Emma & Malcom Peabody

Chapter 29: How to save a life part 2

-What is this place?-asked Malcom rather annoyed as he was walking following his father

Even though the whole trip had been quite a mystery for the kid, that particular place was actually causing him to shiver. It was a creepy, lonely place pretty away from the center of New York, which was full of big kind of sheds that seemed from the Ancient Greece. Moreover that, his dad hadn't told him where the heck they were actually going, what is extremely frustrating and another prove of how little his father trusted him.

Sherman turned around to see his boy's face and smiled at the obvious fear and curiosity shown in his face. When he came to that place the first time, he felt just the same way. It was really hard to forget that day, because Mr. Peabody took him there, explaining that place was perfect for making investigations and experiments (it was quite, away from the city and well hidden).-We're almost there-said the red-haired man reassuring

-I was really afraid of you telling me that-muttered the kid

Suddenly, Sherman stopped in front of one of the biggest sheds around there and went closer to its door.

"Oh, please, don't open..." thought Malcom, but it was too late, the scientist had already opened it before he could even finish that sentence in his head.

Sherman started to make signs to him to get into it, but as he didn't seem to react, he decided to talk to him.-Don't worry, it's the safest place in the USA, I can assure it-

-In that case, USA is the most dangerous country in the entire world-the boy mumbled while he started to walk closer to his dad

With a sigh, Malcom got into the shed. From inside, the shed was way creeper and older than the outside. It was full of metal elements and electronic devices that seemed to have been untouched for ages. Also, the place was so old that every single thing there was covered with thick dust and spider's webs. There were millions of bugs inside of that thing, he could bet it. Also, it really did smell as if something had died in there.

The ginger boy turned around, but before being able to escape, Sherman closed the door with key.-You're not really expecting me... to stay in here, are you?-asked the kid in fear and disgust

-I'm not expecting you to do it...-he pointed him with a finger.-You're going to do it-

-Uh? I won't stay here! Also, we have to rescue Emma and mom, have you forgotten about them? Or your plan is to stay here and hide?-

-Of course I'm going to rescue your sister and your mother, but you're going to stay here-

-Wait, what?! That's so unfair! I want to help too! I can help too! I know how to...-

-Malcom! I'm sorry, but there's no way you're going out from here. Do you wanna help us? Then, stay here safe-

-But... dad! I don't want to stay in this creepy place while you're saving them! And why do you think you'll be able to sort this out if you don't know what's happening?-

-The present is breaking, Napoleon wants to take over the Earth, is there something else I should know?-

-Well... I don't know... but... I'm the one who did this, so I'll have to undo it-

-So, you wanna be the responsible for destroying the Universe? Nice, you never are responsible for anything you do, and now you do?-

-See why I can't be responsible?! If I ever try it, everyone takes it in a wrong way... how can somebody be good in this mad world?-he asked sarcastically

Sherman stared at him and then sighed.-I'll come back, stay here-he said as he started to walk away

-No matter if you lock me out, I'll escape!-

-Malcom, you'd better stay here!-

-No!-

-Yes, you're staying! I'll ground you for ten years if you move from here!-

-Do it! And why do you want me to stay anyway?!

-Because I want you to be safe!-he shouted before calming down.-Malcom, Napoleon wants you two, and I don't care about what you've done, but you must know it, he won't have mercy on you two. You have to stay here, away from everything, do it for your sister, for your mother, and if you care, for me too, Malcom, please-

The young boy had never seen his father in that way before. He was acting so... opened to him. He even had tears in his eyes, as if he was doing the best not to cry, and a feeling of guilt started to appear on Malcom's chest. For the first time, he was 100% sure that he wasn't the dark horse in the family, that everyone really loved him and cared for him... but that was another reason to escape and go for the WABAC. He had to do it for them! The boy was also 100% sure that his father wouldn't make it... no without his help. There was something inside of him saying that Napoleon only took Emma because he knew it... he knew the team both of them did, and he knew that one without the other would feel so bad that none of them would be able to make a right plan, and perhaps he was right, but now Malcom's anger for Emma was gone and he only wanted to save her.

-Alright, dad-he finally said, deciding what was the best thing to do...-I'm staying here and I won't move, I promise-

Sherman sighed and hugged him.-I love you, son-

-I love you too, dad-

The both fell apart.-Please, take care of you and if someone gets in, just hide behind some of them devices, ok?-

The kid just answered with a nod.-I'll be waiting for you, dad-

The scientist smiled and walked away, locking the door from the outside.

Malcom waited until he heard his father's steps far enough and started to look for ways out of that place. Because he decided that the best thing to do was lying, so he could help his family.

After searching for some minutes, maybe for an hour (you'll see, that place was really big), he noticed a little window. The only problem with it was that was really high and he wasn't going to reach it if he only tried jumping. He was going to need something else to get in there... a stair perhaps.

And that's how he spent another hour looking for a stair that, by the way, never appeared.-Oh, boy, I'm running out of time!-he protested giving up on the stair search.-I need to do something else-he needed to find something to use as a stair, but what?-Ok, I need to think, what would Emma do? What would Emma do now?-he suddenly stopped.-What would I do?-

Motivated by that importance that he suddenly started to feel, the red-haired kid started to walk towards the different devices and boxes that were out of use and started to pull them all in front of the window. One after the other, using a little of help of some curtains that he was able to tie up to the roof, he was able to put many different boxes and devices and every time he was getting closer and closer to the window and his freedom.

But when he finally got closer enough to the window, he felt extremely (and strangely) dizzy, as if all of a sudden, his mind had been shaken off.

Although he wasn't really sure about what he was doing, he hold up from the edge of the window and succeeded in getting to it and he was even able to sit on its frame, but the confusion wasn't stopping any time soon.

Feeling a bit sick, and looking really nuts and dizzy, he took the curtain that was tied up and started to come down slowly of it, thing that was almost a mistake I would add, because his hands were shaking and he was starting to see everything really muddy. His mind wouldn't stop going around, and his strength wasn't in the best conditions.

He didn't last too much holding on and in one moment, without even realizing it, he dropped the curtain. Luckily, it wasn't too far from the ground, but he still fell and lost his conscious.

In the sky, the black hole started to get bigger as it took some memories away from Malcom's mind.

-Mom! Malcom! Dad!-continued screaming Emma as she got to the Napoleon's hiding place. She was hitting that horrible circular transparent cage with all her strength, but she wasn't able to break that transparent material that seemed glass. The only opened thing inside that cage was a little hole on her left that was only a few centimeters big and not even her hand could go through it.-Free me!-she continued screaming without even knowing that no one was able to listen to her.-Please...-she begged as some soldiers took her to a room inside the hiding place.

It was a completely white room with a table in one side full of computers of different sizes, all with a lot of keyboards, a microscope and a really little chair. Moreover that, the room was completely empty, it was almost funny how that place could be as empty. The person who used those computers was indeed someone lonely.

The soldiers left her in her own. The blonde girl desperately started to look for any sign of life in any part of the room, but there was nothing. She was completely alone, as usual, but this time in a worse way.

She looked at her cage, and knowing that fighting against it was useless, she just sat on it, put her legs closer to her chest and drowned her face into her knees, decided to suffer on her own, as she always did. That was it, Napoleon found their weakness: the past. Not only he succeeded in remanding them all their problems, he also succeeded in finding a way to hurt them in any way possible.

The girl felt so sad that she couldn't help herself from crying, so, she took off her glasses and cried her heart out. She was so busy suffering that she didn't even notice someone getting into the room and closing the door behind him.

He was quite amazed at how painful could be to see someone else crying, even if she was his enemy.-I thought bad persons didn't cry-he said as he touched one button of the cage so he would be able to hear her.

She looked up, and tried to dry her eyes, even though they were still full of tears. The young girl put her glasses on and looked at the little puppy standing at her half afraid-half curious.-Bad persons?-she asked with a trembling voice

-Well, yeah, Napoleon told me that you and your family were extremely mean and wanted to destroy him for no reason. I bet that if you four just stop getting in his way, he'll let you go-he proposed

Emma wasn't really sure about how to talk to him. Yes, he was her grandfather, but he didn't even know it, and in that new present, he wasn't even his grandfather, but she still loved him and felt pity for him... after all, it wasn't his fault, Napoleon manipulated him.

-So... you and Napoleon are really good friends, aren't you?-she asked trying to sound as calmed as possible

-Yes, he adopted me when no one else wanted to. He's my first friend; he's the first one who trusts me! He even taught me a lot of things –

-Taught you?-

-Yes, he's really smart, a real genius, and I only have the average intelligence-

-Average?-the child asked rather surprised

-Oh, Napoleon made me an intelligence test and he told me it-

The blonde girl looked down angrily. There was no way Napoleon could change his levels of intelligence, of course he had lay to have Peabody under his control, to make him believe that he would never be able to do something against him.

There was suddenly an awkward silence formed between the both of them, and Peabody felt so guilty for what was happening to the little girl, that he decided to talk.-May I ask... why is Napoleon so afraid of you and your brother?-

-Afraid? Is he afraid of us?-

-Well, he never confessed it... but I know him, he's afraid. He thinks that you're the only ones who are able to destroy his plan, and I'm not talking precisely about your parents...-

She stared a bit surprised and then looked away.-And that's why I'm here... alone... right?-

-I suppose so...-

-Why are you obeying him?-

-Obeying? He's my friend and he'll do the same for me-

-Are you sure?-

-Of course! He's adopted me, played with me and put me inside his plan, why do you think he wouldn't do that for me?-he asked madly

-You do know who he really is, right? He's from the past! Don't you know that this could alter time-space continuum?-

-Perhaps, but it's a risk we are all able to take. Moreover, maybe that's what he wants...-

-What do you mean?-

-His real plan is to make you and your brother stop existing by changing the past... I'm not sure about what he did... but he seems pretty sure about how he changed it-

After hearing that, Emma stood up in fear. Maybe the puppy didn't know what he changed... but she did.-Oh, my! Oh, my! Oh, my!-She screamed realizing his real plan.-I'M GOING TO DISAPPEAR! MY FAMILY IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR!-the blonde girl continued screaming between tears

Little Hector looked at her one more time. There was something about that girl... something he couldn't understand... but she reminded him of him. Maybe there were the colors that she was wearing... or the bowtie... or the glasses... indeed, that girl was he in a human-female version. He felt so sorry for her, but he couldn't betray his best friend.

-Look, girl...-he said trying to reassure her.-I'm sorry about this situation, ok? But there's nothing we can do now... there isn't a way back out of this-he commented

Emma's crying suddenly stopped. "Way back... of course!" she thought turning around to see her grandfather.-Free me-she proposed

-What?!-

-Yes, yes, if you free me, I'll be able to fix everything; I know you know how to do it! Please, please, please!-

-No! I won't betray my best friend!-the puppy said coldly

-He isn't your best friend! He's using you!-she screamed before covering her mouth, she was being so cruel

-You don't know anything about him!-

-Sorry-the girl said, really meaning each word.-I'm just... so scared-

The beagle stared at her in distrust.-I'm sorry, too-he said going closer to her cage again and turning off the loudspeaker so he wouldn't hear her anymore.-But Napoleon is my friend-

-Wait, don't get angry-the blondie commented without even realizing what he did

She was decided to talk to him again when she suddenly felt really dizzy. Her mind started to go round and round and round. Every single thing in that quiet and empty room was moving and she just couldn't find her balance.

Without even been noticed, Emma dismayed inside the cage, getting only a worried look from Peabody who discovered the situation some minutes later.

Sherman wasn't really sure about where he was going... or what he was doing, but it wasn't his fault. He knew that he needed help, he needed to find information... and he just didn't know where or how to find it. The red-haired man was literately doing his best not to freak out as he was walking through the New York's streets.

He just wished that nobody started to ask him questions about what was happening... but that wish didn't last too much. The first time he came across with someone who knew that he was the Mr. Peabody's son, that person started to make him thousands of questions. And that person was only the first one. "What's happening?" "Why has the "Peabody's Industries" flat been destroyed?" "Where's Mr. Peabody?" "Wasn't he the smartest around here?" and the poor scientist was only able to make a reassuring smile and answer every single time with the same thing "everything's alright, me and my dad are working on a solution, you don't have to worry". He didn't believe any word of that, but it seemed to make the people calm down.

It wasn't surprising that everyone was like that either. In spite of the people's thoughts, Sherman understood them perfectly, they were scared, and it was completely normal. Everything they knew was disappearing, every single invention from the Peabody's family had suddenly disappeared and no one seemed to have a real answer. Zumba, the auto-tune, the tear-away pants... everything was simply gone.

Despite his reassuring words, the ginger man wasn't able to feel better. There were no clues, no Napoleon, no... Nothing! It was awful to feel that little... that useless... again.

Suddenly, some trucks with soldiers came and started to make questions to every single person in the streets, so Sherman decided to hide in one side of an old shop that was closed. He hid and heard the soldiers.

-Have you seen a red-haired man?-they asked to everyone.-Or a kid? They're quite similar. The man wears glasses, while the boy wears a white t-shirt with a spider-

The scientist gulped and waited for those guards to be a bit away. Thanks God no one could ever imagine that red-haired guy they were searching for was the always trustable Sherman Peabody, but his luck was wearing off. He knew it so well... someone will discover him and it'll be the ending.

He looked at the street one more time and, all of a sudden, someone grabbed him by the back and covered his mouth with its hand, so he wasn't able to see who it was. It was all over thought Sherman, that's it, all his useless tries of finding information, of rescuing his family were all done... he just wished he could have done a little bit more, but maybe Malcom was right, he might need some help.

-Shh...-Said a surprisingly familiar voice.-Come with me-

Sherman stared two seconds until he finally realized who that stranger was. Then, he stopped feeling scared; instead he started feeling rather annoyed.-Drop me-he muttered still with his mouth covered

-Sorry, I can't hear you-the person said amused as it started carrying him to the back door of that old shop.

Once they were inside, the stranger finally freed Sherman and went on locking the door, so no one would even suspect someone was in there. That old shop was a bit broken, with fewer supplements that any shop had that was notable, but all its windows were closed... maybe because that shop was supposedly closed or abandoned.

-What are you doing here?-asked Sherman angrily

-I help you and this is how you thank me?-

-Thank you?!-He asked almost laughing before touching his head in frustration.-How did you even get the key to get in here?-

-You don't know everything about me, Mr. Peabody-

-Oh, yes... I can absolutely bet that, Ms. Edwards-

Ally frowned at him, but then looked at another side.-I don't have to tell you my full story-

-I only asked one question-he said getting angrier. What on Earth was she doing there?

-For God's sake... does it matter? I saved you, right? Who cares if this shop is mine? Or if I stole the key?-

-S-stole it? Oh, great... My secretary is a thief-

The dark-haired woman chuckled at that.-Calm down! Everything is fine-

-Why are you even helping me?-the scientist asked this time quieter.-Do you work for Napoleon or something?-

-What?! I can see how much trust you actually have on me, huh? Really nice to know, really-

-Sorry if I don't trust you, but you've just met me, and this is dangerous... are you going to tell me that you're risking your life just because you... feel something for me?-

The girl stared at that. Yes, it sounded insane, but she just couldn't let him like that. She knew that he was never going to survive if he was alone... he needed help. And yes, maybe she wasn't the best help he could get, but it was the only one he was getting, that was for sure. It was nuts, she was risking her life for someone she wasn't even sure that she loved... so crazy... she suddenly felt stupid.

-Please tell me you're not-said Sherman this time feeling even worse than her after seeing her reaction. Ally only stared at him and the red-haired man sighed.-Great...-he muttered

-Look, I'm gonna help you, even if you want my help or not... also, you need help-

-Ally, I...-

-Don't speak, I don't wanna know how much you don't love me, ok?-she said with a wide smile.-Because if I think this through, I'll just get depressed, ok? So, what's your plan to recover your family, know-it-all?-

She was being serious, really serious. So, the ginger man just decided to nod his head... after all, what's the worst that could happen?

-No, no, no...-he said after thinking what was the worst thing that could happen.-Look, I really appreciate it, but this is my familiar problem and...-

-Please, Sherman, let me help you... don't take it as something I'm doing for you or your family... take it as some kind of favor I'm doing back to the Universe-

-Favor?-

-Yeah, kind of pay-back... after all the things I've done...-

-Well, I don't know you that well yet, but I think that kissing a married man, who is your boss and stealing a key to get into an abandoned place are some of those bad things, aren't they?-

Ally laughed sarcastically.-Yeah, I did all that... but you've been with me those times... which means you have a bit of fault too, don't you?-

-You were the one who kissed me!-he replied almost in a defensive mode

-Continue lying to yourself...-she muttered.-Well, what's the plan?-

Sherman sighed.-The plan is to get information about where my family is-

-And how is that going?-

-Not good...-

-I guessed so... you need to talk to one of those soldiers...-

-Nice plan, but how are we going to do that?!-

Let him know that you know best

'Cause after all you do know best

Try to slip past his defense

Without granting innocence

Lay down a list of what is wrong

The things you've told him all along

Pray to God, he hears you

And I pray to God, he hears you

So... yeah, I adviced you that this story was getting darker, even though the beginning was quite the oposite... but well, a year went by, and I think we all kind of grew up, try to understand me... still, I hope you all liked this new turn... if you didn't, then I'm sorry, no sorry.

Going back with the story, we see that beating Napoleon will be a bit harder than what they all expect, because they won't only have to beat him, they'll also have to beat something that had been their friend for a long time and now it's against them: time.

Keep on reading! I'll probably update a new chapter today too! :D

Thanks for reading! And please favourite, follow and review! I want to hear your opinions about the story, pretty please! :3

PS: I'd probably make a playlist for the story, and I've made some fanarts if you want to see them in DeviantART ( gallery/53308389/Emma-Malcom-Peabody) :)