Chapter Eight: Found!

 

“But I just can’t believe Derek would intentionally run out on us like that,” Cloudy protested. “He seemed sincere about changing his ways.”

“Then why did he not stop when I called to him?” Meta Knight returned.

Cloudy rubbed a speck of mud from her nose with her paw. “Perhaps he didn’t hear you? He was pretty far ahead.”

“He wasn’t that far ahead,” Meta Knight insisted. He vigorously shook his head. “No. He set us up. He purposefully led us in the wrong direction and then abandoned us. He tricked us.”

Cloudy shot him a dark stare. “Rushing to judgment is unwise, Sir Meta Knight.”

“Who says I am rushing to judgment?” demanded the soldier. “You saw how he acted!”

“You have no proof he left us behind on purpose,” Cloudy reminded him. “And I, for one, do not believe he ran out on us or led us in the wrong direction. I think he just didn’t hear us. If we track down his scent and go after him, we’re bound to catch up to him.”

Meta Knight heaved a sigh. “I can’t believe you, Cloudy. He ran away from us and you want to catch up to him. . .How do you know he doesn’t wish to hurt us?”

Cloudy frowned. “I don’t.”

“Then why run the risk of going after him, child?”

“Because I want to believe he’s sincere. I want him to have another chance to set his life right,” replied Cloudy. “Jesus gives everyone a second chance to repent and turn to Him. Shouldn’t Derek have that same chance?”

Meta Knight unthinkingly grasped the corner of his cape and swished it slightly, thinking hard about the truth of her statement. “Perhaps he should, my friend. Perhaps he should.” He released his cape. “Okay. You win. Go catch up to Derek. I will be right behind you the whole way.”

Cloudy nodded. Then she looked confused as she noticed he was taking a few things out of the pack and placing the rest under a ring of bushes. “Um, what are you doing?”

“If Derek is really leading us to Liloy and Miriam, I honestly do not want to lug the whole pack around. It gets heavy after a while,” the knight admitted, dropping the few items he held into his cape. “I’ll take only what we really need.”

Gotcha,” Cloudy nodded. She placed her nose to the ground and sniffed for Derek’s scent. When she located it, she let out a short bark and zoomed off into the woods. It was all Meta Knight could do to keep up with her.

 

* * * * *

 

“Whoa!” Cloudy whispered. “Look at that!”

Meta Knight crept up behind her and looked where she was pointing. Nestled in a tiny clearing was a rickety, decrepit cabin. The windowpanes were shattered and the roof was sagging and leaky. There was no sign of life anywhere, which raised his suspicions.

“Where is Derek?” he whispered.

Cloudy raised her head and snuffed the air. “My senses tell me he’s in this area,” she said.

The knight tensed. Cloudy noticed and glanced up at him in surprise. “What is it?”

“Look,” whispered Meta Knight. “In front of the house.”

Cloudy peeked through the leaves of a sturdy bush and spotted Derek half-concealed in the shadows, his snake insignia reflecting in the dawning light of the morning. He crept up the crumbling steps and softly knocked. The door opened and he vanished inside, shutting the door behind him. A thunderous silence fell over the place.

Meta Knight let out his breath, not even realizing he had been holding it. “Why did he go in there?”

“I don’t know,” responded Cloudy, “but I’m fixing to find out.” She started off toward the clearing. “Come on.”

Meta Knight found himself frozen to the spot, staring undecidedly at his friend. He didn’t understand—what was wrong with him? He wasn’t one to stand frozen in fear like this. Shaking off his anxiety, he started off after Cloudy.

They had only gone a few steps when Cloudy gave a muffled yelp. Suddenly, to Meta Knight’s surprise, she was no longer on the ground. She was suspended in the air by a thick rope wrapped around her ankle. Despite the gravity of the situation, he couldn’t help chuckling at her awkward predicament.

Cloudy scowled at him when she heard him laughing. “What’s so funny?” she hissed. “Get me down from here!”

“Okay, okay.” Still snickering, he drew his rapier and slashed the rope in half. With a stifled yell, she dropped straight into his arms.

“Thanks,” she said gratefully.

“You are welcome,” he replied, sheathing his sword. He carefully stepped to the edge of the tract, Cloudy behind him. They slowly took a step toward the house. . .then another. . .then another. . .and another. . .

“Oh, bother,” Meta Knight grumbled, halting as he eyed another noose lying on the ground. “More rope traps? How many are there?” With a shrug, he stepped over the noose and onto a raised patch of dirt. . .

BOOM!!!

With a loud explosion, dirt flew in all directions choking smoke and thick dust and debris clouded the sky. Meta Knight was thrown backward with a vengeance and slammed hard into a tree. He rolled over on the ground and was still.

“Meta Knight!!” screeched Cloudy in pure terror. She ran to him and shook him, but it didn’t help. He didn’t budge. “Meta Knight, wake up!” she cried.

At length, to Cloudy’s indescribable relief, he stirred and opened his eyes. Slowly sitting up, he stared at the wreck a few inches away from them. “What. . .is that?”

“Are you okay?” Cloudy frantically asked, ignoring his question.

Meta Knight grabbed the tree trunk to stand up, but a searing pain shot through his wrist and traveled down his arm. He winced, tears forming in his eyes. “No.”

“What’s wrong with your arm?!” Cloudy’s green eyes were wide and terrified.

“I don’t know,” he answered. He didn’t want to admit his foot hurt badly too. “What happened to me?”

“It was a bomb. I think it was planted under the ground and you accidentally set off the mechanism which blew it up,” Cloudy informed him. “You banged into that tree pretty hard.” She turned worried eyes upon the cabin. “Who knows how many more bombs are planted between here and the house?”

Meta Knight shuddered involuntarily. “I don’t want to know.” He again attempted to stand, but his foot wouldn’t permit it. He leaned against the trunk, breathing heavily.

Cloudy gazed at him, her eyes filled with fright. “I hope nothing more happens on our way to the cabin,” she whispered.

“Don’t get your hopes up too high,” came a raucous voice from behind the two. With a gasp, Cloudy spin around and found herself staring right into the eyes of a strange man. His features and facial appearance matched the exact description of Joseph Unswall! He carried a rifle and his finger was on the trigger. Derek was behind him, a coil of rope in his hands.

“Derek!” cried Cloudy. “What are you—Why did—How could—” She broke off talking when she saw the way Derek was glaring at her. There was a warning look in his eyes that spoke, “Don’t say anything here.”

“Get up!” Joseph ordered them. He pressed the point of the rifle to Cloudy’s neck. Her eyes narrowed at him, but she said nothing.

“Come on, stand up!” Joseph snapped at Meta Knight. “What’s your problem?” He jerked the knight’s wrist, causing him to cry out in excruciating pain. “Now get moving to the cabin! March!”

 

* * * * *

 

Springtime sighed and brushed some fur off her pert nose. “Morning already?” she murmured, noting the pink streaks on the tree trunks. She called up to Officer Vaysten, “Are we there yet, Vaysten?”

“Almost,” he answered. “In a few more minutes.”

Springtime sighed and settled back against the leather seat. She caught a glimpse of her husband in the seat next to hers, his eyes half-closed. Poor thing, she thought. He must be very tired.

Her mind then flew to Joseph and his gang. How could Joseph do such a horrible thing as kidnap two vulnerable young girls and threaten them? That set her wondering how many more victims he was holding captive. How many has he killed besides the ones he was arrested for murdering? she thought in horror. Is he killing anyone right now? Maybe Liloy and Miriam?! Or some other innocent person?!! Maybe at this very moment, he’s recruiting his sick buddies to go out and hunt down more unsuspecting victims! Or maybe he’s. . .

She was startled out of her thoughts by a loud explosion from a short distance away. Officer Vaysten slammed on brakes and stared into the thicket. From his vantage point, he could see columns of gray smoke billowing upward above the trees, rocketing higher and higher into the tangerine- and rose-colored sky.

“A bomb!”Showerstorm gasped, now fully awake.

“It’s a bomb, all right,” Officer Vaysten confirmed, his face grim and set into tight lines. “We’ve got to find out where that explosion came from, and fast! There’s not a moment to lose!”

All three cars slowed to a stop and the officers and their passengers emerged. Huddling into a group, they stood by the side of the road, gazing at the wreaths of smoke twisting and curling skyward and beyond.

“Who or what could have set off a bomb?” Leo wondered. “And who planted it?”

“Might have been Joseph,” Sniper suggested. “He sounds dumb enough to do it.”

Star giggled at her brother’s comment. “Yeah, that definitely sounds like something he would do.”

“All the same, we must investigate,” said Vaysten. He drew out his taser and the other two officers followed his example. “Let’s go. Stay behind me, everyone, and be alert and on guard. Ready? Let’s move out!”

 

* * * * *

 

Joseph pushed open the termite-eaten door and shoved Meta Knight and Cloudy inside. He led them through several small rooms and narrow halls. As Cloudy passed by a dark, dismal bedroom, she glanced inside and thought she saw a little girl lying on the floor. Instantly, thoughts Miriam crowded her mind. She hoped she was wrong about what she saw and that the object on the floor would turn out to be something other than a person.

Joseph led them down a flight of stairs to a door and brought forth a set of keys from his jacket pocket. He unlocked the heavy iron door and pushed it open. Cloudy could feel the draft as it hit her in the face. But what she saw made her forget all her frightening thoughts from the last few days. Miriam and Liloy were sitting together on the floor, staring wide-eyed at the group!

Miriam gasped. “Cloudy!” she cried out. “Sir Meta Knight!”

Meta Knight couldn’t reply. He could only look at them with shining eyes.

After confiscating Meta Knight’s phone, Joseph roughly thrust the two toward the girls. “You all can hang out and chat down here,” he said brusquely. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I need to round up some of the Cyclops Serpents scouts and have them find Joe and Sam. I trust they’re done, er, butchering Tilry by now. ”

Cloudy had to smile at how cleverly Derek had outwitted Joseph. If he only knew that Joe and Sam were in jail and that Derek’s no longer his henchman! Then her smile faded as she remembered how Derek had run off and how he had showed up with Joseph after the explosion. She frowned, thinking over these vitally important pieces of information. Had Meta Knight been right the whole time about Derek? And had Derek been lying about changing his lifestyle?

“Derek, watch these idiots whilst I round up those scouts,” commanded Joseph.

Derek nodded respectfully. “Yes, Lord Joseph.”

Joseph banged the door closed and was gone. Derek settled himself on the icky floor and restlessly played with the rope in his hands. Meta Knight seated himself next to the girls. Cloudy sat a few feet away from Derek and gazed steadily at him. Derek didn’t raise his eyes from the rope for a time, but finally he looked into Cloudy’s eyes.

“Derek,” Cloudy said, her voice sharp, “explain all of this to me. Now.”

Derek looked extremely uncomfortable. “I understand this seems bad,” he hastened to say, “but it’s not what it looks like.”

“Then what is it?” demanded the puppy, glaring at him.

Derek hung his head and didn’t answer. He let the convolution of rope slip from his hand and onto the slimy floor.

“Derek, I trusted you,” said Cloudy in an interrogating tone. “And you went back on us. After you promised to change your ways too. And yet here you are, helping your wicked boss keep these scared, helpless girls—” She nodded toward Miriam and Liloy. “—and possibly others captive. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Derek sighed and rested his head against the wall. “Cloudy, listen to me. I am changing my ways. I do want to go straight. I wasn’t lying about that. What I am doing is this: I’m keeping the real me’s identity secret so my true self won’t be revealed to the wrong person. Do you understand?”

Cloudy merely stared blankly at him. It was clear she didn’t get at all what Derek was saying.

“In other words,” Derek said, dropping his voice to a low whisper and leaning forward, “I’m faking my loyalty to Joseph.”

Cloudy’s puzzled look was replaced by one of understanding. “Ohh,” she said quietly. “So. . .you didn’t abandon us? You’re not helping Joseph kidnap us after all?”

“No way!” Derek shook his head, his face showing surprise. “Why would you think such a thing?”

“Meta Knight thought you threw us to the wolves when you ran away from us back in the woods,” explained Cloudy.

Derek gave her a blank look. “What are you talking about? I didn’t run away from you.”

“Meta Knight shouted to you to stop because I tripped,” said Cloudy. “But you acted like you didn’t hear him.”

“I didn’t hear him calling me,” said Derek. “I just assumed you were still behind me.” He gave her a small, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression. I know it must have looked suspicious that I didn’t stop when Meta Knight called.”

“That’s okay,” answered Cloudy. “But I have another question. Why didn’t you warn us there were so many traps around this place?”

A guilty look shadowed the young man’s face. “That was a big mistake,” he said with a grimace. “I meant to tell you when we arrived at the cabin and I was going to show you the safest path across, but you weren’t with me and I had to get inside before Joseph became suspicious by my long absence. Later, Joseph and I heard the bomb go off, and I panicked. Joseph ordered me out there with him to see who was trespassing, but I knew it was you two.”

“And what was the rope for?” Cloudy nodded her head toward the thick, snakelike braidon the floor.

“Joseph wanted it in case our trespassers became too resistant.”

Cloudy felt relieved. She knew he was telling the truth. “I believe you, Derek.”

Derek beamed her a smile of thanks.

Liloy and Miriam were listening in amazement. But Meta Knight was at a loss for words. Now the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. He felt ashamed of his earlier thoughts of Derek. How could he have even though the younger man would go back on them? He wanted so much to apologize to him but could think of nothing to say.

Derek removed his cap and hung it on a nail protruding from the wall. “Whew! I feel tons better than I’ve felt in months. And now I know it was stupid of me to join up with Joseph and his ridiculous gang. It wasn’t worth my time or energy. When I get out of prison, I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing something worthwhile, like helping the homeless or rescuing orphaned children.”

Cloudy smiled sadly. “Those things are wonderful, Derek,” she said sincerely. “And you should definitely do those things if you have a chance. But in the long run, unless you know Jesus as your Savior, none of those things are going to be worth the time you spent on them.”

Derek ran his fingers through his hair, looking decidedly troubled at the mention of Jesus. “I’ve heard about God lots of times from my parents. But I’ve never truly lived out their teachings the way I should have,” he confessed. “I guess I was too obsessed with chasing after the things of this world—and I hated the thought of God being my Ruler. I didn’t wish to answer to Him.” He twisted his hands in his lap. “But now I’m beginning to question that view. I know the pleasures of this world are fleeting and picayune compared to eternity, and I know God is real and true and faithful to His promises.” He sighed deeply. “But will He forgive me for what I’ve done? Will He have me?”

Cloudy grinned victoriously at her newfound friend. “Yes, Derek—yes!” she said, jumping to her feet, her voice rising. “All you have to do is this one word—believe!” She spoke the last word with growing passion and excitement.

“Believe?” Derek’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Yes! Yes!” she cried, her tone overflowing with joy. Pirouetting, she continued, “Admit you’re a sinner! Believe Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day for you! And lastly, confess your sins and accept Christ into your heart, and you shall be saved!”

Liloy spoke up. “‘Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!'”

“Right on target, Liloy!” Miriam high-fived the young woman.

Derek laughed for the first time in a long time. His heart felt unusually light. “I will think on what you have said, Cloudy. But I believe I shall accept God’s invitation to sit with Him at His table. I just need some time to think through all of this.”

Cloudy nodded understandingly.

“So how do we get out of here?” Liloy broke in.

Cloudy looked to Derek for an answer. What he did next surprised and confused her beyond words. He slyly raised an eyebrow at each of them, a mysterious smile on his face. Then he recited a brief poem none of them had ever heard before:

“The wood’s panel is weathered.
Algae lies in the battered door.
The house east of mine, however—
Their fine wall is as clean as their linoleum floor.”

He finished the poem and sat there grinning at his doggerel. It didn’t take long for him to figure out that everyone in the room was completely bewildered by the verse he had chosen. They were staring at him like he was insane, baffled looks on their faces.

“Take the third word from each line and put them together,” Derek hinted.

They thought a moment. Miriam was the first to call it out. “Panel in east wall!” she said softly so as not to attract attention from the outside world. She didn’t know if Joseph or one of the scouts were listening.

“Correct.” Derek pointed to the east wall. There was a section of wood that was lighter in color than the others. He walked over to it, reached down, and pressed the middle of the panel with his thumb. The door noiselessly slid open, revealing a pipe that looked similar to a tube slide at a playground.

Miriam stared at it in astonishment. “You mean we were able to escape the whole time?!” she exclaimed.

“I suppose so,” Derek said with a slight shrug. “I’m just wondering why in the world Joseph put you in here when he knew it was likely you would escape.”

“Who can understand that guy’s mind?” muttered Cloudy.

“I told you!” Miriam whispered into Liloy’s ear, an air of triumph in her tone. “He’s crazy! He doesn’t use his brain!”

“I can’t argue with you there,” Liloy giggled.

Derek cleared his throat meaningfully and gestured toward the secret passageway. “Um, girls?” he said gently. Liloy and Miriam glanced questioningly at him. “You have to hurry if you want to get out of here before Joseph returns.”

“Oh, right!” Liloy smiled and stood up, taking Miriam by the hand. Together they strolled over to the panel and stood looking down at it.

“How far of a drop is it?” Miriam asked, looking warily at the tube.

“Not that far,” Derek assured her. “It’s built very much like a playground slide. It’ll only last a few seconds.”

Cloudy trotted over to join her friends. Then as if remembering someone, she turned and called quietly, “Come, Meta Knight. Let’s go. We need to get out of this creepy joint.”

Meta Knight obediently rose to his feet. But he has forgotten he was hurt. As soon as he put pressure on his bad foot, a stinging pain shot through it. With a low cry, he fell to the floor with a thump.

Liloy became alarmed. “Father, are you okay?” she asked, striding over to him and kneeling beside him.

Meta Knight couldn’t speak. He began trembling, trying not to cry. H e didn;t want to admit he was in terrible pain, but it was true.

Derek’s face was bleak. “You really hurt yourself when that bomb flew up, didn’t you?” he asked.

“You were hurt by that?!” Liloy screamed. “Why didn’t you say so?!”

“SHHHHHH!!” Miriam, Derek, and Cloudy hissed loudly.

With an apologetic gasp, Liloy placed her hand over her mouth. “Sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just. . .that news came as quite a shock to me.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Father, why didn’t you tell us you were injured?”

“I don’t know,” he replied, breathless from the pain.

Derek sighed and walked over to Meta Knight. Kneeling next to the soldier, he questioned, “Where does it hurt?”

The knight didn’t answer. That struck Cloudy as strange. She began to wonder if something else was wrong other than his wrist and foot injuries. Liloy too seemed concerned and she quietly spoke, “Father?”

Derek reached out and carefully grasped the knight’s wounded wrist. What Meta Kight did next was a complete shock to everyone in the room. A wild look of fear and horror leaped into his eyes and he violently jerked his arm away from Derek, at the same time striking at the younger man with his good hand. “Don’t touch me!” he cried out. “Stay away from me!”

“Yikes!” Cloudy exclaimed, taking a step back.

Liloy, too shocked for words, withdrew. Miriam clung tightly to her, her face drawn and frightened. Derek too retreated and stared at the soldier in silence, his eyes searching the knight’s face.

Cloudy was the first to break the silence. “What is wrong with you?” she asked, her voice filled with distress and a slight bit of nervousness. “Why are you acting so scared of Derek? He wants to help you, not harm you. Do you still believe he’s not to be trusted?”

Meta Knight looked up at her, his fists clenched, his breathing uneven. But when he glanced into Cloudy’s puzzled, wary eyes and saw the way she was staring at him, he let his hands drop and bowed his head. Cloudy didn’t know what to make of his behavior.

“I’m sorry,” Meta Knight whispered. “I don’t know what came over me. I. . .” His voice broke.

Liloy gave him a comforting hug. Miriam joined in. Cloudy watched from afar, her eyes brightening. Derek had to smile at the girls’ kindness toward their wounded friend. “You all really love one another, don’t you?” he asked.

Liloy smiled and nodded. “We do.”

“We really do,” added Miriam.

Cloudy swished her fluffy tail and bobbed her head in agreement.

Derek again knelt next to the knight but did not grab his arm this time. “Can you tell me where it hurts?” he asked again, his tone as of one when talking to a child who had fallen and hurt himself.

Meta Knight raised his head. “My wrist and foot,” he whispered.

Derek looked steadily at him. “May I see your wrist?” he inquired.

Meta Knight hesitated a minute, then gingerly extended his arm. Derek took it carefully between his own hands and examined it with the utmost caution. Liloy held her father’s other hand, her eyes locked on the floor, her brow knitted.

“Well,” Derek said darkly, “this is a bad injury. His wrist is wrenched and I believe his foot is the same way. Also, I don’t know if the blast injured any internal organs. If it did, he needs medical care—and fast.”

Cloudy gasped. But it wasn’t a gasp that communicated her fear for Meta Knight; it was a different sort of gasp, one that voiced something bad was about to occur.

“What’s wrong Clou—?” Derek began, but at that moment was cut off by the sound of the iron door being thrown open. It hit the wall with a loud whack, creating a dent in the woodwork. Joseph stormed into the room, a knife in his hand, his face livid, his eyes flaming. Two scouts dressed similarly to Derek were with him.

“Derek, you lying scoundrel!” roared Joseph, waving the knife dangerously close to Derek’s face. “You lied to me about Joe and Sam! You told me they had already killed Tilry and were taking care of him! But no such thing ever happened! One of my scouts said they were arrested this morning and that they never came anywhere close to Tilry!”

Then his eyes feel on the panel and hi face burned even more intensely with fierce, vengeful rage. “And on top of that, you’re trying to help these numskulls escape!” he screamed. “What kind of loyal subordinate are you?! You traitor! This is the last straw! You’re finished!”

“I. . .I. . .” Derek took a step back, his face showing unmitigated terror. Cloudy had never seen him look so freaked out before. She was terrified herself. There was no way out of this jam! She began to wonder if her life was coming to a close.

Joseph stuck his face right in Derek’s, his hand tightly clutching the knife. “You’re going to be very sorry you ever betrayed me, you moron! And let this be a lesson to you never to go back on your own boss!” With those ominous words, he swung the knife wildly at Derek. The blade sliced deep into his forehead and Derek released a pain-filled scream, falling to the floor, unconscious. Or was he unconscious? Cloudy couldn’t tell if he was still breathing or not.

Miriam screamed loudly at the bloody sight of Derek lying on the floor, a mortal slice to his head. Liloy shrieked and Meta Knight exclaimed in shock. He felt sick to his stomach—How could Joseph do that?!

Joseph threw back his head and laughed aloud. “At last!” he said gleefully. “Derek has learned it never pays to be a quisling.” He turned his attention to the small group clustered together on the floor. “And now,” he spoke, his voice indicating finality, “your turn.”

Cloudy knew now she had no choice. Sink or swim, live or die, she had to do it. She darted away from her friends as fast as he could, ignoring Joseph’s yell to come back, and dove into the pipe. As soon as she did, the panel door slammed behind her. Sliding down the short length and finally making it to the bottom, she picked herself off the leafy ground and raised her head to the sky. She let out a long, loud howl which echoed throughout the clearing, reaching nearly to the moon.

 

* * * * *

 

“Look!” Scazzarda cried, reaching underneath a bush and pulling out a white duffel bag. She turned it over in her hands. “This is the bag I gave Magnus and Cloudy before they went on their journey!” She stared at Officer Jayme. “This means they’re somewhere in this general vicinity!”

Officer Jayme nodded, taking the bag. Let’s hurry,” he said. “If they are here, we have to find them. Come on!” He started to move off.

“Wait!” Star cried, holding up a paw.

Rokstaun looked to her. “What?”

“Shh!” Sniper ordered, motioning to them to be quiet. “Listen!”

They all halted and tuned their ears. At first they heard nothing but the faint rustling of the bushes’ leaves. Then they caught a faint sound. it was the sound of howling, a frightening, eerie sound. But it wasn’t a wolf or a coyote. It was a dog. A puppy, to be more exact. And the puppy sounded just like. . .

“That’s Cloudy!” cried Showerstorm. “She’s calling to us! We have to go to her!”

They ran across the narrow lush area and turned right, charging on for a few yards until they came to a clearing. There they stopped, dumbfounded, at sight of a huge, smoking crater in the earth.

“The bomb!” Star whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

Sniper’s brown eyes grew wide. “Hey, look!” he cried.

There in the center of the clearing was a small cabin which had gone to seed forever ago. Cloudy stood in front of it, howling with all her heart and soul.

Scazzarda cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted, “Cloudburst!” across the open space separating them.

Cloudy quit howling and a look of wonder crossed her face. “Miss Scazzarda? Is that you?” she called.

“Yes!” Scazzarda yelled. “Where are Magnus and the others?”

Before Cloudy had a chance to reply, one of the Cyclops Serpents scouts threw open the front door, a loaded rifle in hand. “There you are, you mangy rat!” he shouted. Gun raised, he started her direction.

“Get away from me!” screeched Cloudy, pivoting on her toes and darting in the opposite direction from the scout. He chased her around the perimeter of the yard, a threatening look on his face.

“Our turn!” Officer Vaysten shouted, brandishing his taser. He and the other two officers took the clearing by storm and apprehended the scout. The scout fought tooth and nail but was no match for the three officers.

Officer Rokstaun yanked him around. “Where are Liloy and Miram?” he demanded. The scout glared sullenly at him, refusing to answer.

“In the house!” Cloudy gasped out, breathless from being pursued.

“We’ll rescue them!” Jayme and Vaysten declared, confidently marching inside.

“Cloudy!” cried out Springtime. In seconds, Cloudy was swept up in her mother’s embrace. “My baby!” she murmured. “Are you all right?”

“Sis!” Sniper shouted, rushing to her. Star was right beside him.

“Sniper! Star!” exclaimed Cloudy, overjoyed to see them again after what seemed like decades, but it had really only been a couple of days. “It’s wonderful to see you!”

“Cloudy!” Scazzarda knelt down and hugged her furry friend. “My friend, are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine,” Cloudy assured her. Then she turned to Officer Rokstaun. “Officer, how did you get across that clearing without stepping on any more bombs?”

Rokstaun blinked. “You mean there’s more than just that one?”

“Um, well, not exactly. I mean, I don’t know if there are any more,” Cloudy said.”After Meta Knight set off that last one, I was quite unsure.”

“Magnus set that bomb off?!” Scazzarda gasped. “Good night, is he okay?”

“No,” answered Cloudy truthfully. “He wrenched his wrist and foot from slamming into a tree, and we don’t know if he has any internal injuries. He needs medical aid.”

“Here we are!” Jayme announced. He and Vaysten led a handcuffed Joseph and four more scouts from the cabin. Behind them were Miriam, Liloy, and Meta Knight! The unconscious Derek was being carried by Officer Vaysten.

“Magnus,” whispered Scazzarda, her eyes welling with tears. She put her hand to her mouth.

“Daddy!” Miriam shouted with delight as she was scooped into Leo’s arms.

“Caught him threatening the girls and the soldier with a knife,” Jayme said, pointing to Joseph with his taser. “Thankfully, we took the knife away before any more damage was done and made him and his pals lie facedown on the floor.”

“Was there anybody else in the cabin besides them?” Cloudy asked, recalling the image of the little girl lying on the floor of the bedroom.

Jayme shook his head. “No one else. We’re sure of that because we made a thorough search.”

“We’ll have to take you all to the hospital to get looked at,” said Rokstaun. He frowned at Derek. “I don’t know what in the heck happened to him, but it looks bad.”

“Joseph cut his head with the knife,” Cloudy answered wearily.

Leo pressed his face into his daughter’s hair and drew a deep, shaky breath.

Scazzarda cast a quick look at Derek and then turned away.

Sniper and Star scowled at Joseph, who sneered at them in response. He showed no guilt over what he had done.

Jayme rubbed his face with the palm of his hand and sighed heavily. “Let’s get to the hospital,” was all he said. He led them across the clearing, taking great care to avoid any possible hiding places of underground bombs. Only once did Cloudy pause and glanced back at the cabin. She felt a rush of sadness creep over her. All of this could have been avoided had Liloy and Miriam chosen not to ride with Liloy’s former schoolmate.