Chapter 23

*an unknown amount of time/days later because it'd be boring if I told you!*

Lex's eyes opened slowly and her mouth set into another frown as she saw her surroundings again. No one in their current prison knew how long they were their, but it as obviously more than one day. They would be brought food and water three times a day, so it wasn't as bad as they anticipated. Still, they slept on the cold floor of the cage with no blankets and the same methods that were used on Lex were used to rid Randy of his own weapons. It disgusted Lex and she hated that neither she nor anyone else could do anything about it. Lex sadly looked at the floor, wiping her eyes as if afraid that tears would fall. She sat up straighter, looking around the cage, and couldn't help but smile at her friends and father. Charles was curled into a ball next to her, concerned with the well being of his child. Howard was sprawled out on his stomach in the enter of the cage with drool threatening to fall from his mouth. Nomi was sitting upright facing Lex and leaning against the bars of the cage, since he refused to let her out of his sight. Randy was leaning his head on Lex's shoulder and it made her blush. 'No! No time for weird emotion!' Lex thought and shook her head while trying not to awake Randy. She looked around the room more, seeing it was as empty as the last time she'd seen it. The blinds covering the windows were up, making Norrisville visible. It looked mostly peaceful, but Lex couldn't help but feel troubled. Something was most definitely wrong.

"Guys? Everyone, I need you to wake up now!"

"One more minute mom."

"Wake up! It's important!" No one moved and Lex pursed her lips. She didn't want to do this. Lex took in a deep breath and screamed at the top of her lungs, everyone in the cage jolting awake and looking at Lex with worry.

"What happened?" "Is anyone hurt?"

"Lex, are you okay?" Lex rolled her eyes.

"I'm still here, aren't I?" She sighed before continuing, "Look, I have this…feeling."

"Feeling?"

"No interruptions, Cunningham! You too, Howard! Anyway, something is wrong. Very wrong."

"How do you know?"

"First, look outside. It's way too peaceful, considering the circumstances. Second, we don't know how many days we've been here, so anything could happen."

"Then what do we do?" Lex didn't answer and just looked around the room. The cage opened only one way, and it required a key…a key that was on a hook near the only entrance. The gears started turning in her head and she grinned as an idea popped into her brain.

"Cunningham, Nomi, I need your help."

"Anything." Nomi said instantly, standing up along with everyone else.

"We need to reach the lever that moves this thing. I need a chance to grab that key on the wall near the door. How far will Cunningham's scarf go?"

"Far enough to reach the lever."

"Good. Cunningham, you need to wrap the scarf around the lever and pull while Nomi makes sure you don't make us spin in a circle by messing with it somehow. Howard, I know this is a lot to ask, but do you have anymore borrowed smoke bombs left?"

"I actually have one that was for an emergency." Howard replied, pulling the red and black ball out of his pocket.

"Getting caught wasn't an emergency?"

"Don't judge me!"

"Whatever you say. Back on track, we're going to need that for an escape. Do not drop that smoke bomb until I give the word. Dad, you're gonna be our eyes and ears. Besides that, we need an easy exit that isn't the window."

"Got it! Besides, if we can get past everyone, there's a fire escape we can take!" Charles said happily.

"Great! If this all works, well be out of here and commence part two." Lex nodded to Randy and he tossed the end of his scarf at the lever, the red fabric wrapping around it easily. Nomi watched carefully as Randy pulled and the cage began to move closer to the entrance. Lex focused on the key and held her scarf on her hands, waiting for the right moment. She threw the end of the scarf and it latched onto the key, Lex grinning in triumph. Pulling the scarf back, Lex grabbed the key and Randy released the lever. Lex reached between the bars of the cage and unlocked the cage successfully, everyone jumping out.

"Where's the fire escape?"

"Not far from here. McFist always wanted to be the first person out in case of any emergency."

"Then we're lucky." Lex slowly opened the door, looking around for anyone.

"All clear." They hurriedly left the room, keeping their eyes open for anybody walking down the hallway. Lex spotted the fire escape and the group quickened their pace towards the door. They flung the door open and down the metal stairway on the side of the building. How this worked with something that was basically a pyramid, no one questioned it.

"Okay, we escaped. What's the plan?" Howard asked.

"We need to the to the school. Fast." Lex responded simply.

"How?"

"We have one mode of transport. It's near the trash bin over there!" Charles chuckled, pointing to a shiny black car near a dumpster. (Well that's convenient!)

"Why is the car there?"

"I didn't want it to get taken if we were captured. Besides, the parking lot was full."

"Then everyone hop in! We need to get to school." They ran to the car and jumped in, Lex and her dad up front with the three boys in the back. Charles sped up the ca and they found themselves speeding down the highway. Lex, unable to contain herself, turned on the radio.

Making my way downtown

Walking fast,

Faces past,

And I'm home bond!

The teens started to laugh and sing along, Charles hurriedly turning the radio off.

"Now's not the time!"

"Sorry dad."

"Back on a serious topic, why is something wrong at your school?"

"I don't know. It seemed too peaceful from the view we had and I know how evil most of our enemies are."

"No need to explain further." Charles pressed on the accelerator and the car sped off towards Norrisville High.

*Mordea*

Mordea smirked at the chaos around her. More than half of the school was stanked and areas around the school were also in some trouble.

"Ah, the smell of misery with a slight touch of fear. Now I see why it's fun being the bad guy." She chuckled darkly.

"Of course it is. You get unlimited power and control over everyone in your sight. (Everything the light touches is your kingdom! XD) You rule over everything and no one will come near you! They all fear you." The Sorcerer laughed from behind her, free of his dungeon and free to do as he pleased. 'They'll…fear me?' Morsel thought, something in her chest hurting. 'No one will come near me?'

"So you're saying I'd be forever alone?"

"I'd rather word it as eternal isolation, but yes. Besides, who would need something as trivial and pathetic as friends or even petty followers. You are the one in charge. Well, really I am, but you get the picture." Mordea looked down at her hands and something Kasumi had said sprung into her thoughts. 'It won't make your heart whole again…'

"Only forgiveness can…" Mordea muttered. She frowned and shook her head. "No…I'm right. This is the only thing to make up for everything…right?"

"You keep watch for now. I need to stank a few more people. Can't have any normal ones running around spreading hope." The Sorcerer stated, leaving Mordea alone on the roof to be consumed by her thoughts.

"Mordea! Sorcerer!" Her head snapped up and Mordea growled at the sight of the Ninja and his group.

"You?! HOW?" The Sorcerer snarled.

"It was easy. Besides, you should worry about what we're going to do to your face."

"I dare say you think you're going to WIN this battle. What foolish confidence."

"Foolish is kinda our thing. Now, we can do this two ways. You can walk right back into your dungeon or we can push you down there."

"You'll have to try with exceedingly difficult effort to bring me back there!"

"I don't think it'll take much. Just three ninjas, a father of two, and Howard."

I love cliff hangers, don't you? They're getting so annoying! :) Anyway, wow! Our heroes are gong one on one with our villains and are in a bit of a dire situation. Will they win? Will they die trying? What about Mordea? what will she do? Am I annoying you all with questions, cliff hangers, and these useless author's notes? Stayed tuned and stayed Bruce! :)