Lol, this chapter was fun to write. XD I love writing funny stuff as much as I love writing blood. XD ENJOY!
The bright, sunny city of New Orleans was as lively as usual, only with an extra life wandering around. A dark figure slithered across the ground & hid behind a pole. After a few seconds, Lynn revealed her dark face as she looked around, suspiciously. Then, she dashed behind another pole. She looked out from behind it in front of her as the air seemed to grow more tense. After a second, Vena slowly revealed herself hiding behind the same pole. She raised her arm into the air & quickly poked Lynn on the top of her head.
"Gotcha!" she said, smiling, as Lynn jumped into the air, squealing & looking like she might pass out. Vena laughed & started to run away. "Can't catch me!" Vena ran off, laughing & going as fast as her tiny legs would take her while Lynn followed not far behind, slithering across the ground with that "I'm gonna get you" smile on her face. Vena was looking back at Lynn & squealed when she saw her. She tried to speed up & ended up knocking into the door to Tiana's Palace.
She fell to her butt, dizzy, & rubbed her head. She looked behind her. She squealed again & jumped into the air as Lynn shot under her & knocked the doors wide open. When she landed, she ran inside after her. Lynn stopped when she didn't see Vena in front of her & stood up straight, in the middle of the restaurant. Everyone was chatting, but, when they saw Lynn, they all shut up.
Tiana heard this, or, stopped hearing it, & turned around, holding her tray of beignets in one hand & handkerchief in the other. She gasped when she saw Lynn, standing there, looking around like she was ready to eat someone.
"Tiana!" she shouted. Tiana squealed, taken aback. "Where Vena?"
"Who?" Tiana asked. Vena jumped onto the counter in front of her, causing her to scream.
"ME, silly!" Vena shouted, putting her hands in the air, like, "Tadda!"
"You're a…"
"Can I have a beignet?" Vena grabbed a beignet from the tray, stuffed it in her mouth, & hopped off the table. She dashed out the door of the restaurant & headed for Dr. Facilier's emporium.
"…Umm…Lynn?" Tiana asked, giving Lynn a weird look as she realized Lynn was gone. All that was left was the swinging doors. She continued to stare, strangely as all her customers stared at the door. Outside, Vena was smiling to herself & dashing as fast as she could around the alley corner. She laughed to herself as she stopped at the purple door. She jumped as high as she could to reach the knob, but, she couldn't. She hopped up & down several times, her breath straining at each try. Then, she turned around & saw Lynn coming her way. She squealed & jumped into the air again. Lynn went right under the door as Vena watched in shock. She stared at the door, as if waiting for it to attack. Then, she sighed.
"Whew!" she said, wiping her forehead. She heard a crash from inside & a scream,
"LYYYNN!" Lynn shot out from under the door with a terrified face & hid behind the tree as Vena jumped into the air in alarm. The door slammed open, knocking her to the side. Dr. Facilier walked out, wearing a white apron & covered in food.
"STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN!" he yelled, shaking his fist. Then, he slammed the door. Vena was revealed behind it, practically stuck to the wall.
"Ow…" she moaned. She fell off the wall & looked up. Lynn poked her head out from behind the tree & looked at her. "Did you…?"
"No." Lynn replied. They both scurried to the door. Lynn stood up & opened the door, very slowly. She poked her head in. "Clear." she said.
"Good…" Vena said, as she followed Lynn into the dark room. Vena tip toed into the living room while Lynn slithered on the ceiling. Vena looked up. "Do you think Kitten is awake, yet?"
"Mm mm." Lynn replied, shaking her head no. "Go check?"
"Yeah." They ran down the hallway as fast as they could, before the kitchen door came open because it wasn't closed all the way. When they got to the door, Lynn opened it & rushed inside. Vena followed her & heard Lynn gasp.
"What? I can't see." she said. Lynn picked Vena up & let her sit on her head as she gave a worried face.
"Kitten is gone." she said. Vena sat there & stared.
"…So, she is." she agreed. "What now?" She looked down at Lynn. "Weren't you guarding the door all night last night?"
"Yes. Not the inside." Lynn replied. They looked at each other, as if reading each other's minds. Then, all at once, they both screamed,
"DR. FACILIER!" Lynn rushed out the door, dropping Vena, who followed right behind her as fast as she could, while they both screamed. Lynn, of course, was faster & slithered on the ground until she stopped at the kitchen door & stood up. Vena was panting really hard by the time she made it to Lynn. She leaned on Lynn's leg & held her lungs.
"Can't…you carry me?" she asked. Lynn shook her head & backed away from the door. "Calm down, will ya'?" Vena pushed on the door as hard as she could. The only reason it opened was because it wasn't closed all the way. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the kitchen. "Wow…" Lynn peeked out from behind the doorway. The kitchen was a huge mess. There was a huge splatter of food on the wall over the sink, like something had exploded out of the broken, smoking microwave. There was a broken cup on the ground, apparently what Lynn had broke, because Facilier was leaning over it, trying to pick up the pieces of broken glass. Vena shook her head. "Oh, right." Lynn jumped out from behind the doorway.
"KITTEN IS GONE!" she yelled. They started shouting & stuttering to get his attention as Vena waved her arms in the air like a bird. Facilier looked up & glared at them.
"WHAT?! Can't you see I'm busy?!" he yelled.
"Kitten is gone!" Vena shouted.
"Well, she probably went to the store or something."
"No!" Lynn said.
"We checked Tiana's restaurant. She's not there!" Vena said. Facilier just raised an eyebrow in an unimpressed expression. Vena stared, silently thinking of something to drive him into Kitten's room. After a medium-long pause, she suddenly blurted out, "Her room's on fire." without changing her black, staring expression or moving.
"WHAT?!" Facilier jumped up & bolted out the door, stepping on Vena & shoving Lynn out of the way. Vena sat up when he was gone & looked at Lynn.
"CARRY. ME." she said. Lynn nodded her head yes, gave a determined, "Mm hm!" & picked her up. She ran down the hallway after Facilier with Vena on her head. They stopped when they saw the door open & Dr. Facilier, leaning over to window seal with half his body out the window, looking around.
"Where is it?" he said. Vena snickered.
"We told you. Kitten is gone." she said. Lynn nodded her head yes as Facilier turned around & glared at them.
"I don't sense her in New Orleans." she said.
"Oh, really?" Facilier interrogated, "Then, where is she?"
"Don't know. Not here. Not in the town." She began to sniff the air. Lynn closed her eyes & relaxed, walking to the bed. She tripped & fell onto the bed & sniffed the window. "Scent stops here. No more trail." She sniffed more. "Smell doll. Not Vena." Vena gave a weird look. Then, she beamed.
"It's Harmoo!" she said. Then, she covered her mouth. Facilier looked at her.
"Harmoo?" he asked, his eyes moving back & forth between Vena & Lynn because of Vena's outburst & Lynn's habit of talking in sentence fragments.
"Uh…" Vena looked up. "Yeah. He's one of the dolls. But, he spends most of his time on the other side, so, we don't see him."
"Well, how do you know it's him?"
"He's the only one who would want Kitten."
"Oh, so, now she's been kidnapped? Make up your minds!"
"Never said otherwise." Lynn said, glaring at him. Facilier looked at her, then, back at Vena.
"Fine, I guess not. But, you never said you thought she was kidnapped."
"Well, I know where she is now." Vena said. "She's on the other side. Harmoo kidnapped her yesterday. That has to be it."
"How do you know?"
"He told me yesterday."
"WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!"
"Be-Because Harmoo said he'd barbeque me if I did!" Vena shivered & covered her face up, waiting for him to scream at her & then hurl her out the window. Facilier growled & picked her up by the back of her shirt.
"Vena is right. I see it." Lynn interrupted as Vena peeked out from under her arms, which she was using to cover up her face. When Lynn figured out they expected a reply, she added, "That is all." Facilier & Vena sighed in relieved, but, disappointed manners.
"So, this means you're not gonna kill me?" Vena said, smiling.
"ONLY because Lynn calmed me down!" He threw her on the ground, "Now, since you know the most of this, you come with us!"
"No problem!" Vena said, smiling, but her eyes said she was terrified. "Just keep me away from Harmoo or he will pop off my head!" She smiled & said that as cheerfully as she could.
"Got it." Facilier walked out the door. Lynn & Vena looked at the each other.
"Mission." Lynn said.
"Right." Vena said, as they both dashed out the door after him. In the living room, Facilier pulled off his apron & threw it on the couch. "Umm…aren't' you gonna…"
"I'll clean it up, later." Facilier replied, waving his hand in the air. Vena shrugged. She & Lynn followed him to the purple front door. Just as he was about to open it, it slammed open, hitting him in the face & knocking him over.
"HEY! I…" Vena heard Tiana say as she came around the corner of the door. She looked down. "Oh." She grabbed Facilier's arm & yanked him back up. "What do you think you're doing?" she shouted, pointing at him as he rubbed his eye, which would blacken in a few minutes.
"What…?" he mumbled, trying to see.
"…Letting your shadows come into my restaurant just about gave my customers a heart attack!" Tiana continued. Seeing as he wasn't paying attention, she grabbed a hair brush off the nearest shelf & whacked him with it.
"OW! WHY?!" Facilier yelled, his eyes finally focusing enough to see her.
"I don't know! I just feel like hitting you!" Tiana shouted. Vena & Lynn watched in curiosity at there argument.
"You storm into my emporium, slam the door in my face, & whack me with a brush & you expect me to CARE?!"
"No! I expect you to keep your spirits out of my restaurant!"
"WHAT spirits?! I was in the kitchen, making WAFFLES!"
"Waffles?" Vena asked.
"Quiet, Vena." Facilier quickly turned back to Tiana. "And anyway, I was just on my way to find you."
"Why?!"
"Kitten is gone!" Lynn butted in. Tiana & Facilier silenced & slowly turned there heads to see her.
"S-Sorry, Lynn." Tiana said, "I'm not mad at you…"
"Sorry, Tiana." Vena said, smiling. "We were playing tag."
"And Kitten is gone!" Lynn said again.
"What do you mean 'Kitten is gone'?" Tiana asked.
"Let me explain. Go back to your restaurant & tell Naveen to come here. I need your help to save her."
"We do." Vena added. "I know."
"Yeah, she knows."
"Well…why?" Tiana asked, backing away.
"Just go! And hurry!"
"O-Ok!" Tiana dashed away from them & ran to get Naveen. Facilier closed the door.
"Why do we have to hurry?" Vena asked. "He's not planning to do anything until we show up."
"What?" Facilier asked her.
"He wants to control Lynn & use her to…umm…that's it. He didn't actually tell me what he wanted to do; take over the town, take over the world…"
"So…you're saying he wants us to show up?"
"…Yeah."
Facilier paused to think, "Then, we'd better come prepared." Suddenly, the door slammed open & hit Facilier in the face again, knocking him over again. Vena laughed her head off & fell over, holding her stomach.
"HOW IRONIC!" she laughed.
"I got here as fast as I could!" Tiana panted. Then, she looked down. "Oh, not again!" Vena laughed harder. She & Naveen each grabbed one of Facilier's arms & pulled him up. He was panting & holding his eye again. He looked at Tiana.
"Really?!" he shouted, harshly.
"Really!" Tiana replied, in a rush. She turned him around & Naveen followed, closing the door with his foot.
"You ok?" Naveen asked.
"NO!" Facilier yelled, quickly pulling his hand back to his eye.
"Ashee Danza." He paused as they continued to help him onto the couch, "Tiana, go get an ice pack."
"On it." Tiana replied, running off to try & find the kitchen. Naveen pulled Facilier towards the couch & slowly moved him towards it. He sat down & rubbed his face.
"Oh…what a day." he said.
"I know. Earlier, a shadow came into our restaurant &…"
"I know! She whacked me for it!" Naveen backed up a bit at his bad attitude. Tiana came running out of his kitchen & handed him an ice pack.
"Your kitchen is filthy." she said.
"Gee, thanks a lot." Facilier replied, putting the ice pack to his eye.
"So, what is going on?" Naveen asked. Facilier didn't look up.
"You know that girl, Kitten?" he asked.
"Yeah." Naveen replied.
"Of course!" Tiana said.
"Well…she's been kidnapped." Facilier finished.
"Kidnapped?!"
"What?!" Tiana & Naveen both spoke at the same time.
"By an evil doll from the other side." Vena added.
"Yes." Facilier confirmed. "He expects us to show up, but, he doesn't expect Vena & he certainly won't expect you two." He looked up at them & smiled, slightly. Tiana & Naveen were taken aback as they looked at each other.
"And you want us to go?" Tiana asked. Facilier nodded his head yes.
"Oh, sorry about your eye." Tiana said, "And your kitchen." she added to Naveen, who chuckled.
"It's ok." Facilier replied, "We have to prepare for this. I don't know what he wants to do with Kitten, except that she's being used for bait to get Lynn in his control."
"So…where is this 'other side' of yours?" Tiana asked, confused.
"We can travel there, easy. It's getting out that will be hard. We'll have to find Kitten & get out."
"But, we'll probably also run into Harmoo." Vena added.
"And the bosses." Lynn added to Vena's comment.
"Right…" Facilier said.
"Who are these people you're talking about?" Naveen asked.
"Our leaders--well, they're highest in power--will appear as heads on the wall of our main building." Vena explained. "And Harmoo is Kitten's kidnapper. He's a doll with black hair & a bad attitude."
"Ah…" Tiana said, understanding." She paused. "But, wait…you want us…to go & help you save Kitten?" she asked, as if she were trying to comprehend it.
"No," Vena replied, sarcastically, "We want you to go & help us get cheese for a pizza." Naveen snickered, uncontrollably.
"Naveen!" Tiana said, glaring at him.
"It's funny when you Americans use this sarcasm!" Naveen replied, giggling. Tiana rolled her eyes.
"Well, I'm not doing this." she said.
"What?" Vena asked, her voice sounding flat.
"I'm not--we're not--going to some parallel universe for anything. I won't risk our safety. I'm sure you can do that plenty good on your own." Tiana turned around & pulled Naveen along with her. "Come on, Naveen!" Naveen quickly turned around in shock.
"Uh--Tiana!" he followed her. "What if this Harmoo guy's plans will affect us?" he whispered to her. Tiana stopped walking.
"Well…" she considered.
"I don't know anything of this, either, but it could happen." There was a pause between them as Naveen didn't change his "trying to convince you" look. Tiana turned around.
"Ok, you've got two minutes to explain to me everything we'll have to face." she said.
"Vena, you tell her. You know the most." Facilier said.
"Umm…ok. Umm, Harmoo is mad because Dr. Facilier got away from them & that Lynn is nice to people. He's also mad because Kitten is the reason they both got away." Vena explained. "He thinks Lynn is a traitor & wants to hypnotize her into being as evil as the rest of them. He's going to use a hypnotic gem. A green one. After he's managed to get Lynn, if he does, he wants to use her as a weapon & the main reason is so she can't be used against him." Vena shrugged. "The only thing he told me about what he was going to do afterwards is something about having big plans for New Orleans." Tiana gave a slightly surprised face. She paused & didn't say anything.
"Well…" she said, finally, "It umm…looks like I'm going on a trip to another world with the Shadow Man, a doll, & a shadow." Vena jumped into the air.
"Yes!" she said. Naveen shook Tiana's arm in excitement.
"Ashee Danza!" he said.
"What does that mean?" Vena asked.
"I don't remember!" Naveen replied, smiling. Tiana smiled & giggled.
"Ok, so, what do we do?" she asked.
"Get some rest. We'll all meet here at midnight & who knows how long we'll be there?" Facilier said.
"Ok, good. I can close my restaurant early."
"Good. Naveen?"
"I will rest, too." Naveen said, "I'm tired, anyway."
"Good." Facilier smiled, "Get as much sleep as you can. Ya'll will need it." When everyone just stood there, looking at each other, Vena giggled.
"Yeah, uh--you guys can go, now."
"Right." Naveen said as he & Tiana left. After a long pause, Facilier & Vena looked at Lynn, who'd gotten their attention with her devilish growling.
"What?" Facilier asked her, half-annoyed.
"I see it." she said, her eyes tinted red. She didn't look very happy.
"See what?"
"Kitten. In a rock prison for the shadows. Works for others, too. But, made for shadows, not people." Facilier glared at her & softened his look towards Vena. He looked back at Lynn in curiosity.
"…How do you know that?" he asked. Lynn shrugged & smiled.
"Shadow senses." she replied, simply, her expression brightening.
-TO BE CONTINUED-
Isn't Lynn just darlin'? Wow, Facilier is gonna feel those hits tomorrow. XD I'm listening to "The Riddle" by Gigi D'Agostino. XD Fun song. ^^