Hey all, sorry for the wait! I have been crazy busy and also getting writer's block. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like this chapter.

Kate
Kate began by handing out coils of ropes to her new trainees. She heard herself easily explain the process of lassoing an exposed pipe and instructed the others to repeatedly attempt this until their speeds, as measured using the stopwatch/timer function on her handy multi-use watch, decreased by half. However, she was preoccupied with simultaneously thinking about and trying not to watch Reynie. Hearing that he had intended to only visit her the past night had a strange effect: she felt, well... pleased.

What kind of friend did this make her? She ought to reprove Reynie for having excluded the rest of their group, yet was what he did really so wrong? On paper, yes, but why did it seem like there was more to it? Grappling with herself, she announced a five minute break, opting to remain where she was while the others went to the kitchen, panting and sweating.

Things seemed so much easier at the Institute and the early creation of the Society. Somehow, it was simpler when they were all friends, or at least she was free of these feelings, if that's what this mess could be called. What in the world was making her feel so out of whack around Reynie? She would just have to shake off these particular emotions and focus on the task at hand – which was indeed a difficult one.

This was not a slight to either boys' intelligence; they were quick studies by nature. Unfortunately, they simply did not possess Kate's innate agility, and while it was certainly possible to reach an extent of this remarkable capability over time, just thirty minutes had already exhausted them.

They returned after snacking, fueled up and prepared for the next step. Constance spent a great deal of time mocking their struggles but when Kate asked if she wanted to join them, she said yes in poorly-concealed enthusiasm.

"Ready?" asked Kate, bouncing from foot to foot in excitement. The adrenaline rush she got from teaching and crawling around absurdly small spaces was enough to distract from these confusing and newly developed emotions. She was utterly in her element as she sent Reynie up first, hoisted Sticky up with two fingers and haphazardly thrusted him into the cavity above, and, ignoring her indignant howls, tossed Constance behind him as well. Then she clambered up, obligingly folded in half to accommodate the space, and yanked the rope up behind her.

"Okay, guys, that time wasn't great," she said, balancing atop a pipe, "but I think you're all improving." They looked at her bleakly. She gave a satisfied nod, then asked impatiently, "Ready?"

She proceeded to spend the next hour giving them a tour of Mr. Benedict's house, identifying wires and pipes and insulation that marked their location and demonstrating how to slither up or down through small passages in the wall to switch between floors. By the end of it they were all able to orient themselves and were well on their way to mastering the art of wriggling through tight spaces at a solid, consistent pace.

Under Kate's jubilant encouragement, Reynie, Sticky, and Constance took turns leading the group; memorization was a breeze for all three, and their teacher was positively giddy with delight and pride once they'd successfully made it around the entire house at five times their initial speed, and they all ended up in the sitting room, dusty but pleased.

It was lunchtime now and they piled into the kitchen happily, expecting the adults to be there already. They weren't. Shrugging, they got out cold cuts and sandwich fixings and, setting them out at the table, chatted animatedly about the lesson.

"It was alright," muttered Constance, ducking her head to hide her smile.

"It was awesome," Reynie said, clapping Kate on the back. "Really awesome."

"I had no idea I could do that," Sticky said, still amazed that he hadn't messed the entire operation up. "I suppose it's hard to be clumsy when there's so little space to be clumsy in."

The others laughed at this and congratulated him, and an exuberant Kate jumped up and announced that her next lesson would be on the subject of combat; namely, how to survive a Ten Man encounter on a rooftop thirty feet off the ground.

"Of course, we can't actually climb on the roof, but I've decided we can use my attic." She looked at them, then sighed. "I feel bad. Are you sure you're okay with all this 'teaching'?"

"Why?" asked Reynie, surprised. "Of course we are! Or I am, at least."

"Yeah," conceded Sticky in bemusement, "what do you – what are you talking about?"

"Well, I just don't want it to… I don't want you to think that I don't approve of the way you are. Because the things we've done, the ways we've worked together, it seemed perfect. I don't want to mess something up and try to make you all similar to me or something, particularly when it's our unique talents that got us here in the first place."

"Who would want to be like you?" said Constance scornfully.

"I think what Constance means," cut in Reynie hurriedly as Kate looked rather wounded, "is that we aren't you, and we won't become you. But we all have to admit that you're the quickest on your feet and you've saved our lives with that bucket, so would it hurt to pick up a few tips and tricks?" He looked at Sticky, who nodded fervently in agreement.

Kate beamed. "Thanks," she said, deeply grateful. Reynie smiled at her. There was silence for a moment as they all dug into their sandwiches, and then Constance jumped up.

"Someone's coming," she hissed, eyes widened in terror.

Before they could respond, a lot of things happened all at once. The lights started to flicker, then go out; Kate scrabbled around in her bucket for her flashlight and turned it on; there was a stampede down the stairs; the children raced around the back of the house; Constance shrieked as someone grabbed her from behind.

"Constance!" cried Kate, seizing her bucket and thrusting rope and her flashlight at the boys to hold. She doubled back, penlight clenched between her teeth, and started tugging at the girl, who was thrashing around and biting whatever came near her face. "Let go of her!" she shouted, causing the penlight to fall out of her mouth and roll to the floor.

The person holding Constance captive relinquished his hold on her and leaned down to pick it up.

"Here," he said.

She grabbed her penlight, shoving Constance protectively behind her. Then she paused, reminding herself to think before launching into full-out battle mode. Her opponent's voice sounded strangely familiar. Shining light onto his face, she exclaimed, "S.Q.?"

S.Q. Pedalian stood before them, just as sheepish as he had always been. "Hello, Kate," he said.

"What are you – Reynie! Sticky! It's S.Q.!"

They came running over, Reynie aiming the flashlight upwards to get a good look. S.Q. staggered backwards, shielding his face. Satisfied, Reynie stowed it back in the bucket at Kate's waist.

"What are you doing here?" asked Kate, resisting the urge to bowl S.Q. over in a hug. He'd been associated with the enemy for so long that it was quite difficult not being wary around him.

"Er – that's a rather long and conflexing – complusing – conflex –" He looked helplessly at the children in the dark.

"Confusing, complex, go on," said Kate.

"It's a long story," he said in relief. "Mr. Benedict recruited me to work with Rhonda and the others. My job is to protect you." His chest puffed out in pride.

"From what?" asked Reynie urgently. "What do you know?"

"Someone –" He fell silent, and the sound of a chase broke out overhead. "Someone, a girl, rang the doorbell while you were in your, ah, lesson. I'd just arrived and I'm afraid I let her in. She was with someone who seemed very, um… hesluctant. Resitant? I don't know…"

"Hesitant, reluctant, go on," said Kate quickly. He must be talking about Mackenzie McCracken, he must! Who else could be wreaking such havoc?

"Yes, she was with a friend, named Chloe. No, Cleo."

Next to Reynie, Sticky stiffened. "C-Cleo?" he asked fearfully.

"I'm sure it's not the same one," said Kate, patting his arm absentmindedly. "S.Q., go on."

"I let them in. They asked to make a phone call on our phone. While they were doing that, I went upstairs to alert Mr. Benedict and the rest of the adults. They got very upset and began form – formulating a plan," he said triumphantly. "For your safety."

"And then? What happened with the lights? Why did you grab Constance?"

"Wait – where is Constance?" asked Reynie in alarm. "Sticky?"

"I haven't seen her," Sticky said, reaching for the flashlight.

"I'm here," came a muffled voice. Constance was curled up on the ground. She'd pulled her hood up over her head and was clamping her hands over her ears, eyes squeezed shut. "I can hear them," she said miserably.

"Hear what?" yelped Sticky, beginning to hyperventilate.

"Them. McCracken. There's a girl with him. And another girl with her. They're on the third floor."

"Okay, okay, keep calm," Reynie said. "S.Q., what were your specific instructions?"

"I – I don't – I was supposed to sneak you children through the maze and Number Two and Mr. Benedict were to meet us."

"Meet us where?" asked Sticky hastily.

"Outside the maze."

Kate had a million questions, but Constance was whimpering in increasing discomfort on the floor and if there was one thing she'd learned, it was to make survival the number one priority. If they could just get out of the house, they'd be able to figure everything out later.

"Right," she said briskly. "Thank you, S.Q." She paused to see if anybody had noticed her clever rhyme, then, shaking her head, re-focused. "If Mr. Benedict wanted us to meet him, we should. Can you walk, Connie-girl?"

Constance made a small noise and started shaking. "It hurts," she whispered. "They're – they're…" She lapsed into silence.

"Is she okay?" asked Sticky in concern.

"Reynie?" Kate looked to him, at a loss.

He nodded resolutely at her. "It'll be fine," he said firmly, lifting Constance up. She stirred slightly, then quieted. "She must be overwhelmed with the thoughts of whatever evil is lurking upstairs."

"Thanks," Kate said appreciatively, turning to the rest of the group. "S.Q., do you know how to get through the maze?"

He hung his head. "Not a clue."

"It's alright," she said. "Sticky will help you – right, Sticky?" He looked positively terrified, but Kate knew that the only way to shake him out of his fright was to give him something to do.

"Okay," said Sticky stiffly. S.Q. took his hand trustingly, a gesture that moved him and alleviated some of his anxiety.

Kate reached for her bucket. "Reynie, you and Constance go first. Sticky, you lead S.Q. I'll be right back."

Before anyone could say anything, she whisked out of sight. They heard the telltale thump of a fallen man and, praying fervently that it wasn't one of theirs, waited anxiously for their friend.

"Maybe we should go without her," said Sticky, beginning to perspire.

"No, if she said she'll be right back, she'll be right back," maintained Reynie. "Give her a chance."

Sure enough, barely ten seconds later, she reappeared. "Number Two is outside with the car," she confirmed, "but I didn't see Mr. Benedict."

"Did you –" began Sticky, but Reynie stopped him. Pointing out the fact that Kate had somehow managed to dash through the maze, peer outside, and come back in less than half a minute was entirely arbitrary in the moment.

"Let's go," Reynie said somewhat grimly; Constance was still clearly agitated.

They scrambled through the maze in heated silence, trying to block out the sounds of whatever unknown battle was going on above. Even Kate felt her heart pounding in her chest; Milligan was up there, and goodness knew what awful things might be happening to him.

"We're here," panted Reynie finally, adjusting his hold on Constance, whose eyelids were beginning to flutter open. "If we can just…" He jiggled the doorknob, but it was locked. His shoulders sagged. "The key's upstairs."

Kate whipped out a pin and picked the lock in about five seconds. "Go, go, go," she said, pushing the others roughly outside. She checked to make sure nobody had trailed them, then followed suit, shutting the door and turning around in relief. "We made it!"

But they hadn't. Standing there, just as disturbing as ever, was Mackenzie McCracken. She didn't smile, she didn't blink; she merely gazed at them. There was a silent threat, a challenge, concealed behind her level stare. And standing next to her was Cleopatra Valentine.

So, I hope you guys liked that, and I'm so sorry for the lag in updates. Next week I'll be more free so I'll try to post more. Let me know what you thought in the reviews!