Walter sat in his apartment, sitting on his couch watching television. However, he wasn't really paying attention to it. He fiddled with the new wallet Lily gave him in his hand. She had left a few minutes ago, but he couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. He told her he loved her for the first time, and she said she loved him back. He couldn't believe it. The boy felt his heart pound with happiness every time he thought of it. Walter wish Lily didn't have to leave, but she had to be at work early tomorrow. So did he, anyway.
Walter gently put the wallet down on the coffee table, next to his phone. As soon as he did so though, his phone immediately buzzed. He saw Kermit's contact name.
"Again...?" Walter said, considering Kermit called him not that long ago. Walter was a good guy though, and he would never ignore anyone.
Walter picked up his phone and answered.
"Hey, Kermit." The boy said, happily.
"Walter. Are you okay? Where are you, right now?" Kermit said. His voice sounded nervous.
"Uh, I'm in my apartment. Why?"
"Are you alone? Or is Lily with you?" Kermit's voice was still nervous, and he sounded out of breath.
"No, she left a few minutes ago. Why, what's going on?" Walter asked, starting to get freaked out by Kermit's tone.
"Walter, listen to me really carefully." The frog said on the other end. "80's Robot is in the car, coming to get you. Go downstairs to meet him, and he'll bring you to Piggy and I's place. Okay? Don't go anywhere else."
"Kermit, what's going on?" Walter said.
"I'll tell you, after. Please, just got downstairs and wait for him."
"Okay, but what-"
"Walter." Kermit's voice was firm, and parent-like. His sudden change in tone scared Walter slightly, and he decided to just go along with what he was asking.
"Okay." Walter spoke. "I'll go wait for him."
"Thank you. Please, don't do anything else." Kermit said, his voice stern but scared. The two hung up their phones, and Walter got up from his couch. He turned off his tv, grabbed his wallet, phone, and keys, and went to the door.
As Walter made his way downstairs, he couldn't help but feel confused and nervous. Confused, because he didn't know what was going on. Nervous, because Kermit sounded like a war was about to happen, or something.
Walter got to the lobby, and only had to wait a few minutes for 80's Robot to pull up with the car. As soon as he saw him, Walter went straight to the passenger seat.
"Hello, Mr. Walter." 80's Robot said, in his robotic voice. "I am here to escort you to the frog and pig household." Walter buckled in his seat belt, and looked at the robot.
"Do you know what's going on?" Walter asked him, as 80's started the car.
"I am just following orders." He responded, pulling out of parking into the lane. "I was told by Mr. Kermit to come pick you up, and escort you to his house."
"He didn't say why?" Walter said. He wouldn't give up trying to figure out what was going on. Something bad was happening, the boy could tell.
80's shook his head, keeping his eyes on the road. "He did not say why. He just gave me orders, Mr. Walter."
Walter sighed, and leaned back in his seat. What started out as a peaceful and happy night, was shifting completely. The boy looked out the window, watching the night lights of Los Angeles pass by. He looked back at the robot, and sat up.
"Can I at least call someone?" Walter said, hoping to call Lily or his brother. Much to his dismay, the robot shook his head.
"No. Mr. Kermit requested that you don't draw any attention until you're with him and Miss Piggy." 80's Robot said, turning the car around a corner.
The boy sighed once again, and crossed his arms. He felt like he was a child again, being told what to do and to not disobey. He wasn't exactly happy with how Kermit had been acting like his father, lately. He wasn't his dad, but he was acting like an unofficial parent. Who said it was his job to act like a parent figure? Walter shook his head. He couldn't let this anger get over him. He didn't want to get mad with Kermit, like he did a few weeks ago. The boy felt terrible after that whole incident. But still, he didn't feel like it was Kermit's place to be acting like some sort of parent. As much as he looked up to Kermit, no one could ever replace a man like his dad was.
80's Robot turned the corner into Bel-Air, and Walter snapped back into reality. He looked out the window, until he felt the car slow down. He watched as the car turned into the pathway with the familiar gate that had the Kermit and Piggy silhouette, that opened up for the car. The car pulled into the lot, and 80's Robot parked the car in the big parking lot outside the house.
Walter and 80's Robot got out of the car, and walked up to the big mansion door. The boy walked a bit unwillingly, his mind still on the topic of Kermit and his dad. Walter was distracted though, when he saw two police cars parked in the lot as well.
"The police?" Walter said to himself. Something was wrong.
80's Robot used the heavy door knocker, and the two waited. Moments later, it opened up. Miss Piggy stood there with a shook expression on her face. She seemed just as shaky as Kermit sounded on the phone.
"Oh, thank goodness Walter." Piggy said taken him by his arm and pulling him in. The Robot followed, and closed the door behind them.
"Are you hurt?" Miss Piggy asked, holding Walter's arm a bit too tight.
"No...?" Walter said, squirming uncomfortably. Piggy let go of his arm. "Miss Piggy, what's going on?"
"Just come with me." The pig responded, leading him to the living room. They walked down the hall in silence. Every little while, Walter looked at Piggy. Her face was still filled with concern. Walter looked forward, and just kept walking to the living room.
As soon as they got there, Walter took in his surroundings. Four policemen and women were standing in the room, asking Kermit some questions. The frog sat in his chair, his face was also concerned. When they all saw the three enter, Kermit shot out of his seat.
"Walter, are you okay?" The amphibian asked.
The boy was starting to get tired of that question. "I'm fine. Can you tell me what's going on?"
A police woman stepped forward. "Walter, please sit down." Walter, Kermit, and Piggy went over to the couch and sat. Walter sat in the middle, feeling nervous.
"Did I do something...?" Walter asked, nervously.
"No, you didn't do anything." Another police officer said, as he stood next to the police woman. "We just want to ask a few questions." Walter responded by merely nodding.
Another officer pulled out a notepad. "Walter, have you been approached by any strange men, lately?"
Walter thought about it for a second. "Uh, no." He responded, truthfully.
"No men, particularly with a Russian accent?" Another one asked. Walter shook his head.
"No, I haven't."
A few of the officers wrote down in their notepads. Walter shifted in his seat, ill-at-ease.
"Have you received any calls, texts, or messages from an unknown contact?" One officer asked.
Walter thought about it for a moment. His mind then flashed back to a few weeks ago, when he received a few weird texts from an unknown number when he was in Lily's apartment. It was an unknown contact.
"Yeah, I did." Walter said, the officers all perked up. "A few weeks ago, a strange number texted me."
"What did they say?"
Walter tried to remember. "Um, something like 'guess who?' and 'see ya around, kid.'" Kermit played with his hands, nervously. Walter noticed, and kept quiet.
"Is that all they said?" The first woman asked.
"Well, I said that they probably had the wrong number. But, they said they didn't." Walter said, feeling the room becoming more and more tense.
"You sure nothing else happened?"
Walter sighed. "Yes, I'm sure." Walter leaned forward. "Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Everyone in the room looked towards Kermit.
"Walter," Kermit began. "I was working late in my office at the studios, and I got a call..."
The boy swallowed. "From who...?"
Kermit shook his head. "I don't know. But they said..." The frog drifted off. Walter wouldn't let it stop there.
"They said...?"
The frog looked back up at Walter. "They...were threatening to kill you..."
Walter felt his chest become heavy, all of a sudden feeling cold and spooked. That was unexpected. He thought maybe someone had gotten hurt, or something was missing. He didn't expect that to be said.
"What...what do you mean they threatened to kill me...?" Walter said, his voice nervous like.
"They just said that you would...die." Kermit said the last word very uncomfortably and quiet. Walter shifted his gaze away and looked at the floor. He ran his hand through his hair, and didn't know what to say or do.
"Walter, we're currently trying to track down this call." An officer said. "But, we think it would be best if you stay with Kermit and Miss Piggy for a while. Just until we have a better understanding on what's going on."
"Would that be okay, Walter?" Piggy asked.
Walter wiped a bit of sweat of his forehead. "Yeah, whatever works best I guess..." His voice sounded confused and still nervous. He now completely understood as to why Kermit was so scared on the phone.
"Okay, we're going to leave you three." An officer said, putting his police jacket back on. "If you want to call any family, that would be fine Walter." The officers began to sort their stuff, and Kermit got up.
"Thank you officers, I'll show you out." Kermit said, politely. Even in a moment of fear, Kermit never broke his polite attitude. As the frog showed them out, Piggy got up too.
"Come on, Walter. 80's Robot has room set up for you." She said, her voice more nervous rather than thoughtful. Walter could tell she was trying to put on a positive face. He followed her into the big corridor of the mansion, once again in silence.
As they walked down the hall, the boy looked at all the big photos of the Muppets Kermit had hung up. At any other moment, Walter would be excited to be looking at old photos of the Muppets in their early days. But right now, the mood in the air was too discomforting for him to be fascinated by Muppet artifacts.
When they reached Walter's guest room, Piggy stood at the door.
"We're around the corner if you need anything. 80's Robot is downstairs, too. I think it would be better if you got your stuff, tomorrow" Miss Piggy said. Walter nodded.
"Thanks Miss Piggy. For...all of this." The boy said. As grateful as he was, it as undeniable that he was still shocked by the scary threat against him. Miss Piggy played with the feathered scarf that dangled from her arms.
"Anytime." She nodded. "Like Kermit says, we're family..."
When Miss Piggy left, Walter entered the guest room and closed the door. He looked around, it was a nice room. It had a light beige tone, which gave it a peaceful atmosphere. Probably what Walter needed after all of that.
He went and sat on the bed. He sighed, feeling a bit heavy. This was all too overwhelming, confusing, nerve racking, and overall bad. The boy needed to rest, and try to get his mind off all of this for now.
But, before Walter would get ready for bed, he needed to make some calls. Just like the officers said.
He pulled out his phone, and speed dialled a contact name.
"Gary?" Walter said, speaking into the phone when it answered. "Listen, something's going on..."