The Baudelaires (Unedited)

chapter twenty-one

I was suddenly in another familiar place, the Hotel Denouement, before it had been burnt the first time.
I looked around my old room, pressumably waiting for my Father.
I felt younger, I looked in the mirror, I looked about thirteen.
I walked out of my room to see Klaus dressed up as a concierge.
"What are you doing here?" I smiled and ran over to him.
"Don't tell a soul that we're here, Charlotte." He smiled with a scowling whisper.
"I'm sorry, Klaus." I hugged him.
"For what?"
"Nearly blowing your cover."
"I was just going to your room, it looks like."
"Why?"
"Frank or Earnest told me to come and tell you a certain time, he said you'll know what it's for."
"I will."
"Eight minutes past eight, laundry room."
I smiled, I knew what Frank wanted me to do, "thanks, Klaus."
"No problem."
Then the loud clock bell rang.

It was eight and the hotel was beginning to burn.
I ran downstairs to the laundry room to find the for already unlocked and the laundry basket on fire.
The sugar now was hidden on the side, I grabbed it and ran up into the elevator to get to the roof; I knew where they were.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny were going to sail off the roof, I knew it.
Justice Strauss was begging them to come with her, I stared as they declined it every time.
As soon as they began to row off the side I ran through the pool, trudging through the water and swan all the way to the edge, "Klaus!"
He turned around for a moment, "Charlotte!"
I yelled, "Catch!" and threw the sugar bowl.
He was just inches away from catching it, but missed and it fell into the water.
"Klaus!" I yelled, tearing up.
"Charlotte!" I heard him shout back.

I woke up with a jolt.
I wouldn't call that a nightmare, maybe just a little too close under the skin, the hotel part tore me apart.
"Did I make any noise?" I asked, tired.
"Just laughter." Violet reassured.
I sighed with relief, at least I didn't say anything.
"Apart from, Klaus in a sort of whisper." Violet laughed.
I suddenly felt very embarrassed, "oh no."
"What was the dream about?" Klaus asked, laughing.
"I don't think I had a dream." I lied, yet not making obvious.
"But, we heard the exact same shout when we rowed off the roof." Violet giggled.
I stared into space, too embarrassed to reply.
"Is that it?" Klaus laughed a little more.
I nodded slowly.
The two burst out laughing, Frank seemed oblivious to the conversation, as if he had no idea that we were even talking.
I looked at the stereo, "Frank do you have any CDs?"
"No, I don't sadly. I'd also love some music." He sighed.
I wish I had my guitar.
"You may think that three children would lead pleasant lives..." Klaus began.
"But that's not how the story goes.." violet sighed.
"Some people smile at the end of the day.." Frank joined in.
"Some people laugh I suppose.." violet sighed.
"But to me there's nothing but gloom and despair..." I also sang.
"It's just how the story goes.." we all sighed in unison.
It was quiet for a moment, as if we'd said what we'd needed to say.
I looked out the window, watching the remains of Caligari Carnival come closer.
"Charlotte?" Frank whispered, closing the privacy window so the others couldn't hear.
"Yes?" I answered.
"There's another tape for you at the carnival, Larry left it there for you after the fire." He smiled.
I nodded as he opened the privacy window back up, so that they could hear again.
No questions were asked, just uneasy stares that I could see in the wind mirror.

I got out the cab and started searching the carnival ruins, I didn't know what it was to look like, but it was obviously a small tape, the film being untouched.
I finally found the yellow canistered film under a burnt table, it plainly said Snicket File.
I walked back to the cab and sat in the front, still staring down at the tiny film in my hands.
Frank began driving again, yet I didn't know where. It was as if we were driving in circles literally and figuratively.
"Can I switch to the front seat?" Violet piped up.
"Charlotte?" Frank asked.
"Yeah, sure." I mumbled as I undid my seatbelt and climbed into the backseat as Violet did the opposite.
She closed the privacy door and tarted questioning Frank.
I put my film in my small bag as Klaus looked down at me, "what's that?"
I sighed, "it's nothing." I layed my head on his shoulder, tired.
The sun was setting so it was understandable, we'd be driving and stopping all day, consecutively.
Klaus didn't take that as an answer, "Charlie, it's obviously something." He smiled slightly.
He pushed Quigley off his other shoulder, he too was tired.
Beatrice and Sunny were next to me, Sunny was hugging Bea, it was adorable as they were both sleeping.
"I can't tell you, Klaus." I mumbled.
"You can tell me, Charlie." He sighed.
"I can't, it's secret."
"Please?"
I didn't answer.
"Please?" He repeated.
"Fine." I sighed and got out the small tape, "it's an unwatched film. The only one left."
He took it from my hand and examined it, "strange."
"It looks as if not even VFD member have watched it, or even touched it."
"Indeed it does."
I took it back and put it in my bag, Klaus still held on to me.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Back to 667 Dark Avenue, I think." He replied as I closed my eyes, "are you tired?"
"Very." I sighed and fell asleep again.

Charlotte's dream
"Hey!" I heard a shout from down the long corridor of classes.
I turned around and saw Klaus running down the corridor, he looked tired.
He soon stopped running and walked the last metres toward me, he must've gotten tired of running day and night.
"What is it?" I smiled.
"Thank you fro the book, it's really helping us with the spyglass."
"C-can I see it?" I asked.
"Sure." He passed it to me.
The codes on the slides were showing that this was a normal VFD member, the one who was out at all times stopping fires, a classic.
I saw the familiar letters VFD on the side next to the initials B.B.
I traced my finger over the VFD engraving.
"Do you know what it means, Charlotte?" He asked, confused about my fascination of the letters.
"Yes, I do. Don't you?" I looked up, handing him back the spyglass.
"No, I don't sadly."
"I thought if  you had this spyglass, same for the Quagmires, you would know. I have one myself." I got out my spyglass.
"Is it important to know what it means?"
"Quite." I smiled, "the sad thing is, I can't tell you."
"Why's that?"
"My Father would tell me off. He'd say that I would risk the organisation's secrecy."
He picked apart what I said for a moment, I saw the click in his mind as he figured out my clue, "can I see yours?"
I got out my spyglass and handed it to him.
"This one is so much better than the one we've got." I saw Isidora appear next to him, "what the difference?"
"Different spyglass for different things and reasons."
"Looks like it." Klaus smiled and passed it back.
Isidora took apart Klaus's spyglass, taking half with her as the bell rang.
"Is that all you wanted to know, Klaus?" I asked, curious.
"Not at all, I just need to know some things after these last classes, meet me at the Orphan Shack."
"I will." I smiled.