CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: TR TERRORS (Draft 1)

The next morning, the officers investigated the scene, checking if the thieves stole anything else in the file room, or perhaps left some clues behind. 

Alexandra and Max observed them as they worked, when suddenly, one of the officers near the safe called apprehensively, "Sir! There's something over here!" 

Alexandra raised an eyebrow and followed Max to where the officer was. He pointed at something that appeared like some sort of framework. However, parts of it also appeared melted. 

Alexandra eyed the vent above the safe where its grille was missing. She caught her breath before glancing back at the melted framework on the ground. Max was right, it couldn't have been Ashlynn. But who was it? 

 

Lucinda took a seat after setting the table for breakfast, and beamed at everyone around her, "So, what's the plan for today?" 

Richard took a sip of his coffee, his eyes glued to the paper, "Just got an order to prepare a chocolate cake for a little boy's fifth birthday." 

Lucinda nodded, "That's nice, I hope he has a lovely birthday." 

Richard scoffed, "That child will have a better day today than Max Banker!" 

Lucinda tilted her head as James, Cherry, Tim and Silver shared concerned looks. Scarlet froze while the rest of the Gemstones continued eating, staring at Richard - curious as to what happened. 

"Apparently someone broke into the police station last night!" He continued, finding humour in the matter, "Why on earth would anyone break into a police station?" 

Lucinda shrugged, "Well, people will do all sorts of crazy things these days. Was anything stolen?" 

"It doesn't say," he answered, "No one knows who it was either." 

Lucinda laughed, "Well, I suppose Victor has something to do after all." 

Blue noticed Scarlet's grim face and nudged her with a wicked grin, whispering into her ear, "It wasn't you, was it... Red?" 

Scarlet jumped and stuttered, "Sh-Shut up Blue! Of course not!" 

Her quadruplet sisters raised a suspicious eyebrow at her and shared confused expressions. 

Lucinda turned to Silver and Tim, "Your uncle called this morning and told me that he couldn't complete the portrait. But he said that he was flying in from New York today to spend some time with you two." 

She turned back to Richard, "Maybe Max will ask him to help with that investigation." 

Richard shook his head, "The break-in is no cause for concern. It's unlikely that it was that big a deal." 

Silver frowned. Could her uncle help her with her investigation? 

 

Silver sat at her desk and groaned, "So what now? Do we go question Ms. Speed now, or wait until Uncle Vic gets here?" 

She, her brother and the twins were in her room, wondering what to do next. 

James shrugged as he leaned against the bedroom door, "I know you really want to get your uncle's opinion on this, but first, perhaps we should question Ms. Speed and get all our facts straight before we go to him." 

"I second that!" Tim announced, "Uncle Vic can be scary..." 

Cherry chuckled, "I guess we're paying a visit to Ms. Alexandra Speed then." 

Silver sighed wearily and looked out the window, "Let's go." 

 

The five friends sat in a circle on the floor of Flame's bedroom, staring at Ashlynn's file, which was set in the middle. 

Flame took a deep breath. He didn't particularly enjoy what he just found out about his mother, but it was the truth. Nevertheless, a small part of him still hoped there was another side to the story. 

Gio coughed, "So... what now? Do we all go back to our own lives, or..." 

Flame looked down, "I... I don't know." 

The five friends sat in silence before Scarlet nervously laughed and said, "Well...the mission was fun. Thanks for inviting me." 

Chloe snorted, "We didn't invite you Red! You invited yourself!" 

Blaze giggled, "Besides, Flame would've gotten caught if you weren't there! So, it all worked out for the best!" 

Scarlet smiled gratefully, "I'm still glad you let me come along." 

Gio chuckled, "Me too. I had the time of my life. Kinda–" 

Flame grinned widely, "Well, in that case, I think we should stick together." 

Blaze clapped her hands together, "If we're sticking together, we need a name!" 

Scarlet raised her eyebrows and echoed, "A name?" 

"A name for our group," Chloe explained, "Any ideas?" 

Blaze smiled, "I think that, considering Gio was the one who turned it all off, he should get a say in it." 

Gary beamed, "Well then, since we've caused so much terror in one night for the police, we should be called The Terrors." 

"Oh!" Flame exclaimed, "And since it was because of Red's quick thinking, we should be called The Red Terrors. You know, honouring her and stuff." 

"Are you sure it's not because you have red hair?" Chloe teased. 

Flame rolled his eyes as everyone laughed. 

"Blaze has red hair too," he muttered. 

Blaze rolled her eyes and sighed, "So it's settled. From this day onwards, we shall be known as The Red Terrors! And to honour our new name, I suggest a sleepover. Red, Chloe and I!" 

"But what about G and me?" Flame asked. 

Blaze shrugged, "You can have your own sleepover in your room." 

Flame shook his head and laughed, "At the risk of you intruding? Absolutely not! I say G and I sleep over at his place." 

Gio's eyes widened, "That sounds... nice." 

Chloe tilted her head, "I love the idea of a sleepover, but I kinda think The Red Terrors is kinda long." 

Flame shrugged and stood up, taking his mother's file before hiding it under one of the loose floorboards under his bed. As Gary watched his friend work, Chloe and Blaze continued discussing ways to shorten the name or find alternatives. Scarlet on the other hand, observed the scenery outside, lost in her train of thoughts when suddenly- 

"I've got it!" She exclaimed as everyone turned to her, "We don't need to come up with a new name, and The Red Terrors isn't too long! We just need to shorten it!" 

Flame tilted his head, "But to what?" 

Scarlet laughed, "It's so simple. TR Terrors!" 

 

James, Cherry, Silver and Tim make their way through the halls of the Speed mansion, towards Alexandra's study, determined to find the truth about Ashlynn Speed, Silver and Tim's parents, and everything that has been going on. 

When they were allowed in, Alexandra was sitting at her desk signing some papers. She looked up and smiled, "Silver. Tim. How lovely it is to see you both! And you two must be the twins who were adopted by Richard and Lucinda. How are you all? And how are your younger sisters?" 

The four siblings wore grim expressions on their faces. James finally spoke, attempting to be polite, "We're all doing just fine Ms. Speed. It's an honour to finally meet you." 

Cherry nodded, "We've heard so much about you." 

"And we have a lot of questions for you as well." James continued. 

Alexandra's smile faded away as she grew worried, "Is something wrong?" 

Tim frowned, "Yes, Ms. Speed. Something is very wrong." 

"Which is why we've come to speak to you about Ashlynn Speed, your younger sister," Silver finished, "We want to know everything. The whole truth." 

"We've seen the file Ms. Speed." Tim clarified. 

"Well then, I presume you've also seen the contents of the flash drive then?" A deep voice came from behind them. 

A tall, dark man walked out of the shadows in the corner of the room. He wore a dark coat with a suit and tie underneath it. He smiled, "I also presume that you'll want to know about the G.C.F.S.?" 

Silver and Tim's eyes widened as they gasped, "Uncle Victor?!" 

 

She sat in her office. The lights were dim, but bright enough to see the evil grin on her face. She tapped her fingers on her desk, her nails creating a rhythmic sound. Her red, wavy hair reached just below her shoulders and her green eyes had a wicked glow in them as she looked at the picture before her; an image of Flame talking to his friends in the park that was taken recently. 

She stopped tapping her fingers and picked the picture up, observing it carefully. Her diabolical smile only grew wider, "Oh my beautiful son. How I can't wait to see you again. It seems to me you're following mother's footsteps after all."