Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Worst Kidnapping Ever
“We need to stay calm and figure out a plan.” Thomas said.
“STAY CALM?!” Peter roared. “MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED! SHE COULD BE DEAD FOR ALL I KNOW!”
“Chill out Pete!” Thomas tried to calm his friend down, nearly getting his head taken off for it.
“Peter!” Lara tried to pull her husband back into his seat.
They were sitting in the Begly lounge room, still trying to process what had happened. Charlie was dead silent. His best friend was gone.
“TJ is trying the best he can at work without being found out, but I think we can narrow it down to three main suspects.” Petunia paced up and down behind the couch.
“That doesn't help, no one knows where the Haunted Maze Troupe hide out, and by the time any of us got to Fallsville Beauty could be…be…” Peter began to hyperventilate.
Charlie shook his head and walked outside. There was no way Belle was dead. It was impossible. If she was gone, then so was the Improbability Clause. If the Improbability Clause was gone, then there was no Chuckles.
Charlie sat next to the tree. There was no choice. He HAD to save his best friend!
He jumped up.
Then he remembered that he had no clue on how to do it, and the one person who could have helped him was the one he was trying to save.
He sat back down, feeling defeated.
Then he jumped back up again. There were multiple Masters that he could get to help him! Peter was too distraught, and Madeleine was too young, but there was still Bill!
He bolted inside to get his Chuckles gear.
“What are you doing?” Thomas asked as Charlie sped past.
“I'm gonna get Bill to help me with the Improbability Clause and get Belle back! I just need my Chuckles uniform!” Charlie replied.
“Hold it.” Peter and Thomas said.
Charlie stopped.
“What's going to happen when whomever kidnapped Belle sees that Giggles is also missing?” Peter pointed out.
“You can't go as Chuckles. You have to be careful.” Thomas added.
The pair gave each other some serious side-eye as Charlie slumped.
He bolted up to his room and flopped onto his bed with all the drama that his devastation would allow him.
—
Next morning, things looked even bleaker.
“She really is gone.” Peter looked at his breakfast, unable to touch it.
Lara uncomfortably served Oscar and Madeleine their breakfasts. She couldn't help but feel like this whole mess was her fault, and that the Masters family would have been better off not knowing her.
Meanwhile, Charlie had awoken with a sense of duty, of purpose, and of well-meaning but misguided determination.
“I WILL find Belle!” He jumped out of bed and got dressed. He bolted out of the house (grabbing some toast on the way) and rushed to Bills Restaurant. If he was going to find Belle, he needed the Improbability Clause. To use the Clause, he needed a Masters.
“Hi Bill!” Charlie burst through the back door of the restaurant.
“Why are YOU so perky?” Bill snapped, pouring himself a coffee.
“We're gonna find Belle!” Charlie announced.
Bill looked at the young man for a long time. “I don't know whether to pat you on the head or shake my head at you.” He sighed and looked up at the young man. “I'll probably shake my head though since you're now taller than me.”
“I need a Masters to use the Improbability Clause.” Charlie told him.
“And why do you need the Improbability Clause?” Bill asked.
“To find my best friend.” Charlie pointed out.
“How about no?” Bill started getting the kitchen organised.
“And why not?” Charlie looked offended.
“Because unlike my brother and my niece, I'm not a complete brainiac know-it-all.” Bill pulled on his apron. He stopped.
Charlie was grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh no.” Bill groaned.
“Thanks Bill!” Charlie bolted from the restaurant.
“Oh lordy…” Bill groaned again.
—
“Charlie, what are you doing?! Why aren't you helping us search for Belle?” Lady Luck cried into her phone.
“Because she's fine.” Charlie replied, sipping on some iced tea.
“Tell him he's a jerk!” He heard Lady Courage in the background.
“Lady Courage says you're a jerk. How can you be so relaxed?!” Petunia cried.
“I think he's finally snapped!” Thomas said.
“Dad says he thinks I finally snapped.” Charlie repeated.
Suddenly, Mobster Marions limo pulled up. The door was kicked open and out flew Belle!
“Take her!” Marion cried, slamming the door. The limo sped off.
Peter and Thomas looked at each other, shocked.
“Nicely done Belle!” Charlie got up and helped Belle to her feet.
“Explain?” Peter hugged his daughter.
“Belle never shuts up.” Charlie grinned.
Belle broke out of her fathers arms and proceeded to chase Charlie up the tree.
“You guys heard that, right?” Thomas picked up Charlies phone.
“I give up.” Lady Luck hung up.
—
“I heard a few things while I was kidnapped.” Belle said as the group sat at the tip later on.
“Between lectures you mean.” Charlie grinned.
“Demon is beyond furious. That's why I was taken. He blames Dad for all of this.” Belle ignored him. “He's also kicked Daryl out.”
Sunny started laughing.
“That could be dangerous if Daryl decides to do his own thing.” Daniel frowned at her.
“Daryl doesn't do anything he hasn't been told to do first. He's a follower, and if he can find someone who will let him do what he likes, only then will he be a threat. Until then, he's going to lay low.” Sunny told them. “Daryl Jones is no longer a threat.”
“Everyone is busy regrouping right now. It's a race to see who can get their bearings first.” Belle told them.
“Thankfully we seem to be prepared.” TJ breathed a sigh of relief.
“I hope you're right.” Daniel frowned.