Chapter 7

A/N: I am REALLY SORRY for not updating sooner. I had half term, where I had to do lots of homework and revision (I also managed to make an arrangement of The Phantom Notes, but you don't want to hear about that). So I will stop boring you with excuses and make up for the lack of an update by promising a fight scene in this chapter! Hope you enjoy!

Once the replacement police car had arrived, they set off again. It was already afternoon and they had to think of places to stay for the night.

Out of sheer boredom, the radio was blaring out whatever songs had somehow made it into the charts. No one was really listening, however, as it was just a tool to break the silence.

Charlie looked up from the map she was reading. 'There's a town just ahead. We'll stop there.'

'Okay.' replied Marie, who was staring out of the window again.

The car fell into the soft sound of the radio again, with no one knowing how to break it and continued for a long time.

(Scene Break)

The town Charlie had mentioned came into view and the group were still silent, preferring to listen to the radio than to attempt a conversation doomed to fail. It was evening by now, the landscape now silhouettes, but Marie continued to stare at them going past, with lack of anything better to do. She was also thinking about the events of the past day and Napoleon, none of it quite sinking in. How could she be leading a somewhat normal life one day then be going on a do-or-die quest to save her friend the next? She continued to think this over and again as she watched the silhouettes of whatever go by, eyes glazed over. Her friends were probably worried for her, probably wondering if she had finally cracked, and she could sense Raphael staring at her, probably worried out of his mind, but it didn't seem to matter or register to her. Soon, the things she was staring at transitioned from trees to buildings, which meant they had arrived at the town and were nearly at their destination, but all she could think was that if Napoleon's sure-fire method of getting rid of them was shooting at them with guns they had somehow acquired, what else could he do? And would they be so lucky next time?

The car stopped, signalling that this was their stop. She got out of the car and joined the others as they walked into the hotel which would be their stop for the night. Maybe Charlie and the police officer could convince them to allow animals inside; otherwise they would just have to find another way to get Fondue and Raphael in.

(Scene Break)

The police officer explained the 'special circumstances' and soon, enough, two rooms were booked, the police officer getting a room to himself due to him being a guy. And the rooms weren't half bad either; the mattresses and pillows were fluffy and there was plenty of space. Charlie immediately jumped onto the nearest one and fell asleep a second later. Marie decided to lie down and the other bed, Fondue curled up at the end of the bed and Raphael watching Marie, still worried as she stared at the ceiling.

He still watched her as the hours ticked by, not taking his eyes off her angelic beauty. Long after Marie had fallen asleep, Raphael was still watching. Charlie had woken up to find food, stashing some for the next day, but Marie was still fast asleep, probably exhausted. Raphael found that he couldn't get to sleep himself, not knowing how bluebirds actually slept, but decided that he would probably fall asleep from exhaustion. But as time gradually went by, he found himself getting sleepier, and soon he was asleep too.

(Scene Break)

Marie woke up with a start. It was just past midnight, it was pitch black outside and there was an air of creepiness in the room.

Marie was sure she heard something when she woke up, and desperately tried to hear it again, but it was gone.

Suspicious, Marie tried to go back to sleep, certain the noise was nothing. But was she laid her head on her pillow again, she heard another noise.

The smashing of windows.

Boots on the stairs.

Something wasn't right.

Marie quietly got out of bed and walked over to Charlie.

'Wake up!' she hissed. 'Something's wrong!'

Charlie stirred and got up sleepily. 'Wussgoinon?'

'I think someone's breaking in!' replied Marie.

Charlie was alert now. 'It's got to be Napoleon!'

The footsteps were louder now, loud enough to wake everyone up. The police officer had bolted into the room fast enough for the person-they-thought-was-Napoleon to notice Raphael had flown onto Marie's shoulder, Fondue whimpering under the bed. A silence settled over the room, everyone knowing full well that this was the silence before the storm which was about to come. The police officer grabbed a bedside lamp as a makeshift weapon, waiting for the intruder to come. The footsteps stopped outside the door.

And then the door opened.

And it was Napoleon.

Before he could react, however, a bedside lamp smashed into his head, causing him to stagger, glaring angrily at the man who dared attack him.

The police officer equipped himself with another lamp and Charlie grabbed a chair just in time to meet the Chevaliers who had rushed though the door. Many were apprehended by Charlie and the police officer, keeping them busy, but one lone grunt cut through the defence and ran straight for the prize; the map leaning against the wall.

Seeing where he was headed, Marie sprung into action after him, chasing him down, determined not to let Napoleon win.

Just as the Chevalier reached out to take the map, a foot flew into his face, knocking him back, but not enough to completely take him down. In front of him he saw Mare standing in his way. The Chevalier leapt at her, trying to get her out of the way, but Marie stood her ground, kicking him back when he got too close.

The Chevalier clenched his fists. He would have to use force.

He charged forward, more determined than ever to take the map. Marie grabbed the closest thing to hand - a vase of flowers – just in time to smash it over the Chevalier's head. Even this didn't stop him though; he still threw punches and kicks at lightning speed.

None of his attacks proved fruitful, however, as Marie elegantly dodged all of them.

The Chevalier was livid now; how could a girl be besting him? He put his strength and emotion into a single punch and brought it forward.

Marie had no time to react. The fist met her face and she crumpled into the wall behind her.

The Chevalier smirked wickedly. Now he could claim the map. His had reached out…

However, before he could do this, a shout turned his head before the claws of a bluebird raked his eyes and face. He screamed and staggered back, clutching his face. In front of him, Raphael the bluebird watched his agony with a face of stone.

'Never hit a girl.' he said.

The Chevalier recovered enough to glare furiously at him, followed by a lunge to grab the bird.

He was interrupted, however, by a horribly familiar face in his line of sight.

Marie smiled before kneeing him in a place that probably shouldn't be mentioned.

The Chevalier collapsed on the ground, unconscious, Marie's faux-sweet smile still plastered creepily on her face.

'That's what you get for making me angry.' she said.

She turned her attention towards the battle between Charlie, the police officer and Napoleon. Both sides looked matched but Marie wasn't sure if Charlie and the police officer could keep it up for much longer. The lamp had not shattered just yet but the chair was a mass of wood on the floor. Napoleon had noticed their signs of weakening and was fighting harder than before. Marie made a move to go and help them but stopped in her tracks when she saw what happened.

Charlie had made a last ditch effort to beat Napoleon and dived for her football, which she had brought with her. In the space of a second she had kicked it at full force into Napoleon's head. He fell to the ground and passed out.

Charlie turned to the others. 'We should probably leave now. I don't want to be here when they wake up.'

There was a flurry of quick 'yes's before everyone gathered their things and sped down the steps, making sure to leave some money on the counter before driving away in the police car, sirens blaring.

A/N: I'm not very good at fight scenes, so I apologize for its lameness.

And I also apologize if Marie is far too OOC in this chapter.

But anyway, thank you for keeping with me, as it really means a lot, and thanks for taking the time to read! Hope you enjoyed!