Sillabub looked deep into Titus eyes and replied, "Of course I trust you." Titus smiled, "Then you'll have to come with me. We need to get you out of here. All of you. I know this place, a condemmned building were I can keep you out of harms way." Munkustrap was suspicious at first but figured how foolish it would be to ignore this tom's warning and have his entire tribe swept away. It was his decision. He sighed in fustration. How he wished Old Deuteronomy was here to give him advice and guide him. But now that he was gone, everything relied on him. Finally, he looked at Titus, and seeing the seriousness in the tom's face, nodded, "Okay, we leave now."
The jellicles were soon all brought to the building where is was cold and empty, however there was enough room for the tribe to fit in and much more. With it's vast space and closed in walls, every noise and every shuffle was bounced off the walls like a far off echo.
Tugger crossed his arms over his chest and mumbled, "I don't like this one bit." Sillabub too was growing frightened so she turned to Titus beside her and asked, "Titus, what's going on." He figured it was time to tell her. Tell her that he needed the tribe to fight with him against Macavity and his clan of Evil Cats so that the Alley Cat's, after living in bondage for nearly a decade, might be free once again. But before Titus could speak a slow loud clapping was heard echoing throughout the building. Startled, Titus and the others glanced behind them and nearly fell over cold once seeing Macavity emerge from the shadows with an evil grin on his face and still clapping.
"What are YOU doing here!?" Titus cried. The large cat walked up to Titus and said, "Well done by boy. Thought you'd never get the job done."
Munkustrap shot a stunned look at Titus and hissed, "You!" Sillabub glanced up at him with hurt and surprise in her eyes and her voice quivered, "No, I trusted you."
Titus didn't know what to say. He just stood there staring at the teary eyed kitten and shook his head, "No! But I didn't-" but there was no way to explain himself. Titus then glanced at Macavity still in a state of shock and growled, "How did you-"
And Macavity yanked out Willy from the shadows behind him. Titus gasped. The gray tabby was severly beaten and barley hanging on to life.
I'm so sorry." Titus shook his head, "No Will," and he looked away as he added, "I'm sorry." and Macavity shoved Willy aside and placed a strong arm around Titus' shoulder and said as he glared at the tribe before him, "You mean to tell me you didn't tell them Titus?"
Sillabub ran up to Titus, placing her paws on his chest, with misty eyes, and cried, "Say it aint so Titus." she began to cry, "Just tell me you don't work for this monster and I'll believe you! Just tell me it aint true!!" Titus couldn't bare to see the hurt in her eyes as he looked away and answered sadly, "It's true."
Everything iinside her crumbled. She was speechless and felt torn. Meanwhile Macavity interupted with a sniff and said, "This is all very touching; too bad I've lost all respect for emotions. Now to get done what I've came to do." and with that, legions of his black, filthy, Evil Cats emerged from the shadows like demons, hissing with their crimson eyes glowing like miniture golden orbs. Instinctively, the jellicles hissed back, with their hairs raised and their ears flat on their heads. With cold solid eyes Macavity then growled, "Attack." and instantly the demonic felines charged like an army of savage lions towards the tribe who bravely stood thier ground, ready to fight back. But Munkustrap held his paw up and yelled to his cats, "Stop!" then whispered a faint, "Retreat."
Alonzo glanced at him, stunned at his demand and asked with a bewildered frown, "Retreat?" Munkustrap quickly snapped back with fury, "They outnumber us ten to one! We will not die here like this! NOW RETREAT!!!" Full of complete understanding, Alonzo nodded and the Jellicles made an about face and fled for their lives.
Titus looked for Sillabub amongst the riot. Once seeing her, he shoved his way through the running Evil Cats till finally he was able to reach out, grabbing Sillabub's upper arm and yelled over the war crys of the other cats, "Sillabub wait! I can explain!" But Sillabub struggled out of his grip and screamed, "Get away from me! Let me go! You lied to me!!" but Titus refused as he tried to restrain her and yelled, "At least hear what I have to say!"
Sillabub instantly turned around and slapped him across the face, forcing him to release her and she took off running with her tribe. Titus stood there shocked at her reaction. Soon the building was desolate and silent once more. Macavity brushed by Titus and growled in his ear, "I told you Titus, don't mess with me, I can destroy you!"
The night was long and harsh. The jellicles were able to lose the pack of Evil Cats in the city and returned to the junkyard. Many were wounded and all of them were exhausted. Sillabub lied on the tire, crying her heart out under the moonlight. She couldn't believe how an entire life's desireful dream just crumbled in one night. She would never trust another tom again. But then again, she missed him already. Why had he done this to her? Suddenly, she heard a deep whisper. She immediatly sat up and was stunned to see none other than Titus standing in the middle of the junkyard floor, staring up at her on the tire. Sillabub quickly wiped away her tears and said, "What are doing here? If anyone catches you-"
Titus shook his head, "I don't care who finds me. I came to tell you...that...that I'm sorry. I didn't mean for all this to happen." Sillabub shook her head in disbelief as she asked, "Why didn't you tell me you worked for Macavity?" Titus sighed as he shrugged then answered, "Because I didn't want to lose you." Sillabub was silent for a moment thinking about his tender answer. A weak grin suddenly appeared on her face which grew into her long forgotten radiant smile that caused her eyes to shine. Without saying anything, she patted a spot next to her on the tire. Taking the hint, Titus climbed upon the tire and sat down next to her.
