Gripped by fear Robyn turned around. Despite the undisturbed darkness of the room she could perceive the speaker standing in a corner of the room. She knew who it was. She knew who was there but she couldn't run, she couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. The person moved slightly and lit a small lantern which threw only a small amount of light along two of the four walls. Revealed in this light was the full horror of the person who had addressed her.
It was Lily. Or at least what was left of her.
Her flesh hung down in lumps where it had been peeled away. What skin remained on her hands and face had darkened as it had decomposed. It looked to have the texture of autumn leaves, dry and devoid of moisture. Parts of her skull were visible and what remained of her hair was thin and limp. One of her eyes was just a hollow socket while the other had become a milky colour. Neither of her lips remained, their absence revealed blackened gums. Her teeth were a deep yellow and the small spaces in between were black. Both of her cheeks were sallow and so thin that the bone was visible underneath.
Smiling as best as her withered features would allow Lily said, "You'll have to forgive me, I'm not looking my best at the moment."
Robyn stood transfixed by the hideous picture her mother created. The stench coming from her still rotting corpse was nigh unbearable. Whatever food remained in her stomach was trying its utmost to leave. The air in the basement was thick and warm. Combined with this and the sheer terror that filled her she was having a hard time staying conscious. Whatever nerves she had left began to fail her as her mother let out a sickening, rasping laugh. Slowly everything faded to black and she slumped to the ground.
Darkness began to fall over Lazytown and a chill wind blew through the trees. Frantic shouts rang out in the silence of the evening and shadows ran in between street lights as they searched desperately for their missing friend. Robyn had been missing for nearly two hours and the last person to see her had been Ché. After half an hour's worth of searching everyone returned to Robbie's house to talk on strategies.
When everyone arrived at the house Ché spoke up, "Myself and Greta will cover the cemetery and lake. Sportacus go the other way and see what you can find. Doctor Cole has promised to cover Crazytown with Michael."
"What about me?" Kit asked.
"Stay here with Robbie. If we contact you and come back with nothing call the police. They can canvas the area on the ground while we take the skies."
"I'm not happy with this but I guess I have no choice but to put up and shut up."
"Exactly. That goes for Trixie too. We still have half an hour until things get really dark, let's roll."
With that Ché, Greta and Sportacus left the house. Trixie wasn't content to sit and do nothing while one of her best friends was in danger so she decided to hit the road, to do this she needed a car. Leaving the house she headed over to the Mayor's house to ask Bessie if she could borrow hers. Bessie agreed immediately and handed her the keys. When she got outside Stingy was standing by the car with his arms folded. Without protesting she unlocked the car and both climbed inside.
Half an hour had passed and as yet there had been no sign of Robyn. She wasn't by the lake or in the cemetery. After Sportacus had reported in that he'd found nothing everyone began to get really worried. To make doubly sure that they hadn't missed anything Ché suggested that he and Sportacus swap areas. There was a chance that a fresh pair of eyes on both sides would make a difference.
As Sportacus met Ché's airship halfway over the town he went to the viewing platform after the giant had indicated for him to do so. Greta stood on the viewing platform of her airship and threw a high-beam spotlight torch over to Sportacus. She told him to use it even though there was ample lighting in the cemetery to see by. When Sportacus asked her how she and Ché would see without their torch she told him they had a spare.
"I wish you'd stop doing that you're making me dizzy," Kit said after watching Robbie pace for over an hour.
"What am I supposed to do, go out on the sports field and play hopscotch?"
"That won't help, getting shirty with me I mean. I'm worried too and fighting will get us nowhere. We should work together and think this over."
Robbie stopped pacing and sat down heavily in his chair, "You're right. What could have happened?"
"I don't have the slightest idea. None of us could have said or done anything to upset her but if someone grabbed her who was it? Cain's dead, Lily's dead and I don't know anyone else that would want to hurt her."
"Ziggy."
"Nah, he wouldn't. It's not something he'd do."
Nodding Robbie let out a deep sigh. Fear gripped him when he realised that the Judges could be responsible for Robyn's disappearance. Nothing he tried could shake this thought from his mind and his worry grew to fever pitch. Overtaken by all of the images conjured in his mind his stomach revolted against him and he ran to the bathroom. Once his stomach had ejected all that was inside it he fell to the ground from his knees and pressed his face to the cold tile. Feeling completely hopeless in the face of his theories he sobbed. He wasn't sure if he'd ever see his little girl again and it was what scared him the most.
Trixie and Stingy continued to drive around as they held on to frail hopes of finding Robyn. They had scoured the southern part of town heading towards Sweet City and there had been no sign as yet. With continued disappointment they decided to head home to see if the police had been called. Driving down a quiet section of road Trixie tried to find somewhere she could turn the car round. She came to an ideal place and started to turn the car around when the headlights highlighted something just beyond their reach. Looking at Stingy with a hint of fear visible on her face Trixie turned the lights onto high beams and gasped when they revealed a person lying face down on the ground.
After staring at the person for some time in disbelief, both Trixie and Stingy left the car. They walked slowly up to them hand in hand and tried to identify them. It was only when they got close to them that they recognised the long wavy hair, the rose tattoo and the long lilac dress that all belonged to Robyn. Scared of what they might find they reluctantly turned her over onto her back. With shaking hands Stingy felt for a pulse and sighed in relief when he found one.
A familiar sound filled the air above them and Trixie looked up to see Ché's airship heading their way. Getting up she jumped up and down while waving her hands in the air in case they hadn't spotted her. When the ladder fell from the airship and Ché quickly descended she knew that she needn't have worried.
Seeing who Trixie and Stingy were standing beside Ché ran up to them. Feeling Robyn's pulse for himself he told Trixie and Stingy to drive home while he flew Robyn back. Neither of them argued and scooping Robyn up carefully in his massive arms he ran back over to the airship. Adjusting his hold on Robyn slightly he climbed the ladder and handed her to Greta before pulling himself into the airship. Jumping into his pilot seat he started back for town.
The phone rang which startled Kit from his thoughts. Dreading what the caller might have to tell him he picked it up slowly. When he heard that Robyn had been found and was alive he threw the phone down and entered the bathroom to tell Robbie. Kneeling beside the dangerously still man he touched his cheek and was glad when he got a response.
"What?" Robbie asked as if he'd been woken from slumber.
"They found her Robbie. She's alive."
"Is she ok? Where is she?"
"Ché's bringing her in. He told me that he'd called Doctor Cole and that he's on his way. She looks ok but she'd unconscious. The main thing is that she's alive."
Sitting up Robbie hugged Kit. Relief filled him and when the doorbell rang he told Kit to get it while he cleaned himself up and flushed the toilet. He came out just in time to see Kit carrying Robyn's limp form upstairs and Doctor Cole following close behind him. Nodding his thanks to Ché who had seated himself on the floor he went upstairs. Proper thanks could be given later; right now he had to make sure his daughter was ok.