ExperiMENTAL

Chapter 11~ Give That Back!

The next day, we did exactly what we said and met up with Gil at the shop. Cynthia and Brianna led us to where they saw Marki and we stoped.

"Well that's weird. That's Arthur Kirkland's house. Well they have been dating for the past year. He's probably staying with him then." Gil said.

"Why don't you go knock on the door? You'll probably have better luck than us." Cynthia said.

"Alright, but you owe me for this." He turned and looked at me.

"Fine. Now just go." I replied. He walked across the road and ended up at the house. We saw him knock on the door.

From where we were standing, we could see a man answer the door. He looked just like they described him. Tall, blonde, and muscular with glasses.

It looked like he invited Gil in as he stepped into the building and closed the door.

"We're in!" Cynthia cheered as we anticiped what was going on in there.

Marki's POV

This morning I woke up to red, white and blue colors. The Union Jack pillow I was sleeping on. I sat up and streetched my arms and my good leg. I looked around and found Alfred at the table across the room.

"Mornin'." He said.

"Morning. How did you sleep?" I replied.

"Pretty good. You?"

"Alright, except my back hurts."

"Yeah, sorry. Artie's couch isn't the most comfortable place to sleep." He gave me a little apologetic smile.

Speaking of Arthur, he had just walked in with a plate of eggs, hash browns, and bacon with a glass of milk. He handed the plate to me.

"Its eleven o'clock and we already ate, so eat up." Arthur told me. Dang! Eleven? Well I was practically starving, so I didn't reject. While I was eating I asked a question.

"Hey Alfred, where's your brother?" I ask him.

"Mattie? I dunno. I guess he's still sleeping."

"Nope. I'm up. Can someone make me some pancakes with maple syrup please? Matthew says as he walks into the room with a severe case of bedhead hair.

"Already done. It's in the kitchen, bro." Alfred tells him.

"Thanks." He goes to the dining room, grabs the food, and comes back to take a seat next to Arthur and Alfred.

We decided to watch some early morning cartoons while we ate, so we turned those on.

"So, no one's actually told me what the 'punishment' is. What is it?" I ask.

"We don't know. The only people who do are the people who administer it and the people who endure it." Alfred replied.

"So why did you rescue me?"

"Because we've seen what it does to other people and it's not pretty." Matthew said.

"Hmm." Was all I could reply.

"I'm going to go to the store. Anyone want anything?" Matthew asked.

"A burger!" Alfred said. Of course.

"Some more dish soap, please." Arthur said, though he really wasn't paying attention.

"Some asprin." I requested.

"Actually, I already have some. I'll go get it." Arthur said as he got up and went to the bathroom. Matthew left and I was left alone in the living room with Alfred.

Then someone knocked on the door.

"I got it!" Alfred said just like last night. I heard the door open and some muffled talking.

Arthur came back and handed me the aspirin while he said he needed to see who was at the door.

Now, I was feeling a little curious, so I attempted to get up and eavesdrop. I limped to the wall behind the staircase where no one could see me.

"Hey Gil, what's up?" Alfred asked. Gil?

"Hallo. Alfred, Arthur. I heard you got a new rescue." The man said with a German accent.

"Where did you hear that?" Arthur asked.

"Her friends are looking for her." My friends? They're looking for me? Wow, my heart just got a surge of happiness. After a lifetime of believing that no one cared, they come along and show that they really do care.

"Oh. We can't be sure their her friends though, two agents came by yesterday looking for her." Alfred said. Crap.

"Stupid. they were all hanging out at the yogurt shop like they were best friends before she got captured. I'm pretty sure they're friends."

"Well gosh ok. Where are they now?" Alfred asked.

"Where's the girl?"

"Hang on." Arthur said. Then I heard steps down the stairs and knew if I didn't move, I would get busted. I hurriedly made my way back to the couch and threw myself on it.

I got settled just in time to watch Arthur saunter into the room. "Do you by any chance happen to know anyone by the name of Gilbert?" He asked me.

"Umm yeah, he was serving at the frozen yogurt shop me and my friends were eating at the other day." I replied.

"Oh, ok. Well he's here to talk to you if you want."

"Umm ok." Why was Gil looking for me? Anyway, I made my way to the door to be faced with the white haired and red eyed man.

"Hallo Marki. Your friends were looking for you. They'll be glad to see you if you come with me." He said.

"Where are they?" I asked.

"They're on the other side of the street. Two of them where here yesterday, but someone," he looked at Alfred. "Told them Marki wasn't here."

"Well it's not my fault. I thought they worked for the college." Alfred said.

They continued bickering as I peered past them to the other side of the street. I saw three familiar faces. Oh my god, it was them!

I pushed the men out of my way as I limped as fast as I could across the street to the group of girls I had previously been hanging out with.

They all looked shocked to see me, but I just engulfed them in a hug just like Amia did when we first met.

"Oh my god, Marki, your ok!" Amia exclaimed.

"Yeah, well everything except my leg." I said pointing down to my leg. By now, the men had decided to come over and join us on the other side of the road.

"Does this mean your leaving?" Alfred asked sadly.

"Well I have to. Don't worry, I'll be sure to visit though. You guys seem pretty cool." I replied with a smile. I didn't want them to feel like I was leaving them forever, especially when they potentially saved my life.

I gave Alfred and Arthur hugs as I walked away with the girls and Gil. I pondered what would happen next.