TW: This chapter contains violence, blood, and gore. Please read at your own risk if it makes you uncomfortable or try to avoid reading it.
Chapter 27
Courage of the Hearts
Chris's breath was clogged in his throat, his heart thumping wildly. He and Mrs. Brisby were still as mountains as Dragon's eye narrowed to a slit, but his pupil contracted. He didn't pounce on them or anything a cat would normally do, and that was when Chris and Mrs. Brisby noticed that he was supine, breathing in and out evenly.
Chris's posture sagged in relief. He had almost forgotten about the powder for Dragon's food, and the cat was currently knocked out cold, insensible to the fact that a tiny human and field mouse were within his reach. There would be no late-night snacks for him tonight.
Quietly, Chris mime shushed Mrs. Brisby and gesticulated with his head toward the hole beneath the cabinet. Trying to keep her fear in check, the field mouse nodded without saying anything. Carefully, the two scooted away from Dragon, having to scale backward over his hind leg while doing that, and once they got far enough back, they made haste to the hole.
"That was a close call," Chris said in a hushed tone as he slipped through the hole first and then clambered down the assortments of junk.
Mrs. Brisby squeezed through the hole next. As soon as she did, she retrieved her cloak and the red stone off the rope attached to the bottle and proceeded to draw the cloak over her shoulders and tie it back around her neck. She trailed down the cluttered items after Chris, and while she did, she threw on the amulet around her neck.
It didn't take long for the duo to jump off, and Chris spoke again as he began sauntering toward their way out. "Come on, Jeremy's waiting for us outside. I know you're afraid of heights, but I'll make sure you don't…"
Chris's words petered out when he noticed that Mrs. Brisby hadn't tailed after him, and when his gaze skated to her, her head was dipping, ears pinned against her head. She had a despondent demeanor, which concerned Chris immensely as he turned towards her.
"Elizabeth?"
There was only silence from Mrs. Brisby.
Immediately, Chris picked his way to her and tenderly took her hands in his. "Hey, talk to me. What's going on? Whatever it is, you can tell me; you know I'll listen."
A few heartbeats passed with quiet settling over them, but when Mrs. Brisby finally lifted her head, tears glistened in her sapphire blue eyes. Then, she did something that caught Chris off guard: she reluctantly pulled her hands away from his, the ghost of her touch still warm on them. This was not like her to do, as she usually kept her hands in his for however long she felt comfortable doing that and would give them a slight squeeze, which Chris would reciprocate.
"Chris… we can't do this…" Mrs. Brisby said, choking up.
Lines of puzzlement creased Chris's brow, but he didn't like where this was going. "Do what, ride Jeremy? Warn the–"
"Us… We can't do it."
While her voice had a softness to it as she spoke, there was weight to it that hit Chris in the chest like a brick. "Elizabeth, why are you saying that?"
A shaky breath left Mrs. Brisby's lips as tears streaked over her cheeks, staining them in lines. "We're from two different worlds, Chris, and I can't take you away from yours and have it on my conscience…"
Chris shook his head incredulously. "Don't say that, you're not–"
"You know I'm right." Mrs. Brisby draped her hand over Chris's cheek. "You have to return to your world when this is over. Your family misses you terribly, and my heart can't bear the thought of them not having any closure."
In denial, Chris shook his head harder. "We can make it work. I'll figure something out–"
"Chris, please don't fight me on this," Mrs. Brisby cut off his sentence, sniffling. "We can't evade what we know is impossible, and even if we could, my lifespan is much shorter than yours. You need to live your life where you belong." She conjured a weak smile. "Don't let your talent in photography go to waste because of me, and maybe one day you will find someone else and start a family with her. Maybe we'll be together in another lifetime, but this is for the best." Mrs. Brisby wiped away the tears from her face before letting her hand fall away from Chris's cheek, her smile melting away and took a few steps back. "I release you, Christopher Fitzgibbons, and you must do the same with me."
It felt as if the floor beneath him gave way. This love they'd only begun to build shattered like stones being pitched at a glass house. Chris didn't want anyone else. He wanted Mrs. Brisby—this beautiful, kind, gentle, and strong mother of four children. He had even thought of how their future could've looked, and he just couldn't picture anyone else in it with him… But that life with Mrs. Brisby was now only wishful thinking.
Mrs. Brisby was not wrong, and that punctured Chris's heart. Life, yet again, had to take something away from him, and he wasn't sure he could let go… but he couldn't have his cake and eat it too. Chris would tear the stars out of the sky for Mrs. Brisby, but he wouldn't fight her on this, and it took a lot of restraint not to.
He had to release Mrs. Brisby as she did to him.
In a dismal, all Chris managed to say in a thick voice, "Okay… But that won't mean I will forget you, nor the children or anyone else…"
"I know…" Mrs. Brisby replied, her voice breaking a little.
For the first time since Chris met Mrs. Brisby, an ocean now stood between them—one that seemed impossible to try and cross. Though that was, all they could do now was traverse back to the cinder block with heavy hearts and apprise the rats that NIMH was on their way here to destroy their world once again.
Justin couldn't believe that Nicodemus was dead. Dragging out his body with the help of a few others was by far the most heartwrenching thing he had ever had to do. It felt like a scientist from NIMH stabbed him with a needle again, only it was in the heart. The loss of their leader hit almost everyone, and they were now mourning him.
Never on this night had anyone anticipated the demise of Nicodemus, but it was only fitting they had held a quick funeral for him. Though Justin wished that they could've done something more to honor their late leader besides burying him and delivering a concise, moving eulogy, there was only so much they could do. Nicodemus didn't die a peaceful death, but at least he would be in a better place.
A long sigh flowed out of Justin's mouth. Nicodemus had been much more than a leader to him; he had been more like family. Whenever Justin felt down or lost, he always approached Nicodemus to seek advice, and his advice never disappointed him. Most of the time, he would even go to him to simply have a chat with him. Mr. Ages often berated Justin for wasting Nicodemus's time with his 'silly nonsense'. However, the late leader never once minded whatever came out of his mouth, was always so understanding, and made time to impart some words of wisdom to him.
Nicodemus would forever be missed.
After the funeral had concluded, Justin and a few others began some sleuthing. It was strange. Everything had been tested to perfection, so what led to the contraption suddenly becoming undone? Something smelled fishy.
"Hey, over here!" one of the rats called out to grab the investigation party's attention. "I found something!"
Without missing a beat, Justin and a few other rats hurried over to where the former was. Three ropes that were the glue that held the contraption together were separated and untaut and were lying uselessly on the ground. Something then gleamed in his eye, and upon finding the source, Justin discovered a blade and another object abandoned on a stone, and his throat seized. This hadn't been an accident—someone had purposefully severed the ropes. This was now a crime scene.
Justin approached the items, but as he did, the blade he was seeing didn't look like any of the other weapons they had that were smithed from the forges. It seemed a lot smaller, with the hilt having a peculiar shape. When he scooped up the items, he squinted his eyes at them.
Strange… the Captain of the Guard mused. These look like items a human would possess…
As soon as those words entered his mind, horrible realization crashed into him with the force of a rampaging bull, especially when he found a first and last name engraved on it:
Christopher Fitzgibbons.
What? Chris was looking for these! But how did they get out here? Surely it couldn't have been…
"I should've known that Mr. Fitzgibbons had something to do with this." Justin switched his gaze to the voice that belonged to none other than Jenner, who had been looking over his shoulder with disgust. "We gave him a chance, and now look what has become of Nicodemus."
"I refuse to believe that Chris is capable of murder," Justin said, having no doubts in his voice. "
Jenner's brow dipped into a deep V. "The evidence speaks for itself, though—he's deceived us! We should've arrested him when we had the chance!"
"From what I remember, Jenner, it was you who suggested that everyone gave him a chance." Justin's eyes roved over Jenner's face. While everyone had their way of grieving, something felt off with Jenner, especially with how he spoke… like he was hiding something. "Though, you also did suggest that he be arrested before you said any of that."
A shadow passed over Jenner's features. "Are you accusing me of something? Even when you have evidence—Mr. Fitzgibbons belongings, mind you—in your hands?"
"That depends…" Justin leaned a little closer toward Jenner with a skeptical countenance. "Is there something you'd care to share with everyone?"
"Concerning me? Tch, I am just as upset as everyone else that Nicodemus is no longer with us. But concerning Mr. Fitzgibbons? I had mixed feelings towards him, albeit I gave him a chance like everyone else did, even when he is a human. After what transpired earlier, however, he cannot be trusted." Jenner paused to let that sink into Justin before carrying on. "Like many other humans, he is not innocent. We must take action before he does anything else."
Justin hummed. One thing was sure: he did not buy his words. Jenner was concealing something that was tied to Nicodemus's murder. He could feel it in his bones.
Silence blanketed over the trio as Jeremy gave Chris and Mrs. Brisby a lift. The rain had depleted, leaving room for the wind to dry them off. Jeremy tried to strike up a conversation with them a few times but only got vague replies, to which he eventually gave up.
Chris knew that their crow friend tried, but after his conversation with Mrs. Brisby, he felt awkward, the heartbreak of her words still splintering through him. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he was incredibly tongue-tied, and even if he was, he kept his promise that he wouldn't let her fall off Jeremy.
Chris heaved a sigh, at war with himself. Once he somehow managed to pass whatever test the amulet was putting him through so it could return him to his normal size, he'd have to move on with his life and act like nothing happened, but how could he after what the following days weaved out for him? Frankly, Chris wasn't sure if he was ready to return to his life, but then he was reminded of what Mrs. Brisby said earlier, and a bitter pang shot through his heart. Some prospects were meant to stay in the dark.
Damn you life, Chris swore internally but then sighed in his head. I just have to accept this, even if it's unfair… All I can do now is hurry to the rats with Elizabeth and forewarn them.
Soon, Jeremy then dropped from the sky and touched the ground as gingerly as possible once he got close enough to where Mrs. Brisby's home, and as soon as he did, the corvid informed Chris and Mrs. Brisby that he'd be back after he went back for the sack of yarn he had to abandon. The two gave him a quick thanks, dismounted him, and then urged their legs to carry them as fast as possible to where everyone was. The mischief's lives were hanging by a thread, and Chris and Mrs. Brisby's warning was the only thing that could help prevent it from being snipped.
As the two drew closer, they noticed a shift in the atmosphere, and it was only then that their eyes feasted on the sight before them. The contraption Chris had seen being constructed earlier was now in mud-stained shambles, a broken skeleton of what it had been before. A solemn and mournful mood hung over the rats, all spent with downcast eyes. What had happened here?
Mr. Ages then appeared in the duo's line of vision, and they darted over to him. "Mr. Ages!" Mrs. Brisby called at the top of her voice.
Mr. Ages shot his head up toward them. "Mrs. Brisby, Mr. Fitzgibbons, you're back!"
"What happened?" Chris asked as they were now before him.
A gasp exploded from Mrs. Brisby's lips. "The children!" she exclaimed.
Chris followed Mrs. Brisby's gaze, only to see the cinder block in some muck, and his eyes flared wide, his heart surging in his throat. "Please tell us that they're not…" he trailed off and couldn't even find it in himself to say the one word that came to mind.
"They… they're fine," Mr. Ages assured them, weariness displayed on his face as he kneaded his brows. There was something he wasn't telling them.
"Mr. Ages?" Chris probed.
There was a pause until, finally, Mr. Ages tilted his head up to them, tears welling in his eyes. "Nicodemus… is… dead."
Chris and Mrs. Brisby were agape. Dead? Chris parroted mentally. No… It can't be…
"Oh… oh, no," Mrs. Brisby got out in a strained voice, and her arms encircled Mr. Ages, holding him to her and allowing him to let it all out.
The world swayed around Chris, and his knees threatened to buckle. It wasn't that long ago he spoke with Nicodemus, and his last words reverberated in his head.
"If something should happen to me, I know you didn't do it."
Sickness roiled in Chris's gut, finding it hard to suck in a breath at that moment. How could he have not realized what Nicodemus was implying? If he had only puzzled it together sooner… Chris thrust his fingers through his touseled hair, guilt filling his entire being.
"Mr. Fitzgibbons, do not blame yourself," Mr. Ages said as if he had read his mind. "This was not your fault."
"I beg to differ," a voice bit out, which was Jenner's.
Chris, Mrs. Brisby, and Mr. Ages' gazes drifted to him, but no one got to say anything, for Jenner drew back his fist and slammed it into Chris's cheek in a vicious right hook. Chris went crashing backward, landing in some sludge.
A scream was ripped from Mrs. Brisby's body. "Chris!" she cried out.
Chris's face was contorted in pain as he rubbed his cheek and felt a bruise forming. Vicious heat poured over him, fast and searing, as his gaze latched onto Jenner. "What the hell was that for?!" he demanded.
"That was for killing Nicodemus," Jenner said, getting straight to the point.
Confusion swept across Chris's features. "What?! What are you talking about?!"
"Jenner, that was not necessary!" Justin's voice piped in, and he was there to help Chris up just as Mrs. Brisby was.
"Of course, it was necessary!" Jenner spat, swinging an accusatory finger at the tiny human. "He is a murderer, and he needs to pay for his crime!"
The air was stifling, the tension tightening like a bowstring. Everyone was now gathered around, assessing the commotion, but with the exact words that left Jenner's mouth, most gasped, consternation and shock passing over their faces as they whispered amongst themselves.
"He killed Nicodemus?" one said incredulously.
"How could he?" another got across in a quivering voice.
"If he did kill him, who's to say he won't kill someone else?" a third rat voiced their opinion on the matter.
The more words he heard floating around him, the more it felt like he was being backed into a wall until he melded with it. Assassinating Nicodemus was not his doing! Chris knew that as much as he knew himself, but it didn't stop his nerves from tightening in his ribs, his breath frozen in his lungs.
"Chris would never do such a vile thing!" Mrs. Brisby made her voice known while defending Chris. "He doesn't have a reason to!"
While Chris's heart was still trying to heal from their only a third-of-the-day love relationship, it still managed to swell with appreciation for her loyalty to him.
"You might want to backtrack your words, Mrs. Brisby," Jenner advised in a flinty tone. "The evidence says otherwise."
"What evidence?!" Chris lobbed at the rat.
Jenner slid his gaze to one of the rats and gestured his head toward Chris. The rat came forward, and as he did, he tossed something at Chris's feet. The tiny human's eyes got as big as saucers when he saw that it was his pocket knife and flashlight.
"We welcomed you with open arms and gave you our trust, but this is how you thank us?!" Jenner challenged. "By deliberately murdering Nicodemus?!" What followed next was a scoff from him. "Innocent until proven guilty my tail."
The perplexion Chris felt overwhelmed him. He couldn't fathom how his flashlight and pocket knife got out here as it had been with him while in the rats' hideout with Mrs. Brisby. How could he have killed Nicodemus—which he would never do as that would've been out of character for him—when his items mysteriously vanished? Chris wanted to vindicate himself once more that he wasn't guilty, but his tongue was like a brick in his mouth.
"We cannot jump to conclusions just like that, Jenner," Justin rebuked. "He couldn't have done it because he went to help Mrs. Brisby because she got trapped."
"I concur with Justin," Mr. Ages chimed in. "Even if he were the murderer, he wouldn't have been dense enough to leave his stuff out in the open." His words hung in the air briefly before blazing on. "I believe someone tried to frame Mr. Fitzgibbons."
The rats exchanged glances and whispered words once again, processing what Mr. Ages said. Logically, it made sense to Chris, but who on earth would want to frame him? While pondering that question as he plucked his flashlight and pocket knife from the ground and stuffed them in his pocket, his eyes involuntarily found themselves on Jenner, and right then and there, a sense of foreboding and dread filled his body.
"Bah!" Jenner expressed with disapproval. "You are just going down a pointless rabbit hole! There is no shadow of a doubt that Mr. Fitzgibbons"—he once more directed his forefinger at Chris—"killed Nicodemus on his own accord. I, for one, say that we do what we should've done in the first place: arrest him!"
The rats debated whether to detain Chris. Most thought he was innocent, while others believed otherwise—they'd reached a deadlock. A few attempted to bind Chris's wrists with rope, but Justin thwarted their way and behested them to stand down with the help of Arthur, who had instantly appeared beside him. While that was happening, Mrs. Brisby and Mr. Ages stood on either side of Chris, with Mrs. Brisby lacing her fingers with the tiny human's, and whether the two realized that or not, it was not of their concern.
Before things could escalate any further, a voice shattered the conundrum. "WAIT!" Everyone flicked their gazes at the same time to the rat that gained everyone's attention. Recognition dawned across Chris's face—the burly rat from the meeting chamber that hadn't exactly been welcoming to him and Mrs. Brisby. "Mr. Fitzgibbons didn't do it…"
Chris blinked his eyes once, twice, and he wasn't the only one giving off that kind of reaction. What did he know that they didn't?
Jenner sent a glare at the burly rat that wasn't subtle, a warning for him to zip it. "What do you think you're–"
"Sullivan?" Justin pressed in an even tone as he split off Jenner's sentence.
The burly rat, Sullivan, had a dejected and contrite look plastered on his face, his shoulders slumped. "He didn't kill Nicodemus." His brow was then knitted together in a fierce scowl as he fixed his eyes on Jenner. "Jenner did."
The revelation had everyone gasping.
"Jenner?" a rat echoed.
"My word!" a second rat spoke, fear coating their voice.
"I always knew there was something about him I didn't like!" another rat admitted, fuming.
Jenner went fish-eyed a little but bared his teeth at Sullivan. "Curb your tongue, Sullivan," he hissed.
"He wanted us to stay here, and he knew that the only way it could possibly happen was if Nicodemus was dead," Sullivan truthfully announced, disregarding Jenner. "So he concocted a plan to assassinate Nicodemus and have Mr. Fitzgibbons be the scapegoat. I tried to stop him, but it was futile…"
Any amount of belief any of the rats might have had in Jenner evaporated like smoke, anger flaming in their eyes as they stared at the dirty rat. How could he do that to their late leader?
Chris and Mrs. Brisby shared a glance, outraged. Chris couldn't believe his ears but believed Sullivan word for word. Jenner made it apparent that he disapproved of the Plan anyway and went to lengths to undertake axing it, and for what? A continued shortcut in life by stealing? That rat, indeed, was despicable.
"He speaks lies!" Jenner protested, but there was no redeeming himself at that point. "It is not me you should be blaming! Mr. Fitzgibbons is the one you should be blaming!"
"Give it up, Jenner," Sullivan commented. "The jig is up."
Before Jenner could even clap back, Mrs. Brisby had a few choice words of her own. "Have you no remorse? Nicodemus was a wise and respectable leader, yet you let your greed for staying here end in his demise. For shame! Even if your greedy heart covets that, you are all in great danger."
Everyone except for Chris looked at her, baffled. "Mrs. Brisby, what do you mean?" Justin inquired.
Mrs. Brisby lept onto a now useless pulley so everyone could hear. "NIMH is coming!"
As expected, almost all the rats' features morphed into terror. "NIMH?!" someone reiterated.
"In the morning!"
"NIMH?!" another said, making sure they heard that correctly.
"Yes. You will all die unless you leave the farm tonight."
"She's right," Chris confirmed. "If you don't leave as soon as possible, NIMH will descend upon you!"
"Lies!" Jenner accused.
"Please!" Mrs. Brisby begged. "You must believe us!"
All at once, the rats were in a state of tumult.
"What if it's true?!"
"We'll all be killed!"
"Don't panic!"
His patience fading, Jenner sprung onto the pulley Mrs. Brisby was on and shouted, "Don't listen to them! They're hysterical!"
Mrs. Brisby flinched but didn't let that deter her from speaking out. "Get out now!"
Reaching his breaking point, Jenner smacked her off the pulley with great force, and Mrs. Brisby screamed, falling into some sludge and slid out of control on her haunches toward the cinder block, hitting it back first. "You get out!" Jenner hurled at her, shedding away his cloak as he unsheathed his flamberge. "I've had enough!"
Chris's heart skyrocketed to his throat. "Elizabeth!" he yelled out.
Jenner leaped off the pulley, but Chris tackled him within a few strides, and they rolled into some mud. On top of him, the tiny human drew back his fist and punched the rat straight in the face. In return, Jenner backslapped Chris across the face, knocking him off to the side, before climbing to his feet, grabbing a fistful of Chris's shirt with both hands and hurling him off to the side as if he weighed nothing.
"Stay out of this, human, or your end will be here!" Jenner threatened, fetching his flamberge that had slipped out of his hand, and went to advance on Mrs. Brisby once again.
"Jenner!" Mr. Ages blurted out, trying to block Jenner's path, but to no avail—primarily due to his makeshift crutch and leg in a cast—as Jenner simply swept him away with his arm to the muck.
Chris winced, pain flaring through his cheek. Withstanding it, however, he pinpointed Mrs. Brisby shimmying up the ropes tangling the Brisby home as Jenner was on her heels, swinging his flamberge at her, missing each time and either slicing through the air or one of the ropes. Cold distress lanced through Chris's veins, mixing with hot anger. He could take a few blows, but Jenner laying even a finger on Mrs. Brisby and setting out to kill her was the straw that broke the camel's back as he pushed to his feet and pumped his legs as fast as he could.
By the time Chris went to ascend the block, Mrs. Brisby had crested it, followed by Jenner, but in the nick of time, Justin jumped in front of Jenner, brandishing a stick, keeping his body wedged between him and Mrs. Brisby. "Jenner, stop this!" the Captain of the Guard commanded.
Chris pulled himself on top of the block, and as soon as he did, he reached Mrs. Brisby—who had tripped to the ground—and dropped down next to her, wrapping his arms around her protectively with a severe face. "Touch her again, and you'll be feeling my wrath," he said without hesitation toward Jenner.
A snarl emitted from Jenner but was cut short when Chris and Mrs. Brisby's amulets suddenly reflected in his gaze. His eyes bulged out of his head with surprise and rapacity, his jaw unhinged. "The stones…" he whispered with recognition.
Simultaneously, Chris and Mrs. Brisby whipped their heads toward their pendants, alarm filling their eyes as they gazed at each other. An obscenity cropped up in Chris's head, but he immediately popped to his feet, gluing them firmly to the ground and spreading his arms out to shield Mrs. Brisby from further harm. "When I say run, run," Chris quietly said to Mrs. Brisby over his shoulder.
In response, Mrs. Brisby nodded a little without any objections.
Chris did everything he could to refrain from glancing at Thunder Blade as he slowly inched his arms down, locking his eyes with Jenner with such determination. He was ready for anything.
"Jenner," Justin went to order again, but Jenner broke off his sentence.
"Get out of my way!"
He shoved him to the ground and brought his sword down, which was warded off a couple of times by Justin's stick. Justin tried to get up while trying to deal with his opponent but suddenly had to rear back when Jenner's sword almost slashed him across the torso, causing him to lose his footing and fall on his rump. He didn't get so lucky there as Jenner's blade swiped across his upper arm, leaving a gash and a torn sleeve in its wake. Justin's face screwed up in pain as he clutched his arm, which was now weeping blood.
At that, Chris almost forgot how to breathe, but he stood his ground.
Jenner's gaze fell on him and Mrs. Brisby with such savagery. "I want those stones!" He then launched himself at them with a snarl, flamberge at the ready.
"Run!" Chris shouted over his shoulder at Mrs. Brisby right as he yanked out Thunder Blade from his sheath and parried Jenner's weapon with a clang, sparks flying out. His body prickled from that force, his bones vibrating.
This took Jenner aback. "What the?!"
"You're not the only one that has a sword," Chris said in a steady tone, trying to keep his balance from wavering.
Jenner's eyes skated over Chris's weapon, and recognition instantly flickered in them as they goggled. "Thunder Blade…" As fast as that expression came, rage poured over his features, twisting his expression into something visceral. "A human such as yourself doesn't deserve it!"
A battle cry ripped out of Jenner's throat, and he guided his flamberge ardently in a horizontal line at Chris's torso. Chris denied it with the clash of Thunder Blade before evading Jenner's next blow by bending at the knees and pivoting away. Justin's crash course for dueling had undoubtedly come in handy, but he did worry that it wouldn't be enough to trounce Jenner, especially after losing to him in the ring. He abstained from showing that, though.
They were back on the ground, and Jenner kept slicing his sword at Chris, indignation rising each time his blade didn't get a taste of blood. It kept on meeting with Thunder Blade, whooshing through nothing but air. Chris ducked at Jenner's next attempt, and right as he did, he jammed the pommel of his sword into the latter's waist. Jenner doubled over, hand draping over his waist as he let out a groan under his breath. It didn't take him long to recover as he faced the tiny human once again, and they circled each other, weapons raised.
"Not bad for a starter," Jenner gritted out.
"And that just gets on your nerves, doesn't it?" Chris quipped.
"What gets on my nerves is that you were handed one of the stones and Thunder Blade on a silver platter." Jenner shook his head with abhorrence. "A human of all things."
"Nicodemus didn't give me the stone; the stone came to me. It chose me. As for Thunder Blade, it was Nicodemus's choice to gift it to me because he trusted me with it—that I would use it for a good cause."
Jenner rolled his eyes. "Tch, typical of Nicodemus to think what he knows best. Regardless, you think you're so special just because you now possess those items?"
Chris's jaw ticked. "I never said that."
"Never or did, you humans are full of dung. You think you're above everyone and everything and get to do whatever you please for your satisfaction just because your kind evolved into something far beyond many animals' reach. Never considering what scars your actions will leave, reveling in anyone and anything writhing in pain as the world slowly crumbles."
Those words drove home the point. A lump stuck itself in Chris's throat. Jenner wasn't wrong—there were humans out there who were egotistical, selfish, narcissistic, et cetera. When it came to choices laid out like a deck of cards by the humans, it wasn't all black and white. Albeit, there was a fine line between horrible human beings and good ones.
"Not all humans are like that, but even if I try and have you see it from a different perspective, you'll just stick with what you believe in."
A grunt was Jenner's only reply as if to say that Chris was correct.
"But unlike you, I'm not desperate to get what I want just by killing."
Having heard enough, Jenner lunged at Chris, his flamberge crossing diagonally at him. Chris swung Thunder Blade in an arc, deflecting the strike, his sword scraping down Jenner's with a teeth-shuddering grind. The pattern continued as the two willed their legs and arms to move—attack, parry, dodge, repeat. All the while they were doing that, everyone stared with their breaths held, the tension having amplified as they wondered who would stand victorious.
Chris suddenly dropped down and rolled to the ground when Jenner's blade came within an inch. It ended up digging into the side of a tree trunk. There was some space between the two now, and Chris took the moment to catch his breath as Jenner was forcing his blade out of the trunk with strenuous effort, growling. Carbon dioxide sawed through the tiny human's lungs, sweat blanketing him as exhaustion tore through his muscles.
I have to keep holding on, Chris said, trying to encourage himself in his thoughts. Come on, Chris…
Jenner finally separated his weapon from the trunk and stormed with precision, consuming the distance between him and Chris. Before he could do anything, however, the tiny human collected some momentum and steered his sword at him—a little too early. The sound of clothing ripping was heard, and almost everyone watching from the sidelines was gasping. Blood stained the tip of Thunder Blade. At the same time, Chris and Jenner darted their gazes to Jenner's chest to see not only a damaged tunic but also a diagonal slash, blood running freely down.
Chris had drawn first blood.
Jenner's eye twitched, teeth bared, and Chris could practically feel the ire radiating from him. With a roar, Jenner careened his flamberge down vertically, and the tiny human barely had time to react as he lifted his sword diagonally, steel ringing through the air once more. Chris's body was shaking as the rat's strength slowly overpowered him, his muscles protesting from the strain, and his fingers were on the verge of losing their grip on Thunder Blade. He grunted with effort, and he could almost feel his knees about to wilt to the ground.
Using what strength he had left, Chris impelled Jenner back and then hurled himself inside a log right as Jenner bounced back and missed him with his weapon. Chris's breath came short and fast, but he didn't have time to relax as Jenner's flamberge splintered through the wood, narrowly missing him by centimeters. The tiny human crab-walked back some, and the same thing happened again at the same spot he was just at. He did the only thing he could do and stabbed his blade through the wood. A yell of one in pain from Jenner rented the air, and Chris could hear his body tumble off the log onto the earth.
Chris scrambled out of the log, expecting to see Jenner curled in a fetal position on the ground as he tried to staunch the blood flow from his fresh wound, but he wasn't even where he should be. His frame wasn't in sight. Where was he?
"Chris, look out!" Mrs. Brisby's warning reached his ears.
Chris turned just in time to see Jenner before him. The rat knocked Thunder Blade out of his hands with the flamberge, then connected his foot to Chris's front, taking the wind out of him as he made an impact with some mud. A groan spilled out of Chris's mouth as he half sat up, only to come face-to-face with the point of Jenner's blade.
"Like I said before," Jenner began, "you're better off embarrassing yourself less by leaving the sword fighting to the professionals." The tip of his flamberge was then hovering near Chris's throat. "You'd only get killed in the end."
From Jenner's recycled words, Chris felt a cold sweat come over him, his breath sealed in his throat. What a barbarian!
Jenner wound back his arm, momentum building up, but his blade didn't even get the chance to slit open Chris's throat as someone rammed their foot into his face, sending him into some sludge. That had been Justin's doing.
"Justin!" Sullivan hollered as he sprinted into the fray, whipping out his short sword from his scabbard. "Justin! My sword!"
Sullivan tossed the sword. With reflex, Justin caught it by the hilt right as Jenner got up. Snarling at the tell-tale betrayal of the burly rat once again, Jenner struck him with his flamberge, and a deep incision was made across the chest, and Sullivan went sliding into some muck on his front.
Chris's eyes ballooned like everyone else's. No matter who they were, Jenner would kill whoever stood in his way.
Blood painted and dripped from Jenner's sword, satisfaction lifting the rat's face. He then faced Justin, and the two engaged in a duel of their own, steel clashing as they lunged back and forth, swiping at each other and trying to avoid what attacks they brought out.
While that was happening, Chris speedily heaved to his feet, plucked up Thunder Blade, and rushed over to Sullivan. He knelt beside him, noticing that the burly rat wasn't looking too good. He was losing lots of blood, and with the wound he now had, he was on the cusp of death.
"You alright?" Chris questioned.
Sullivan had clapped a hand over the gash to try and stem the bleeding as he sat against the pulley, life slowly draining from his eyes, blood smearing his tunic. While the pain on his face was evident, there was a hint of gratification on his face for Chris checking on him, as well as remorse. "Don't worry about me," he said in a weak voice as he tried to hang onto his life. "You must stop Jenner… Hurry…"
Chris looked over his shoulder at the ongoing swordsmanship between Justin and Jenner; they were now on some stones. He tightly curled his fingers around Thunder Blade's hilt, resolve bubbling inside of him. Jenner may have succeeded in killing Nicodemus, but he wouldn't kill anyone else Chris cared for ever again. The tiny human shoved to his feet and zoomed toward the two.
Preparing his sword, Chris sprung at Jenner with it over his head, and as he came down with it, his opponent instantly noticed from the edge of his peripheral vision and blocked Thunder Blade with his flamberge. Jenner then went to claw at his face, but Chris jumped back, resetting by squaring his feet, bending the knees, and aligning his blade. Justin did the same thing as him as he got near Jenner. It was now two against one.
"I knew Chris wasn't capable of murder," Justin said matter-of-factly to Jenner, eyes narrowed. "You probably wanted to kill Nicodemus right from the get-go when the Plan was formulated."
"Yes, I did!" Jenner spoke with no regrets.
He made the first move and went at Chris, only for his sword to make contact with Chris's. "And you're content with the result?" the tiny human dared him to come clean as he revolved Thunder Blade at Jenner.
Jenner retracted as he answered, "Very much so."
And just like that came the blurring whirlwind and clanging of steel. Chris could feel his muscles beginning to lock up as he worked with Justin to try to take down Jenner, his pulse pounding against his ears as he tried to keep his breathing steady. While his energy was waning, Chris kept at it with the incessant brawl, forcing his body to forge on and not shut down.
Justin then brought their enemy down, but Jenner swept his feet out from under him, and he went rolling down a stone and into some sludge. Chris soon followed when Jenner slugged him across the face, pain once again shooting across it and his body.
"He wanted to destroy everything!" Jenner said with hatred as his flamberge skimmed across one of the stones with an eerie ring like a death toll—a portent of sinister things to come.
On their knees, Chris and Justin leveled a glare at him for their response, for they knew that wasn't true. Nicodemus wanted only the best for the rats.
Fire blazed in Jenner's eyes as he descended the stones. "I've learned this much: Take what you can when you can!"
"Then you've learned nothing!" Justin retorted.
Snarling, Jenner pulled back his sword over his head when suddenly, Justin thrust his feet out toward a piece of splintered wood with a grunt, having it barricade Jenner's way and almost smash his feet if he hadn't hopped back a little. While that took Jenner aback, Chris took the opportunity to hurdle over the wood and strike. His and Jenner's blades immediately collided, and they attempted to overpower each other.
"Oh, while I have you here, Mr. Fitzgibbons," Jenner began taunting Chris, "once I'm through with you and Justin, I'll be taking pleasure in killing that meek mouse as well. I'm sure her last breath will be as melodic as her pleading screams."
The energy being sapped from his body suddenly was replaced by some newfound strength. Jenner had no business saying such a vile thing! Chris's vision reddened, his body tingling with the fury coursing through him, and he yelled with the full force of his wrath as he came at Jenner like the speed and power of electricity with Thunder Blade—which the rat had not been prepared for as he tried to deflect what the tiny human brought out.
It made Chris recall something Nicodemus told him about Thunder Blade, and the information was as true as the sword. "When it cuts through the air and clashes with another blade, it is as though it were a flash and crack of thunder," Nicodemus's voice resonated in his head.
In that very moment, Chris and Thunder Blade were mingled as a rising rush of lashing thunder.
Then, it happened—Chris ran his blade through Jenner's torso. Jenner's gruesome scream rendered the air, and he slapped his hand over the wound he received, trying to plug it after Chris withdrew Thunder Blade from him. He crumpled to his knees with pain washing over his face, using his flamberge for support.
Silence ensued, save for Chris, Justin, and Jenner's heavy panting. The tension still churned in the air, making one wonder what would happen next.
Jenner backed against one of the stones, pure loathing aimed at Chris, his teeth bared. "Go ahead then, Mr. Fitzgibbons," he venomously said in a bit of a drained voice. "Do it! Do what your kind was born and bred to do…"
Chris's jaw muscle twitched. He ate up the distance between them until he stood about a foot away from Jenner. Silence stretched as Chris bent his arm back with the hand that wielded Thunder Blade.
And then, he thrust, and gasps sounded out of everyone.
Jenner closed his eyes, but after a few seconds, he peeked one open to see that the blade was inches near his face and had slipped through an aperture. He would've been dead right then and there had it been driven through his eye to the back of his skull. Befuddled, he craned his neck only to see an indifferent Chris.
"I'm a human, yes," Chris didn't deny, "but as I've said before, I'm not desperate to get what I want just by killing. See it however you will, Jenner, but even some humans can show lenience." He then withdrew Thunder Blade from the slit. "You're not worth it."
Jenner's jaw was unhinged a little, even as Chris sheathed his blade and walked away. Even though everyone was also left speechless by what had just happened, Chris could almost feel an air of respect from them. He didn't gauge any of that, though, as his only mindset was on one single field mouse, and it didn't take him long to spot her.
Mrs. Brisby bolted over to him, and the two immediately embraced. "Oh, Chris…" she whispered, choking back a sob.
"It's okay," Chris quietly said gently, caressing the back of her head. "It's okay…"
Having her in his arms made it all the better, and his heart soared. It didn't matter how worn to the bone he was. All that mattered to him was that Mrs. Brisby was safe and sound. Jenner wouldn't hurt her anymore.
He knew he was going to die; there was no doubt about it. Ragged, wheezing breaths sawed through Sullivan, darkness shrouding the edges of his vision as his wound was screaming for attention, blood streaking down and spattering. Though that was, he could still make out a few figures in his peripheral view.
"Friends…" Justin spoke up, casting aside Sullivan's short sword. "Tonight, we journey to Thorn Valley."
While Justin was making his announcement, everyone but Sullivan failed to notice Jenner slowly making his way up one of the enormous stones, flamberge in hand and snarling, ignoring his stab wound as blood leaked out of it. He was going to try to kill Mr. Fitzgibbons after his humiliating defeat. Sullivan slowly reached for his dirk sheathed at his side and extracted it. If he was going to die, he was going to die after doing one final good deed.
"We will leave no tracks. No evidence that the Rats of NIMH ever existed… Come."
Mrs. Brisby gasped, shooting a finger out when she, Mr. Ages, and Mr. Fitzgibbons were the first to notice Jenner—who was now on top of the stone—and soon everyone else did, too, eyes enlarged. Jenner lifted his flamberge over his head, a demented look in his eyes with the desire to spill blood once more—the hell he would.
Sullivan calculated his aim with the tip of his dirk in his fingers, steadying himself the best he could. Then, pouring the last of his energy into his body, he threw it, and it zipped into the air and embedded itself into Jenner's back. Jenner's eyes flew wide, his mouth agape in a silent scream. He toppled over and made an impact with some sludge.
Jenner lay unmoving, nullified of signs that he was still alive. He was as dead as a doorknob.
Sullivan took his final breath, and death came to claim him as well.
Chris couldn't believe what just happened, and neither could anyone else. It all happened so fast, and now Jenner was dead. Most wrenched their gazes to where the dirk was launched, concluding that it had been Sullivan's doing before his demise. He wrote his wrongs. Chris had Mrs. Brisby get behind him for protection when Jenner tried the unthinkable again, but thankfully, he would no longer be a problem. The cancer was rid of.
Terror and relief swam in Mrs. Brisby's eyes. She wrapped Chris in a violent hug, and Chris reciprocated it as if to tell her that all would be alright. However, as if to remind them what was at stake, they soon heard a child's voice calling out.
"Hello! Anybody up there?!"
The two rounded on where the source came from—the block. It was Martin! They made hast to the Brisby home.
"Martin?!" Mrs. Brisby uttered, pressing her ear to the cinder block.
"Mom!"
"Is everyone alright?!" Chris queried, doing the same thing as Mrs. Brisby.
"We're fine!" Teresa reassured from inside the Brisby home. "Are we almost moved?!"
Stress crept upon Mrs. Brisby like fog as she hugged the block. "Soon now…" she responded in a fatigued voice.
The field mouse planted her back against the Brisby home and buried her face in her hands. Anyone could see that this was taking a toll on her, and Chris could not blame her as he slung an arm around her shoulders, tugging her to his frame. Mrs. Brisby melted against him, trying to hold in the waterworks.
"With the equipment in shambles…" Mrs. Brisby winced as if the reality of that scathed her. "What are we going to do now?"
"I… I don't know," Chris spoke with honesty. "But we'll figure something out."
Even when he said them, Chris wasn't sure of himself, but he had to keep positive for himself, Mrs. Brisby, and the kids. It was what they all needed in times like these.
"Mrs. Briz! Chris!" Chris and Mrs. Brisby launched their heads up to see their crow friend swooping in, almost slipping on his front in some muck upon touching land. "Sorry that took so long." He then settled the sack of yarn he was searching for on the ground. "This sucker here didn't make it easy for me to find, but I now…" Jeremy gathered his bearings, and his beak hung open, unease painting across his features. "Umm, what did I miss?"
"Trust us, you don't want to know," Chris got across, his voice almost distant.
Jeremy didn't probe, which the duo was thankful for. No one got to say much else, though, as they noticed bubbles inflating from the sludge before popping. That was when the ground shook like there was now an earthquake, only it wasn't that. The house was moving.
"Uh, is that supposed to do that?" Jeremy asked, his wing pointing.
"N–no! It's not!" Mrs. Brisby answered as she and Chris went to investigate, but their faces didn't take long to turn ashen when they figured out what was going on. "It's sinking…"
Chris's breath hitched for the field mouse was right.
Panicked, Mrs. Brisby tried to keep her home from being dragged under by adding force against it, and Chris did the same thing, even when his body begged him for rest.
"Justin!" Mrs. Brisby exclaimed desperately. "The block! It's sinking!"
"What?" Justin's voice filtered through the air.
"Hurry!" Chris's words burst from his mouth. "It's sinking fast!"
Seeing that the sludge was slowly consuming the block, the rats whisked in as fast as their feet could carry them and improvised while Chris and Mrs. Brisby mounted it. Justin soon joined them and carried out orders. The rats garnered as much rope that could still come in handy, and they were tossed toward the top for Chris and Mrs. Brisby to grab so they could tie them to the ring before Justin swung the other ends of them over a few rocks so a few of the rats could use them as leverage for pulling. Heck, they even used some of the yarn Jeremy brought.
No matter how much rope and strings they used, though, they kept snapping apart one after the other, and the block was halfway under the muck. But everyone kept at it, doing all they could to keep the block afloat. Jeremy attempted to pry it up while midair by the ring, but he lost his grip due to how much exertion he was using and found himself sailing across the sky until he smacked against a tree. It was a chaos of panic.
Sludge sloshed and splashed against Chris and Mrs. Brisby as they kept tying knot after knot, almost losing their footing a few times as the block was tilting. They could hear the children inside in distress, and Chris didn't even want to think about them possibly drowning in the muck. He could only imagine that Mrs. Brisby didn't want to consider the same thing.
Suddenly, all the main ropes keeping the block in place split apart, and the block disappeared within the muck, taking Chris and Mrs. Brisby with it as they griped one of the ropes attached to the ring for dear life. Sludge erupted in the air like a geyser. Chris held his breath, and refraining from opening his mouth was not easy when surrounded completely by muck that robbed him of his lungs. When he pried open his eyes, he could not see a damn thing, not even Mrs. Brisby's figure. He swallowed his fear, trying to find the field mouse blindly while keeping his fingers curled around the rope.
The rope snapped up like a tail, and Chris and Mrs. Brisby were catapulted out of the sludge. They yelped and gasped for air. Their amulets came off, and they dropped into the muck like them. Chris quickly hooked his arm around a struggling Mrs. Brisby while the pendants gave in to the sludge and kicked his feet, using one arm to stroke and fight through the oncoming waves, coughing.
"Chris, grab on!"
Chris squinted to see Justin reaching his hand out, ankle-deep in the muck, with a rope tied around his waist and a few rats ready to heave him back. The tiny human sliced through the sludge in a few more strokes, his muscles about to give out and his energy taking more than it could, and finally managed to link his fingers with Justin's. Immediately, the rats reeled the trio in, and they made it to the safety of land.
The children didn't, though.
Chris's arm had unconsciously peeled off from around Mrs. Brisby, and he flopped onto his front, heaving up the contents not meant for his stomach. Everything burned inside him, and he felt like jelly. Spots danced in his vision, his world tipping, ringing in his ears. He had overworked himself, but the block... the kids… His body refused to budge.
Voices attempted to fracture through the haze, a hand lightly pattering Chris's cheek, but it was in vain. All Chris could do was suck in a breath before having it roll out of his lips. He lay there immobile, having no control of himself, and his vision started to fuzz at the edges, his eyelids feeling as if they weighed ten pounds each. His heart was the only thing that kept on functioning.
Something then gravitated near his nose, and Chris got a whiff of peppermint. Instantly, his brain jolted, anchoring him back to reality and clearing his vision. He gulped lungful after lungful of air. Hands helped him sit up, and slowly but surely, he felt like he'd been pieced back together to his body—sort of, at least. Though he still felt like crap, at least he didn't get pulled under.
Mr. Ages stood before him with a small bottle. "You certainly got lucky I had this on me, Mr. Fitzgibbons," he said.
All Chris could do was nod, but from the corner of his vision, he saw Justin trying to hold Mrs. Brisby back from the muck by fastening his hands around her arms in an iron hold. Mrs. Brisby was horror-stricken, sobs beginning to rack her body. Without thinking, Chris hopped to his feet.
"Mr. Fitzgibbons, I wouldn't—Mr. Fitzgibbons!"
Chris didn't heed Mr. Ages' words as he shuffled to where Mrs. Brisby and Justin were, but within a few steps, he teetered and lost his balance, collapsing into some mud. A small groan issued from his parted lips, his eyelids trying to finish what they'd begun. That got Mrs. Brisby's attention, and a gasp discharged from her, more worry swimming in her irises.
Mrs. Brisby wrenched herself from Justin and was instantly on her knees once she reached Chris. "No–no–no!" she strung out, whimpering. She cupped Chris's face and planted a kiss between his brow as if that would lend him strength. "Chris, please… Please…"
Then suddenly, two glowing objects emerged from the water, floating midair—the amulets. Almost everyone's jaws were wide open. On their own accord, they glided toward Chris and Mrs. Brisby, and a few dazed rats stepped aside so they could pass. The pendants dangled over the duo, and the tiny human and field mouse had to shield their eyes from the blue and red beams shedding from them.
"Courage of the heart is very rare…" Recognition passed over Chris and Mrs. Brisby's countenances when they heard that voice, and they leaned their heads back. In the blue stone, Chris made out Nicodemus, and Mrs. Brisby did in the red one as well. It was like he was there in them in spirit. "The stones have a power when it's there, but when two courageous hearts are combined, they can make a big difference…"
"The stones…" Chris and Mrs. Brisby said in unison, exchanging glances, a bolt of realization hitting them. Their courage had been the key to unlocking the door they needed, and now the pendants were at their service.
They were hesitant initially, but Chris stretched his hands out to the blue amulet while Mrs. Brisby mirrored his movements to the red one. When their hands touched them, blue and red flames burst out of them, and they gasped in pain, retracting their hands as they now burned. The pendants plummeted into the muck, making it sizzle and bubble as they were still ablaze. Chris and Mrs. Brisby were in awe.
This is almost like what happened a few days ago when I used the blue stone to save Elizabeth, Chris assimilated. Only flames never came out of it… It doesn't matter now.
Trying again, Chris and Mrs. Brisby fished out their respective amulets, and this time, they held onto them tightly. Sparks crackled out of the trinkets, power bursting at the seams as magic flowed through Chris's and Mrs. Brisby's bodies. They gritted their teeth, aglow with the color of the stone they clutched as if they were glowsticks. Sparks traveled over their bodies, and gasps suddenly escaped their throats. Golden light gamboled and shed from them, gliding through the sky like a meteor shower. Chris's jacket and Mrs. Brisby's cloak billowed out behind them while Chris's hair was being touseled.
Everyone knelt before Chris and Mrs. Brisby, dipping their heads in respect as if they were deities. They more than likely could've been with the golden aura surrounding them.
Chris and Mrs. Brisby's eyes were sealed shut, and they loosened their fingers from the stones, allowing them to return to their rightful places around their necks. Calmly, the two opened their eyes a little, and suspended in front of them was one of the ropes connected to the Brisby home. They took hold of it with one of Chris's hands draping over Mrs. Brisby's while a hand of Mrs. Brisby's did the same for Chris's other hand. Blue and red magic merged into purple magic, slithered through the rope, and into the sludge.
A few beats of silence passed. A bubble formed in the muck and then popped; a second later, another one copied. Then, a purple oval glowed in the sludge, followed by more popping bubbles until the purple oval was boiling. Muck exploded in the air, squirting out, and the area flared to life with purple light. Waves churned and became more restless as the wind picked up speed, power pulsating with such blooming strength.
The block began to surface slowly, the sludge boosting it up like a rising platform, and soon it was levitating in the air. Sparks and glittering magic spat out and graced the air like shooting stars. It was as if the stones' power were celebrating its triumphant rescue mission as the Brisby home was now being navigated to the back of the precise rock it needed to be at.
This arcane magic truly had a mind of its own, and Chris could feel it smarting and needling all the way to the marrow of his bones, awakening what seemed impossible inside him. He never would've considered the fact that one day, he'd be unlocking some magic, but here he was now, taxing himself out beyond what was standard with Mrs. Brisby. However, it was worth the sacrifice for the Brisby home, the children, and especially Mrs. Brisby.
Chris squeezed Mrs. Brisby's hand gingerly, and she returned the gesture.
A few heartbeats later, the cinder block was over the spot, and it was lowered at a steady pace until it was nestled in the dugout hole. It was saved—the children were saved.
Having expended itself, the magic dissipated, taking its leave from Chris and Mrs. Brisby. Chris felt detached from his body, his control beyond his grasp as enervation engulfed him, and he swayed.
Darkness did not take long to swallow him.
Everyone watched as Chris and Mrs. Brisby passed out, their fingers interlocking. They gazed at one another, ultimately breath taken by what just happened. What else could this night bring out?
As if to answer their question, the blue stone at Chris's chest lit back up as if it had forgotten to do something. The group stared at it with wonder, but they began to notice that Chris was now enveloped in blue magic. To their shock, he began to get bigger and bigger, and they all quickly got back before they were smooshed. And then, it stopped, the magic dying out once and for all.
Everyone's jaws hung slightly ajar. Christopher Fitzgibbons was back to his standard human height, with Mrs. Brisby's body save for her head under his hand like it was a blanket. The blue stone and Thunder Blade didn't grow with him, though, and remained small, separated from him with the amulet's chain and the hanger of the scabbard cracked apart.
The tiny human was no more.
The buzzing voices of people and the barking of dogs sounded in Chris's ears. White lights glared at him, but his eyes remained shut. His body was in massive pain, unmoving, with no feeling within his limbs, almost as though he were paralyzed. What was going on?
"We found him!" a masculine voice shouted out loud, the only words Chris made out.
He faded in and out of reality, and everything around him was choppy when he could open his eyes halfway a few times. At one point, Chris felt pairs of hands lift him into what felt like a cot, and he was being rolled away, jerking to the sides sometimes. The sharp sounds of people communicating hurriedly and sirens wailing stabbed at his mind. Blue and red lights flashed, and Chris thought he recognized a couple of voices screaming out his name.
"Elizabeth…" Chris weakly got out.
His vision went black.
A/N- Am I crazy that I wrote a 10k chapter? Yes. Yes, I am. It was worth it, and I greatly enjoyed working on it! Plus, it's not my first time writing a 10k chapter or more than that! Best part? You guys got to read more in a chapter than you all ever got to in my previous chapters! What do you guys think? Was it worth the wait?
Well, I hope ya guys enjoyed it, and I will see you all soon!
Reviews:
ric castle: Yes, he was! Luckily, those two didn't for sure XD
STG96: Agreed!
Fan Boy 101: Thank you!
godzillafan1: You're right on the point for both of what you said, my friend! And though I will be sad that this story will come to a close, I am thrilled that I will soon be finishing this fanfic, and then I can work on the sequel sometime in the future
josephjouf20: Cool!
Tok'ra Operative: You almost got that scene right! Points for the guess, though!