Dimension Travelers

Chapter 19

As we run, we looked for a place to hide--somewhere Hammer wouldn't find us. So far, there are a bunch of hills, but no caves. I look back a few times and see that the dust cloud is still pursuing us. How were we found?

I look to my left and Seth is running beside me. To my right, Rick runs beside me as well. I'm having no trouble keeping up with them. But I'm getting tired now. We have been running for a long time and Hammer is still there, following us. I'm looking for any place to hide, but so far, there's nowhere to go.

"He's still following us. Should we just wait and fight him?" I ask Seth.

"And risk wasting more time? You were against it earlier." He says.

"I know, but this is stupid. We should," I glance at Rick, "we should face him."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rick grin.

"Three against one, dude. Let's do this!" Rick says excitedly.

Seth looks away from us. "Fine. We'll have it you guys' way."

So we stop running.

"It's nothing against you, it's just--" I try to say.

"Doesn't matter. If we end up looking like confetti, then I'll say, 'I told ya so.' How about that?" Seth says.

"Ok, will you two lovebirds focus?" Rick says.

"We're not lovebirds! Where'd you even get that idea?" I ask.

"I've been watching you guys. It's easy to see." Rick says.

Seth's jaw tightens. "We need to focus on the mission at hand, not our feelings."

That is like a knife in the heart for me. Is he saying that to get Rick off his back, or does he mean that? Ever since we have been here, I've felt more than just friendship for him. But it's still confusing. When I asked him about the old Seth that I've known, he said that Seth was gone. Did he say that because he was mad? Did he mean it? I'm so confused...I hate this.

I must look sad or something, because Seth says, "Chloe."

I look at him. "What?"

"Get ready."

I was hoping for something different... "I'm ready."

Rick gives me a look. "Ok, the cloud's gettin' closer now. Brace yourselves."

So we wait for the cloud to get closer. It takes forever.

After about ten minutes of just standing there, "Ok, can we find a place to hide now?" I ask.

"No. We need to face him." Rick says firmly.

"The sooner we lose him the better." Seth says.

I sigh and wait. "Fine."

Then, in milliseconds, Hammer is standing in front of us; his arms are giant hammers (how fitting). He stares at us with a hungry look in his eyes.

We get in our battle stances, weapons ready.

"You have guts to face me." Hammer says.

"What are you doing here?" Seth asks angrily.

"Showing you not to mess with anyone from our village, especially Firefly."

"We didn't do anything to her!" Rick says.

"She tried to kill me!" Seth yells.

"All of which I don't give a--" he cusses bitterly. "Now you know why they call me 'Hammer.' I can either kill you fast or slow. Your choice."