Chapter 9: Arden's Friends Learn the Truth

The group followed Basil as he looked for clues. Every one was riding on Toby.

"Do you think we'll ever find Arden?" asked Kanaka. Dawson looked at her.

"Don't worry. We'll find her." replied Dawson. Kanaka still had a discouraged look on her face. Olivia then realized something.

"Wait a minute! I remember the way from last time!" exclaimed Olivia.

"Where!" asked Nathan. Olivia guided Toby through The Haunted Alley. Basil looked at her.

"You and Arden actually went in her?" he asked. Olivia nodded. Basil rolled his eyes. What no one knew was that someone was looking in the shadows.

"Finally. Ratigan's gone and Basil, Dawson, Toby, and those guys are right where I want them! My plan's working better than I expected!" said the creature in the shadows. Beatriz turned her head.

"Did you hear something?" asked Beatriz.

"I don't think so." replied Alonzo. Beatriz shrugged and looked forward. She ignored it. No one didn't seem to be afraid of The Haunted Alley.

"Wait!" yelled someone.

"Who said that?" asked Kanaka.

"I did!" yelled the someone behind them. Everyone looked behind them.

"Flaversham!" exclaimed Basil.

"If my daughter's coming, so am I!" said Flaversham. He got on Toby's back with them and they continued through. When they reached out of The Haunted Alley, they saw a place they never knew was there. Basil took a good look at it and saw it was none other than the lair of Felicia! Professor Ratigan's cat.

"We have just found the liar of Felicia, Ratigan's cat!" exclaimed Basil. Dawson saw something else. He saw a shadow through a window. He recognized the shadow. He tugged on Basil's shoulder.

"I see Arden's shadow!" he said. The kids slid off Toby's back. Flaversham slid off with them. While Basil was thinking up a plan, the kids, including Olivia, ran in to find Arden. Basil, Dawson, and Flaversham followed.

"Children wait!" exclaimed Flaversham. They all heard a big snap! Basil, Dawson, and Flaversham looked again and saw the kids in a mouse sized cage. Erin looked closely and saw a mouse trap.

"We've fallen into Felicia's trap……and there's no way out!" replied Erin. Angel started freaking out.

"Oh no! We've been tricked and, and THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF HERE!" yelled Angel. When, Basil, Dawson, and Flaversham were about to come in and help, they saw the shadow come to them.

"I'm starting to think that I'm wrong about that shadow." whispered Dawson. The shadow closed the door on the window. They all gasped.

"We're all gonna die!" yelled Cameron. The shadow picked up a lighted candle.

"My plan has worked." the shadow said.

"Plan? What plan?" asked Nathan. The shadow creature came out from the dark and it was actually Arden!

"Arden! You're the shadow creature that trapped us!" asked Hunter.

"You don't understand! Felicia uses this to trap innocent mice so that she could end their lives later. I've seen her do it. I've seen her actually eat one. It is NOT pretty sight! Luckily, I'm in charge almost everything here in the Rat Trap!" replied Arden. "Knowing all of this, I came up with the plan to write the letter to both Olivia and Basil to come here and help me escape. Am I smart or what?"

Everyone was amazed.

"Um Arden? What's going on?" asked Anna. Arden frowned.

"I might as well tell you." she said. She got them out of the cage and she started her story.

"Remember when I told you my entire story?" asked Arden. Everyone nodded "yes".

"Well, you see. One night, I was walking and Ratigan, well, found me. That devilish rat threatened me and said that if I didn't work for him, he'd find you all and harm youand I can't let that happen! Now I'm caught between that devil and who I used to be." explain Arden.

"I have to work for him. I have no other choice." said Arden filled with sorrow. Everyone had a real serious look on their face.

"I know it sounds hard to understand. But trust me; you'll understand it all in good time." she said.

Hunter came up to her.

"Are you sure this is the true?" asked Hunter.

"I'm sure." replied Arden. Hunter hugged her.

"You're doing a good thing." whispered Hunter. Arden hugged him back.

"Yes, well. All my life, I've wanted to be someone I KNOW Ratigan doesn't want me to be!" replied Arden. "I've always wanted him to see the REAL woman in me because the REAL woman in me is determined, serious, and has wanted to kick his rat ass for a long time!"

"Yes well, we've really missed you Arden! We've wanted you to come back and draw your pictures like you've been doing." said Alana. Arden smiled.

"Yes I've wanted to draw and write. But I can't be able to because I have to deal with Mr. Big and Mighty 24 hours a day, seven days a week!" replied Arden.

Erynn put her hand on her shoulder.

"Its okay, Arden! You'll get out of this." she said trying to be encouraging. Arden smiled.

"Thank you, but, I don't think I will get out because what you don't understand is that I've wanted to be free all my life. Ratigan has been coming into my life without permission too many times. Now I just want to fall to my knees and yell at him "LEAVE ME ALONE!" But I know that probably will now come before it would be too late. Besides, leave it to Ratigan to make your life miserable while your trying to elude him." replied Arden.

"But I don't care what he does! He may make me do crazy things! But he won't ever change the way I feel inside! He has his opinion and I have mine!" said Arden triumphantly.

Daren tapped on her shoulder.

"I have two questions for you." he said.

"Ask." replied Arden.

"Why are you wearing black?" asked Daren.

"It's a long story." replied Arden.

"Make it short. I like short." said Daren.

"I guess this all came in when I started working for the professor." replied Arden. "Next?"

"How do we get out of here?" asked Daren. Arden smiled.

"That's part of the plan. It's this way. Hold on to each others hand and do NOT let go for any reason!" replied Arden. Hunter held onto Arden's, then Cameron, then Nathan (he had wanted to be in front of Arden), then Alonzo, then Daren, then Angel, then Alana, then Anna, then Beatriz, then Erin, and the Allison.

"Now remember everyone, if you see this bat with a crooked wing and a peg leg (Olivia you already know this) than you know Ratigan is up to something. His name is Fidget. He's Ratigan henchman. I guess you can say that he is a major suspect for the concoctions of chaos Ratigan creates." explained Arden.

Arden led them through a tunnel that led outside. With everyone's hands still hanging on, Arden brought them to a little door in a building. She had everyone go in first. When Arden was about to come in with them, she heard Ratigan call her name.

"(Gasp) it's Ratigan! Everyone go! Go now, don't let him find you!" she whispered warningly. Everyone fled. Arden turned directly around to see Ratigan walk up to her.

"Where were you?" he asked harshly. Arden had to think of something.

"I've been checking on Felicia. God forbid you do not want to lose her!" she fibbed. Arden felt guilty. She never lied to anyone before. Not even to what Arden called a dimwitted nitwit. That's what Arden thought that Ratigan was. Little did she know was that by tomorrow, her life was about to change. Forever……