Sorry it took so long to update- I had summer gym and all. So here is the next chapter!
Chapter 2
"How long have I been out?" Numbuh 1 asked.
The others were looking a little scared. They were all wondering when their leader was going to scream at them for failing. So far, he hadn't even looked at them. Did he blame them?
"Um, about 3 days. The ray that the Delightfuls used must have been extremely powerful," Numbuh 4 said in a small voice.
"Thanks for telling me, Wally," Numbuh 1 said. Numbuh 4 froze. Numbuh 1 rarely called him Wally since he became a KND operative. Something was up.
"Um, Numbuh 1? You, uh, just called me by my first name. Is there something wrong?" Numbuh 1 looked up.
"No, everything's fine Wally. Just fine."
There it was again. Wally.
"Hey, Numbuh 1. I know that something's up. Tell us now! We're your friends. You can tell us anything," Numbuh 2 pleaded. Numbuh 1 didn't say anything.
"Do you want a rainbow monkey, Numbuh 1? I know Rainbow Monkeys always cheer me up!" Numbuh 3 said. Numbuh 1 glanced over to her.
"No thanks Kuki," he said.
Numbuh 5 looked at Numbuh 1 and knew instantly what he was upset about. The kid's Delightfulization must have brought back unpleasant memories in Numbuh 1. She glanced at the others. They didn't know what had happened to Numbuh 1 in the past. Before he even joined the Kids Next Door. She knew. She knew why Numbuh 1 didn't want to talk.
She said to the others, "Why don't you guys go play a video game or something? Numbuh 5 needs to talk to Numbuh 1 about something in private." The others looked at each other.
"Okay. Have fun with your talk!" Numbuh 3 said cheerfully. Numbuhs 2, 3, and 4 exited from the room. Numbuh 5 sat down next to Numbuh 1.
"So…thinking about the past? Because you realize what happened before and what happened today was not your fault, right?" she said. Numbuh 1 still refused to look at her.
"Look, Numbuh 5 really needs to be somewhere right now but she'll talk to you later, all right? It's okay if you don't want to talk but you can't just go blaming yourself for everything that happened in the past or present," Numbuh 5 said firmly. And with that note she walked out of the room.
Eavesdropping from outside the door, Numbuh 2, 3, and 4 looked at each other. They were all thinking the same thing.
What happened before?
Line Break
The room was deadly cold and dim. Seven-year-old Nigel stood in it trying not to shiver. When he heard footsteps coming into the room, he immediately stood up straight. He saw someone lurking in the shadows. He knew who it was.
"Nigel, have you come back to report to me?" the voice asked. Nigel nodded.
"Everything is set, sir. The trap is set for the Kids Next Door," Nigel reported. The figure in the shadows chuckled.
"The Kids Next Door will never expect it. You have done well, Nigel. You may go now."
Nigel ran out of the mansion, glad to be gone from the creepy place.
Numbuh 1 jerked awake. He had been having those dreams ever since the Delightfulization two days previous. He didn't know what the others would think if they knew his past. Of course Numbuh 5 knew but she understood why he did all those things in the past. Numbuh 1 wasn't so sure that the others would understand. He desperately tried to go back to sleep.
Line Break
Numbuh 5 noticed that Numbuh 1 had been avoiding everyone, preferring to stay in his room all day and night. She knew he was still thinking about his past. She decided to let him sulk…for now.
Line Break
Numbuh 4 was sitting next to Numbuh 3 playing video games when Numbuh 2 came bursting into the room.
"Guys, look what I found!" Numbuh 2 panted. He was waving a sheet of paper in the air. Numbuh 4 and 3 went over.
"What is it- ooh let me guess!" Numbuh 3 squealed. "Is it a shopping list? Oh, oh I know! It's your list of favorite Rainbow Monkeys!"
Numbuh 2 looked startled. "No! It belongs to Numbuh 1. I found it in the attic when I was clearing it out."
Numbuh 4 looked surprised. "We have an attic?"
"Yeah, apparently. Anyways, check this out!"
Numbuh 4 looked at it.
Dear Nigel,
I know you're probably busy with your missions for Father but I was just wondering if you want to hang out. Maybe go to the park for some ice cream or something. Just don't tell Father- wouldn't want him to find out, eh?
Your KND Friend,
Abigail Lincoln
Numbuh 4 gaped at it. "Numbuh 1 used to work for Father and the cruddy Delightful Children? That's so messed up! And Numbuh 5 knew all along? Why didn't she say anything?"
"Because Numbuh 5 knows that Numbuh 1 doesn't like to talk about it!" a voice snapped behind the three operatives. Numbuh 2, 3, and 4 spun around to face an angry Numbuh 5.
"Numbuh 5! Oh, um, hey how's it going?" Numbuh 2 asked nervously.
The second-in-command grabbed the letter out of Numbuh 4's hands.
"Give that here," she said angrily. "Numbuh 5'll be taking it to burn. Good day."
Numbuh 2, 3, and 4 looked as Numbuh 5 stomped off angrily.
Line Break
Numbuh 1 was sulking in his room when Numbuh 5 burst through the door.
"They know!" shouted Numbuh 5. Numbuh 1 looked confused.
"Know what?" he asked.
"They know that you used to work for Father!"
Numbuh 1 gasped. "How?"
Numbuh 5 showed Numbuh 1 the letter. Numbuh 1's eyes widened with shock.
"I thought I threw that away!" Numbuh 1 said with shock.
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have "threw it away" in the attic because that's where Numbuh 2 found it."
Numbuh 1 looked at the letter. His secret was out.
"If it makes you feel any better, the others still trust you," Numbuh 5 said. Numbuh 1 was about to say something when the other operatives ran into his room.
"You used to work for the Delightful Dorks? Why would you do that?" Numbuh 4 asked.
Numbuh 1 opened his mouth to say something when Numbuh 5 said, "You don't have to tell them anything if you don't want to, Nigel." Nigel shook his head.
"No, if I want the full trust of my team, they have to know the truth about my past." Numbuh 1 cleared his throat. "Well, I was kind of a messed up little kid…"