After work, Yukikema met Tekoto and Moheite at her home, and they studied the
Smith case. She brought up the event that happened before lunch. "A Grundo was
at the office," said Yukikema. "I spoke to him, and he just took my purse. I
was so furious and I ran after him, but he disappeared after two miles."
"I think he might have been the kidnapper's assistant, and he is in the Smith
case for sure," said Moheite, "and I suspect he was the kidnapper. Do you remember
him exactly, so that if the Neopian Villains list prints, then you can verify
the person?"
"Yeah... I think I could!"
"Let's get to work then, because tomorrow the Neopian Villains list is printed
after Mrs. Zia finished her researching!"
"I think my mum and dad are waiting for me at home," said Moheite. "I'd better
leave, see you!"
Tekoto and Moheite left and Yukikema put all her papers below her bed. She
grabbed Marbotoke, her Doglefox, and put her on the kitchen chair. Kikarmia
was in her room, sleeping earlier than usual, which was quite peculiar. Yukikema
grabbed a Neocola from the fridge and sat down. She poured the soda into a glass
cup and drank from a straw.
Yukikema decided to check on her mother. She crept into her mother's bedroom
and shrieked. The Grundo she had seen that day was standing above her mother,
a Rod of Nova in his hands. When the Grundo saw Yuki he ran out the window and
landed on a platform. "Seeg! Nehw si taht lrig reven dnuora!" said the Grundo.
Kikarmia awoke quickly. "I had a dream that a NeoPet was about to destroy me!"
she said, puffing.
"What a peculiar dream!" said Yukikema. Tears rolled down her cheek.
Yukikema went to bed after Kikarmia was calmed down. She dressed into her
bunny slippers and faded shirt, then thought about that day. Why hadn't that
Grundo left her in peace? Why was he following her? Yukikema was to discuss
this with Tekoto and Moheite the next day at lunch.
The next morning came and Yukikema dressed herself and walked into the kitchen.
Her mother was on the couch, sleeping. Yuki grabbed a cup of coffee and kissed
her mother, then ran out the door with her folders and a sack of Neopoints.
The office wasn't as crowded as the day before. But what surprised Yukikema
was that there was a man with a hood over himself standing at the elevator.
He had a cloak which was short and he had boots and a wounded foot.
"My dear Yuki, what a pleasure to see you!" said the man, and he took of his
hood. Yukikema shrieked.
It was the Swamp Ghoul. But what would he be doing here? Yukikema hid her
folders and looked at the ghoul. "I don't have anything!" she yelled, puffing.
"Go from this office! We don't want you as an employee! Go!"
But then Yukikema heard footsteps. It was Mr. Tequil, her boss!
The Swamp Ghoul grinned and disappeared.
"Well, Yuki, who were you yelling at?" asked her boss.
"Practicing what to say to a kidnapper, sir," said Yuki, smiling innocently.
"Oh. Carry on then!" Mr. Tequil said, but then the Swamp Ghoul grabbed him
and bit him. Yukikema screamed as Mr. Tequil hit the ghoul, blood streaming
down his cheek.
"DID YOU DO THAT?" shouted Mr. Tequil.
"No sir," said Yuki.
"Why are you the only here then?"
"I was going to go on the elevator, sir."
"Liar! You are FIRED! FIRED! HA HA HA! NO MORE FILES FOR YOU!"
Mr. Tequil walked onto the elevator and snapped his fingers. Two Grundos appeared,
and grabbed Yukikema. Yuki screamed.
***
The next few hours were quite terrifying for Yukikema. The Grundos talked
in a different language quite different for Yuki. They said stuff like "Rd.
Htols si gniog ot eb eht tseb nialliv ni Aipoen!" and "I evah ot og eep." Yuki
cried as she thought of nasty Mr. Tequil tearing down her office, and Tekoto
and Moheite losing the job. It was either the Grundos leader or Mr. Tequil who
kidnapped the Smith parents and murdered the child. The company didn't need
the murderer's list, only pure evidence.
"I wonder where Yuki is, Moheite!" said Tekoto.
"I have a terrible feeling she has been kidnapped, Tek," said Moheite. "We
must ask questions."
"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" asked Tekoto.
"Yes, I am."
Mr. Tequil was walking on the second floor, and Tekoto was behind a wall at
the end of the hallway where Mr. Tequil's office was. The boss hummed and whistled
until he got to his office. Tekoto jumped from where he hid and grabbed Mr.
Tequil.
Moheite and Tekoto grabbed Mr. Tequil and slammed him on the wall. "Where
is she?" Moheite asked.
"Who?" asked Mr. Tequil.
"Yuki, you goose," said Tekoto. "Tell us where she is, or else our plans with
the Office Destroyers Company will occur. Takes us to where Yukikema is and
the plans are canceled."
"My Grundos took her, to the Laboratory," said Mr. Tequil. "Go there while
you can."
"Mo, keep him there until I report that I've found Yuki," said Tekoto. "I
will ask Refiroke to take me to the Lab."
Tekoto ran to the elevator and went to the bottom level of the building. He
went to the dungeon and set free his sister, Refiroke, who was an Eyrie. They
ran out the door of the building and flew away into the mist.
Yukikema was experiencing difficult times. She was at the ministry of pain.
The Grundos had strapped her tightly and she could not escape. The rope were
thick and very very tight, and her feet were strapped together with a belt.
Fortunately Yuki was in fresh air, and the Grundos were so slow that Yuki
could imitate them without them looking. She would stick her tongue out and
talk, or she would look at their backs like they do to people either than themselves.
Tekoto was high in the air at this time, and Refiroke was soaring magnificently.
"Don't worry, Yuki, I'm coming!" said Tekoto, and Refiroke screeched. A swarm
of fireflies had surrounded them, and they were saying, "Cook them!" to one
another. Refiroke soared higher and the fireflies died away. They flew to the
Space Center, where Grundos chattered, drinking snot beer, but you didn't need
to know about that.
They went into the Lab and contacted Moheite. The Lab was extremely awesome.
There was a Lab Ray, and a chair that was really large. Grundos guarded it,
and there was a very old Aisha sitting on the chair. Tekoto decided to talk
to him. He had a silver beard and three orbs. He was about one million years
old indeed, and quite wise.
"Sir Aisha, may I have a word?" said Tekoto.
"Yes, lad," said Sir Aisha, "and call me Sir Skeithalot."
"Well, you see, I think I know someone who kidnapped parents and murdered
a child," said Tekoto.
"Who, might you ask?"
"Dr. Frank Sloth, sir."
There was a huge cackle not from Sir Skeithalot but from the Swamp Ghoul,
who lay on the floor.
"No, you are incorrect, Tekoto, it was I, Sir Skeithalot, who destroyed the
Smiths. I am the Magic Maniac!"
"You can't be!" yelled Tekoto.
"Sloth managed to find me an assistant, Mr. Tequil, to help me with my murders.
It was all three of us who destroyed the Smiths and kidnapped your helpless little
Yukikema. She is worthless. And so Moheite, who Mr. Tequil caught while you
were wandering in Neopia on a summer's day. Well it seems your team has lost,
so you might as well join your friends." The Magic Maniac snapped his fingers
and Tekoto was grabbed and tied with a rope. He was tied with Moheite and Yukikema
and they were going to be beamed by the Lab Ray!
Yukikema turned to Tekoto. "I've got a plan," she whispered. "I think I have
a fire mote in my pocket!"
"Take it out!" whispered Moheite. Yuki did so. She threw the mote onto the
floor and it exploded. But it was too late. Only Tekoto escaped when the Lab
Ray shot the girls, and he was left alone as the Grundos kidnapped him and took
him away....
The End | 
