Back at our home base. “How will we explain this to Jennifer?” asked Misty, “We can’t even contact Jennifer, or Kat. Cristy and I will be fired and we just started working here!” “Yes, we will be blamed for the whole thing,” said Cristy, “they will think we are incompetent!” “Don’t worry you two,” said Galyna, “we are all responsible, not just the two of you.”

“Galyna is right,” added Hannah, “the first thing to remember in a catastrophe is, don’t panic.” “Seems like a good time to panic,” said Misty. “Yes, a very good time to panic,” said Cristy. Then they both giggled. “Okay, now that the panic session is over,” said Misty, “we need to figure out who did this and how they managed to get in undetected.” “Yes, and we need to try and figure out where Steve and the girls were taken,” added Cristy, “and that sure won’t be easy.”

“I will check with my contacts,” said Hannah, “maybe one of them has heard something.” She then went off to make some phone calls. Meowr.= Me can call cats, they can tell Kat. “That’s a thought,” said Misty, “except they can’t come back to help us. Only Steve and Dawn can call Sky.” “Yeah, too bad she can’t come back without being called,” said Crystal, “hey, wait, there’s a large truck and 3 cars pulling into the driveway.”

The girls and cats went outside, some secretly, ready for a fight. Jazzy got out of the lead car with her new bodyguard, a man named Bulldog. “Wow, he’s big like Rock,” said Misty, “maybe bigger. What do you want Jazzy?” “Hold off Misty,” said Jazzy smiling, “I brought you guys a present.” At first the girls were horrified when they saw the coffins, until Jazzy told them that we were all fine.

Jazzy had her men carry us, minus the coffins, into the house. Then she told her men to hang around outside to help guard the house while she and Bulldog came inside to talk with the girls. “Okay Misty, where’s Jennifer?” asked Jazzy. “Um, she and, um, Sky went for a walk,” replied Misty, “and they haven’t come home yet.” “And you haven’t called them about any of this?” asked Jazzy.

“Um, well, uh, they don’t have their phones with them,” answered Misty, “but they will be back any time now.” She tried to smile reassuringly. “You really expect me to believe this?” asked Jazzy, “Jennifer would never go anywhere without her phone, neither would Sky.” “I think we can trust Jazzy,” said Galyna, “you are a terrible liar Misty.”

“Yeah, I know, I have never been good at lying,” she sighed, “Jennifer isn’t here, she is with our rescue team.” Then she explained what their rescue mission was about. “On such a mission, getting those girls out safely is our top priority,” said Misty, “Steve figured we had enough of our team here to keep him safe. Except we didn’t.” Just then those of us that were kidnapped began to wake up, sort of anyway.

Except we just kind of sat there, staring blankly, not able to talk or do anything without being told what to do. “It’s because of that one odd element in the sleeping gas,” said Carolyn, “it kind of attacks the nervous system in a way that puts them in kind of a trance state. Unfortunately being like this Steve can’t ask for help, and that’s a problem, he needs Kat here, and soon, to help him and the others.

Otherwise they might stay in this state the rest of their lives.” But, I was trying. I just could not move my mouth or make a sound. I tried to call Sky silently, but that doesn’t work. I kept trying though, calling her name, telling her I need help, that I need Kat right away. Finally, after what seemed like hours, my mouth opened and closed, but no sound, no voice, not even a whisper.

But I kept trying until I was sweating. “He is trying to say something,” said Jazzy, “he said he’s trapped in himself. He needs Kat. He keeps saying Sky, and help me.” “How do you know that?” asked Crystal. “I can read lips, something that has helped me many times,” said Jazzy, “but why keep saying Sky? It’s not like she can hear him.” “Miracles happen sometimes Jazzy,” said Galyna, “and right now we need one.”

Meanwhile, back with our rescue team. “Stop for a minute everyone,” said Sky, “and please be quiet.” Everyone stayed silent, and listening, but not knowing what to listen for. “I hear something,” said Sky, “but I can’t quite make out what it is. It’s like someone is calling for help.” “Is it Steve?” asked Kat.

“I wouldn’t be able to hear him unless he speaks out loud,” she reminded Kat, “and that’s the only way I can go to him. But stay close, just in case.” “You stay close too Angel,” said Jennifer. She then got Natasha off the lion, and removed the saddle. “Look there,” said Jennifer, and everyone looked. That gave Angel time to return to herself again and she went to stand beside Sky.

Then Jennifer suggested they all walk ahead a bit so they wouldn’t have to stay quiet while Sky, Kat and Angel listened. As the others began walking away, the 3 ghosts turned invisible. They thought if it was me calling, it might be better to arrive invisible to surprise the enemy, whoever that might be. “The voice keeps saying I’m trapped in myself, help me, Sky, bring Kat, Sky help me,” said Sky, “it is quite clear now and it must be Steve, but I don’t recognize his voice, so I can’t go to him.”

“Perhaps someone has captured him,” said Kat, “or maybe someone is just trying to fake it, to try and call you.” “Maybe,” said Sky, “I did think of that, but I need to keep listening since it might be Steve.” “Why wouldn’t the team contact us?” asked Angel, “they can use the cats now.” “That wouldn’t get us home though,” said Kat. “True, I forgot,” said Angel. Back home again. “Sky,” I said, though quietly.

Sky, Kat and Angel showed up in the living room with us, but invisibly. They walked back to the kitchen and then came running in. “What’s wrong?” asked Kat. “Steve needs your help,” said Jazzy, “though I’m not sure how.” They quickly told the ghosts what had happened and what is now wrong with me and the girls. Crystal put a blanket over Kat and I so she could begin working on me.

“We don’t get to watch?” asked Jazzy. “Kat likes her privacy,” said Sky, “she insists on doing it this way. I hope she can help.” “Tell me Sky,” said Jazzy, “how did the 3 of you get all the way from Russia to here so quickly? I mean, that’s impossible travel time.” “Remember what I said about miracles?” Galyna responded, and smiled.

“I don’t believe in ghosts or miracles,” said Jazzy, “but I know something odd happened just now. By the way, where did Sky and Angel go?” “I thought I told you already Jazzy,” said Misty, “I’m sorry, they are with our rescue team.” Jazzy stood up and went over to Misty. “Do you always treat your friends like this?” she asked.

“Only the ones we love,” said Misty, as she smiled and hugged Jazzy, “thank you so much for bringing Steve and the girls back to us. Want some hot chocolate?” Jazzy just stood there looking at Misty. “Yes, I would like that,” she answered. Prior to leaving, Sky took Misty into the kitchen and had a talk with her. “Now, do you understand Misty?” asked Sky. “Yes Sky,” she said, “I know what to do.” Then Sky and Angel left, going back to the rescue team.

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.