"Put some elbow grease into it!" Count Olaf demanded, as he watched the two eldest Baudelaire children and Oliver chop wood in his backyard. Sunny, being only a baby, sat safely in a nearby wheelbarrow.
"Mr. Poe must have made a horrible mistake when he took us here. There's no way our parents would've wanted us in Count Olaf's care, if we can even call it that." Violet stated gravely to her siblings and Oliver.
"It just doesn't make sense as to why he would bring you here," Oliver said, as he swung the ax and chopped the wood in two. "Count Olaf is a terrible guardian and an even worse actor. Besides, from what you've told me, your parents never mentioned Count Olaf... so who is he really?"
The four children thought about it for a moment, before shaking their heads and continuing their assigned chore.
"As soon as Count Olaf's back is turned, we need to leave this house," Klaus began. "I'd rather take my chances on the streets than stay here any longer."
"Who knows what would happen to us on the street? At least here we have a roof over our head." Violet reasoned.
"And where would we go? As far as we know, your parents left no other guardians in their will." Oliver added.
"I wish our parents' money could be used now, instead of when you come of age," Klaus said wistfully. "Then we could buy a castle and live in it, with armed guards patrolling outside to keep out Count Olaf and his troupe."
"With a large inventing studio." Violet added.
"And a library." Klaus sighed.
"And chewable objects." Sunny gurgled.
"It sounds like a wonderful place for you all to live in," Oliver told them.
"You could live with us too," Violet smiled reassuringly at the boy.
"Really?" Oliver asked, his eyes widening.
"Of course," Klaus said. "You're our friend, and there's no way we'd leave you with Count Olaf."
"Affirmative," Sunny babbled.
"Thank you, Baudelaires." Oliver smiled gratefully, genuinely thankful for his friends' kindness.
Their happy moment was interrupted, however, by the sound of Count Olaf's impatient voice. "Hurry up, orphans. There's reupholstering to be done."
"Justice Strauss said her home was always open to us." Violet said, thinking back on the Judge's words.
"She said her legal library was always open to us. It's not the same thing." Klaus told her.
"Mr. Poe did say we could contact him if we had any questions." Violet reasoned.
"We don't really have a question. We have a complaint." Klaus said.
"But if we're being completely honest here," Oliver began. "We have more than one complaint."
The three Baudelaires nodded their heads, agreeing with their friend's statement. However, all four children were soon distracted by the arrival of the Bald Man.
"Can I warm that up for you? And also give you some very bad news?" he asked Olaf.
"What is it?" Olaf asked the man.
"It's that secretary-" the Bald Man began, as he poured some hot beverage into the Count's cup.
"Shh! Not here." Olaf shushed him, trying to lead the tall man inside.
"But it's also about that kidnapped boy you have here," the Bald Man continued, trying to quiet his voice but failing miserably. "It's been two years, what are you going to do with him?"
YOU ARE READING
The World is Quiet Here - ASOUE
FanfictionGwendolyn Taylor has lost everything. She's lost her brother, Christopher Taylor, who was kidnapped two years ago, and presumed to be dead. She's lost her parents and her home, both literally going up in smoke. She's lost her second family - the Qua...
