Simon POV
My head throbbed terribly. The man had gotten me with a good one to my head, knocking me out temporarily. When I came to, it was dark again, and Theodore was nowhere to be found. I rushed downstairs and looked out the window to see if Dave and Alvin were still there. Sure enough, they were sitting behind a bush under the window, just where I told them to stay. I whistled and Alvin looked up.
"Simon?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," I said quickly. "Did the man leave?"
Alvin shook his head. "Why? Weren't you in there?"
I grimaced. "Well, yes, but as I was creating a diversion, the man knocked me out, and now Theo and the man are gone. Have you heard anything?"
"Yeah, it sounded like yelling. I thought you were there doing something though," Alvin said.
"Well, I'm sorry I was trying to help Theodore but got knocked out in the process," I said hotly. Alvin opened his mouth to retort, but Dave put a hand on his shoulder.
"Alvin, the man will hear you. Just let Simon do what he needs to and don't try to get on his nerves," he said calmly. Alvin frowned but nodded. I turned and went back inside, to find my baby brother. I tried not to knock anything over nor make the doors creak as I checked the entire house.
I was about ready to give up when I heard faint sobbing. I tiptoed towards the sound and was confused when I heard it loudest behind a side table in one of the bedrooms. I tried pushing it, and sure enough, it moved, revealing a dark opening. I squinted to see down. It looked like a straight drop. I took a deep breath and slid down. The ride was quick and I found myself in the basement, but through the hole in the wall was the only entryway.
It was a one-roomed cavern, with exam tables with shackles, whips, knives, and guns everywhere. I swallowed hard. It was then I looked for Theodore. It was fairly easy because he was lying on the table in the center of the room, cuffs holding his wrists and ankles down. The man was nowhere to be seen, but I couldn't worry about that now. I rushed to my captive brother.
"Theodore!" I cried, putting my hands on the binds. "Are you okay?" I looked over his tearstained face. He didn't seem like he was in too much pain, more like he was very shaken. His clothes were a bit ruffled as well as his hair. He nodded, answering my question.
"He dragged me down here. Literally dragged me! I tried to stop, I tried calling for help, but I knew you were hurt upstairs, but I was hoping Dave or Alvin would come, like you said they were here." He sniffed. "But no one came! And he threatened me and said no one likes me and I shouldn't even be alive!" Tears poured from his chubby face. "T-then when he said t-that, he w-went upstairs, saying he was going to m-make it true!" He began sobbing again.
I tried pulling hard on the cuffs. They wouldn't budge. I began to panic, but stayed calm on the outside so I wouldn't worry Theo. He watched my face curiously. "Hey Simon?" He asked kindly.
"Yes, Theodore?" I replied, my mind thinking hard on what to do.
"You're an angel, right?"
"Yeah,"
"So then you have special abilities," Theo raised an eyebrow. "Right?"
I thought for a minute. He was right, I was an angel, so I should have special abilities. "Uh, I dunno. Maybe," I didn't even know what to try. I thought hard on flying, but when I opened my eyes, I was still on solid ground. I thought about intangibility, where I could pass through things. Still nothing. I couldn't try anything else; the man slid down the chute and appeared in the room. I backed up so as not to draw attention to myself, in case he might see me out of the corner of his eye. If he did, he didn't care as he approached Theo, whip in hand. I saw my baby brother swallow hard. The man spoke. "Now, to hear your voice."
He raised the whip high above his head and brought it down, making a loud crack. A large rip appeared in Theodore's sweater as well as a large gash in his big belly. I saw his eyes close in pain, grimacing. He whimpered slightly. My eyes blurred with tears. I remembered that pain. Memories of my aunt hitting me with the belts flashed my mind and my body went on autopilot.
It seemed to know exactly what to do. I ran to the man, shoved him over, and began attacking his face. He was stunned, so he didn't fight back at first. Before he could hit me, I ran to the side of the table Theo was strapped on, and pressed a bright, red button. Immediately, the shackles released and Theo jumped down quickly.
"Run!" I yelled at Theodore. "Escape through the window by the front door! Find Dave and Alvin in the bushes and go home with them!"
He hesitated. "But-!"
"Go!" I cried. The man was getting up and began running towards the green-clad Chipmunk. I tried attacking him again, but he easily threw me off. I ran ahead, grabbed Theodore's hand, and ran towards the front door. I threw my fist through the window, ignoring the pain and blood running down my wrist and helped Theo reach it.
When he was crawling out and I turned to face the man, Theo cried hysterically, "What about you, Simon?" I put on a brave face, not for Theo, but for myself.
"Doing my duty. I care more about my family than I do my own life. Theo, I want you to get home, okay? Run home and don't look back."
Theodore, with tears streaming down his small face, nodded as he looked at me longingly for a second more before disappearing behind the sill. I heard joyful shouts from Dave and Alvin, but I couldn't make sure they were okay; I had to keep the man from following them, and he was just rounding the corner now. I concentrated on Theodore, everything about him. I closed my eyes and pictured Theodore. I felt a slight tingle, and when I opened my eyes, I was Theodore.
And I was solid.
This must be one of the "special things" Theo was talking about which angels can do, I thought. I can become other people. But I haven't been able to do it earlier because I didn't know I could. I needed Theodore to help me figure it out. The man saw me and lunged, thinking I was the Chipmunk he wanted. I willingly went with him back down into the basement / dungeon behind the side table, unknowing as to my fate, but willing to accept it to help my family escape with their lives.