Disclaimer: gundam seed does not belong to me.
Note: I just realized how long Alyssa has been missing. Well, you'll see what happens now. Hope you guys like it, and I'm trying to add a few other influences into this fic. Don't know how it'll all work out.
Yzak lover extrodinaire: yes…let's leave that question for later shall we? Well…hope this chapter lives up to expectations.
SworDieXeQtion: so…this chapter shall be dedicated to Nicol, Yzak and Alyssa. Much more action packed…I find it quite cute…Haha…
Crazy: the update…has arrived. Hope you like it!
Rosegal18: a little late, but here nonetheless. Hope you enjoy.
Asga: Haha…. I guess. Well, the new chapter is here…happy reading.
Chapter 15 – lost and found
With Lacus found, they had one less person missing, however this did little to alleviate Nicol's feelings of worry.
It was worse for him. He had been a victim before and knew what it felt like, the cold and the darkness, the feeling that he was the only person in the world, to be cut off from all forms of life. All alone, thoughts running wild. Then came the beatings until he had finally lost consciousness. When he had awoken, he could still remember the joy that surged through him when he saw his sister again. He didn't want her to go through that hell. He had to find her, and find her quickly.
But the clues made no sense to him. Even though he had thought about them the entire night, he still couldn't think of anywhere the clues might mean.
Not up but down.
They had searched the entire basement. Unless there was a hidden passage they didn't know of, there was nowhere else to search.
Yzak lay in his bed. He couldn't get to sleep. Tossing and turning. Listening to the silence of the night. On the opposite bed, Dearka was already fast asleep.
He didn't really understand what was going on. He should be able to sleep peacefully, but the knowledge to Alyssa missing made him worried. He kind of missed her. He had already become so used to her presence, be it in school or here. Especially after they had spent the night searching for Nicol's clue. He had gotten to know her a lot better, and she stuck him as an intriguing character. Someone he would like to know a lot better. Would he get the chance?
Still confused about his feelings he pulled the covers over his head and forced the thoughts out of his head. He needed the sleep.
"Lacus. Can I ask you a few things?" Nicol asked.
"Sure. What is it?"
"You know this house inside out right?"
"You could say that."
"Do you know if there are any secret passages? Or anything below ground level besides the basement?"
"I don't think so. Wait, let me think."
A few moments later, her eyes lit up.
"You know the gardening shed? Well there is a trap door in one of the corners that lead down to the nursery. Does that help?"
As soon as Nicol heard that he was out of her room and off to the gardening shed torchlight in hand. Yzak, Fllay and Sai were right behind him.
Together they managed to lift the trap door. It looked as if it hadn't been used in ages. Climbing down into the darkness, their beams of light swept across the place.
It was cold and dark down here. Neat rows of baby plants lined the floor. Someone had been taking very good care of it.
Slowly the combed the area, but nothing could be found.
Before climbing back up, Fllay let her light linger on the ceiling. That was when Sai noticed something hanging in a corner.
Shining his light on it, they were shocked to find Alyssa's body pinned to the ceiling with a pitchfork. It was a gruesome sight, and Fllay couldn't help letting out a whimper.
Carefully, Yzak and Sai managed to get the body down and back up into the sunlight. Her hair was singed, as if she had been burnt. On her forehead was scribbled the words witch.
They called the rest of the group, and explained what had happened. Removing the pitchfork, they examined the body carefully, to no avail. There were no clues as to who the murderer was. However, on the handle of the pitchfork, something was written.
Edgar Allen Poe. Black cat.
" We're doing that for literature." Miriallia spoke up.
"It's about a cat who gets cemented into a wall. Or something like that. I can't really remember the details."
"So does this mean that Alyssa is buried in a wall somewhere?" Athrun asked.
"She's not dead. Don't use buried."
"Well there's always something called buried alive."
"Can the 2 of you just shut up, I'm trying to think."
The group fell silent.
"We use to have a cellar downstairs. But we boarded it up, since no one was using it. You can try there." Lacus said, she had come out on hearing the commotion.
At once there was a flurry of activity.
Using what tools they could get they ripped the boards apart, only to be faced with a door. A locked door.
"Since when did cellars have doors?"
"Does it matter? We're going to have to break it."
"And what happens if she's not the other side and in the process we manage to kill her?"
"Then what?"
"Every lock has to have a key."
"Lacus. Do you think you might have the key?"
"I'll go look for it."
A little while later she came back with a ring of keys. Slowly they tried each one. None of them worked, and Yzak was getting increasingly frustrated.
The feeling that they were so close was overwhelming. They were sure Alyssa was behind that door, but they just couldn't open it.
There had to be a way.
They tried picking the lock, but still it didn't open.
"Do you remember that key we found with Tolle's body?" Fllay asked.
"That's it. Where is it?"
"I think it's with Alyssa."
"Well she must have kept it somewhere. Can you guys go search her suitcase or something?"
Seconds turned to minutes, then to hours, but still the key wasn't found.
Nicol and Yzak sat in the basement, dejected. Was there really nothing that could be done?
In the dead of the night, Yzak suddenly woke up.
He had heard something, or at least he thought he heard something.
It was coming from behind the door. A scratching sound.
He crawled over and put his ear to the door. He was sure of it. Alyssa was in there and she was trying to do something.
"Alyssa is that you?"
Muffled sounds could be heard.
Then it occurred to him.
"Is the key with you?"
More muffled sounds this time more frantic.
"I take that as a yes. Okay. Why don't you try to slip it under the door."
No sound. Then the scraping sound came back.
By then Nicol had woken up to and Yzak quickly told him this new turn of events.
Patiently they waited, the only sound was the scratching and their breathing.
Then finally, they saw a glint of silver. Relief swept through them, and they hurriedly grabbed the key and unlocked the door.
On the other side, sat a very tired Alyssa.
"SIS! Thank goodness you're all right. I was so scared." Nicol said hugging her tightly.
He removed the cloth that had been roughly stuffed in her mouth and untied her sore limbs.
She gave a weak smile, "I'm glad to see you too."
Those were the last words she said before collapsing into his arms.
Note: I'm not sure about the Edgar Allen Poe thing. Was relying a lot on memory, which fails me most of the time. So…please correct me if I'm wrong. Well she's finally been found, thank goodness. Holidays are coming…in a week's time…so expect more frequent updates. Thanks! And please review….