Chapter 17: Search And….

"It's all my fault! I shouldn't have let go of their hands!" Alice cried, her teal eyes quickly filling with tears. Her motherly instincts were thrashing around inside of her, unwanted scenarios filling her head. "It's my fault!" She sobbed, as she ran a bit ahead of Blood. "It's not your fault Alice. It's mine. They must be opposing the Hatter syndicate. So they targeted the bosses children." Blood said, frowning. Soon they arrived at the Hatter Mansion.

The Hatter employees were quickly informed of the situation. Various small groups went out to search the town for any groups, any hint, any witnesses- or any tiny clue that might lead to the missing Twins.

Dee and Dum were actually doing their job. They patrolled around the Hatter Territory, occasionally doing an inside search in hopes that the kidnappers had left a note, or a package, or any hint that would lead to the HAtter Twins being found..

Elliot was sent to the Heart Castle and inform Vivaldi, peter and Ace about the current situation, while also asking for permission to move Hatter workers onto their territories and hoping that some Heart workers would also join in on the search. After that, he was to go to Joker and ask for the same thing. Next, he would meet up with Pierce at the Amusement Park to ask the same thing, and then they were both going to the Clover-Clock Tower to ask Nightmare if he had any idea.

And all the two parents could do, was wait impatiently for anything.

"Uh….Ugh…" Phoenix mumbled, his head slightly pounding. Slowly, the ten year old sat up, only to notice his dark cell like surroundings and his wrists chained to the wall. He looked to his right, and noticed his sister in the same situation. However, her dress look tattered and dirty- her hair also a mess. He moved to gently tap her with his shoes.

Ebony groaned, slowly lifting her head. She was the one they had handled more gruffly; due to the fact that she had been the one who put more of a struggle.

"Ebony." Phoenix spoke, slowly stretching his limbs. "Where are we Phoenix?" She asked, raising to her feet and yanking on her chains, which only bit into her skin. "I don't know." Phoenix said, looking around. His eyes widened. "Ebony, do you think you could turn around and try to climb up and peek through the window?" Ebony glanced behind her, and spotted a window that was a bit out her height.

"Sure." Ebony managed to twist herself around, and proceeded to jump up, and to try to catch a glimpse. After many failed attempts, she stopped, and looked down at the ground. "Sorry. I'm too short." Phoenix managed a weak laugh. "It fine."

They sat down, and tried to think of something to get them out, when the door opened. The Twins shot to their feet, their backs touching the wall. In walked a faceless, who smirked at both of them.

"Who are you!?" Phoenix yelled, moving a bit to his right- or as far as the chains allowed him to go- to try to cover his sister. The man chuckled, his brown hair falling over his shoulders. "I'm the man who obviously is holding you captive stupid." The faceless replied cruely. Phoenix frowned, obviously frustrated.

"You're the stupid one if you think that's what you meant, you faceless scum." Ebony said, stepping a bit to the side, her blue eyes cold and sharp. In many ways, she had her father's genes.

The faceless's eyes- which was a skill the twins had from their mother- scanned her body with a smirk on his face. "Really sweetheart?" He said, walking closer to her. She smirked. "You're pretty stupid. Our father is the Mafia Boss, our Mother the Outsider, and every role holder adores us." She said, looking at him, her eyes still cold. Phoenix threw a desperate glance at her- telling her to shush. She shook her head.

The faceless frowned, and in a quick, swift movement, he slapped her. Ebony hadn't been expecting that, and it knocked her back, making her hit her head on the cold wall. "H-HEY!" Phoenix yelled, watching as his sister struggled to get up, but was clearly dizzy. The faceless walked towards her, and quickly unchained her, throwing her over his shoulder.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Phoenix yelled, straining against the chains.

The faceless left, without a word.

"H-hey! Let me go!" Ebony said, most of the dizziness leaving walked into a room, locking it behind him, and threw Ebony onto the bed, where she landed with a small, 'omph'. Her blue eyes widened, fear replacing the coldness. She was trembling. She was horrified.

The man smirked, and ogled her. The man leaned over her touching her ankles and moving slowly upwards. Ebony's eyes filled with tears and terror. "STOP!"

"In the forest." "What?!" Alice yelled, moving closer to Nightmare. He nodded, and got up, walking out, leaving the parents to come after him. He started to run. "HURRY! The Cheshire Cat already sniffed it out." The parents ran after Nightmare, until they came to a small abandoned thing. Amusement Park employees were there, holding captives. "Where are they?" Alice and Blood demanded.

Ebony curled up into a ball, tears streaming down her face, her skin bared against the cold air. The man smirked, stroking her cheeks, even as she flinched. And then there was a gunshot, and Ebony could no longer feel anything. SHe slowly opened her blue eyes, only to find a horrified Boris staring at the scene. "B-Boris!" EBony cried, curling up. Boris ran up to her, throwing her his fur, which she wrapped around her small body as she sat up. Boris quickly found her clothes, and placed it on her lap. Ebony was shaking.

"Ebony…" he said, after he had made sure that she had her clothes on. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and still holding her terror. "I don't want to talk about it." She said. "Your mom and dad need to know." Ebony shook her head. "Please Boris. I want… To forget." She said, her voice trembling. "I'm going to burn these clothes when I get home. Please Boris." She said, shaking.

Boris sighed, and reached out to hug her when she flinched, looking up, her eyes wide with terror. He frowned, "Ebony, I won't hurt you." She stared at him, and nodded. slowly, before throwing herself into his hug, crying."

After she had fallen asleep, her tears wearing her out, he heard Alice and Blood yelling about where Ebony was, and Phoenix relying he didn't know.

He walked out, and smiled. "Found her." Alice ran to her, and cradled her. "Is she okay?" Blood said. Boris paused, and then nodded. "Yeah. I think the man probably just hit her head to hard and then he must've tried to beat her. He's dead now." Boris said, and then frowned a bit more. "I'm sure Julius won't fix this one." Her parents nodded. "Thank you Boris." Alice said, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Yeah." Boris responded, staring at the sleeping Ebony.

"Yeah…"

A/N: Hey Guys. Sorry for not updating sooner. SInce the end of the year is coming up, we've been bombarded with projects, and I'm nearing my breaking point school-wise. But, I will finish this. This chapter is kinda sad. But I'll update soon- this is all for the Novella I want to write for Phoenix and Ebony.

'Till Later -AutumnsNightmare