Disclaimer: ARGH! Kay this document had been deleted not one, not two, but THREE TIMES! And I was done! Then the next time I come on and go to upload it, it's gone! GAAAAAAH! I have to start over, AGAIN! FOR THE FOURTH TIME! Kay I saved it. Hopefully it won't go anywhere…omfg! I'm so mad! I was freaking finished.. like holy crap! Okay…here it is…for the fourth time…
Chapter 19: Rumors and Escape
Terry and Alan ran out at the sound of Mr. Sir's water truck getting ready to lead them away. They grabbed their shovels quickly and followed the rest of S.C. gang and F-Tent as per usual. Solitary confinement was always merged with the F-Tent when they went out to dig. (Or else they would be too small.)
"Hey look it's the little couple!" Said Sunshine mockingly. "Rumor has it you two were out for a midnight stroll last night."
"Err.." Terry and Squid exchanged realizing glances as they walked behind him.
"Aw, that's so sweet! In fact, let's tell Mr. Steel about it shall we?" He leapt forward but they both snatched him by the collar and yanked him back.
"Who told you about last night? N-not that we were…doing anything." Said Squid, his face slowly but surely turning pink.
"Haha. I'll keep quiet if you do something for me!" He snickered, glancing at his F-Tent mates ahead.
"Like what?" Terry said, rolling her eyes. But Squid nudged her and pulled Sunshine closer.
"Who saw us? Who told you about this?"
"Will you beat him up?" He giggled sarcastically.
"Wh-? No…we just need to know!" He stammered, frowning.
"Fine. It was Axe. But .."
'Axle? He was spying on us?'
"That's just great!" Squid growled, letting go of Sunshine's suit and rubbing his temples.
"Why does it matter so much? Just because you guys were making out doesn't mean they'll send you home!"
Terry blasted him a laserbeam look.
"You don't understand!"Sunshine rolled his eyes and dragged his shovel along the ground.
"You still have to do something for me or I'll tell—
"FINE! WHAT?" Exploded Terry, banging her shovel on the ground, and attracting some unwanted attention from the boys ahead.
"Err…(He waited until people turned around again) How about you dig my holes for a month?"
"A week." She retorted.
"A month!"
"Two weeks."
"Three and it's done."
"Fine…"
"Lazy little bastard…" She muttered under her Breath.
"Starting today!"
He caught up with his friends again and Terry looked at Squid. He was blushing furiously.
"If news of that reaches the warden, we're doomed." He groaned quietly.
"Oh well. As long as it doesn't, we're fine right?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because The Warden has Axle in the palm of her hand. And he was the one who saw us last night in the FIRST place."
"We have to find a cover up story!" She gulped.
"We already do!"
"What? Oh.." She bit her lip and avoided his eyes.
"But!" She began to protest, but he stopped her.
"We're between a rock and a hard place Terry. Would you rather have her think we actually snuck into her cabin, or that we were..making out!"
"I don't have to answer that!" She huffed. "It's all so..stupid."
"I know…D-Tent will never let me hear the end of it."
They were both embarassed and extremely frustrated, and avoided each other's eyes.
When everyone was there and got their hole, Terry heard several people whispering things as she went by. She threw Squid an anxious look, which was ignored. It was a rather….uptight day. But luckily it was going by fairly fast and she managed to steal someone's orange at lunchtime.
After she had finished her own hole after helping Sunshine Terry wearily dragged herself out, her bangs matted to her forehead with sweat. Squid had already left.
'What a great friend!'
So she walked back alone in the dying but still hot sunlight, unhappy and exhausted.
--------------Small Time skip--------------
"Ugh.." She ripped a bite out of her bun.
"So, is it true that you guys were out in the middle of the night yesterday-er…night?" Inquired Aero.
"Yup…" Said Squid as he ate with a blank expression.
"And it's true that you were—
"Can it, bud." Said Squid irritably, his eyes darting away.
"See you later," Said Terry. She got up with her plate, desperately wanting to leave. The last thing she needed was the warden to come up to her and-
"Terry!"
"WHAT!" She yelped, nearly jumping out of her skin. Dr. Pendanski was right in behind her with a pair of handcuffs. (Which he slipped behind his back right away in hopes she didn't see them.)
"I need to have a word with you and Alan, if you're not busy."
"Uh…yeah…-I mean No! No, no we're not busy..er..what-did I mean what are you concerned about?"
"We can discuss that in private. He motioned for her to follow him as he walked over to the S.C. Table. Squid gave Terry a "What's up with this?" Kinda look as Pendanski grabbed him by the wrist and led them out of the building. He stopped at his office beside Mr. Sir's and opened it, going in first. The cheap wooden door sprang shut and slammed on Terry's nose.
"MMMF!" She clutched her face as they were ushered down into chairs behind a desk laden with papers and overstuffed folders.
Pendanski paid absolutely no attention to her nose (which was now gushing blood,) and immediately began to speak.
"Now…there have been a few rumors going around about you two. I expect you know what they are?"
Terry and Squid nodded silently.
"Yes……..(he paused for a bit) ….The warden, Mr. Sir and I tend to doubt those rumors are really true. At least, we hope they aren't."
Squid flashed Terry an embarrased glance. Was that a good thing they didn't believe the rumors?
"Camp Greenlake discourages……physical interaction of that sort, but that is not the issue here. The issue is that the warden thinks someone was in her cabin last night."
"Why would she think that?" Asked Terry, pressing her thick orange sleeve under her nose.
"This morning, she found something on the ground in her cellar."
He reached out and in his palm was a small silver chain.
Squid shot Terry an exasperated look.
'Squid's chain! I must have dropped it!' (A/N: Hehe for those of you who didn't catch on)
"Recognize it?" Asked Dr. Pendanski with an almost-evil grin.
"No, of course not." Said Squid, shaking his head. "Lazer, you recognize it?"
"Nope, I don't know who that belongs to, nuh-uh!" She shook her head vigorously. (Which made her nose bleed even more)
---------------Squid's POV-------------
"Well you should, because I asked around and everyone said it was…Alan's."
Sweat was now beading on his forehead. He didn't like the way this was going at ALL. Something had to be done to keep Pendanski from making them tell…Then for some reason, an idea popped into his head. (A/N: How convenient!)
He nudged Terry's leg with his foot. She gave him a quizzical glance. Under the table, he pointed to Pendanski. Then he used his middle and index finger to make a person, then his other hand made a person jumping on that person. Terry watched him while the stupid doctor blabbered on and on. Understanding, she nodded ever so slightly and put up three fingers under the desk.
Three…
Two…
One…
The two sprang into action, leaping over the desk like ravenous jaguars. They tackled Pendanski with all their might. And like a sack of potatoes, the chair, the doctor, and the two juvenile delinquents went sailing down to meet the concrete floor.
-CRASH!-
They managed to pin him down for a few seconds, but he flipped over and whipped out his handcuffs. But before he could get up Terry got him in a strangulating headlock with her legs. Wasting no time, Squid ripped out the man's leather belt and wrapped it around his forearms and body, squeezing him into the tightest setting. Then they clicked the handcuffs onto his wrists.
They both stood up, and watched the cowering counselor writhe, tied up with a belt on the floor. Squid couldn't help but feel like they forgot something…
"HEEEEEEEELP!" Dr. Pendanski yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Crap! Take off your sock!" Said Terry hurriedly, taking out her blue bandanna. Squid pulled off his right boot and took off his sock.
"H!-Ghmphf.." Squid crammed the sweaty sock into the gaping mouth and Terry gagged him with the rolled up bandanna. She quadruple knotted it behind his head, then stood up, admiring her work.
"That seems satisfactory." She beamed.
"Yeah, but what the hell now?" He said, crazy scenarios racing through his head.
"I'd like to find some thing out." She said, grinning.
"Come on, if we try to interrogate him he'll just scream for help again. Some one could be coming already!"
She sighed. "Yeah, but I'll never know why they want me out of here so bad!" She regarded the chain on the table and snatched it possessively.
"Mmmfuummmpf!" Pendanski kicked Terry in the shin.
"Ow!"
And Squid kicked him in the head. He was out cold. Squid grinned at Terry but she only rolled her eyes.
With the doctor unconscious, they could now discuss things more privately.
"I say we raid his stuff." Said Terry, eyeing the door beside them.
"I'll search these folders. You go into the back room," Suggested Squid.
"Okay, but keep an eye on sleepy here."
"Will do," He said, digging around in the massive pile of paper on the desk.
--------------------Terry's POV----------------
She opened the old door and stepped into Dr. Pendanski's cramped bedroom. There was a twin bed and a small desk at the end. There was also a closet, but it was empty.
'Does that mean he wears the same clothes EVERY day!'
He probably didn't but who knew…Something on the desk caught her attention. She walked through the dusty room and grabbed a letter off the desk. It had been opened, and the paper was messily shoved back into the envelope. Beside it was a cigar lighter. She took out the paper.
"Squid!"
"Yeah?"
"I found something.."
He ran into the tiny room,
"Woah talk about your broom closets!…hey what's that?" He rushed over to her side and read it over her shoulder. The letter was in loopy, black handwriting:
Percy,
I found a necklace in my basement this morning. (Enclosed with the letter.) There were also three sets of footprints, and a few of my boxes were knocked over. I remember some noise from downstairs last night, and thought it was a raccoon… But that is completely out of the question. I think that blasted Terry girl was down there with Squid. The third person I still have to figure out. To the point…I need you to talk to them and try to get as much out of them as you can. Do what ever you have to do to get them to talk. We can't afford anyone to find out about the 'thing.' Meet me at 11:30 sharp in my cabin tonight. We can discuss this more privately.
Be there,
The Warden
P.S. Burn this letter when you are finished. We don't need anyone to find out.
"What an idiot!" Exclaimed Squid.
Well, that at least explained the lighter right beside the envelope.
"Why did she use, the 'warden' instead of her real name?" She pointed out, studying the letter.
"Probably to maintain her reputation," He shrugged.
"Man, what are we gonna do now?" She asked, eyeing her blood-soaked sleeves.
A small tear rolled out of her eye.
---------Flashback-------
She sat on the floor, sobbing. There was the poor girl who had been stabbed by someone-they just ran out. She put her hand on Caitlin Moore's shoulder, turning her over gently. The poor grade seven's face was pale, and dark blood was streaming down her back. She was unconscious. There was an eerie warmth as the pool of blood on the tile soaked into Terry's pants.
'I had better go get a teacher…' She thought hazily. But her thoughts were slurred as she was watching the life drain from this kid. Picking up the knife, it felt loathsome. Cold, hatred, and death seemed to ooze from it. She got up, but was grabbed from behind. The principal and the police were in the bathroom, they said someone saw Caitlin and Terry in the bathroom. A Policewoman snatched the knife out of her hand, yelling out stuff like: Anything you say can and will be used...blah blah blah...As Terry was hauled away, she looked from the horrified expressions on her friends' faces to her bloody sleeves…suddenly realizing why they were frog marching her into a bulletproof squad car outside.
----------End of Flashback-----------
"I don't know, we'll probably have to.." He gazed at the girl, who had puffy eyes and she whirled around in an effort to keep him from seeing.
"What's the matter?" He asked quietly, expecting an outburst.
"It's just…these sleeves…she wiped her bleeding nose again and looked down at her arms. They bring back a painful memory." She sniffed, but ended up coughing on her own blood.
"I'm sorry, I won't ask…"
(Squid) 'Did she kill someone to get here? Gosh..'
"We should get down to buisness," she said quickly.
"Right.." He tried not to think about his own little experience with Greg. "Well, somehow I think Mom will have to sit this meeting out." He said mischievously.
"So…what are you suggesting?"
"We should write the warden a little note saying that he's at an emergency doctor's appointment."
"While we're at it, we can listen in on their little pow-wow. Just to see what's up."
"Good idea. Now we have to find out how to forge his writing.."
After much trouble they finally managed to scrawl down a quick note (that looked relatively close to his writing) after they found a letter he wrote from a week ago:
Warden,
I found out they really were in your basement. But I cannot attend our meeting at 11;30 because I have an emergency doctor's apoinmant. I seem to have disclocated my uchelena and I hope to be back in a few days. Sorry to dissapoint you! I sent the kids back to solitary confinement so they are being severely punished as I write. And by the way, there was a rather large pimple on the back of your neck last time I saw you.
Very Sorry,
Percy.
"Nice spelling. And isn't uchelena a type of bacteria?" Said Squid.
"She won't notice. And I was never the best speller okay?" Terry huffed, and stuffed the piece of paper in an envelope. She left the front blank, and crammed it in her pocket.
"We'll need to hide the body," She commented, pointing at Dr. Pendanski.
The two of them dragged him into a closet and propped the chair up, the guy's head flopping to one side.
"Should we leave some water for him?" Said Terry, picking up a half full bottle of spring water on the shelf.
"Nah!" They both cried in unison.
Laughing, they locked the door shut and put the desk up against it.
Terry sighed. She knew they didn't have much time…
"I suppose we can't be around if the Warden gets suspicious or Pendanski breaks out." He said, thinking.
"We at least have to listen to their conversation. Then we can decide what to do. For now…" She regarded the letter.
"Let's go past the cabin and slip it in her mailbox while no one's looking." Suggested Squid.
"Yeah, but better do it before everyone wonders where we went."
They crept out of the office, taking the doctor's keys with them and locking the door. It was beginning to get dark, and most of the boys had left the mess hall by now and were in the tents. The staff were lounging around in the adult lounge, and the camp was rather quiet.
Walking slowly and checking behind them every few seconds, the two teenage delinquents carefully made their way over to the warden's porch.
"Alright. Up you go Lazer!" Whispered Squid while they crouched around the corner. He handed her the letter.
"I don't think so!" She hissed, giving him a shove.
"I'm not going!" He replied, edging back.
"Well neither am I!" She tossed the letter at him.
"Just walk up and slip it in the mailbox. Not so hard is it?"
"If it's so easy, then you go!"
"Fine I will!" He spat, elbowing her aside. She smirked gleefully.
Success.
He slinked around the corner of the log cabin and crept up the steps, pushing the letter into the mailbox. Then he leapt over the railings on the deck and landed beside her with a THUD!
"Quickly! Let's go to our tent!"
They sprinted back to the solitary confinement tent and ran in, panting like dogs.
"Where were you two?" Asked Zigzag with an eyebrow raised. Axle's black head shot around, listening carefully.
"Oh, uh..Pendanski wanted to see us." Said Terry, scratching her back.
Axle was scruitinizing their every word.
"What's with the sleeves?" He asked darkly.
"Oh I got a bloody nose from crashing into his swinging door."
"Hey that happened to me once! That guy has the cheapest springs, I swear- began Aero.
"Shut up." Said Axle. "Why did he want to see you?"
"It-uh…" Began Terry. But suddenly Squid turned around and kissed her, grabbing her arms and pushing her behind the divider.
"What the HELL do you think your doing!" She whispered into his ear, trying to pull away.
"Just play along!"
"Not until!- (another kiss.) She had no idea what he was doing or why, but she hoped he had a plan.
"Do ya have to ask?" Said Aero, watching them from his cot with intent. Axle was rather surprised.
'Maybe the rumors really are true! Maybe I didn't have to tell the warden at all….'
Zigzag was rather stunned as well and he lay down on his cot.
"Maybe you should just…er…leave them alone." He said to Aero, who was still watching the performance eagerly. Their arms were wrapped around each other, they were beginning to slip off the cot…
'But I thought they didn't really like each other THAT much…oh! I get it…They are just pretending so axle will think they really WERE making out!'
Terry and Alan were on the floor as Axle got up and said:
"I have to go to the crapper." Aero, being his little decipel snapped to attention and followed him out.
When she heard the tent flaps close Terry yanked herself away from Squid and stood up.
"Ugh…" She brushed off her dusty work clothes and watched as Squid stood up.
"Heh." He had a slightly smiling expression but as soon as their eyes met his face went straight.
SLAP
"That's for being a pervert!" She hissed.
He rubbed his face and gave her big brown puppy eyes.
"Now what in the name of God were you thinking?"
"I was thinking he might actually believe the rumors if we put on a show." He smiled slightly as he said this. "At least now Aero won't try to flirt with you anymore.." (There was just a hint of triumph in there.)
"Well either way let's hope it worked…" She said, wiping her mouth. "Now what?"
"We follow Axle to see if he tells on us."
They tried to stay hidden behind the tents as they followed the tall dark haired boy and his brown curly mopped stooge. They were running past D-Tent when suddenly two sets of arms grabbed them and swept them into the tent, pushing them against the floor.
"What are you doi- began Squid, but a hand clapped over his mouth the instant it opened.
"Shut up. We want the truth from y'all, alright?" Said X-Ray, looming over them. "Just cuz you guys aren't in our tent no more don't mean we can't notice when weird things is going on."
"Now, said Armpit, who was holding Squid. "We want to know why you guys snuck out the other night. And don't say cuz you were making out."
"We..Were…" Squid looked at Terry for an Answer.
"We were looking for something."
"Where and what?" Said Magnet, holding Terry.
"That's none of your concern!" She snapped. But Squid rolled his eyes and answered.
"We were in the warden's basement looking for a chest that supposedly belongs to her family."
"And?"
"We didn't find it, but we did find one that said Stanley Yelnats on it. Now, would you loosen up your grip a little Armpit!"
"Sorry."
"Why were you sneaking around when we caught you?"
"We were following someone."
pause
"Because we wanted to see if he was talking to the warden about something!"
"What something?" Asked X-Ray.
"The fuckin rumor now get offa me!" He struggled but Armpit just shoved his face into the dirt.
"Why?"
"We're planning to escape, okay?" Blurted out Terry.
"Why?"
"Because I'm innocent and he has a lawsuit to settle."
"That's crazy man! You'll never survive!" Exclaimed Magnet.
"We were going to try and plan it out."
"Maybe you guys…ptuh! Can help us…" Said Squid, spitting out sand.
"How come you never told us!"
"Well we were going to tell you but.."
"But what?" Spat Magnet.
"We were trying to find out more information before we knew what to do."
"Tell you what. We'll help you but on one condition."
"What's that?" Asked Terry suspiciously.
"That you promise not to die."
" And tell us…are you guys in love?" he stretched the word out on his tongue like melting toffee.
Terry: "Erm.."
Squid: "Uhh…"
Their faces flushed a bit and their eyes locked as the boys laughed mockingly.
"Well now that we found out everything, I think it's fair to let them up. Said X-Ray, walking down the aisle of beds. There were still some chuckles as Magnet and Armpit got off their backs and stood up. Terry heard her back crack as she got to her feet. Sitting on the bed next to them were Zero and a new kid.
"This here is Gigabyte, a computer nerd from New Mexico to replace Caveman." Gigabyte grinned sheepishly. He had glasses on and straight black hair combed back.
They sat on X-Ray's cot and drew up a list. He read it out:
"Kay, you'll need water and food for the four day trip it is to the little gas station way out near Bushbrook (A small town east of the camp.) And you'll also need something to protect you from the sun during the day…
Here, said Zero, pulling a large piece of spare tenting material off a shelf near the entrance.
"And uh…probably some sunscreen."
"Yeah that's a real problem Ex…" Said Squid, pulling a bottle out of his pocket. At camp Greenlake, you always had some for digging in the hot sun.
"And last but not least, a map. But that won't be necessary scince all you have to do is follow the road to the town."
"We'll have to travel by nightfall to avoid being seen." Said Terry.
"When will you guys leave?" Asked Armpit.
"Probably tonight," Squid said. "But we have to do something first."
"What, make out agai- Began the new kid.
THWAP
Squid hit Gigabyte over the head.
"Alright. Thanks but we'd better go!" Said Terry, dragging Squid away from Gigabyte to prevent further clobberage.
"Yeah see ya…and come to us when you're gonna leave, okay!" Said X-Ray.
"Will do!" Said Terry as she closed the flaps. She looked at Squid.
"Let's go."
It was 9:47 and pretty much lights out. Terry and Squid were sitting on his bed discussing the escape. The tent was dark, except for a light outside.
"So after we listen to the conversation, then we grab our stuff, run to D-Tent and they can tell us whatever. Then we run off into the pitch black night in the general eastern direction."
"Sounds like a good plan!" But when will pendanski break out of his little..
There was a soft crash from the other side of the camp and an enraged roar:
"Where are those damn kids!"
It was very loud and very angry, and came from the throat of none other than Dr. P. Pendanski.
"So much for the plan!" Said Terry, wide eyed.
"Shit! We have to run before he catches us!"
Terry grabbed the tarp, Squid the water bottles they had filled before hand.
And they ran.
As fast as their legs could possibly carry them, the girl and the boy sprinted away from the minimum-security juvenile delinquent facility. They ran along the dirt road until their lungs were on fire and their legs crumpled into the sand.
Distantly, they could hear the alarm bell of Camp Greenlake ringing to get everyone to come out of the tents and assemble in the mess hall. This time, there would be two individuals missing.
"Damn…" Panted Squid.
"We have to keep going…" Terry said in between gulps of air. "Look…the holes only ended a while back."
"Fine, but…if you're too tired I'll just have…to carry you."
"No one said…I needed your help…"
"Well…you…
They both stopped trying to talk and rest their heads down, instantly falling asleep.
Disclaimer: Whew…SOOO sorry for the long wait! I know you guys must hate me for it but trust me…the quality is better when I'm not rushed. Thanks again for the reviews, they all made me smile. Me getting reviews happy more story. And I hope you liked the chapter. Yes, the romance is increasing slightly..and the plot is ever thickening. If you would like to:
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