Ok guys I'm really sorry for how long it has taken me too update but my life has been kind of crazy lately. I will try to update much more quickly from now on and the story is going to get pretty interesting from here on out. Please let me know what you think in the comments because thats really the only way I know if you guys are still interested in this story!

Chapter 8

New places

The next day they rode in silence. They had just reached the border of Maine and Sam said they should reach the rift within an hour. Claire wanted to be optimistic, but truthfully she was nervous. They had no clue what they would find in the next dimension. For all they knew it could be a completely underwater world where they would all drown. Claire glanced over at Sylar. He was watching the road but every few minutes he would glance in the rear view mirror.

"Are you expecting someone?" she asked.

"I'm just being cautious."

Claire nodded and continued staring out the window. All she wanted was for this whole thing to be over. After another half hour Sam sat up abruptly in his seat.

"Pull over here!"

Sylar pulled the car to the side of the road. "Ok, where is it?"

"The rift is just through those trees." He said as he nodded towards to woodsy area beside them.

They all climbed out of the car and began to walk to the trees. Claire nervously took Sylars hand. He smiled down at her, trying to be reassuring. They walked until Sam stopped and held up a hand.

"It's right here."

Claire couldn't see anything but she knew it had to be there. She stepped closer to Sylar and took his hand. He smiled reassuringly.

"Well let's go then." Sylar urged.

Sam nodded and began to walk forward.

"Not so fast." Said a voice from behind them.

Claire knew that voice. She had heard it every day for her whole life. She turned slowly and could help the little gasp that escaped her lips. About thirty feet away stood herself. Her hair was cut short and she wore a tight black business suit, but other than that she was the same.

"Claire." Sylar growled.

Claire didn't like him saying her name like that even if it wasn't directed at her. It sounded too much like old Sylar. Behind Claire stood thirty armed men with guns pointed at them.

Sylar smirked. "Really Claire? You really want to do this with me? You can't kill me and I'll just end up killing you and all of your men."

"These guns aren't full of bullets. They're filled with the same tranquilizer that took you down before. These are my best sharp shooters and they each have eight shots. Do you really think you can kill us all before you get hit?"

Sylar glared at her, trying to figure out what his odds were. He didn't like playing when the game was to even.

"Why can't you just let us go? We don't even belong in this world." Claire asked.

Her alternate self stared at her. "It is strange seeing myself outside of my own body. Although you aren't much like me. You are weak and frightened."

"Yeah well I'm also loved." Claire sneered.

The other Claire scoffed. "Loved? How can you be loved when he almost left you for me?"

Claire frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't listen to her. She is a liar."

"I saw your face when I offered to let you stay with me. You could kill without being reprimanded and you wanted it."

Claire looked up at him. "Sylar is this true?"

She could see conflict clearly written on his face. "The monster thought about it for a second but I would never do that. It's you I love."

"Ok look." Kassy interrupted. "It doesn't matter. She is trying to kill us right now and I'm not ok with that."

Kassy was right. Fighting wouldn't help them. She glared at her other self. "Just let us go and you can go back to being evil or whatever it is you do."

"Sorry but giving up isn't my style."

"Claire. Don't do this." Sylar said in an almost pleading voice.

Alternate Claire smiled. "Sorry sweet heart."

She raised her hand and all of the guns went off at once. Claire made to move out of the way but there was really no need. All of the tranquilizer bullets were frozen in the air in front of them. Alternate Claires mouth opened in surprise.

Sylar frowned. "I wasn't begging for my life. I was offering you yours."

"That's impossible. Nobody can be that powerful."

With a flick of his hand the bullets flew back at their masters. At the same time Sam jumped backwards towards the portal.

"Hurry!" he cried.

Claire jumped forward with the help of Sylar and a second later they were dragged into nothingness.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sylar sucked in a big breath of air when they came through on the other side. He hardly had time to breathe however when a loud car horn blared behind him. Spinning he saw that they were in the middle of a busy road. He grabbed Claire and quickly pulled them out of the way. They all stumbled onto the sidewalk as passerby's gave them curious looks.

"Why the hell did we end up in the middle of a road?" Sylar growled.

"Oh I'm sorry, I kind of thought you wanted to get out of there." Sam replied sarcastically. "Besides, I can't help where we come out."

They walked together down the busy street, trying to find a sign of where they were. After a few minutes Kassy stopped a pedestrian.

"Excuse me, but what state are we in?"

The man looked at her like she was crazy. "You're in Chicago Illinois."

"Oh right, silly me." Kassy smiled.

The man smiled at her. "I'm john, what's your-"

Before he could finish his sentence Hiro stepped in between him and Kassy. "I'm Hiro, her boyfriend."

The man looked between the two before shrugging and moving on. Kassy beamed at Hiro.

"Oh you know I love it when you act jealous."

"I'm not letting another man take you." Hiro stated.

Kassy rolled her eyes. "Let him try."

"Ok so we are in Chicago. Where is the nearest portal?" Sylar asked.

Sam closed his eyes and concentrated. "The nearest is in Arkansas."

"Well that's not too far away then." Peter smiled.

"Yeah well don't get too happy. We still need transportation and some place to stay until we find that. I don't want us to be too out in the open." Sylar said as he took Claires hand.

Kassy rolled her eyes. "It's not like there is going to be another evil Claire in this world."

"Yeah well until we find out just what this world is like we need to get shelter. I'll turn some things into gold and sell them to a pawn shop. You guys stay here."

Kassy shook her head as she watched him walk away. "I'm going with him. Who knows what kind of trouble he'll get himself into."

"Kassy wait!" Peter called after her. "God does nobody around here ever learn? I swear I feel like a baby sitter!"

"I'll go after her." Hiro smiled before taking off after her.

"Hiro wait! Oh what's the point." Peter sighed.

Claire laughed and shook her head. She leaned back against the brick wall and watched as people passed by. She felt her stomach grumble and frowned. When had been the last time she ate? Some time yesterday she guessed. She dug into her pocket and found a few dollar bills. Looking around she saw a hot dog vender just a little bit down the street. She glanced back at Peter and saw that he was in a discussion with Sam. It wasn't like she needed his permission or anything.

She walked down the street with her dollars in hand. The afternoon sun reflected off the tall buildings above her and it made the air around her feel warm. She was almost to the vender when she felt an invisible force take ahold of her. Before she knew what was happening she was dragged into the alley beside her and thrown against the wall.

"What the hell!"

"Claire Claire Claire, when are you going to learn that sneak attacks don't work on me?" A familiar voice said from the shadows.

Claire felt a chill run up her spine at the sound of the voice she had come to love speaking in that tone. He stepped from the shadows of the alley and the look he had on his face made her want to scream. It was the face that had haunted her dreams. The way his lip curled into that familiar yet terrifying smirk made her stomach turn. She was living her worst nightmare. The monster was back, and now she was his prey. Claire fought back her panic as she tried to stay calm.