Intermission pt 1 - chapter 31 and 1/2

During intermission, while authors are plotting about what to have their characters do next, the characters are free to go about as they please...

It is a sunny day, and on such this day we find Dennis Raveley walking in a park, he looks lost. He finds himself walking behind Kaya Song, who had just saved the world once, and is looking towards a sequel heading in the same direction.
'Hello,' says Dennis, catching up to Kaya, he decides to tell someone about his situation, and see what they make of it, 'I just discovered that I'm part of a very arcane family with some very major family issues, and I suspect they want me to help them solve some issue (which by the way I know nothing about). Can you help me with that?'
'What? I have no idea what's going on, and I need to save the world. I have no time to help you!' Kaya exclaimed, realizing at once he is not from her part of the (fictional) world.
'Oh really?' Says a third voice, in the sarcastic tone which Dennis recognize immediately to be the voice of Jerry Wyatt, 'I have to tell you, that ambition does not have a high success rate.'
'I believe the contrary. I've already saved the world once, and I can do it again. So you see, it is more than just an ambition.' Kaya replies, 'Perhaps you've heard of Chimera on the internet?'
'We've not, we've been in a cabin for the past while, discussing the legitimacy of a family tree.' Dennis says.
'Precisely, and if I've not heard of it, despite being informed about many things, I say your saving the world is a very minor act which I am not surprised it did not reach my ears.' Jerry says.
'Are you jealous and acting unimpressed that I've saved the world, and you have not, or are you on their side, which being the reason why you are acting so unimpressed.' Kaya says, ready to kick the arrogance out of Jerry already despite meeting only a moment ago.
All three of them are interrupted by Charlie North, appearing suddenly and unannounced.
'Does anyone want to play rock, paper, scissors?' Charlie inquires.
As soon as Charlie says this, Theo North appears beside him, and says in disbelief of the sudden sharp turn the conversation has taken, '(To Charlie) How stupid can you be? (To Kaya, Dennis and Jerry) I'm sorry, he can be a little...naive.'
Dennis realizes something, he says, 'That's what Karla calls me, I think she's my cousin but I can't be sure, nothing is sure in my story.'
'Damn right nothing's sure,' Jerry says dismissively, 'You (looking at Kaya with cynical antagonism) who is so sure you've accomplished something, beware of your ego.' With that, he makes his leave. Kaya considers kicking him to make him leave faster, but decides to wait until next time, 'He didn't even introduce himself. Shouldn't we introduce ourselves when we join a conversation? This must be happening in my past, I mean, a lot of things are different!'
'Because nobody want to play rock paper scissors?' Charlie asks.
Theo facepalms, she leans over to Kaya and says, 'Do you ever have that feeling everyone around you is oblivious to logic?'
'Yes, more than often, I suppose that hasn't changed in my time.' Kaya says in agreement.
'Well, well, well, we have here someone who says she is in her past, that makes her a visitor from the future! And she's a she! I never knew Marty Mcfly is a girl!' A grinning, jolly Raymond Wyatt makes his presence known when he jumps out of some nearby bushes and joined the conversation in the park, openly.
Without a word, Kaya kicks Raymond in the shins, 'One cynical idiot is enough for one day.'
'Hey! I'm the one who is supposed to make movie references here!' Kenny Wyatt arrives in a fury, 'My brother there stole what I wouldn't have said (because I don't believe in sarcasm).' He points to Raymond, who is on the ground.
'Well this is an interesting conversation isn't it?' Theo says, and then realizes that Kaya had said the same thing, at the same time.
'Are we related in some way?' Kaya asks Theo. 

End Act One - Cue Intermission

North By North has just reached the end of it's first act...avec cliffhanger!

In Act 2 (and likely later acts beyond), there will be more action, thrills, absurdity (expect that from Charlie's perspective), over-the-top-ness, emotional tension (especially between a certain estranged father and son), movie references, rejected proposals, heroism (credited to Theo), martial arts, snippets of characters' pasts, Mr. Clark Gable's awesome six-pack, and rock, paper, scissors. So be prepared!

Act 2 coming soon, to this blog, date unspecified!

In the meantime, there will be a special bonus chapter featuring appearances by characters from a multitude of novels. Also coming soon, and sooner than Act 2.

G!

T.N - Chapter 31

By the time I reached where the Dragon was standing just moments ago, he was already up in the helicopter and rushing away. I guess Charlie didn’t need to suggest we sort it out with rock paper scissors, or for Kent to tell us to back off. I could only stare helplessly at the fugitive escaping with Grandfather. Heathcliff and Charlie hovered behind me nervously, not quite sure as to how I’d react.

Honestly, I felt like punching someone. Preferably the Dragon, but as he’s gone, I’d have to hold it in. I looked up at the blameless blue sky, and fought to hold in tears.

Heathcliff put a hand on my shoulder, and I snapped myself out of it. I shook him off and headed over to the group of Grandfather’s men. They moved away respectfully, keeping their eyes averted. They probably saw how furious I was, even if that anger wasn’t directed exactly at them.

I saw Wolfgang getting medical attention, and so I walked over to him. Wolfgang was still unconscious, and his breathing was shallow. “How is he?” I asked the doctor, who was bandaging Wolfgang’s wound. My makeshift bandage was looking scraggly.

“He’ll survive,” replied the doctor, not looking up from his work. “He’s lucky; the bullet went into the muscles and just missed the lungs. Just short of a miracle, if you ask me.”

I sighed in relief, and the anger flooded out of me. I sat down besides Wolfgang’s prone figure and pushed aside the dark curls plastered on his forehead. “You idiot,” I said softly, “I could’ve taken care of myself.” Even though I only had platonic feelings towards Wolfgang, I could see that he was merely lost. He had his world turned around in a matter of days. And although I don’t wish to be married, and I can’t imagine myself loving him in the same he does, I want to be able to guide him back.

I stood back up, and turned to find Heathcliff looking at me with a tinge of something in his normally dreamy blue eyes. “I thought you didn’t like him that way,” he said, with an accusing tone.

“I don’t, trust me. It’s merely friendly,” I assured him. I saw the glint disappear, replaced by a beaming smile.

“But,” I said, with a little wave to cut off whatever he was about to say. “That doesn’t mean you put your moves on me. I feel the same way towards you as I do Wolfgang, and I don’t appreciate pushiness.”

Heathcliff’s smile fell, and he nodded his head solemnly. “I understand,” he said, and that was the most serious I’ve ever seen him. “I will help you get back your grandfather, whatever it takes. I owe a lot to him.”

“Thanks,” I said. Those words meant a lot to me.

I looked out at the sky again. Grandfather wouldn’t have gone to a dangerous situation without something to fall back on. It was like a game he would play with me when I was little, where he would go hide somewhere and leave clues that only I could find. Perhaps he left something at his home…

I was shaken out of my thoughts by a tap on my shoulder. I found Charlie when I turned around. “I know I probably don’t fit in, and I’m not useful, but…” he looked sheepish.

“But?” I asked, urging him to continue on.

“Could I come along with you guys? I mean, you don’t have to but this is the biggest adventure I’ve ever had since I ended up getting lost in the woods near our farm when I was 5.”

“Don’t you have someone waiting for you at home? Your sweetheart?” I asked, concerned. “You know this’ll be dangerous.”

He shrugged. “This is a once in a lifetime experience. Plus, I guess I’m an ok fighter, so I’m not complete dead weight.”

I laughed, the first time in awhile. “That’s true,” I said, and I turned towards Grandfather’s men. They looked at me with a bit of fear in their eyes. “We’re going back home,” I told them. “We have a rescue to plan out.”

C.N. - chapter 30

Mr. Gable and Mr. Damien fought like Neo and Agent Smith in The Matrix, it was so astonishing their moves seemed to have been choreographed. I was deciding between Mr. Gable and Mr. Damien who was the Neo and who was the Agent Smith of this fight when Theo tapped me on the shoulder and told me to copy what she was about to do. She told me that I'm 'not that stupid', which I didn't understand and was puzzled about.
When she did the martial arts stunt and took down all four of the henchmen around her, I thought, I can't do that! I don't know martial arts, let alone a back flip. So instead I did my own move on the fifth henchmen; I was standing behind him, and just when he realized what was going on with Theo and his four companions, I kicked him between the legs, knee-cap to crotch.
The fifth henchmen way injured, but not knocked out. He took out a short knife from his pocket.
I said, 'Come on! I want a fair fight, bare hands!' I motioned with my hands for him to come at me. (I learned this move from observing dad pick bar fights when he was drunk, the other guy, knowing how dad is infamous for being a shrewd fighter especially when drunk, would always pick up a weapon like a beer bottle or chair, and that is what dad always say in return) 
'What?' The henchmen said.
'You heard me! Bare hands!' I mimicked dad.
'Alright,' He cracked his knuckles, 'Agreed.' And we circled each other and brawled.
Dad took me with him to a fight club when I was eight years old; he wanted to show me how to be a man. At a country fight club, there aren't a lot of rules, other than once the opponent is knocked out, the fight should not continue. Dad was a really good fighter, there are two reasons why: one, his knuckles are hard as rock, and two, he can dodge. I was surprised how few people know how to dodge when fighting, because dodging is a very effective way to defeat the opponent without breaking a bone. Most of the fighters just take turns punching each other in the faces until one of them gets knocked bloody first. Only one or two people at the fight club knew how to dodge a swinging punch, and dad was one of them. That was why dad was a champion at the club. It seemed I inherited the dodging technique and dad was proud of me.
I dodged the first punch swung by the henchmen and dealt a blow to his waistline, bringing one leg to its knees, and then he swung again, I parried, and got him in the stomach and then the chin. He swung a slow and misguided fist, almost defeated, I intercepted his fist with my palm and twisted it. The henchmen yelled out and fell flat onto the ground.
'Good fight,' I said. Immediately, two men came over and handcuffed the henchmen. Some of the men who were with Mr. Damien at the other side of the helipad came over running. I guessed Mr. Clark was now making his stand alone.
When I looked to the center of the helipad, the spectacular fight between Mr. Clark and Mr. Damien was still proceeding with ferocity, then someone yelled, 'Mr. North!'
Mr. Damien turned his head to the voice for a brief moment, and Mr. Clark seized that moment. He jabbed Mr. Damien in various parts of his chest and neck region, and the strangest thing happened, Mr. Damien suddenly froze in his standing position like a statue.
'I haven't forgotten my nerve attacks, Damien, it's good to get some practice one a real target once in a while.' Mr. Clark mused. The moment he saw that his henchmen were downed, a helicopter appeared in air above him. It just materialized out of nowhere, utterly unbelievable!
'My ride is here, and what do you know, I have a new hostage!' Mr. Clark said and put an affectionate arm around the frozen Mr. Damien, whose eyes could still move, and they were furious.
Theo's eyes were even more furious. She charged towards Mr. Clark, shouting, 'I'LL KILL YOU! YOU DEVIL!'
Heathcliff ran after her, shouting, 'I WILL PROTECT YOU, MY LOVE!'
One of the men who was with Mr. Damien, probably Mr. Kent ran after then, shouting, 'KIDS! THAT MAN IS DANGEROUS! LET ME HANDLE HIM!'
I decided to run after them too, maybe to stop another fight that might occur, they can always settle it with rock, paper, scissors, right? So I ran after them, shouting, 'ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, ANYONE?'

T.N - Chapter 29

I watched Grandfather and the Dragon face off, circling each other warily. They both had their eyes trained on each other, watching carefully in case one decided to move first. After a few suspenseful minutes, the Dragon got impatient and sent a flying foot towards Grandfather’s direction. Grandfather merely stepped aside and used the energy from the Dragon’s kick to flip him backwards. The Dragon landed as softly as a cat, and prepared himself again. For men their age, this bout was truly impressive. They started circling each other again.

“Ah, I haven’t had a match like this since we were training together, back in China a few decades back. We were such foolish young men at the time, weren’t we, Damian?” said the Dragon, smiling and looking relaxed. Grandfather didn’t reply, but he looked more antsy and tense, with a concentrated scowl on his face.

Martial arts…I remember Grandfather told me about his time in China, when he was studying under the greatest masters. He told me his story all while he was teaching my brothers his technique. He did say that he trained with others, but I never knew it was the Dragon. I look at them, and for a second, I see a mirage. It was the Dragon and Grandfather when they were young, circling each other like they were now. Both of them, at that moment, wore grim, set smiles. I blinked, and it was back to their older, modern selves.

Martial arts…I suddenly got an idea. I looked up at the five men who were guarding us. They weren’t even paying attention us, the wards. Instead, they were watching the Dragon and Grandfather with awe-stricken faces. They almost looked like harmless spectators. But I knew if they weren’t taken down, they still posed a risk.

I wasn’t a master like Grandfather, but I had picked up enough from watching his lessons that he gave to my brothers. They were never interested, but Grandfather didn’t mind. I think he knew that I was watching and learning, even though I never expressed an interest around him.

I looked up at the men again. Two of them were standing right behind Charlie, Heathcliff and Wolfgang. Wolfgang was mercifully unconscious, and still breathing. One was besides me, and the two others skirted the edge to the left of the group. Only the two behind us had visible weapons (assault rifles, the both of them), which they had trained on us earlier. But those two now had their entire attention on the fight.

I scooted over to Charlie and Heathcliff quietly. “I’m going to try to do something completely stupid and reckless, but it will give us a bigger chance of escaping,” I whispered. The two turned to me slightly, just enough for them to listen. “Charlie, I want you to go over to the go over to the guy on our right. Once you see what I do, I’m pretty sure you’ll know what to do. You’re not that stupid. Heathcliff, prepare to carry Wolfgang over to where my Grandfather’s men are. Don’t object.” Heathcliff must’ve heard the urgency in my voice, so he didn’t say anything. He just moved to where Wolfgang was, awaiting my next move. I looked once more at the two men behind me with their weapons. Seeing they hadn’t moved, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I crouched, and then flipped backwards, extending my legs so that my booted feet connected and I jolted from the impact. From the groans and curses, I could tell that I hit one guy in the face and the other in the chest. I landed on my stomach in a landing position, and stood up. The two men looked dazed, and I saw the two other guys (the ones Charlie wasn’t taking care of) turn to see what the noise was. I grabbed the assault rifles, and hit the two dazed ones as hard as I could. They crumpled to the ground. Crude, but certainly effective. I felt two arms encircle my neck, but I quickly freed myself by sending a solar plexus directly to the assailant’s gut. They were on me by the time I managed to get my bearings, but I had enough time to check to see if Heathcliff had made his escape. To my relief, he had, and he was carrying Wolfgang with him. Some of the men on the other side of the helipad rushed over to help them. I couldn’t check on Charlie, but from the sound of it, he was doing fine. I knew I could trust him to take care of the fifth guy. 

C.N. - chapter 28

I had never been in a hostage situation. I had never been in a hostage situation where someone is pointing a gun at my head while having me in a headlock. I almost panicked, but since Mr. Gable (I guess from the situation at that time the name Mr. Dragon no longer applied to him) had my neck locked in a strong grip, I was having trouble breathing and that oxygen shortage prevented me from panicking.
Mr. Gable exchanged a short and venomous conversation with Theo, and then he turned towards the refrigerator and opened up the secret passage.
'Wait! What about Wolfgang?' Theo said. I detected extremely furious contempt in her voice.
'What do you think? He's yours, carry him!' Mr. Gable ordered. He stepped back from the secret passage and said, 'Hurry up! The lady, the wounded and hostages go first.' He motioned with the pistol arm for Heathcliff, Theo and Wolfgang to go onto the tunnel.
Theo and Heathcliff took an arm of Wolfgang each, and carried him to the entrance of the tunnel. Wolfgang was still bleeding and I thought his ribs must be shattered, because his facial expression was almost too painful to look at.
'You-you-I...hate you!' Wolfgang mumbled, meeting Mr. Gable's eyes which I couldn't see.
'Don't waste your energy hating your old man, Sebastian, you got a wound to worry about.' I think Mr. Gable chuckled after saying this.
Wolfgang spat at Mr. Gable, but the spit wad fell short of its mark, and Wolfgang would have collapsed if Theo had not caught him.
'What have I told you before, Sebastian, spitting indoors is both rude and unsanitary.' Mr. Gable said.
Theo exploded in rage and almost jumped on Mr. Gable, but Heathcliff held her back with great difficulty, but dropped Wolfgang, who screamed when his body came in contact with the floor.
We made it into the tunnel I think six minutes later. The air in the tunnel was thin, and I thought I was going to faint from the lack of oxygen. I'm not a very sentimental person, but then I thought of only yesterday, when Mr. Gable shared apple cider with me and Heathcliff and we told each other stories on our way to Mr. Gable's home here. I thought Mr, Gable must be bipolar, like Dr, Jekyll, if he had so suddenly shot his own son, took me hostage under a headlock and started waving a gun around. I hoped he snaps out of it soon because this was a dangerous situation and at least one person (Wolfgang) had been wounded physically.
Some way into the tunnel, an opening appeared on the side of the tunnel and five people which I recognized to be Mr. Gable's bald henchmen came out of it.
'We're surrounded boss.' One of them said.
'They got at least fifty people on perimeter, I even recognized Kent.' Another said.
'Yeah, can't believe Kent is here, he almost killed me that last time at the assassination, remember?' The third man said.
'Kent's not as bad as Damien, he's on our tail every time!' The fourth man said.
'Boss, if I may ask, can we receive this month's pay early...as in right now? Just in case we make out of this alive, I think we'll be out of a job for a while.' The final man said, and the others chimed in in agreement.
'No one is going anywhere, you all come with me, as long as I'm still standing, no one is out of a job.' Mr. Gable said with awesome authority that silenced the henchmen. He smiled a cucumber cool smile and told them to escort Heathcliff, Theo and Wolfgang ahead.
Instead of emerging from the dining room, at the end of the tunnel I found myself and others climbing up a ladder into sunlight and then I was standing atop a helipad. Mr. Gable kept his gun trained on my back, but released me from the headlock. I sucked in all the air I could and breathed deeply.
We were at one end of the circular helipad, me, Heathcliff and Theo supporting a near unconscious Wolfgang, Mr. Gable with his pistol trained on us behind us, and his five henchmen training their automatics on a party at the other end of the pad, I think thirty meters away.
The other party consisted of about twenty people. I heard the sound of a loudspeaker.
'Surrender and drop your weapons, Mr. Clark Gable! You are surrounded!' The voice spoke from one of the people standing at the front of the other group. 'I hereby arrest you on charges including, but not limited to terrorism, conspiracy, first, second and third degree murders, first, second and third degree attempted murders, robbery, smuggling, impersonating an officer of the law, hijacking of public vehicle, extortion, forgery, contempt of government and spousal abuse, warrant as issued by the federal government, signed by the prime minister.'
Mr. Gable laughed and said, 'Quite an impressive resume, don't you think?' He didn't need to use a loudspeaker, his voice projected all the way across to the other end of the helipad. The henchmen laughed.
'Dame that Kent, always brightens my day.' Said one of the henchmen, probably referring to the man who read out the excerpt of Mr. Gable's criminal record.
'Don't you mean brighten my day.' Said Mr. Gable, and they all laughed again.
'YOU DAMN TERRORISTS STOP LAUGHING! THIS IS NO FUNNY MATTER! CLARK! YOU HEARD MR. KENT SO GIVE MY GRANDDAUGHTER, HER SUITOR AND THAT COMPLETE STRANGER BACK! YOU HAVE NO WHERE TO RUN AND YOUR DAYS ON THE RUN ARE FINISHED!' A booming voice (without the aid of a loudspeaker) rang out across the helipad.
Mr. Gable seemed delighted about this statement, he responded in his own booming voice, 'OH IS THAT SO? DAMIEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, SO SOON TOO! I WAS EXPECTING A FEW MORE MONTHS IN PEACE, MAYBE AFTER MY SON'S MARRIAGE TO YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER WHO BY THE WAY I WISH TO SAY LOOKS PRETTIER EVERY DAY!'
'IT'S A SHAME THAT THE MARRIAGE MIGHT NOT OCCUR, BECAUSE YOU SEE I HAD ACCIDENTALLY SHOT SEBASTIAN IN A CONFRONTATION INITIATED BY YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER JUST BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL, AND I HAVE DOUBTS THAT MY SON WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS ALIVE, SHOULD THIS CHAT EXTEND BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME.'
The other voice (Mr. Damien probably) responded, 'THE MORE REASON TO SURRENDER NOW! CLARK! YOU DO NOT WISH TO LOSE YOUR OWN SON, DO YOU?'
'ACTUALLY, I WISH TO NEGOTIATE DIFFERENT TERMS, IT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US! I PROPOSE YOU GIVE ME SAFE PASSAGE OUT OF HERE VIA HELICOPTER, WHICH I WILL SUMMON, I WILL TAKE YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME AND YOU CAN HAVE HER SUITOR, THE COMPLETE STRANGER AND SEBASTIAN IF YOU WANT TO SAVE HIS LIFE IN TIME. I WILL SOON CONTACT YOU AND DROP OFF YOUR DAUGHTER AT A DESIGNATED LOCATION.'
'I BELIEVE THIS IS A COMPLETELY FAIR TRADE-OFF, YOU HAVE MY SON, AND I ONLY GET TO BORROW YOUR DAUGHTER FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, NOTHING TO UPSET YOUR PATIENCE.' Mr. Gable finished.
'NO! IT'S ALL OR ALL, CLARK! YOU'RE NOT RUNNING THIS TIME!' Mr. Damien called out.
'VERY WELL, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK. I SUPPOSE THE ONLY WAY TO SETTLE THIS AT MINIMAL CASUALTY TO BOTH OUR SIDES IS TO CHALLENGE YOU ONE-ON-ONE! THINK YOU'RE UP TO THAT?' Mr. Gable called out.
'YOU STOP PLAYING GAMES CLARK! GIVE UP!' Mr. Damien called in response.
'No Damien, it is you who is playing games.' Mr. Gable said, without raising his voice, and he began to unbutton his shirt. 'Guard them.' He ordered the henchmen, two of them trained their weapons on me and the others.
Mr. Gable took off his shirt, beneath which was the astonishing abdomen that still amazed to no words. With the shirt gone, an even more incredible sight beheld me, a body with the fitness of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the body belonged to Mr. Gable; a true Dragon, not only figuratively speaking, but literally too!
Mr. Gable did pull a gun on me and that made me question greatly about his true colors, but his body was still marvelous, that could not be disputed. Wind is blowing; the helipad must have been the highest place in the complex, all around I saw nothing but blue skies and the sun bearing down. I looked towards the other end of the helipad, and saw the man, Mr. Damien, had also taken off his shirt to expose a similar body build.

T.N - Chapter 27

As soon as Charlie was at the mercy of the Dragon (I just can’t think of him as Clark Gable…the name is too innocent sounding), I put up my hands to show that I wasn’t going to attack. Looking him straight in the eye, I slowly knelt down in front of Wolfgang, who had fallen at my feet. Wolfgang’s breath was short and shallow, and the blood bloomed right beneath his collarbone. I took the bottom hem of his shirt and ripped it into a makeshift bandage, which I then bound around his wound tightly. Throughout this, I could feel the piercing eyes of the Dragon dig into me, watching my every move like a hawk.

I looked back up at him from my crouching position, and met his gaze. He now had Charlie in a headlock, and he pointed at Heathcliff with his pistol. Heathcliff dropped to his knees and held up his hands in surrender. I closed my eyes, and slowly stood up. I was now on the same level as him, staring at him, into his grayish green eyes. I don’t know what came into my mind at that moment, but I felt my mouth open to speak. Clearly, my mind was in shock, because otherwise I would’ve never said what was truly in my heart.

“I despise people like you,” I said with rage creeping into my voice. “It’s people like you that I cannot abide.” The booms and cries outside of the door mirrored my heart’s turmoil.

For the first time, the Dragon gave me a cold, dangerous, calculating smile. I could feel the goose bumps rise over my skin, but I didn’t allow him to realize how frightened I was.

“Oh, really now then,” he replied, amused. “There’s not much you can do about it right now. You’re my hostage, I have a gun, and you have no weapons upon your being. One false move,” and he pointed the gun at me, “and you’re a goner. You want to be more than a corpse for your Grandfather North, don’t you?”

“You bastard,” I hissed. “Here you are, more worried about your hostages, while your son lies here bleeding to death.” I look at him in disgust. “No wonder he hates you.”

“Keep my son out of this. Before you interfered, he was happy to be my son, the heir of a criminal empire. But then you came, and he changed. You stuck your nose where it didn’t belong,” he waved at the diary that was still on the ground, “and as a consequence, you’ve broken a family apart.”

“You know, this family was already broken. And do you know why? Because you didn’t bother to listen. Your wife deserted you because you didn’t pay heed to her warnings and her worries about your safety. Your son turned his back on you because it was always your way or the highway, and you never listened to his opinion. I’m disgusted by the deeds you do, but the thing that makes me hate you?” I clenched my fists in anger. “You’re self-centered, ignorant, and so blind with power and greed that you break your own family apart, and then blame it on others. It’s those type of people that I abhor.”

Before the Dragon could reply or do anything to me, there was a pounding at the door, and voice called “Theodora! Are you alright?” It was Grandfather!

The Dragon narrowed his eyes at me, daring me to make a move. I decided not to, for fear that he would blow Charlie’s head off. He turned his head to the door behind me, and said loudly, “Damian, if you want these children alive, you better go out to the helipad, where you probably came from. Otherwise, you’re going to have the blood of three youngsters on your hand here.”

“If that’s what it takes for the children to be alive, then fine. I’ll meet you there, but don’t think I came unprepared.” I could hear the footsteps of Grandfather move away.

“Time for the grand opening,” said the Dragon. “Come along, children. And don’t even think of running away.” He turned away from the door, and towards some sort of secret passage.