Well, this story has picked up considerably enough and I have decided to continue the story. By the way, I started a Shadow Children Series crossover with Danny Phantom called Among the Phantoms. I encourage fans of both series to check it out. Anyway, here is Chapter 3! Enjoy!:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Shadow Children Series. It is owned by Margaret Peterson Haddix and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Three
As Luke sat in the back seat of the minivan between Alia and Nina, he wished he had given his family a more elaborate goodbye. Of course, He'd had no way of knowing that Mr. Hendricks would be sending them after the two most wanted men in the country.
As Trey started the car, Nina turned to Luke.
"Do you think that this mission will interfere with Jen's memorial ceremony on Friday?" asked Nina.
"Doubt it," Luke answered. "Today's Wednesday. We have two full days, since the memorial is on Friday night."
"Let's just hope that things don't take a turn for the worse," said Nina as she leaned her head against the window.
Luke bit his lip. Now that he thought about it, if Oscar and Aldous did have some goons working for them, would Luke and the others be able to rescue Smits and the soldiers before Friday night? It was a lot to do in forty eight hours, but Luke was determined to attend Jen's memorial. Even if he only made it in time for the last sixty seconds.
As Trey pulled onto the highway, he looked back briefly at Luke.
"You'd better get comfortable back there," said Trey. "According to this GPS, we won't arrive there until tomorrow morning."
Luke sighed as he shifted in his seat and closed his eyes.
"Uh, guys, you may wanna hear this story on the radio," said Matthias from the passenger's seat.
The radio's volume was turned up and Luke heard a radio announcer's voice.
"Hello, I'm Jeff Smith and we're back from this commercial break, continuing coverage on this story that we first broke to you during our six o'clock newscast," said the announcer. "Just a few minutes ago, the jail released some information in a twenty page document that our legal correspondent, Lisa Turner, has been combing through."
"Well, Jeff, this document is filled with lots of details, but here's the basic story," said Lisa. "Yesterday night, Jason Barstow was brought in for questioning after being seen in a recent photograph with Oscar Wydell and Aldous Krakenour, the two most wanted men in our new and improved country. After refusing to cooperate with police, Barstow was arrested. Today around five o'clock p.m., the Putman county police department reported him missing."
Luke opened his eyes and noticed that Nina that was looking out the window uncomfortably. He remembered that she used to be in love with Jason.
"The jail also released surveillance video from the Northern gates of the prison," continued Lisa. "The video shows three grown men burning the building Barstow was in. As the inmates were evacuated, the men are seen running through the gate they broke open with Jason following them."
"Do these men resemble Oscar or Aldous at all?" asked Jeff.
"Well, after taking a closer look, the police say that they do not believe that any of the men are Oscar or Aldous," replied Lisa. "But there was no chase when Barstow escaped, because by the time the police realized what was going on, a good amount of time had passed, so they just sent out search dogs and deputies to take a look around the local area. But viewers can go to our website to take a look at the surveillance video, and if anyone recognizes these men, you are urged to call your local police station or the crime line."
"In other news—" began Jeff, but the radio was switched off.
"Do you think that those three men worked for Oscar and Aldous?" asked Matthias.
"It's very likely," Trey replied. "Nina, do you—"
"No!" interrupted Nina. "If you're gonna ask me if I still have feeling for Jason, the answer is no!"
Trey spoke after a small silence. "Uh, actually, I was gonna ask if you agreed with is."
"Oh," said Nina sheepishly. "Well, I do agree with you, then."
"But here's the thing," said Luke. "Will Jason be with Oscar and Aldous? Because if he will be with them, then that's one more person we have to worry about."
"Not to mention the minions that Aldous and Oscar could have with them," Alia added.
"This isn't very encouraging," pointed out Trey.
"I know," admitted Matthias. "I just really wish that Mr. Talbot were here to help us."
"It would be helpful," Trey agreed. "But we have to respect his research."
"Uh, guys, shouldn't we have a plan for when we get to the warehouse?" asked Percy. "We can't just barge in there, wing it, and expect to be successful!"
"True," agreed Nina. "A plan would be helpful. Should we split up? Have some of us go inside while the rest of us go in and the ones still in here can be reinforcements if needed?"
Luke shook his head. "There are too many things that could go wrong with that."
Percy tapped his chin. "Well, strategically, the best thing that we can do is enter with our guns drawn, ready to shoot," he said. "We don't know what we're going up against."
Luke frowned. "Look, I didn't even want to bring guns in the first place!" he complained. "What makes you think that I'll be willing to hold a gun, ready to shoot it?"
"What other suggestions do you have?" asked Percy. "The guns are for self defense and we need to be prepared to defend ourselves."
"He does have a point," Nina pointed out.
Luke sighed. "Fine!" he said. "Don't expect me to voluntarily hold one of those things, though."
"Than it's settled," said a satisfied Percy.
Luke sighed, rolled his eyes, closed them and went to sleep.
What do you think of this Chapter? How do you think the story's going? REVIEW and let me know! And if I get five new, positive reviews, I'll post the next chapter sooner. Don't forget to check out my Shadow Children Series and Danny Phantom crossover: Among the Phantoms.
~Jameer14