Good God! Sorry it took me forever and a day to post this! I've been really busy lately. I love my sister! I gave her some money today when she went to the mall and she was kind hearted enough to buy me a The Used CD (Album: In Love and Death). They are my favourite band! Okay, five minutes of happiness are over. Now, let's get down to business. How was the previous chapter? I normally not the kind of person for cliff hangers, but they seem to be getting the better of me lately. Moving on, this is the next chapter.

Disclaimer: When turtles fly in herds and chickens grow lips and talk like humans, then the Spiderwick Chronicles will me mine. Unfortunately, none of that is true.

---------------

Chapter 6: Friends or Freedom

Mulgarath continued towards them. "The Field Guide."

"No!" Jared shouted, clutching his backpack.

The ogre ginned menacingly as multiple tentacles appeared out of his body, wrapping around them tightly.

Jared gasped for breath as the tentacles crushed his lungs. He could only hold on for so long…

Talon dug his claws into the fleshy limb, spilling blood onto the floor below. "Where's the real chief?" he demanded, able to breathe once more. His lungs were filled with air for not even a minute before the crimson stained tentacle was crushing them once again.

"He's been dead for some time now." Mulgarath cackled. Turning to Jared, he continued to speak, "How about we make a bargain. You give me the guide, and I won't send your friends and sibling into oblivion."

"Don't do it!" Mallory shouted, her lungs burning.

"Jared!" his twin called. "Don't worry about us! We must keep the guide safe."

"Use that head of yours, human. I could easily kill you all and just take the guide. I'm giving you a chance at life," Mulgarath said.

Jared looked around at his brother, sister, and the two cat creatures panicked. They were important, but so was the guide.

"I'm giving you five minutes to come to a decision," Mulgarath growled impatiently. "Starting now."

"Jared!" Mallory screamed, "You give him the guide an' I'll kill you!"

"Four minutes."

"Jared…" Kit's amber eyes were wide with fright.

"Three minutes!"

Jared looked over at Simon and Talon, who were watching him expectantly. "I…"

"Two minute!"

This was frustrating. He finally came to a decision. Sighing his hand struggled to open the bag and reached inside."

"One minute left."

He pulled out a book and held it out to the ogre.

"Ah, so you have decided to co-operate. Excellent."

"Now let us go!" Jared cried.

The tentacles fell away and they hit the floor hard. Not wasting any time, Jared took the lead and they ran out of the building.

---------------

"YOU IDIOT!" Mallory slapped Jared hard. "What the hell were you thinking when you gave him the guide!"

"But I didn't give him the guide."

"WTF do you mean? I saw you give it to him with my own eyes."

"Yeah, Jared, I saw it too." Simon approached his brother. Kit and Talon nodded in agreement.

"I gave him a book, but it wasn't the guide. It was my science notebook."

"Isn't that the same trick you pulled with the-"

"Yup."

"He is gonna be pissed when he realizes you tricked him like that."

"I know." Jared turned to Kit and Talon. "It's not safe for you to go back to your village. You can stay with us until we can get rid of Mulgarath."

"Thank you."

They suddenly heard an extreamly loud angry roar emit from the core of the forest. Worried that the enraged ogre would storm out at any given moment, they ran for all they were worth to the estate.

----------------

It was like house arrest in the estate for the next week. They had no choice but to live that way. Every day they discussed a way to get rid of him. But he could shape shift, giving him an advantage over them.

Jared nearly jumped a right through the roof every time he heard the doorbell. It could be Mulgarath in disguse. We have to do something...and soon.

-----------------

Argh! I've got a headache the size of Canada from trying to figure out how the hell I was supposed to make this chapter! I think I'll go lie down for a while and listen to my new CD.

Ghost in the Mirror: I think the reason why I'm doing all these cliff hangers is because I keep finding them in your stories. Anyways, I'm glad too.