Cog-heart

Chapter 3

Waking up Cal found himself in a pitch black room. Looking around (straining his eyes in the process) he saw a lump on the ground, realising that it was Pod he whispered, “Pod, what happened? Where are we,” No answer, “Pod? Is that you?” Still, no reply. Getting the uneasy feeling that if it was Pod he could be out of ticks and there was the possibility that he couldn’t wound up again or, he was in a room with something or someone else. He ambled forwards to the big black bulge on the ground. He saw that it was in fact, his friend, but he was as stiff as a tree branch. Hoping for the best he began turning the key located on his back. A low-level squeak came from the alabaster fox and he began to come to life, “Pod? Are you there? Talk to me.” Cal begged, Pod turned his head towards Cal and rubbed his rusted nose into his arms, after a moment of embracing each other Pod told Cal that they were in a cellar, which, was located at the bottom of Rathbone Manor. Cal had never dared to go down to the cellar because he found it spooky. He also told Cal that he was drugged by the man. Cal asked who he was or if Pod saw his face, but Pod didn’t say anything. Focusing back on searching the room he was determined to escape and get the blueprints back.

“Pod, do you have any paper clips or lock picks by any chance?” Cal asked, expecting the answer to be definite no, “No, why would – you’re trying to escape aren’t you?” Pod was smart, but he never used any of his braininess to good use. Unless it was for food. “And, you won’t be able to escape, the manor is under 24-hour surveillance, you would need to have a master plan to escape.” Cal, ignoring his friend’s advice even though he knew he was right, because he always was, continued his searched for an item. After about 5 minutes he was about to give up when his hand came across a small coal spike that could fit into the lock that was keeping them inside of the cellar. Jamming it into the lock he fiddled around for a bit when it snapped. Pod, about to get to sleep was scared by a deafening wailing sound. Jumping around to see what the noise was he was shocked to find Cal calling out for help, “Help me! Please! Unlock the door! I’ll do anything! Can anyone hear me?” Pod raised his voice over the noise, “Be QUIET! I’m trying to get to sleep!” He commanded. Cal turned to Pod and took a deep breath, Pod knew what was coming, “NO! Why don’t you help me? Because as far as I know if we don’t get those blueprints back the whole world will be in massive trouble and, if you don’t help me this’ll be the last place you get wound up in!” Pod being the smart fox he is, jumped up to on his feet and started shouting with Cal.

After a while they gave up. All hope was lost. They both sat in silence until they heard a noise come from behind the door. Then, the lock clicked, the bolted door of the cellar squeaked open. A scruffy girl appeared in the doorway, “Danny?” Cal said in amazement. And it was in fact Danny, Cal’s childhood friend. “Cal! Long-time no see!” She signalled them to follow her. Together they fled the cellar and ran through a maze of cobwebs that’s when Pod realised there must’ve been another way in and out, “We didn’t come this way when they took us here.” Pod commented, “Yes, there’s another tunnel leading into here, I heard your cries and couldn’t resist helping. They took you underneath and opened a hatch correct?” Pod nodded, “I’ll take you another way. Cal might remember it.” She led them to a staircase and lifted the second step up, underneath was another tunnel. They came to a manhole at the end of the street and climbed out. It hurt their eyes looking at the sun again.

After hours of running through hedges, down hills, up hills and over streams, they came to a stop at a little shack. They rested there for the night and before he went to sleep, he wondered, why did they want the blueprints so much? Why did they care about them? Where was his father?