Gregor and the under turning up

Chapter 3

Mrs.Cormaci said something to him, but Gregor didn't hear. Immediately engrossed in the news, he threw himself down in the nearest chair. The little subtitle under the man said his name was Jesse Michaels.

As Jesse waved his arms frantically in the air, no doubt recalling some horrific story of the Underland, fear gripped him tight. Their secret was out. Luxa was in danger.

But as he glanced at the reporter next to Jesse hr felt himslef slowly come to ease. The woman, mid-thirties maybe, was standing next to him with thinly veiled laughter as were many of the bystanders. No one believed him.

Relief settled over Gregor as listened to the rest of the story. Jesse obvioulsy wasn't making any of it up, Gregor became more and more sure of this with each passing story, but every shook their heads and snickered at him as he recounted greusume tales of giant bats and rats and humans with strange eyes.

After ten minutes of nothing important the news lady looked like she wanted to wrap this up when a man in black shades and a black suit came up behind Jesse.

Tapping him on the shoulder, the man whispered something in Jesse's ear. Shaking his head Jesse began talking louder and faster. The black suit man proceeded to start shoving Jesse away and right when it looks like it would become physical the camera went dead.

Gregor and Mrs. Cormaci stared at the black screen of the television for a long time, not even speaking when it came back to life with the weather.

Sighing, Mrs. Cormaci finally stood and took Gregor's hand. "Come on we should eat something."

Whether it was the words or the constant that snapped Gregor out of stupor, suddenly he was up and running. He made it down to the laundry room in record time and dropped to the floor in front of the metal grate. He sat, weighing his options. He could go down and check in, but he feared that if he did he wouldn't be able to force himself to leave again. Besides, what did this mean really? Jesse and the suit guy. Surely the Underlanders weren't in trouble. Even if they were they could handle themselves. They didn't need him...right?

Deciding to sleep on it Gregor relaxed against the wall when he saw it. Peeking out of the corner of the grate was a tiny square of paper. Carefully releasing it from where it was wedged in the grate, Gregor saw that it wasn't just a paper, but a picture. Two twelve year-old kids, one boy and one girl,  with huge smiles on their faces danced, unaware of what was to come. The picture that saved him from months in the dungeon. The picture of Gregor and Luxa.

With trembling finger, he flipped it over to find four letters. HELP.

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