Part 53
Eddie wandered around the theater in the dark of night. He didn't know why he was wandering around the theater, only that he was. He went down to the stage and looked at all of the work they had been doing over the last several days. They had even worked until midnight on New Year's Eve.
They were going to start rehearsals as soon as they filled the roles they didn't have set. The plan was to audition the dancers at the studio first, then audition outsiders.
A blink later and he was in a back room that he didn't remember being there before. He tried to open the door but it was locked. "Hey! What's the joke? Let me out of here!" He shouted.
"Sorry, buddy, but there's only one way you're leaving." He turned with a start and saw Philip holding a large, sharp knife.
"Ahhh!" Eddie sat up in bed. He looked around the empty room. The only one there was Gunter and the jolly hog was passed out asleep after another long day of work. He went into the bathroom and washed his face. "Come on, pull it together. It's just a stupid dream."
"Yeah, you'd think right?" The voice made Eddie freeze and he turned.
The sheep trembled. "Look, whatever my parents promised to pay you, they lied. They're broke." He pleaded.
He shrugged. "Yeah, I never accept a job without being paid in advance and I'm a professional so…" He held a rope in both hands.
Eddie dove for the bathroom door but the ram was faster. The rope went around his neck. He fought desperately, kicking at the door and hoping he'd wake up Gunter or Miss Crawly.
——————————————
"Gunter! Gunter! Wake up!" The hog knew that voice but when he opened his eyes, there was no one there. He looked around the room, seeing Eddie wasn't there. He heard thumping from the bathroom.
"Eddie, are you alright?" He tried to open the door but it was locked. He put his ear to the door and realized he was hearing fighting inside. He ran to the window. "Help!" He shouted, knowing that would be enough to bring Marcus and the other guards running. He began fighting with the door, trying everything to open it.
A few moments later, Marcus was there. A well-placed punch with his massive fist broke the doorknob and the door opened. The ram had the rope tight around Eddie's neck and he was trying to get it loose.
Marcus didn't hesitate. He rushed to grab him but Philip just dropped the rope and evaded him. He shoved his way past Gunter but both the stairs and the window were blocked by two more gorillas. He reached into his pocket. "Now you see me, now… you don't…" He threw a small capsule to the floor, enveloping the room in smoke. Thanks to the smoke that filled the room, he was able to get past Barry and jumped out the window, sliding down the awning. He jumped down off the awning and slipped back inside to his hiding place.
The smoke cleared and the bastard was gone. Gunter ran to Eddie's side, helping him up. The polled sheep coughed and hacked, his body needing precious air.
"Are you alright?" Gunter asked fearfully. If he hadn't woken up when he did….
Eddie fought to get his breath back and nodded. "I came in here to wash my face and he was waiting for me."
Marcus shook his head. "I have no idea how he got past me. I'm sorry, Mr. Moon. He won't get another chance. I promise you that." He growled. "Barry, Stan, let's find this jackass."
Stan shook his head. "Now, Marcus, that's offensive to jackasses." He laughed at his own joke as they left to search the area for the contract killer.
Gunter rubbed Eddie's back. "Maybe we should find another place. Maybe back at my trailer would be safest." He suggested.
"No. I'm not running away anymore. I'm not running, I'm not hiding. This is my home!" Eddie growled. "Thank you for saving me again." But when would he no longer need saving? When would he be able to defend himself
The hog hugged him. "I am very happy I could. I care about you and I would be so sad if something happened to you."
"You would?" Eddie asked, looking into his blue eyes.
Gunter nodded and petted his soft fleece to reassure them both that he was safe. "Ja, I would."
The pig and the sheep would sit there for some time, just taking comfort from one another.
———————————
"What?!" Echoed around the main room of the theater after Eddie filled them in on what happened that night.
Rosita hugged him. "Oh Eddie! I'm so sorry. Gunter, thank heaven you were here."
Gunter shook his head. "Marcus is the one who got us in." He looked ashamed at having been unable to get the door open himself. He still wondered about the voice he heard right before he woke up.
Marcus turned his head. "You're the one who alerted us." He reminded the pig. "But how did he get in? I was guarding the doors out front. Barry and Stan had the emergency and back exits."
Rosita sighed. "He must have snuck in when we thought it was safe to leave the door unguarded."
"Well, that won't happen again," Marcus vowed. It wouldn't need to. Benny and Raoul were there to help during the day.
She shook her head. "I'm going to make a call. We need to find out more about this guy and I'm wondering… I'll be right back." She went into a back room and pulled out her phone and dialed, not paying attention to her surroundings.
—————————————
Nancy had just sent their eight children off to school when her phone rang. "Good morning, Rosita. How are you doing?"
"Not good…. You're still friends with those bears right?" Rosita asked.
"Yeah. Ever since I paid back the money Mike cheated them out of and hired them in case we ever needed a bit of muscle. What's up?" The mouse asked.
"Can you find out if they're familiar with someone who calls himself the Duke of Canterbury?" She asked.
"I sure can. What's going on?" Nancy asked right before Rosita screamed in her ear and she heard the phone clatter to the floor.
—————————————
Rosita had been about to thank Nancy for her help when she saw the shadow jump at her. She screamed as loud as she could and tried to run, but he had her in his rope before she could get away.
"Rosita! Rosita! Answer me!" The voice on the other end shouted.
She could hear footsteps racing towards them. She just had to keep fighting back. She kicked back with her foot, connecting with a sensitive area.
He cried out in agony and glared. "And here I was feeling sorry for you." He pulled out a pocket knife and lunged. She dodged him.
"Rosita!" She heard her name and she saw her friends running towards them. He lunged again and she dodged, running to get behind Marcus and his gang. Johnny stood with the three bigger gorillas.
"You're trapped now, you're not going anywhere," Marcus vowed.
Philip growled and went for his smoke bombs. "Ow!" He shouted when a stick made contact with his chest and a hand gripped his wrist like a vice.
"Ah ah! You hurt my students and you get to face me," Klaus growled. "And I'm not merciful like Mr. Green. He'll just kill you. Once I'm done with you, you'll wish you were dead."
Johnny looked at Rosita who was trembling like a leaf. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, Johnny," She nodded and picked up her phone off the floor. Nancy had since disconnected. Rosita could only assume she was calling for help. "I'm okay…"
"Mommy?" Caspar asked. "Are you okay?"
Rosita patted her son's head. "Yeah, yeah. Mommy is strong" She hugged him reassuringly.
"Ahhhh!" Klaus shouted as Philip suddenly swiped at him with his knife, making him let go.
The ram ran at Rosita and Caspar, grabbing the piglet. "Mommy!" The little boy screamed.
"Caspar! Let my son go!" She demanded.
Philip put the knife to Caspar's neck. "Get out of my way!" He ordered. "Or else!" Once the way was clear, he ran for the exit with Caspar in his clutches.
They pursued him but he was already gone. Caspar was left at the doors, panting and crying with fear. "Mommy!" He held up his arms and she picked him up.
"Oh Caspar!" Rosita wept as she held her son.
Eddie hugged them both, looking outside, wondering where Philip had gone this time. He felt horrible. Rosita was attacked because of him. Caspar was in danger because of him. And all because he couldn't fight back against this guy.
AN: I know it's short but the writer's block is looming. I need help to keep the block from taking hold. So whatever you would like to see in this story, please tell me.