I talk too much. :X

Alex and Mutt had been hanging around in the treehouse for quite a long time. Realising that it was late, Alex sighed. She pushed herself off from the floor and dusted off her pants, looking at the confused Mutt.

"Alright, let's go."

Mutt tossed the cards to the side. "Where?"

"Back home. I mean, they probably already ate. I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty hungry."

Mutt hoisted himself up as well, but didn't look like he was going anywhere. "Oh...."

"Well...?" Alex used her hands to motion to the exit of the nice club. "Aren't you coming?"

"Nah, I think I'll stay here."

For some reason, this had totally broughten Alex by surprise. She stopped making her way to the exit and looked back at her friend.

"What do you mean? You're not hungry?"

"Eh, hardly."

"But.."

"I just...I'd feel better if I was here." Mutt's face was awkward.

"I see." She really didn't. She figured he wanted to stay away from everyone there. She didn't blame him, she was pretty embarassed herself for lying and all. "Well, if so, then go ahead. You make yourself at home. I'm going to go find a thing to eat, and take a shower. I'll come back after that. I'll bring you something to eat, too."

He smiled, "Okay. Thanks."

"No problem." She continued her way out of the treehouse, before popping her head back to face him. "You're sure you'll be OK, here?"

He simply nodded.

"I mean...you'll probably get bored all by yourself. And its dark. And, the nights get pretty chilly, if you ask me. I mean..I could bring you a blanket or something.."

"No, no. It's alright. Just go."

"Okay, I'll try not to take too long in my shower. I usually hurry up but my mom will yell at me if I don't get properly cleaned." She laughed.

Mutt nodded.

"See ya." She hesitantly left the treehouse, finding her way back to her house.

Mutt watched her leave, then sat back down on the floor. He picked up the cards and began creating a house with them.

Back at the house, everything seemed to have quieted down.

Alex saw her and Mutt's mother sitting together again, talking. Her sister was still no where she knew, but she didn't really care at that moment. As she made her way through the house, she heard the two fathers inside the kitchen, laughing. She walked inside the kitchen, catching a quick glance to her father, who smiled back at her. Indy's face was awkward, obviously showing guilt and worry in his eyes. Alex knew what he meant, but didn't do anything. She turned back to the cabinet and continued to make herself a sandwich.

Scarfing the little thing down, she went straight upstairs, not wanting to waste any time. Waltzing into her bedroom, she dug through her dresser to find some comfy pajama pants and a plain shirt. She gathered her things and took them straight into the bathroom, shutting the door quickly behind her, as she dropped her things onto the floor. She got the water started, undressed, and got into the shower.

Back at the treehouse, Mutt was busy entertaing himself. Alex was right, he was pretty bored. But, he didnt' care. He didn't want to go back to that place. At least not today. He could go in the morning, when everything was over. Nobody would remember this , right?

Besides, he'd never spent the entire night in a treehouse before! It actually seemed cool. Though this wasn't the fanciest place ever, he was a 15 year old boy. He didn't mind at all. He figured out in his head how he could position himself in his sleep, so he would fit, and also how not to fall out. That sure would be unfortunate.

He wondered how long he had been there since Alex had left. He looked out of the treehouse, back to the house. Sticking his head back inside, he looked around. It was rather empty. He grabbed the deck of cards again and rebuilt his house that had collapsed.

He set the last of the cards on top, finally having created the perfect house. But sadly, his growled loudly and actually startled him, making him hit the house. It came towering down into a mess. Mutt bit his lip. He hoped Alex would return soon, with food.

Alex washed her hair, and steppped out of the shower, drying herself off. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.
After she was fully dried, she changed into her clothes she had picked out about 15 minutes before, in her room. She quickly brushed a comb through her hair, so it wouldn't be tangled and quickly fled the bathroom.

Making her way downstairs, she picked up a coat, and sliipped it on. She reached for the doorknob before remembering to bring Mutt something to eat.

"Ah!" She found herself in the kitchen again, making her friend a sandwich.

It was dark enough for the two men to wander, without having to hide.

They were positioned behind a small bush, talking quietly. It had been the same two men from before, who were talking with Indy and Gerald at the ceremony. The bigger man, with a deeper voice asked, "You're sure this is going to work?"

The smaller man gave the bigger man a dumb look. "Of course, it's going to work, you idiot!"

The other man nodded." Right. This will surely get those two to help us. Once they know we've taken something important, they'll surely want to get it back.."

Once again, the smaller man gave the other an obvious look. "Great, genious. Let's move!"

"Shouldn't we wait 'til it's a little darker? And later. When everyone else is sleeping? That way, when we break inside the house, they won't know.."

"If you ever listening to the plan, it's changed. " The smaller man said, " The kid's inside the treehouse." Apparently, his partner in crime wasn't as bright as he was.

"The boy?"

"Yes, the boy! He's alone." The two men nodded and began their way to the treehouse, silently.

Mutt sighed, slipping each and every card back into the deck.

He cleared a spot on the floor and layed down, staring up at the close ceiling of the treehouse. Where the heck was Alex? He knew she hadn't been gone for so long, but it felt like forever.

Alex finished up making Mutt's sandwich and began to clear up the counter.

Mutt was still laying down, with eyes closed. He re-opened them, thinking about going back to Alex's house. Or, he could continue waiting here. Yeah. He liked that idea. Staying here the entire night would be the best thing to do in this situation, he told himself. He closed his eyes, trying not to look too happy when she would come back.

Alex neatly wrapped his sandwich in a napkin and carried it in her hand, as she used the other hand to open the door and lead herself outside.

Mutt was counting sheep in his head. He was tired.

Alex currsed herself for forgetting a drink. She hurried back inside.

Mutt was somehow falling asleep, rather quickly.

After another minute, everything still seemed fine to him. Hearing a small noise from below the treehouse, he just figured it was Alex returning back. He didn't bother opening his eyes to check.

As he felt the presence of another person in the small opening to the clubhouse, he smiled, about to ask Alex what she had broughten him, before a strong hand clasped over his mouth, muffling his startled yell. His eyes shot open, to reveil one of the men he and and Alex had seen before, back at the ceremony! Mutt didn't have a second to register what happened, and try to defend himself. He was quickly hoisted up from his somewhat comfy position on the floor of the treehouse, and hauled out. He desperately tried to pry himself away from the large man's grasp, but the man was too strong for him.

One second, he was trying to kick the man away, and two seconds later the other man had showed up, supplying the man who was holding him tightly, with a small rag. Mutt felt the man's grasp on his mouth loosen, but it didn't give him any time to yell for help either. In replacement of the man's hand, a rag was put. Mutt's first thought was that they were going to gag him with it, so he wouldn't make any sound. But apon breathing in, he realised there was something very wrong with this rag. A strange smell was evading from it, and it had an intensely strong sensation, that crinkled down his throat, into his lungs.

Mutt's eyes wided more, in horror. He frantickly tried to remove the rag from his face, trying to move his face away from it. But, no luck. His vision quickly started to blur, and before he knew it, he heard a voice speaking over him, "Don't fight it, kid."

He had no strength left. The world was spinning, he couldn't see the man's face, before him. And he slipped right into darkness...

Alex, with Mutt's sandwich wrapped and a small drink accompanying it, hurried outside. She made sure she hadn't forgotten anything, and made her way to the treehouse. She spotted it and quickly ran over, eager to see her friend.

"Mutt! I'm back!"

She held the food, which was placed in a small bag, in one arm and hosited herself up the tree with her other, setting the bag inside the treehouse before she popped her head inside.

"I hope you like p-"

She stopped. Mutt wasn't there anymore.

I hope that chapter was OK for all of you.

In the next chapter, you'll be able to read more. review.