Chapter 6: The Kidnapping Cabin

Tai, Takakura, and Celia trotted through the woods late into the night. The moon was hidden behind the tree's, making seeing the forest floor impossible. Celia slept soundly on Thunder. She fell asleep earlier that day. The sun had turned her red.

Takakura and Tai stayed awake while Celia napped. They were on the lookout for anything suspious in the night's darkness. It took almost all the strenght in Tai to just keep himself from giving up.

"Taka," Tai broke the silence late into the night. "What if...what if we can't find Jason? What...what would happen?" Tai choked. He didn't want to lose something important from him...not again.

"Tai," Takakura hissed. "Don't think like that! We're gonna find him and get him home safely, after, of course, we give those kidnappers a lesson in life!" He smiled holding up at fist.

Tai had to smile. Takakura always seemed to lighten up the mood, even in the darkness times. "Thanks, Taka."

They continued on for many hours. Tai had fell asleep many hours before, leaving Takakura awake to look out. The fog was thick against the underbrush, it hard to see.

"Tai! Tai, wake up!"

Late into the night, almost in the morning, Tai awoke to Takakura shaking and calling his name.

"What? What is it?" Tai yawned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Squinting into the darkness, Tai staired as Takakura pointed in front of them. A cabin sat, eerie looking in the fog and darkness.

"Tai, is that it?" Takakura whispered. Tai felt beads of pesperation start to dot his face out of neviousness.

"I...I don't know," he whispered back. "I...I've never seen it, but somehow...it seems so familier..."

"Let's take a look," Takakura answered back, bringing his horse to a stop. Tai did the same and they both dismounted their horses. While Tai tended to wake up Celia, Takakura examined the cabin. It was just an ordinary cabin. It looked like it had been deserted. It was rundown, the roof was ready to cave in at any time.

Celia dismounted the horse and Tai and her stepped beside Takakura. The night air caused Celia to shudder. Tai held her close.

"Well," Takakura whispered, breaking the eerie silence. "Let's get inside and check it out." He walked torward the cabin. Tai and Celia were right behind him.

"It's so quiet," Celia whispered, a look of worry in her eyes. Takakura carefully pushed the cabin door open and, with a loud squeak, it opened. The inside of the cabin was dark, but they could make out a bunch of sheet covered furniture. It had been deserted.

The trio entered and shuddered as the floorboards squeaked. Looking around they saw a bunch of photographs on the walls and 2 beds in the back room.

"Well," Tai muttered, looking at the cabin. "This is the only place we have to stay tonight. Let's just get through it." Takakura and Celia reluctently nodded.

Tai took the rumpsack off his back and grabbed a can of food. He grinned apologizingly and walked outside to build a fire, while Takakura and Celia unpacked the bottles of water and plastic utensils.

Tai grabbed a bunch of twigs and branches. He set them up neatly and pulled a pack of matches from his pockets. He layed his sickle right next to him, to use as a weapon. As he struck the match, he remember how Jason always looked when he saw fire. Tai sighed sadly and threw the match in the fire. Soon, he had a roaring fire going.

Suddenly, from inside the house, Tai heard a crash and then a scream. "Celia," he whispered, grabbing his sickle and rushing into the cabin. A part of the wooden floor had collasped from age and Celia had fell in it. She was holding on, trying her best not to fall into the darkness below. It seemed to go on and on.

"Celia!" Tai cried, running over. Takakura was no where to be seen.

"Tai!" Celia screamed. "Tai, help!"

Tai grabbed her hand and tried to help her up. But to his surprise, she seemed heavier, like something was pulling her down. He tried and tried but it was no use.

"Celia! Celia, hang on!" Tai grunted, looking around for something that would help him.

"Tai!" Celia cried as her hand began to slip from his.

"No, Celia, hang on! Please!" Tai cried back, clinging to her despertatly, tears coming to his eyes. He couldn't lose Celia too. Not her...

But to his horror, Celia's hand slipped from his. She fell into the darkness.

Tai jumped in after her. But, he was pulled back by strong hands. Tears were streaming down Tai's face. He fought with the strong arms.

"Let me GO!" Tai screamed, struggling to get away. "Celia!" But Tai couldn't get away. The strong arms lifted him up and layed him on the ground. The arms tried to comfort him, but it was no use. Tai just layed their and cried.

He had lost everything.

Sooooo... hows was this chapter? Better than the last? Hope so...REVIEW! --

SoL