Chapter Nine: A Vow in a Bullet

Fear started to make its way in me. Ratigan stood there in the light, showing a look of worry. I slowly backed away to reach the door.

"Wait! Please!" He cried out. I turned around and raced to the door, even though the cast on my leg was slowing me down. I felt something grab my arm. I started to scream. Ratigan cupped my mouth.

"Don't scream. Please, don't." I began flinging my arms around. I was able to hit him in the head with my cane. That's gonna leave a mark. I even hit him in the leg with my cane again. Leaving him in pain, I raced to the door once more. Man, I hate this cast! I've gotta get it off me! I reached the handle of the door, but I was jerked away again. This time, he had a good hold of me, and I can't break free.

"I need to talk to you. Just give me a chance."

"Leave me alone!" I cried. "BASIL, HELP ME!"

Ratigan cupped my mouth again. "Don't bring him out! I don't want him involved!"

"And why not?" Came a voice.

I looked and I found Basil in his robe standing in the doorway. He had a gun pointing in our direction.

"Let her go!" Anger started to build up.

"Basil, this is none of your business." Ratigan replied.

"Unless you want a bullet in your head, you let her go!" Basil shouted. His eyes burned with rage as he gritted his teeth. After a couple of seconds, Ratigan released me. I quickly limped to hide behind Basil.

"I suppose you escaped and moved somewhere else before the authorities could catch you." Basil glared.

"How did you know?" Ratigan asked sarcastically.

"Lucky guess. Now, get out." Basil gritted.

"Just a minute. I only want to talk to her." Ratigan cried out.

"The only talking you'll be doing is screaming." Ratigan ignored him and kept looking at me.

"Kiara…"

"Don't talk to her!" Basil shouted as I tugged onto his robe. He still had his gun pointed to Ratigan's heart.

"Just let me tell her a few things. She's probably wondering why her leg is better, and how she can see fine."

"See fine? What are you talking about?" I cried out. I moved my finger to push up my glasses, but I realized they weren't there! What the? I can see Ratigan clear without my glasses! How the heck did that happen?

"You! What did you do to me!" I shouted at him.

"So, it worked." Ratigan muttered in his breath. Basil gave Ratigan and me a confused look. I'm confused, too. I remember my glasses falling off when Ratigan hit me yesterday. I thought I got them back on.

"I gave you something from the way future, before the invention was destroyed. I was saving the Healing Pill for my use, but you needed it the most."

"Healing Pill?" Basil asked, keeping the gun pointed.

"Invented in 2080. You read my journal, didn't you, Kiara? My invention can go to past, present, and future. The Healing Pill can do anything. Cure measles, AIDS, broken bones, even the common cold. Also, I gave you the Golden Eye Wonder."

He held up a little bottle. "Invented in 3002. This was a gift for you. Sadly, it's temporary, so I'm giving you back your glasses." He held out my bent glasses in the other hand. Basil told me to stay, and he went up to snatch the glasses. When he gave me them, I adjusted it to fit around my eyes. I held onto them since I can still see. I'm farsighted. Meaning, I can't see the distance. If I was to have them off and a young guy with silver hair passed me, I would mistake him as Taylor Hicks. Heh. That actually happened once. I rather not talk about the results.

"Okay, then." Basil spoke up. "You told her everything. Now, beat it!" Ratigan stood still.

"You're forgetting your place, Basil. This girl should be none of your concern as I said." Ratigan spoke in a cold voice.

"I have every right to protect her from scoundrels like you."

"Tsk, tsk, Basil. 'Scoundrel' is such a dirty word to use against me. Now, hand the girl to me, or she'll be served for lunch to my cat." I held onto Basil's robe tighter. I'm really frightened now.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Basil smirked. "Cats are able to see anything. The smoke bomb that I set off only went to her legs. She would've spotted us. But, why did she not move?" Ratigan opened his mouth, but closed it. What is Basil trying to say?

"Your cat, Loretta, right? You've raised her since she was found, am I correct?" Ratigan didn't say anything. "She's been loyal to you ever since you rescued her. If something never went your way, she would make it happen. She knew how much you wanted Miss Kiara. She would've killed me, and take her back to you. But, why did she not do it?" Ratigan still didn't answer. I began to wonder, too. Why didn't Loretta do something?

"Because she became loyal to Miss Kiara." Ratigan cringed. I, however, was shocked. Since when? All I ever did to that cat was pet it. "Miss Kiara, you own the cat that's with you, correct?" Basil turned to me.

"Yes." I answered.

"Is your cat loyal to you?"

"I've raised her since birth."

"My point exactly." He then turned back to Ratigan.

"Loretta sensed the fur of Kiara's cat on her. Now, cats have a great sense. They can sense who is trustworthy and deceitful. Her cat, Jessica, had a message. And it said that Miss Kiara is an amazing, talented, trustful young woman. And that, she can't be harmed. Loretta saw you beat Miss Kiara, and saw me coming to the rescue. Of course she knew I was your archenemy, but you gave her a wrong impression. And so, she let me go, taking Miss Kiara with me."

Ratigan just glared. I was really surprised. I didn't know cats can do that. That's unbelievable.

"Amazing." I was once again astounded by Basil's intelligence.

"Actually, it's elementary, my dear." He smiled at me, but it disappeared when he looked back at Ratigan.

"Humph. No matter. Just hand her over like a good little mouse." He scoffed.

"Over my dead body!" Basil cocked his pistol.

"Ha! What are you going to do? Shoot me?" Ratigan laughed.

"I could. But, I think you know the reason why I don't want to." Basil smirked. Don't want to? Why not? Shoot him, Basil. This rat put me through a living nightmare!

"Then, why don't you explain? Kiara looks confused."

"That's Miss Kiara to you! As for the explanation: you know a way how to get her back home. Even though the invention has been damaged, the blueprints have not. They're all in your head. You can still restore it." Basil's smile faded as Ratigan grinned, showing his sharp white teeth.

"Very good, detective." How could I forget? Ratigan kidnapped me in something he only created. We can't kill him. But, how can I convince him now to take me home? He won't allow it! There's got to be another way, but what?

"But, I will do something." Basil spoke up again. "Hear this: if you ever come near ten feet of Miss Kiara, if your thugs do any harm to her, this bullet will meet your heart!" Basil thundered. I was surprised and thankful of what he said. Does he really…care about me? Ratigan gave him despiteful look as Basil uncocked his pistol.

"Don't think this isn't over. I will have her." I had to say something. I'm not letting him hurt anyone else.

"Ratigan!" I called out. He looked at me straight in the eyes. Basil turned, too.

"If you, your thugs, or your cat ever hurt my friends, I'll bite my tongue and drown in my own blood! And I know you want me alive, so you better accept my vow to you!" He looked at me surprised. Basil did, too. I was serious. I was willing to do it. He took my family away; I'm not letting him take away my friends. Ratigan sighed.

"As you wish." He had sadness in his voice. He turned to walk away, but looked back at me. He cocked a smile.

"You're mine, Kiara. No one else belongs to you anymore. Not your family, not your friends, but me. Your life is mine." He ran off into the bushes. My heart banged in my throat. I nearly collapsed if Basil didn't catch me. Those words. Those horrible words that can frighten any woman when a man says it.

My hands are shaking. Fear was in my eyes. I'm scared. I'm truly scared. Basil helped me back inside the house and sat me in a red high cushion chair near the fireplace.

"Are you alright?" Basil asked.

"Yeah." I lied. I was not alright. I was terrified. Ratigan is the only one who knows my way home, but he won't let me go. He has no blueprints. All the plans are in his head. There is no other way. There are no shortcuts. Only him. Water came upon my eyes.

"Don't lie to me, Miss Kiara. I know you're scared." Basil said. Tears streamed down. I couldn't hide it from the beginning.

"Oh, Basil! I'm frightened! What he said to me scares me to death!" I choked on my tears. Basil sat beside me and embraced me. I sobbed through his warm chest.

"I know. I know. Shh. I'm here." Basil soothed me. He is so much better to be with than being in the embrace of Ratigan. I feel safer and warmer than ever.

As I settled down and wiped the tears with my sleeve, I asked, "Why do you care about me? I'm only a burden to you. He'll try to hurt you, and it'll be my entire fault."

"Don't talk like that." Basil replied. "You're not a burden. None of this is your fault. It was all planned by him. You never knew."

He lifted my chin. "I do care about you. I would care anyone else if they were in danger. I'm letting him get a hold of you. I won't allow it." His words. Oh, how have I longed to hear those words, especially from him. I had confidence in him. From then on, I believed, no, I knew I was safe. I cried for a little longer until I fell asleep on Basil's shoulder. He had a scent of mint and pipe cigar. I know this scent. It's the same as my…father's.