The Baudelaires (Unedited)

16: "You're needed"

The water began to stop the fire, but make everything flood.
Klaus had held me around him as we watched the water fall down, it was nearly up to our waist.
"All you've got to do is hold your breath, I'll do the work."
I nodded and held my breath as the water went over my nose.
Klaus was swimming upward, toward the "pond's" top.
I was struggling to not breathe, I'd held it too early.
I took in a breath of water.
We got at the top just in time and I hugged him, soaking wet.
"Klaus!" I screamed happily.
"Charlotte!" He shouted in reply.
"Oh my god.." I whispered and looked at him.
"I know." He smiled.
"Your soaking."
"Obviously." He laughed.
I laughed too as he pulled me out of the water after he got out.

We ran back to the Baudelaires room, Violet and the others stared at us bewildered.
"There they are..." Quigley smiled, as if they had been waiting for us to come back.
"Yep, here we are." Klaus still had his arm around my shoulder.
"Why are you soaked?" Violet questioned.
"Well, the library is flooded." He replied, "and maybe the hotel is going to be burnt down by you know who."
I grabbed Beatrice and picked her up, "he means definitely."
"Right, outside..." Violet sighed picking up Sunny.
I grabbed my bag with the sugar bowl and started running down the corridor, "here we go again.."

Klaus took of his glasses, he looked as if he were to run blindly, but he had a grip on my arm so he was being lead by me.
"Put your glasses on!" I said.
"They've misted up." He replied, putting them on anyway, still not letting go of me.
We got into the elevator, taking up the entire space.
I could smell burning again.
"How many people are here?" Violet asked.
"We need to get Frank out." Klaus said, "make that a priority."
Sunny then giggled slightly.
Klaus had his chin on my head, he was worried.
Quigley had everything he brought with him, he had some books in his hand, he was patient.
Beatrice looked happy, maybe even a bit smug due to her keeping quiet for once.

The elevator arrived at the lobby and I was the one who ran to the front desk.
"Earnest or Frank? No funny business." I said.
"Frank, what's wrong Charlotte?"
"Code red,orange and yellow. Fire." I explained, "the duo and Esme are back. They're here."
"Why are you soaking wet?"
"The..library.."
Frank stared at me, "you didn't?"
"No not me or Klaus or anyone for that matter, Esme burt it down until the ceiling collapsed."
"All that work.." he sighed.
"I know, Frank. I'm sorry." I apologized.
"It's fine, Charlotte, you did nothing wrong. We're going to sort this stupid schism out, put out the fires."
Klaus grabbed my shoulder as I replied, "yes we are, Frank." I smiled.
Klaus then pulled me along with him, his forehead against mine, "you okay?"
"I'm fine." I smiled, "why?"
"Just wanted to make sure, you look a bit flustered."
"Do I?" I asked as he swiftly opened the entrance doors.
"Yes." He smiled, "expression book."
"Which one?"
"The strange expression book." He clarified.

Klaus looked down at the pond, it looked stranger due to the pieces of paper floating inside.
I sighed and sat on the edge.
"Careful." He worried.
"I'm fine-" I tried to say as I got pulled under.
"Charlotte!" He shrieked.
"Klaus!" I tried to scream under the water.

Whoever it was pushed me into the tunnel that lead out into the library, I collapsed gasping for air.
"The sugar bowl." I heard esme's voice from inside the suit as she closed the door with force.
"I don't...have it."
"I know you do, just give it to me!"
"For what reason?"
"It's mine, Beatrice stole it from me!"
"Petty argument. You could've always gotten a new one."
Esme stared at me, furious, "I'll kill the Baudelaires and that Quagmire. I'll kill the Baudelaire with the nerdy glasses especially, you two are getting on too well."
"No, don't!" I yelled.
Esme grinned, "then where is it?"
"My room..." I sighed.
Esme grabbed my arm, "you'll enjoy being hostage, all good VFD members do."
She climbed up the ladder to the front of the burning hotel.

I stared as she pushed me into the hotel entrance and got into the elevator and pressed for floor five.
I hadn't seen Klaus, they must've left me, unless they'd gone back into the room for some stupid reason.
I got into my small bag and looked inside, there were two sugar bowls.
One real, one fake. I had never seen them before.
I tapped each of them, one sounding plastic, yet it felt like china.
I handed her the sugar bowl acting guilty and upset.
"Oh, thank you, Snicket!" She laughed like maniac.
I ran out of the room, locking her in. I grabbed my small bag with the real sugar bowl and rushed outside, all I could hear we're Esme's screams.

"Guys!" I yelled getting his attention.
"Charlotte!" They all shouted running toward me, they were hiding behind a rock.
"Esme took the other sugar bowl." I said, hugging them all.
"Where is she now?"
"Locked in my room." I sighed.
Klaus hugged me closer, "glad you're okay."
"I'm fine..I thought you were still in there."
"Luckily, we weren't."
"Luckily." I repeated in agreement.
He put his head back on mine, "you're covered in soot."
I looked at my hands, "so I am..."
"She didn't throw anything hot or.."
"No, I'm fine."
"Sure?"
"Yes, Klaus." I sighed and looked at the yellow cab getting closer to us.
The Denouement brother beckoned us to come over, he rolled down his window.

"Frank or Earnest?" Quigley asked.
"Frank." He smiled, "keep making sure. It's good."
"What is it?" Klaus asked him.
"Esme is on her way out, better get in before this all gets worse." Frank advised.
Just as I got grabbed by my arms, so was Klaus.
"Not so fast." The lady said.
"You're needed." The man finished.
I tried to grab on to the can door, but I couldn't, we were being pulled away too quick.

We were in a old, mankey car. It smelt like pee and all of the seats were mucked up. We were in the back seat, strapped tight. Carmelita was sitting next to me "doing my makeup." I could feel so much product, I was aware that she was turning me into a clown.
Klaus sat next to me, his hand grabbing mine and his chin on my head once again, presumably afraid as he was sat next to Esme.
We didn't know where we were going, just that it might be a while until we see the others, unless they were following.
"We're keeping you until you give us the sugar bowl." Esme said, "or we set the Meducoid Myselium on you two."
"There's more?" Klaus asked.
"We payed a visit down below." The lady began.
"To the from grotto." The man ended her sentence.
I sighed and tried to wipe off the makeup on my face.
"No, Cake Sniffing Snicket!" Carmelita scowled.
"She doesn't like it, Carmelita. Stop." Klaus said.
I looked up at Klaus and put my head on his shoulder, shying away from Carmelita's stupid stare.
"Shut up, orphan!" Esme slapped Klaus.
I hit Esme back.
Klaus had his eyes closed, trying to stay calm, his chin still on my head.
"Snicket, watch yourself." Esme warned.
I just shut my eyes, fearing the worst.
Klaus was just humming a tune, trying to keep us both calm. We were both together and not separate, so that was one good thing.