Part 5
Nick Mulligan was sitting at a table in Patti's Diner waiting to be served. Patti approthed him.
"Hey, Nick!" She greeted him.
"Hey, Patti!" Nick greeted back.
"So, how are you doing?"
"Good." Patti was surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes." He was surprised. "Why would you say that?"
"Well, with the current situation that's going on regarding your grandson and all, I thought you'd be more depressed." Nick frowned and sighed sadly.
"Oh, you heard of that?"
"Who hasn't? It's been over the news. Nick, I'm so sorry."
"It's unfortunate all right. My daughter went to Big City to aid with the search."
"And she left you behind?" Wayne, who was now beside them with Nick's food and drink, wanted to know. Patti glared at him.
"Wayne!" She scolded. "Don't butt in on people's business!"
"Sorry." Wayne apologized to his boss. "I'll give him his food then go on with my job." He put Nick's food in front of him,
"No, it's okay." Nick responded. "I can tell him if he's curious, and, no, she didn't leave. She asked me to come, but I declined."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want to."
"Again, why?"
"Wayne!" Patti scolded again. "He said he didn't want to. Maybe he has his reasons." Wayne looked at Patti.
"But what good reason is there?" He asked her. "I mean, if I had a grandson and he were kidnapped, I'd want to go help in the search and find him ASAP. Wouldn't you?"
"Yeah, but I'm sure a lot of people are out there, looking for him already. His parents, the police, Nancy, etc. There may be other stuff that Nick needs to do here, you don't know."
"Other important stuff than looking for his grandson? I'm sorry, but if he loved him, I mean, truly loved him, he'd be more concerned and not be here eating our food. He'd drop everything all at once and…" Nick was annoyed. He pounded his fists with frustration on the table, making his silverware jump.
"I didn't want to be disappointed, okay?!" He shouted. Both Patti and Wayne looked at him with confused faces.
"What do you mean?" Nick sighed with another frown.
"Look, I know from past kidnapping cases, the child ends up dead or takes years to find and reunite with their parents or other family members. I just don't want to go four hours or more to Big City and end up not finding him or receiving the worst news possible." He grabbed his cup. "It's not just worth my time." He took a sip. Patti felt sorry for him.
"But what if you're wrong?" Wayne wanted to know.
"Wayne!" Patti warned him.
"No, I mean it. I know you're scared and you have every right to be, but there could be a chance that you're wrong and you'll find him alive shortly after you get there. Heck, maybe he's found now and you'll get the good news call any minute now. The point is you never can truly know unless you try." He then changed the subject. "Sorry I'm bothering you with this." She looked at Patti. "I'll get back to work." He was about to go when he felt Nick's hands on his. He looked back at Nick and saw that he was smiling.
"You're right." Nick agreed. "I'm just stressed is all. This is just a terribly stressful situation. I'll think about it." Patti and Wayne smiled. They wished him luck and both left to let Nick eat, drink and think in peace.
Cricket felt sad as he saw his crying friend. He wished he could do something for him, but instead he could only provide him with words of encouragement.
"Hey, bud." He said to him, trying to be happy. "Try to cheer up. You were with Tilly and my gramma earlier, so they will soon know that you are gone. They know I'm gone, and you said you guys were going to jail to visit Vasquez, remember? I'm sure that they will all rescue us soon and we can play again like nothing ever happened. What do you think of that?" Remy then gasped as horrible thoughts entered his head.
"But what if we are never rescued?" He asked himself in a terrified tone. "What if..what if they kill me before I can get a chance to get rescued or you, Cricket, like your gramma suggested?" Cricket was confused.
"Gramma? Wait, what did she suggest?" But Remy was too busy having a panic attack to answer. That and all he could hear was his heart beating rapidly over his friend's muffled voice.
"If…if the police didn't come to my aid in their parking lot, what good are they really? Can they be trusted? Can anyone?" Cricket was getting concerned.
"Uh, Remy?"
"I'll never see Mom and Dad again, never see Vasquez."
"Remy, you're starting to scare me. Please, calm down."
"I'll never be happy again. I'll never see your family again Cricket and our other friends. I'll never have fun again and be a normal goofy kid. I'll never go to middle school, never go to high school. I'll never graduate, go to Big City University, make my own ranch dressing, marry and have kids of my own, never be a top surgeon, celebrity chef and mayor. My…my life is over as a ten-year old!" Remy started to hyperventilate. "I…I just want to see Mommy, Daddy and Vas again! I want to go home!" Cricket was going to remind Remy that he couldn't go home because he was homeless, but didn't.
"Remy!" Cricket didn't know what to do. He wanted to snap him out of it, but didn't want to make it worse, but knew he had to do something. He gently tapped him on his shoulder. Remy looked at him.
"Okay, why don't you try to take a couple of deep breaths and just let them out?" He breathed in, then out a couple of times to show him. Soon enough, Remy followed suit and began to calm down. His heartbeats slowed down and resumed back to normal. "Are you good now?"
"I guess." He then smiled. "Thanks, Cricket. I really needed that. Sorry you had to see that." Cricket smiled back.
"No problem, bud. Always glad to help. That's what friends are for." He frowned again. "But what was that? Was that a panic attack?" Remy nodded.
"I think so. It felt like I was going to die. Sorry I didn't hear you. My heart was beating repeatedly fast and loud."
"Well, it sure was scary. And you didn't die. You're okay and you are alive. And you are never going to die and I'm not going to die." Remy smiled again.
"You're right again, Cricket. I'm not going to die, not until Novem…"
"Yeah, yeah, I remember your scrapbook and your death prediction. Seriously, who plans the date, time and year that they're going to die? No offence, but that's creepy as all heck."
"Dad said that it was creepy too. And it's just a prediction, so it's not 100% accurate. Nothing in that book is. I just wrote it because those were the things that I wanted to do when I got older."
"Right, because nothing in life is a guarantee. You just wing it and go with whatever life throws at you, the good and the bad." Remy nodded again.
"Exactly!"
"And who's Vas?"
"It's who I called Vasquez when I was really little because Vasquez was too complicated for my kid brain at the time."
"Oh, well, I guess Vasquez is kinda hard to say for a little kid then." Remy nodded. Cricket then changed the subject. "Now we need to get out of here somehow." Remy looked puzzled.
"How are we going to do that?"
"I don't know. There's no vent in the ceiling, so we can't bust it open with something tall like a broom or stand on each other's shoulders or on things to reach it. I see no escape, but we have to get out of here. So, we have to think."
"Okay." And so, the boys began to think.
Vasquez stopped at the door. So did the others. They were all confused.
"Uh, Vasquez?" Tilly asked. "Why did you stop?"
"Come on!" Alice urged. "Don't stop now! I'm not getting any younger. I want to save my grandson, the sooner the better!"
"Wait, a minute." Vasquez said. He looked at the cop, whose name tag said his name was Jake. "Remy was kidnapped in the police parking lot. Why didn't any officers come to his aid?" Jake shrugged.
"Because no one heard or saw him or the footage on time." He answered. Vasquez was angry.
"Exactly! No one did their job! And because of it, a little boy was taken from their parking lot and they have lots of security cameras! Their parking lot! Isn't that something?" Jake held his hands in defense.
"Whoa! I get why you're mad, but, calm down. The police can't be everywhere all at once 24/7 to stop crime the instant it happens. It just doesn't work like that. And I'm not in charge of the cameras and wasn't outside when it happened."
"That may be true, but the fact that no one aided to save a young boy from harm? The whole police department, whose job it is to save and protect people? This is why the police can't be trusted, not when they pull stupid crud like this!"
"I'm sorry. We messed up, alright?"
"You guys messed up all right! You all messed up badly. You should be ashamed to wear that police badge! It's taking every fiber of my being not to lift you right now by the cuff of your shirt. That, and I will never cause harm to a police officer." Jake smiled.
"Gee, thanks."
"Oh good, you're still here." They heard a familiar voice. They looked and saw Mark. Mark looked at Vasquez. "Your father's on the phone for you."
"My father?" A shocked Vasquez questioned.
"Dad?" Vasquez asked on the phone at the front desk. Tilly and the others were with him. "This is a surprise. I never expected you to call. What do you want and how do you know I'm here?"
"I'm not your dad." Viper Fang said on the other end. Vasquez gasped. "I just told the cop that I am in order to talk to you." Vasquez became angry again.
"I know you kidnapped Remy, Viper Fang! Don't you dare hurt him because if you do…"
"Relax, Tiger Fang. I won't hurt him if you do what I want."
"For the last time, I'll never go back to The Order of the Fang."
"Then it looks like I'll kill the kid."
"Don't you dare! Just let him go. He's innocent and should never be involved in any of this. He has enough to worry about."
"Like being homeless?" Vasquez gasped.
"How do you know about that?" He then realized something. "Wait, did you make him and his family homeless?"
"Maybe. I may also have framed you and the reason why you are in jail." Vasquez gasped again. He was mad again.
"You monster! That's incredibly low, even for you."
"I know, I'm despicable." He changed the subject then. "How about this then? I'll give you until tomorrow for your final decision since it's getting late. If not, I'll kill the kid. Oh, and by the way, the kid told me that you will rejoin." Vasquez was dumbfounded. He was angry again.
"Y…You're lying! Remy will never say that."
"Oh, but he did. I heard him with my own ears. Here, I'll put him on the phone for you and you can ask him yourself." And with that, Viper Fang went to the closet where the kids were.
The kids looked at the door to the closet as it opened. Viper Fang offered Remy the phone.
"Here..", He told them. …you can talk to Tig…Vasquez."
"Really?" Asked a surprised Remy.
"Yeah. Just don't be long." Remy walked over to him and Viper Fang gave it to him. Remy placed the phone next to his ear.
"Vasquez?"
"Remy!" Vasquez said. "Are you hurt?! They haven't hurt you, have they?" Remy was relieved to hear an adult that he knew.
"Well, I was thrown to the floor a couple of times." He answered. Vasquez couldn't believe it.
"What!? Er, I can't believe this! Listen, Remy, I will come to save you."
"Even after I said that I hated you?"
"Yes, even though you said that hurtful thing."
"Oh, well, for some reason, I thought…"
"Remy, listen to me. I don't care that you hate me forever. Of course I will save you. I still care about you and want you safe because that's the guy that I am. I will never, ever not care about you. That's a promise."
"Good, because I hate it here." He sniffed sadly and began choking on his words. "I'm stressed out and I'm really, really scared. I cried a lot, Viper Fang and his boss hates children, Viper Fang said that my voice was annoying and I had a panic attack. I just want things to go back to normal and wish that this gosh awful day never happened. This is the worst day of my life." Vasquez felt sorry for him.
"You're not alone. This is the worst day of my life too, and I'm sure this is your parents' worst day of their lives too, and your voice isn't annoying at all. People can't help with how they sound. How dare he say that to you. He will pay dearly for this, all of them will."
"I just want to see Mom and Dad again and you. You didn't do anything wrong. Viper Fang framed you. He's a bad man."
"I know all of that. And you will be saved. You just hang on. Remember, mañana is..."
"Right, it's just a day away." He smiled. "I haven't heard that in so long. You know exactly what to say to me when I'm having a bad day." He changed the subject with a frown. "Oh, and Vasquez? I sort of told Tiger Fang's boss that you would rejoin The Order of the Fang." Vasquez was shocked.
"What?! Why would you do that?"
"Because if you don't,…" He gulped. "…he's going to kill me."
"What?! Oh, Remy, I…"
"Okay, that's enough!" Viper Fang butted in, taking back the phone.
"NOOOOOO!" Remy screamed, fear now in his little voice. "VASQUEZ, PLEASE! JOIN THEM AGAIN FOR MY SAKE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
"REMY!" Vasquez shouted.
"SAVE ME TOO, VASQUEZ!" Cricket shouted too before Viper Fang went out of the closet and shut the door.
"Cricket!" Vasquez shouted as well.
"Cricket's there too?" Tilly questioned. "Can I talk to him?"
"Me too?" Alice asked.
"I want the other child as well." Vasquez stated to Viper Fang. "Like Remy, he's innocent in all of this and shouldn't be involved in this."
"Well, I didn't kidnap him. My minions did because he knew too much. But anyways, they will be at my minion's headquarters." Viper Fang explained to Vasquez. "I'll tell you the location. Listen up because I won't be repeating myself." Vasquez looked at the cop, covering up the mouthpiece with his hands.
"He's going to tell us where we can get them. Get a notepad and pencil." Jake nodded and went off. Next, Vasquez looked at Tilly and Alice. "And I'm talking to Viper Fang again, so I think you missed your chance to talk to Cricket. Sorry." Tillly sighed.
"Typical." Alice muttered to herself. Vasquez put the phone back next to his ear.
"Oh, and I want you to come alone. If you come with the police or other people, the deal's off and I kill the kid on the spot, understand?"
"Affirmative. I'll come alone. You have my word." Jake came back with the notepad and pencil. Vasquez grabbed both of them. "Okay, I have a notepad and pencil. Tell me the location." And so Viper Fang told him while Vasquez jotted it down.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Tiger Fang and I hope you make the right decision. Oh, and don't worry, I'll make sure the boys are fed a good nutritious, perhaps last dinner! I'm not heartless." He then hung up with a wicked laugh. Vasquez hung up the phone as well.
"So, are we going over there to save Remy and Cricket now?" Tilly wanted to know. Vasquez looked at her.
"It's late." He replied. "I'll go over there tomorrow and save them." Tilly was puzzled.
"Tomorrow!?" Alice questioned. "I have to wait even longer to see my grandchild?" She sighed. "Fine, but I won't like it."
"And what do you mean you'll go over there?"
"Sorry." Vasquez apologized. "Viper Fang wants me to go alone." Alice sighed.
"Typical." She muttered again.
"And frankly, I think you and your gramma should go home. It might get too dangerous with Viper Fang." Tilly sighed as well.
"I understand. But if you are going to get the boys tomorrow, do you want to stay at our house overnight?"
"He has to stay here." Jake informed her. "Sorry, little miss. Rules are rules. He'll be driven there tomorrow by one of the cops." Vasquez looked at Jake.
"But he wants me to come there alone."
"And you will. The cop will just stay nearby in case you need help or just arrest him and his men for their crimes." Vasquez smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
"Smart! You are one smart cop." Jake smiled.
"Gee, thanks." He then was serious. "But don't think I will treat you differently just because you gave me a nice compliment. I'll treat you the same as everyone else that winds up here behind bars."
"Understood." Tilly looked at Alice.
"I'll call Papa." She told her. Alice looked at her.
"Sounds like a plan, Tilly, girl."She responded. "And we'll stay here just a bit longer in case he wants to talk to Vasquez. That and it'll give me more time to prepare to drive home."
"Good idea, Gramma. But, uh, are you sure you will see the way home in the dark?" Sure I can! I can see miles in the dark. I'm not blind as a bat."
"Uh, bats aren't really blind, Gramma." Alice was shocked at this.
"Really? You mean, I've been believing in a lie for decades?"
"Afraid so. Just like the sky isn't technically pure blue. Our eyes only see it as blue because…" Alice looked annoyed.
"Ok! Geez, the next thing you'd be telling me is Pluto isn't a planet and the earth is round, instead of flat." Tilly was about to say something else when Alice beat her to it. "Just kidding! I know those facts. I'm not an idiot. I can't believe some people like your brother think that the earth is flat. It's just flat because that's how they draw it on maps! That's how maps are, just pieces of paper!" She changed the subject. "Just call your dad."
"Okay." Tilly called her dad on her phone.
"Well, it's getting pretty late." Bill told Gloria, Nancy, and the Remingtons as he observed the sky. "We will resume the search tomorrow." He looked at Mr. and Mrs. Remington. "Sorry, Russell and Rashida."
"I'd hate to give up the search for our son and want him with us again ASAP." Rashida stated.
"I'd hate that too." Russell agreed. "But it's perfectly reasonable."
"I guess."
"Okay." Bill declared. "It's settled then. Let's head for the car." His phone then rang. He took it out of his pocket and saw that it was Tilly. "Hold on. It's Tilly. I have to take this." He answered the phone. "Hi, Tilly. What's up besides the sky or the ceiling if you are in a building?" He laughed nervously to himself. "Sorry, lame dad joke. I can't help it. I'm a dad, but seriously, what's up?" He listened to his daughter over the phone. "Okay, I'll drive you and Gramma home. Just hang out there for now until we get there. And before you say it, I don't want your gramma to drive home in the dark, no matter how much she protests. It's not safe for people her age. It's too risky."
"Can I talk to Vasquez?" Russell questioned. "I'd like to talk to him." Bill nodded.
"Talk to him while we go to the Kledge."
"Will do." Bill placed the phone back to his ear and told Tilly that Mr. Remington wanted to talk to him.
Tilly looked at Vasquez and told him this. Vasquez was surprised.
"He wants to talk to me?" He questioned. Tilly nodded as he gave Vasquez her phone.
After Bill gave Russell his phone, he and the other adults went off to Bill's car as Russell placed the phone next to his ear. "Sir?" Vasquez asked over the phone. "I thought you didn't want to see me or talk to me ever again. Wait, are you still mad at me?"
"Honestly, Vasquez, I don't know how I feel towards you right now." Russell answered. "However, I do know that you protected my son over the last ten years. You must know that Remy has been kidnapped by now." Vasquez sighed.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"That said, putting our differences aside for now, I know you can go and save him. So do just that. Save him at all costs…if the police will allow it that is."
"SAVE OUR PRECIOUS BABY BOY, VASQUEZ!" Vasquez heard Rashida's scream. "PLEASE, WE'RE BEGGING YOU!"
"That's an order!" Russell ordered.
"I will, sir." Vasquez promised. "You can count on me and I'll also save Cricket. Tell Bill that I'll save him too."
"Glad to hear it, Vasquez. I'll be sure I'll tell him that. Good luck!" He then hung up. Vasquez gave Tilly her phone back.
When Tilly told her grandma that they had to wait until her father and that he didn't want her driving in the dark, she sighed.
"I swear," She said. "Your dad doesn't let me have any fun nowadays. This must be payback from how much I yelled at him when he did stupid stuff, like nearly cutting off his entire index finger in a hay baler. Maybe this is how you kids feel about us adults."
"Maybe sometimes, but then again I can't speak for all kids out there."
"I'll let Dad know what the situation is." Nancy stated as Bill drove. "He refused to come and he can be extremely stubborn, which is annoying, but he still cares at the end of the day. I just know that he was worried and would like to know how things are going." She was about to call when her phone went off, telling her that Nick was calling. "Oh, never mind then. I guess Dad's calling me instead." She answered it and put her phone to her ear. "Hi, Dad. What's up? I was literally just about to call you."
"I had a change of heart and am now going to come to Big City to help you find Cricket." Nick told her on the other line.
"Oh, that's not necessary, Dad."
"Nonsense! Honestly, I should have gone with you from the start when we heard the news, but I'm making it up by coming. I was scared of what would happen if we never find him, but luckily Wayne convinced me."
"Wayne from the Diner?"
"Yeah, you know him too?"
"Smalton's a small town, Dad. It's literally in the name."
"Oh, right. Guess it is."
"Anyways, I mean you coming isn't really needed."
"Why? You found him? Please say you found him."
"Yes and no." Nick was confused.
"Yes and no? What is it? You either found him or didn't. There's no 'yes and no.'"
"What I meant to say was we know where he is. Vasquez is going to save him tomorrow, along with Remy."
"Vasquez? Remy? Who the heck are they?"
"Remy is Cricket's friend. Vasquez is Remy's bodyguard….or was. I don't know anymore."
"You mean the black rotund kid with glasses? You mean he has a bodyguard like the President or the President's kid?"
"Yes, Dad. I'll call you again once Cricket is home safely."
"Thanks, Nancy. I appreciate that. Bye. Love you!" Nancy hung up. "Hello? Nancy, are you there? Hello?" He saw that she had hung up and sighed. "Typical Nance."
"Vasquez is coming tomorrow to rescue us, Remy." Cricket told his pal. "Isn't that amazing?"
"Sure is." Remy agreed. "But I wish that we weren't kidnapped in the first place."
"I hear you, buddy. Kidnapping is the absolute worst. I prefer to be in school than being a kidnap victim, and that's saying something, because you know how much I hate school."
"I know how much you do. I also wish that Viper Fang and his minions didn't do what they did to my parents. That was very low of them."
"I know. Talk about making it worse." He changed the subject. "But anyways, at least we are getting dinner. Now I don't know about you, but I'm starving!"
"Yeah, our last dinner!"
"Don't say that, Remy. Be an optimist like me. Trust me, you're going to get plenty of dinners after this."
"If you say so."
"That's the spirit, Remy…kind of."
"I can't believe we're being fed by our kidnappers."
"That caught me off guard too. But it shows you that they're not all bad. They're still good in them somewhere and not heartless monsters."
"I guess." The closet opened and the two boys were served dinner by Bella and Bash, praying that this wouldn't be their last.
Bill, Nancy, Gloria and the Remington parents all got to the police station and walked into the building. When they saw Alice, Tilly and Vasquez, they all ran to them.
"PAPA. MAMA!" Tilly shouted in excitement and hugged both of her parents.
"Oh, Tilly!" Her dad responded. "Thank goodness you're safe and you didn't get kidnapped."
"Yeah!" Nancy added. "Thank the stars!" Russell was mad at Alice as he marched up to her.
"What happened?!" He barked at Alice. "Why did my son get kidnapped? You were supposed to keep your eye on him!"
"Don't yell at me." Alice argued. "It's not my fault."
"Oh, I think it is." Russell argued back. "I want answers! If you weren't old, if it wasn't wrong and if a kid and your son weren't present, and if we weren't in a police station, I would punch you right now."
"Russell!" Rashida warned. "Cool it! Let her tell her side of the story. I'm sure there is a logical explanation."
"Yeah, don't yell at my ma." Bill told Russell. "I'll talk to her. Oh, and thanks for not punching her. I really appreciate it." He looked at her. "Ma, what the heck happened?" So Alice told them everything.
"You let a 10-year-old wait outside alone in a parking lot?!" Russell questioned again when the explanation was over. "You should have never done that. That was an immediate red flag!"
"Whoa!"Alice said to him, defending herself. "Again, don't yell at me. Yell at the police. It was in their parking lot and he did seem to yell out for help and none of them came!"
"It's my fault too, Mr. Remington." Tilly told him. "I, too, let Remy go alone to wait for us. I should have convinced him and told him it might not be safe. My gut told me that something wasn't right. I'm so sorry."
"Oh, no, Tilly, girl." Nancy told her. "It's not your fault, not at all. And it's not your gramma's fault either."
"Thank you!" Alice spoke.
"Even if she should have done a better job on looking after you kids." Alice groaned.
"Ugh, come on! Why must the caretaker always take the blame for another's actions?! Taking care of kids is hard. They can be unpredictable. We can't keep them on a tight leash 24/7. We have lives too you know. People need to respect that instead of placing blame and just mind their own business. Give an old woman a break, sheesh!"
"Perhaps it's my fault." Vasquez put in with a sigh. "If I had known that Viper Fang would be this petty, I would have never quit and none of you guys today will have to suffer 10 years later."
"Stop it, everyone!" Gloria told everyone. They all looked at her. "It's not Alice's, Tilly's or Vasquez's fault or even the police. Yes, maybe they could have all stepped in better to try to prevent this, but at the end of the day, it's the freakin' kidnapper's fault! They are the one that kidnapped him. They didn't have to, but they made that choice."
"Wow!" An impressed Rashida observed. "You're so right, Gloria. Have you ever considered being a lawyer? I can put a good word in for you." Gloria looked at her and smiled.
"Thank you for the offer." She responded. "But I don't think I can handle it. Plus, I'm not too interested in the field and need to study a lot. Sorry."
"Good call." Russell agreed. "You better leave this to the people who know what they are doing." Gloria smiled.
"Exactly!" Russell looked at Vasquez.
"I like to go with you, Vasquez." He told him. "I want to get my son back."
"I'd like to go too." Bill also stated.
"Sorry." Vasquez apologized. "But Viper Fang wants me to go there alone. The cop, Jake, is going, but only incognito just in case. That way Viper Fang will think I came alone."
"Well, why don't we go there incognito too?" Bill questioned. "You know, like the cop is?"
"I don't think…" Vasquez began to think about this. "Nah! You don't know Viper Fang like I do. He could get dangerous. It's better if it's just me and the police. Don't you worry, I promise I will get your sons back safe and sound." Russell sighed.
"I really want to go, but if you think it's best, I'll stay out of it."
"I will too." Bill said as well.
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."
After their goodbyes, Bill, Alice, Gloria, Tilly and the Remingtons left Vasquez at the police station. Vasquez walked to his cell.
Phoenix sighed as she waited by the front door. Dirtbag went by her side.
"Still waiting for the humans to get back?" The cat asked the dog.
"I just don't get it, Dirtbag." She told him. "Where are they? The sky is dark. They should be here by now."
"Well hopefully they'll come soon. I'm starving! I need my kibble."
"I'm starving too. If they don't come soon, we'll have a meeting."
"With the newcomer?"
"Yes, with the newcomer. We'll come up with something to do."
"But we don't know him. He might be dangerous."
"And he might not be, Dirtbag. We can't judge him until we give him a chance." Dirtbag sighed.
"If you say so." The cat yawned and laid down. "Mind if I wait with you?"
"Go ahead. You're your own cat. I can't tell you what to do, even if I'm your Queen Phoenix."
"So true." Dirtbag then took his catnap next to Phoenix.
Moments later, Phoenix had enough of waiting.
"That's it!" She said, waking up Dirtbag. "Meeting in the main room with the moving picture box as soon as I get our guest."
Phoenix walked to the closed basement door and looked at it.
"Newcomer, come out!" Phoenix barked at the door. No one answered. "Newcomer? Newcomer! Come out! I know you are in there. Don't make me open the door!" She sighed. She stood on her back paws, took the knob in her mouth and tried to open it. However, it was locked. But she still tried over and over. Snakey then slithered up to her, confused.
"What are you doing?" He wanted to know. However, Phoenix didn't answer. "Hello? Can you hear me? Unlike me, I know you have ears. Hello!" Dirtbag then came up to them. Snakey looked at him. "Do you know what this crazed furry creature is doing?"
"Trying to get you." The cat answered. The snake was even more confused.
"Me? Why?"
"She wants you and me for a meeting in the main room." Snakey looked surprised.
"Wait, I'm invited?" Dirtbag looked at a still struggling Phoenix.
"Phoenix, you can stop trying to open the door. The newcomer's out here." There was no answer, so he tried again. "Phoenix!" Again, no answer. Dirtbag sighed. "PHOENIX!" Phoenix stopped trying to open the door, she panted in exhaustion for a few seconds, then glared at Dirtbag.
"Confound it, Dirtbag!" She chided him. "You made me lose my focus. This better be important. I was trying to get the newcomer out here."
"I'm sorry." He apologized. "But, he's out here." Phoenix was shocked.
"He's what?" She then looked at Snakey and felt a bit embarrassed. "Oh, why are you out here? I thought you would be down there."
"I was shedding my skin in the room that belongs to the person that hates me." The snake replied. Phoenix and Dirtbag were both horrified at this.
"You what?!" Dirtbag asked.
"I'm a snake." Snakey answered. "It's what we do sometimes."
"Yeah, but why did you do it in a particular room?" Phoenix wanted to know. "And who hates you?"
"This mean, cranky human lady. She hates me and wants to get rid of me, so I decided to shed my skin in her room for revenge."
"Why does she hate you?" Dirtbag wanted to know. Snakey sighed and looked at him.
"I'm not sure." He admitted.
"And won't that make her hate you even more?"
"I don't care. She deserves it."
"Anyways," Phoenix spoke, changing the subject. "Meeting in the big room with the moving picture box. And you're invited, newcomer. By the way, I don't believe I know your name."
"Snakey."
"Snakey? Hmmm, what an odd name for a snake. Snakey."
"Well, Dirtbag and Phoenix are odd names for a cat and dog, no offense."
"Fair enough."
"No offense taken." Dirtbag said. "I don't even know what my name means. Dirtbag, it sounds like a dirty bag. But I get kibble, so I can't complain. It's all good."
"The humans do give us weird names sometimes." Phoenix admitted. "I don't know why, but they do." She changed the subject. "Anyways, the meeting will start as soon as you, me, and Dirtbag are all together. You know where."
Dirtbag and Snakey were in the main room waiting for Phoenix and what she had to say. Phoenix then came up to the two.
"Glad you two could make it." She told them.
"It's too bad Melissa and the others couldn't make it." Dirtbag spoke. Phoenix sighed.
"Yeah." She agreed. "But that is the downside of being a farm animal. They can't come into the house. Anyways, as you know, the humans are away from the house longer than we thought."
"I was getting hungry." Snakey began. "So I escaped from my cage by pushing off the lid. Luckily, my owner forgot to put the lid on tight, so it was an easy escape."
"I thought you escaped because you wanted to seek revenge on the person that hated you." Dirtbag said.
"That too." Dirtbag looked at Phoenix.
"Anyways, what are we going to do?"
"We are going to find them."
"How are we going to do that?"
"By looking and looking until we find them of course."
"Again, how? We know they are not inside."
"Well, we have to come up with something. We can't starve. We need our humans to feed us, so we all need to come up with a plan toget…" The door opened. The animals looked up and there was Bill, Gloria, Tilly, Alice and the Remingtons.
"Uh, did anyone feed the animals?" Bill wanted to know.
"I don't think so, Papa." Tilly answered. "Poor things. They must be so hungry. We should feed them immediately."
"Does anyone find it strange that Phoenix, Dirtbag and Snakey are all here together like they were having a meeting about us?" Gloria asked.
"A meeting about us?" Alice questioned. "That's preposterous! Animals can't talk." Gloria laughed nervously.
"Yeah, what a total dumb thing to say. I don't know why I said that." Tilly petted Dirtbag.
"Sorry we were gone longer than expected." She told him. Phoenix looked around for Cricket. She whined when she didn't see him. Tilly felt sorry for her. So did Bill. Bill petted the dog which cheered her up immediately.
"We'll have Cricket back for you tomorrow, ol' girl." He told her. "Just be patient." Phoenix then saw a gloomy looking Snakey.
"I'm sure your boy will be found too." She assured him. Snakey smiled.
"I'm sure he will too."
The next morning, Vasquez rode with Jake to Bash and Bella's hideout. Once there, he went out and went inside the building while Jake stayed behind.
Bella answered the door for Vasquez.
"I'm here for Tiger Fang." Vasquez told her. Wolf Fang then appeared by Bella.
"Tiger Fang." He said with a fake smile. "It's been a very long time."
"Wolf Fang." Vasquez spoke to him. "It sure has."
"Why don't you come in?"
"Don't mind if I do." Vasquez came into the house. Bella closed the door after him, locked it, then called for Viper Fang.
"Why don't you sit down and relax?" Wolf Fang questioned Vasquez. "Do you want a snack or a drink?"
"I'm here for just the children, Wolf Fang. They did nothing wrong."
"Of course they didn't." Viper Fang then came in with a struggling Remy. Bash held onto a struggling Cricket.
"Let go of me!" Remy commanded. "Why do you have to hold me so tight like this? I am perfectly capable of walking."
"I am too." Cricket spoke to Bash.
"Remy!" Vasquez said when he saw him. "Cricket!" He glared at Viper Fang. "Get your hands off of him, Viper Fang." He looked at Bash. "And you get your hands off of Cricket."
Viper Fang let go of Remy who ran to Vasquez. Viper Fang looked at Bash.
"Let him say hello." Viper Fang told him. Bash did the same and Cricket ran to Vasquez too. Vasquez bent down, so Remy could run into his arms.
"Thank goodness you're still alive." Vasquez stated.
"I'm still alive too, Vasquez!" Cricket spoke.
"Let's take you kids home." Vasquez stood up. They were about to go when Viper Fang cleared his throat. They all looked at him.
"Not so fast, Tiger Fang." He spoke. "You had the night to think it over. Are you going to rejoin or do I have to kill the kids?"
"Run!" Vasquez told the children.
"But, Vasquez." Remy began.
"What are you doing, Remy?" Cricket asked him. "Don't 'but, Vasquez'. Run!" Remy agreed and he and Cricket ran for the door.
"GET THEM!" Wolf Fang commanded. Viper Fang got out his gun and aimed it at Remy. Vasquez saw this and kicked it out of his hand. He punched, kicked, head butted into Bash, Bella, Wolf Fang and Viper Fang. He then ran after the kids. The two kids both stood in front of the door.
"Um, the door's locked." Remy said. "I tried to open it, but couldn't. Now what?"
"Stand back, kids." Vasquez told them. "I'm going to break down the door."
"Break down the door?" Cricket asked. "Is that even possible?" Vasquez rammed into the door as hard as he could. The door fell off of its hinges to the ground on the other side.
"Yup!" Remy answered. "That's how strong Vasquez is. He's the strongest person I know."
"That's awesome!" Cricket complimented. "You're like a superhero with super strength Vasquez; I love it!" Wolf Fang got mad. He got up with the other bad guys, picked up the gun, ran outside, and grabbed Remy's arm. Remy yelled. Cricket and Vasquez gasped.
"We had a deal, Tiger Fang!" Wolf Fang spat. He put the gun to Remy's head. "Join or the kid dies. Your choice!"
"Please, just join, Vasquez!" Remy begged. "I'm begging you. As stated before, I don't want to die, please!?"
"On the count of 3. 1…2…3!" Cricket ran up and kicked Wolf Fang in the shins before he was about to pull the trigger. Wolf Fang yowled in pain, dropping Remy to the ground.
"RUN, REMY!" He yelled. Remy ran away. Cricket ran alongside him. Once Wolf Fang gained composure again, he pointed his gun at Remy.
"Got you right where I want you, kid." Remy ran so fast that he tripped over the curb and fell on the cement. Cricket saw this, stopped and gasped.
"Hurry, Remy, get up!" Vasquez was about to go help Remy when Viper grabbed him, preventing him from doing so.
"You're too late, Tiger Fang." Wolf Fang said. "Sorry, kid. Your friend is as good as dead!" Wolf Fang fired the gun and a bullet sped towards Remy.
"MASTER REMY, NOOOOO!" Vasquez elbowed Viper Fang, making him groan in pain, letting go of Vasquez. Vasquez jumped between the bullet and Remy. Remy's eyes widened in terror as he saw Vasquez get hit and he fell onto the ground and Remy screamed.
"VASQUEZ, NOOOOOOOO!"