The Tandem Chronicles

Chapter 7: Send Me an Angel

Hey, Guys.

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm pretty damn late at posting this. There were many frustrated attempts to form a coherent thought as final exams rolled around, but now that those are over and done with, I can finally recollect myself, take a quick breath, and throw myself back into writing. Hopefully I'll have more time for it.

And OH MY GOD LIZ CALM THE HELL DOWN. I'M WRITING MY CHAPTER NOW. ARE YOU HAPPY.

*roars incoherently*

______________________________________________

"You have to keep this a secret."

I raised my eyebrows at the boy. "From who?"

"Jon. Don't tell Jon."

"Why would I tell Jon?"

Lendell shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "This is a very big deal. I haven't done anything like this before, asked someone I hardly know for help. And frankly, its making me a little anxious."

"Did you not just say, like, ten minutes ago that we had met earlier and my memories were blocked and I was you and yadda yadda yadda?"

"I did, but-"

The train started slowing down. I glanced to my left out the window and suddenly realised where I was.

"Lendell, it was great getting to know you, but this is my stop, and I have to go back to my seat or else my guards will get suspicious. Do you have a phone number?"

"Yeah, but I'll text you."

"What, how- y'know what, nevermind. I have to go. We'll meet again, Lendell."

He just watched me go, and didn't say another word.

_______

LEN'S POINT OF VIEW

"Liz!" I pushed into the small house Artemis had installed on the grounds of the manor, over in the far northwest corner. It was the house she, Mozzie, and I shared while we planned and waited. Of course, Liz spent a lot of her time skulking around a guest room in the manor, in a state of deep depression. Mozzie and I lived in the house. We would play chess, browse the internet, and he would help me obtain important government documents from not-so-reliable sources on the internet. Looking back on it, I should have checked the house first before barging in, but my excitement could hardly be contained.

Of course, no one was in the house.

It had been three hours since I had last talked with Liz. Was she still at the warehouse? She shouldn't be. She should be back by now...

I glanced at the clock. It was eight. I pulled my phone from my pocket and shot her a text, telling myself if she didn't answer in ten minutes, I was going to get her.

She didn't answer.

I ran into the manor, going upstairs, and then pushing into Artemis' study. He looked up from a spread of papers lying across his desk.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Has Liz been home since this afternoon?"

"No."

"I need to borrow a car."

"No."

"Please, its important. 

"Can you drive?"

"I have a temp, give me a car."

Artemis thought for a moment, and then waved toward his door. "Take Butler with you."

With an audible sigh I clattered downstairs.

"Butler," I called down the main hallway.

Instead, Mrs. Fowl poked her head from the kitchen, holding a tray of sandwiches. "Lendell, what are you doing in the manor?"

"I apologise, Mrs. Fowl. I was just looking for Butler. Have you seen him, by any chance?"

"He was in the garage, the last I saw of him. Why?"

"Thank you!"

I ran outside to the garage, where I found Butler checking the weapons cabinet.

"Butler," I called. He turned his head to glare at me over his shoulder.

"What?"

"I have a temporary licence. Artemis insisted you come with me if I drove a car."

"Why do you need a car?"

"Liz is in trouble, I think."

Butler didn't seem fazed, but nevertheless, he got into one of the older cars. As soon as we were on a main road he spoke.

"Why do you think she's in trouble?"

"She didn't reply to my text. I know that's what texts are for, to not be replied to quickly, but she almost never misses a beat, especially when she's at the warehouse. She's always texting me there. And its been hours since we met at the cafe this afternoon. She should be back by now."

Butler was silent for the rest of the ride.

*

I pulled up to the darkened shape of the warehouse, and immediately I could tell something was wrong. Rubble lie everywhere. I opened the car door and stepped outside. The acrid smell of smoke seeped into my nostrils and burned my eyes. I turned my head left and right, trying to distinguish what was what in the pervasive haziness. The headlights of the car shone through like the light was tangible, but I still couldn't see a thing. It must have happened fairly recently.

"LIZ!" I shouted into the night. "STELLA!"

"Lendell," Butler's voice came from beside me. "Cover your face."

I pulled my shirt over my mouth and nose and looked frantically into the gloom. Nothing. Only the distorted forms of rubble.

"STELLA SOOT!" I screamed. "GRACIE! LIZ!"

Still no reply.

Butler surveyed our surroundings. "There's too much ground to cover. We might not find them in time."

"In time for what?" I refused to believe my best friend was going to die. I blantantly refused. "Butler, we have to save them. Butler... they were my friends. Liz is my friend. I can't... I can't..."

I was at a loss for words. Butler simply stared into the darkness, and then looked down at me.

"They might be fine."

I shook my head. "Its not that simple. Its never that simple. When, in any of these books, has the solution had a good outcome? No. There's only one definite answer. Someone's taken them."

"Who do you suppose?"

I shook my head. I didn't know, I wasn't sure- wait.

Yes.

There was an answer.

"Sydney."