Yes, yes, I know. Another several weeks have gone by and I hadn't updated. Well, at least now I've gotten around to it. I've got three different stories on the go an' I can't get around to all of them at once. Now then, moving on…

Disclaimer: I'm not even going to bother this time. You know what's what.

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Chapter 8: Two Becomes One

Jared thought he heard the front door creak open. Coming down the stairs he looked around and found Mallory kicking off her shoes. "Back so soon?"

His sister shrugged, kicking off her shoes. "Yeah, things got pretty dull so we all decided it was time to split." She walked past him and up the stairs."

Watching her go, Jared had a bad feeling. He brushed it off and headed for the dining room. He had thought he heard something break in there and knew it was either Talon or Kit.

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That evening when he and his brother headed off to bed, he saw a trail of loose papers scattered all across the hallway. Wondering what it was all about, Jared signalled for Simon to keep quiet as they followed it. The trail ended at Mallory's bedroom door.

Quietly opening it, Jared saw that her room was a complete disaster. "Mallory?" he called softly, "Mallory? Are you in here?"

"Jared!" Whirling around, Jared eyes widened.

Mallory was leaning over Simon, her rapier held close to his throat. "The guide, where is it?"

Jared frowned. "What are you talking about? You know where it is."

"Don't argue with me! Where is it?" She pressed the blade against Simon's neck, nicking the sink and causing a small droplet of blood to trickle down.

"Who are you!" Jared demanded.

"Why, I'm your sister of course." Her supposed sweet smile sickened him slightly.

"No way! You're not Mallory! What have you done with our sister?" Jared's voice rose.

The stranger's shape began to change and soon the great ogre Mulgarath stood before them, his hand wrapped around his twin's neck. "Now, the guide, give it to me."

"Jared, what's going on?" Talon and Kit slid into the room.

"It's Mulgarath!"

The ogre laughed maniacally as he changed shape once more and disappeared with Simon.

"He has Simon…and Mallory… We've got to do something!"

Jared had wanted to leave right away and search for his brother and sister, but he had no plan, nothing to find them. He couldn't take on Mulgarath without a plan.

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The next morning Jared set out with Talon, Kit, Thimbletack, and Hogsqueal. They were headed for the Junkyard to start their search for Simon and Mallory. Wandering through the piles of useless junk, they came across what had once been Mulgarath's castle. It looked like only the first floor was still intact. Prying the doors open, they entered.

Jared felt a sudden chill as they walked along. Something eerie about this place caused his hair to prickle.

"I don't like this…" Kit's shudder matched how Jared felt perfectly.

Crimson eyes flicking back and forth, Talon's steps were hesitant. "Something's here, keep your guard up, all of you."

Turning a corner, Jared's breath caught in his throat. There were his siblings, lying unconscious, shackled. Without hesitation he ran over to them. "Mallory…? Simon…? Are you two alright?"

Groaning, they both opened their eyes. "Jared!"

"I'm glad you're okay."

Thimbletack hopped off of Talon's shoulder and headed to Simon's shackles. Reaching a hand inside the keyhole, he moved his hand about until he heard a clicking sound. He then moved on to Mallory's.

Rubbing his wrists, Simon said, "We have to get out of here. Please tell me you don't have the guide with you."

"Why?" Jared asked.

"That's the whole reason he captured us. He wanted to propose a trade." Mallory stood.

"That's not going to happen."

"He'll be back any minute. Let's hurry and leave."

"Too late," Kit said, "He's here, I can hear him! He's coming this way."

A large shadow filled the room. "Welcome."

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Mulgarath stared down at them evilly. "I'll let you all go if you give me the real guide."

"No."

They tried to make a break for the exit but Mulgarath took hold of Kit. "The guide, or do you not care about you're little friend?"

"Go! Get outta here! Don't worry about me! Just GO!" Kit shouted.

"Not without you!" Jared threw his bag to Simon and dashed after Kit.

Mulgarath had yanked a rusted piece of iron out of the piles of junk that made up the castle walls. He was about to drive it into the catcreature when another got in his way.

Mallory stiffened, "No…"

Simon's eyes glazed over. "JARED!"

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I know it seems bad but you've gotta trust that I know what I'm doing. Until the next update.