Time is Running Out

Chapter 23

"She'll betray us, I know she will." Emma paced the length of the room.

"Will you stop pacing!" Alden bellowed. "It's making me nervous."

Emma stopped. "But she will betray us."

In a shabby hotel, Rachel, Emma and the others were having a meeting. They had booked seven rooms and were now using Rachel, Emma and Alden's adjoining rooms for the meeting.

"She won't go that far," Rachel said.

"She knows I won't hesitate to kill her," snarled Gemma.

Gemma had found them three days ago.

"Well, we all know how violent you are." Emma found little humor in the situation.

Xana snorted from the far end of the room.

"Give me your arm and I'll gladly break it for you," called Gemma.

Xana sighed.

"Don't you sigh, Xana. This is not a joke," said Gemma.

"Break her arm after this whole thing is over, will you. I wouldn't care. But not now," Emma said.

"I agree," Rachel said.

"And now we have to get back to the point," Emma said.

"I think she will betray us too," Xana said. "And Gemma. You can't break my arm because I will break both your arms and legs if you even try."

"You do?" Emma asked, happy.

"Xana, you--"

"Well, I don't," Alden said loudly, cutting Gemma off.

"Just because she 'was' your daughter doesn't mean she won't. People change, though I guess she was always like that," Rachel snarled.

"So you agree too, Rachel?" Emma said quickly.

Rachel shrugged. "I guess so."

Emma smiled slightly. "Thanks a lot. And the rest of you?"

"I agree"s were shouted.

Emma's smile broke into a wide grin.

Ring!

Rachel and Emma's watches.

They checked. Rachel's jaw dropped. Emma stared, transfixed.

"What?" Gemma looked.

Where are you? -Joy

Still at the airport, waiting for you. -Emma

Ok. I will meet you. Airport where? -Joy

McDonald's. -Emma

See you tomorrow. -Joy

Emma slammed her hands onto the table in the room. "I knew it. She's betraying us."

"Huh?" Sacqy asked.

Rachel told them what Emma had sent.

"So," said Alden, "we spy on her."

Emma nodded.

"Two of us will go," she said.

"I'm going," Gemma said quickly.

"I'll go with you," Emma agreed.

"You need disguises," Rachel said.

"Let's buy them now," Alden suggested.

They agreed. They all stood up--

"Wait," Xana said. "We don't have to all go. It'll definitely be weird when a whole group o' people go marchin' into a shop and demandin'
for things. And we'll be found very easily."

So they decided that only Rachel, Emma, and Alden were going. Gemma had wanted to go, but Emma said she would fight with Rachel and they would cause a commotion.

The three left.