Chimera: A Fablehaven Fanfiction

Chapter 10

Gavin squatted down in the barrel only thinking about hope. There was hope in him for the first time since Lost Mesa a long time ago. Just then some large strong hands reached in and grabbed him by the arm pits. He was hoisted out by a large man. Gavin couldn't believe his eyes.
"Tanu?" He asked hopefully. Tanu scowled furiously. There was pure hatred in his eyes. Gavin didn't know why he would be so...then he realized. "T..Tanu, wait" he he pleaded as Tanu raised a fist. "I can exp...plain!" But Tanu hit him hard in the face and blackness consumed his vision.
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When Gavin first began to gain consciousness again he could feel a strong rope around his waist, but not his wrists or ankles...Tanu was gone, and Gavin guessed he was in the attic in Fablehaven. Looking to his left, Gavin saw the barrel. Why was he still in captivity if Seth came through and explained? Unless...he never came through...
"TANU!" Gavin screamed. Who else could be here..."WARREN!" He tried...but still nothing. "K...KENDRA!" He screamed only to remember where she was. "No, no, n...no, this can't be h...happening..." he whispered to himself. At least he was sitting down. Alone. Without Kendra and Seth. Who were probably in danger...Just then Tanu walked in with Warren, Ruth, Stan, and surprisingly Vanessa. They brought more rope, and that explained why Gavin's wrists weren't bound. Seeing he was conscious, Tanu again raised his fist and began walking toward the chair.
"Wait, no! Stop!" Tanu got closer. "Stop p...please! It's not what y...y...you think!" Just as he was about to swing Gavin shrieked loudly and covered his face. Tanu paused. There was a moment where Gavin sat blocking with his arms. Fearing for his life.
Warren finally spoke up. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
Tanu took a step back. "That didn't sound like a dragon to me." Gavin peaked around his arms. "You know what that sounded like to me?" Tanu asked turning to Warren. "That sounded like a scared seventeen year old boy." Warren threw his arms up. "Are you nuts? Knock him out! Do your thing!" Tanu shook his head. "I wouldn't have hurt Gavin before we went to Wyrmroost. Do you remember what Agad said about Chimera?"
Warren scowled. "Fine." He said. "If you won't do it, I will!" As he said this, he sprinted at Gavin full speed. Gavin gasped and covered his face again, but Tanu grabbed Warren and pinned him to the ground.
Warren pulled and grunted, but Tanu just calmly stated, "At least let us ask Agad first. Okay?"
Warren sighed.
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Seth was pulled by Navarog for a long time. He was still whimpering after giving up on screaming for help. No one could help him. Navarog unlocked a large metal door and dragged it open. The shackle around Seth's ankle was removed and just as he was about to make a run for it, Navarog hoisted him up and threw him into the room slamming the door behind him. Seth sat on the floor with zero hope left...unless Gavin could somehow explain himself before being locked up in the dungeon at Fablehaven. Seth curled up on his side grabbing his knees and sat there silently for a long time. Eventually he had to clear his throat and did so quickly. Then he heard some shuffling from farther back in the room. Of course he couldn't see because it was basically pitch black, so it was alarming to say the least. How many people were in there with him? Listening into the darkness, he only heard one...but who knows how many people could be there? They could be sleeping, hopeless, or even dead...how long would he be in here? The shuffling got closer and Seth began scooting away towards the wall. He only heard the sound of his clothes against the floor and the shuffling coming his way. Everything else was completely silent. His heart began to sky rocket. This creature could try to eat him, or torture him...maybe that's why the door was so secure...Seth's back hit the wall and he froze. Silence. He couldn't hear the shuffling anymore...only the sound of his breath. As his heart rate began to slow down back to its normal speed, someone or something stroked his knee. Seth screamed and scrambled to the side hyperventilating, unable to calm down. He kept scooting quickly in the other direction away from the creature until it started to speak...
"Seth?"
He paused...could it be?
He sniffled. "Bracken?" A sudden light flickered on a few feet away. It was a small one, but it was enough for Seth to see Bracken holding a small glowing coin. Seth's thoughts were flooded with relief and sadness as his eyes began to water and he scooted closer to him.
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"Hmm..." Agad sighed pacing circles around Gavin. He bent down and began asking questions. "How old are you?" He asked.
"Seventeen...I...I think." Gavin replied.
"When was the last time you were not in a prison of some sort?"
"Umm..." Gavin thought for a moment. It was sort of hard to keep track of time when your days were all the same repeat of hopelessness. "Hard to say..." he finally said. "I don't kn...now how long it's been...but the last mission I went on was the one to L...Lost Mesa." Agad squinted at Gavin thoughtfully. Gavin smiled not knowing what to do. Agad smiled back. They stared at each other for a while. Then he finally stood up.
"One last thing." He said holding out his hand. "Hand me your palm."
Gavin hesitated but complied. Agad glanced down at it quickly and then let go and walked to Tanu. He sighed. "Well, he's definitely not a dragon." Agad said.
Tanu smiled. "I figured."
"Chimera is mischievous, isn't she?" He smiled.
"How did you know?" Warren asked from across the room.
Agad shook his head. "This is something you must tell no one." He said. "Gavin has ginger prints." He chuckled. "If he really were a dragon, he wouldn't have handed me his palm for fear of being discovered." He paused. "And he certainly would not have finger prints." Turning he waved, gave Warren a reassuring smile, and then closed the door behind him. Everyone turned to Gavin and Gavin just smiled awkwardly again. Tanu ran to untie him.
"Well, I'm real glad you don't want to kill me." He said. Gavin snickered and Tanu helped him up. "Where have you been all these years?" He asked.
Gavin shrugged. "Oh, you know. J...just locked up in Navarog's..." he paused and turned to the barrel. Something wasn't right...had something happened back in the cave? Should he have said something sooner? He was so happy to be out...he made a mistake. One that could cost a life...or two. Gavin thought of Kendra and how she was probably still locked away...like he had been. Tanu put his hand on Gavin's shoulder making him jump.
"Hey, hey." He said. "Do you need to rest?"
Gavin grabbed his wrist. "Where's Seth?"
Tanu froze. "Umm...Seth was taken a while ago...we don't exactly know..."
"I kn...now!" Gavin said frantically. "You mean he d...didn't come out the barrel b...behind me?!" The world began to spin...things began losing their color... and Gavin hit the ground before he even knew he was falling only to get lost in a world of black once again.