Waking Nightmares(Lined Bullets)- A GMD Fiction

Chapter 13: Have Faith

(Byron's POV)
       Lillian dragged me along to Miss Kitty's room in the darkness of the hallways until we reached a door. She let go of my hand, skipped to the door, and knocked. The door opened to reveal a petite white mouse, who I assumed was Miss Kitty. She first took notice of Lillian, but quickly asserted her eyes towards me.
       "Lillian," she asked. "Who is this?"
       "My name is Byron. You may know of my brother Basil, but I'm afraid we need your help."
       Without a word she scooted Lillian inside, then grabbed the lapels of my coat and jerked me in. When I regained my balance, I looked to see that she looked frightened.
       "What are you doing here," she asked. "Do you know how much danger you have put yourself in?"
       "Well, yes. I believe I do, but I am more concerned for the children that Rattigan has enslaved."
       She sighed and looked away.
       "Just tell me that you know what you're doing."
       I wish I could, I thought.
       I was confused on why she was so upset. Surely she understood what Basil and I were doing... or maybe she thought I was alone.
       "And what of the Great Mouse Detective?"
       "Alive and here, looking for Able as we speak."
       Her ears perked and she looked up.
"He's alive?... bloody hell, why'd you bring him here? From what I've heard, I thought he was dead. He must be in terrible condition."
       "He was quite determined to save the children. I accompanied him until we found Lillian, at which point he told her to take me to you to help release the other children."
       "Are you crazy? Rattigan will kill us all! You really don't know what he's capable of, do you? If he finds Basil, your brother will die."
       She stopped after that and left the room. I heard her weep in another room and I just couldn't comprehend why she would be so upset. Lillian soon left the room too. I dragged behind, but followed far enough to see them.
       "He's done so much for me. He is already injured. Why would he jeopardize his life? Surely there are opportunities to save us later on? He won't survive another run-in with Rattigan."
       "It's gonna be okay, Miss Kitty," she said. "We can do this. I've heard a lot of things about Mr. Basil, and I know he'll be okay. We just need to take a leap of faith."
       Kitty smiled and gave the child a quick embrace. She then stood up and walked towards me confidently. She let out her hand for me to shake.
       "Angelina," she said as we shook hands.
       "I beg your pardon?"
       "My name is Angelina. Rattigan gave me the stage name, but I hate it. Besides, if we're going to save London, I'd rather them use my real name. So, let's go save the children."
       And so, we took off, following Kit- no, Angelina- through many twisting hallways until we reached a large room full of weaponry that was laid around the room. Lillian, who had taken my hand again, squeezed gently to reach a form of comfort. I squeezed back to reassure her as we continued our way. We soon reached where Basil and I had met Lillian. There was collective moaning all around that I hadn't realized before. It was simply morbid.
       Angelina looked around, then ran over to the wall across from us. Looking side to side, and pulling a small key from her shawl, she stuck it into the wall and turned it with a jerk. There was a mechanical groan that ensued afterwards. Hundreds of doors slid open to reveal holding cells full of children. Angelina ran over to several of the rooms to check on the children. She then ran back towards me, completely out of breath.
"Many... of the children..." she breathed. She took several deep breaths and then continued. "Many of the children are asleep, are unconscious due to injuries, or cannot walk well due to injuries. We'll have to carry them out..."
       "How are we going to get them away from this begotten place without being spotted," I asked.
       "Many of these children were forced to make designs for large motorcars so that they could transport those weapons. Many of them made these contraptions in the course of half a day! We should be able to access one with the help of one of them. Then all we need to do is move on out of here."
       "That might just work! Lillian, do you happen to know where these vehicles are?"
       She nodded and ran ahead in the direction of where they were. We ran and ran until suddenly, there was the light pitter-patter of feet. I grabbed Lillian's wrist and pulled her towards me swiftly as not to be seen. I pressed myself against the wall and held my breath. Two figures ran passed us, one of adult height, one of Lillian's height. Basil and Able!
       I reached out my hand to show where I was, but they were gone around the corner. We were about to move on when there was a shout in the direction of where Basil and Able had just run off to.
       "Who's there? What're ye doin' with that child," yelled a guard.
       "Able, run," I heard Basil whisper.
       Able ran and came back towards us as another guard coming from the other way. I shot out my hand which connected to the guard's shoulder and sent him against the wall. He was knocked unconscious on contact.
       Then, as Able rounded the corner, I grabbed a hold of his wrist as well, which I belatedly realized was in a cast. He let out a scream of shock and pain as he tried to pull away. Angelina quickly knelt down in front of him so that he could see that we were not guards or anything of the sort. There was a commotion where Basil and Able had run towards, but there was no sign of Basil. Damn, I thought. That injury got him captured.
       "Hey fellas," called over the guard who first yelled. "Who do he remind ye of?"
       "I say," said another one. "It's Basil of Baker Street!"
       "Get Fidget to wake up the boss. He's gonna wanna see this."
       With that, a burly mouse passed us with Basil on his shoulder as a green lizard ran ahead to find this Fidget character.
       As soon as they were gone, I let out my breath which I hadn't realized I was holding for so long. My back slid down the wall until I reached the bottom and I sat for several minutes, that is until Able spoke up.
       "Who are you," he asked with an almost hostile edge in his voice. "I know Angelina and Lillian, but who are you?"
       "Byron, I happen to be Basil's brother," I said as stood up from the wall. Able's attitude quickly changed.
       "So you are my uncle?"
       I nodded and he nodded back as if approving of me being there.
       "We need to save Basil," he whispered as he came closer.
       "I fully agree, but I'm afraid he would rather us get all you children out before he was rescued."
       "But he's injured, Uncle. They're going to take him to Rattigan. What's going to happen to him?"
       Tears welled up in his eyes as began to fear for Basil. I knelt down beside him, took hold of his thin shoulders and looked him straight into his eyes.
       "Is Basil a smart mouse," I asked.
       He nodded.
       "Is he a brave mouse?"
       Another nod.
       "Does he love you very much?"
       Again, he nodded.
       "Then have faith that he will get through this, if for no one else than for you. I've known him since he was born, and he is the most determined mouse I have ever met and he will push through. For the sake of you, me, even his own bloody life, with which he throws into every villain's way to protect his clients and those he cares for. Have faith Able. He can do it."
       He smiled at me, then took my hand as Lillian took Angelina's.
       "Come on," he whispered. "I know where the vehicles are."
       "How did you--"
       "It is the only logical way to get all these kids out without getting caught."
       How on Earth did this child ever become as smart as Basil at such a young age, I thought to myself.
       We quickly proceeded to the garage where there were many of the motorcars Angelina had described.
       They were enormous and needed a ladder to enter inside. We made our way to one of them and scaled the ladder.
       "Do you know how to work such a monstrosity, Able or Lillian," I asked as we stepped into the machine.
       They both nodded and ran for the controls. Able allowed Lillian to take control and soon began switching things on.
       "Ready," she asked Able who nodded in reply.
       Then, the machine was moving, and we were soon back where all the children (except Able and Lillian, of course) were still sleeping. Despite being rather cumbersome in size, it was a very silent machine.
       As Angelina and I climbed out, Lillian turned off the vehicle.
       "Able, Lillian, stay here," I told them. "Keep each other safe and we'll be back soon. Oh, and Lillian open the back up, please."
       They nodded and stayed where they were. Angelina and I soon set off about gathering children and taking them to the motorcar. It took a long while to get the lot of them in since we could only carry two children at once, but we managed. Soon enough, all the children were inside and we were moving out...
       I looked back and couldn't shake the feeling that Basil may not make it. Then, I shook my head. He can make it! Have faith... Then another thought crossed my mind.
Don't worry Basil. We'll come back for you.