What Friends Are For

Fire and Family

Finally in the tunnels, Lily explained to Klaus and Quigley how her brother had disappeared after a fire burned down his boarding school just before her own home had burned down. She tracked him down to Peru, but other than that, Trevor was just as mysterious to her as VFD. She did find out he had been using there fortune, but she couldn't say for sure what it could be for. It could be to assume a new identity and a new face to go with it, or to cover his tracks while traveling.

"Where's your brother now?" Quigley asked as they stopped under a sign that said 'SHADE'.

"I'm not sure. Trevor was supposed to be dead as far as anyone knew, and I think he's trying to keep it that way, even from me."

"Why you? You're his sister." Klaus said in shock.

"Why do older siblings do anything? To protect me. At least that's what I was able to uncover in a newspaper. If it really was him. He's using VFD codes, if I read the 'Incomplete History of Secret Organizations' right, and trying to tell me something about rebuilding a volunteer fire defense. Quigley, that's the sign to the secret entrance in my old house. We need to find the farther sign."

"How are you so sure?" Quigley asked as he stepped off the ladder. "It's not like you've been down here before." After a moment he then asked, "Have you?"

"No, but I have seen a map. And no, I do not have it memorized, or with me, and I don't know where it leads."

"Then why do we have to go out that one?"

"If you want to see the ashy remains of my home, you can leave through that exit. As for me, I'm heading out the other exit. I don't need to be reminded of who I lost in a fire." She started to walk away when Klaus grabbed her arm.

"It'll be alright, Lily. I've been in my house after it burned down, and as sad as it was, we got over it eventually."

"You mean you and your siblings have been in your house after it burned down. My brother disappeared off the face of the earth, and my aunt didn't even believe me when I told her my house was on fire. You didn't have to watch for the the fire trucks only to have them arrive too late." Lily was in tears now, and both Klaus and Quigley looked at her with the same feeling of sadness and loss.

"I never thought about what it would be like if our parents didn't send us to Briny Beach that day." Klaus said after a moment.

"And even though my mother put me in a secret tunnel, it was scary to hear Duncan and Isadora above me." Quigley muttered.

"However, the fastest way out of here is right there." Lily said in a small voice.

"She is right about that." Quigley said as he looked back. The three looked down the long tunnels, their legs already aching from the walk this far, the dark abyss looking more sinister every second.

"I guess a smoky house won't be so traumatic." Lily finally muttered. Quigley already started up the ladder, but Klaus gave Lily's hand a squeeze. He knew the difference between being brave, and trying to be brave.

"When did you last enter your house?" Klaus asked her.

"Before the fire. I was asked if I wanted to see the remains of the house after the fire was out, but I declined. I knew it would be too traumatic."

"I can understand that. But sometimes when you go back to your own home, you find something in it that makes you stronger. When your ready, we can go back together. How far away is the next Shade exit?"

"If I'm right by the length of these signs, possibly a few miles out of the city."

"Did you hear her Quigley?"

"Yes. That would bring us somewhere to either the Mortmain Mountains or maybe out near the sea. I'd need to look at a map to be sure."

"I know where the other exit is." Lily said suddenly.

"Where?" Klaus asked in confusion.

"My parents owned a small house out on an island. They told me they used it all the time but they always seemed to be home and the only way to the island is by boat."

"And as a detective, you didn't believe that they used it." Klaus said, piecing together Lily's thoughts.

"Exactly, so I did a little digging. They also own a boathouse. If I remember correctly, there's an insignia of VFD behind the counter that I once opened up and my parents told me it led to the sewers. We used to walk to the place in about maybe two hours from my house." The two boys could see Lily was deep in thought. "I have a plan that might work, but we'll have until dark."

The three went over Lily's plan, and every now and then someone would open the trap door to see if the sun was still out. Finally, the three of them snuck out of the tunnel, Lily stopping only to stare at the damage done to her house.

Smoke filling her nose, she started off to where she remembered the boathouse, Klaus and Quigley behind her. Finally, they made it to a boat dock.

"I don't see a boathouse." Quigley as they scanned the beach.

"Look under your feet." Three pairs of eyes traveled to the eye looking up at them. "Someone destroyed this place."

"I suspect it was Olaf's doing, Lily."

"Trevor?!" Lily shouted as her head shot up.

"Violet! Sunny!"

"Duncan! Isadora!"

"Quick, get in the boat you three!" Trevor yelled from his boat. In no time, the three of them were sailing away.

"Trevor, were are we going?" Lily asked.

"Somewhere you'll be safe. I'll explain everything soon, I promise, Detective."