Gregor and the Overlander :: Book 6

Chapter 8

When Howard, Boots, and Luxa caught up with Gregor, they too were confused. Gregor could see that she was frightened. Gregor walked over to her, arms raised to tell her that he meant no harm.

"It's okay, I'm just like you. I'm from New York." she looked Gregor in the eye. She was backed up against the wall like a frightened animal.

Gregor took a step closer, and then another until he was about a meter away from her. "They won't hurt you, they are friendly." said Gregor, risking another step.

"They won't?" asked the girl, who was starting to edge away from the wall, slowly. "That's right, they won't." said Gregor.

"Okay." she said, and took a deep breath. "Good." said Gregor, who was turning around to walk back to Howard when he felt something hard hit his head.

Before Gregor realized what had hit him, he was sprawled across the floor. He tasted blood in his mouth. Gregor got up and turned to the girl who had her fists raised.

Howard was by his side now. "I said we won't hurt you." said Gregor starting to get irritated but wasn't showing it.

She threw another punch. Gregor caught hold of her fist with his left hand. He was getting the hang of this rager thing. She tried to side sweep Gregor but he stopped her leg easily. "Will you stop with the fighting." said Howard stepping behind the girl. Gregor could see that she was making a decision by the way she stood firmly on the ground. "I want to go home now." she said quietly. "Take me out of this dark creepy place now!" she demanded. Gregor released her.

No one moved an inch beside Vikus who walked over to her. "We will get you out of this "Creepy" place, if you come with us and discuss matters." said Vikus. "Fine, but when we're through I am leaving." she said to Vikus.

Gregor and Howard followed Vikus and the girl to the bats. She was stunned; the girl was rooted into place. "What are those...? Things?" asked the girl. "Those are what you call bats." said Vikus. "We call them fliers." replied Vikus. "You must fly with us to get to Regalia."

"First thing, I am absolutely not flying on those giant bats." the girl said standing her ground. "If you insist." said Mareth. "Here, this will cure you from any sicknesses that you might have acquired on your way down." Mareth handed her a vial of green liquid. She held it in her hand then downed it in a few gulps.

She dropped the vial which shattered on the rocky floor. The girl glared hate at Mareth and then dropped to the ground, not moving. "Did you have to do that?" asked Luxa. "It was the only way we were going to bring her with us." confessed Mareth.

"Let's just go." said Gregor, who was rubbing his cheek which had grown a bruise. Vikus hauled the girl on Aurora and Luxa laid her down. Mereth got on his bond, Andromeda, and Gregor and Boots got on Nike with Howard. When they were all set the bats jumped into the air, soundlessly.

"I wonder who she is." said Gregor. "She may be the one the prophecy calls for." replied Howard. "Ow..." said Boots who was observing Gregor's new bruise. "Ow." "It's okay Boots, it doesn't hurt." "Okay Gregor." Boots said then rested her head on Gregor's arm. In a few minutes, Gregor heard Boots snoring. She must have been through a lot. Thought Gregor, she was running earlier.

Gregor looked down. A chill went down Gregor's spine.  He still hasn't completely overgrown his fear of heights, but he has made a lot progress.

"Hey Howard, do you think that she is the Scavenger?" Gregor asked. "I do not know for sure, but Vikus will know if she is so." replied Howard.

Gregor looked at the girl who was lying on Aurora. She was still unconscious but he had a feeling that she would wake up before they got to Regalia and that she would freak out when she notices she's riding on a bat, just like he did.

Gregor sighed and closed his eyes to try to make the time pass rather quickly.

After a few minutes he felt a yawn coming and Gregor soon fell into a light sleep, until Howard shook him fiercely awake.