Jailbreak: A Disney Fan Fiction

Chapter 18

Moana had been at a loss for most of Mr. Chen's explanation. She didn't know who Walt Disney was, she didn't recognize the symbol he'd drawn, and she didn't know why Red and Marty were suddenly so shocked. She did, however, understand now how Daniels had been invisible when he abducted her. As well as how he abducted her. Her new friends didn't seem to be following the explanation, either, but they all seemed comforted by the explanation of how they'd been kidnapped.

Now, however, she was growing restless. They needed to find Daniels, get the Charm back, and get home. She stood up, successfully getting everyone's attention.

"We need to find Daniels," she announced, "and we need to do it soon."

"Moana is right," Mr. Chen agreed. "I'll get some other cast members. They can sweep the park and find him within an hour."

"You don't have to," Nala growled, staring at the door. Moana noticed that the lioness had tensed up, as though ready to pounce. Her eyes were practically on fire.

Everyone turned. Moana hoped that she wouldn't see what she knew she would. But there he was.

Daniels stood in the doorway to the Cinderella Suite, standing straight and proud, a smug grin stretching from ear to ear. In his hand was something silver and shining. She realized that she'd seen it before; it was the thing he'd pulled from his pocket when he had her and her friends in cells. It was, she noticed, the same shape as what Mr. Chen had drawn on the paper. He had stolen the Charm.

While his appearance had been surprising, the fact that he had the Charm was not. Mr. Chen, recognizing him instantly, took a few steps forward. The young voyager realized that he had intentionally put himself between Daniels and everyone. She wished she had an oar, or some kind of weapon. 

"Daniels," Mr. Chen said, apparently already knowing the thief, "this has got to stop. Don't you realize how ridiculous this is, stealing the Charm and kidnapping characters out of pettiness? Give it to me, and together we'll make this right."

"Don't patronize me, Somsak!" Daniels spat back. Apparently that was Mr. Chen's first name. "You know how badly I was treated! The guests treat me like garbage, and you're no better! You acted like I was no more important than a dishwasher, or one of the horses pulling the carriages!"

"What?" Mr. Chen was legitimately confused. "You weren't mistreated. You were treated like every other employee. Believe me, I know the job isn't always glamorous, but you were never treated as anything less than an equal!"

"I deserved better!" Daniels screamed, stamping his foot. Moana was momentarily reminded of a little boy from her home, who did the same thing when his mother wouldn't let him stay up late.

"What do you mean?" Mr. Chen was remaining calm, and was very slowly making his way towards Daniels.

"I am the best employee Disney has ever seen!" The man began stamping his foot, unaware of Mr. Chen coming towards him. "I deserve to be treated as such! But none of you saw that! So I'll get my justice."

"Estas equivocado. How is that justice?" Red spoke up.

"Red..." Mr. Chen said under his breath, apparently warning her not to continue. Moana tried to signal her to be quiet, but to no avail.

"You're not Disney's best employee. You're just a narcissist who's convinced you're entitled to everyone and everything. You're nothing but a kidnapper, and a thief! And you know what? Once we've gotten that Charm from you and sent these characters home, we're going to go to your boss, and you'll never work for Disney again. THAT is justice."

"Preach!" Marty yelled from the back, where he was hiding behind Jack Skellington.

"None of you are going anywhere." There was a click, and Daniels pulled something out. Both kids and McQueen gasped. Mr. Chen raised his arms to try and block the others from Daniels' view. Moana had seen the bulge under his shirt, but only now did she know that it was a weapon. She later found out that what he'd gotten out was called a gun.

_ _ _

Jack Skellington didn't have much of a reason to be afraid of guns. For the most part, they couldn't hurt him. The only way he could be killed (in a manner of speaking, as he was already dead) was if his bones were reduced to dust. A gun couldn't do that. It could, however, hurt his friends and Mr. Chen. And that scared him.

"You're not going anywhere," Daniels said again, slowly grinning, "except for the characters. They're all coming with me. I'm going to open my own attraction, and be richer than any of the Disneys, or any of their stupid friends. Richer than any other employee in this stupid park."

The Pumpkin King considered himself a patient and tolerant individual, but even he had his limits (Oogie Boogie, for example, knew that very well). After the events of the day (had all of this happened in one day?), he had utterly had it with Daniels, and he was prepared to let him know. Unfortunately, the gun complicated matters. 

Jack looked at the gun, then at his friends, then back at the gun. For him, there was no question. He knew what he had to do. He just hoped that it would be enough.

He was about to leap forward when he realized that, ever since Daniels had shown up, two of his friends had been missing. He shot a brief glance at the floor, but they weren't there. He tried to mask his concern as he pondered the question. Where were Woody and Buzz?