The quagmire

4 ???

The six friends sat in the library and prepared for what was next. "How do I look?" Isadora asked Klaus after she had put the fake bangs on. "You look different, which is good, not that you didn't look good before you did, you do... Sunny how are those glasses coming?" Quigley and Violet exchanged looks while Isadora giggled.

"We better get going," Duncan commented.

"I feel like we're not going to see each other again,"

"Don't worry, Vi," Quigley told her, holding her hand.

"But just in case, Quigley, I'm better looking," Duncan told him, Quigley dramatically gasped.

"You wish," Quigley let go of Violet's hand to give is brother a hug, "don't do anything I would do,"
"Here Isadora ,take this, if anything goes wrong you might need a spyglass," Klaus told her, handing her the mysterious object. "I'm sure nothing will go wrong/ we'll see you Baudelaires before long," Isadora told him, and then did something unexpected, she quickly kissed Klaus, leaving the boy in shock.

"You guys go first, then we will," Duncan told his brother and their friends.

"What was that?" Violet teasingly asked Klaus as they exited.

"A couplet."

----

"What type of pudding did Mr. Remora have?" Quigley asked Violet.

"I don't know, rice?"

"Butterscotch,"

"Butterscotch, dang it! I have to remember that!"

"Klaus how many inches are ... in between the cameras at Mulctuary Money Management?"

"She has a weird obsession with that bank. Uhhh, there aren't cameras?"

"Correct. Sunny how are those staples going?"

"Itcky," which meant something along the lines of 'It's tricky,' but Quigley now could understand her. "You need any help?"

"No,"

----

The four woke up the Carmelita Spats, Klaus had fallen asleep with a book, Violet had fallen asleep with Quigley apparently. 

"The sun has come up, the day has begun,

Watching you flunk, will be so much fun,

Because you're just orphans, you're probably dumb.

And my name is CAR- MA- LIT-AAAAAA!"

"I may just be tired, but I think she's improving," Violet mumbled, Klaus looked over.
"Is this how you guys have been sleeping?"

"No," they both replied, getting up.

----

"Are you nervous?" Quigley asked Violet.

"That's an understatement, I'm terrified, I don't want to be in Count Olaf's care,"

"You'll be fine, and if anything goes wrong, I'll beat up Count Olaf for you," Quigley told her, and Violet giggled, Quigley tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, and kissed her cheek, "are you ready?"

"You missed,"

"Hmm?" Quigley questioned, Violet pressed her lips to his.

Klaus cleared his throat behind them, causing them to pull a part, "Never do that again,"

"What? This?" Quigley questioned, pecking Violet's lips.

"MY EYES! OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY, WHY ME???" Klaus asked closing his eyes. "by the way, we have to go," 

----

Violet and Klaus succeeded in their comprehensive exams, and Sunny in her administrative assistant thing. "Wait, I haven't given my exam," Olaf said in his phony accent, "and I want to arm wrestle the baby,"

"She's a baby, how is that fair?" Quigley asked.

"Fine, I'll take the bookworm,"

"You can take the both of us," Violet told him.

"Vice Principal Nero?" Quigley stood up, "and violin genius,"

"Ah yes, the boy with good taste, what?"

"May I speak to Violet before she arm wrestles Count- I mean Coach Ol- Gengis?"

"Go ahead, go ahead," 

----

"Are you out of your mind?" Quigley asked Violet.

"I have a plan,"

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you right now,"

"Vi, I really like you, I don't want you in the care of that horrid man,"

"I really like you too, and don't worry. Maybe after this we can only hope Mr. Poe finds us a better place than this austere academy,"

----

"I don't know what you're up to, but you are going to fail," Count Olaf whispered to Violet and Klaus as they held their hands up. Long- story short they won and Nero and Poe saw the tattoo.

"Don't be ridiculous, why would a criminal need running shoes?" Mr. Poe asked Olaf who gave a sly smirk as he stood up. "For running," with that he ran off with Klaus following. 

"Quigley! Where are your siblings?"

"I don't know! Maybe they are sleeping, but that seems unlikel- wait, why do you ask?"

"I hope I'm wrong, Quigley follow me," Violet grabbed his arm and ran after Klaus and Olaf. They ran out to the front, to see Klaus all the way at the gates, with a grim expression. "H-he t-took them," Klaus stuttered.

"Duncan and Isadora?" Quigley questioned, "No, Isadora has the strength to murder fifteen people with her bare hands,"

"I'm sorry, Quigley, I almost saved he- them," 

Violet took his hand. "Don't worry, we'll get them back and we will put Olaf in jail," Quigley, who was in shock, nodded. "Maybe we can kill the count too," Klaus added.

And then Mr. Poe came over to them.

A/N sorry for the shorter chapter, the Ersatz Elevator begins in the next chapter.