A/N: Hello, my wonderful readers! I haven't had a lot of time to write the past few days due to getting back to work at my substitute teaching job. I also tried to make this chapter longer than the rest, so I hope it is worth the wait! Enjoy Chapter 9!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Kingdom Keepers, but I sometimes wonder if one day there will be DHIs in the Disney Parks one day.

Chapter 9

Hades arrived at the Marketplace of Shadows as fast as his chariot could take him. The guards quickly moved to clear a path to the alley for him.

Oogie Boogie showed his master the guard's uniform that had been found discarded behind a dumpster. The god studied the clue with a look that one could describe as both angry and impressed.

"So, this is how the boy escaped from the dungeon. He's smarter than I gave him credit for! He must still be around here somewhere."

"We have all available patrols searching the area for him, My Lord," Oogie Boogie assured him. "So far, the uniform has been our only clue that he was here, but we will find him. The boy cannot hide forever. Sooner or later, he will show himself."

Hades was silent for a moment as he carefully pondered the situation. Then, an idea struck. Without another word to his minion, he walked back to the center of the Marketplace and addressed the terrified crowds.

Maybeck, who was still standing at the open door of the bakery watched the dark lord anxiously.

"My people," Hades began. "Do not be alarmed! I have come to bring you an offer that none of you will refuse. The bounty on the escaped prisoner, Finn Whitman, has just been doubled. I am now offering two million credits to the person-or persons- who tells me the location of the fugitive. I know that he has been spotted in the Marketplace and may be hiding nearby. Do yourselves a favor and turn him in! Keep in mind that anyone who has been found to be harboring or helping the boy will also be arrested."

He paused to allow this information to sink in.

"To any members of the so called "Resistance" who may be listening," he continued, "know that you are fighting a losing battle. Give up on your ridiculous revolution, and no harm will come to you. Otherwise, you too, will suffer the consequences. Choose wisely. I do not forgive, and I do not forget."

There was another pause before Hades finally concluded his speech.

"Finn Whitman, I know you can hear me, so I will give you a chance. You have 24 hours to surrender yourself. Come peacefully and quietly, and no one has to get hurt. Think of all these innocent people who will suffer if you do not turn yourself in. How will you live with yourself if anything happens to your friends?"

Down in the hidden room, Finn felt his heart drop. Hades knew his friends were his greatest weakness. Maybe he should just surrender…

Before he could make a single move, Philby put his hand on his shoulder. The other Keepers did the same.

"Don't even think about it," said Philby.

Finn bit his lip and nodded. The resistance listened quietly to Hades' final words.

"We will be back in 24 hours," the god announced loudly. "Consider my offer carefully. I may not be so generous next time!"

And with that, Hades returned to his chariot and raced back to the Dark Castle.

Captain Barbossa and his guards, having found no trace of Finn, finally left the bakery. Before Maybeck could close the door, the Chief of Police gave him one more warning.

"Watch yer step, Laddy! Yer hiding something, and I will find out who-or what- it is! Mark me words!"

"I'll keep that in mind. Have a nice evening, Chief!"

Maybeck closed the door in Barbossa's face and locked it. He flipped the "open" sign to "closed", shut the blinds, and turned off the lights. He could hear Barbossa cursing under his breath as the man finally walked away.

A few moments later, Maybeck entered the hidden resistance bunker.

"OK, Whitman," he sighed. "Why don't you tell everyone about what's going on?"

As the characters and Keepers gathered around the room, Finn took a deep breath and began to tell his story for the second time that day.

Dark Castle, Later that Night…

The Dark Council meeting was chaotic, to put it lightly. Hades listened to the other Overtakers yelling and arguing about what they should do. It had been hours since they returned from the Marketplace, and the prisoner still had not been captured.

"I say we tear the place apart piece by piece," Scar growled.

"Preposterous, you overgrown rug! We should set a trap for the boy! He is bound to come out of hiding sooner or later," Jafar countered.

"Yes," agreed the Evil Queen. "Use his friends as bait, and the brat will come right to us! His friends are his greatest weakness. If their lives are threatened, he will sacrifice himself."

"Hmm…that might work," Hades replied in a quiet voice. "Barbossa, what did you find when you questioned the one called Maybeck?"

"There was no trace of young Whitman, My Lord," the pirate began, "but his friend was hiding something, I am sure of it! He knows something about the prisoner."

"The extra surveillance on the shop will provide us with the answers we need. But time grows short. Finn Whitman must be found before the alignment is complete."

Hades turned to Maleficent who was seated beside him. She had recovered her strength tenfold and had been preparing the spell needed to make the curse permanent.

"When the ritual is finished, the boy will be yours to torment for all eternity. Make him suffer, My Sweet."

Maleficent gave a small chuckle.

"I intend to, My Love."

Hades turned his attention back to the rest of the room.

"Finn Whitman will surrender to us before his time is up. Prepare your trap immediately. We'll be ready for him when he does…"

Marketplace of Shadows

By the time Finn had finished telling his story, the others in the room were staring at him in shock. For the longest time, no one spoke. Everyone seemed to be silently contemplating what they had just heard. Finn wasn't sure if they were even still breathing.

"I know it all sounds crazy," he began.

Philby held up his hand to silence him. Finn gazed at his friend curiously.

"There is no need for you to persuade us, Finn. We believe you."

It was Finn's turn to be surprised.

"You do?" He wasn't sure whether to feel skeptical or relieved.

"We do," squeaked Mickey. "Your story helps make sense of everything we have been experiencing. Each of us has had feelings, visions, dreams we can't explain…for weeks now. It's as if we are living in two separate realities that are constantly at war with each other. Until you came along today, we had no real proof. The only question that remains is how do we proceed? What's our next move?"

"Excellent questions, Mickey," Merlin answered. "Does anyone have any ideas?"

When the others shook their heads sadly, Finn cleared his throat.

"We must find a way to break the curse. The Red Moon is tomorrow night. If we can't destroy the Beacon of Darkness before the ritual is complete, Hades and the Overtakers will rule for all eternity."

"So, where is this 'Beacon of Darkness'?", asked Aladdin.

Finn sighed. "I have no idea. I have been trying to find its location for months but have hit nothing but dead ends so far. I thought I was close to putting an end to all this a few weeks ago, but I ended up walking into another trap. Hades has seen right through all my escape attempts up until now. I've spent most of my time being tortured and thinking of ways to return the world to normal. But I am no closer to finding the Beacon now than I was after I tried to escape the first time."

He paused to collect his thoughts before continuing.

"The Beacon is powered by a magic I have never seen before. Hades said that my DHI-my holographic energy- is like a living battery. But it only works for as long as I am still alive. That's why they need the Red Moon; it's their key to immortality…and everyone, including me, will be doomed to a lifetime of servitude."

Jess came forward and handed him a page from her dream journal.

"I dreamed about this last night. Is this what the Beacon of Darkness looks like?"

Finn studied the page carefully. He had always been amazed by how accurate Jess's visions could be. The drawing in his hand was a perfect depiction of the dark object. The Beacon was sitting in a familiar looking cavern.

"Yeah, that's it. And I think I know where they have been hiding it. Those are the dungeons beneath Pirates of the Caribbean!"

The entire room began to buzz with excitement until Merlin spoke again.

"Unfortunately, we have another problem," he began, stroking his beard. "According to Jess's vision, the Beacon is protected by a powerful energy field that even my magic cannot penetrate."

Finn's happiness burst like a balloon.

"So, that's it, then? We're just going to let them win. There must be something we can do to break the curse!"

The wizard looked down at him mysteriously.

"We can't, Finn. But you can."

"What do you mean? What can I do?" the boy asked.

The Blue Fairy approached him and gently touched his cheek.

"You have to become your DHI again…"

A/N: And that's Chapter 9! Hades seems pretty confident that Finn will surrender himself before the Red Moon. But will Finn fall for another one of his enemy's traps? And, is it possible for him to become his DHI again? Keep reading to find out! Don't forget to review!

See ya next time, beautiful people!

Love, Mickeygirl20 :)