Begin!

Universe*

~Normal POV

"Good evening, children."

The orphans looked up to see that Hal had found them. He smiled and held up a tray with several bowls and spoons.

"I made some soup that I wanted to share with my new coworkers. If you don't mind that is."

Violet tucked the false key ring behind her, though there was very little chance he had seen it clearly in the dim light, and smiled, "We wouldn't mind that at all, Hal."

Hal carefully stepped over to them and they all sat together. Klaus subtly moved the spyglass out of the old man's vision just to be on the safe side. Each of the children politely took a bowlful of soup as Hal began talking about nothing in particular. They couldn't help ignoring him though as their minds were preoccupied with the fact that the soup tasted terrible. Sunny wasn't a fan of soft foods, but even she knew that she could definitely prepare something better than this. After some time, Hal fell asleep against the wall letting them put their plan into action. Violet carefully unhooked the key ring from Hal's belt and dropped her ribbon in his pocket instead.

"Alright," She whispered standing up, "Let's go."

Klaus grabbed their spyglass, and the five children went back into the hospital and made their way down to the library.

~...

"It's not filed under 'S,'" Duncan groaned as he picked through the papers in the cabinet.

"Hal said he had special instructions for anything labeled Snicket. What do you think he meant," Isadora asked.

"I don't know, but let's try under 'F' for fire," Klaus answered, "It's the best option I can think of."

Violet quickly flipped through the files in the F cabinet, "It's not here either."

Duncan pulled his dark green notebook out of his jacket and flipped through his notes; thankfully the lights were only dimmed down here rather than turned off for the night. They didn't have to worry about using the spyglass to see.

"Try 'J' for Jacques Snicket," He suggested after a few seconds.

Klaus opened the J cabinet, "Nothing, damn we're running out of places to check."

Duncan put his notebook back into his jacket as the five of them returned to the center of the room.

"Anybody else got any ideas," Violet asked.

"V.F.D.," Sunny replied.

"V.F.D. that could work," Klaus said.

They hurried over to the V cabinet and sure enough they found the small canister tucked inside a file labeled V.F.D. Violet set up the projector but didn't turn it on immediately.

"Alright, everyone, we don't know what we're going to find out from this film, but we know it'll be important. Duncan make sure to take down everything in your notebook," Violet commanded.

"Always," The journalist replied as he readied his pen.

Violet turned on the projector and they watched as Jacques Snicket appeared before them. He appeared to be sitting at a desk being interviewed by someone off camera.

"You said you were here to discuss the two most recent fires. Which would those be? There have been quite a few in recent years."

"The Baudelaires is the most recent only a few months ago, followed closely by the Quagmires about a year and a half ago. However, before I continue on the subject I must preface this by saying that there may be one survivor of the fire," Jacques said right before the film cut out.

Violet removed the film from the projector and looked around at the others. They all had the same stunned expressions on their faces. Somebody might have survived one of the two fires. Duncan and Isadora quietly grabbed each other's hands, as they usually did, for comfort. Sunny hugged each of her older siblings' legs; Klaus looked a bit misty eyed at the shocking information. For some time, nobody dared to speak. Nobody knew what to say.

"It just cuts off there," Violet spoke softly, "The rest of the film must have been tampered with."

"Then which fire was he talking about," Klaus asked before he could stop himself; he hadn't wanted to ask at all.

"It doesn't matter which one. He said one person might have survived a fire. Perhaps we shouldn't get our hopes up, but whether it's a member of your family or ours it's still a person that might be alive. That's what matters and we're not going to let it divide us," Isadora answered; she walked over to Klaus and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

Klaus wrapped his arms around her, thankful for her comfort, and whispered something so soft that only she could hear, "Thank you Isadora."

She could only smile in response. Duncan was comforting Violet by holding her hand as she also held Sunny's hand. The five of them shared this brief moment together happily. They weren't sure if what they were happy about would even end up being true, but for now they were happy. Isadora had been right, of course, they probably shouldn't have gotten their hopes up. However, it was unavoidable. Each of them knew deep down that no matter who survived which fire, they were going to find that person. But this happy moment didn't last much longer as they heard something that filled them with dread.

"Good evening, Heimlich Hospital, my name is Dr. Mattathias MedicalSchool, and I am your new boss. Babs has decided to take a sudden interest in becoming a movie stunt-woman and began throwing herself off rooftops. And I'm looking for a group of murderers," The voice over the intercom spoke in a terrible accent.

Count Olaf had taken over the hospital.

"He's running out of ideas if all he can come up with is medical school for a surname," Duncan said, obviously attempting to lighten the mood.

"Isn't that the truth," Violet replied with a small smile at the comment, "What are we going to do?"

The doors of the library started to shake violently as they heard another voice they dreaded, "Come on out orphans brats! It's most certainly not 'in' to keep people locked out!"

"Esmé," They all breathed out simultaneously.

The doors shook harder as the children quickly joined hands and ran the opposite direction. They ducked behind some cabinets near the back of the room before the doors were forced open. Esmé Squalor walked in wearing yet another of her "fashionable" outfits. A black and white fur coat over a skimpy white nurse's uniform, but what they noticed the most about her attire were the shoes she wore. They were high-heeled stilettos, but not in the same way that one would usually see such shoes. The heels of her shoes were actual knives just like their namesake. She turned and slammed the doors closed before taking a few steps forward with a sinister grin.

"Come out brats," She commanded.

"What now," Duncan whispered.

"We can probably get away," Klaus whispered back, "Those shoes look like they slow her down a lot. They keep getting stuck in the floor."

"Do you like my outfit, Baudelaire brats? I'm quite fond of it myself. It was made with something special for the occasion: The skin of an endangered species of bat. I remember Beatrice never liked me to wear this lovely attire whenever we attended fancy gatherings together. She was a fool to not see things in the fashionable eye."

Duncan and Isadora watched as Violet, Klaus, and Sunny's eyes darkened with rage.

"But you know, she wasn't the only fool. That husband of hers, Bertrand, now he was a fool beyond comprehension. He was one of many people who told Jerome not to marry me! Not that it matters since we're not together anymore, but it was still a damn fool thing to believe."

Violet clenched her fist. She was tempted to scream the vilest insults she could muster at the wicked woman. Klaus bit down on his tongue to keep himself from yelling back at her. Sunny gripped her siblings' hands tightly without a word.

"Don't say a word," Duncan mouthed to them; they nodded their response.

"You have something I want, children, and I'm going to get it."

They glanced down at the film canister in Violet's hand. She quickly shoved it into her jacket. They could hear Esmé circling around the room as she hunted for them. Her stilettos clicking into the floor with every terrifying step as she drew closer to their hiding spot. They needed to run. They needed to escape. But at the moment they were trapped. And she would reach them eventually. They couldn't dare speak, even in whispers, she might hear them.

"And once I find you and your bratty twin friends, you'll give me what I want or else. My darling Olaf isn't here and he said I can do with you as I please."

It was now Duncan and Isadora's turn to bite down on their tongues to keep themselves silent. Esmé advanced closer.

"Poor Quagmires, I knew Quinten and Karen well. As a matter of fact, I was put in charge of your affairs after their deaths. Such is a shame about them. I seem to recall they had three brats. What was the third one's name? Oh, yes Quigley. You know, they say that being burned alive is the worst pain a person could suffer. Tell me little twin orphans, you watched your house burn down with your dear brother inside... do you think it hurt when the flames engulfed him?"

Duncan and Isadora were normally very kind, and reasonable. Even when bullied by that awful girl Carmelita Spats they held to their principles and didn't let her taunting, or anyone else's, get to them. Even when nobody else had believed the Baudelaires when they tried to tell the school who Coach Genghis really was, the two had managed to keep themselves calm and collected as they demanded further investigation in support of their friends. And even when they were so often called twins by mistake they just attempted to correct the person. Calling them twins was a bad enough insult, but this: this had crossed the line. The Baudelaires could only watch as their friends' faces reddened with a level of anger they had never seen on them, or likely anyone else before.

"SHUT UP! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OF QUIGLEY QUAGMIRE THAT WAY!"

Duncan and Isadora stood from their hiding place, and shoved their combined weight against one of the filing cabinets. It fell backwards and created a domino effect where the cabinet hit the one behind it and continued knocking them down the row. The Baudelaires stood with them and the five ran towards the mail slot area as Esmé attempted to avoid the falling cabinets.

"The commotion should buy us some time," Duncan said, "Come on we can get out through the air vents!"

He and Violet quickly ripped open the hatch on the vent.

"Klaus, you and Sunny go in first."

"But Violet-"

"That wasn't a request!"

Klaus climbed inside the air vent and Violet handed Sunny over to him. Isadora climbed inside next and positioned herself beside Klaus. Esmé had narrowly avoided the row of falling cabinets, screaming in frustration; she had noticed where the children were trying to escape to. She too got the idea to shove down the next row of cabinets and they were headed right for the open vent.

Violet turned to Duncan, "Get inside, I'll hold her off and meet you guys somewhere."

"Like hell! I'm not leaving you behind!"

"I'm not asking you to! I want you to be safe!"

"And I want you to be safe," Duncan retorted, his eyes locking with hers as he grabbed her hand tightly, "I promised myself I'd never let you go again."

"Both of you get inside now," Klaus demanded.

Violet and Duncan turned to them. Duncan reached into his jacket and pulled out his notebook.

He held it out to his sister, "Izzie, take it. It'll be out of their hands if you have it."

She grabbed his wrist instead and stared firmly into his eyes, "Duncan Ryan Quagmire, I am not losing another brother."

"You won't, I'll be with Violet. We'll meet you somewhere. Now take the damn notebook, Isadora!"

The poet flinched; Duncan had never raised his voice at her before. She grabbed her brother's most treasured possession. Violet handed Klaus the Snicket File.

"This is what she's after," She said, "It's safe with you."

"But Violet," Klaus saw the falling shelves get closer, "What if-"

"Klaus, I promised mother and father that I would protect you and Sunny no matter what! Now let me keep my promise!"

The researcher shoved the file into his pocket and Sunny stared up at her sister with a worried, fearful look in her eyes.

"Don't worry Sunny, I'll be alright," Violet gave her a reassuring smile.

"Klaus," Duncan said, "Remember to keep Izzie safe for me. You promised."

"I will, Duncan."

Violet and Duncan quickly replaced the hatch on the vent and jumped out of the way as the cabinets finally crashed into the spot they had been standing. Duncan gripped her hand and pulled her close to him; his eyes locking with hers once more.

"You said you wanted to be with me, right? Then we do this together, my lovely inventor," He grinned.

Violet couldn't help her heart warming at his sweet words, despite their desperate situation, as she grinned in return, "Together to the end, my dear journalist."

"There you are," Esmé screeched as she neared them, "Oh, look young love! How absolutely revolting! I suppose we can settle for just the two of you. Olaf won't mind I'm sure."

The two teens kept their hands locked firmly as they ran from her. Esmé continued knocking over cabinets in a desperate attempt to trap them. From inside the air vent, Klaus, Isadora, and Sunny could see as their respective siblings ran to the exit. They saw the doors open to reveal Count Olaf standing menacingly in their path.

The three felt their hearts drop into their stomachs as Violet and Duncan were grabbed by Olaf's henchmen and dragged away as the library doors were shut behind them.

~End of Chapter