What Once was Broken

Chapter 15.... The Three Musketeers

We walked on through the dark and damp, not turning back for ANYTHING. "Keep up, the both of you!" Leo commanded, hopping his way across the ocean of luggage and floating objects. It was the fifth command he's given us since we untied him! "He sure is BOSSY isn't he?" Charlie asked, rolling his eyes. "Just play along," I replied in a low whisper, "it's better than him trying to tease us." "Or KILL us." Charlie added, whispering so that Leo couldn't hear. "Oi! Quit your dawdling, and get over here NOW!" Leo called, turning back to us to make sure we hadn't left him in the dust. We hopped over to where Leo was standing, and I slipped off the suitcase. "Whoa!" I yelped, waving my arms to keep my balance, and with a strong hand, Leo grabbed my arm, and gently helped me stand again. "Th-Thank you." I said, as Charlie pulled me into his arms. "Hmph! You should be more careful next time." Leo scolded, and turned around to hop ahead until he climbed a nearby ledge. "Ugh!" I growled, annoyed. "Hey, it's not your fault you lost your footing." Charlie began gently, "There was NO way anyone could of gotten up here without slipping, with how wet the case is. I almost slipped too to be honest." "Yeah, well, I'm just glad he decided not to let me fall out of spite for what we did.... And about what happened at the Hideaway." I looked at the suitcase beneath our feet, saddened by the memory of little Bella, looking at me in fear as I tried desperately to hang on. "Hey now. It's not your fault they aren't here anymore." Charlie said, trying to cheer me up. "I still can't help but feel that I could've done more." I said, wiping tears that fell down my cheeks. Charlie pulled me closer to him, and replied, "Claire, honey, I'm going to be straight with you. Not everyone that escapes on the Maw, ACTUALLY survives. There are carnivorous sea critters to worry about for starters, and that's including the maze of high up areas you can fall from, plus the onslaught of guests, the Janitor, the Granny, Twin Chefs, all of them! It was bound to happen one way or another. Which I know it's heartless to say, but nonetheless true. It's heartbreaking at first, but just know that they're not suffering anymore. They're FREE, Claire!" He kissed me on the forehead lightly, and continued, "Your heart is good. Let NOTHING change that part of you!" He pulled away, and smiled at me, moving my bangs behind my ear before hopping towards the ledge Leo was standing on. "Come on! Let's get moving!" Leo shouted, helping Charlie up. I wiped my eyes, and ran across the suitcase, preparing to jump when bubbles began to form from the corner of my vision. My heart raced, and I jumped early, barely making it to the crate in front of me when the Granny hit the case to buck me off. I was relieved when I made it, only..... She didn't stop..... She made her way to the crate I was on, and I hurriedly jumped over to a chair, then some kind of floater, the ones that marks the edge of shallow water it seemed, with her bucking away at each object I leapt from like a bull! "Claire! Hurry!" Leo shouted, alarmed. "I'm going as fast as I possibly CAN Leo!" I screamed, jumping closer, and closer to where the two boys stood with outstretched hands, and the Granny swimming inches behind me. "You're almost there Claire! Don't look back!" Charlie called, holding out his hand, and leaning outward on a steel pipe. My heart was rapid, and my mind was racing so fast that I hadn't even noticed that I was trapped! "Oh no! No, no, no!" I panicked, looking around for something to jump to, but ultimately finding nothing! "What do I do now!?" I called, and held onto the barrel I was standing on for dear life as the Granny bucked away. I could hear her horrid cries, and ghastly hissing from below me, and I felt like she was going to bust through the barrel to grab me at any moment! "Claire! You MUST swim!" Charlie called out. "Swim where!? There's NOTHING!" "Look into my eyes, Claire. Trust me!" Charlie replied, and turned quickly to give Leo some instruction, for when he turned around, he began to go flat on his stomach. I trusted Charlie with everything I had, so without a second thought, I leapt into the water. I kept my eyes on Charlie as Leo lowered him closer to the watery surface, and all the while I felt the ripples of the water beast not to far behind me. "Keep swimming! I'm almost in reach!" Charlie called again, and before I knew it, I was pulled up from the water JUST as the Granny was going for a swipe at me! Once over the ledge, I held onto Charlie, watching the sea demon swim off into the opposite direction. "That was close." Charlie sighed in relief. "Almost TOO close. I TOLD you to keep up!" Leo scolded. I looked down to the ground in defeat. There was no point in arguing with him, and even so, he wouldn't listen to me anyway, so I replied softly with, "I'm sorry.." "Yeah," Leo began sternly, "you would've been if we hadn't grabbed you up in time! It's hard enough having to drag you two along, I don't need to carry YOU just to make sure you don't kill yourself." "No one said you HAD to come with us." Charlie replied cheekily, "That was all you mate." "I already told you I'm NOT your MATE! MATES are FRIENDS! Which YOU are NOT!" Leo said in a condecending tone. "I know! I'm not stupid like you are." "Hah! If it weren't for ME, YOU would be dead about now!" "Who said we NEEDED you, punk!?" The boys continued back and forth, shouting insults, curses, anything they can conjure up to use against one another, and I felt annoyed. "Will you both quiet down PLEASE!?" I shouted, stamping my foot on the wood beneath me. The boys went silent for a minute, keeping their eyes glued on me like I was a public speaker ready to make a speech. "We're supposed to be HELPING each other! Not tearing each other up! So you stop being mouthy," I said, pointing to Charlie, who held onto his arm in embarrassment, "and YOU, Leo, STOP BEING BIGOTED!" "Oh, I'M the bigot?! I don't see you coming up with any smart ideas, so that only proves to me how stupid, and unreliable girls TRULY are! So why don't you-" he didn't get to finish that sentence because I had grown SO sick of his mouth, that, out of a blind rage, I punched him in the face. He was the first person I ever hit, and probably the ONLY one I WILL hit! "Now you listen here!" I seethed through gritted teeth, taking Leo by the collar with strength I never knew I had. Leo's eyes grew wide with shock as I continued, "The ONLY one here that's unreliable is you! So if you don't want to get any further on my ugly side, keep your jaws shut or I will bust your lip again! Am I crystal!?" Leo blinked a few times before his shocked look faded into a darkened glare. He grabbed my arm, and yanked his collar away from me before turning, and walking off. I turned toward Charlie, who had watched the whole thing, and he quickly turned his gaze to the floor. I walked over to him, and he flinched when I held my hand out to him. "G-Gee, I didn't think you were the type to hit someone out of rage!" He stammered. "I'm not, honestly, but I've been DYING to knock him out since the first time I met him in the Hideaway!" I sighed, and I grabbed Charlie's hand, and started after Leo. "I give you MASS respect for standing up to him. You've proven to be quite strong!" "Strong-willed, perhaps, but it is what it is." The rest of the adventure remained silent, with the Granny bucking away as we held on to crates, cases, sofas, drawers, and whatever else was available at the time until a dim glint caught my eye. "Boys!" I called, pointing up to another stilted platform, "Look up there!" The boys halted for a minute to catch a glimpse of what I was pointing to when the crate beneath me started to sink.... It didn't take me long to realize what was happening either.... "Claire! The fencing!" Leo pointed, "JUMP!" "But what if she gets me!?" I panicked. Charlie shoved his way in front of Leo, and shouted, "Claire, look at me when I tell you this!" I looked him directly in the face, and I could sense a gentle gaze behind his unruly bangs. For some reason, I felt calm in the midst of my sinking, and I felt as if time had slowed down long enough for him to say in a reassuring manner, "You CAN do this. Trust us! Trust yourself! We'll be right here for you." I took a few deep breaths, and nodded confidently. I climbed up to what crate I had left, and I made a jump for it. I swam like a fish would, trying to escape the shark that was the Granny! I felt relieved when I felt the fencing, and I scuttled up to the ledge with a switch. "Charlie! Leo! Hurry up!" I called, and turned to study the switch. "Hmmm..." I thought to myself, "I wonder where-" "Aha!" I said, following the cables up to a light fixture, then to a lever above another wooden support structure. "Did you find something Claire?" Charlie asked, walking up to me as Leo peeked his head over the edge. "Les câbles! The cables! It leads to that light fixture, and down to that lever there!" "So how are these three contraptions connected?" Leo asked, scratching his head. "If I'm correct," Charlie began, studying the switch, "this should be what activates both the light, AND that there lever!" "I get the lever portion, but why the light fixture?" Leo pointed up to the light, confused. I studied the light for a minute, then turned to look at the chasm between the two structures. "Well, I'm not seeing any way across...." I began slowly. As if reading my mind, Charlie managed to peice together what the purpose of the fixture was. "We're going to have to swing over there, aren't we?" He asked, crossing his arms. I nodded to show he was correct, and Leo began to rant, "There's no WAY we can accurately land that jump without falling into the death lake with that she devil!" "You can if you have faith." Charlie replied smugly. Leo stuck his toungue out at him, and turned to face the wall behind us. "Hey! You hear that?" He asked, pressing his ear to the wall. Charlie and I pressed our ears up against the wall as well, and strained our ears over the sound of leaking water, and sloshing. I could make out the sound of white noise, and assumed that it was something electrical. "Sounds like a Telly. Like the ones you watch old shows on!" Charlie said as he continued to listen on. "Do you suppose the Télé would come into use later?" I asked, turning my gaze to Charlie, who replied with only a simple shrug. We turned out attention back to the lever, and began to discuss the possibilities of what could happen once it's pulled, ranging from a trap to something that could lead to something handy later. "There's only one way to figure it out, and that's to decide the lucky soul who gets to pull it." I said, looking over to the two, who stood there with worried looks in their eyes. "Well, you heard the girl. Get to it Charlie!" Leo said, patting Charlie on the back. "Wait! Whoa there bud! Who said she was referring to me? Why can't it be you?" Charlie protested. "Yeah, like the leader of the group is supposed to just throw themselves to wolves while the underdog and the meek maiden runs." Leo snorted, tapping Charlie on the nose. "Underdog!?" Charlie yelped. "Meek maiden?!" I squealed, offended. Leo nodded his head, and pompously declared, "I'm the handsome leader who has to protect the young, naive girl. The underdog is ALWAYS the first one to go!" "Pfft! Handsome my ten toes! She's more of "The Dashing Leader" than YOU could ever pull off!" Charlie pointed out. Leo did NOT like this statement at all, for he stamped up to Charlie, leaving him engulfed in his shadow. "Just flip the lever you packrat!" He roared, trying to look intimidating, but only making a fool of himself. "Hah! I'll do it alright. But only because I don't want the clown here to break anything." Charlie replied, brushing Leo away like a peice of dust. I laughed as Leo's face turned into chubby, pouty cheeks, and whined, "I-I'm not the clown! I'm a brave warrior!" "I'm assuming you're about eleven or twelve, correct?" Charlie asked, putting his hands behind his back smugly. "I'm eleven, and I come from Australia. I'm fierce!" Leo replied proudly, puffing out his chest. "Pity I don't buy your claim," Charlie began in a cheeky sort of way, "you act like you're a toddler for ELEVEN." I laughed even harder as Leo's proud stance slumped, and he sulked as he leaned against the wall. Charlie grabbed hold of the switch, and with one push, the light fixture above flickered on with a low hum. "Let there be light!" I exclaimed, basking in the warm, yellow glow that I've longed SO much for. Charlie climbed atop a small stack of boxes for extra height, and with a giant leap, managed to cling onto the light with ease. He began to use his weight to swing the fixture back and forth until the momentum was absolutely right, and shouted, "Here goes!" and with that, he let go of the light, and was able to grab the ledge of the wooden planks on the other side. "Well done Charlie! Well done!" I cheered as he hopped to his feet, and bowed as if he had finished some kind of spectacular show! He walked up to the lever, and pushed down.... All was well at first.... Until the water began to rise higher, and higher! I paled as I watched the water inch closer to us, and practically jumped from my skin when I heard a loud bang! I looked over the boxes to make sure Charlie was alright, but to mine and his horror, the support platform beneath him gave way, and now Charlie was dangling in the air as the water stopped a few feet from the top of where Leo and I stood. "Charlie?! Are you alright?!" I called. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine! That Granny though sure wants her daily protein, attempting to knock me off like that!" He grunted, trying not to slip from the lever. "What shall we do now?" I asked, looking around at the very few objects that remained to jump on. "Leo!" Charlie shouted. Leo snapped out of his sulk to acknowledge the situation around him, and his face grew horrified as he saw Charlie dangle. "Hey! Are you alright there?" "I already said, I'm fine. Listen, I want you to take Claire somewhere safe. I'll meet up with you when I can!" Charlie commanded. With a quick nod, Leo and I walked over to the edge of our platform, jumped in, and swam quickly to the nearest object that we could reach. The Granny seemed to have become angry, for each object we stood on, we were immediately bucked off from! "Hold onto whatever's underneath you! I'll go, and once I reach the top of that there platform, you're going to bring up the rear." Leo instructed, and he leapt into the water, with the Granny in hot pursuit. Once he reached one of the boards, he hoisted himself up from the water like a lightning flash, and up the planks like an arachnid! The Granny didn't seem to like it much, because once he was on the support platform, the Granny, I assume, slammed some kind of heavy object into it before heading in my direction. I held onto my barrel, and a sharp thud threw me into the air, and almost overboard. "Claire! It's time!" "But what about the Granny! She's become alarmingly swift over the span of HOURS!" I replied, nervously peering into the water. "Claire, you're going to be fine. I'm here for you if you have any troubles!" Leo reassured. I took a deep breath, and held faith in my friend as I leapt from the barrel, and swam over to the boards as quickly as my tiny frame could go. I quickly grabbed the board, and half hoisted, half jumped out of the Granny's reach. After I was at least half way up, Leo stuck his hand out, and pulled me up the rest of the way. I breathed heavy, and the same sound of static started up again, only it was louder this time. "Look! There's the T.V. we were talking about earlier!" Leo exclaimed, pointing over at a large, brown colored, box like contraption, with some sort of stand by image on it's massive screen. I looked from the T.V. to the water below, and nervously stammered, "I-I sure hope it doesn't come down to having a fish fry!" "Well," Leo began, peering over the ledge with me, "it doesn't hurt to have the idea on standby should something come up." And as soon as the words left his mouth... A loud crack was heard, and the entire support went lopsided as an alarmed Charlie flung himself over the ledge, shouting, "The WHOLE support is coming down! We have to act quickly!" "With what!?" I asked, but I already knew what he had in mind. "All three of us need to push the Telly into the water! That should kill the Granny instantly!" Charlie replied, rushing between Leo and I, and started pushing the Television. Leo wasted no time either, as he rushed by his side to join him. The support started to give way beneath us, and Leo shouted, "Claire! We could use another person right now!" I heasetated, thinking to myself about our hasty decision. I've never killed a monster before, let alone THOUGHT of killing one in all my years! "If I kill her, then am I just the same as the other children? What would that make me in the eyes of my momma, my sister, friends? How would the Lady react to me, a girl raised by these "creatures", becoming a threat to them because of a few threatening grumps?" I thought to myself. I didn't want to be a traitor to my family, but I also didn't want to be a traitor to my own kind either! Each way I could think of didn't make me feel any better about my current situation. The support gave way again, and Charlie called out, "Claire! We need you now!" I snapped out of my thoughts, and chose, just about the most difficult decision I've ever made. I rushed to the television, and also began to shove with all my strength, the support giving way with each passing minute. "We're close! One last push you two!" Charlie exclaimed, and sure enough, with one final push, the television went over the edge. We watched as the Granny screamed, and moan as the T.V. began to short-circuit, electrocuting her instantly! Once it was over with, the blue hue of the water faded, and the Granny, now limp, sunk to the very depths she came from. I felt guilty for what I've done.... It was like I was harming my sister and mother both! "Do you suppose it's safe to cross?" Charlie asked, observing the water below. "I don't know, but there's only ONE way to figure it out!" Leo replied, and he readied himself for a jump. "Stay with her! I'll call you over when it's safe." And Leo sprung off the ledge, landed square onto the T.V., and through an open door that we hadn't noticed before. Once inside, Leo scanned the area, and gave a thumbs up for us to join him. "Guess we're in the clear for now." Charlie sighed in relief. He turned to me, and offered, "You can go first if you'd like." I felt sad.... Horrible about the choice I made.... I leapt from the side, landed on the television, and out the open door beside Leo. "We didn't HAVE to kill her, did we?" I asked, feeling awful inside. Leo sighed, and brought me closer to him in an embrace. "It's hard to do, but it's what we must do to live. I understand your viewpoint considering your situation, but she could've killed you." He explained, patting my back as I began to cry. Charlie jumped beside us, and asked in a concerned tone, "Is she alright?" I thought Leo would have explained why I was crying to him, but instead, he shook his head and replied, "Don't worry about it mate. She's just scared!" "Oh NOW I'm your mate?" Charlie asked, a smug grin crossing his lips. "Don't push it boy." Leo laughed, putting an arm over his shoulder, and bringing him into his embrace as well. I felt Charlie wrap his arm around me gently, and patted my shoulder. "It'll be alright Claire. We're safe now!" "Lookie lookie! Stairs!" Leo exclaimed, pointing excitedly to the top. "There's light up there too!" Charlie cheered, and he started up the flights of stairs to the light, which was the surface I presumed. Leo gave me a gentle shove, telling me to follow him up the steps with him, and he followed close behind. "Keep up! There's a ladder up here!" Charlie called excitedly. He had already beaten us up the last flight of stairs, and half way up the ladder. Once at the ladder ourselves, Leo lifted me a couple of rungs, and I started the rest of the way alone. I crawled through a trap door, and turned to help Leo up the rest of the way. "Woo! Am I glad to be out of there or what!?" Leo laughed, giving me a light tap on the arm. We were safe alright, but deep down, something didn't seem to sit well with me.... Like someone was lurking in the darkness around us.... "W-Wait..." I began, feeling unnerved, "Where's Charlie?" Leo looked around, and he, too, felt like there was something in our wake. We backed against each other, and a gigantic hand began to emerge from the darkness, snatching up Leo like he was NOTHING! "CLAIRE! RUN AWAY! IT'S THE JANITOR!" "The Janitor?! You mean-" "Why hello miss LaBouvier." A raspy voice said from the dark around me. I gasped, and my heart skipped a couple of beats in joy! "Oh, Roger! It's you!" I sighed, happy and relieved to hear a familiar voice. "Huh?!" Leo yelped. "Wh-What?!" Another boy's voice, Charlie, stammered in shock. "Yes! He's a friend of mine!" I replied, walking closer into the darkness. "Miss LaBouvier? Does your mother know your here with these..... These hooligans?" Roger asked, flipping Leo upside down, and crushing him in his fists, making him groan as he struggled. Of course, only I could understand in full what it was he was saying. "Actually, I got lost after I left the concert. I ran into them, and they protected me from the dangers on the Maw. But I've been trying to find her ever since, AND my sister sir!" I replied respectfully. "So your with them?" "Yes sir. They're my friends! They wouldn't hurt a FLY!" Roger remained silent for a moment, and slowly turned Charlie to him, observing him. "Claire.... Don't trust him.... He's up to something!" Leo grunted..... I should've heeded his warning.... I should've heeded his warning..... Roger tsked his toungue, and replied darkly, "The mistress hadn't been MORE right about you ALL along!" "Wh-What?!" I yelped, surprised. Roger placed both boys in one hand, making his other free to snatch me off the ground like a bird to a worm. "R-Roger! What are you doing!? I thought we were friends!" I screeched, squirming in his cold, bony hand. He squeezed me tightly, and seethed coldly, "I'm sorry Miss LaBouvier, I'm just doing my JOB!" He let out a horrid laugh, and my eyes grew wide with fear, and betrayal. He squeezed again, and the last sound I heard before blacking out was Leo calling out to me, worriedly. "No! How could this be?! I haven't done ANYTHING!" I thought, but it was no use..... A few minutes later, I awoke in a large cage with Leo. The lights were dim, but I could make out the sillohuets of other cages, and the cries of other children...... I gasped, and pinned myself up against the cage wall, panicking. "Wh- Where are we?! Who are they?!" I asked, trembling. "Goners... That's what we are...." A boy replied, kicking against his prison cage. "Welcome to Skid Row kid." A girl added. "Skid Row? What's that?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion. "It means you're going to die soon girl. NOBODY can run from this! Why even try anyway?" "So you just give up?!" I shouted, tears coming to my eyes. "What else CAN we do? There's nowhere else to go! Death is our freedom now...." The children went silent, but I started to cry out in fear. "I TRUSTED them! LOVED them! They RAISED me, and NURTURED me from three years old! I was one of THEM!" I confessed, heartbroken. I felt a pair of hands wrap around me, and I turned to find Leo, wide awake, and a shattered look in his eyes. I dug my face into his shoulder, and cried out, "You were right! I SHOULD'VE listened to you Leo! I should've escaped sooner, known what they were up to, and now I'm stuck! And you and Charlie are stuck too because of my foolishness!" "Hey now," Leo began softly, trying to hush me, "it's not your fault. It never was! It was them what lied to you, and betrayed your trust." "But my momma..... My sister......" "If they're true to their beliefs, then no matter what, they'll do their all to make sure you live, Claire. Like they did for ALL these years! Don't lose faith just yet." He softly kissed my head, and I calmed down a little. "That is.... If the Lady hadn't wiped them out already...." A familiar voice replied. I perked up, and looked around the darkened room until my eyes fell upon a boy in a blue cardigan.... Charlie.... He was just inches from us as well! I ran to the cage wall to my left, and held out my hand to him, which he grabbed softly. "You don't think she'd DO that, do you?!" I asked, worrying about the safety of my mother and sister. "If they don't obey, then I don't doubt it one bit. I'm sorry you had to figure out about the people you cared about like..... THIS....." Charlie replied, reaching his arm into my cage to wipe a tear that was close to dribbling from my chin to my neck. "What have I done!? My family is in danger because of ME! I shouldn't have left the concert...." I put my forehead against the grate, and began to sing softly, for the first time in English, "Sitting on his knee at night, reading her a story about a maiden on the sea.

I say aloud my father's part "Baby child stay with me, and I will save you from all the wicked in the world."

I remember grabbing his arm, asking ever so softly and sweetly, "Daddy, why?"

"Why does the maiden's daddy keep her away from all the wonders she adores, and keeps her ocean bound?"

She awakes from her sweet dream with tears in her eyes as she looks around an empty room.

She imagines a fire, and her daddy in his chair, loving on her, and her sister there as he read them fairytales and history, blinding them from the world.

We felt safe in the arms of our mother and father, and it gets a little harder when one or the other goes.

Now she realizes how much she meant to him, and understood that not everything in the world is like it says in a fantasy you live.

And when I strain my ears enough, and stay up passed one because I swear that across the grass and trees, wind and skies, and open seas...

"I love you Claire, my little girl..."

I cried as a light shown bright in the darkened room. I was hurt by the nature of my blindness, and the pained even more by the lie I've lead all those years. "Claire, look!" Charlie breathed in awe. I opened my eyes, and, to my surprise, my heart had it's golden hue shining brighter than a torchlight. It lit the room so brightly, that I could see the shocked faces of the children in the cages, and the walls of the room. As I looked from one child to the next, a familiar figure caught my eye.... A girl in a yellow raincoat..... "It CAN'T be! Is that really her?! The girl I needed to be wary of?! The one that Bella and the voice in my visions spoke of?!" I thought, my wide, glassy eyes studying the girl from her dark, brown eyes, to her peculiar coat. I felt almost nervous as I continued to stare on into her horrifyingly calming gaze, like there was something about her that needed to be locked away into the deepest part of darkness, and never tell ANYONE it ever existed! The metal door in front of us snapped open, turning my attention from the mysterious girl as my chest faded. Roger stepped in, grabbed Charlie's cage, and began to pull it towards him. "Wh-Where are you taking him!?" I yelled, keeping hold of Charlie's hand. Roger looked at me, shook his head, and turned to walk out of the door. "Claire! I want you to be VERY brave, okay?" Charlie said quickly. I could feel his hand slipping from mine, and my mind went back to little Bella in the Hideaway. I cried, "What about you!? I don't want you to die!" "I'll be fine Claire, trust me." Charlie assured, and ever so gently let go of my hand. I reached out for him as he got further, and further away as I cried. The door snapped shut once more, and we were all left in the shrouded dark once more. I pulled my arm back through the grate, and curled up on the hard, cold, metal floor of the cage, and closed my eyes to sleep. Leo snuggled up beside me, and comfortingly wrapped his arm around me, like an older sibling would do to comfort a younger sibling, and it wasn't long before both of us drifted into a deep, calming sleep.