Lost & Found

Chapter 20

I can't believe it. Luke was working with them the whole time. Does that mean Michael was, too? I'm not sure. Regardless, anger burns hot inside me. And embarrassment. How could I have been so easily fooled?

I shake my head as Sakharine comes strutting out of the palace, a triumphant look on his face. "We've got the scroll."

The falcon from earlier suddenly swoops above us, carrying a small metallic cylinder in its beak. I gasp. The scroll must be in there. Though I don't care for Sakharine much, I must admit, it was a clever plan.

A sickening thunk draws my attention to the right side of the courtyard, where Haddock now lies facedown on the pavement. I jump and try to rush over to him. "Haddock! What have you done?" Did they kill him? If they did... I'm not sure I can handle any more.

"He'll be fine, now, calm yourself," Alan mutters. "Wish we could do more than just knock 'im out, though."

I blink back tears and glare through them at Alan. "I hope you realize what a terrible human being you are," I spit out. "You're all despicable."

Sakharine bows graciously in front of me. "Why, thank you." He straightens and points to a waiting car. "Let's go. Take her. We might have some use for her yet."

Tintin's P.O.V.

I finally make it to the outer courtyard to find a mess with Snowy on my heels. Overturned tables, smashed champagne and wine bottles, and a weary-looking Haddock stumbling around. Grace is nowhere to be found.

"What happened? Where is she?" I bombard Haddock with questions.

"I don't know. They must've taken her." His face sags. "And they got the scroll from me. Oh, I've failed us all, haven't I?"

"No, we... we'll figure something out." I desperately glance around for something, anything to help us. There, a military car with no hood near the entrance. That could work. Hopefully it still has the keys.

I sprint over, hoping no one pays attention to me, and yank open the door. The keys still sit in the ignition. I sigh with relief and hop inside, cranking the engine. Haddock joins me and turns around in his seat. "Oh boy, look what I found!"

I stomp on the gas pedal and we shoot off, causing Haddock to lurch forward with a grenade launcher in hand. "Put that back!" I shout. "That's extremely dangerous to be using on a public road like this."

"Oh, fine. You're a real stick in the mud, lad."

I ignore him and point in front of us. "There! We've caught up to them!"

Sure enough, their car continues on maybe fifty feet ahead of us. I crane my neck to look all around their truck, similar to ours, my heart leaping in my throat as I search for a familiar head of strikingly black hair. Someone in the back jumps up and waves their arms, shouting for help. I sigh with relief. Grace is alive, at least for now.

I press the gas further and don't let up until we reach their bumper. By now we're all shouting and they're reaching for guns. Grace snatches something from the front seat, what looks like a few rolls of paper, and leaps across their truck bed towards me. She holds out her hand. "Here! Take it!"

I grab the papers. The scrolls. Very smart of her.

I reach for her hand again, but Alan pulls her back as their car pulls ahead of us. The falcon swings above, trying its hand at snatching the scrolls up. My fist pounds the steering wheel in frustration.

An explosion sounds behind us. I whirl around in my seat to find the dam to our left creak as water begins to trickle down across the road. Haddock guiltily shoves the grenade launcher in the truck bed. I shake my head in disbelief at him. "You shot that? You have to be joking."

"I... nope, no joke."

The dam weakens farther ahead of us, cracks slicing through the once-secure looking rock. Then it bursts, water rushing between us and Sakharine. The gap between our cars grows greater with each second.

Grace's P.O.V.

Water creates a wall that separates us from Tintin and Haddock. I want to scream in frustration and desperation. I've come so far, it can't end this way. At least they were able to take the scrolls back.

"Head to the docks," Sakharine orders. "We need to get back to the Karaboudjan."

"What about the scrolls?" Alan asks from my left. "That's the entire reason that you got us in this mess!"

Sakharine waves his hand nonchalantly. "He'll come looking for us because we've still got something of his."

Me. They still have me. "If you think Tintin will give up something like that just for me, you're completely wrong. You've already tried this on the ship. What makes you think it will work now?"

He smirks. "The funny thing is, so much time has passed that a lot has changed between the two of you. It's clear that he'll value you over the scroll now."

I don't respond. Fear begins to clutch at my stomach. It's nice to think that Tintin cares for me so much, but I can't let Sakharine succeed. I'd rather die than let them accomplish their goal, the goal that my father sacrificed his life for. I will not let it be in vain.

We arrive at the docks a few minutes later. Luke takes my hands and binds them together with a small length of rope after we step out of the truck. He's been so quiet since we took off, I wonder if he's feeling guilt. Though I guess the quiet is not so different from his usual character. He and another crew member with a gun lead me to the edge of a pier, stopping just short of the water. I sway a little as I stare down at the water. What, are they going to drown me now? Maybe if I run away or jump in, I can save Tintin the trouble of trying to rescue me.

"Look, he's here!"

Tintin slams onto a floating wooden pallet in front of us, grappling with the bird for the scrolls. I've no idea how he came to be here but I'm simultaneously relieved and terrified at his presence. He kicks the falcon away, who falters and squawks once more before flying off. Scrolls now in hand, he pulls out a pistol and aims it at the men on either side of me. "Step away from her. Now."

Luke pulls out a pistol of his own and sets it beside my forehead. "Give us the scrolls first."

Tintin doesn't answer. His eyes dart between the three of us. My gaze snags his, and I give a slight shake of my head. He can't give it to them. His chest heaves and the gun trembles in his hands.

No, I mouth the word. They can't have the scrolls. They can't succeed.

"Now!" Luke orders.

"Tintin, don't-"

A gun fires.

Hey everybody! Ended this one on a cliffhanger... yeah, I know. Sorry about that. Mostly. But please stay with me, we are getting so close to the end. I hope you all have been enjoying the ride as much as I have! Thank you for reading this story and I hope you all have a great week!