Chapter 8: Depressed and Addicted

Arden ofter wondered about what was going on with Hunter and the rest of her new found friends.

Ever since learning about Arden's disappearance, he hasn't been out for awhile. He had also been hearing rumors about Arden having an alliance with Ratigan. Neither Hunter nor his friends believed it. He thought that Arden was their friend and he wouldn't do anything to betray them…nothing. Hunter kept writing poems, but they unfortunately became more and more depressing. As the poems became more depressed, so did Hunter. The boy mouse could not stop thinking about the girl he had met and became entranced by. Her head became filled with depressing thoughts that screamed for Arden to come back and make him happy again. How long will it take to get her back, he wondered. He wondered about many things that had to with his missing treasure. Would making Arden a thug really be a plot of the dirty rat to take everything she had left and kill her? Will he ever see Arden again? How would Arden feel if he went looking for her? These were questions he did not know the answers to. Oh, but how he longed to find them out.

When Hunter would think of her, he'd feel very sentimental. Whenever Cameron would ask what was wrong, Hunter would always reply the same thing. "I'm worried about Arden."
"Hunter, it's been weeks since anyone's seen Arden. She's been filed as a missing person and we've all been looking for her. I've even asked my mom to help search despite her busy schedule at the bar. But let's just face it: hardly anybody's still looking for her, and that's just not because of the rumors. Man, I'm your friend, and I'm telling you that we'll never find her!" said Cameron one day. Hunter looked away from him and glared.
"How could you say such a thing?" he mumbled.
"Beg your pardon?" asked Cameron.
"How could you say that I should give up?! I can't give up! Arden's one heck of a girl and if I don't see her again, I'll be devastated! Now stop with the negatives 'cause I'm going to find Arden and bring her back! I sweat to God!!" replied Hunter.

When Hunter finished his hopeful speech, Cameron walked away feeling depressed. Hunter too felt depressed. Actually, Hunter would feel more depressed than anyone. The poor boy had had girlfriends before, but no girl had ever caught her attention at the time like Arden. Hunter longed for the girl he wanted to be back in the boarding house he lived and learned at.

Allison would always wonder what was going on. Arden was missing for more than two weeks. Erin advised to go to Basil of Baker Street. Hunter agreed to any plan. He just wanted to see Arden again. He couldn't go on without knowing her.

Angel advised to go to Olivia Flaversham. Angel knew that Arden once told her about the journey she and Olivia had. She remembered a bit of it:

Flaversham and Mrs. Judson's favorite part was getting away from that place and getting home safe.

At first no one knew what was going to happen that night, before it was too late.

Angel remembered just about all of it though. Hunter would sometimes hear about it. It would always make him think of Arden. "I gotta find her. Arden's one amazing girl and I'd hate to think of something horrible happening to her," he thought.

The next day, Arden's friends (including Hunter) got together and had a meeting about the problem. Everyone agreed to both plans. The 1st plan is to find Olivia for help knowing that she was Arden's closest friend. The 2nd plan was to find Basil of Baker Street and ask him for help, and then, off they would go into the dark London eastend to find their beloved new friend.

The friends went to the Flaversham's house and told Hiram and Olivia everything. While Hiram was not looking, Olivia joined the group and left a note telling Hiram where she went. When Hiram found the note and read it, he became filled with worry. The thought of her daughter practically walking into danger yet again made him feel scared, a little crazy, and distraught. The thought of her or any other innocent person getting hurt would make him feel even more crazy.

After picking up Olivia, the group went to Basil of Baker Street, where the great mouse detective himself and his associate Dr. Dawson joined them. At first, Basil did not want young preteens like Arden's friends to go with them into the more dangerous parts of London, but they had to. After deliberation and much arguing, Hunter's search party finally won the arguement and Basil, though reluctant, let them come along.

Knowing Ratigan, Basil knew he was up to something. Hunter was happy for their help. He knew Arden was somewhere there.

"We're gonna find you Arden." whispered Hunter as he and his search party