"KARL???"
"Yes, it's me. Now unhand the girl!"
"Never! How did you escape?"
"Easy...while you were with Colby..."
"...we just unlocked the door..."
"...and we let Karl out!"
"GOTCHA!"
I was relieved. The Boss and Anna-Maria weren't. The Boss wasn't to rest, though - he drew out a knife and pointed it right at me. Now my relief was soon gone.
"Come any closer and this girl goes!" shouted Ben the Boss. Everyone stood still. Karl collapsed into Dan's arms out of exhaustion. He took a deep breath and then shouted at Anna-Maria's direction.
"Anna-Maria, listen to me! Ben has put you into a spell! Listen to me! Don't listen to him! The Boss has put you under a spell which he cast on you when you yourself was kidnapped while trying to save me! He cast the spell the exact same way he was going to with Colby! The only difference is that Colby escaped the spell because Ben didn't give the kiss of the spell! Listen to me, Anna-Maria...for soon we could be together just like old times..."
Anna-Maria shook herself. "What am I doing here?" she asked. She then looked at Ben the Boss with a sharp glare. The Boss became scared and dropped the knife, luckily not cutting me. Before he could run away, though, Anna-Maria pushed him down on the dungeon floor. "Guys...GET HIM!!"
Karl, Dan & Nic swarmed on Ben the Boss while Daz & Anna-Maria untied me and carried me up. The 3 who were attacking Ben the Boss threw him into the cell where Karl previously occupied. Then as Nic called the police, the others helped support me up as I was badly beaten. The police came soon after, together with some paramedics.
"Officer Lee Novak at your service," said 1 of the police officers, diplaying his ID. Together with them were some paramedics with two stretchers for me & Karl. We were transported out of the building and sent off to the hospital. We had to let Ben out though - the police wanted to take him in custody.
Karl was discharged about 2 weeks ago. I have to stay longer due to the bruises I acquired from Anna-Maria's whippings. Speaking of Anna-Maria, she & the rest of 00SG came to visit me in my hospital ward one day, bringing a few presents. We also had a long chat.
"Hi, Colby!"
"Hope you're fine..."
"I'm OK...my back hurts though..."
"Oh dear...do you want a massage?"
"Haha! No thanks, Daz...the doctor won't let my back be touched by anyone..."
"How come?"
"The whip's wounds haven't healed yet. If anyone touches them, it'll take longer to heal."
"The wounds! Oh Colby, I'm SO sorry..."
"That's OK, Anna...it's not your fault...I know how you feel..."
"You were lucky, though...you weren't given that damn 'spell kiss'..."
"Oh PLEASE don't remind me of that again...that was terrible...the touching and everything..."
"We won't then. Hey, we brought presents for you!"
"Yeah! Here's a bar of chocolates from me & Lee, the police officer. He's my cousin."
"A bar of chocolates! I love chocolates! Thanks, Nic! Oh, and tell him I said thanks!"
"Chocolates? Gimme some!"
"Now, now Dan, this is COLBY's present...this is for her...you'll get some soon..."
"But Mummy...hmph!"
(Everyone laughs)
"I got you a hand-held video game...life in hospital can be pretty boring..."
"Thanks, Anna! I'll play with it as soon as I can!"
"I've got something to say, by the way..."
"What is it?"
"I'm engaged...to Karl!"
"Congratulations!"
"Good for you! About time there's good news!"
"I got you a book to read...although with Anna's video game I'm not sure if you'll read it..."
"Don't worry, I'll read it...I'll read anything! Except perhaps porno material..."
"I've got something for you too...here, wear this..."
"Hey, it's the chain with the key! Only that there's no key..."
"I had it fixed 2 days ago...hope you like it!"
"I love it! The best present I've ever got! Thanks..."
"Oh dear, we better get going...see you soon!"
"Bye!"
"See ya!"
I was admiring my presents and could see Daz standing in front of the door, looking at me. He left a while later. After he left, I removed my chain and examined the heart. There was a letter attached to it. I read it. Here's how it went...
To Colby, this beautiful, wonderful, intelligent pixie of mine,
Remember the pact we made in junior high? The day we became best friends? Remember what the pact was all about - never keep secrets from each other, ever? Well, I've got a secret to tell you.
Remember the day I came to your house coz I wanted to check on everyone? Well, that's not quite true. I did want to check on someone, only that this particular someone was you. I went to your house to tell you something but I never got the chance, until now.
I remembered that on that day you pulled a trick on me by making me remove the key from your mouth by biting on it, and I ended up kissing you. I remembered that I said something about you wanting this for a long time. Was it true? I...well, I hope so...
I heard you said that you loved me as soon as you fell down on me. I don't know if you meant that seriously, but to tell you the truth, I've been waiting. A long time. I've been waiting for you to say it. For you to say those three words...
This might sound like a huge joke but it isn't. I've had a strong feeling for you. There was something special about you from the day we met. I've always wanted to tell you this, but I was worried. Worried that you'd reject me. Worried that you'd avoid me. But since that day, when you said those magic words, I think it's time for me to confess...
Colby, I Love You.
Lovingly yours till the end of time,
Darren, your Nightingale
I cried. I cried and cried and cried. I never knew Dazzles cared. I paused for a while, not knowing what to do. I decided to write a reply.
To the nightingale known as Darren,
I got your message. You would never believed how much I cried reading it. I've got to tell you something as well. Listen up.
Whatever happened that other day was for real. I decided to pull that key trick on you for a purpose. You see, I've had well, in high-school-girl terms, a crush on you. And you know how crushes go...you'll usually want to be closer to that person, wanting to do 'things' with that particular person...well, that's what happened with the key trick. I wanted to do 'something' with you...guess you'd already know the 'thing' I'm talking about.(You tasted kinda sweet...yummy...)
I did mean it when I said that I love you. I mean it a lot. A lot more than you'll ever imagine. And I hope you do too.
I Love You Darren. Lots & Lots.
Yours now & forever,
Colby the pixie
Daz got the message a few days later. On the day I was discharged, he was the one who picked me up. We drove to his place. It was a cozy little house with a huge garden. Daz put me on one of the long chairs and sat beside me. We talked for a while. Before I was sent home, Daz brought me to a small room with hearts and candles all over it. He & I sat down on the bed - the room turned out to be his bedroom - and told me to close my eyes. Then he began singing.
"Just a kiss divine...and you could be mine..." he sang into my ear. I could feel his hands holding my wrists. After he sang that last verse, he game me a soft kiss. "And now you are mine..."
So that's how I am today. I & Daz are engaged while Dan & Nic are getting to be quite the couple. Karl & Anna-Maria got married and had twins. We are all living in the same neighbourhood now, in one row of houses. We haven't had any experiences like the one with Karl for a really long time. And as they say in fairytales...
