Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
A Trip Through Time
Chapter 18: Escape From FTI
Inside the air vents
The air vents of the abandoned FTI building were beyond filthy, full of dust, dead insects and who knows what else. They were filthy, gross but they also served as their only escape from this crazy place, so Andy was glad to be here with his younger dad.
But it didn't make the experience any more pleasant or any less exhausting as it is right now.
"How far away are we from the nearest exit point?..."Arnold asked, blowing away a huge cobweb that came on him.
"A few dozen more yards and we are home free..."Andy said, feeling so stressed out and tired.
After they had left the storage area and were in the middle of the whole air vent system, the two boys decided to take a breather break, just for a moment. Once they stopped, Arnold decided that now was probably an okay time to talk to his future son.
'Andy?..."Arnold started.
"What is it, dad?..."Andy asked.
Arnold heard this and smiled warmly at him, feeling so many things right now.
"Thank you...you know...for coming to save me...'Arnold said.
"Hey, young or old, you're still my dad...of course I have to help you out..." Andy said, while Arnold kept smiling at him.
However, soon a frown came on Andy's face, as he thought more about their situation and he then turned to young Arnold.
"Just who the heck was that creep who kidnapped you, anyway?..."Andy asked, keeping his voice low just in case.
"Does the name Sheck ring a bell to you?...'Arnold asked and Andy's eyes widen.
"Yeah, you told me that story...it was the day some evil CEO tried to buy out the neighborhood, but you wouldn't let him, long story short, you, Uncle Gerald and...uh, that Helga girl...right...found a historical document that made the neighborhood a landmark and thus untouchable and that guy went to jail for burning it, you saved the day and happy ending, right?...'Andy said and Arnold raised an eyebrow at how he paused at Helga's name, before he answered.
"Yeah...well, it seems he's back for revenge...'Arnold said and Andy looked even more distressed right now.
"Oh man, does that mean that he knows about-
'No, he thought that I was you..."Arnold said, surprising Andy in the process.
"What?...'Andy exclaimed in shock.
"He was going to go to your school to kidnap you but he saw me and mistook me for you, so he took me just so he could lure my future self, your regular dad, your mother and Gerald into a trap...'Arnold explained and Andy looked horrified.
"Oh man...'Andy said, before his horror turned into anger.
"There is no way I am going to let that crazy old fossil hurt my family..." Andy said, a look of absolute fury in his blue eyes.
"Andy, calm down...what's the plan anyway?..."Arnold asked.
"Simple, we get out of here, run fast, get to the boarding house and then think of the next step...'Andy said, making it clear that he was more or less making this up as he goes.
Arnold nodded and the two blonde boys soon continued their trek throughout the disgusting, ancient air vents, which hopefully at the end of it all, will lead to their freedom.
"I sure do hope that the others are okay...they must be so worried...'Arnold thought as he continued to follow his future son.
Meanwhile
Arnold had no idea just how right he was. His even older grandparents, Helga, Gerald, Phoebe and Kiara were all so worried...for his safety and their own, given that Gertie was flooring it and driving over 60 miles per hour.
"WHOA....G.G Shortman!..."Kiara shouted as she clung to her seat, while the old lady kept driving like crazy, as the other who weren't Phil did.
"No time to sight see, we got a rescue to do...'Gertie shouted as she floored it again, managing to miraculously avoid crashing into things as she continued to drive like crazy.
All the while, Helga was praying, not for her safety but for another thing.
"Please...please...let them be okay...please..."Helga thought, feeling so worried for the safety of her one true love, and his future son.
Even if there is a chance she isn't Andy's mom and thus, never ends up married to Arnold, she...she just can't stand the thought of something bad happening to either of them...
She just knows that if either of them get hurt, she will never be able to forgive herself.
"Please..."She continued as Gertie continued driving at an illegally fast speed to go get to Ivy Street and save their missing fellows.
Elsewhere
In a certain house, in a certain area, far away from the danger and drama, a middle aged blonde woman was in her home, having successfully rocked her baby to sleep and was in the middle of doing some household chores, only to get a strange feeling come over her.
She couldn't explain it, but she suddenly felt so distressed for some reason, like she was having a mild case of anxiety, but she doesn't know what brought it on. She has been feeling this for almost an hour now, going from mild to spike up a bit for a moment.
"Man, what's going on with me? ..."She thought, feeling so strange right now.
Suddenly the door opened and a football headed man arrived, carrying a brief case in hand.
"Honey, I'm home..."He said.
His wife smiled, walked up to him and kissed him upon his arrival.
"Hi darling, you're home early today..."Helga commented, happy but confused to suddenly see her husband.
'The conference ended early and I manage to finish work early, so here I am..."Arnold said.
Usually, he is gone 7:30-4:30, Monday-Friday, so this is a nice little treat.
"Well, I'm glad..."She said, though he noticed the uneasy look in her eyes.
'Are you alright? You look...off..."Arnold commented and Helga sighed.
"I am feeling a little anxious for some reason...but I don't know why...It's been like that for an hour already...'She said and her husband looked concern.
"Maybe you should lie down for a moment...'Arnold said and his wife shook her head.
"I'm not sick Arnold... besides, I still got to finish working on my book..the deadline is coming soon..."She said, while her husband felt her forehead.
"You don't seem to be coming down with a fever or anything..."He commented... "Are you sure that you are feeling alright?...'He asked, spousal concern visible in his eyes.
It made his wife sigh before she answered him.
"I am fine...I'm just anxious...I'll be okay..."She answered and her husband nodded.
He didn't tell her that he himself had felt a little anxious right now too, since he didn't want to worry her. They both glanced at the clock and saw that it was only 1:30pm. They had about an hour and a half before they had to go pick up their kids from school, so the husband and wife tried to busy themselves with their own thing, unwilling to admit that the anxiety within them continued to grow and grow each passing minute.
With the rescue party
The Packard soon arrived, just a street away from Ivy Street and they could see the decaying FTI building close by.
"FTI?...'Helga exclaimed.
"My phone indicates that Andy and Arnold are somewhere inside.."Kiara said as she checked her phone.
"And so are we...'Gertie said as she started marching away.
Helga and the others were about to go after them, only to be halted by Phil.
"Wait kids, you guys need to stay here...if we aren't back in half an hour, call the cops...'Phil ordered.
"What? You can't expect us to just sit in this car and-
"HALF AN HOUR! NO ARGUMENT!..."Phil shouted, successfully managing to shut Helga up, for what was probably the first time in her life.
"That's an order soldier..." Gertie said as she pulled out some nun chucks she had stashed on her.
The old couple soon went inside and Helga gritted her teeth, unable to believe the fact that she was being denied the opportunity to rescue her one true beloved.
5 minutes later
Kiara felt so worried for Andy's safety, and she is not the only one, since the others were getting more and more anxious. The most obvious is Helga, who is denying it.
"I can't believe this! What's taking so long? We should just go in after them!..."Helga said as she passed around, the scowl she had on her face barely cover the obvious worry she was feeling.
"You heard Phil, Helga..."Gerald said in frustration.
He wanted to go in there and help save his best friend but Phil and Gertie made it clear. Helga just looked more and more distressed.
"I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!...'Helga exclaimed as she suddenly kicked a discarded can, sending it flying into a nearby bush.
They suddenly heard an "ouch", surprising them and causing Kiara to scowl when she recognize that voice.
"LOGAN!...'Kiara shouted, surprising the others.
As Kiara predicted, that brunette boy, Logan, peered from the bush, looking shocked over being discovered.
"It's not my fault!...'Logan exclaimed as his twin sister Lisa appeared as well, looking nervous over being caught as well.
"You guys don't understand...Megan ran away and me and Logan-
Suddenly, that little blonde girl Megan and started shouting at them.
"That's not true!...'She shouted as she came out of her hiding place and started arguing with them.
"You guys said, something bad is going down and we got to help..." Megan shouted.
"It was all your idea!...'Megan, Logan and Lisa pointed to the other, while the others looked confused by what they just said and Kiara just crossed her arms.
Helga blinked and frowned when she saw them, her mood already being bad due to her worry over her precious Arnold and also Andy.
"Just who the heck are you three suppose to be, anyway?..." Helga demanded, while the brunette girl crossed her arms and the little blonde girl looked at her curiously.
"If you must know, Andy is my cousin and I'm not standing by while he is in trouble...'Lisa said, surprising Helga and the others.
"Cousin?!...'Helga exclaimed.
"Guys, please...don't say anything...we are in a dangerous situation...just, don't mention anything about your families and whatever you are to Andy...I'll explain everything later...'Kiara said, sending meaningful look to Megan.
Megan blinked, she was clearly confused but got Kiara's message and gave a reluctant nod.
"Where is Andy, anyway?...'Megan asked, her tone much softer, making it clear that she just wants to know if he was alright or not.
Kiara sighed as she pointed to the abandoned FTI building.
"He's somewhere inside that place. Phil and Gertie...Andy's great grandparents went inside to get him...they told us to stay here and call for help in case something happens..."Kiara said, feeling so many migraines at once.
Time is on the line, Andy and Arnold have been kidnapped and dragged to this creepy place and now Megan is five feet within her younger mother, who thankfully didn't recognize her yet for some reason.
She just hopes that it stays that way...
Back with Andy and Arnold
The two boys continued to trek through the old, filthy air vents, having encountered a lot of nasty stuff like dead bugs and spiders along the way, but they just kept moving.
"How much further?..."Arnold asked.
"Just a few more turns and we are free..."Andy said, going to the same direction he had come in.
Andy felt so relieved and hopeful, thinking that once they were out of here, they just had to keep running and running away from here and that would be it.
"Almost there...'Andy thought.
SQUEAK
Suddenly the was a squeaking sound that was heard and Andy stopped in place, and Arnold stopped as well.
"What was that?...'Andy said, looking around.
Arnold was surprised to see a nervous...maybe even fearful look appear on Andy's face. Before, he could comment on it, they heard another squeak and the two boys turned around and saw a black rat right behind them.
Arnold looked nervous, since rats were one of the few animals he didn't exactly get along with, but he noticed that Andy suddenly got pale and looked anxious...
No, not anxious...he looks scared.
"Andy?...'Arnold whispered, worried about him.
Andy's eyes were on the rat, who suddenly let out a hiss and Andy let out a meek sound, his nervous expression got worse.
"R-Rat?!...'Andy exclaimed as he suddenly started crawling even faster, in a mad attempt to get away from the rodent.
"Andy! Wait up...'Arnold exclaimed as he tried to crawl after him, but Andy looked really freaked out right now.
However, before they could get five feet away, they suddenly heard another squeaking sound.
'Oh no! THERE'S MORE!...'Andy exclaimed, making it obvious that he suffers from a fear towards rats.
Arnold blinked and then heard that noise again and got nervous, but for a different reason.
'Andy...I...I don't think that's a rat making this noise..."Arnold said.
Suddenly that noise continued, but they also notice a slight rumbling. It seems they didn't take into account just how old and rusty these air vents were, and the weight of two young boys within in might be a little much for it.
They didn't take that into account until they notice that the vent under their knees started giving away.
"Oh no...'Andy said as he had a bad feeling about this.
The metal beneath them then cracked and shifted and both boys screamed as they knew that things just got a whole lot worse for them.
-To be continued-
Next time on A Trip Through Time
Escape From FTI Part 2
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:
Invader Johnny: You were right about that...
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)