Dimension Travelers

Chapter 50

"What're you talking about?" Rick asks.

"Nothing. So, what's your plan for today?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

"Well, we c'n go see Firefly if you want. But tomorrow, we attack."

I swallow. Why is he so scary all of a sudden? "Right. Yeah, sure. I'm ready."

He chuckles. "Whatever, man. Whatever. Come on. Let's go."

So I follow Rick. I don't ask any more questions. The air smells like rotting corpses and blood. My eyes dart around. We're in the middle of camp--tents everywhere. There are people milling around, not doing anything. A wave of nausea sweeps through me. I really need something to eat, I'm dying here. Not literally, but still. I stop walking.

"Seth? You alright?" Rick asks.

I feel weak again. "No, I'm not. There any food 'round here?"

"Yeah, follow me."

He leads me to a giant tent that doesn't smell like dead people and blood. I eat like there's no tomorrow. Rick said that he already ate. Figures, he got up early. Once I'm done eating, we walk to another tent. As soon as we walk in, I see Firefly sitting on her bed, reading. Rick clears his throat. Firefly looks up.

"Seth! Rick! It's so good to see you." She says.

"Hey." I say lamely.

"You're better?" Rick asks.

"Much better." She pauses. "Where's Chloe? And your brother?"

We look at each other. So she doesn't know, then...I think.

"They've gone M.I.A." Rick says.

Firefly looks at me for clarification.

"Missing in action." I say.

She nods. "That's awful. Aren't we gonna go after them?"

"We can't. We need to stay here." I say.

"What? But why?" Firefly asks.

"Our place is here to defeat Eclipsa." Rick says. "It's not easy for me either. But we have to stay here."

"But they'll be back." I say. Hopefully that'll cheer her up.

Her face becomes sad. "Ok. If you say so." she pauses. "What's your next plan?"

"Tomorrow, at noon, we're gonna sneak into the castle. We'll find Eclipsa's 'realm,' and take her down." I say.

"Also, we'll make sure that she never hurts anyone ever again." Rick adds.

"What if, while we're fighting, Chloe and..." Firefly trails off.

"Jared." Rick says.

"Jared," Firefly continues, "What if they come back and we're busy fighting?"

"Then I guess Sandi will tell 'em where we are." I say.

She makes a face. "I don't like her. I don't trust her."

"I don't either. But thanks to her army, we're not out there still fighting. Or dead." Rick says.

Wait, Rick doesn't trust Sandi? Huh. I never saw that coming. "You don't trust her either?" I ask Rick.

"Well...not completely, anyways." He answers.

Silence.

"But...but you're the one who brought her here. Shouldn't you of all people trust her?" Firefly asks.