Dimension Travelers

Chapter 38

I'm still upset about what Rick said. I mean, he didn't have the right to say that. Also, he left--no, abandoned us, including his long-lost brother. How could he do that? Now he has no chance of getting home. And it's partially my fault. I won't forgive myself if he never comes back...

"Chloe? You ok?" Seth asks me. He sits next to me on the cot.

Firefly and Jared filled him in on some battle stuff. At first, he refused to go, but I made him, insisting I was ok. This isn't something I'll get over very quickly. I feel the sadness all around me; like a coat on a cold winter day.

I look up at him. "Depends on how you define 'ok.' "

He gives me a serious look.

"I was just thinking that, if Rick never came back, I'd never forgive myself. I also keep thinking that we should go find him." I say.

Seth grins. "I don't think we'd find Rick. He'd blend in with everyone else. Besides, I think he needs some time alone."

"Why?"

"Maybe to process everything. I don't know."

"Maybe you're right. I just hope he's gonna be ok. I mean, he doesn't have any water or food with him."

"He may be an idiot sometimes, but he ain't stupid. He'll survive."

I laugh. "Yeah, you're right about that."

We're silent.

"So, we'll attack when?" I ask.

"Tomorrow, at noon." Seth answers.

"Gotcha."

He hesitates. "If Rick does come back, I'll join you in the sky. But if he doesn't, then we'll just have to assume he's either dead or somehow found his way home."

As much as I don't like Rick right now, I really hope that he doesn't die. "Ok."

Jared comes over to us. "I'm sorry about Rick. He tends to...overreact."

"You don't need to apologize." I say.

"Yes, I do." He sits down across from me, his brown eyes serious. "I should have said something. I could tell he didn't want me to go back."

"I'm sure you and your brother are close; this isn't unusual." Seth says.

"What do you mean?" Jared asks.

Seth sits down next to me. "I mean that he's mad at himself, not you. He's mad that he couldn't find you."

"How do you know this?"

"Because he told us." I say, "He said he's been looking for you for the past two years."

"I've been gone two years? Only two years? Over here, it's been well over four." Jared says.

"Yeah, only two years."

It's already been over four years here?

"So, he's been looking for me? This whole time?"

"That's what he tells us." Seth says.

"I thought that he'd given up..."

"I may not know Rick very well," I say, "but I know that he'd never give up on you."

"I need to sleep. I'm tired." He lies down on the cot, facing the wall, which is away from us.

"We should go." Seth whispers to me.

"Ok."

We get up and join Firefly, who is still looking at the map. She's been very helpful. However, I still have my doubts. I'm sure everyone does.