-This chapter is shorter than normal, mainly because my head went blank when I was writing it and have a weird thing about posting my chapters quickly, so I ended it early (don't worry, whatever I left out will be in the next chapter.) I'd tell you what chapter this is but I've lost count, it's nearly midnight and you should know anyway. Sorry I seem grumpy, I just sat through a really confusing and rather boring movie and I'm a little tired. Enjoy, and don't forget to review!
Roy was late for school on Monday. He'd been held up by Beatrice who'd asked him if he'd seen Mullet Fingers lately. He said he hadn't. In fact, that had been the first he'd heard of Beatrice's stepbrother's escape. She told him she was worried about Mullet Fingers getting an infection in a cut he'd gotten, and it didn't help that she hadn't seen him all weekend. Roy suddenly realized what time it was, and found he was late for his history class.
Today was current events. He'd brought an article from the paper saying that the President had been in Coconut Cove over the weekend. He read it quickly when he got to class and then took his seat. He wished Beatrice would stop bringing him bad news, it always distracted him all through class. He didn't take in a word of Mr. Ryan's lecture on the English Civil War, he was too busy worrying about Mullet Fingers. He looked out the window. The clouds were black, rain was hammering down. Part of the reason Beatrice was so worried. There had been a hurricane warning issued for Florida. What would happen to Mullet Fingers if a hurricane hit?
President John Kresc was almost sprinting down the hallways of the White House, he had to get to his chopper. He'd only just heard about a hurricane supposedly about to hit in Florida. He immediately thought of Mullet Fingers, he'd need help. He was hoping to get there before the weather turned nasty. He turned a corner and was headed off by Donald Viseige.
"Is something wrong Mr. President?" Viseige asked.
"Donald, excuse me I'm in a but of a hurry." Said President Kresc.
"Really? May I ask why?" Viseige asked.
"No, it's an emergency, get out of my way." Said Kresc, trying to get around Viseige.
The Vice-President blocked him. "Donald, what the hell are you doing? I'm the President of the United States, god damn it, let me by!" Kresc shouted.
"No, sir, I don't think I will. I'm not allowing you to jeopardize the safety of this country. You're going to try and save that runaway boy from the hurricane. I'm not going to let you. You and I are going for a walk, Mr. President." Said Viseige, suddenly jabbing a needle into the President's arm causing him to fall unconscious.
Mullet Fingers was crouching under an old boat in the junkyard. He was freezing. It had been a long time since Coconut Cove had a rain like this. His feet felt numb and his legs felt like icicles. The puddles were huge. The bandage around his ankle was soaked; and not with water. It had started bleeding again when he ran for cover from the rain. He kept trying to tie the bandages tighter but it wasn't helping. He had lost a lot of blood. He was beginning to feel a bit dizzy. The raindrops were pounding on top of the boat. Almost hypnotically. His eyelids began to get heavier. And heavier. His head was ringing...
Miss Hennepin's voice rang over the P.A. system.
"Attention all students and faculty. It has just come to the school's attention that a hurricane will indeed be striking within the next hour and a half. Therefore, all classes for the day are cancelled, parents and guardians have been contacted. Those who usually take the bus will either be car pooling or speaking with the office for other arrangements. Any students with questions regarding the situation are free to come and ask me or any other office staff." She said.
Within minutes, Roy had been swept out of the classroom with the other students and was rushing through the hallways. He ran into Beatrice on the way.
"I'm car pooling with you, and I'm staying at your house during the storm, my parents thought it was easier." She said hurriedly.
"Listen, I don't care what kind of promise you may have made him, you've gotta tell me where Mullet Fingers is so we can go pick him up." Said Roy.
"Alright fine, but not here. In the car, come on hurry!" Said Beatrice as they ran into the pouring rain looking for Mrs. Eberhardt's car.
They found it fast and told Roy's mom the situation immediately.
"Roy, honey, we can't. I promised Beatrice's mom and dad I'd take you guys straight home." She said.
"But mom, he doesn't know about the storm, he's hiding in the woods what if a tree falls down or something?" Roy persisted.
"Mrs. Eberhardt, please, my brother really isn't dressed for a hurricane either. Even if he survived the storm he'll end up getting really sick." Beatrice pleaded.
"Oh, alright. But we'll have to hurry." Roy's mother gave in.
Mrs. Eberhardt then did some of the fastest driving Roy had ever seen. Before they knew it they were at the golf course.
"Ten minutes, you two, and not a second more. If you don't find him then we'll send Mr. Eberhardt out later. Hurry." She said sternly.
Roy and Beatrice ran to Mullet Fingers's campsite and found it empty. They began calling his name. No answer. They'd already wasted six of their ten minutes finding his campsite.
"MULLET! YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE, THERE'S A STORM COMING!" Beatrice shouted.
Roy heard his mom honking the horn in the distance. "Beatrice, come on, we have to go." Said Roy.
"But...but we can't just abandon him out here." Said Beatrice.
"Listen, he's not an idiot, Beatrice. If he sees a storm coming he's smart enough not to stand in the middle of the road looking around stupidly, he'll find some shelter." Said Roy, grabbing Beatrice's arm and dragging her off back to the parking lot.
Karen Kresc, the first lady, was hurrying down the halls of the White House and ran into Donald Viseige.
"Oh, Donald, just the man I wanted to see. I'm looking for John, you haven't seen him, have you?" She asked.
"Can't say I have. Wasn't he heading for Florida?" Viseige asked.
"Yes, that's why I'm looking for him. He didn't show up at the chopper and they're wondering where he is. Oh I hate it when his disappears like this." Said Karen.
"Karen, don't worry about it. I'm sure he's just gotten caught up somewhere." Said Viseige, putting his hand on her thigh.
Karen Kresc glared at him. "Donald, we aren't doing this anymore. John and I are being honest with each other now." She said, taking his hand off her thigh.
"My apologies. Listen, why don't you go back up to your office, get your paperwork done and I'll take care of making sure the President gets to Florida." Said Viseige.
Karen eyed him for a moment, then said "Oh I suppose your right. I worry far to much. Thanks Donald."
Karen turned and walked back to her office. Viseige pulled out his cell phone and called a number.
"Agent Douglas, do you see Mrs Kresc?" He asked, making eye contact with a Secret Service agent standing in the hallway Karen had gone down.
The agent nodded to him. "Good, follow her to her office and make sure there aren't any detours. Once she's there, lock her in. Don't ask why, just trust me."
The agent nodded again and pocketed his phone.