*This is published on December 21, 2019. There will be part two today and the next episode will be next week. If you like this story, please leave a comment and/or vote and thank you for taking the time to read this. Have a blessed day! Enjoy! Btw, the song is always One Foot by Walk the Moon and the End credits song will always be Whispers in the Dark by Skillet.*

McWinkle's fur wasn't covered in gray like it used to be. That seemed to be the norm for when every time he's angry or stressed. But, since things had been calmed down and he's officially retired from the B.A.D.G.U.Y.S force, he had done nothing but sit and relax in his white rocking chair. He noticed Guy, Michellee, Sam, and E.B approaching him.

"McWinkle?" Guy recognized, with a slight smile of relief.

McWinkle curved up a soft grin. "Guy, it's good to see you again."

"You too."

McWinkle shifted his gaze at Sam and lost his smile. "Sam."

Sam nodded his head with a nervous chuckle. "McWinkle."

McWinkle swept his gaze to both of the girls, giving them a grin. "Ladies."

"McWinkle," Michellee acknowledged with a small smile.

"Hi!" E.B waved with a cute smile on her face.

McWinkle tipped his hat to both of the ladies. "Good morning."

"How's retirement?" Guy inquired, causing McWinkle to shift his gaze back to him.

McWinkle laid back against his rocking chair. "It's been relaxing...finally done chasing criminals. Why have you come here? Just to say hi?"

"I thought it would be nice to talk to you for a moment," Guy responded.

McWinkle changed his attention to Sam, who was rubbing his arm nervously. "Sam."

"Yes?" Sam responded right away.

"I wanted to find you and tell you this but you four came to me instead. I need to have a word with Sam...privately."

Okay, where is this going?

Guy raised his brow while darting his gaze back and forth between Sam and McWinkle. "Why?"

"Just a word."

Sam shifted his gaze up at Guy with a small reassuring smile. "It's going to be okay, Guy."

E.B. noticed a soccer ball by the side of the house, her grin widened.

"Mom, can we play soccer?!" E.B. asked excitedly.

Michellee glanced at the soccer ball with a bit of concern. "I don't know, E.B. I'm a bit too old to play soccer."

"I can play with her," Guy volunteered. "If that's okay with--"

McWinkle tipped his hat again to confirm. "That's fine. No one was playing it anyway."

"Yes! Come on, Guy!" E.B. encouraged as she took Guy by the hand and led him to the soccer ball.

"Alright, alright." Guy chuckled at E.B's enthusiasm while he joined her. Michellee stood over by the tree next to the net, watching the game about to commence between Guy and E.B.

Guy noticed a net ahead of them while he smirked at E.B, who's exchanging a smirk back.

Guy rushed off to be the goalie while E.B. rolled the soccer ball with her foot.

"This is a match of the true strength of Elanabeth versus Guuuuuuuyyyyyyyyy--!!"

Guy raised his brow when E.B. carried out his name for too long. "Guuuuyyy--?"

"Guyamazing!" E.B. cutely shouted, causing Guy to chortle. 

"Let's get this game going!" Guy egged on E.B's excitement as she began to kick the ball between her feet.

"And she goes for the goal!"

Guy jumped to block her. "--And then the goalie blocks her--"

E.B. swiftly passed by Guy. "Nope! She shoots--"

Before Guy could block the goal, E.B shot the ball swiftly into the goal. "--And she scores!!!"

Michellee smiled at the two of them with a gentle giggle.

Guy stretched his back, getting too old to play these kinds of games. "You're getting fast there, kiddo."

E.B. grinned in innocent pride while showing all her white teeth. She noticed her mother standing alone by the goalie. "Mom! Come play with us!!"

"E.B, I'm not sure--"

"Come on, honey," Guy encouraged Michellee. "Come join us."

"It wouldn't be fun with you just standing there and watching," E.B. added on with a persuasive tone.

Michellee sighed in defeat with a small smile. "Alright...but one game."

"Yes!" E.B. cheered while Michellee joined the game. "Which side you're going to be on, Mom? Wait! I can outrun both of you!"

Guy smirked at E.B. "You better watch that tone, young lady--"

E.B. put her hands on her hips playfully. "I'm no young lady, I'm a professional."

Guy rolled his eyes teasingly at E.B's playfulness.

Michellee smirked at Guy. "Can I be the goalie...? Just to be safe."

Guy stepped aside from the goalie position and gestured her to take over. Michellee stood in front of the net while Guy faced E.B. with a soccer ball underneath her foot.

"Are you ready, Guy?" E.B challenged with an adventurous smile.

"I was born ready." Guy grinned.

E.B spun the ball around with her foot before Guy kicked it out of her grip.

"Hey!"

"I told you I was born ready!"

E.B stole the ball from Guy, causing Guy to gasp a bit. "Ha! I got the ball!"

"I'm coming for ya!"

Surprisingly, Michellee joined along as she picked up E.B and tickled her armpits, causing her daughter to giggle.

"Mom, you're not supposed to do that!" E.B. laughed as her mother tickled her sides.

"Get it, Guy!"

Guy swiftly stole the ball back and kicked it into the goal. "Scored!"

"You guys are cheating!" E.B. giggled while Michellee stepped away from her with a chuckle.

"Ah, come on, where's your sense of fun?" Guy taunted a bit.

"I have a sense of fun! I didn't know it meant not following the rules of playing a soccer game," E.B. joked back.

"Hmph," Guy responded with a smirk.

"Come on, another round!"

"I'm good." Michellee backed away slowly to keep her word.

"Oh, come on, Mom, just one more game!"

Guy shrugged with a soft smile. "Whatever you want to do, honey."

Michellee grinned again. "You know what? How about one more game?"

"Yes!!" E.B. cutely cheered again, making Guy chuckle a bit.

"Alright, kiddo, another round!" Guy announced again.

~.~

Meanwhile, Sam watched from a distance of his three friends...his family...playing against each other in a fun game of soccer while standing next to McWinkle. McWinkle stared at them with a small smile while leaning against the board in front of him.

"They look like a happy family," McWinkle observed, watching them and leaning against the board in front of him.

Sam rubbed his arm bashfully. "Well, they're not exactly 'family' yet and--"

McWinkle interrupted Sam by shooting a withering glare.

Sam took back his words. "Yeah, they are a happy family."

"You're lucky." McWinkle sighed deeply with remorse. "I don't have any family left...well, except for my son."

"Your son? I didn't know you have a son."

"His name is Louis...he's a good kid...but...he's all I have."

"Do you even have a wife?"

"Yes...but someone killed her a long time ago."

"Oh," Sam gasped slightly. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's fine. But that's not what I need to talk to you about."

Sam scooched closer to McWinkle. "Okay?"

McWinkle sighed deeply. "I've cleared all of your criminal records."

"What? You did?"

"Yes...I figured you can't just go around the world without being known as a criminal...so...I cleared out your records."

"Wow," Sam awed, speechless. "I-I don't know what to say."

"You're welcome."

"Is...that all you want to tell me about--?"

"No," McWinkle interrupted Sam, taking off his shades. "That's not all, Sam-I-Am."

"Okay, what else?" Sam questioned, gazing up at McWinkle.

McWinkle sighed deeply again, but this time, he frowned. "Somebody's hunting you."

"What?! Why?!"

"I don't know. Because you're a criminal?"

"You said you cleared out all of my criminal records--?"

"Yes, I did...but they still remember who you are."

Sam exhaled, scratching the back of his head. "Who's hunting me?"

"The Ghost. An assassin who kills people for the sake of money."

"That's a strange name for an assassin."

"Well, that's because it disappears without a trace. Leaving no evidence behind to identify who it was...it can make any death look like an accident or suicide...heck, it can frame someone else for murder."

"Whoever 'The Ghost' is, sounds like bad news," Sam uttered, trembling a bit in fear.

McWinkle nodded his head in agreement. "It is bad news. You don't ever want to encounter it. It can spot your weaknesses at first glance...and will haunt your dreams if you even step close to it."

"You seemed to know a lot about The Ghost...have you encountered it?"

There's an unsettling pause while McWinkle put his shades back on. "Yes, I have...countless of times...I'm saying all of this for you and your family's sake."

"Do you mean--?"

"Yes," McWinkle answered as he shifted his gaze back at Guy, Michellee, E.B tackling each other in the game of soccer and laughing.

Sam softened his gaze. "No...no, they can't be the targets too. They're not criminals."

"As long as they are with you, they will be." McWinkle frowned while glancing over his shoulder to look at Sam.

"Is The Ghost sent by anybody...?"

"Your former boss."

"Snerz?"

"No...I think it's your boss before Snerz."

Sam bulged his eyes out wide while rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh...him."

"I don't know who he is but yes, him."

Sam sighed while gazing at his new family sadly. He stared at them playing, having such a great time. But he can't imagine a life without them. He can't imagine what would happen if he never met Guy. There's a madman out to get him and Sam knew what he must do to save his family and friends.

"Thank you, McWinkle...for telling me this."

"I thought that you needed to know this before you go further into your journey."

Sam and McWinkle watched Guy and Michellee both tackling E.B. gently and playfully as they collapsed on the grass and laughter erupted from the distance, causing Sam to smile softly. Sam strolled over to three of his friends with a soft sigh. Guy noticed Sam approaching them.

"Sam!" Guy shouted while he sat up from the grass. "Are you done talking to McWinkle?"

"Yep," Sam responded with a smile. "He said he cleared off my criminal records."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Guy became speechless while clearing his throat. "Well, that's appreciative. Now"--Guy picked E.B. up on her feet while helping Michellee up to hers--"we can help you find your mom."

"Well...on second thought...I think it's better if I go there by myself."

Guy, E.B, and Michellee widened their eyes, surprised.

"Why?" E.B questioned innocently.

"Well...it's not safe...for you guys."

"Sam, you do realize that we have been through--"

"Yeah...I realized that...but...this is different," Sam interrupted Michellee, gazing down sadly.

"Sam...is there something wrong?" Guy asked softly.

"No!" Sam blurted out with a fake smile, causing Guy to raise his brow. "I mean, there's nothing wrong...it's just that...it's safer if you guys go home and I go on my own."

"But...Sam--"

"Trust me...please," Sam pleaded a bit with Guy.

Guy had no idea what's going on. In fact, he's puzzled about why Sam all of the sudden changed his mind about finding his mother with Guy, Michellee, and E.B. What's not safe? What's going to happen if they did go with Sam? He trusted Sam...but he's not sure why.

Guy gazed up at Michellee and E.B to see what they both think. Their faces showed that they were just as puzzled as he was. Michellee sighed deeply while gazing down cheerlessly. E.B walked up to Sam with a deep exhale and hugged him tightly.

"Sam...please, be careful...and come back home safe," E.B. requested with care in her youthful eyes.

Sam curved a soft grin at E.B. "I will."

Sam shifted his gaze up at Michellee and Guy. "I'm sorry for taking off on you guys like that...I--It's safer if we do this."

Guy raised his brow while kneeling down to reach Sam's eye-level. "Are you sure you don't need company?"

Sam nodded his head. "I'm sure...I-It's just safer...for all of us."

Guy frowned a bit while clearing his throat. "Well...alright...I mean, what made you change your mind?"

Sam scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well...I-I can't explain it. I have to go."

"But we already bought four tickets for the train station," Michellee spoke up the fact, her face showing a bit of confusion.

"I know...I know."

An awkward pause settled. Sam exhaled deeply while looking ahead at the blue car the four of them arrived in. "I need a ride."

Guy raised his hand to volunteer to drive his briefcase buddy. "We can--"

Sam shook his head immediately. "It's okay. I can grab a taxi to get to the train station...Or...maybe--"

"You can borrow my car!" McWinkle shouted from the porch, causing everyone to shift their attention to him. McWinkle cornered a smile at Sam.

Sam raised his brow. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

Sam continued to raise his brow higher. "Are you sure sure--?"

McWinkle tossed the keys to his car to shut Sam up. "Yes...I'm sure."

Sam caught it and blinked in utter confusion. "Wow...uh...uh."

McWinkle winked at Sam. "Don't mention it, kid."

Sam turned to his new family, who had a look of pure shock and confusion while Guy furrowed his brow at McWinkle.

"I--I got to go...it's best if you guys head home."

Sam rolled his eyes at himself for saying that and hugged Guy, rubbing his head against Guy's chest.

Guy widened his eyes as he wrapped his arms around Sam. "Sam...please tell me what's going on."

"Something you shouldn't worry about," Sam responded with a smile as he began walking away. Guy stood up to his feet as he, Michellee, and E.B followed Sam towards the driveway.

Sam took his bags out of Michellee's car and he packed them into McWinkle's car. He opened the car door and hopped into the driver seat. He closed the door and took one last glance at Guy, Michellee, and E.B, who watched Sam with saddened and worried gazes. Sam breathed in deeply and ignited the engine. The car rolled out of the driveway of McWinkle's house and drove away from everyone.

Guy switched his hardened gaze at McWinkle, furrowing his brow. "What did you tell him?"

McWinkle strolled back to his rocking chair and sat down. "I told him what he needed to know."

"Like what?!"

There's a brief awkward pause between McWinkle and Guy. 

"Business stuff."

Michellee raised her brow. "What kind of business?"

"Just...business," McWinkle stated, his voice straining to be obvious.

Michellee sighed deeply...maybe figuring that Sam might be saying something about their safety was right. Why would Sam changed his mind that quickly? If it weren't for the concern of safety, he would love for them to go...but there was something about the issue of safety that is concerning...he's probably protecting them from the worst that will come.

Michellee smiled at Guy and put her hand on his shoulder, causing Guy to flicked a glance at her. "Sam is going to be okay...I'm sure."

Guy gazed down on the grass, nodding his head in agreement. "You're right...I-I know Sam will be okay. I just hope that he'll get there and back safely."

"He will," Michellee implemented with a sweet smile.

Guy glanced up at Michellee with a soft grin. "I know he will."

~.~

A few minutes passed by, letting Guy sit on the passenger side of the car while Michellee was going slow again. Guy didn't mind it this time...neither did E.B. They sat in the silence while E.B. sighed.

"I'm going to miss Sam...he's like a big brother I never had," E.B. ignited the conversation.

Guy cornered a small smile at E.B. "Yeah...he's different from the brothers I have, except that there was one brother who Sam reminded me of."

"What's his name?" E.B. leaned in to listen to Guy.

"Jeffrey...Jeffrey Am I was my youngest brother. He's always energetic and bubbly. He helped me a lot with inventions. He's the mechanic of the family. Though, he had been gone for a while...I--I'm starting to wonder where he's been."

Michellee put her hand on Guy's shoulder. "I'm sure he's fine"

"Yeah...still...it's been a while since I saw him."

E.B. widened her eyes with an idea sparked in her head. "We can look for your brother!"

"What?!" Both Michellee and Guy gasped for a moment.

"Think about it! Sam was looking for his mother! We can look for your brother, Guy!" E.B. excitedly explained to both Guy and Michellee.

Michellee raised her brow. "You don't want to go home, do you?"

"Come on, Mom, I know we've gone a trip to Meepville but it's not like every day you go out for an adventure!" E.B. chirped while Guy chuckled at E.B.'s enthusiasm.

"Well, the thing is, E.B," Guy began to explain. "I don't know where my younger brother is. Unless I discovered something about the location of my brother...I would've gone. But...I don't know where he is--it's not like he--"

While Guy trailed off about his younger brother, Michellee gazed ahead of the road. There's dust covering the road in front of them but there's also a shadowy figure. Michellee squinted closer at it to notice the figure taking out a rifle.

This is exactly what I meant when I say there's worst to come! Drive, Michellee, drive!!!!!!

Michellee gasped as she pushed a button to bubble form the car and presses the gas pedal harshly to swerve the car into a U-turn. It caused both E.B. and Guy to slam against the side of the car. Guy heard a couple of shots taken at the car, moving his eyes swiftly at Michellee.

"Michellee, honey...what's going on?!" Guy yelled, fear taking over his voice.

Michellee didn't respond as she drove faster up towards the freeway, passing by McWinkle's house again.

McWinkle shifted his worried gaze at the man in the gray hoodie riding his motorcycle to chase after Michellee's car. McWinkle immediately took out his net wall gun and pulled the trigger to create a wall to stop the man in the gray hoodie. However, the thing is, McWinkle had to keep his gun out while his gun had to hold the net up. There's nothing he could do to defend himself. He took off his sunglasses to reveal a fear twinkling in his eyes as the man in the gray hoodie pulled out his handgun to aim at McWinkle.

From the distance, Guy heard a gun go off again but this time...it wasn't shot at them. E.B. darted her fearful gaze around the car.

"Mom! What's going on?!? Why is this man after us?!" E.B. screamed at her mother.

Michellee didn't respond.

Guy flicked his focus on E.B. "E.B, keep your head down! Cover your head!

E.B, without hesitation, did as Guy instructed her to do while Guy peeked at the back window to notice the mysterious man in the gray hood riding on the motorcycle to approach them.

"Hang on!" Michellee shouted as she swerved the car through the freeway, which took them into the desert.

Guy glanced into the passenger rearview mirror to see the reflection of the man in the gray hoodie in a gray motorcycle. Before Guy could get a closer look at the man, the man shot the rearview mirror, causing Guy to yelp a bit.

"Who is this man?!" Guy screamed with pure confusion.

"I don't know!!!" Michellee shrieked back at Guy, her palms sweating on the wheel. Guy, Michellee, and E.B began to screech in the car while being in hot pursuit with an assassin trailing behind them.

*To Be Continued...*