Kingdom Keepers IV (9781423152521)

by Pearson, Ridley

  Luowski tried hard to look composed.

  “Never. Ever. You let her go right now, or you’ll have five of us in your house and no evidence that anyone was ever there but you and your parents. Whatever happens will be put on you.”

  The thing is, Philby was freaking out his own mother. But sometimes there was collateral damage. He had to accept the fallout.

  “You and me, Luowski,” Philby said. “Leave her out of this. Or are you too chicken?”

  “Nice try.”

  “You’ve seen what Finn can do. I know you have. Amanda, too, I hear. How about me, Greg? What can I do? Did you think about that before you came into my house? Because you should have.”

  Luowski was sweating now, either from the heat, or from everything Philby was saying.

  His mother bent her knee and drove the ball of her heel up and into a spot between the boy’s legs that made Luowski’s eyes squint shut as he screamed. She elbowed him in the chest and dove to the side as her son charged.

  Philby never thought about what he was doing. He was all about adrenaline and instinct—this caveman urge to protect his mother. He lowered his shoulder and hit Luowski in the chest like a football tackle, knocking the boy off his feet and into a rattan chair. The chair spilled over. They blew through the screen door, shredding it, and rolled out onto the patio.

  Luowski was more bear than human. His strength returned, and Philby felt it like a machine had been switched on. Finn had described the supernatural strength of being thrown by Luowski, but only now as he felt his shoulders crushed by the boy’s grip did he fully get the picture. Luowski was an Overtaker, not just another big kid.

  Philby felt Luowski’s muscles contract: he was going to throw him into the wall of the house; he was going to crush every bone in his body. He was going to kill him.

  “Greg!” Philby’s mother’s voice.

  Luowski was as programmed as any other kid: when an adult called your name, you looked.

  A spray hit Luowski’s face—bug spray, Philby realized by the smell. The boy-giant released Philby and slapped his hands over his eyes, crying like a wild animal.

  “Ahhhhhhh!” He staggered around the lawn, wiped some of it clean, and took off running as Mrs. Philby charged at him, can outstretched, ready to deliver another dose.

  Luowski was gone. Philby’s mom stood there panting. But a smile curled proudly at her lips.

  “We showed him,” she said.

  “WHAT IS GOING ON!?”

  Philby’s father.

  “What the heck happened to my Florida room?” He was in a pair of tighty-whities and a T-shirt. He looked…disappointed.

  “Dad, it was—” Philby said.

  “—a gator,” his mother said, interrupting. “But Dell and I handled it, didn’t we, sweetheart?”

  Philby looked up at his mother. Maybe she was under a spell as well.

  “Yeah, we did.”

  “Go back to bed,” his mother told his father. “We can deal with this in the morning.”

  His father, looking totally perplexed, knew better than to tangle with his wife when she was holding a can of bug spray.

  “You’re all right?” he asked the two.

  “No,” Philby’s mother said. “We’re better than just all right. We’re good.”

  Definitely some kind of spell.

  * * *

  Finn blinked, allowing his eyes to adjust. Some light filtered in from the mouth of the tunnel, where Amanda stood guard. He was helped by the faint glow of his DHI. But soon the entrance was well behind him, and the depth of the tunnel began to choke out all light. A glow came from behind him and he spun around, ready to strike out.

  “It’s me!” Amanda hissed.

  “What are you doing here? We had a plan!”

  “You had a plan. I had…reservations. Isn’t one of the rules that Keepers never go alone?”

  “There are exceptions.”

  “Like when the odds are a hundred-to-one against us?”

  “I explained: If we’re separated, it gives you a chance to come rescue me.”

  “Yeah, like that’s going to happen!”

  “It’s called strategy.”

  “It’s called stupid. I’m much more help here with you than back looking at the stars and getting all freaked out by the wind in the bushes.”

  “So, you’re afraid,” he said.

  “No, no,” she said sarcastically. “I’m real used to this.”

  “Hey,” he said, indicating the faintness of his blue outline. “I’m scared, too, in case you hadn’t noticed. I don’t exactly love small spaces…like tunnels, for instance. But here we are.”

  “Here we are,” she said.

  They crept forward, deeper into the narrow tunnel. Water dripped down the walls. A sharp edge of rock appeared just ahead—the tunnel divided. But no, Finn realized—the tunnel to the right was blocked by a wooden door.

  “Now that’s interesting,” Finn whispered.

  “The wood is new,” she said. “Really new.”

  “Yes. Not a bad place to lock yourself away for a little nap.” The door was locked. He understood what had to be done. “I’m going in there,” he said. “I can go all clear long enough to get through the door—I know I can.” He tried to psych himself up for it, as it would require a complete brainwash to get his full DHI back.

  “That would leave you alone in there. And, by the way, me alone out here.”

  “Yeah,” he said.

  “Please, don’t.”

  His blue line grew stronger without his closing his eyes, without concentrating. It’s her, he thought. He was feeding off her concern for him.

  “At one o’clock,” he said, “you need to be back at the hub.”

  “Please…”

  “With or without me.”

  “Don’t even go there.” She sized up the door. “I can push it open.”

  “It would take everything left in you, and it might turn out to be a broom closet. No. Save your strength. We may need it.”

  “Do not humor me,” she said.

  “I’m being confident. I’m feeling confident.” His blue line was exceptionally strong. His toes and fingers tingled. He offered her a fleeting smile, and he stepped through the door.

  * * *

  “I will crush you like a bug,” Maybeck said, his arms still rock-solid as he held the chair aloft.

  “When I pull this switch there won’t be any you. So what then?” said Hugo.

  “Enough with the yakety yak,” Cruella said, “Just pull the switch.”

  “Get that thing from her, and I will,” Hugo said. “We can’t risk them happening together. Do something!”

  Cruella aimed the burning cigarette closer to Charlene’s face.

  Charlene glanced at the wall clock, trying to stall for the remaining three minutes. She couldn’t help Finn and Amanda Return—that would have to still be up to Philby—but the fob offered her and Maybeck a way out. The rising confidence in Maybeck’s eyes suggested he might know what she was thinking.

  Click. The minute hand moved forward. Two minutes to go.

  Finn was always on time for everything, but he wasn’t necessarily early.

  “Tell them why they’re doing this, Terry,” Charlene said.

  “Oh, yes, by all means. Please!” said Hugo.

  Maybeck’s eyes found the clock. “Because Maleficent’s prison cell is controlled electronically, and this facility provides Disney World’s backup power.”

  Judging by the state of alarm on Cruella’s face, he’d hit a home run. Charlene tried to keep her own surprise from showing. This was the first she’d heard his theory.

  “So, really,” Charlene said, “where do you think the rest of us are right now?”

  “PULL THE SWITCH, YOU LITTLE TWIT!” Cruella shouted at Hugo.

  Charlene’s thumb warmed the plastic button on the fob, rubbing back and forth, so tempted to send them all back from where they’d come.

  *
* *

  Finn inched forward, a tightness gripping his chest immediately, his DHI’s blue outline dimming. His eyes slowly adjusted to his own faint glow.

  The cave walls sweated, the air dank, the space narrow and confined. His head swooned. He moved forward tentatively as the tunnel turned slightly, and he gasped.

  Cruella De Vil. Asleep on some furs atop an air mattress. He leaned closer; her eyeballs danced beneath her eyelids. It looked…horrific.

  Just beyond Cruella, the Evil Queen slept on her back, hands folded across her belly, her crown in place. Her lips and nose were twitching. She seemed to be grinning slightly.

  He had them.

  For a moment, the shock of the discovery proved too much; he simply stared. If he could tie them up, gag the Queen so she couldn’t throw spells, then wait for sunrise and the return of the Characters to their various attractions, then maybe, just maybe, the Imagineers had two more prisoners. Two more generals, Shan-Yu would have said.

  He had his two shoelaces. A sash around the Queen’s robe. A plan formed in his head.

  The way their eyes moved behind their lids was disturbing. He couldn’t stop himself from looking.

  He checked a watch that hung from Cruella’s neck:

  12:59. In one minute he would be Returned—that is, if he and Amanda were close enough to the hub. He had no desire to test the system. But he needed more time. He began unlacing his shoes frantically. They would never get another chance like this.

  * * *

  Spinning in self-admiration, the Evil Queen’s green-outlined DHI, glued to her own reflection, noticed three gorillas behind her. Gorillas? In the distant realm of consciousness, a flicker of reality spoiled her celebration of her unparalleled beauty, returning her to the moment at hand. She dropped the stainless steel sheet and it landed loudly.

  Charlene caught the changes to the Queen through the control room windows. There was Maybeck, his arms beginning to shake from holding the chair for so long; Cruella, advancing the glowing end of her cigarette at Charlene’s perfect complexion; Hugo Montcliff, his hand on a master switch.

  “What are you three doing standing around?” she heard the Queen complain. “I said ‘Get them!’ ”

  The gorillas charged the door, more afraid of the Queen than some broken glass.

  Charlene was no Jess—but she could see the future. The gorillas were going for Terry. He would not have a chance.

  Maybeck heard the door break open and understood that he was the target. He had never hurt another person—not like he was about to hurt this kid. But he brought the chair down onto Hugo holding the switch with a vengeance.

  Hugo Montcliff saw the look in Maybeck’s eyes and knew the fate that awaited him. He was, in fact, going to be squished like a bug. He pulled the switch.

  Charlene pushed the button. The fob fell into the drawer.

  The two facility workers taped into the chairs screamed through their gags in unison; the kids and the two costumed freaks vanished. Like a magic act. Now you see them, now you don’t.

  * * *

  Finn was just tying the Queen’s hands together when she sat bolt-upright. He screamed at the top of his lungs and fell back.

  Seeing Finn so close, the Queen screamed as well, the released terror echoing off the tunnel’s sheer stone walls.

  Cruella’s eyes bugged open. It took a moment for her to reorient herself.

  In the uncomfortable moment that followed, the only sound was the steady drip of condensation coming off the rock walls.

  For Finn, their coming awake was like living a horror movie. The Queen began untying her hands with her teeth. Cruella rolled over on her furs. Finn saw the Queen’s hands coming loose—her ability to throw a spell was only seconds away. He backed off, looking down at his own hands with their faint blue outline. In his current state he wasn’t going to walk through the door any time soon.

  “Well, what do we have here?” the Evil Queen said, knowing perfectly well what she had here. She had Finn. Cornered.

  He banged his back into the door. He willed himself to all clear, but knew it was hopeless. He was terrified of the Queen; what chance did he have?

  “What’s happening to him?” Cruella asked.

  Finn looked down at his hands—sputtering and translucent. Like nothing he’d ever seen.

  “Where’d he go!?” shouted Cruella.

  “Who turned out the lights?” the Queen said.

  Finn stood still, wondering why everything had gone pitch-black and why they couldn’t see him. It took him several long seconds to grasp the situation: he was in DHI shadow, his DHI no longer providing a glow in the tunnel. Invisible. The projectors had apparently been turned off. By who? More importantly: why? His first guess was Philby.

  “No, no, no!” Cruella said. “It’s the power failure. We did it! We succeeded! By tomorrow morning at seven o’clock we’ll be whole aga—”

  “SILENCE!” the Queen erupted. “Say nothing more. He’s still here, you fool. FIND HIM!”

  “I can’t see my own nose!” Cruella complained. “And I have a big nose.”

  “Hold your arms out. We should be able to feel him.”

  Finn knew everything the Queen had said was true. He made himself small, arms at his side, and ducked down into a squat, his ears intent upon hearing the sound of their shuffling feet as they moved toward him.

  He was going to be caught. The tunnel was too narrow to slip past them. His best chance was surprise. He charged.

  Cruella shrieked. He felt her arms spin like a propeller. He averted his face, knowing the Queen was next.

  “Umph!” she said, as he hit her and went down with her onto the air mattress. She grabbed for him, but he rolled and clawed the wall and moved off her. He glued his back to the wet stone, anticipating their next move.

  “This way!” the Queen roared.

  In their haste, the two moved past him.

  “Do you have him?”

  “NO! Do you?”

  Finn hurried past the two air mattresses, hands outstretched, and found the wooden door. He felt left, right, up, down—there! A dead-bolt lock. He turned it.

  The door came open.

  He heard footfalls racing in front of him.

  “Is that you?” he called to the sound.

  “What’s going on? I can’t see a thing!” came Amanda’s terrified voice. “There were noises.…”

  “Get to the bridge!” he said. “I’ll explain later!”

  “GET HIM!” he heard the Queen’s voice echoing from behind him.

  You can’t catch what you can’t see, Finn thought.

  Reaching the mouth of the escape tunnel, Finn and Amanda rushed out into total darkness.

  “It’s a blackout!” he said, realizing there wasn’t a single light on in the entire Park. Only the moon offered any chance to see or be seen. As many times as he’d been in the Parks at night, he’d never seen it like this.

  “If there’s no power, how can we exist?” she called out.

  They rounded the final corner of the fort. From inside came shouts and cries. The Queen must have raised the alarm. Overtakers began pouring out of the fort behind them.

  “Who knows?” he answered. “But here we are. We can talk. We can hear each other. Who cares? We’ve got to get out of here.”

  They ran past the wobbly pirate they’d knocked down a few minutes earlier. Finn crashed into him and the guy went down again. A stream of Overtakers crowded the bridge.

  “MIIINNNNNNIEEE!!” Finn shouted.

  They both heard a motor start in the distance.

  Finn glanced back at the Overtakers.

  “Faster!” he called out.

  * * *

  “What’s happening?”

  “Mom,” Philby said. “I don’t have time to explain it all. Not exactly sure, anyway.”

  She’d gone from tyrannical Keepers hater to poster mom, sitting by her son’s side and watching him manipulate a dozen windows on his computer s
creen simultaneously.

  The server had never faltered, but without warning the Projection icon had turned red, indicating a full Park-wide failure of all projectors.

  “It’s some kind of power failure, I think,” he said. “The projectors are out, but the server is still up. It’s probably on a battery backup of some kind. But if that’s right, it won’t last long. Five minutes. Ten, at the outside. I’ve got to get them back.”

  “I thought you said they were back,” she said.

  “That was Maybeck and Charlene. Yeah, they Returned okay. It’s Finn and Amanda.”

  “The sick girl…”

  “Yeah…We hope not.”

  “So, can you help them?”

  “I’m late. And I’m kind of busy here.”

  “I’ll shut up,” she said, straining to sit back, but then sticking her face alongside his shoulder.

  Philby executed a few lines of code and pushed Enter.

  The screen filled with data that then began to scroll automatically.

  “What’s that?” his mother asked.

  “It’s okay,” he said, fed up with her questions, but trying to sound patient. “It’s begun. A few minutes is all, and we’ll know.”

  * * *

  Finn and Amanda—invisible—jumped onto the raft, joining Pluto and Minnie.

  “Go!” Finn said to Minnie, who startled, and looked around trying to see him in the moonlight. “Please! Take us back!”

  Minnie threw a lever and the raft pulled away from the dock ahead of the Overtakers’ arrival. Once to the other side, an invisible Finn kissed Minnie on the cheek before he and Amanda jumped off.

  They ran hard, Pluto at their side, keeping up with them effortlessly.

  When Pluto barked sharply three times, Finn looked behind them.

  The wolf, head to the ground. Moving like a tornado toward them.

  “We’ve got company,” he told Amanda.

  “How can he possibly—?”

  “Who knows? Smell? Maybe he’s after Pluto.”

  The hub and Cinderella Castle came into view and, as they did, all the lights in the Park pulsed once and went dark again. With them, Amanda’s DHI sparkled, eerily translucent, and then vanished again with the loss of power.