Changing Paths-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Twenty-Two

It had been ten minutes since the Duke left Skye and Dom alone in their cages. Dom was pacing around, and Skye was sitting down near the door.

Skye was thinking about what the team was doing. She guessed that they found out that they were missing and were now looking for them. All Skye could hope was that they could find them in time. But Skye and Dom had to find a way to tell the team where they were.

"We have to get out of here," she told Dom.

"Yeah," Dom said. He stopped pacing and looked around the room. "Sweetie never told me about this part of the castle."

Skye was shocked by the statement. "Wait, when did you talk to Sweetie?"

"When I came the first time," Dom replied. "She gave me a tour of the castle. You know, she's not as bad as you may think."

"But she's helping the Duke," Skye said. "He said it himself."

"I know, but I feel like something's wrong. You can't tell me you don't sense it."

Skye did find it odd that Sweetie hadn't passed by to see them. And from what they overheard, the Duke didn't know where she was either. "Maybe, but she's joined his side before. What makes you think that she didn't do it again?"

"I don't," Dom said. He sighed and looked at the door. "But I have this feeling that I could trust her. She didn't want any of us to get hurt. She said it herself."

Skye thought about it. She wanted to be mad at Dom for trusting Sweetie, but seeing his saddened face, Skye couldn't bring herself to do it. "Do you trust her, Dom?"

"Yes, Skye," he said. "I do."

"Okay," Skye said.

"Wait, what?"

"I mean, I don't trust her much, but I trust you, Dom. If you think she's on our side."

"Really?"

"But I will be cautious, though," Skye added.

"Fine by me," Dom said. He tried to hide his smile, but he couldn't. He figured that he might be able to convince the team of Sweetie's innocence after all. "But first, we have to get out of here."

Skye and Dom looked around the room. At first, they didn't see anything. But then they noticed that something was reflecting the light from the torch.

"Skye, do you see that?" Dom asked.

"Yeah," she replied. "What is it?"

Dom squinted to see through the glare of the light and gasped. "It's a set of keys."

"For cages?"

"I think. The keys look old enough to be." Dom looked around the ground. "We have to find a way to get them."

Dom saw something on the ground next to the cages. He walked over to it and realized it was a broken broom shaft. Using his paws and tail, Dom was able to pull the pole into the cage.

"Great idea, Dom," Skye said.

Dom lifted the broken end of the cage and put it through one of the squares in the sides. Dom tilted the shaft upward until it was level with the keys. Dom pushed the broom through the ring and lifted it higher. The keys slid down until they made contact with Dom's nose.

"Yes," Dom said. He pulled the broom and put it back where he found it. "Time to get out of here."

Despite not having thumbs, Dom managed to unlock his cage and open the door. He pulled out the keys and opened Skye's cage. "Come on," he told Skye. "Let's . . ." His sentence got cut short when he heard footsteps coming in their direction.

"Dom, what's wrong?" Skye asked.

"Hurry, get back in the cage," he said. Skye didn't know why, but she obeyed.

They entered the cage and closed the doors behind them unlocked. A minute later, the Duke walked into the room. "Hello," he said. "Just forgot my staff here." He walked over next to the chair and picked up a black shaft with a golden eagle on one side.

"Where's your pet?" Skye asked.

"Jean-Claude is out scouring the air," the Duke said. "I bet you would be up there. But my plans need you to be on the ground, out of trouble." He turned around and walked out of the room.

After the sound of footsteps receded down the hallway, Skye and Dom walked out of the room. Dom turned his head and watched the Duke go up a set of stairs. "Okay, we have to see where the Duke is going and find out what he plans," he said. "Follow me."