Cat N' Mau5

Chapter 14: Mikey's On His Way

Wow two updates in one night/afternoon/evening/morning (whichever time it is for you reading)! I'm on a roll! And isn't the plot getting exciting? I'm actually really tempted to keep writing for once in a long time. I'm going to sleep now, as I've been sick all day, but I'll definitely get working on the next chapter tomorrow! I want to finish this up soon :) thank you all for reading, it means a lot to me. More than 500 reads! I'm so surprised and grateful, I never thought I'd get so many when I made this account. Thank you once again, and now I'll let y'all get to the story! I apologise for it being not up to usual standards :/

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Bob nervously composed himself at Frank's doorstep. Skittles in hand, he straightened his shirt before ringing the doorbell. He could hear the giggles and thumping of little feet running to the door. It swung open, revealing Lily and Cherry, and a smaller girl hiding behind them.

"Girls, don't just open the door, it could be a stranger!" Jamia cried, turning the corner to see Bob.

"It's all right," Cherry chirped, "It's just uncle Bob!"

"Hey girls! How are you?" Bob smiled as the two talked over each other. "Who's your friend?" he asked.

"That's Scarlett," Lily announced proudly. Scarlett gave a small wave from behind the twins.

"Are you here to see Daddy?" Cherry asked loudly.

He nodded. "Sure am."

"They're down in the basement," Jamia said, pointing behind her. "You know where to go."

"Yep, thanks Jamia." Bob gave Lily and Cherry a hug each and Scarlett a smile before heading down to the basement. He walked silently down the stairs, careful so that the skittles didn't make any noise. When he reached the door, he knocked quietly before pushing open the door. Instantly he spotted his friends. Frank was sitting on the ground, Ray beside him. Frank looked up, eyes and nose red. Bob went over and sat on his other side.

"Hey Bob." Frank sniffed.

"Hey Frank, you okay?"

"Yeah... are those...?"

"Skittles," Bob finished, handing him the bag.

"I thought I smelt them," Frank laughed gently.

"They're from Mikey," Bob told him. A pained expression crossed Frank's face.

"Frank, you know Mikey was just upset about Gerard. You're still his best friend, he just needs some space," Ray reminded him. "You know Mikey."

"Yeah, at least I thought I did. Now, I'm not so sure. He's never snapped like that before." Frank let out a deep sigh and threw a handful of skittles into his mouth.

"Gerard is his brother; he's allowed to be upset. Yeah, it was harsh of him to do what he did, but he'll come round again. Just you see." Ray finished with a pat on Frank's head.

"Unless Gerard doesn't make it."

"Are you hearing yourself? This is Gee we're talking about here! The same guy who persisted at fighting his massive robot until he was a professional! The first rookie ever to make it to the finals!" Ray's afro wobbled as if to emphasise his words.

"And look where that got him," Frank said with a bitterness in his voice that wasn't normally there. "Look, maybe Mikey was right. Maybe I am just a joke."

"No no no!" Ray exasperated. "That's not what Mikey said at all! Stop taking things the wrong way."

"Where is he anyway? I don't see him here to apologise. How do I know Bob just didn't buy those and tell me they were from Mikes?" He put down the packet.

"Look, why don't we go back and find him? I'm sure he's cooled off enough now to realise he hurt you," Ray suggested.

"That's a good idea," Bob agreed, trying to be helpful. He really hadn't said much; words weren't his thing.

"I don't know guys, he did kick me out of his house. Only thirty minutes ago." Frank picked up the packet again, indulging on another mouthful of skittles.

"How 'bout I text him, and then if he's okay with it we'll go over?"

"No, I'll call him Ray. He kinda kicked you out too, so it's best if I do," Bob offered up, pulling his phone out of his pocket and hitting Mikey's contact. The anticipation of the call made Frank fidgety. After about a minute, Bob hung up. "He's not answering."

"That's not a good sign," Frank fretted.

Ray laughed. "Don't be ridiculous Frank, he probably just doesn't have his phone on him."

"It's very likely. When I left him he seemed a bit off; he probably misplaced it or didn't hear it ring. It could even be dead or on silent."

"Exactly, see? Bob's right. Why don't we head over there and see if he's all right? We can even bring him a peace offering." Frank nodded, pushing himself up off the ground.

"Okay, but if he gets angry it wasn't my idea, okay?"

***

Mikey stared up at the collapsed dome in front of him. No emotion showed on his face, but that wasn't a difficult task for him. The dark clouds cast shadows on the ground, almost like a bad omen. He let out a sigh; it was going to be hard, but he had no choice. Just as he told Frank, he could feel his brother was alive, and it was that feeling he was betting on to help him find Gerard.

The note he left the others had been brief, but hopefully informant. He didn't need them chasing after him and trying to stop him. Nothing would stop him from finding his brother, even if it required venturing into what could be his grave. He loved his brother, and as he had found, without him he was nothing.

The looming dome was very intimidating. Mikey had slipped past the patrol easily; they were a bunch of lazy blobs that took up air. He was glad he had decided to find his Gee himself, because obviously these men weren't going to be the ones to do it. As they had started from the opposite end to where Gerard was last seen, Mikey could get to him quickly and unnoticed. Or so he hoped. Because they were working on the far side, nothing had been done to help remove the shrapnel from the side he was starting at.

Slowly he stepped forwards. Once he was in, there was no coming back out. Not that he'd try to leave before he found Gerard anyway. Sudden guilt washed over him; he hadn't been very nice to Frank, and if this was the last he saw of the world... well, he wanted all to be right in their friendship. With Ray too. So as a last minute decision, he grabbed a long, flat piece of metal and a sharp shard and began to etch out a message. He didn't write much, but he made sure it held enough meaning.

Twenty minutes later, he held it out in front of him. It read, 'If we don't make it, know you are my best friends. -MW'. Looking around, he looked for an obvious spot to put it. Nothing would do; it would probably get lost amongst everything else. He decided to head back quickly to where the people were. He made quick time, aware that he had to find Gee quickly, and not just because he would be stopped if he hesitated too long. Taking light steps, he approached one guy from behind, laying it carefully on his lap. He knew that when he awoke, it would go straight on television, and the others would probably see it. They'd know it was him.

Hurrying back to where he had been before, he made no hesitation. No last minute thoughts of backing out, no pauses. He dove straight in, wiggling his way through the spaces to his probable death. Gerard would've done the same. He didn't plan on coming back until he'd found him.