Time is Running Out

Chapter 15

"Gemma? Gemma? Gemma! GEMMA! Wake up! Gemma! WAKE UP!" Emma and Rachel yelled into the unconscious girl's face.
 
It didn't work.
 
"GEMMA!" they shouted again.
 
"Huh? Wh… what? Wait. What? Oh, I get--"
 
Before Gemma could finish her sentence, a door opened and more than ten figures peered in.  
 
"Where? You stupid man, where are the girls?"

"Down there! Ya idiot!"

"Let meh go first, yer just a stupeed maan!"

"Ah eeem da best!"

"No! I’m the boss’ favourite!"

"Stop arguing!!! Ya stupid!!!"

"I am the best and you’d better stop arguing or else!"

"Look! They’re gone! GET THEM!"
 

"Yes boss!"

"RUN!!" Rachel screamed as armies of men came crashing down with weapons of all sorts. The girls ran for their lives. They rounded a corner and the men ran past. Panting, they crouched.
 
"What do we do?!" Emma hissed.
 
"I don't know!" Gemma groaned.
 
"Shush!" Rachel whispered.
 
"Who are they anyway?" Gemma said. "How did they know we were in the tunnel?"
 
"The guards, probably," whispered Emma. "I think… I think the shopkeeper saw us."
 
They were quiet for a while.
 
Then Rachel spoke, "We have to warn Joy first. I'll message her."

Some guards are after us but we're on our way to rescue you in a weird tunnel. -Rachel

Well, be quick! It’s so boring here! -Joy

JOY! -Rachel

Fine then. I'll wait VERY PATIENTLY. -Joy

Joy, we’re risking our lives to save you! -Emma

But before they had time to send anything else, several voices spoke up.  
 
"Zey're ‘ere!"
 
"Get ‘em!"
 
Then the three girls produced a load of screaming as the
men ran into their tunnel. The girls backed away as the men started waving weapons of all sorts.
 
Clang clang BOOM!
 
Rocks started falling down and the tunnel started crumbling.
 
Luckily, Emma, Rachel and Gemma ran fast and reached the door of the next tunnel. They slammed it shut just in time before the whole tunnel broke. As for the guards, they were not so lucky, a huge chunk of rock fell in front of them, blocking them-- or that was what the girls knew, they did not know if the guards were crushed.
 
"We made it!" Rachel shouted.
 
"YAY-- wait. Where’s Emma?" Gemma asked.
 
"Here!" wailed Emma's voice.
  Rachel and Gemma followed her voice until they finally saw her. She was stuck-- her legs were trapped under a pile of rocks!
  "IT HURTS!" Emma screamed.
 
Rachel and Gemma tried to push the rocks away but realized--
 
"Hang on! Gemma, this is an illusion!" Rachel said. "Only that biggest one is real!"

Gemma nodded grimly. "But that's covering her completely. We will have to pick it up together."

"In THREE, TWO, ONE!"
 
"ARRRRGGGGHHHH!" they groaned. "ARRGHH! UGH! ACCCKKK! URRHH! ARGH! GRRRR! STUPID ROCK! COME OUUTTT! AARRGGHH!"
 
Finally, Emma was free. But she still couldn't move-- one of her legs was twisted and the other was badly scraped.
 
"Okay, Gemma… how about this, you go back to… to that McDonald's we ate in with Emma. I'll go and rescue Joy and the others then come find you. Be ready to run anytime, carrying Emma," Rachel said.
 
Gemma nodded and ran off with Emma. Well… she tried…
 
Rachel ran in the other direction.