The Hirt

Chapter Twelve

12

Henry slung Matt over his shoulder and the group busted out of the room, Damien surprisingly able to keep up.  Ivy led the way, racing through the hallway.  She flung open the front door, and quietly ushered everyone out.  The bright sunshine outside assaulted Heather, and she had to wait and let her eyes adjust.  As they did, she took in her surroundings.  There were people of all ages everywhere, some walking, some resting on strategically placed benches.  All the sounds made Heather’s ears ring.  It was definitely an amusement park; there was a monstrous roller coaster to her left and one of those spinny-rides to her right.  Off in the distance, Heather could see a Ferris wheel.

 “Someone wake Matt up,” Damien ordered.  Henry gently set Matt down in the shade of a nearby tree.  Jimba scurried over and attempted to wake the unconscious boy.

“Wakey, wakey, Matt! We need you! It’s time to get up!” she said in a sing-song voice.

“That’s not going to work,” Henry mumbled as he nudged Jimba out of the way.  He quickly studied Matt’s peaceful face before he took his hand and slapped Matt across the face with all his might. 

Jimba and Heather gasped loudly, while Ivy just stared in stunned silence.  Matt’s eyelids flew open, revealing his golden eyes, pure panic apparent in them. He jerked up, but Henry calmed him down.

“Relax, lad.  It’s just us.  Sorry about that hit, but you were out cold,” Henry soothed.

“Where’s Heather? Is she okay?”  Matt’s worried voice sounded.

“I’m right here.  And yes, I’m fine.  Are you alright?”  Heather cooed, feeling her stomach jump when Matt said her name.

“I think so.  My face hurts.” Matt glared at Henry, who just shrugged, trying to hide the tiny smirk playing across his face.

“Children, please,” Damien said with a slight chuckle.  “We should stay on track.”  And with that, Damien staggered over to the booth set up to the side with maps of the entire park.  He motioned for the Kidellians to join him as he studied the map.

“Alright, Matt, you’re the only one who knows how to get to Anirbas’ underground bunker that Heather was locked in.  Why don’t you and Heather go back down and make sure she’s not still down there.  The rest of us will search the park.  Henry, you and Jimba take this side of the park and Ivy and I will take the other side.  Okay?” Damien instructed, his withered hand gesturing over parts of the map, indicating where the Kidellians should go.  The five teens nodded in agreement.  “Just connect with the others if you’re in trouble or if you find Anirbas.  Don’t be merciful; if you see her, kill her on the spot.  Remember, she may seem innocent, but she has done more evil than you could ever imagine.”

And with that, the intrepid team split up, going in their given directions.  Heather and Matt trudged along, with Matt slightly in front leading the way.  Heather was secretly excited to get some alone time with Matt, even if it was a walk to their potential killer.  Her heart sped up, but she just told herself it was the adrenaline from her encounter with Anirbas.

“So, what exactly happened while I was out?” Matt questioned.  Heather quickly filled Matt in on the most recent events.  He just nodded gravely and remained silent.

Heather’s thoughts wandered as they continued on their path.  She wondered whether, if Lykos wasn’t about to take over the world, she and Matt could have a healthy relationship that didn’t rely on him saving her life every thirty seconds.  Heather imagined the two of them at the movie theater, laughing at the gullible villain and brave hero. 

But then again, if Lykos wasn’t taking over the world, Heather and Matt never would have met.

But then again, Matt isn’t even going to remember her and all the things they’ve been through after a while.