I groaned in my sleep and with my head jerked up from the cave floor, I screamed, "AHHHHH!!!!!"

I opened my eyes and breathed in short ragged breaths. Fear tightening my heart.

My breathing slowed down finally when I realized that I was dreaming. I looked around and I remembered that I'm sleeping in the cave right now, the morning light shining through the opening. After...April's house got burned down.

I hung my head down and sighed. God, what a nightmare.

I was dreaming that I was back at my old home in New York, and Jason, Emma, and April were all there.

But we weren't the only ones, those people in suits were there too and....They've executed us, one at a time, until Jason was the last.

My throat tightened a bit. Despite that it was just a dream, it felt more than that.

Hearing them screaming for me to save them, it was...Horrible. Even April's scream really got to me.

That girl died in my dream and I...Couldn't save her.

I wrapped both my front paws together, tightening my grip on them. I know it's a dream, but the danger is real right now.

Someone tried to kill April two nights ago and now I'm just afraid I won't save her this time.

My eyes went wide with fear and worry. What if I can't save her again? What if she dies?

I put on a glare. No, she won't die! She's my love!

I've lost Cassandra years ago and I won't lose April too.

And I also won't let Jason and Emma die too, I'll protect them as well.

I slowly got up on all fours and stretched. I stopped stretching and let out a yawn through my beak. I shook myself awake and I started to walk out of the cave. The sunlight blinding me at first, but then I started to get used to it.

My paws walked on the grass, as I started to think what I wanted to hunt in the woods now. Since I'm alone right now. Jason, April, and maybe Emma would come here today, I know they will.

They wouldn't keep the most handsome gryphon waiting and alone. I know my dirty farm girl girlfriend wouldn't. I giggled to myself at the thought. Dirty farm girl, well when me and her are alone together, we might do dirtier things than THAT.

But before I could go hunting, my thoughts went to...Clifford.

I had a sad and angry look on my face. I don't get it.

I'm probably wrong about him, but the things that have been happening lately it makes me want to think he's behind everything.

Why Clifford? Why are you doing all those things?

I thought you were our family and now you want to...Kill us.

Why Cliff? Why?

I sighed to myself and took a deep breath. I won't dwell on it right now.

But I hope that I get to see him again, I want some answers.

A part of me doesn't want to think he's the bad guy, but I want answers from him.

I started to flap my wings, getting ready to go hunt for food. Just to take my mind of things right now.

I started to fly off the ground and I flew over the trees.

*****

Me and April are eating breakfast with Brooke and Thomas in the dining room at Brooke's house. And boy Thomas really does make good food.

All of us were laughing that Thomas made some joke, but my mind wasn't really on Thomas's jokes.

My mind was on...What happened with April here.

Right now I feel like I'm getting paranoid about everyone's safety. Like hers and...Emma's

I know that I've saved people before with Ben and all. But...What if I can't save everyone at once?

I can't do several things all at once and that could be a problem.

Why? Because what if Emma was in trouble at one place and Brooke, Thomas, and April are in trouble at another place? I hope that doesn't happen, I want to save everyone.

I hope that something terrible doesn't happen.

Because I'm getting a feeling something bad will happen.

Brooke's voice interrupted my thoughts, "Jason?"

I looked at Brooke, "Yeah?"

Brooke grinned, "I asked you if you and April want to play Clue with me and Thomas?"

April smiled, "I'm game."

Thomas nodded, "Fantastic, and what about you Jason?"

I shook my head, "No thanks. I'm not in the mood."

Brooke shrugged her shoulders, "Alright, suit yourself."

Thomas then asked, "So April, have you thought about where you'll be living at?"

April got up from her chair and picked up her plate, since she ate all her food, "I haven't really figured it all out yet. I mean, I just don't know if there are any houses that are up for sale now. This whole house searching is really getting to me."

Thomas had a pity look on his face, "Well I'm still sorry for what happened to your house. That really sucks." Then he beamed and added, "But on the bright side of things, at least some guardian angel saved your hide. I wonder who it was."

April grinned, "Don't know. But I guess he must be...Superman."

I giggled a bit, quietly so that way Thomas couldn't hear me. April walked to the sink and dumped her plate in the sink and started washing it.

Thomas got up from the chair and said, "Well I'm going to get the game now. Be right back guys." And with that he left the dining room. Leaving Me, Brooke, and April alone.

Me and April looked at Brooke and I asked, "Well I hope that April doesn't play that game forever. Me and her are still planning on seeing Ben at the cave today."

Brooke had a sympathy look and muttered, "Poor Ben, out there all alone without anyone to talk to. I can see why he wanted to spend all his time with April, he loves company."

I smiled at her, "Yeah, he does love company. And I'm sure he's fine right now, he just needs to hold on for a little while longer."

April came back to the table from the sink and said, "Yeah, I just hope he didn't get man handled by a bunch of squirrels in the woods." She tried to stifle a giggle by putting her wrist to her mouth.

I didn't try to hold back my giggle and I did, "Oh god, I can imagine Ben's face when he complains. That's what he gets for picking on god's little creatures. You do not ever want to screw with them."

April said with another giggle, "Yep, that lesson outa be learned now."

Then I heard the doorbell at the front door. Brooke got up form her chair and said, "I'll be right back." She pushed her chair under the table and went to answer the door.

Me and April heard her open the door and we both can hear...Her boss, the sheriff, Dean at the door. He sounds...Worried.

We both heard Dean enter the house and he found me and April alone in the room.

I grinned at him, "Dean! Hi, how's everything?"

Dean had this...Grim look and he asked, "Jonas...Have you seen my daughter?"

My eyes went wide for a second and I frowned, "What do you mean? Is she-"

Dean said this by cutting off my sentence, "My daughter wasn't in her room this morning. I looked all over town, but I can't find her. Is she with you?"

I shook my head, "No."

Dean sighed, "Damn...Well that's not the only reason why I came here."

I shrugged, "What is it?"

Dean pulled out something from his jacket pocket and he handed it over to me. An envelope.

I grabbed it and it only had a few words written in a black marker.

TO EMMA'S BOYFRIEND

I frowned at the envelope and I stared at Dean, "Where did you get this?"

He answered, "Before I went to look for Emma, I've found this on the front porch at my house. I wanted to find her first before I came here, but-" He shook his head, "Never mind. Since I know she's not here, I need to keep looking. I already told Brooke told help me look for her."

Brooke came into the dining room with her police uniform on and she said, "Alright sir, lets go look for her."

Dean looked at her and nodded. Then he gazed back at me and said, "You can have the envelope, I don't have time for small things right now. I need to find my daughter right now." He whirled around on me and ran to the front door, hollering, "Call me if you find my daughter!"

Brooke sighed and looked at me and April, "Well I need to get going. I hope Emma didn't get into any trouble. I'll call you if I find her." She ran to the front door after that and yelled to Thomas, "I'll be back later honey!" We heard the front door slam and everything is quiet.

Now I was just standing here with April, worried thoughts tugging at my brain. Emma...Disappeared?

Now hold on, don't panic yet. She probably went to work real early today and didn't tell anyone.

But her dad said that he looked all over for her. I hope that....That...

Jason, get a grip.

Then I looked at the envelope in my hand and April looked at it too, "Wonder who sent that to you?"

I was getting suspicious now and shook my head, "I don't know. I guess I'll open it." I looked for the letter opener and used it on the envelope.

I managed to get the letter out, unfolded it, and me and April started reading it:

Dear Jason,

I'm sure that the sheriff came here looking for his daughter and had the envelope in his hand and gave it to you. Well if you're reading it, well here's your answer to what happened to your woman.

I have her now and this time, you don't have much choice but to cooperate with me and my boys.

I want you and your gryphon to meet me at the airfield outside Southport about forty miles north of town, at hangar 14 at nine o'clock tonight. And if you don't show up in time, I'll kill Emma.

Don't even think about calling the cops and send them there, cause if you do I'll put a bullet in her brain and it'll be your fault for that.

You and that gryphon escaped us before, but this time, you won't escape again. Do you want your girl to die? I bet not!

You want to get Emma back? Do what I say! You and the gryphon come to that hangar if you want her to live.

Or else, she dies! And don't be late!

I let the letter drop form my hand, it fell lightly to the floor. April put her hand to her mouth, fear clawing at her.

I was just standing there, motionless.

No....Emma...

They...Kidnapped her. The guys who tried to kill April have Emma now.

They must be the guys in suits, that's what they mean when they said we escaped them before.

Now there's no way to escape them now.

I said only one word, my voice trembling, "....Emma...."

*****

Ben glared down at me, "Are you crazy?"

April asked with fear all over her face, taking one step toward me, "Yeah, are you crazy?! You can't go there! We need to call the police!"

Me and April went to the woods to find Ben after we read the letter, just the afternoon now. And lets just say, making him convince to go to the airfield with me is not working out right now.

Not to mention April keeps suggesting that we should go to the cops about this. But THAT'S a bad idea.

I shouted at April, "Are you kidding me?! If we go to the police, Emma dies!"

April shouted back, "But what you're suggesting to do will get you and Ben killed! That's what they want. They're going to kill you Emma anyways! They won't let her go!"

I pointed at her, "You don't know that!"

Ben snarled, "And you can't trust them, Jason! And I won't let this happen to you!"

My jaw dropped when Ben said that and I shouted angrily at him, "Really?! You don't want to save Emma?! What the hell's the matter with you?!"

Ben took a deep breath and lowered his voice, "Jason think about it. Those aren't the kind of people that would just let her go. It's a trap, I can feel it." Then he shot up his head, "And also, those people are the same ones who tried to kill us years ago and now...They've found us."

Ben lowered his head to my level and said with sadness in his voice, "Jason...We need to leave this place. Us, including April, need to leave Southport."

I glared at him, "Leave? Is that all the answers you can come up with?! Leave the place we've called home?! Emma needs our help!"

Ben started to say, "Jason-"

I cut him off, "No, screw this! I won't let Emma die! We're going to that airfield and we will save her. Just like all the other people that we saved before we came to this town!"

Ben narrowed his eyes, "No damn it! We're leaving this town NOW!"

"And let Emma die?!"

Ben flared his wings in frustration and let out a bit of a growl, "For all we know, Emma's already dead by now!"

Now that really hit close to home. And I softly said with a few tears in my eyes, "I love her, Ben. I...I love her."

Ben had a guilty look on his face, "I know."

April came to me and laid a hand on my shoulder. She pleaded, "Jason, please listen to him. If you go there, you might die. You might never come back."

I looked at her and said with a trembling voice, my throat tightening, "I don't care." I then gazed to my feet. I felt close to breaking down in tears, but I held myself together.

Ben got his head closer to mine and said, "She's right Jason. It could be dangerous."

I sighed and he went on, "I don't want to lose you kid. I've lost your mother and father, I don't want to lose their son. You...You're the only family I have left."

I looked at him and said, "I don't care."

Ben's eyes went wide and he said, "Jason-"

"I DON'T CARE!"

He backed away from me a bit and so did April. I said this to them, taking a few huffs, "I don't care what happens to me. I care about Emma and I want to help her. It's a chance I'm taking."

He begged, "But Jason-"

I shook my head, "I've told you before Ben, I'm done running. We've been running for years and we both have a home now." I waved a hand at them, "I'm tired of running away and I want my life back. Those people have found us and now you want to run away again?"

I shook my head again, giving them a stern voice, "Well you can do whatever you want, because I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm confronting my fears and deal with them. I won't let my life feel controlled by those people. No more running, I will face them by myself if I have to. NO MORE RUNNING."

Ben and April both stared at me, guilty looks on their faces. I glared at Ben, "I'm disappointed in you Ben. Saying that Emma's probably dead and you don't know that. And you also don't want to save her, how dare you?"

I took a step toward him and said, "Mother would be so disappointed at you. She thought of you as Superman, but right now, you're not acting like him. She would want you to save her, if she was in the same position as Emma is in right now. But no, you won't save my girlfriend."

Ben turned his head away and I softened my look. I put a hand to my chest, "I get it big guy. You're afraid of what those people are capable of. What they would do to me and you. They're not just ordinary thugs, they're different. They're professionals."

I gave him a hard look and went on, "But I'm not afraid anymore. I choose to save Emma. Just like all the other people that we've saved over the years. Travelling from town to town, doing what people are suppose to be doing. Being heroes. Doing what heroes do. We're both like Batman and Robin, or we're both Superman, either way it doesn't matter which we are. The point is...I won't back down from saving another innocent girl."

I took a deep breath and let it out, "And they chose to make it personal by kidnapping her and I won't tolerate it." Then I pointed at April and asked, "Let me ask you a question, what would you do if April was in Emma's place? Would you leave her behind to die?"

Ben looked at April and she gazed back at him. Ben had a sad look on his face as he stared at her. April then had a pity look on her face.

I let my arm fall to my side and said to him, "We both love someone and the girl that I care about is at that airfield and she needs our help." I smiled at him, "WE both want to live normal lives, but call this our last act of heroism. We both save Emma, kill all those people who are against us. Because we're tired of being afraid and we're tired of feeling controlled by them."

I pleaded, "Listen, if you don't want to do this for anyone, do this for mom and dad. Especially mom. Do all of this for her. Please Ben...I'm begging you. Just help me out on this. Help me save my woman,  and do this for my mom, Cassandra. Please dad...Help me out on this one. Just like we've always helped each other."

Ben looked at me finally, for a few moments, until he said it, "I'm not doing for anyone." He put on a smile on his beak, "I'm doing this for you. My son."

I beamed at him and then April with a scared expression said, "Ben, are you-"

Ben focused his gaze on April and said, "April we have to save your best friend. I know you don't want us to go there, but we have to. I wanted to leave, but Jason's right. I have to stop this from happening again. We both have a home and we want to live as any normal people would and we won't let those people stop us from doing that."

He sighed and said one last thing to her, "I have to do this April. I have to do this. I won't let Jason do this alone. He...He would do the same thing for me."

April started to cry as her tears have fallen down her cheeks. She threw herself against Ben's chest and sobbed, "Oh Ben. I...I don't want you to die! I don't want you both to die!!" She sniffed loudly, as she buried her face in his feathers.

Ben lowered his head to her level and said soothingly to her, "We won't." She removed her face from his feathers and he went on, "Because heroes NEVER die. And I'll make sure we won't die. We're both Batman and Robin. We're both Superman. And we'll both make it back."

April sniffed again and asked, "You promise?"

Ben nodded and gave her a smile, "I promise."

April then without hesitation, grabbed Ben's face with both hands and mashed her lips against his beak for a kiss. Ben was surprised at first, then he closed his eyes and kissed her back a bit. I watched them both doing it from right where I was at.

Ben and April pulled each other away and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Ben returned the hug by wrapping his paw around her body.

They both let each other go and she backed away form him. Still sobbing in front of us. Ben looked at her for another moment and looked at me now. He asked me, "Are you ready for this?"

I nodded, "I am."

Ben nodded and lowered his body to the ground and said, "Lets go kid. Lets do our last act of heroism."

I smiled and nodded and I started to walk up to his back. April grabbed my arm to stop me and said with a determined look, her eyes still wet with tears, "No matter what happens, you come back with Emma. All of you come back alive. No matter what."

I nodded at her, "We will. I promise." Then April wrapped her arms around my body to hug me and I returned the hug as well.

We both pulled away and then I went to Ben's back. I grabbed Ben's wing joint and I hurled myself over his back, until I sat on it. Ben raised his body off the ground and I patted his feathered neck, "Alright...Lets do this."

Ben started to flap his wings with a look of determination and bravery. We both started to lift off the ground, to fly over the trees.

The wind from Ben's flapping started to blow dirt and leaves at April and she covered her eyes with her arms.

Me and Ben were high above the ground now and I looked down at April and heard her shouting, "Please guys! DON'T DIE!"

And we don't intend to.

As soon as Ben was flying over the tress with me on his back, I held my grip tighter on his wings. Ben flew forward with a burst of speed and we're off.

As we flew, my thoughts went back to the times when Ben wanted to leave Southport as soon as we came here. To move on to another place.

Part of me wished that we should've left sooner. Then none of this wouldn't be happening. That Emma would not have been kidnapped. That April's house would not have been set on fire. That April would not have been hurt.

This is all our fault. We both should have left a long time ago.

I put on a hard face as I still rode on Ben's back. Well we're both making it right.

We will save Emma, even if it meant the cost of our lives. No matter what, we will save her.

Hang on Emma...We're coming for you.

Batman and Robin are coming to save you now.

The sunset came as me and Ben flew over the woods. On our way to the airfield.

*****

The night came and we can see the airfield form up in the air. This must be the place.

Ben started to glide down to the airstrip. When he got close to the ground, he landed and trotted to a stop.

Ben's wings curled on his back and I slid off of him. landed on the ground and stood up straight. I took a few steps away from Ben and looked around the airstrip. It's quiet here. No one at the airstrip at all.

I guess all the planes are in the hangars. After all, it's dark now. Everyone must have went off to bed. So now it's just me and Ben...Also Emma and those goons. We're all alone here.

Just me and Ben on our own without help.

Ben came up behind me and muttered, "Pretty quiet here. So which one should we check out?"

I said to him over my shoulder, "The letter said that Emma should be inside hangar fourteen, that's where she'll be at." I sighed with worry, "I hope she's alive. I...I don't want to lose her too. I don't want her to go like mom and dad."

Ben lowered his head to my level, his chin over my shoulder, "She's alive, I can feel it."

I turned my head to see his eyes and I smiled at him. I walked forward, his head not on my shoulder anymore and I said, "Come on, lets go find that hangar."

Ben started to walk beside me, "Right, lets go and keep your eyes peeled. They could be watching us."

With that me and Ben walked on the airstrip, looking for hangar fourteen.

I looked around as we walked, thinking about what Ben just said. But I don't see anyone watching us. No cars, no lights, no people, no...Anything.

They're probably just waiting for us at the hangar. That's where they could be at.

We both walked further up the airfield, caution among us.

Finally after about twelve minutes of walking on the airfield, we both saw hangar fourteen up ahead.

About time, we were walking for a bit.

I jogged toward the hangar and Ben ran up behind me on all four of his paws.

The big hangar door that the planes use to enter the hangar is wide open and we both peered into the hangar. In the middle of the big hangar, a single light is shining on the ceiling. And we could see something in the middle of the light on the floor.

We both see a person...Tied to a chair, the person's head hung low. A woman.

I let out a small quiet gasp. Emma!

Ben could see her face as well and he narrowed his gaze onto her.

I took a step forward and he stopped me by placing his paw in front of me, "Wait."

I looked at him and he whispered, "This really could be a trap. We...Better wait for a few minutes, we need to think of a plan.

I whispered back, "Ben, I'm not waiting. I'm going in there and rescue her. You can wait out here if you want."

Ben shot a glare at me and then he softened his gaze. He sighed, "Well...Alright, we'll check it out and rescue her. But if there's trouble, then we both run the hell out of that hangar, are we clear on that?"

I nodded slowly and whispered again, "Now lets go." Ben pulled his paw back and I started to walk into the hangar with him. Both of us taking slow strides in there.

Every step we took, the more the fear became intense. Cold sweat on my forehead. My legs tremble every time I take a step.

We both got closer to Emma, she looks unconscious. I think so anyway.

I decided to whisper to her, as me and Ben got closer, "Emma."

She didn't budge and I tried again, louder this time, "Emma."

Still didn't budge and as we got more closer to Emma, we both heard a sound coming from the ceiling, sound of a rope snapped.

We both heard something fell from the ceiling and we looked up and saw a big metal net falling down on us with a crash. We both cried out in surprise. Both of us pinned underneath it.

I was lying on my stomach and so was Ben, his wings spread out because of the net. he groaned and said, "Shit, I knew this was a damn trap!"

I grunted, trying to get the net off of us, "Tell me something I don't know." I placed my hands to the floor, trying to push myself off the ground, but the net really did feel heavy, "Ben...Can you stand? Get this net off of us."

Ben tried to stand and said, "I'm trying." He groaned again, and he managed to stand up a bit, the net over his beak and face.

All of a sudden, a flashlight was on us and we were blinded by it. I shielded my eyes with my arm and said, "Who's there?"

The flashlight then shut off and we could see another person besides Emma with us now. And we both gasped when we recognized the face.

Clifford!

I said his name out loud with a shocked trembling voice, "Clifford?"

Ben glared at Clifford and snarled, "You son a bitch! I knew you were behind this!"

Clifford with a blank expression shook his head and said, "You never should have gotten that girl involved in your lives." Then he had a gun in his hand and pointed it at Ben.

Ben let out a high pitch eagle scream of hatred. Clifford pulled the trigger and fired at him. A dart hit Ben's chest and I began to realize that Clifford's using a tranquilizer gun.

Ben cried out and then immediately he started to feel sleepy and he fell to the ground on his stomach in a heap. I cried out in surprise, "Ben!"

I looked at Clifford and he pointed the gun at me now. I screamed at him in anger. He pulled the trigger again and a dart hit my arm. I cried out. I pulled the dart out of my arm, but it was too late. My eyelids feel like they want to close. My vision became cloudy and I began to feel dizzy.

I fell face first back down to the floor and I let out a big long moan.

My vision became more cloudy and everything went black.