Chapter 6: Nighttime Confessions

They arrived at eleven fifty-five. All was silent. The Academy seemed deserted, as all the students were in bed.

"Been a long time, eh Falco, Slippy?"

"Yeah.:"

"Ironic he's say to come here. I mean, this is where we all met."

"I remember, Slip." Fox's fur was on end, all his sensed on full alert. But all was silent. "Okay, might as well get this over with." He stepped out into the open. "Hello! I'm here! Lets get this over with!"

Silence.

"Hey, coward!" Falco yelled. "Get out here, already!"

Nothing.

They remained there for twenty minutes, then left. Fox was annoyed. He'd thought this was over, but now it seemed the guy had bailed on them.

He went to bed after checking to make sure his windows were locked. Just as he was about to drift off, his door quietly opened. With typical combat pilot training, his eyes popped open and he became fully alert.

"Fox? Did I wake you?" It was Krystal. Fox sat up.

"No. Is everything okay?" She slid into the room, wearing her old outfit from when they met, as if she slept in it.

"Everything's fine. I just..." She hesitated. Fox tipped his head.

"Yes?"

"I just... wanted to check on you." She blushed. Fox smiled, touched by her concern.

"Well, I'm fine."

"I know, it's just that - oh, I don't know what's wrong with me."

"We're all on edge. Heck, I'm even a bit scarred." She came to sit on the edge of his bed.

"You, scarred?"

"Not of him, but of that he knows. What's this secret my father kept from me? How bad is it?" He chuckled. "I'm not sure I want to know." Krystal gave him a hug.

"Well, no matter what, we're here." He returned the hug.

"I know. Now lets get some sleep. I've got a feeling this isn't over yet."

"Alright. Good night." She left the room.

"Fox laid back down, paused, then unplugged his phone before falling into an uneasy sleep.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Elsewhere...

Darkness. All was darkness. He had a blindfold over his eyes,that much he was sure of, and was bound, and he heard a voice speaking to him.

"Don't say a word, understand? I don't want to hurt you, but if you won't keep quiet I will. Play it cool, and you'll get to see your friends again. Got me?"

He nodded. Something was held under his nose.

"You know this scent? It's a normal, OTC painkiller. You've probably got a headache. I may intend to kill Fox, but I'm not heartless. Want it?"

Another nod. His head ached.

"Then open up."

He opened his mouth, having no option but to trust his captor, who popped the pill in and gave him a drink of cool water. He made a face, well knowing the taste. It was indeed the painkiller his captor had promised.

"Yeah, I know. I hate the taste too." He heard movement, like a chair scraping across the ground. "You must be wondering why I'm going to kill Fox. Well, I'm afraid you'll find out when he does. So get comfortable."

What choice did he have?