"I'm sorry… what?" Rikki asked in a confused tone.
Chapter 9: Bouts and Lies
The boys were sitting at Emma's house right outside of Emma's room. Emma was lying in her bed trying to sleep, but sleep was not coming as easily as at night. The only problem is she didn't want to fall asleep at night when something bad could happen in her mind.
"Dude you need to fix this," Ash whispered.
"What? Me? What am I suppose to do?" Lewis asked in a louder voice.
"Keep your voice down for starters," Zane whispered. "Then… I don't know."
Both boys looked trod Lewis. Lewis put his head on Emma's bedroom door and closed his eyes. Zane and Ash did not look away until they heard a scream from behind them. It was Emma.
The boys jumped up and opened Emma's bedroom door faster than she could sit up in bed.
"Where you three sitting right outside my room?" Emma asked.
The boys nodded.
"I don't know what is creepier, my dream or you three," Emma said.
Ash went and sat at the end of Emma's bed. She scooted over to sit closer to him.
"So… what was your dream about?" Lewis asked trying to get to the point.
"A bout," Emma answered quietly. "It was dark there was a bout, in the middle of the ocean, and Cleo stood on the deck. Rikki was behind a man and a boy our age."
"What did the bout look like?" Zane asked.
"Black and white, with windows, it was docked nearer a bigger bout," Emma answered now more awake than before.
Lewis and Ash looked at each other with confused expressions. Zane looked confused but for a different reason.
"That sounds silly. Bouts are docked compared to size," Zane shared.
Lewis and Ash looked at each other then grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her out of the room. Zane followed.
There was a loud slap and a cry. Cleo could hear from the room next to the one she was in.
"Rikki, you are not leaving without paying," Cleo heard.
She fell back ageist the wall just thinking what Barry Rolings would want to do to Rikki. Trying not to cry she stood that way until someone opened the door. She quickly stood at attention.
Rikki was pushed into the room, landing on the flour with her blond locks draped over her swollen face. As soon as the door was closed and locked Rikki pulled herself into a ball, thinking she was alone. Cleo came close to her and gave her a hug, which frightened Rikki until she learned it was Cleo.
"Where are we?" Rikki asked with a lump in her trout.
"I'm not quit shore," Cleo answered in a whisper.
Both girls sat, quiet for a long time. Rikki tried hard to hide most of sadness, but Cleo had come to learn how her friend acted when she was scared or upset.
"We need to get out of here," Rikki said knowing what Barry was planning.
"How? There is no way out of here. I've tried." Cleo said.
"We'll just need to try harder," Rikki said.
"This the bout?" Lewis asked placing Emma in front of a small bout surrounded by cruse ships.
"Yes," Emma answered in a soft voice.
"Weird," Zane said caching up to the others.
"Let's go," Lewis said taking Emma by the arm again.
"Wait, don't you think that might be just bit dangers." Ash pointed out.
Emma and Zane gave Lewis a He's-right look.
"We won't win if we never try. My brother told me that," Lewis shared.
"Older or younger?" Zane asked.
"Older." Lewis answered heading for the bout.
The other followed close behind.
"So where do we look?" Ash asked.
"I'm not shore. Ask Emma," Lewis said.
"Why me? I'm the one who voted don't go on the creepy ship, but I was sadly out voted," Emma said.
"There are only four people here. It was a tie," Zane pointed out. "And if one of us goes on I guess we all do." He looked at Lewis.
They stood there in a circle for a minute. No one spoke.
Just then Ash broke the silence with, "I think we aren't on land anymore."
Everyone watched as the bout slowly left the dock. Then Everyone looked at Lewis.