Sarah was really wondering what was going on with Chuck and Casey. She heard the pendulum drop three notches in the last twenty minutes and it continued to swing. She struggled all along with the leather braces over her wrists and they were grinding scraping into her flesh. These were one of those rare times when she wished she had sweaty palms, just so she could force her hands out. She was very worried about Chuck, these men were maniacs, the entire order was screwy and she couldn’t believe that Bryce had ever agreed to membership. All she could do now was wait and put her hopes on Casey.

This time Chuck let Casey open the next doorway, but stayed close to his heels. This was much to the agent’s displeasure, but Chuck ignored the grunts, one of them was the grunt of approval anyway. After the door slammed shut behind them, a chill crept through the air. Casey did not like the atmosphere at all. The room was damp and when they felt the ground, it was soggy. The room became awash with light and Chuck yelped behind him. The area could barely be called a ‘room.’ It was more like the size of a large warehouse with tall cement walls and bulwarks with grotesque gargoyle carvings throughout.

“It’s…Its…a maze Casey!” Chuck stammered.

“I can see that genius…don’t move, we’ll wait for instructions.”

Right on cue, Falconetti Senior’s voice crackled over a hidden loudspeaker.

“So glad you decided to come in. Now take your time, I’m sure you will do swimmingly! Some mood music, an engaging Russian piece by Smetana Ma Vlast! The German’s call it Die Moldau!”

Chuck pulled on Casey’s shirt. “I know that one from Music Appreciation in high school! The River, it builds up softly like a stream and then it continues until it’s raging…”

“Brilliant Chuck, will it help us solve this maze?”

“Uhhh, no.”

“I didn’t think so, the King of useless information strikes again!”

Casey rolled his eyes and the classical music began to play, the tune was actually pleasant and sure as Chuck said, built up into a thundering refrain. Casey kept his focus straight ahead and kept walking forward, keeping his eyes everywhere for hidden wall traps, but the cement was smooth. It seemed nothing more than a boring maze. He noticed Chuck counting quietly behind him.

“What are you doing Chuck? It’s getting on my nerves.”

“Shhh! I’m pacing Casey! I feel like I’ve seen this maze before online or something…wait…don’t turn down that way!”

Casey ignored him and they soon heard a screeching metal sound. They were already in the middle of the passage. Chuck pointed ahead in a fright.

“Uhhh, why is that wall moving toward us…with spikes! Aughhhhh! There’s bones on it!”

Casey turned and pushed Chuck to go backward. “Move Chuck! Run!”

The wall of spikes was gaining on them, Casey shoved Chuck into an adjoining passage and they landed on the floor. Chuck clamored to his feet and backed up against the wall. The wall of spikes stopped at the edge of the passage and slowly moved itself back into place; disappointed it missed it’s victims.

“I am not taking the blame this time! I told you don’t go down that way!”

“Oh, yeah Chuck! Then maybe you’d like to lead, go ahead!”

“Maybe this time I should! Every time we spring a trap, Sarah is this much closer to being cut in half! Or did you forget? Or do you care NSA Special Agent Casey? Why should it bother you, you have orders to kill me, what does it matter if she goes to?”

Casey was tired of Chuck berating him; he picked him by his collar and slammed him into the wall.

“Shut up Chuck! Those are my orders, but I never said I was going to kill you did I? If I had a chance to explain before, I’m not…”

They suddenly heard the sound of rushing water and Falconetti’s voice again.

“Uh oh! Looks like High Tide boys! Have fun!”

-O-

Freezing ocean water began to pour in from the gargoyle mouths throughout the passages, Casey dropped Chuck and Chuck began to run ahead.

“I think I got this figured out, it’s a Roman maze! Just keep following me, oh god! The water’s rising fast!”

“Don’t talk, just lead! Try not to make any more wrong turns, we don’t know how far that pendulum is on Sarah!”

Chuck was making his way quickly through the maze; the water had reached their waists. He felt something clammy slither past his leg.

“Uhhh, Casey, was that you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Did you just…Uhhh, brush past my leg?”

“Now how the heck did I do that Chuck? I’m behind you? If this is from the tide, it was probably a fish.”

Chuck gulped and continued to stroke through the water. “Uhh, yeah you’re right.”

Chuck made another sharp turn right and felt the slithering feeling again, this time, he froze and turned around to Casey.

“Casey, I know there’s something down there and you said it wasn’t you…I’m hoping it is you, but It doesn’t feel like a human…what? What?”

Chuck was watching Casey’s eyes widen in shock and he closed his own. This was it. Whenever something like this happened, there was always some bloodthirsty, saliva-dripping creature ready to pounce behind the victim. Chuck turned and screamed as four giant tentacles waved throughout the air. He leaped behind Casey in a panic and grabbed his shoulders. The water had reached their chests.

“Damn! Chuck, tell me we can go another direction!”

“No! I was following it carefully, we’re almost out, and this is the only way!”

“Okay, it’s only a squid, we can make it, flat against the wall now!”

Chuck followed Casey’s direction. “Only a squid? Those things can grow up to fifty feet right? They’ll tear you up!”

“Hold still! These cephalopods can sense orientation and motion and the largest size a squid ever grew was twenty feet.”

“Oh, that’s real comforting, Casey! So, he’s only fourteen feet bigger than us!”

Casey and Chuck inched their way across the wall, trying to make limited motion in the water, which was lapping at their necks. They were nearly home free when a tentacle dipped under the surface, and slowly twined itself around Chuck’s waist. Chuck remained completely calm and tapped Casey.

“Umm, please…help!”

Chuck disappeared beneath the surface. Casey dove under and began to yank on it, while Chuck struggled and tried to flip around. The squid was trying to bring its prey closer to its beaked and sharp mouth. Casey bit down hard on the tentacle and it loosened Chuck. He burst to the surface. The squid released its ink in a dark cloud, blind siding Casey and then propelled further down the maze. Casey rose to the surface sputtering.

“Chuck! Are you alright?”

“Yeah! I thought he almost got you!”

“Not yet, he’s still around, but he might leave us alone. Come on, we have to swim for it!”

Chuck and Casey began reeling through the passages like madman. When they got to the last turn the water was ready to cover over them.

“I see the ladder Chuck! Deep breath!”

They both gulped a mouthful of air and submerged. Chuck swam voraciously until he hit the ladder and started to ascend. He came to the door on the top of the ceiling and pushed it. It popped open and he climbed out gasping, suddenly he realized Casey was not behind him.

-O-

The squid demanded revenge and yanked Casey’s leg back toward it. Casey thought quickly, he kicked at it and removed his belt and dove further down. He quickly wrapped the belt around its head and squeezed as hard as he could. The squid’s eyes bulged and it began to thrash around. He tugged harder on the belt and the squid soon became very still, it’s tentacles settling down to the ground. Casey was getting dizzy and started to swim in the direction Chuck went. The last of his air was spent as he put his arms on the ladder, and then suddenly he felt someone pushing him up. His head broke the surface and he forced himself to crawl out. He reached down and grabbed for Chuck. Chuck tumbled on top of him and they just lay there a moment, out of breath.

“Good…good…job…Bartowski! I owe you one…” Casey gasped.

“Hey, you’ve been saving my butt this whole time…it…it was my turn! Man! How did you do that? I would have died, I know it!”

“I had a chance to get some hardcore Marine training, but I never faced anything like that!”

“And the squid, what happened?”

“He’ll make a great calamari if you fish him out!”

“Alright Casey! We rock!”

“Yeah Chuck, do you mind?”

Chuck realized he was still lying on the agent’s chest and rolled over on his back. From below, they heard the water draining slowly and the loudspeakers came back on.

“Well done! Good show Agent Casey, I got that recorded! You’re right about the calamari, maybe when all this is over we can enjoy a hearty seafood dinner!”

Falconetti’s tirade was interrupted by a fit of coughs. “Blahh!!…Your agent Walker is still alive thanks to your quick thinking, that squid would have dropped the pendulum extremely low! Now for the next...”

“Dammit Falcon! No more of this! You’re liable to kill Chuck and where will that leave you? Do you think the Dracons are going to tell you anything about their organization that you aren’t privileged to know?”

“I am privileged! I helped bring this organization to the peak in my days!”

“Your days are long over you old hack! They only used you as a stooge to get in with the Mafia, but you and the old Dragon pushed them. They played you like they play everyone else, you don’t know any more than the next guy and you never will.”

“Shut up Casey, don’t forget who’s running the show here! Don’t forget what I said about that rocket launcher!”

Chuck nudged Casey to keep quiet and Casey threw up his hands, pacing the room and wringing out his shirt.

“Alright! What next Falcon?”

“I knew you would see things my way. Believe it or not, you’re very warm my friend!”

-O-

Sarah was going mad with the straps and the blindfold, she continually rotated her wrist and was starting to feel the leather buckles warp. She tightened her hand and fingers and started to slip it out. Her knuckles were halting the strap. She squeezed harder and with a painful jerk, pulled out one hand. That was all she needed. She threw the blindfold off her eyes and went to work on the buckles across her other arm and feet.

After jumping off the table she immediately went to the direction Falconetti did, twenty paces right. She was facing a large bookshelf.

“Oh great, it’s one of these gags.” She muttered, and went to work pulling out the books.

-O-

The lights came on inside the room and it was empty, save for a shiny wooden floor and dozens of kitschy throw rugs placed about.

“Does he really expect us to fall for this one? We step on the rug and fall through the floor, how obvious can you get?” Chuck noted in frustration and an odd laugh.

Casey’s gaze followed the wood panels along the floor.

“Wait Chuck! Don’t walk it’s not what you…”

Chuck started charging ahead, deliberately avoiding the rugs; he stepped on a plank with a nearly unnoticeable crooked line. The wood fell in. Casey ran and slid across the waxed floor and grabbed Chuck’s ankles. Chuck screamed, hanging upside down inside a large pit with spikes on the bottom.

“Oh my…! Casey! Dragonetti’s down here! Pull me up! Pull me up! Help!”

Casey used all of his strength and hauled him up, Chuck grabbed onto the floor and rolled onto a rug, panting.

“What the hell just happened?”

“You moron! I told you don’t walk ahead, it’s a trick floor, and we have to stay on the rugs, not the wood, look at the planks!

Chuck was too much in a fright to answer him, but nodded profusely and began tiptoeing on the throw rugs with Casey behind him until they made it to the other side. The dark wooden door on the other end of the room creaked open, the piece of floor he and Casey were standing on lifted and tossed them inside. They were both too worn out to even be surprised and they landed at the foot of Falconetti’s desk.

-O-

Sarah wanted to scream in frustration as she plucked each book from it’s spot, but nothing worked. She finally came to one called ‘The rise and fall of the Roman Empire.’ She slapped her head. “Damn! Rise! Fall! Roman! Elevator!”

She pulled out the book and the wall slid open, however when the elevator doors opened, Joseph was standing with a gun on her.

“I think you better come with me pretty girl! Your friends are upstairs! It’s a shame they didn’t come through the other doorway.”

Sarah’s eyes followed his gesture and she noticed a chain to the doorknob connected the pendulum. If anyone had opened it she would have been dismembered instantly. She raised her hands up and stepped inside. She kept her glance on his snake-skin shoes, trying to come up with a plan of action. She moved closer to him and stroked his hair.

“You know Joseph, you’re pretty cute for a man twice my age, tell me, can we stop this elevator for a few?”

Joseph narrowed his eyes and waved his gun around. “Hey! Whaddya think? I’m stupid? Get back to the other side.”

That was enough of a diversion for Sarah. She promptly kicked him in the gut and punched his face. The gun fell to the floor and she grabbed it, lifting up Joseph and keeping the gun to his middle. The elevator doors opened to Falconetti's study and she pushed Joseph inside. Casey and Chuck were tied and gagged to wooden chairs. Agent Pagiano stood by Giorgio's chair; and both had sly smiles on their faces.

“Come in and join us Agent Walker. Yours and Casey’s skills are wonderful, I can see why you and Bryce made such a good team as well. Now let Joseph go.”

Sarah heaved Joseph to the desk. “No, you let them go first, or else he gets it!”

Pagiano sighed and pulled out his own weapon, stepping next to Chuck. Chuck’s eyes were wide with horror as he felt the cold steel of the muzzle trace his face.

“It would be a shame to see all those secrets go to waste, wouldn’t it? Do not test me Agent Walker, let him go.”

Sarah reluctantly dropped her ace and Joseph ran behind his father’s chair. Pagiano pushed her down in the third chair and proceeded to tie her up. When he was finished he walked up to Chuck and undid his ropes, then pulled him toward the desk.

“Now! We finally have the Intersect! The Dracon order will surely put our names in the Hall of Fame for this!”

Chuck looked oddly at Casey. He was grunting and gesturing his head back and forth. Chuck put his head down in submission and spied where Casey was trying to draw his attention. The floor where Pagiano was standing over was slightly distorted. He looked up and out the window quickly; Giorgio was an old school trickster. The access button must have been by his desk. Chuck forced a few tears, which wasn’t too hard, considering his twisted stomach and the scares he encountered in the last few hours. He fell to his knees at Giorgio's feeble legs.

“Please! Please Mr. Falconetti! Take me! But don’t hurt Sarah and Casey or his family! I’m the one you want!”

Chuck sobbed and threw arms around his waist, resting his head on his lap and gagging from the stench of him. He caught sight of five small buttons, red, yellow, blue green and black. He felt Giorgio's twisted hand stroke his curls.

“There, there! Sarah and Casey have to pay for what they’ve tried to do, especially Casey.”

Giorgio gave Pagiano a nod and the crooked agent picked up his cell phone. Casey’s chair started to rock violently and Chuck heard him yelling through his gag.

Chuck had to act quickly; he shut his eyes and pressed down hard on every button at the same time.

“No! You ingrate! What did you do?”

The floor under Pagiano opened up and he disappeared with an echoing scream, his call never going through. The paintings on either side of the room lifted up. Chuck leaped over the desk and Joseph tried to chase him. Chuck knocked both Sarah and Casey to the ground just as sprays of bullets began shooting from the hidden artillery behind the paintings. Joseph fell to the floor in a heap. The mansion went into an uproar, furniture rattled, lights flickered on and off and trap doors opened and shut. It had become a virtual war zone. From deep in the basement, the tide rushed in again uncontrollably and sprayed against the heavy duty fuse boxes that controlled the old man’s nightmarish pranks. Everything fizzled and fire filled the maze, spreading quickly throughout the entire basement.

Chuck quickly undid Sarah’s ropes and snatched a letter opener from the desk to help Casey with his. All the time Giorgio sat in shock and he clutched his chest as his kooky empire fell apart around him. The trio stood up, and Casey pulled his wallet and gun off the desk. The picture of him and Julia was still inside and he managed a quick smile. The den was destroyed by the gunfire and from outside they still heard the floors whirring and the front door slamming open and closed. Black and white smoke began to fill up the mansion and flames started to lick at the floor from where Pagiano fell. Giorgio slumped over his desk in a cold sweat, his wicked deeds catching up to him in one cruel moment.

“NO! NO! I NEED TO KNOW! WHO RUNS THE DRACON ORDER! IT’S IN THE HEAD! IN DRAGON’S…. head….”

The old man breathed his last and Casey spit at him. “Good riddance you bastard! Oh damn, Beckman and Graham are gonna blow a gasket.”

They ran across the rotating floor in leaps and bounds and Casey smashed the windows, realizing everything was locked. He helped Sarah and Chuck out and then Chuck stopped by the front door.

“Casey wait! The doorknocker! It’s the head! The Dragon’s Head! Hurry!”

Casey tore it off the door and a rolled up parchment fell out. Sarah was way ahead of them.

“Come on! Run!”

Casey realized that Falconetti had stored more than tricks in this house of horrors. He threw Chuck over his shoulder and raced to the shoreline, but didn’t stop. The three of them dove into the water just as the entire mansion exploded. They popped up out of the waves and watched a fantastic display of fireworks that spewed into the air. Chuck hobbled onto the surf and opened the parchment, before the water ruined it. Casey and Sarah followed and they all crashed on the sand.

“What…what does it say Chuck?” Sarah demanded, rubbing her wrists.

“It’s a riddle! ‘Concealed and shielded behind much, difficult to spot. I am like bug and sickness; I am contagious not always wanted, though I am small, they fear me greatly, for I might leave them haunted. At times I am tough to keep, my master forced to let me free, then I rupture and soar around and they converse regarding me. I may be friend or foe, servant or teacher, I am like a bird; I want to be a free creature. What am I?”

Chuck started to laugh deliriously, throwing his hands in the air. “Oh…this…this is so simple! This was the answer Falconetti wanted all these years? The answer he thought Dragonetti was keeping from him?”

Casey looked at Sarah and they shrugged in confusion. “Well, what’s the answer then?”

Chuck stood up and tossed the paper into the waves.

“What am I? I’m a SECRET!”

The End.