The Basement Story

The Sorcerer Hunters watched from a safe distance at the mistreatment of the people the sorcerer was performing.

"What a monster." Chocolate said. "Making the villagers his slaves and then demolishing their village when he's thru with them. We've seen some pretty lousy things, but this guy sets a new standard for scum."

"We had better stop this sorcerer now before he ruins another town." Gateau said. Carrot stared at the scared young maidens who were forced to stay at the sorcerer's side.

"And the way he treats women really pisses me off." Carrot replied.

Tira stepped forward. "Then let's do it!!" Tira and Chocolate underwent their transformations and performed a flying leap to the sorcerer's throne.

"Who are you?" The sorcerer asked, annoyed by their intrusion.

"We are the last thing you will ever see. " Chocolate answered. The sorcerer stood up and laughed.

"You must be those Sorcerer Hunters I am always hearing about. You are no match for me. You may be able to control my magic, but you cannot control the weather! " With a flick of his wrist and a few magic words the sorcerer conjured up a massive 5 point tornado. Even though the tornado was still miles away, it was traveling towards the village fast and the strong winds were already causing damage. The sorcerer cackled loudly.

"Let me at that guy. I'll…" Gateau cracked his knuckles.

"No. We must help the villagers." Marron said. Already chaos was among the people. The villagers ran around everywhere not knowing what to do since a storm like this never occurred on this part of the Spooner continent. "We must get them to shelter."

"But, Marron, I don't think any of these houses will hold up in this storm." Tira worried. She looked in the distance. The tornado was much closer now, what she could see of it thru the rain that was beginning to pour down sideways thru the winds.

"They have to have basements somewhere." Chocolate screamed thru the train noise that came from nowhere. Quickly the sorcerer hunters split up. Gateau and Chocolate went one way and Tira and Marron went another. Carrot stood in the middle of the town staring in fear at the windstorm ahead. "Uhhhh….uhhhhh…ummm..ahhh…"

"Come on, Darling." Chocolate grabbed Carrot's shirt and pulled him inside a small cottage.

Tira and Marron headed straight for the orphanage. All of the windows were open and pictures were falling off the walls. Marron shut each of the windows while Tira gathered up the children.

"Is there a basement somewhere?" Tira asked a little boy. He was crying hysterically for his mommy so Tira decided just to look herself. She opened each door, hoping for a basement and soon her hopes came true. "Everyone in!" The kids rushed inside.

"Is that all of them?" Marron yelled to Tira. The storm was getting much closer and though he couldn't see out the windows he could hear buildings collapse outside. In fact, the roof above his head was coming apart.

"I think so. Come on!" Tira motioned for Marron to get moving and he hurried downstairs too.

Tira managed to calm some of the children down, but many were still squalling their fool heads off. The basement itself didn't look very sturdy and she wondered at how safe they really were. "I hope the others found shelter." She told Marron. He just nodded as the roof creaked above. Tira turned to a calmer little girl. "Is this the safest place in the orphanage?" The little girl shook her head.

"There's a better place down the hall. It's a bomb shelter. It has all concrete and is real safe." The girl explained.

"It looks like we may have to move them there." Marron replied. The dirt was beginning to crumble from the basement walls. Tira nodded and told the children they were moving. Several started balling again at the news, but the little girl Tira talked to said she would help. Tira patted her on the head and told her she was very brave. That brought a smile to the girl's face.

Marron opened the door a crack and was barely able to keep the door open that long because of the wind. A wall had already come down on one side and the beams above were swinging. Marron was able to see a path to get down the hall. "On three I want all of you to follow this girl thru there, okay?" Marron addressed the children. They all agreed, but Marron wasn't too convinced. "Maybe we should stay back to make sure they all get out of here. " He suggested to Tira. She nodded. Marron counted to three and yelled, "Go!" One by one the kids ran out the door down the hall.

"Marron, look!" Tira pointed at a post that was barely supporting part of the wall. He flew out of the basement and leaned against it, supporting it so the kids could get thru. Tira was urging the last of the children to go, but they were afraid. "It's okay. The others made it and you will be safe. Marron is out there making sure nothing will fall on your head. You can do it. " She encouraged until finally they agreed to go.

The first of the last children went but the very last stopped suddenly and stared at the ceiling. Then he began to wail. "Go! Go!" Tira urged, but the kid paid no attention. Marron noticed that the beam above him was beginning to give way. He left his post and pushed the kid out of the way of the plummeting beam.

"It's caving in on us!" Tira cried out as debris collapsed from the ceiling and all of the walls began to cave in. A creaking caused Marron to look up. Another wooden beam was swinging loose just above Marron's head. He gasped as the beam broke loose and began to fall.

"Marron!" Tira screamed. She grabbed his shoulder and flung him backwards back into the basement. The beam collided with the ground below. Suddenly the entire house collapsed, blocking the basement's entrance.

Tira gasped. Marron grabbed on of his wards. Once it started to glow he threw it at the entrance. The blast didn't clear the way as Marron had hoped. More debris collapsed to block their path.

"That's not what I wanted to happen." Marron remarked.

"We're stuck here."

"So it seems."

"Oh no."

"Tira! Tira!" Chocolate cried frantically amongst the ruined buildings. The tornado finally ended an hour later and most of the villagers were safe. A few were wounded, but being cared for by the nurses. So far there were no dead.

Chocolate clutched her shoulder where a china cabinet fell on her. Gateau had lifted the cabinet and was now uncovering Carrot. "Chocolate, freaking out is not going to help find her any faster." Gateau responded.

She glared at him. "Easy for you to say. It's not your sister underneath someone's house somewhere." Gateau regretted saying that the moment it came out of his mouth but he knew Chocolate would not accept apologies at this moment. Carrot finally emerged from between two bookcases.

"Oh that hurt. That was painful. Gonna feel it right there in the morning." He rubbed his neck and looked around. "Is everybody safe?"

Gateau answered, "The villagers are reuniting with their families as we speak. There are some wounded but no deaths."

"Where's Marron and Tira?"

"They're missing."

Marron and Tira figured they would be down there awhile so they made themselves at home. Marron surveyed the canned food and Tira made a couple beds out of cloth and blankets she found in a corner. They both knew the tornado had stopped. The train noise left and there was no more sound of falling walls. They were stuck there unless someone found them, so they made the best of it. Tira also decided to take this time to talk to Marron. Sure, they had talked but not really talked. They were friends and teammates, but not really close friends.

"Marron, can I ask you something? You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Tira's voice was small and she seemed a little embarrassed.

"Sure. Go ahead."

"Is it true you don't like girls?" Tira heard Marron sigh and look down. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"It's okay, Tira. No. It's not true."

"Oh."

"My brother started that rumor. I just never cared enough to respond."

"I just wondered." Tira said. "It seems like you are not interested in anyone. Not male or female. "

"Well. The truth of the matter is…" Marron paused, not sure he wanted to go on. He started the statement though, so he owed her to finish it. "I'm in love with someone."

Chocolate screamed at Gateau. Her fists clenched. "What do you mean go to sleep! My sister could be dead. She could be suffocating or bleeding to death right now." She pointed an accusing finger at Carrot. "And aren't you the least bit worried about Marron?"

"Of course I am. "Carrot responded angrily. "He's my brother. He's all I have left in the world, but Gateau is right. We can't help them if we die from dehydration and exhaustion first."

Gateau added, "We've been working nonstop since the tornado quit. If they are dead a night's sleep won't make a difference."

"But they are not dead!" Carrot and Chocolate yelled in unison. Gateau was surprised at their certainty.

"How do you know for sure?"

"I just know." Carrot answered. "My brother is not dead. I refuse to believe anything else."

"Who?" Tira asked. Stunned at Marron's confession.

"I am not at liberty to tell you her name." He answered simply. Tira knew he wouldn't tell her anyway. She just though she would try. This was a side of Marron she had never seen before.

"Does she know?"

"No."

"And why not?" Tira put her hands on her hips. "Don't you think she has a right to know?"

"She's in love with another."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Now I must ask you a question." Marron said. He grew solemn and apparently wanted to change the subject. Tira nodded and Marron proceeded. "What is it you see in my brother?"

Tira wondered at his question. At fist it seemed odd that he would ask it, but then again it didn't seem odd at all. Marron was often in the middle of her and Chocolate's torments aimed at Carrot. Suddenly she didn't know how to answer.

"I don't know." She said. She sat down and brought her knees up to her chest. "He's dumb, perverted, lazy, and a coward. Well, I guess he's sweet sometimes and normally does the right thing when he's not being a JERK!"

Marron seemed satisfied with that answer. Then he leaned back and closed his eyes. It amazed Tira how Marron was able to sleep in any position anywhere. He was often slumped up against a tree or rock. Carrot always whined and tossed all night.

It was hard to believe they were even brothers. Carrot always freaked out in situations while Marron was the calm one who held the group together. Carrot made wild assumptions while Marron looked for proof before claiming anything. Carrot was extremely immature and Marron obviously wasn't.

And why was Tira just now noticing how good-looking Marron was? She turned around and stretched out on the blanket she set out. She wondered if they were ever getting out of the basement.

Marron heard Tira finally lay down and retreat to the throes of sleep. He was glad that the conversation was over. Not that he didn't enjoy talking to Tira. The subjects of conversation were just a little too close to heart. After years of pretending and convincing himself he was not, Marron had come dangerously close to confessing to Tira he loved her.

Chocolate woke up at dawn and demanded Gateau and Carrot be up too. They went back to work uncovering buildings and picking up rubble searching for their missing teammates. Carrot was trying to move a kitchen table when a little girl tugged on his purple tank top.

"What the? Oh. Hello, little girl. What do you want?"

"Are you looking for your friends?" She asked wide-eyed.

"Uh huh. I am missing my brother."

"Does he have long hair?"

"Uh huh."

"And wear white?"

"Yeah." Carrot bent down to the little girl. "Do you know where he is?"

"Over there." She pointed to the wreckage where the orphanage used to stand.

He patted her head. "Bless your heart. You get a cookie for this one." Carrot told her. He yelled at Chocolate and Gateau to go over to the orphanage.

Tira had found a deck of cards and they were playing Go Fish when she suddenly heard voices above them. Her head snapped up from her hand of cards. She dropped them on the ground and looked at the ceiling. "We're here! We're here!" Tira waved her hands frantically.

Chocolate heard Tira 's voice. "There!" She pointed at a pile of rubble where a doorway used to be. "I heard Tira."

Quickly Gateau, Chocolate and Tira dug. Gateau's strength enabled him to pick up the wreckage that chocolate and carrot could not. Finally they uncovered enough to pull Tira and Marron thru. Chocolate hugged her sister tightly.

"You both okay?" Gateau asked.

"We're fine. We got stuck down there rescuing the children." They looked at the sisters who were stilled hugging.

Carrot announced, "Let's kick some sorcerer ass!"

The sorcerer was perched atop a throne. A dozen beautiful young maidens lay at his side. The men from the village came to him with meat and fish they had caught for the sorcerer's feast that night. The meat he found acceptable he kept. The meat he didn't he made the men eat raw in front of him, which was more often than not. As he delighted in this disgusting torture, the meat was suddenly whipped from the man's hands. The sorcerer stood up. "What the?" He was soon faced with Chocolate and Tira. "I thought you were dead."

"We don't kill very easy." Chocolate replied. The sorcerer flicked his wrist beginning his spell but Chocolate flicked her garrote. "No you don't. That was the last town you destroyed. We aren't letting you destroy anymore." She turned to Tira. "Come on, sis. Let's play." As Gateau, Marron, and Carrot looked on, the girls defeated the sorcerer.

The little girl thanked the sorcerer hunters for helping the villagers clean up their town. "When I grow up I want to be just like you." She told Tira. Tira blushed as the little girl ran to play. Chocolate looked furiously at Carrot coming onto another girl.

"Oooh. Tira, let's get him."

"Huh?" Tira responded.

"Darling is with another girl. We must get him away from her. Come on, Tira." Chocolate nudged her sister.

"Stop it, Carrot." Tira yelled at Carrot without nearly the enthusiasm she normally had. Carrot was afraid anyway and left the girl. Chocolate looked at Tira quizzically.

"What happened in that basement?" Chocolate inquired. Tira had been acting strange during the entire cleanup. She paid little attention to Carrot's girl chasing and Chocolate believed she caught Tira sneaking a few glances at Marron.

"What are you talking about?" Tira dodged the question. Tira's face grew red as if she knew what her sister was thinking. Tira left to help Gateau paint the last of the gates and Chocolate smiled. She knew something happened and she had an idea.

To be continued in "Honeymoon Suite."