Begin!

~Quigley's POV

If I have to hear that Snow Scout pledge one more time...

Four days passed while I was traveling with the Snow Scouts. And I got to enjoy the delightful company of the vainest, most selfish, girl I've ever met: Carmelita Spats. She apparently used to live at Prufrock with the Baudelaires and my siblings because she kept talking about "cakesniffing orphans in love." I amused myself with the idea that she secretly shipped it. And Fiona said I had a high opinion of myself... if she ever met this brat I think she'd call me modest...

Another 3 days passed while we traveled; if I have to hear Carmelita sing one more time I'm going to throw myself off the nearest cliff. God I miss Fiona so much... I knew she had a lovely voice. Anytime I could be alone I would look at my picture of her. I couldn't show it to anyone or they'd find out who I was.

Another 2 days passed after that and we had finally reached the mountains. My parents said they would take me here someday, probably to bring me into their secret organization. We set up camp in a cave that I recognized from my notes. I noticed the Vertical Flame Diversion Jacques told me about. The troop was using it as a chimney for our campfire smoke. Smart idea, but I don't think any of them realized what it actually is. I noticed that Jacques was correct about the fire pole being gone from the passage, now it was just footholds.

The Snow Scouts sat around the campfire talking for most of the morning. I sat there being bored the whole time. I kept my notebook safely in my pocket while the scouts were awake; chances are that one might take it from me if I'm not careful.

"Hey cakesniffers!"

Oh, god Carmelita shut up...

"I see two shadows entering the cave and they look like cakesniffers, Uncle Bruce!"

I warily looked towards the cave entrance and my jaw fell open behind my mask. It's them! The Baudelaires! Holy shit, talk about lucky! They'll know where my siblings are! I only saw the two older ones though and they also looked worse for wear; covered in strange makeup and a few stings from the snow gnats outside. After a moment, the Snow Scouts invited them over to sit with us and they took a spot beside me; after cleaning themselves up and putting on some winter clothing. (Given their reputation, they put on some spare masks too.)

I racked my brain trying to think about how to communicate with them. I can't just mention my siblings in front of all these strangers that'd be a disaster. But if I'm going to get them to trust me before I tell them who I am, I need a system. I watched them carefully to look for any clues. The Snow Scouts said their stupid pledge, which I won't repeat for the sake of my sanity, and nobody noticed that I didn't say it with them.

Klaus commented that xylophone is not an adjective, and I got to speak to him for the first time by explaining that Bruce couldn't think of another word that started with X.

"What about xenial; it means-" Klaus was interrupted by Bruce saying they can't change the pledge.

Guess he is a smart guy; Fiona taught me that word. Violet hadn't said much, they both look tired, hungry, and also scared. It must have something to do with why there's no sign of their baby sister. I'd be scared too in that situation... I mean I still don't know where my baby sister is so I am scared. That's why I need them. Bruce said something about bears living in these caves once, but thanks to Jacques I knew that was wrong.

I leaned over to the Baudelaires and corrected Bruce's statement by saying, "Not bears, lions. They were Volunteer Feline Detectives."

That got their attention.

~…

Hours later, once all the scouts had fallen asleep, I approached the Baudelaires as quietly as possible and told them to follow me over to the passage. I showed them the tunnel using the flashlight in my spyglass. And explained why we have to be careful and silent.

"Before we go any further, give us one reason to trust you," Violet said. Klaus nodded in agreement with her.

"You mentioned the word xenial earlier. Xenial is a word which refers to the giving of gifts to a stranger," I replied.

"He's right," Klaus said.

"I know having a good vocabulary doesn't guarantee that I'm a good person, but it does mean I read a lot. And in my experience, well-read people are less likely to be evil."

They seemed to accept my statement and began following me up the diversion. I contemplated mentioning how I had actually learned the word, it was when I was reading one of Fiona's books and had to ask her what it meant, but I suppose I could tell them another time. Hour after hour we climbed, making sure to stay silent so we don't wake the scouts below us. Once I reached the top I paused to help them both up before we continued on.

"It should be safe for us to talk up here," I said pulling out my notebook and looking for my map of the area.

"Is that a commonplace book," Violet asked looking at the red cover.

"Yes it is; it's a very useful thing to have." I showed them the page with my map on it before telling them to follow me to the secret entrance.

"I'm sorry about being so secretive before," I said as we walked, "I couldn't afford to blow my cover in front of them."

"We understand," Klaus said.

"Your map drawing skills are very impressive," Violet commented.

"Thank you, I fancy myself to be quite good at cartography."

We reached the Vernacularly Fastened Door at last. Violet and Klaus helped me with the three codes that were required to open it. And as it was expected, we opened it to find the V.F.D. headquarters in ruins. The Baudelaires looked around the area with sad curiosity as we searched for any sign of life.

"I'm sure it was beautiful," I said quietly, thinking about how Jacques described its peaceful atmosphere.

Part of me hoped Fiona hadn't been here when this happened...

After some time spent looking around, Violet and Klaus finally asked me who I was, so I took off my mask and introduced myself to them at last.

"Quigley Quagmire."

The two stared at me in disbelief after removing their own masks. They know my siblings, as far as they know I'm a ghost.

"That doesn't make any sense," Violet said, "Duncan and Isadora told us you were dead."

I chuckled. "Well I'm very happy I'm not!"

"But how are you here," Klaus asked.

I gave them the shortest possible version of how I got out of my house and met Jacques in the secret tunnels. I avoided telling them about my stay on the Queequeg for now as it wasn't necessary to learn about just yet. Of course they did have some bad news for me as well, and it was something I had feared for days...

"Jacques is dead," Violet told me. "Olaf murdered him in the Village of Fowl Devotees and framed us for it."

I frowned, "That doesn't surprise me... He left me to stay in Monty's house while he went after my siblings, and I haven't heard from him or Olivia since... I figured something happened. What about Olivia? Where is she?"

Violet and Klaus looked ready to just break from me mentioning her name. I understand why I was sad about Jacques, I knew him much longer, but they knew Olivia longer than I did. And they eventually forced themselves to tell me her tragic fate.

"I'm very sorry to hear that."

"Olivia knew you were alive," Klaus said quizzically.

"I got to meet her the day she met Jacques. They were quite taken with each other. As sad as it is, it's nice to know they're together now."

Violet nodded. "I suppose you're right. I guess she never got around to telling us about you, not like we would have believed her without proof anyway."

"Probably not, but since you know my siblings can you tell me where they are?"

"We can... sort of," Violet replied, "We sent them up in a self-sustaining hot air mobile home with a noble friend of ours named Hector. He promised to look after them for us until we're rid of Olaf. We don't know where the home is exactly but we know they're safe."

"Shit... and I was really hoping to see them again. I guess I have to wait a little longer. Olivia told me you guys were close..."

The two appeared slightly embarrassed by that wording so I chose not to press them further on the matter. (I'll have a word with Klaus about my sister later...)

"Where's your sister by the way? Jacques said there were three of you."

"Sunny was kidnapped by Olaf on our way up the mountain trail," Klaus explained, "He thinks we fell to our deaths in a runaway caravan so Sunny is all alone with him."

"Jacques told me what Olaf was up to. If he thinks he needs your sister alive for your fortune then she's safe. And because you're close to my family, I'll be glad to help you find yours."

"We appreciate that, thank you," Violet said. "But how are we going to find Sunny out here?"

Klaus pulled out his own spyglass, which appeared to be two pieces from different ones fastened together, and was looking up at the frozen waterfall behind us. Violet and I looked up with him and saw green smoke rising in the sky.

"That's from a Verdant Flammable Device," I explained using words I had learned from Fiona about V.F.D. this time. "If your sister is smart she'd find a way to signal for help and that would be your best bet."

"Climbing the waterfall it is then," Violet said. "Klaus go through the library and see if you can find anything useful left."

I handed him a spare notebook from my bag to help with his task. And Violet told me to keep watch on the waterfall with my spyglass while she gathered materials to make a climbing invention. I could see why Olivia said Duncan was so taken with Violet. She seemed intelligent, kind, and resourceful. Perhaps when we're out of this situation for good Fiona and I can double date with them. That'd be fun.

I looked over at the Stricken Stream that the waterfall fell into and hoped that I could see my doll again soon.

~End of Chapter!

Yes I actually finished 2 parts in one day. See you in the next part!