Individual's Blog

CHAPTER 17



After they had parked Rob's car and snuck out, they ran back to Sams house. After they had rested a while the reality of what they had just done hit them smack in the face.

"We're dead." Wayde muttered.

"We're not dead. You are." Justin replied.

"Why me?"

"Cause you drove."

"Sam did to."

"You and Sam then."

"Yeah? Well, what happens to you then?" Sam said, sitting down.

"Nothing. I didn't drive." Justin said, grinning big.

"Close ya mouth, innocent boy." Wayde said.

"He's right you know." Sam said to Wayde.

"Yeah! I'm right!" Justin butted in.

"Be quiet, Justin." Sam replied.

"So ... what do we do?" Wayde said.

"We could call the police."

"You would, would you?!"

"Yeah."

"Some friend you are!" Wayde said, his emotions flapping.

"He serious?" Sam said, to Justin.

"Dunno, ask him."

"Stop talking like I'm not even in the room!" Wayde said, hotly.

"I ain't askin' him." Sam said.

"That's it! I'm outta here! Cya so-called-friend-whoâd-call-the-police -to-string-up-his-best-friend!" And Wayde stomped out the room, out the door and down the street.

"Uh ... Justin, does he act like this at home?" Sam asked, confused.

"Depends ... when I told mum he was sneaking socks and stuffing them in his pants when he got a smack he kinda acted like that."

"I see."

"Don't worry bout' him. He'll come 'round."

"I see."

"He's just a bit uh ... in trouble at the moment."

"I see."

Justin grinned, "Just like you."

"I see."

Justin stopped grinning, "What's the matter?"

"I see ... uh, oh, nothing."

"Sam, dude, you can't always hold in what your feeling man. You just gotta let it out sometime. Otherwise it'll just keeping eating at ya. Won't let up. So ya can tell me what's going on. I won't tell anyone. C'mon spill the beans."

Sam blinked.

"What?"

"What's going on?"

"You know when we went to Disneyland, two months ago?"

"Sure."

"No. We've never been to Disneyland. You seem to be a bit confused too. How about you stop getting on my case when your going through the same thing."

Justin blinked.

"What?"

"I think you'd better leave."

"What?"

"Now."

"Wha- uh, well, ok. Uh, bye."

"Yeah, bye."

So Justin got up, more than a bit confused, and walked out.



Wayde was steaming. Literally. Had ran the last kilometer to his house and was sweating like a ... well, like a human that had ran a kilometer in 38 degree heat would.

"I can't believe he would call the cops on me ... although I probably deserve it. I broke the law! Oh man! God, I'm sorry. I won't do it again ... I think. But I really am sorry." He said aloud as he pushed open the door to see that the lights were off and noone was home.

'Huh, what day is it? Saturday. Hmm, maybe mum and dad went out to lunch ... again.' He walked through his house and sat down on the couch. He turned on the T.V. to see if any sport was on when he heard talking ... loud talking.

He didn't feel anything when he pressed the volume button.

He felt something when he saw that the volume was on zero.

He gulped. Someone was in his house.



Justin trudged through high weeds growing on the side of the road as he walked home. Their house was on top of a hill sort of and he could see it from where he was ... about 150 metres or so away.

'Why, is everyone so ... touchy, today?' He thought, 'I mean we only broke the law, stole a car, shoved a taxi driver out of his car, drove above the speed limit, under age drove and ... well, I guess that's a good reason to be touchy.'

He walked on until he was a short way away from the house.

'Mum and dad musta' gone somewhere.' He thought as he saw that both their cars were gone, 'All well. Guess I'll have to face Wayde alone.'



'Oh dear. No ... must be my imagination. Nope not my imagination. Wait. Yes. No. There definitely is someone in here other than me. Maybe it's Justin. Nah, I ran here. Guess I'll haveta' get rid of this ... person, before he ... does something he shouldn't.'

Wayde got up and snuck down the hall way. No one in his and Justins room. He walked down some more. Noone in his parents room. He slowly pushed open the bathroom door. Noone in there either. He stopped for a moment. And listened. He could still here muffled voices and shuffling. And it sounded like they were right ... above him.

He jerked his head up to a blank white roof.

'Nothing suspicious. Blank white. Smudge where Justin through his dirty sock at me and a m- m- manhole.' He gulped. Suddenly he knew where the voices where coming from.



'What was I thinking?' Sam thought to himself, 'That's my best friend ... And I just kicked him out. Man! What's gotten into me? Man ... I gotta catch him." Sam got up and locked the door after him.

'He couldn't have gone that far.' He jumped on his bike and took off down the road.



Justin had almost reached their door when he heard something behind him. He looked back and saw Sam riding up. He stopped and waited for Sam to come over. Sam grinned at Justin, hopped off and let go off his bike.

Ka-bam! His bike slammed into the ground.

"Ahh! Man! Keep forgetting to put the stand down!" Sam said picking his bike back up.

Justin grinned.

"Hey man. Sorry bout' what I just said ... Dunno what I was thinking. Still friends?" Sam said, holding out his fist.

Justin grinned again and slammed his fist into Sams, "Sure thing, pal."

"Come inside. I'll getcha a drink."

Sam followed Justin inside then stopped. "Uh, why are all your lights off?" Sam said.

"Huh, good point. Dunno." Justin replied flicking on the light.



Wayde was stuck still. Their we're another bunch of people entering his house. He quickly walked back out and down the hall. He poked his head around the corner to see Sam and Justin laughing on the couch.

"Guys!" Wayde said, running out.

"Guy." Sam nodded.

"Mate." Justin nodded.

"Friend." Sam nodded.

"Pal." Justin nodded.

"Dude." Sam nodded.

"Huh?" Wayde asked.

"Nothing. Sorry 'bout what I said before. Still friends?" Sam said again sticking out his fist.

Wayde looked at Sams fist and said, "Uh yeah."

Sam dropped his fist and shook his head at Justin.

"Quick, guys you gotta follow me!" Wayde blurted.

"Sure. After we finish our drinks." Justin replied, slurping down his coke.

"No! You've gotta come now! There's someone in our roof!"

"It's probably just a rat." Sam said.

"Do rats talk?"

"On T.V. they do."

"This ain't T.V. Now come on!"

Justin shrugged at Sam and they both got up and followed Wayde to the bathroom.

"Wayde, I'm sure you've got a nice bathroom but I'm thirsty." Sam said.

"Shh! Listen." Wayde replied.

They were quiet and listened. Sure enough they heard voices.

"How'd they get up there?" Justin asked.

Wayde pointed to the manhole.

"I see."

"We gotta figure out a way of getting them out. And in." Wayde said.

"Out? In?" Sam said, confused.

"Outta here. Into jail."

"Oh, right."

"Come on ... Hoist me up." Wayde said, lifting one foot.

"What?" Justin asked.

"What do you mean what?"

"What are you gonna do?"

"Climb in the roof and get em'!"

Justin looked at Sam. Sam looked at Justin. They both looked at Wayde.

"Are you nuts?" Sam said.

"Do you have a better idea?" Wayde said.

"Yeah."

"What?"

"Let's go back into the kitchen and grab a drink."

"No. Now help me!"

Sam rolled his eyes and grabbed his foot. Justin grabbed the other and they lifted Wayde up.

"Little higher!" Wayde said.

"Higher? You must weigh a tonne!" Sam puffed.

"Got it!" Wayde said, pushing the man hole up through the roof and looking through.

"I can't hold him anymore!" Justin squeezed out.

Suddenly they heard Rob's voice.

"Hey! You kid! Stop!"

"Ahh!" Wayde yelled.

Sam got knocked off balance and stepped on Justins toe.

"Ahh! Youch!" Justin grabbed his foot ... dropping Waydes.

"Justin!" Sam yelled under the weight.

Crack! Sam dropped Wayde and Wayde came tumbling back down.

Amazingly, Wayde landed on his feet ... On Sams hand.

"Ahhhhhh!!! You crazy person!!!!!" Sam screamed.

"Oops, sorry Sam." Wayde said, moving over.

Crackkkk! The mirror shattered in front of their eyes.

"Run!" Justin screamed as he saw a gun pointing through the hole.

They took off back down the hall and out their front door. Their next door neighbours front yard was a forest. Huge tree and tonnes of large plants were everywhere. So Wayde motioned them to hide in there. They all ducked behind a big, leafy bush.

"Whatd'cha see?" Sam asked, quickly and quietly.

"Rob ... And ... And-"

"Who else?" Justin butted in.

"Mum and dad."

Plop. Justin fainted.

"What do ya mean?" Sam asked.

"They where there ... Tied up."

"Tied up? In the roof?"

"Uh huh."

"This is too weird."

"Yeah, well, we've gotta get them out!"

"How?"

"We go in the same way they got in."

"And ... Where was that?"

"On the roof."

"Huh?"

"Think man. Tiles. Roof."

"Not following ya."

"T-i-l-e-s and r-o-o-f."

"You think spelling it out will help me understand?"

"Oh brother. They got in by moving the tiles on the roof and getting in."

"Then how did he get your parents up there?"

"Probably forced em' ... up a ladder."

"Yeah, well. Lets look for a ladder then."

Wayde just looked at Justin.

"I can get him awake." Sam said, rushing off.

"Sam!" Wayde hissed. But Sam kept on moving.

A while later Sam came back ... With a bucket of water in his hands.

"Wakey wakey, kiddo." Said Sam, then poured it on Justins head.

"Don't shoot!" Justin screamed, waking up.

Wayde slammed his hand on Justin mouth.

"Shhh!"

"Huh? Oh, Wayde! Your not dead."

Wayde had a feeling he didn't want to know what Justin had just dreamed about.

"No ... Now follow us." They crept after Wayde.



CHAPTER 18



"Do any of you guys have a towel?"

"Quiet Justin! Do you wanna give us away?" Wayde replied, harshly.

"No, I wanna give Sam away though."

"Huh? Why?" Sam asked.

"I sure you didn't have a second thought about dumping water, -20 degrees cold, on my head! Didcha?"

"Well, yeah. Actually I did."

"You did?" Justin said, dully.

"Yeah, I wondered if I should put concrete in the bucket or water ... So be happy I chose water."

"Funny."

"C'mon guys! Stop arguing. Sam, you get up the ladder first." Wayde said.

"Me? Nuh uh. No way."

"Just get up there!"

"Your forcing me up?"

"Remember that time when we shaved your head straight down the middle while you were asleep?"

"I'm on my way."

They watched as Sam climbed to the top and motioned for them to come up.

"Wayde ... Perhaps you should go before me."

"Justin ... Perhaps you should move your behind before I kick it to kingdom come."

"Wayde, I mean it. I ain't good at climbing ladders."

"What do ya mean? When was the last time your fell off a- oh ... I keep forgetting."

Justin rubbed his arm in painful memory.

"Yeah ... So ..."

"So get up there like nothing ever happened."

"Wayde!"

"C'mon it'll be cinch. Remember I'll be down here so I can catch ya if your gonna fall."

"Gee Wayde. You make me feel so secure."

"I know. Now get up there!"

"Gee Wayde, you make me feel so-"

He got cut off as Wayde shoved him (hard) towards the ladder.

Justin gulped and began climbing.

He was halfway up when Wayde shook the ladder.

"Wayde!" Justin hissed.

"Just lettin' ya know I'm here." Wayde grinned.

Justin rolled his eyes and climbing the next few rungs as quick as he had ever before ... Which wasn't that quick.

Once he had reached the top he grinned at Sam and waved for Wayde to come up. Justin turned around when he heard a crack behind him.

Sam and Justin whirled around to see the ladder disappear.

They peeked over the side to see Wayde laying the ladder on the ground.

He looked back up at Sam and Justin and winked. Then ran around the corner of the house.

"Uh ... Did he just ditch us?" Justin muttered.

"Lousy bushwacking coward." Sam muttered back.

"Nah ... He's probably got some other plan ... I hope."

"Yeah, right. I see through those little beady eyes of his! He's too chicken to help us so he's leaving us up here."

"I sure hope your ... Wrong."

"Yeah, whatever."

"C'mon let's, uh, survey the situation from three different angles."

"What?"

"Um ... Uh, well. Uh, Sam look through the file!"

"The what?"

"Uh, tile. Look through the tile."

"I think you've had to much sun."

"Run? There's nowhere to run."

"Get a hold of yourself man."

"Ok Sam. Sam da man. Man, dude, friend, pal. Sammy."

"Justin, look at me."

Justin stopped and looked at Sam.

Pow! Sam slapped Justin on the side of the face.

"Quiet. Got it?" He asked.

"...yeah, I got it."

"Good. Now watch."

Justin watched as Sam moved over to the side of the roof and grabbed a tile. As slowly as he could he slid the tile down.

Sam cringed as it made a small scraping sound.

He looked through then motioned for Justin to come.

Justin gulped as he looked over the side of the roof.

Sam tapped Justin on the shoulder.

"Sam!" Justin said, grabbing Sam, "You all most knocked me off!"

"Yeah, I feel terrible about that ... Now be quiet and look."

Justin poked his head through the hole ... And sneezed. The sneeze echoed throughout the roof.

"Justin!"

"Sorry, I couldn't hold in it any longer!"

"Well, you could've done it when ya head wasn't in there!"

"What do you think I was sposed to-" All of a sudden another voice filled the hole.

"Ah ... I'm glad you came to join us." Suddenly a gun poked through the hole, "Get in!"

"Ahh!" Justin screamed, falling backwards.

"Watch out!" Sam yelled as Justin rammed into him.

"Ahhhhhh!!!!" Justin yelled again as he tripped over Sam. The last thing he saw before falling was Rob grabbing Sam.

"Nooo!" Justin yelled, grabbing at the gutter. Slip. He missed.

"Help!" Justin braced himself for the impact. He never felt it.

Justin opened one eye. He was in Waydes arms.

Wayde smiled, "You fell off the roof."

Flop. Justin fainted again. Well, tried to.

"Hey!" Wayde slapped Justin, "You gotta stay awake! I need ya help."

"Huh? Oh yeah, great."

"You better be glad I caught ya when I did. Or else ya would be ... be ..."

"Please don't talk about it."

"Yeah, well, c'mon follow me." Wayde said, dropping Justin.

"Ouch!" Justin yelled, as he hit the ground.

"Stop being such a klutz!"

"You can talk! Just drop me why don't ya!"

"You want me to carry you?"

"Yeah."

"Find your own camel. Now follow!"

Justin grabbed his back and hobbled after Wayde.



Bang! Rob slammed Sam down next to Mrs and Mr Randell.

"Hey! You fat slob! Watch it!"

"Kid, let me give you a little bit of advice, don't mess with me."

"Why not? Huh? Whatcha gonna do?"

Rob waved his gun in front of Sams face.

"Use your imagination."

Sam gulped.

"Make a move and your history." Rob said, grabbing some rope he had got from who-knows-where and tied Sams wrists together.

"How am I sposed to move?" Sam muttered.

"What's that?!" Rob asked.

"I said, 'You reek and look like a geek.'"

"Funny kid. Yeah, you talk big now but when your burning like ... like ... fire, you'll be singing a different tune."

"B-burning?"

Rob smiled, revieling ugly brown and yellow teeth.

"Yup."



"Wayde! We were just in here! We could get k - k -"

"Kicked out?"

"Not the words I was thinking of but close enough."

"Hey, no prob. I've got it all figured out. And you won't believe what I found."

"I'm sure I'll believe it."

"I'm not so sure."

"Well, what is it?"

"Follow me."

"How many times do you have to say that?"

"'Bout ten. Maybe twenty before you listen."

"Hardy har har."

"Ok, down to the basement."

"We have a basement?!"

"Told ya you wouldn't believe it."

"I knew that."

"Sure. Now watch."

Wayde stopped in the middle of the hallway and began feeling the wall.

"Wayde tell me you haven't lost your marbles."

"No. Well, yes. I lost them last week. Speaking of which ... Did you steal them?"

"Funny. Just tell me what your doing."

"What's it look like I'm doing?"

"Falling in love with the wall."

"Your gross. No, I'm looking for a switch."

"For a light?"

"Nope ... for a door."

"You've read to many detective books."

"If I hadn't I wouldn't of found this out would I?"

"I dunno."

"Aha! Got it."

"Got what?"

"The switch!"

"Oh."

"Now ... Stand back!"

They both took a step back as Wayde flicked the switch.

All of a sudden a tiny swoosh sound filled the air. Right in front of their eyes a door moved back into the wall and slid across. Revieling a staircase that led down to somewhere.

"I told ya."

Justin didn't say anything.

"Uh, you ok? You look pale."

"Did I just see what I thought I saw? No. Ok, this is a dream. I'll wake up soon."

Wayde pinched Justin.

"Ow!"

"Does it look like your dreaming?"

"Well ... How did that happen? And it was sooo quiet! I mean, that stuff only happens in the movies!"

"Not this time. Come on."

"Where ya goin'?"

"Down."

"Right. Well, I've gotta go! Bye!"

"Justin!" Wayde said, grabbing his arm, "Don't worry."

"Don't worry? You've been down there?"

"Nuh. Never have."

"Adios amego!"

Wayde grabbed Justin again.

"Don't worry. Come on. Just think of it as an adventure!"

"I'll think. You go."

"Justin! We don't have time for this! Just come on!"

"Oh, all right!"

They both stepped onto the staircase and began their descent.



"Seeing as though your going to die in about 20 minutes I will give you a brief review of how this all came into being." Rob said, sitting down.

Sam rolled his eyes.

'How dumb does he think we are?' He thought to himself, 'Come on Wayde, save us!'

"As you know we started this operation at the start of your child's school holidays." Rob nodded towards Mr Randell.

"He's not our son."

"Thank you for that information but I couldn't care less. Anyway, we thought you would go on holidays ... Obviously we were wrong. But we thought up a way to include your plans with our plans."

"Congratulations." Sam said.

"Thank you."

"Can I ask you a question?" Sam asked.

"You have 15 seconds."

"I just wanna know why you've been following us. What's so good about our houses anyway?"

"It's not so much your house, kid. In fact it has nothing to do with your house. It's about this house."

"Then why'd you plant a camera in my room and in my tree?!"

"Well, we had to make sure you weren't changing your plans."

"Huh?"

"I mean, we had to make sure you wouldn't change your minds and go on holidays, or camping."

"I see."

"Yes, anyway-"

"Uh, you didn't tell us what was so good about this house."

"Ahh! Yes, your going to enjoy this."

"I'm sure we will." Mrs Randell muttered.

"You see about two years ago I found a map."

"A map."

"Yes! Well, To make a long story short ... My grandfather died and when he was on his deathbed he gave me it. Told me to look for the treasure he had hidden ... A long way away. So, I took it and went home. At home I read it and found that the treasure was in Australia."

They all looked at him blanked faced.

"I lived in America when I read the map."

"Oh."

"Yes ... So I read it and followed the map, with my girlfriend of course."

"That would be Marcie?"

"Of course. I even have the original map here with me! Take a look!" Rob stuffed a piece of paper in front of Mr Randells face.

Mr Randell shook his head.

"What are you shaking your head about?" Rob demanded.

Mr Randell frowned, "This is a will you idiot. Not a treasure map."

Ron snarled. "Silence infidel! Me and Marcie will take this treasure from you! Now! Back to the story! Sooo we found the right house, this house, the treasure was in and waited until the right moment. You didn't even know we were here did you?"

"You were here? In our house?" Mr Randell said.

"Not when you were home of course ... But every time you were out we were. In fact, tonight was the night we were to take our treasure out of here and back to America ... by ship of course."

"Tonight?" Sam asked.

"Yes. Time was running out and we couldn't wait till you left so we had to take matters into our own hands. Since you were home we had to tie you up and ... Well, get rid of the evidence."

"Get rid of the evidence?"

"Exactly. By fire."

"Fire?" Mr Randell asked.

"Fire burns all evidence. Sorry but someone had to start it. And that someone will be you." Rob said, pointing to Mr Randell.

"Where is the treasure? What is the treasure?" Mrs Randell asked.

"In answer to the first question ... In your basement. I know you didn't know you had one. But we found it ... Thanks to my grandfather."

"Your grandfather?" Sam said.

"Yes, he travelled here when he was young and built this house in fact!"

"He did?"

"Yes! He was a builder. And he was the one who made the basement concealed so noone could enter ... Unless they knew where the switch was ... And the map said where the switch was. In answer to the second question, It is gold!"

"Gold?"

"Yes! He was also a gold miner. And a successful one at that! In your basement right now is approximately more than 5 million dollars worth of gold bars."

Sam gulped. "It's in there now?"

"Well, no and yes. My assistant is bringing a truck over right now to pick up the gold."

"That doesn't leave you much time to get the gold out." Mrs Randell said.

"Why's that?"

"You said you were gonna burn this place down in twenty minutes ... How are you supposed to get the gold out before twenty minutes is up."

"I have a lot of friends here ... What? You thought one man was going to move the treasure? No, my friend. I have a lot of friends that were willing to help."

"Willing?"

"Well, If they wanted to die they wouldn't of helped would they?"

"So you forced them."

"In a matter of speaking, yes. In fact ... You hear that? They are here."

"They?" Sam asked.

"20 of my best men ... Here to take they gold safely from here to there."

"There?" Sam asked again.

"The docks ... Where our ship is waiting."

"H-h-how long will it take to uh, get the gold bars out of the house?" Mrs Randell said.

"About five minutes."

"Five?!" Sam asked, unbelievingly.

"Yes, these guys are professionals ... Like me. So, if you'll excuse me. I better be helping them." And Rob hopped back out the hole in the roof.

Seconds later he was back.

"Your friends are smarter than I thought ... But you think moving a ladder will prevent our plan from working? Oh, please!" Rob said. Before going back on to the roof. Suddenly they heard shouting from on the roof.

"John! Everything ready to go?!"

"No problem Rob. Everything's out!"

"You sure?!"

"Yes sir."

"Good! You know where to take it! Get everyone out and go!"

"Yes sir!"

Rob poked his head back in. "You heard?"

"Uh huh." Sam said.

"Good. Now, I'm leaving."

"How? You have no ladder!"

Rob held up a long loop of rope. "I think I'll make it."

"My friends will get us out of here!" Sam yelled.

"Sam!" Mr Randell said.

"Oops, sorry."

"Don't worry, sonny." Said Rob, "Your friends have been taken into custody."

"What?"

"They were caught."

"How!" Sam blurted.

"Trapped in the basement."

"What?!"

"You heard me ... They will be frying along with you. Now, if that is all .. I must be going."

"But, what about us?"

"What about you? Let's just say now is the time to ... He he, get things lighted up."



- Chapter 19 soooon -

CHAPTER 15



Sam, not noticing what was going on behind him, was having the time of his life.

"Oh yeah! What a shot! Come back here you creep!" Wayde quickly jumped over and put a hand on Sams mouth.

"Hey! What are you-" He got cut off as Wayde pushed his hand down harder. He nodded again towards the police-car.

"Oops, sorry!" Sam whispered, dropping his rock.

"Don't worry, he'll probably go past." Wayde said back.

Suddenly a policeman hopped out of the car and began to walk over.

"Now would be a good time to start worrying." Justin muttered.

They watched as the policeman walked, painfully slowly, towards them.

"You boys weren't thinking about throwing rocks at someone where ya?"

The policeman said stopping in front of them.

"Um, throwing rocks? Um, no sir. We, uh, were just having us a little target practice." Justin said nervously.

"Yeah, that's right sir! Wayde here, he would never throw a rock at anyone, no siree!" Sam said pointing behind him.

"Wayde?" The policeman said confused.

"Yeah!"

"Who's Wayde?"

"Who's it look like?!"

"Kid, I won't have you mocking me."

"Mocking? Are you off your rocker? That's Wayde!" Sam stated, turning around and pointing ... at air.

"Hey? Where's Wayde?!" He said.

"R- right. Where is he?" Justin said concerned.

"I don't have time for your clowning around. I just came to tell

you boys to be careful walking around here. There has been complaints of a gang making trouble around here."

"Three guys? One skinny, two medium?" Sam said grinning.

"Why, yes."

"Yeah, we'll be extra careful. In fact we just had the pleasure of making their acquaintance." He continued.

Justin poked Sam hard.

The policeman didn't seem to notice.

"Well, boys, you be careful, ya hear?"

"Yeah, we hear ya, loud and clear, cap." Sam said.

The policeman just walked back to his car. Firing it up, he drove off.

"Ok Wayde! Where are you!" Justin yelled.

"Right here."

The two turned around to see Wayde moving out from behind a huge trunked palm tree.

"What in the world are you doin' there?" Sam said aggravated.

"Hiding! What else would would I be doing behind a tree?"

"Doing a Numero uno?"

"Hilarious."

"Why we're you hiding?" Justin asked.

"I'm old enough to get fined! If he had saw ya throw the rocks at em', I'd be the one who would have to get fined!" Wayde said.

"Oh! So, you would rather see your pals get arrested than get fined yourself? That's just fine!" Sam said hotly.

"Aw, come on Sam! I knew he wouldn'ta arrested ya!" Wayde said.

"Sure."

"Well, I'll leave you two to your differences. I'm going down to the beach." Justin said, getting on his bike.

"Hey, wait for me!" Sam said.

"Me to!" Wayde said, following suit.

"So, much for a peaceful walk on the beach." Justin muttered.

"So ... which way?" Wayde said.

"How about up there? No, across the pier. How bout' down there?" Sam said quickly.

"How about a smack in the nose?" Justin said, a little louder than he intended.

Sam didn't say a word. He just jumped on Justins back and began pounding.

Crash! They fell in a heap.

Wayde smiled to himself. This was a perfect chance to do some trick playing himself.

"Get off me you big lug!" Justin yelled.

"Not a chance you little bug!"

"Bug?"

"Rhymes with lug."

"Oh, your good Sam."

"I know. Take that!"

"Sam! Ya ruining my good clothes!"

"I am?"

"Yeah!"

"Terrific!"

"Ahh!" Having a surge of adrenaline Justin pushed Sam off and got up.

"Ha!"

Sam swung his leg sideways, tripping Justin down again.

"'Ha', yourself!" He yelled getting up and nudging Justin with his foot.

Justin just shook his head and lifted his hand for Sam to pull him up.

Sam grinned. Lifting Justin up halfway, he let go. Making Justin fall back down.

Justin growled and got up himself.

"When will I ever learn?"

"You'll never learn." Sam stated.

"Right ... uh, where's Wayde?"

"Oh man! Not again! Wayde! Where are you now, you little ... chicken!"

They didn't here anything.

"You, uh, you don't think Marcie or Rob got him do ya?" Justin said, unsurely.

"Um, no."

"Well, where is he!"

"Justin, will you quiet down! What if 'what's her name' actually did get him!? Just be quiet!"

That made Justin go quiet. Sam smiled to himself, he could have some fun with this.



Wayde was hiding up a palm tree waiting for a chance in which he could drop down on Sam, when he spotted a car weaving itâs way through traffic and down the road to where they weâre. He frowned. It was Robs car.



"Hey, I reckon this is actually their home base." Sam said.

"Home base?" Justin answered.

"Uh huh. In fact, they are probably here right now! With biiig guns and stuff!"

"Sam, you can't scare me."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You don't think I've learned your tricks yet, do you?"

"Nup."

"See?" Justin said, walking back towards where they had dropped their bikes.

Sam laughed in his head. Sneaking up behind Justin he yelled, "Ka-Baaaam!"

"Ahhh!" Justin screamed, falling to the ground with his hands on his head.

"Ha ha! Not scared? Hah!" Sam said, nudging Justin.

"Ooh! Sam, you annoying boy! You don't know when to quit do you?!"

"Nup."

Justin just rolled his eyes, not offering his hand for Sam to pull him up.

"What if Rob came screeching around the corner right now?! What would you do then?" Justin said to Sam.

"Hmm, Stand here and grin with confidence!" Sam said back.

Suddenly they heard the all to familiar sound of tires screeching against road. It was Rob.

"Stand here and grin with confidence?" Justin said quietly.

"Uh, heh heh ... Run!" He yelled sprinting to his bike.

Shoom! They took off.













"Hey you! Stop!" They heard Rob shout from somewhere behind them.

"Not on your life pal!" Sam yelled picking up his bike and

getting on it.

Suddenly they heard a loud crack fill the air.

"That fool is shootin' at us!" Justin screamed to Sam.

"Just don't look back!" He heard Sam yell.

So, Justin looked back ... and hit a rut in the road and went flying.

"Justin! I said don't look back!" Sam yelled quickly jumping off his bike and helping Justin up. They took off again. Rob had hopped back in his car and was gunning his engine.

"Quicker!" Justin yelled.

"You can talk! Your as slow as a camel full of water! Not that a camel is slow, mind you." Sam yelled back.

'We're running for our lives and Sams busy cracking jokes!' Justin thought.

They heard Rob coming in his car again.

"Quick! Leave your bike and get behind one of these rocks!" Sam yelled, dumping his bike and climbing up a hill with large

boulders.

"I'm not leaving my bike! It's brand new!" Justin yelled to Sam. Ka-Pow! Justin felt wind rush past his ear.

"I guess I could leave it for a while." He said, scrambling after Sam.

Coming to a stop behind a large boulder, Sam motioned for Justin to be quiet.

"I'll see where he is." Whispered Sam, peeking out from behind the rock. No sooner had he stuck his head out, when he stuck it back in again.

"He's not in his car!"

"Where is he!?"

"I dunno!"

"Well, check again!"

Sam stuck his head back out.

"He's coming up!" He whispered frantically.

"What do we do?" Justin said, freaking out.

"Play dead!" Sam said.

"Sam, what's the point of playing dead! He's not an animal!"

"Really?"

"Funny. Look, He's gonna take us with him, dead or alive! So ..."

"Good point."

They sat for a moment listening for any sign of Rob.

"Yes!"

"Yes what?" Justin asked.

"I've got a plan."

"I didn't like your previous plan."

"This ones better."

"Well, what is it?"

Justin raised his eyebrows as Sam told him his plan.

"You've gotta be kidding me."



Wayde had scrambled down the tree at the sound of Rob shooting the gun.

'Surely the cops woulda heard him shoot!' He thought, running in the direction of the car. Rrrrk. Wayde skidded to a stop, directly behind Robs car.

He shook his head at Robs clumsy efforts in climbing the rocky hill in which Sam and Justin must of been hiding. Sneaking around the drivers side of the car, Wayde laughed quietly ... Rob had left his keys in his car. With the window rolled down.

It was time to have some fun.



Sam gulped as he heard Justin saying his prayers.

"God forgive me ..." He heard Justin muttering.

"Justin! Would you hush up! He might hear us!"

"Don't worry Sam we're going to heaven."

"Don't say that! At least not yet! If my plan works, we can escape! Now keep quiet!"

"What exactly are you gonna do?"

"WE are gonna jump out and take him by surprise."

"WE aren't doin' anything. YOU can jump in front of him."

"Man! C'mon Justin! We don't have time for this! If you don't come I'll shove you out in front off him myself!"

"Forgive him, God, for he does not know what he is about to do."

"Justin!"

"Ok ok! On the count of three!"

"Ok! One-two-three!" Sam shouted then jumped out from behind the boulder.

"Hey you!" He heard Rob yell.

Sam looked around wildly. Justin hadn't jumped.

"Don't move or I'll see what lil' Rocca can do on you." Rob said moving slowly towards Sam.

'Lil Rocca? Do all bad guys name their guns dumb names?' Sam thought himself.

Suddenly they heard the wild revving of a car.

Rob whirled around. "My car!" He yelled scrambling back the way he had came.



Wayde had hopped in and started the car in one swift move. He had been practicing at home with his dads old work car. He honked a few times to gets Robs attention.

Then slammed his foot down on the accelerator. Shoom!

He shot backwards like a bullet.

"Ahhh!" He yelled sticking his foot on the brake pedal.

Changing the gears from Reverse to Drive, he took off again.



Sam hadn't moved, struck at the weirdness of everything.

"Sam? Yo! What's goin on?!"

"Justin you chicken! He nearly shot me!" Sam said jumping back in where Justin was hiding.

"Wasn't my fault!"

"Wasn't your fault!? It was all your fault!"

"Yeah, well, where's Rob?"

"He's chasing some guy that's stealing his car."

Justin poked his head out.

"Is that why the thief is doing burnouts in Robs face? And beeping like crazy?" He said, looking at Sam.

"Eh?" Sam said, sticking his head out aswell, "Oh no."

"Don't say that." Justin said nervously.

"You know who's driving that, don't you?"

"Nope, but whoever it is, drives just as crazily as my brother when he messes around in dads car."

Sam just looked at Justin with raised eyebrows.

Justin gulped. "Your right. Oh no." He said, realising that the driver was his brother.

"Quick we gotta do something!" Sam yelled bounding down the rocks.

'Oh great. First Robs chasing us, now we're chasing Rob!' Justin thought, coming after Sam.



"How do you steer this thing!" Wayde shouted to himself.

'Does burnouts pretty good. Now what does this do? Oh, windscreen wipers.' Wayde thought. He slammed on the brakes, just to see where everyone was. Then wished he hadn't. Rob was moving towards the front of the car with his gun drawn.

"Don't move!" He heard Rob yell.

Wayde grinned. He quickly turned the wheel to the right and smashed his foot down on the accelerator. Giving Rob a mouthful of dirt, he started another round of burnouts.



CHAPTER 16



Sam skidded to a stop, motioning for Justin to do the same.

"What's Rob doin'?" Sam asked.

"All I can see is your dust." Justin replied coughing.

"You have no idea what 'hush up' means do you?"

"Not exactly."

Sam just rolled his eyes. "Look! He's stealing another car!"

"Huh?"

"Look!"

Justin turned to where Sam was pointing and gasped. Rob had succeeded in hot-wiring an old VW Beetle and was chasing Wayde.

"Oh man! This is nuts! Sam? Where are you goin'?"

"We gotta get to Wayde somehow!"

"Well, dah!"

"Follow me!"

Justin ran next to Sam as he took off towards the first burnout competition since who knows when. They had almost made it to

where Wayde was when another car came up and rolled slowly next to them. It was Marcie.

Justin still had enough consciousness to hear Sam whisper, "Let me do the talking."

"Need a lift?" Marcie called to them.

"No thanks." Sam replied.

"Get in."

"No thanks. We're fine."

"I want to ask you a few questions."

"Go ahead."

"Stop and let me talk to you."

"Talk anyway."

"Where are you from?"

Sam raised his eyebrow at Justin, still running, but away from the action behind them.

"Heaven." Sam answered.

"What are you doing down here?"

"Running."

"How'd you get here?"

"Ran."

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Where's your home?"

"Heaven."

"Look kid. We can either make this easy or make this hard. What do you choose?"

"Medium."

"Get in!"

"No thanks."

Marcie slammed on her brakes and got out.

Running around the side she yelled, "This is your own fault kid."

Sam smiled. This was going to be cinch. Too cinch.



"Ahhh!" Wayde screamed as he saw Rob take up the chase. Wayde sensed he had no other option. He took a deep breath and span the

wheel in the direction of the road.

"God, forgive me."



"Duck!" Just as Marcie reached out to grab him Sam dropped like a stone. Justin was standing behind Sam and wasn't quick

enough to get out of the way. Smack! Her hand flew over Sams head and hit Justin in the chest.

"Hey!" Justin yelled.

"Gotcha! Augh!" Marcie screamed as she fell in a heap, letting go of Justin in the process.

"Run Justin!" Sam yelled running off.

"You think I'd walk?" Justin said sprinting after Sam.

"What'd you do to her?" Justin asked as he caught up with Sam.

"Tripped her bro."

"No way."

"What?"

"No way!"

"What? I did trip her!"

"No! There gone!"

"Wha- oh nooo."

"Look! Over there." Justin pointed in the direction of the road that lead down to where they were.

"That's the car that Rob stole!" Sam said.

"Exactly! So Wayde's gotta be in front of him."

"Well, if he is, he's gonna get his drivers license delayed a few years.

Especially if the police catch him."

"Who?"

"Your brother."

"Oh, great. Well, it looks like we've got no means of transportation."

"Yeah ... Wait! I don't believe it!"

"Believe what?"

"Look! A taxi!"

Justin looked over in the direction that Sam was pointing to.

"Yeah! Quick flag him down!"

"Hey! Hey you, taxi!" Sam yelled running over to it.

"Follow that VW Beetle!" Sam yelled, jumping in the taxi with Justin trailing directly behind him.

"I ain't doin' nuthin' till' I see some money." The rather skinny taxi driver drawled.

"How much?!"

"Bout' five bucks."

"Hand him the money Justin."

"Huh? No way Sam! This was your idea."

"Oh brother. Here." Sam said pulling a five dollar note from his wallet and sticking it in the taxi drivers hand.

"After the VW?"

"Yes! Now hurry up!" Sam said impatiently.



"Oh man! Outta the way! Move it! What, ya think it's Christmas!? Move!"

Wayde yelled at people through his windshield.

'Is he still trailing me? Yes. Man!'

Wayde swerved around a slow car, with Rob putting behind him.

Wayde gulped. A police car was parked on the side of the road up ahead. With two policemen beside it. He took another deep

breath and ducked down as far as he could go. But as it turned out he didn't even need to duck. He forgot that the windows were heavily tinted.



"Can't this trash can go any faster?!" Sam yelled, getting frustrated, "Keep that VW in sight!"

"Gotta stick with the speed limit, kid." The skinny taxi driver said.

"Speed limit ... Speed limit!? I'll show you speed limit!" Sam screamed. He shoved himself over to the drivers side and grabbed the skinny drivers arm, unbuckling his seat belt in the process. Then he nodded to Justin, who grinned and grabbed his other arm.

"Ahh! Hey! You crazy kids! I'm driving here!"

"Not any more." Sam said. With a wink at Justin they shoved Skinny Driver in the back seat.

"Ok! Time for some action!" Sam yelled, jumping into the drivers seat and strapping on the seat belt.

"Sam! Do you even know how to drive?!" Justin yelled nervously.

"Yeah! Had tonnes of practice. Dad always let me go in his car!"

Justin gulped anyway.

"Buckle up boys! It may be a bumpy ride!"

"You boys stop this taxi right this instant!" Skinny said angrily.

"Would you hush up!? I'm driving here!" Sam yelled from the front.

"Don't tell me what to do! This is illegal you know!"

"If you don't shut your mouth I'll shove ya out!" Sam said, passing a slow car.

"You can't do anything to me!"

Sam quickly slowed down and pulled off into a bus stop.

"Do your thing Justin!" Sam said quickly.

"Sorry sir." Justin said.

"Huh?" Skinny said, confused.

Reaching over Skinny, Justin opened his door.

"Any last words?" Justin asked.

"Get it over with, Justin!" Sam yelled.

"Cya!" Justin said. Then pushed Skinny out with all his strength.

"Oof!" Justin heard Skinny say before he slammed the door shut again.

"Go, go, go!" He yelled to Sam, hopping in the front seat beside him.

"I'm goin'!" Sam yelled back, flooring the accelerator.

"Where'd they go?" Justin yelled.

"There!" Sam pointed, turning down a deserted road that headed off to

nowhere.

"We've got trouble."

"I know, if Robs got a gun we're through." Justin said.

"He does have one."

"We're in trouble."

"That's not what I meant. Look behind you."

"BIG trouble." Justin muttered as he saw a car pull off the main road and

chase them down.

"Um, that's not who I think it is is it? No! Don't tell me!" Justin said,

squeezing his eyes shut.

"It's Marcie ..." Sam said, dejectedly.

"I'm sure I said DON'T tell me."

Sam just shrugged.



'I'm sure this road goes to ... somewhere.' Wayde thought to himself,

dodging potholes. Suddenly there was a loud crack next to him.

'Man! This Rob fella is insane! I gotta lose him.' Wayde saw a turn left

and skidded around the corner flooring the accelerator, making the Porsche jump

forward with speed. Then he got a idea that might work.

He decided to take the risk. He quickly pushed on the brake pedal then

changed back to the accelerator while swirving back and forth. All this

made tonnes of dust fly every where, just what Wayde wanted. He quickly

pulled off the side of the road and stopped.

Wayde grinned as the dust settled. rob had flew past and was driving full speed in hot pursuit of ... nothing.



"Hey! Isn't that Rob's car?!" Justin shouted.

"Yeah!"

"Well? Stop!"

"Why?"

"Waydes in it!"

"Oh yeah! Then ... where's Rob?"

"I dunno! Just pull over."

Sam skidded to a stop next to Rob's car. They quickly hopped out and ran

over when Wayde suddenly pressing the accelerator and brake pedal down

at the same time. Again making dust fly. Sam and Justin yanked open the

doors and jumped in. Wayde didn't say a word but took off back down

where they had just come from.

"Hey?! Wayde that you?" Justin yelled.

"Yeah, guys." He replied.

"Why'd do that! Kicked dust in my face!" Sam said, angrily.

Wayde just smiled, "See Marcie anywhere?"

They looked behind them to see Marcie taking the same path as Rob.

"Hey! Cool!" Justin said.

"Wait ... how'd you know she was coming after us?" Sam asked.

Wayde pointed to a two-way radio on the dash board, "She said she was

taking up the chase."

Sam just laughed.



-Chapter 17 on its way ;) -

CHAPTER 13



Bring! Bring! "Sam, honey it's for you!"

Sam peeked out from underneath his covers. Standing in his doorway was his mum, holding their cordless phone in her hand.

"Aww, five more minutes mum." He said rolling over.

"Sam! It's your friend, Wayde, and he says it's important."

"What kind of a friend would ring at 7:00 in the morning?" Sam said grumpily.

"It's not 7:00 Sam. It's 9:30."

"9:30!" Sam said in alarm, flinging off his covers, "Why didn't you tell me!"

Sam's mother just rolled her eyes at her son and said into the phone, "He'll be ready in about 10 minutes."

"Wait mum! 10 minutes! It takes me longer than that to brush my teeth! Man, why did Wayde have to ring so early!?"

His mother frowned at him.

"Make it five minutes." She said into the phone.

"Five! Man!" Sam complained but his mum closed the door behind her.

Sam got dressed in a flash. He knew the what would happen to him if he didn't get dressed quickly.

The first time his mum had said to wake up and he stayed in bed, he had to do the dishes. Now that was bad! Well, for him it

was anyway. The second time it happened, Sam left a complimentary note on his pillow saying that he had to go to the library and dig up some books on geography.

But, of course, he didn't go. Nope, Sam and geography don't mix. He stayed in his closet until his mum came and read the

note. Then when she left he got out and went back to sleep. He thought he had got out of it too, that is, until his mum gave a him a quiz on what he had learned on geography.

So, Sam knew the what would happen. He knew he could probably pull off another stunt but Wayde had said it was important so he decided today he would lay off his stunt pulling.

He opened his door to see Wayde standing in front of him, with Justin looking over his shoulder.

"Man, you gotta learn some patience." He said staring at Wayde.

"Well, you live only a little bit away, so we thought we might as well come ourselves." Wayde said pushing past Sam and sitting on his bed.

"Right." Sam said dully.

"Yeah, we gotta tell you something." Justin said.

"There something I've gotta tell you too! I haven't had breakfast!" Sam said grumpily.

"So?" Wayde said, grimacing at the sound of Sams bed squeaking.

"So?! I'm hungry!"

"And we're the ones who don't have patience?" Justin said calmly.

Sam let out a long breath.

"Ok, then," He said pulling Justin in and closing the door, "Just hurry it up will ya?"

"Yeah, yeah, calm down. Now, what happened?!" Wayde said gripping Sams shoulders.

"Huh? I thought you had something important to tell me."

"It's not as important as this."

"'This' what?"

"Last night! With the money!" Justin said butting in.

"Oh, right. You won't believe it!"

"Believe what?!" Wayde said, his hands digging into Sams shoulders even harder.

"Youchy, man! You need to cut your nails!" Sam said angrily.

"Whatever. Just tell us what happened."

"Ok, ok!"

So Sam told them all that had happened.

From when they left until he read the note and fell asleep.

When he had finished the other guys were stuck staring at Sam, unbelievingly.

"No - way." Wayde said slowly.

Sam just nodded.

"But I saw her run off!"

Sam shrugged his shoulders.

"Some one pinch me! I must be dreaming." Justin said. Sam grinned, reached over quickly and pinched his arm, hard.

"Ahh! Hey! I didn't mean it like that!" He yelled, grabbing his arm.

Sam just smiled.

Wayde paid no attention to what was going on.

"It wasn't Marcie who wrote the note." He said slowly.

"What do ya mean?" Sam said, "I saw it myself! It says, 'Marcie'."

"Quick, do you still have the note?"

"Yeah? Why?"

"Just get it."

"Uh, ok, whatever man."

Sam got up and walked over to his cupboard. Opening it up he reached inside and pulled out the note.

"Here." He said handing it to Wayde.

Wayde read it quickly.

"Yep, just as I had suspected."

"What are you going on about now?" Justin said sitting next to his brother.

"Can't either of you guys see it?" Wayde said looking at them both.

"See what?" They said together.

"Look at the writing."

"What about it?" Sam said.

"Duh! It's printed!"

"So?" Justin replied, confused.

"You know, printed from a computer!"

"Yeah?" Sam said, still in the dark.

"Don't you guys get it? It was printed! They can't have printed it out that quickly!"

"Oh! I get it!" Sam said suddenly.

"Ya do?" Justin said.

"Yeah, they must of somehow known of this before you got to my house so they could print it up."

"Right! So, what I think is that two people were here last night. Not just Marcie." Wayde said.

"Who else?" Justin asked.

"Rob."

"Rob who?"

"I don't know his last name! Just know that his name's Rob."

"Rob? Oh, Rob! The guy who she always talks to on the phone!" Sam said, eyes brightening.

"Righteo then, so ... what do we do?" Justin said.

"Well, we gotta figure out how they could have known and printed the note up before we even got to Sams house!" Wayde replied.

Justin gulped. "I know how."

"How?" Wayde said eagerly.

"When we were running here. You know the car that went past us?" Justin said turning to Wayde.

"Uh ... yeah - black, long, weird design?"

"Right, that was them."

"How do you know that?" Sam asked.

"The number plate. It said, 'ROB-ER'

"Yikes." Sam said.

"Sooo, how does that tie in with them knowing what we were doing?" Wayde said.

"That's what I can't figure out." Justin replied, scratching his head.

Sam grinned at Justin, "There's a lot of stuff you can't figure out."

Justin gave Sam a slight shove, grinning.

"I just don't know." Wayde said turning to look outside, through Sams window.

"Man, I sure am hungry. What time is it?" Sam said.

"10:30." Justin replied looking at his wrist watch.

"Dude, I'm going get something to eat."

"S - Sam, you better stay here a while longer." Wayde said, still staring out the window.

"Huh?" Sam said, stopping at the door and turning around.

"Look outside."

Justin walked up to Wayde behind Sam and they both looked out the window.

"See it?" Wayde said to Sam.

"Yes! Dumb dog! Get out of our yard!" Sam yelled through the window.

Wayde rolled his eyes.

"Not the dog, Sam. The tree."

"What about it?" Sam said staring at the tree.

"See in the branch?"

"Yeah, man, I see it! Yikerooni! Uh, what is it?" Justin said pointing.

"Where is it?! What is it?" Sam said getting frustrated.

"Up on the branch, Sam!" Justin said, still pointing.

"The bird? Yeah, nice blue feathers."

Wayde whirled around and grabbed Sams face with his hand. Jerking his face in the right direction, Wayde said, "There!

Now, see?"

"Oohh. What is it? A camera?"

"Yep. A surveillance camera."

Sam gulped, the reality of their situation hitting him.

Wayde turned to Sam and just nodded.

Justin turned around. "Can someone please tell me what's

goin' on?!"

"Don't you get it? Rob and Marcie are listening to us! Watching us!" Wayde butted in.

"How can they hear us?" Sam said, confused.

"They must have a microphone in here, somewhere." Justin said bluntly.

"Does that mean their listening to us right now?!" Sam said panicky.

Waydes eyes went wide. He looked at the other two and put a finger on his mouth, motioning for quiet.

"Look for a microphone-like thing, somewhere." Wayde whispered.

They both nodded and started searching.

After a few minutes Sam found it.

"I found it!" Sam said loudly. Then quickly put a hand on his mouth.

"Sorry." He whispered.

"Doesn't matter." Wayde said, moving towards Sam.

"Where'd you find it?" He said to Sam.

"Right here, in uh, in my, uh, underwear

draw."

Justin grinned at Sam. "Ya know what this means Sam?"

"What?" Sam said turning to Justin.

"This dude has been looking at your underwear!"

"Argh! That bratty man or woman!" Grabbing the small microphone he stuffed in front of his mouth and yelled, "You

disgusting person! Don't you have anything better to do than look through kids underwear?! Take this, you overgrown ... cow!" With that, Sam threw it on the ground and stomped on it. Crack - fzzz. Sam felt the mic crunch under his feet. Sam smiled, letting all his anger seep out.

Suddenly Sam stopped and turned to look out the window. Looking at the camera, he walked over to the window.

Wasting no time he flipped his window open and jumped outside. Justin rolled his eyes at Wayde and then they both

followed him out.

"Wait there." Sam said to the other guys, pointing towards the tree with the camera in it. Wayde shrugged his shoulders and they both moved over to the tree.

A few minutes later Sam was back ... with a sledge hammer in his hand.

Sam took down the camera. Sam grinned at the camera. Sam charged at the camera. Sam demolished the camera.

"Ahhh!!!" Sam screamed as he brang the hammer down on the camera.

Justin jumped back at Sams sudden move.

Wayde just grinned and shook his head at Sam.

After the camera was a pile of wires and junk, Sam stopped.

"What going on out there!?" They heard a shout coming from the kitchen window.

"Nothing mum! Just finishing off a little bit of unfinished business!" Sam yelled turning to the other two.

"What now?" Justin said looking to Sam.

"What now? Come with me, dear friends." Sam said, motioning to them both.

They both followed him to his Dads shed.

There, Sam poured a bit of kerosene into an ice-cream container. Grabbing a box of matches he walked back to where he had left the camera. Picking up the remaining pieces of the camera, he walked around the back of his house and put in on a bunch of sand. Getting the kerosene he poured it on the camera pieces. Then, pulling out a match, Sam said, "Stand back!"

Lighting the match, Sam dropped it on the kerosene.

Ka-poof! The camera exploded sending Sam flying into Justin, knocking over Wayde in the process.

Sam had succeeded in destroying the camera. Justin and Wayde rolled out from underneath the pile and looked at Sams face.

His eyebrows were almost gone and his hair was missing bits. Sam was going to have a hard time explaining this to his parents.



CHAPTER 14



Sam had some fake eyebrows in his trick draw in his room and stuck them on to get out off any more trouble. But he got in some trouble trying to explain the explosion his mum had heard.

But, overall, he got off with a little amount of trouble.

Later that afternoon the three guys got together for a weekly bike ride time. While riding through a shop parking lot - a new shortcut they had found- Justin saw something familiar.

"Guys stop!" Justin said, quickly slowing down.

"Ahh!" Sam yelled skidding to the side to miss Justin.

"Are you crazy! Don't stop like that!" Sam yelled angrily.

"Dude, sorry!" Justin said to Sam.

Wayde rode up. "What's up?" He said looking at them both.

"Justins brakes, that's what." Sam muttered.

Justin shook his head then pointed over the other side of the car park. "Look! See the car?!"

"Wow! Cool van! Maybe we can go for a little joy ride." Sam finished sarcastically.

"Sam! Not the van! What is it with you? The black car! Robs car!"

"Yeah, Hey Justin, your right!" Wayde said.

"Uh huh, so that's his car?" Sam said.

"Yep."

"What's he doing here?" Sam asked.

"Good question." Justin said.

"Maybe he's robbing Woolies!" Sam said brightly.

"Who in their right mind would rob Woolies?" Wayde asked.

"Rob?" Justin said.

"Funny." Wayde said.

"Well, why wouldn't he? The have lots of yummy food there!" Sam said, eyes growing large.

"Come on guys lets see if he's got any dangerous weapons in his car!" Wayde said moving over towards Robs car.

"D - dangerous weapons?" Justin said looking around nervously.

"Why, sure! He must have a bazooka in there or something!"

Justin gulped. Sam, seeing Justins discomfort, tried to lighten up the place a bit. "Hey, don't worry pal. I'll take care of ya."

"Gee, thanks Sam." Justin said, unbelievingly.

They neared the car and Wayde looked quickly scouted their surroundings.

"Quick over here!" He motioned to the other two.

Running around the other side of the car they peeked in.

"What do you think that is?" Wayde said squinting at an object inside.

"I dunno! It's to hard to see. Windows must be tinted!" Sam said staring intently.

Justin rolled his eyes at Sam. "Your gonna have a hard time seeing anything there Sam."

"Huh? Why?" Sam replied still staring.

"Your lookin' into black metal." Justin said, grinning.

"Huh?" Sam said moving back, "Oh, uh, oops."

Suddenly they heard the car locks pop up.

"Uh, that wasn't me." Justin said.

No sooner had he finished his sentence when they heard a yell behind them. "Hey! What are you kids doing!"

They whirled around to see a large man in a black suit walking towards them.

Wayde swung open the car door. "Quick get in!"

They wasted no time. Sam jumped in with Justin close behind. Wayde jumped in after them and slammed the door. Justin reached over and flicked down the front doors lock, making all the doors locks fall down.

"There! Just let him try and get us!" He said happily.

Pop pop! The locks flicked up again. Wayde quickly looked up out the window to see Rob running towards them with his cars immoboliser in his hand.

"Quick! Out the other side!" He yelled. Justin grabbed the door and they all piled out the other side door and into the car park.

They both sprinted across the car park and dove around the side of a building. Wayde put a finger on his mouth and peeked around the corner. Rob was no-where in sight.

Motioning to the other two, Wayde slowly walked back to where they had come from. Suddenly they heard the screeching of tires. Looking up quickly they saw Rob screech around the corner and take off down the road. He didn't even bother to chase them.

"Come on guys. Lets get our bikes and uh ... get outta here." Wayde said.

"Good idea. This place is freakin' me out." Sam said to Wayde.

Justin just nodded in agreement.

Mounting their bikes they took off down the path.

"Wonder what he was doing at the shops." Sam said, riding in the middle of the other two.

"Got me." Justin said, "Hey, watch this!"

Riding in front of the other guys he popped a wheelie and held it for a while.

Thinking that he had been doing it long enough to impress them, Justin started to go back down. But a rock flew out off

the sky and hit his back tire. The rock was just big enough to knock him off balance and he came tumbling to the ground.

Wayde and Sam skidded to a stop behind Justin.

"That was great Justin! Maybe you should ask for a job in the circus." Sam said, looking down on Justin.

"Ha ha." Justin said brushing himself off.

"Man, are you ok?" Wayde said lifting Justin up.

"Yeah, but someone threw that rock! I know it!" He said, getting angry.

"You sure?" Wayde said examining Justin's back tire.

"Yeah, I'm sure!"

"Probably a bunch of dorks." Sam said.

"You calling us dorks, nerd?!"

The boys whirled around to see three tough looking guys, around their age, walking towards them.

"Bad choice of words, Sam." Wayde whispered to Sam.

Sam just gulped.

"Did you throw that rock?!" Justin said, as they got closer.

"Yeah, but watcha gonna do about it?" The leader of the group said.

"Nothing, I can take care of myself, but thanks anyway."

"Smart guy, huh? Yeah, you got the big words but do ya got the strength to back it up?"

Justin raised an eyebrow and looked over at Wayde.

Wayde grinned. "We sure do." He said.

This time it was the other kids time to raise an eyebrow. "Yeah?" He said, "Well, where is it? Cause I sure can't

see nothin'."

"You can't?" Sam said quickly.

"Nuh."

Sam grinned. "Then maybe you need glasses."

The other kid swung at Sam wildly. On instinct the three boys dropped to the ground. Quick as a flash, Wayde stuck out his foot and tripped one of the guys down. Sam rolled to the side as the leader tried to kick him. Justin dodged a weak punch from the other kid, who was quite skinny, and pushed him towards Wayde. He would finish him off Justin thought.

And, finish him off, was what Wayde did.

Grabbing Skinnys shirt from behind he swung him into the leader, making them both fall into a heap. Sam quickly got

up and did what he was famous for ... he belly flopped on them both.

"Ahhh!" Justin heard the leader scream as Sam came down on him.

Justin tried not to laugh at the sight.

Suddenly number three reacted, catching Justin off guard, he slugged him in the stomach.

"Ah!" Justin cried bending over.

Wayde couldn't stand to see the sight of his brother getting hurt, so he stepped in front of Number three and slugged him

back in the stomach ... 5 times harder than he had hit Justin.

"Ahhh!!!!!-effeeww." And it seemed like he had just lost whatever was left of his lunch.

Meanwhile Sam was having the time of his life. He was laughing his head off as he was taking turns getting off them and jumping back on them. Wayde helped Justin up and rolled his eyes at Sam.

"Sam, your gonna break their arms or something!" He yelled.

Sam looked up grinning. "Great! Wanna join me?"

Justin suddenly jumped over. "Certainly!" He said, jumping on

top of them.

Wayde looked around for Number three.

Not seeing him, Wayde looked around frantically. Then, hearing a sound above him, looked up to see Number three half way up a palm tree ... about to jump on Sam and Justin.

"Look out guys!" He shouted.

Hearing Waydes voice, full of urgency, Sam and Justin rolled of the

pile, just in time. Crunch! Number three landed on Leader boy and Skinny, causing shrieks of pain.

"Yew fepud voy!"

"Ahhh!"

Wayde, Sam and Justin watched smiling at the bodies on the ground in front of them. Scrambling up, the leader looked in

thier direction.

Spitting on the ground he stomped off with Number three and Skinny trailing behind.

Suddenly Leader boy grabbed his head in pain. Wayde and Justin looked at each other questionably. Turning to Sam, they saw

him casually throwing a rock up in his hand. Sam looked over at them.

"Might as well join in." He said smiling.

Justin grinned at Sam. "Gladly!"

Stooping down and picking up a rock, Justin threw it at the guy who had punched him.

"Yeah! Bulls-eye!" He yelled watching his rock hit Number three in

the back.

"Hey, guys, you can stop now." Wayde said.

"Huh? Aww, come on Wayde!" Justin said getting ready to throw another rock.

"Justin!" Wayde grabbed his arm and nodded towards his left.

Justin slowly put his arm down and looked over. There was a police car coming around the bend, slowly.

Justin gulped. This was going to be trouble.



-Watch for Chapter 15!-

CHAPTER 11



"Two weeks, no Sony, no T.V. and no sweets."

That was the punishment Mr Randell had meated out on his two sons ... and they couldn't take it.

"Awww! Dad, two weeks? Two?" Justin whined to his dad.

"Two weeks." Mr Randell replied firmly.

"Two?" Wayde said.

"Two."

But now they had to take it.

It had been two hours since then and Sam had been long gone. Well, to put it in short ... he hightailed it outta there. He didn't want to get in any trouble, and he didn't ... Wayde and Justin did.

"I can't believe that little rat escaped!" Justin said. Their parents had gone out for dinner leaving Wayde and Justin to clean the place of all the feathers.

"Yeah, it bugs me too. If only ... wait ... that's it!" Wayde said his eyes lighting up.

"What's 'it?' " Justin said, stuffing the last feather into a garbage bag and sitting on their couch.

" 'It', my friend, is how we get Sam back for his little prank."

Justin grinned at Wayde as he told him his plan.

Ten minutes later they were set. Wayde looked over at Justin and nodded. Justin grinned, picked up the phone and dialed Sam's phone number.



Bring! Bring! Sam's phone in his room rang - slamming Sam awake from his little snooze.

"Aww!" Sam said grabbing his head, "Just when I was in a good bit ..."

He grabbed the phone - then couldn't believe what he heard.



"What's happening?"

"Shhh! It's ringing!" Justin quieted Wayde with a dramatic hand wave.

Then Sam answered. "Hello?"

Justin quickly grabbed the voice distorter that Wayde had won in a cornflakes contest and flicked it on.

"Yes, hello." Justin said eyes wild. Gesturing to Wayde, he motioned for him to get the piece of paper that had all the words he was sposed to say. Wayde dove to the table, got the paper and shoved it in Justins face.

"Um ... hello?" Sam said a bit confused.

"Hi son. My name is Fredrick Antonio Terantino and I want your money."

"What?!" Sam said startled.

"That's right. I want your money."

"Uh ... why?"

"Why?" Justin said turning to Wayde with a questioning look. Wayde got the hint and whispered, "Because I'm angry ..."

"Because I'm angry!" Justin said into the phone. Then looked at Wayde as if he was crazy.

"Only thing I could think of." He whispered to Justin.

Justin rolled his eyes.

"Well, um, who do you think you are!" Sam said, feeling boldness rise up in him.

"I all ready told you who I am! Fredrick Antonio -"

Justin got cut off as Sam said, "Ok, I know who you are but what do you want?!"

"Your money!"

"Oh."

"So ... If you don't want to get in biiig trouble I suggest you leave a small donation of $50 on your back doorstep right now and go back inside as if nothing ever happened, ok?"

"But I don't have fifty dollars!"

Justin put his hand over the phone and said to Wayde, in a panicky voice, "He doesn't have fifty dollars!"

"Make it twenty!" Wayde whispered.

Justin nodded, relieved.

"Fine, make it twenty!" He said loudly.

"O ... ok sir."

"Yeah! And don't think about telling the police, kid! Cause we'll know. And we'll get you! And we'll ..."

"I get the point, sir." Sam said getting scared.

"Ok. Now do as I say. Now!" Justin yelled then hung up.

He looked at Wayde. Wayde looked at him. They both cracked up.

"Haw haw haw!" Wayde laughed into Justins ear.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Justin giggled.

"We're gonna be rich! Rich!" Wayde said, then stopped, "We'd better get over there and get the money before someone else!"

"Someone else? No-one knows about this except for us."

"Yeah. But, come on ... let's retrieve our reward!"



Sam hung up and stared into space.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no." He kept repeating to himself.

"Why did I pick up the phone!" Then he remembered what the man had said - "Do as I say or else there will be trouble". So he quickly went to his wallet and pulled out a twenty. Looking at his money he let out a whimper and said his good-byes. Quickly running out his back door he put the money down, laying a rock on one side of it so it wouldn't blow away.

Giving one last long, sad look at his twenty dollar note, he turned and went back to his room.



"Hurry up! You don't want him too find out it was a prank call!"

"Prank call? Why should he think it was a prank call?"

Wayde stopped running and thought this over for a while.

"Because he just will! Now hurry up!"

"Awww." Justin huffed catching up to Wayde.

They rounded the bend and came into view of Sams house.

"Oh man. Maybe this isn't such a good idea ..." Justin said looking nervously at the house.

"Watta ya mean? This is great! All we have to do is go there, grab the money and kapish! We go home - happily." Wayde said.

"Yeah, I know that. But, what if his parents are home? What if the police are hiding there? What if he bought a big, fierce dog! What if ..."

"What if we walk over there and grab the money lying under the rock?" Wayde said pointing towards the rock on Sams back door step.

"I suppose we could do that to." Justin said grinning.

Wayde motioned for Justin to be quiet and moved towards the back door, the rock and finally to the money.



Sam was lying his bed staring at his ceiling. 'Are they here yet? Have they got my money? Are they fake? Are they pranksters?! They probably are! This whole thing is a prank! I'm going out there and getting my money back!' Sam thought angrily, whipping off the covers and diving down the hall. But the more he got closer, the more scared he got.

'Uh, maybe ... maybe ... maybe they are waiting outside! Nah! No way! I'm not falling for this prank! I'm much more sophisticated than that! Hah!' Sam reassured himself. Then he stopped suddenly - the reality of the call hitting him full force.

'What in the world? That was the fakest voice I've ever heard! Man! How could I have not known the sound of a voice distorter? I have one! Wait that's it! Ha ha!' Sam thought remembering that Wayde had won the voice distorter ages ago. He would have forgotten about it but Wayde had been over the top about winning it, that he had shown it to Sam tonnes of times.

Sam slapped his palm against his head. Then ran to his phone and called Wayde's house. And as he suspected, there was no answer.

"I knew it! They're trying to get me back and get my money!"

Sam stopped abruptly and smacked his head again.

"That means they're probably out there right now!" Sam sprinted back down the hall and skidded to the back door.

He took a deep breath and got ready to push the door open. Then a thought hit him, 'What if it is really isn't them and it's some other dude out there - waiting to eat me for lunch!"

He thought this over then ran back through his house and to the front door. Slipping out and shutting the door gently behind him.



"What are you doing?! Just get it!" Justin hissed looking nervously and the door.

"Yeah, yeah, let the professional do his work." Wayde replied slowly crawling forward.

"Yeah, well, the professional is gonna do his work alone cause I'm outta here!" Justin said to Wayde, turning around and sprinting out of the yard.

"Come back here you chicken!" Wayde hissed as loudly as he dared. But Justin was long gone.

'Little chicken, can't even stay here while I grab this money. Ha!' Wayde looked up to the door and gulped. 'But, still, this is scary.'

Wayde mustered up his courage and sprang forward.



Sam slid around the side of his house like a secret agent, checking every tree, just in case they were hiding there. Sam was glad his parents had to work late that night ... or else they might ruin his perfect plan. He reached the side of the house that went around the back. He slowly peeked his head around. Everything looked normal ... until he spotted a figure moving out from behind a tree.

'Heh heh ,' Sam thought, 'I've got the jump on im'!'

Sam took a big breath and sprinted forward, yelling crazily like an Indian.



"Ohhh, I can even here my heart beating." Wayde whispered to himself.

"Almost there." Wayde was just about to snatch it up when he heard an indian whoop pierce the air behind him.

"Ahhhh!" He yelled whirling around - then couldn't believe what was before his eyes. It was a man riding a bull. No it was Sam riding a bull! Or was he riding a person? Yep, it was a person all right ... but not Justin. Wayde gulped. The person Sam was riding was 'Marcie' - the woman who was a nutter, criminal and just plain bad. Sam was in trouble. Wayde stepped forward, then stopped. There

on the ground was 'Roscoe'. Yep, Sam was in big trouble.



CHAPTER 12



Sam wasted no time, jumping upon the figure, he yelled wildly.

"Eiiiii!" Yelled the person that had Sam on his back.

Sam laughed to himself. 'Silly voice distorter! They think they can sound like a lady and me not know who they are? Huh!'

Sam heard Wayde shout to his left side. 'Huh, I must be on Justin then.' He thought. Then, thinking of a trick he had saw a guy to in a movie once, he slid down a bit and stuck his foot in front of the persons foot.

"Ooof!" Yelled the person falling to the ground. Sam rolled to the side and was just about to jump on who he thought was Justin, when Wayde grabbed him.

"Sam!" Wayde said in alarm.

"Ha ha! Wayde, you little rascal! You really thought -"

He got cut off as he heard Wayde say, "That's not Justin! That's Marcie! The nutter woman!"

"Yeah right, man, you think I don't know the difference between a voice distorter and a nutter?"

Sam stopped and looked at Wayde. He was staring at something behind him. Sam slowly turned his head and gulped. There standing in front of him was Marcie ... with Roscoe fitted neatly in her hand. Sam rolled his eyes and muttered, "I guess I don't know the difference."

"You boys didn't think you would get off this easy did you?"

"Um, no we didn't actually." Wayde said.

"I didn't allow you to answer."

"Oh."

"You had better stay out of my way cause if you don't, your future sure is gonna look black."

"Black? Um ... I would rather have a red future. Or maybe a blue one with a few of those cute -" Sam got cut off as Marcie yelled, "Silence!"

"Oh, sorry." Sam says weird stuff when he's nervous.

"It seems you haven't learned your lesson from last time! I guess I'll have to -ooof!" She got cut off as another figure landed on her back. Crunch. The woman fell to the ground but obviously some one had trained her well. She hit the ground then quickly stuck her leg out and rolled over. Pushing the person off her back in the process. Then with one last threat she ran off into the night.

Wayde snapped his gaze back to where Justin was lying on the ground.

"It's Justin!" Wayde yelled running over to him.

"Justin! What are you doing here?! You were gone! Then you were back! Speak to me!"

"Uh, Wayde? I think you better let me take over." Sam said getting up and walking over.

"Huh? No way! He's my brother, I can take care of him!" Wayde said trying slap Justin awake.

"Take care of him? Your killing him! Outta the way."

Wayde threw up his hands and moved over.

Sam bent over Justin and made sure he was still breathing.

"Yeah, he's breathing." He said to Wayde.

"Well, check if he's got a heart beat!" Wayde said, aggravated.

"Dah! If he's breathing he has to have a heartbeat!" Sam replied, equally as aggravated.

"Well, do something!" Wayde said.

"Shh! He's wakin' up!"

They we're silent as Justin opened his eyes and looked at Wayde.

"Wayde," He whispered, "I love you man, tell Mum and Dad I love them to." Turning painfully slowly to Sam he whispered,

"Thanks for everything Sam, I'm going ... home." With that he slowly closed his eyes and his head fell to one side.

Sam sat staring at Justin not knowing what to do. Wayde didn't say a word and just stared at Justin. Then they both looked at each other sadly and looked back at Justins face.

Suddenly Justins eyes flew open.

"Just - kidding!" He yelled.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!" Wayde and Sam screamed jumping back in fright. Justin got up and walked towards the other guys laughing.

Sam went wild. "You freak! You scared me nuts!"

"Argh!" Wayde yelled jumping over Sam and crashing into Justin.

"Ahh!" Justin yelled falling backwards.

"All right!" Sam yelled joining in.

"Ok ok! You win, guys! Get off me!" Justin yelled from somewhere near the bottom of the pile. Wayde rolled off laughing a bit.

Sam jumped off giving Justin one last shove.

"Hey, that was a swell trick. I'm gonna have to try that on someone, someday." Sam said grinning.

"No way, man! It's copyright!" Justin said sitting down.

"Good to have ya back bro." Wayde said still relieved that the whole act wasn't real. Justin grinned then frowned.

"Oh no!"

"Oh no, what?" Wayde said.

"What time is it?"

"I don't have a watch."

"I do." Said Sam looking at his wrist. "I can't see the numbers, it's too dark."

"Try pushing on the light." Wayde said.

"Uh, right. Ok, 8:45 p.m.."

"Well, of course it's p.m., it's nighttime!"

Wayde said to Sam.

"Just telling you what it says." Sam said defensibly.

"Quick Wayde, we gotta get home! Mum and Dad are coming back at 9:00!" Justin said getting up.

"Yikes! They are too! Um, ok, cya Sam.

We'll ring ya tomorrow ok?" Wayde said getting up aswell.

"No prob. Cya you guys." He said walking back to his house.

"Bye!" Justin called out and then they both ran off.



10 minutes later they were home.

"Phew! We made it!" Justin said.

"Yeah, quick lets get to our beds and it'll look like we've been there all along." Wayde said moving towards his room.

"Um, isn't that like ... tricking Mum and Dad? Lying?! Cheating?!" Justin said getting stirred up.

"Well, not exactly. Hey, just think of this as an opportunity to show some patience."

"Patience?"

"Sure, just be patient. We'll, tell them all about what happened tonight."

"We will? When?"

"In a few years. Maybe when your 30."

Justin just rolled his eyes at Wayde, "Night bro."

"Night."

And as they went to there rooms they heard their parents car pull up.

'Man,' Justin thought as he fell onto his bed, ' ... that really was a close one.'

Then he sat straight up in his bed.

'Did Wayde get the money? Or did Sam? Or the nutter?' He couldn't remember. All he saw was blackness as he slowly drifted to sleep.



Sam stooped down and picked up the money. It hadn't even been touched. He smiled in the darkness. He hadn't lost his fortune. Stepping inside and walking down the hall into his room, Sam examined the note more closely. Flicking on his light

he looked it over, just to see if it was as clean now as it was when he put it there.

'Yep, I've never seen a more perfect ten dollar note.' Sam thought to himself.

Then he got a creepy feeling. He had put out a twenty, not a ten.

Sam shook off the feeling.

'Probably another joke!' He tried to reassure himself. He then realised their was a small piece of paper stuck to the other side of the note. Flipping it over, Sam looked at it. It was a note. Addressed to him. Sam gulped as he read it aloud, "Thanks

for the donation, kid. Watch out. I'm not gone for good. Marcie."

Sam did his best not to faint. Nope, this was no joke.



-Chapter 13s coming ;)-