Chapter 8

A week later...

Everyone was getting stressed out as they had had no luck finding Jake, though Yuri had heard the kids talking in her school about Jake being in races and apparently he wasn't too far away, which helped to narrow things down, but not by much.

"He must be guarded or locked up so that he can't escape," Jose said.

"And if this guy that kidnapped him is doing illegal races, you can bet we won't find him at the known race tracks," Cal said.

"Cal's right," Fiona said. "That would draw attention."

Diane listened to all this and stood up, having had enough of waiting and she began marching for the doors to the theater. "Diane? Where are you going?" Sana asked.

The young woman turned to them. "I'm going to find Jake and get him back here to this family," she said firmly. "And I'm going to give whoever kidnapped him a piece of my mind. And no one and nothing is going to stop me!"

She turned around to leave, bumping into someone who had suddenly appeared behind her and she jumped, startled, before looking up to see it was Balan and he was smiling at her. "I admire your determination, my dear, but taking on this task alone would be unwise," he said.

Diane opened her mouth to protest, but a gentle hand covered her mouth. "Which is why I'm going with you."

"So are we," Eis said with a nod and the others nodded too.

"What do you say, Diane?" Iben asked with a smile. "You ready to go find Jake?"

"You bet I am," the young woman said, glad they were willing to help her find the boy she was falling in love with.

"Guys!"

They turned to find Emma and Leo running up to them, something in the girl's hands. "Look what we found," Leo said.

"It's a poster for the Grand Prix taking place in the city tonight," Emma said. "Jake is one of the racers."

"He is?" Sana asked.

Balan looked and nodded. "They're right," he said. "Look, there's thirteen racers and Jake is indeed among them."

"That's where we'll find Jake then," Bruce said. "But we need to hurry."

Diane nodded in agreement before looking worried. "But how will we get to Jake before the race?" She asked. "If there are guards, we won't be able to get to him."

"We'll have to get his attention somehow," Fiona said.

"Let's get a plan together and then head out," Jose said.

Hours later, the plan was set and they were all waiting, anxious to find Jake and hopefully get him away from whoever was holding him captive. Diane was at the Cafe with Lucy and she looked worried, which the painter noticed.

"Diane, what's on your mind?" She asked.

"I'm scared, Lucy," the young woman admitted. "I'm worried our plans will fail and if they do, we won't be able to save Jake."

Tears filled her eyes and moments later, she felt Lucy hug her. "Shh, don't think like that, dearie," the painter said, her voice soothing. "The plans will work and before you know it, the man you love will be back with you."

Diane hugged the painter gratefully and Lucy smiled. "How much do you love that young man?" She asked.

"Beyond words," the young woman said. "I love him with all my heart."

"Then hold on to the hope that comes with that love," the painter said. "Don't ever lose it and the man you love will soon be with you."

Diane smiled. "Thanks, Lucy," she said.

Meanwhile, at the hotel V.I.P. Lobby...

The racers were getting their cars ready for the Grand Prix and chose their numbers. Zeno chose number 3, Steven chose 7, Raz 10, Carla 15, Gina 8, Cody 51, Michael 13, Sarah 04, Connor 45, Zack 6, Fernando 5, Elena 22 and Sarah 30. For Jake, as he was thinking about what should his racing number be,he remembered his favourite Disney character, 'Lightning McQueen'. With a smile, he finally decided on his racing number, number 95.

"This is it," Carla said.

"Good luck, guys," Fernando said.

"Hopefully, we'll all be free soon," Zeno said.

Jake nodded and went up to them, placing his hand out with his palm facing down. Elena placed her hand over his and the others joined in, stacking their hands on top of each other, a silent promise to watch each other's backs. They then headed out, ready to race, but not for the trophy this time.

As nighttime fell and the Grand Prix was about to begin, Diane and the others were looking for Jake, but the guards stopped them at where the racing garages were. "Sorry, only racers allowed past here," the guard said.

Diane grew frustrated at that before Cal got an idea. "Maybe we can find him from the stands," he said. "Before the race starts."

"It's worth a shot," Fiona said.

But just as they reached near the start line, the race began and the racers were off, but Diane gasped as she thought she saw Jake. "Jake!" She called out, but the roar of the engines drowned out her call.

"We'll wait here for him then," Lucy said. "At least we know he's safe for now."

"Let's hope he wins," Jose said.

The racers were soon locking into grid, working in unison to all stay close and the manager who had kidnapped them returned to the hotel to find them missing, but soon saw the Grand Prix being broadcasted and he snarled as he saw the racers there. "Get to the cars! I want those racers back here now!" He commanded.

The final lap of the Grand Prix came quickly with Jake in 1st place, Cody in 2nd place, and Carla in 3rd place and they were holding strong, the others sticking close. Jake then looked up and saw Diane and the others cheering for him in the stands by the finish line and he smiled, knowing once he crossed the finish line, he'd be back with his family once and for all.

But just as he was about to cross the finish line, the greedy manager came onto the track with his car, racing to get up to Cody and Carla and take them out. Jake happened to glance in his rearview mirror to see this and he grew worried, knowing the finish line was up ahead along with his family, but he didn't want his racing friends to have their chances to be with their families again taken away from them, especially when they had been so nice to him.

Making a split decision, he stopped his car before the finish line and turned it around, hitting the gas and managing to shunt the greedy manager away from Cody and Carla, who were shocked at what Jake was doing, but grateful too. "Jake! What are you doing?!" Cody called out.

Jake turned to him, seeing the manager was coming up on his tail now. "Go! Win this one for us, Cody!" He called out.

"Got it!" Cody said.

"Good luck, Jake!" Carla called out before following Cody and the others racers were close behind, seeing Jake was leading the greedy manager away from them.

"He's giving us a chance to get away!" Raz said.

"Then let's not waste the opportunity he's given us!" Fernando said.

"We'll meet up with Jake later!" Zeno said.

"He's right!" Sarah said as they all made it to the finish line and kept going, sticking with the plan they came up with. Elena turned to see Jake was racing fast with the manager on his tail.

"Good luck, Jake," she said softly as she hoped he'd make it.

Jake raced with all that he had, finding it hard to shake the manager off his tail, but he wasn't going to give up. He kept going, thinking about Diane and the others and up ahead, he saw a stack of oil drums. Moving his car over a bit, he knocked into the oil drums, which opened and caused an oil spill, which caused the manager to skid into an alleyway and gave Jake the opportunity to escape, but his car was nearly out of fuel.

"I don't have enough to make it to the theater," he said to himself. "Better find a place to hide for now."

He drove until he found an old abandoned junkyard filled with rusty old cars and hid there for the night, knowing the manager's henchmen were searching the city. He sighed and looked up at the sky, thinking of his family and clenched his fist before taking a deep breath. "Soon," he said to himself. "We'll soon be together again, Diane. I promise."

Meanwhile, the inhabitants returned to the theater, saddened and upset that their plan to save Jake had failed. "That guy chasing him must be the one that kidnapped him," Cal said.

"And Jake saved those other two racers from crashing," Jose said.

"A noble act," Lucy said. "I hope wherever he is, he's safe."

Balan and Lance knew from their faces when they returned that the plan had not worked, but they were glad to hear that Jake was still at least in the city. "At least we know he's safe," Balan said.

"I'm sure Jake had a good reason for what he did," Lance said. "Keep having hope."

Later on, Emma and Leo went to find Diane, who was the most saddened by the plan failing. As they approached her room, they heard the young woman crying. They entered to see her sitting on her bed with her hands covering her face, tears pouring from her eyes. "Diane?" Leo asked gently.

"You okay?" Emma asked.

Diane sniffled. "I just...I just want Jake to be back here safe and sound," she said softly.

"Don't worry, we'll save him next time," Leo said, placing a hand on the pink-haired woman's shoulder.

Smiling gratefully, Diane hugged both teens. "I should have done more than I did during the race," she said.

"You did your best and that's what matters," Emma said.

Those words helped Diane feel better and she smiled as the two kids hugged her and she hugged them back before she began tickling their sides playfully. "Cootchie, cootchie, coo!" She cooed in a playful voice as the two teens squirmed and laughed, falling to the floor as Diane continued tickling their sides.

"PLEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHHEASE MOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHOM!" Emma laughed out.

Diane stopped the tickle torture at hearing those words, helping the two kids to sit up, her mind registering that Emma had just called her 'Mom'. She looked at the blonde-haired girl. "Emma...do you see me as a mother?" She asked gently.

Emma looked a bit embarrassed, but nodded. "Yes," she said.

"I do too," Leo admitted. "And...Jake is like a dad to me because we really enjoy each other's company and he spends time with us like you do."

The pink-haired woman smiled. "I don't mind being called 'Mom', because to be honest, I've been thinking of you two as my children," she said.

The two teens hugged her and she hugged them back. "Mom, can we stay here with you tonight?" Emma asked.

"Of course you can. Anything for my sweet son and daughter," the young woman said, kissing their foreheads in motherly affection.

The three of them were soon sound asleep in bed with the two teens snuggling into Diane's sides and she wrapped her arms protectively around them. Balan saw this as he checked on them later on and he smiled, quietly going up to them and gently tucking the blanket around the three of them.

Emma stirred a little, her eyes blinking sleepily before a gentle hand brushed over her head. "Shh, it's only me, Emma," Balan whispered gently.

The girl, recognizing her friend's voice, closed her eyes again and fell asleep. Leo stirred a little, but settled down as Balan gently brushed a hand over his head. Diane stirred as well, but settled back down to sleep right away.

Balan nodded. "Sleep well, young ones," he said softly before heading out, closing the door softly before looking out the window at the sky. "Be safe, Jake," the maestro said, his voice filled with worry.

Lance came up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "He'll be back home soon, Balan," the dark-haired being said reassuringly. "He won't leave the woman he loves behind."

"I just hope he got away from whoever kidnapped him," Balan said.

"He did," Lance said. "I can faintly sense his emotions and though he is worried, he's not in danger."

The Positive Maestro nodded, still gazing out the window and the Negative Maestro joined him, both hoping that Jake would be back soon.

Lightning McQueen belongs to Disney.

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