if she changed her mind of being good about this. Kuki's eyes hurt from crying, her throat was more sore than it had ever been. Her breath came in small, soft gasps. Finally, she was able to control herself. She had never dreamed it would happen like this.

She had planned on attacking them when she saw them at the Christmas Village. Instead, she'd panicked and hadn't done anything. Her plan had backfired. She should have listened to her mother. Kuki realized her mother would never see her the same way again. What if her mom hated her after this was over. The realization snapped Kuki back to reality. She couldn't do this. She had to get away.

"I have to go to the bathroom." she said suddenly. The Delightful Children looked at her doubtfully.

"We are ready, this will only take a few minutes. You can hold it." they said, and fixed a helmet on her. Tears came back to her. It was too late. She wasn't going to make it. Kuki sobbed as the Delightful Children went back to the controls and started the process.

Wally picked at the lock for ages. It had been an hour, he'd checked his watch. It was already three in the morning. His mother would be wondering where he was. Finally the lock broke. Wally grinned and ran out of the cell, into the hallway. Then realized he had no idea where he was going.

Wally listened but everything was silent. There were three ways he could go, forward, right, or left. Wally did the most intelligent thing he could think of, he quickly whispered "Eeny, meany, miney, mo, catch a tiger by the toe, if he hollars, make him pay, fifty dollars everyday." Wally opened his eyes. Left it was.

After about ten minutes, Wally could hear faint sounds coming from ahead. He began to run faster until he heard someone chuckle. This had come from behind him. Wally frowned and turned around. A man stood behind him. He looked a little like Kuki, and for a minute Wally was confused. Suddenly he realized who it was.

"You're the Delightful's dad, aren't you!" he gasped. The man chuckled louder.

"Got that right, kid. And you aren't going anywhere." The man put his hand over Wally's mouth and dragged him back to his cell.

Wally bit the man's hand and kicked backwards. The man yelled and knelt forward, Wally knew he had kicked an important place. He smirked then ran back the direction he'd been going, toward the sounds. The man recovered quickly.

"You little brat!" he muttered, just loud enough for Wally to hear him, "Get back here!" Wally turned slightly and saw the man run towards him. Wally shook his head and sped up. He turned when he saw a light on down yet another hallway. The man yelled louder and ran faster. Wally knew that he was going the right way, he could hear Kuki crying.

Suddenly he was on the floor. The man had pounced and knocked him to the ground. Wally yelled in frustration and tried to kick the man in the same place again, but the man had seen it coming and blocked him saying, "Not this time, little man." The man flashed a quick smile and punched Wally in the nose.

"I hate little kids like you." he muttered. Wallyclenched his teeth and lashed out at the man, his fists ready. He kicked the man in the knees. The man's jaw tightened, as he gripped his knee. Wally took advantage of the man's small pause and kicked up his knee into the man's nose. Blood stained the knee of Wally's jeans but he didn't care. His fist came down in the man's stomach.

He realized he was fighting with his anger, not his strength. His adrenline was racing, he had to calm down before he killed the guy. Wally punched the man hard on the head, knocking him out cold, then ran into the room.

"Why, hello Wally." came six voices, speaking in unison and monotone.

A/N: That was short, I can just tell without even looking at it twice! But I hope you all liked it anyway. I hope to get the next chapter done as soon as possible because I'm going through some serious suspense here, I am writing like a mad lady, watching all these words pop out as I, little by little, understand my own story more and more. lol. So that's that, chapter eight, over.