Finally the lights flashed on, and without having any contact with the door, Skipper and Private witnessed it slam open before their own eyes. "Come on," Skipper said. "No, no, I can't go in there! No!" Private whined like he was in a trance. Skipper grasped his flipper, and dragged him inside. Skipper kept his grip tight until he found Kowalski and Rico by the stairs. "Are you both all right?!" Skipper asked startled. "Yes, but something happened in the basement." Kowalski said out of breath. "All right, Rico, take Private upstairs and keep an eye on him. Kowalski, you're coming with me." Skipper ordered.
When they made it downstairs, they saw the team crowded around Ramona, who was on her knees with her head deep in her flippers, crying. Skipper pushed through the team, and went to his former girlfriend. Between her sobs he listened, trying to make out her words. "She-was-right--here. It's my-fault-all my-fault." She weeped. Skipper dried her tears. "No, it's not. Don't blame yourself. I know I'd feel the same way if ... that happened to one of my boys. Here, let me help you up the stairs." He sympathized. "No," She said sternly. "I was just-" He stammered. "No, your little one is still alive. Go to him. Cherish him, because you never know if today will be your last day with him." She said. "You're right," Skipper gasped realizing what he had gotten his team into.
The two entered the room in silence. Private sat bawling while he gently rocked back and forth in the rocking chair. Skipper waddled over to him. "Hey, you okay?" He asked lightly. Private shook his head, as he cried. "Come here," Skipper said, and sat down as Private got up. "Sit on my lap. We need to talk more." He said.
The gloomed penguin did as he was told. "It was her wasn't it, Skippah?" He said. Skipper nodded. "She was a good kid ... just like you. You know, I would never let anyone hurt you, Kowalski, or Rico, right?"
"I know, but she was so young. Why, how could anyone do that?!"
"I don't know, Private. I'm sorry."
"I'm scared. If you're protecting us, how can you protect yourself?"
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
"I think some of us should go investigate. Rico and I will go." Kowalski offered.
"No, I'll go," Skipper sighed.
"Private wants to talk to you." Kowalski said.
"You're right," Skipper said.
When Kowalski and Rico reached the bottom of the stairs they saw Ms. Williams, as timid as a lamb.
"Is everyone all right?" She quiverwed.
"Afraid not, Ellie was murdered." Kowalski answered.
"Oh, that poor child." She gasped.
They reached the cluttered basement in no time. Blood flooded the floor in colossal puddles. Kowalski examined the spill.
"I suspect the culprit must have used a knife or dagger like object." The scientist declared.
"Where's the body?" Rico grunted.
"What? You mean, it-it's not here?"
"Yeah,"
The penguins searched the whole bottom floor, but found nothing else. "That's odd, indeed." The tall penguin discovered. Rico inspected the evidence for DNA.
"Anything?"
"Nah,"
Just then the door at the top of the steps slammed shut. "Hello?" Kowalski called. Rico lit a candle. The door thrashed open. "That was freaky." Kowalski shivered. "Uh-huh," Rico nodded. Right before them, a shadow raced past the doorway.
"Who was that?" The pyschotic penguin gasped.
"Was that aborition wearing a wedding dress? Stay here." Kowalski wondered.
He journeyed away from his friend. There was a lone door at the end of the room. Kowalski crept toward it. As he proceeded forward, something inside the closet was banging the door.
With a quaking flipper he turned the knob, hesitantly. The door creaked as it was being opened, revealing its secrets. It was just a closet.
Shelves were stacked on the walls, covered in old toys. The stuffed animal eyes stared blankly in an eerie manor. Suddenly a monkey with cymbals, smashed its instruments together with a startling CRASH! Both penguins jmped, but relaxed.
Kowalski put his flipper on the door, and was about to close it when something worse happened. All the toys flew from the shelves, out of the closet, knocking Kowalski down. They moved like a gust of wind tossed them.
"Please, don't die, Skippah!" Private whimpered.
"What makes you think that'll happen?"
"There's some one coming after us!"
"Listen, I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect you."
"Please!"
"Okay, I promise." Skipper paused. "I remember when you were little, I used to hold you in my flippers like this."
"Yeah,"
"You used to chew on my flippers, too."
"Did I bite a lot?"
"No, you gnawed. No matter how you old you become, you'll always be my Young Private."
"I know," Private said snuggling his head into his leader's chest.
"Try getting some sleep, okay."
"I can't. Everytime I close my eyes, I see some one coming after me!"
"You're safe. Just imagine something else, how about rainbows, quilting, and those loopy unicorns from the moon."
"I'll try," Private muttered, and fell asleep rapidly.
Rico extended his flipper to help his friend up. Still in shock, he accepted his investiagtion partner's kind gesture.
"Thanks, now let's go before something else happens." He said.
As they waddled upsatirs, a toy train's wheels rotated, going nowhere. It sat on its side in the blood puddle. Suddenly, it was volleyed into the air, and exploded into pieces.