Some parts of the windmill were dark that they had to use a flashlight to search and prevent themselves from tripping on anything they couldn't see. Other parts of the windmill had enough light that sometimes they didn't need to. Claude knew that they better get to the machine room and fast but without getting caught by the windmill children. If they were spotted by one windmill kid, the rest will know. The only windmill kid on the good side is obviously none other than Simon.
Claude led the group nearer to the hiding place where he and Simon took refuge from the windmill kids and dangers from outside which were the teachers. It was also the last place he'd been in the windmill before he descended off with Lucy through the vents.
They reached the hiding place. To Claude's expectations, Simon was in one piece.
"I see you brought others." Simon said.
"I see you're alive." Claude answered.
"I-I-It can't be!" Summer stuttered in loss for words over knowing of this familiar student. She saw him get detention and get forcefully escorted by Stinch to the windmill.
"Yep. This is Simon Belljoy, he's going to help us out."
"What's with the ball and chain?" Carmen asked curious.
"He managed to escape the windmill before. When he got recaptured, the put this on him. I don't have the tools or inventions right now to get that off him." Said Claude.
"I tried to free myself from this but my efforts failed." Simon explained. "But at least it's useful for fighting off the other windmill kids."
"You do have a point Simon but I think dragging that thing around not only slows you down but the children will know your coming by the sound of clanking chains." Claude stated. "And if you got that ball stuck between rubble, escaping a mob of those windmill kids will be the problem."
"I think I might be able to help!" Summer suggested as she took out her toy bunny (more like weapon rabbit of dooooom!). The mouth of the bunny opened up slightly and a series of things popped out and back in. "Let's see no…. no… that's the flamethrower…. There it is!" The bunny shot out a laser beam on Simon's shackle. The shackle broke loose.
"I'm free!" Simon cheered.
"That's good." Claude said a bit relieved. "Well then, Summer already has her invention to defend herself. What about you Carmen?"
"Uh…." Carmen uttered as she searched for whatever she took with her. "I got tools but that's it."
"We'll need to find you and Simon something to use to defend yourselves from the windmill kids."
"When we do find weapons." Simon suggested. "Could someone break the other end of the chain from the ball? It might come in handy. I won't clank it around."
"Uh.. Sure!" Summer agreed. She used her bunny again to break off the chain from the ball. Simon wrapped the chain around his arm. His idea was to use the chain to grab the windmill kids attacking him and with a weapon, knock them out. Claude and Summer could see what he was thinking. The chain could be available for other uses as well.
While Summer, Simon, and Carmen were busy, Claude found a little storage room that contained shovels, lab tools, lab containers, crooks, and many other things.
Claude picked up a few of those plus some tools for himself, just in case. He handed Carmen a shovel and Simon also.
"May use the crook too?" Asked Simon.
"Be my guest." Claude handed Simon a crook. Simon readjusted his chain to he could carry both weapons.
Carmen gripped her shovel.
"What about me?" Summer said.
"Summer, you got your toy rabbit that could do…. Who know how many things you put in there?"
"Point taken."
Claude equipped himself with a shovel. Just when they were getting ready to head off, Lucy fell to her knees. Claude immediately caught her before she could fall face first.
"What's the matter with her now?" Summer asked.
"She's fast asleep!" Claude said.
"But why?"
"She must be exhausted. I guess it's all she had to go through and social pressure." Claude picked her up and positioned her on his back so he can carry her piggyback style.
"Alright, everyone ready?"
The rest nodded. They left the hiding place headed for the machine room.
…..
"So the windmill kids are still alive?" Summer asked. "I thought they were all dead!"
"I think the engineers would've had another reason if they just wanted to dispose of the kids sent to the windmill." Simon answered.
Carmen: "That be worse."
Simon: "It would. However, we faced things worse enough."
Summer: "I can see that all over you!"
Simon: "And nothing any more worse than this."
Summer: "Carmen, what do you think?"
Carmen was staring at Claude carrying Lucy who was still asleep. She didn't know why but she secretly found that adorable.
"Carrrrrrmeeeeen!"
"What? I wasn't paying attention sorry!"
"What were you looking at?"
"Nothing!"
"You were staring at something, I know you Carmen!"
"I just drifted into space!"
Summer gave a "I know your lying" stare with a mischievous smirk.
"Alright." Carmen whispered to Summer. "Don't you find this picture somewhat…. Cute?" She pointed to Claude and Lucy walking in front of them.
"Hmm….." Summer looked. "Maybe…. Actually…. Nah …. Oh wait yeah I somewhat do!"
"Really?"
"Yeah… It gives me some great ideas." She said grinning.
"What's this, secret girl talk?" Simon asked.
"Very funny windmill boy!" Summer said sarcastically, eyebrow twitching.
Simon smiled in response. "^_^"
At Claude's end, Lucy opened her eyes.
"You're awake!" Claude noticed.
Lucy looked at the position she was in realizing she's being carried. She didn't mind but she wasn't sure if she wanted to keep going like this either. She blushed but she didn't know why. She felt a feeling which was a mix of embarrassment, confusion, and something else. She didn't understand those feelings. She used to, of course the only feeling which was in the mix that she immediately understood again was safety. Lucy relaxed again on Claude's back. She felt safe again with Claude around. That's one of those feelings she recognized.
She tightened her grip on Claude's shirt and yawned. She didn't feel like falling back asleep. In fact she slept for 30 minutes already.
Summer went over to Claude. "Are we there yet?"
"Nearly now pipe down!" Claude ordered.
"Alright! Sheesh!" All of a sudden a question popped into her head. "By the way Claude, you know that toy dinosaur that Lucy carried around almost all the time? Where did She leave that?"
"That's actually a good question. The engineers either took it away from her or she dropped it while she was being dragged."
"What did she call that thing again? It was "Di" something."
"Dino. She called it Dino."
Lucy's eyes widened and she stared at Claude in question and repeated. "D… D…Di…no….?"
"She spoke!" Summer exclaimed.
"Hmm.." Claude then turned his attention to where he was going. When he stopped, the rest of the gang stopped. "We're here."
To be continued….