The Secret of NIMH New Leaf Chapter 48

Elizabeth woke up feeling a chill down her spine.  She slowly opened her eyes and turned to face the ceiling. She sat up and looked around, then up. Her blurred vision became lucid, she could see he was still asleep. She stood up and approached the bedside table. She figured she could see Justin when she had the chance. Just when she was about to touch the metal key, she stopped; Her fingertips were only a couple inches away from it. Elizabeth furrowed her brows as she shook her head. She couldn't, she couldn't do it. She walked back to her spot on the floor and curled up to stay as warm as possible. She missed her loved ones very badly, she could only imagine how her children and their friends were baring the cool nights; Hopefully their uncle was keeping them warm.

Martin woke up and looked over his shoulder. Abby was sound asleep with her head resting on his shoulder and her easy breath inhaling and exhaling. Very carefully, he reached out and lifted her body up, only to get up. Then he gently placed her on the grass and bark as she lightly smiled. He reached out and pushed Rick's arm gently.

"Rick . . . Rick . . ." he rasped. "Rick, wake up . . . " The red mouse groaned and woke up as he opened his eyes.

"Martin? Wha . . . What is it?"

"I'm going to save Mom, you wanna help?" Rick furrowed his brows.

"Oh no, Martin. I can't . . . there's too many guards out there . . . " he yawned.

"But she needs help!" Martin cried softly. "Come on, Rick! You've gotta help! You gotta!" Rick inhaled.

"Sorry, Martin. But . . . I don't want to get in any trouble." He rolled the other way, his back facing him. Martin bared his fists. He shoved Rick roughly, causing him to grunt. He faced Martin.

"I'm serious!" he hissed. Rick's eyes were red with exhaustion as he looked up at him. He sighed heavily.

"Alright, alright. Fine." He stretched and yawned, then got up. Rick faced Martin as he scratched an itchy spot on his back. "Do you know what you want to do?"

"No, not exactly. But I have an idea on how to get in."

"Well . . . let's quietly go to the entrance, then discuss how we're going to get in." Suddenly, a small hand tugged Martin's hand. The grey mouse quickly turned around, only to see Timothy looking up at him. 

"I want to go with you, Martin. Can I?" he asked. Martin furrowed his brows.

"Sorry, you're too little. Only Rick and I are going." he told his little brother. He ruffled his hair.

"But I want to, I can be brave, can't I?" Timothy asked.

"If you know the consequences, sure. If not, no. Sorry, Tim. But Rick and I have to do this on our own, we're older."

"But, Martin---- "

"But nothing. Look, go back to sleep and make sure nothing happens to Cynthia. If Teresa asks where I went, don't say anything. Got it?"

"Fine. But what if that rat gets you, Mama won't be too happy."

"I know, I know, don't worry. I won't get caught." Martin turned to Rick. "You ready?"

"Sure."

"Alright. Night, Tim." Martin quietly scurried to the bush, followed by Rick. Once he was beside Martin, Martin went in the bush. He briefly came back, only to poke his head out.

"All clear, let's go." he rasped. He pulled his head back in the bush and Rick followed him to the other side. Suddenly, Rick tripped over something. He looked up to see not one, but five crows nestled together. He gasped.

"Um, M-Martin?"

"What!" Rick pointed to the crows in front of him and Martin looked up. He simply smiled.

"Don't worry about them, they're friends of my mom."

"Oh." Rick relaxed and laughed lightly. "Never mind then."

"Come on, let's move." Rick got up and followed Martin out to the cave.

Once the boys got to the ground-level entrance, Martin peeked at the dark hole. 

"It looks safe." he whispered.

"Alright, Martin. You brought me here, what's your plan?" Rick asked softly.

"Mom's in the prison, right?"

"Yes, but there's guards there."

"Well . . . um, if we sneak in there without getting caught, we can snatch the keys and find the cell Mom's in."

"I think it's gonna take alot more than just that."

"Well . . . we have a snake. You can go in the prison, get the guards' attention and then run to the cave where the snake is. When the snake lunges, get out of the way so it gets one of the guards. That'll get their attention and they'll come running towards him. That's where you and I will run to the prison and find Mom."

"But how do we get the keys? The guards---- "

"We'll pick the lock." Suddenly, they heard footsteps approach them. They gasped as they looked over at the dark figure approaching them. Before they could run, he spoke.

"Need a hand, you two?" When he came out, his face appeared.

"Tristian?" Rick asked.

"You better believe it." the guard said.

"How long have you been out here?!" Martin cried.

"Over three weeks. You should be hiding and sleeping, this is not the place for you to be wandering around---- especially at this time of night." Tristian said. Rick hung his head.

"We know---- "

"---- But we gotta save my mom!" Martin cried.

"I know, but it's too dangerous. Besides, you're not going to find her in any cells." Tristian told him.

"Then where is she?"

"She's with Jenner."

"What! But why?"

"Trust me, it's best you didn't know."

"Come on, Tristian! You gotta save her, you gotta!"

"I can't, okay!" The guard took a deep breath, then exhaled. "I'm sorry, kiddo. But if I go in there and attempt to save your mother, I'll get caught. It's too risky. I'm not a coward, don't get me wrong---- But if I get caught, there's a likely chance Jenner could do much worse to everyone. That includes you, your friends, ecen your uncle! I don't want him to endanger everyone, I don't want that!" Martin hung his head and looked up once more.

"Isn't there anything you could do?"

"I think . . . there is one. One of the remaining hostages is Justin. If I can grab a sword from the guarding chamber, I can give it to him after I get him out. Then I can gather the guards and my brother so we can have everyone attack Jenner's men."

"Would you?"

"Yes. Now go on, get back."

"I want to help."

"I said no, Martin. I'm not going to argue about it."

"But----- "

"Go back!" Tristian's eyes were large and bloodshot red. The boys could see the serious look in his eyes. Rick was determined to leave, yet Martin continued to glare back at him.

"I'm not going anywhere, not until I knwo Mom's safe."

"I said no, Martin. Go back or I'm gonna tell Thomas to keep an eye on you." Suddenly, Martin stormed past him and scurried to the stairwell; Tristian couldn't believe his eyes. He growled.

"Goddammit! Stupid kid's gonna get himself killed!" He turned to Rick. "Rick, this might make me sound like a bad person but I need you to go back immediantly. Don't tell anyone what happened, including the Captain."

"You brother?"

"Yes, my brother----- Oh, God, Thomas would kill me if he saw me like this!"

"I won't tell him."

"Good, thanks! Now, go, go! Get outta here, run!" Rick turned around and scurried to the woodlands. As he did, Tristian shifted to the stairwell.

"Oh, God, I gotta find him before he gets hurt!" He ran for the stairwell and went up to hunt down Martin.

Martin looked at the hallway from the corner. The golden Christmas lights were dim, hardly anyone was around.

"Shoot!" he rasped. He walked forward and looked at each door.

"If Jenner's hiding Mom somewhere, where could she be?" He turned to the door on the right and turned the knob. Very slowly, he opened it, revealing a tiny crack to peek through. In the dark, he could see a desk, lots of books, paper, a raven feather pen, ink and other items. He opened the door wider and slowly walked inside. He stopped and looked around.

"Mom? . . . . Mom?" He shrugged his shoulder. He was about to close the door until a pair of hands grabbed him; One of them covered his mouth just when he was about to scream.

"Martin, Martin, relax! It's me!" the voice rasped. It was Tristian. The young mouse looked up and turned to face him.

"How did you find me?"

"Simple. I just listened to your footsteps." Tristian looked at the pitch blackness of the room and pushed the door; He could see very few items.

"Jenner's study." Tristian faced Martin. "Stay here, Martin." He went inside and walked over to the desk. He started rummaging through the piles of papers and in the drawers. Martin watched.

"What're you looking for?"

"A map. Jenner has a hand-drawn map somewhere. If I can find it, I can bring it to Thomas and the guards and everyone can devise a plan." He continued to look around the hoard. Suddenly, he found it; It was in one of the books. He looked at it and grinned. 

"Great!" he cried. "Alright, Martin, we gotta go."

"But what about Mom?"

"No can do, kid. Sorry." He left the room and closed the door. "Come on!" He grabbed Martin's hand and they ran.

When they got back to the woodlands, Tristian told Martin to go to sleep and keep tonight a secret. The guard searched for his brother and found him sleeping by a pine tree. He quietly tiptoed to him and stopped. He rolled up the map and put it under his arm. He smiled and took off to the cave.