Found You

2. Words Gently Spoken, Not Meant For Him

The Quagmire triplets had no idea how long they'd been trapped in the bottom of the elevator shaft. Had they been outside, they could have counted the hours using the sun and/or other stars. But alas, they were not outside. They were trapped in the bottom of the elevator shaft, and they had no idea how long they'd been there. Maybe that's why they seemed to be stuck in a loop.

"Duncan," Isadora said suddenly, "do you hear something?"

Her triplet listened closely for a moment, then bolted upright from where he'd been siting on the floor of the large cage. "I think I see something!"

He did indeed see something, and, a few moments later, Isadora saw it as well.

"Is that... a miniature hot air balloon?" The girl puzzled.

Duncan pressed his face against the cage, desperate for a look in the basket. "It's the Baudelaires."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

They were saved.

The siblings' balloon touched down in front of the triplets' cage lightly, and the children took a moment to drink it in.

Until Duncan broke the silence.

"You found us!"

You. Pronoun. Could be singular or plural. In this case, it would make sense for it to be plural. But based on previously given information, we can safely assume Duncan was focused on one you in particular.

"I'm so happy to see you!"

That one was Isadora.

You. Could be singular or plural. In this case, it would make sense for it to be plural. But based on previously given information, we can safely assume Isadora was also focused on one you in particular.

"I've never been so happy to see anyone in my whole life."

It is very rare to be grateful for the dark. It's only truly helpful to those committing illegal acts, like running through back alleys from the police with a stolen sugar bowl in your hands, or sneaking an extra cookie from the cookie jar after everyone else has fallen asleep. But in this instance, Duncan Quagmire was extremely grateful for the low lighting, as it hid the flush growing on his neck.

However, when youngest triplet pulled himself together enough to look Klaus Baudelaire in the face, he discovered the middle Baudelaire was looking at Isadora. Not Duncan.

"How did you find us?"

Right.

They were still trapped.

They still needed out.

There was still a crisis.

There was always a crisis.