Chapter Eight
Tokyo
Luna had given up beating the closet door down after a few hours. All she could do them was wait for someone to find her. Luckily, that didn't take long.
"Mama," Diana called softly as she trotted into the room. She didn't want to disturb Luna if she happened to still be asleep.
"Diana! Please bring Rini to open the closet door," Luna said urgently. Usually, the cats didn't have any trouble with doors; they were quite adept at opening them without help. Aneresa had simply had the foresight to place a chair under the knob. Diana hurried out. A moment later, she returned riding on Rini's head. Luna was soon released.
"What happened, Luna?" Rini questioned. Luna filled them in on Aneresa's departure. Without another word, the three of them left to find the sailor scouts who were still out looking for Serena. They would need to extend their area of search a great deal.
Chicago
Aneresa walked stoically down the off ramp of the plane at O'Hare Airports international terminal. Rock Island, she knew, was still a ways off, but seeing the familiar sights around her and hearing English being spoken with a Midwestern accent reassured her. She'd once come to the airport for a class trip to Florida. The plane ticket had exhausted her resources, both financially and physically. And, although she did feel better now, Aneresa knew that she would have to eat something and rest soon or – she never completed the thought.
Aneresa awoke in a strange white room. The sterile odor of it identified the place as a hospital. Soft movements could be heard outside the curtained-off area her bed was in, and was the only sign of life. She knew that the hospital would want to know personal information. Having left so quickly, she hadn't gotten a real passport. Her disguise power had gotten her through all the security. Aneresa, hungry and tired though she was, couldn't risk staying. If for no other reason than she didn't have the money to pay for this. She had been lucky enough to be placed in a corner with a window. Crawling out of bed, she was equally glad to see that her suitcase was in the corner, though it had obviously been searched, and that she wore street clothes and not one of those ridiculous hospital gowns. The fact that the window was five storied up didn't phase her in the least; there was a roof near by to jump to.
In a few minutes time, she was on the street and back to her original problem, where to go now? Aneresa walked around the corner of the large building and toward the parking lot, thinking to hitch a ride out of time perhaps. That when she saw him. Darien walked out of the hospital, flipping his keys in an irritated sort of way. Her breath caught. Run to him you idiot! Serena yelled at her. Instead, she stayed standing as if her feet were plastered to the ground. However, all thoughts of Rock Island, Illinois faded into none existence. And, even if she didn't listen to Serena, she suddenly knew she would never be able to leave Chicago after seeing him, no matter how much she wanted to find the stability of her old life.
Darien played with his car keys like a nervous child. Luna had called early that morning, or more correctly, late last night considering the time difference. She had said that Serena was possibly under the control of their latest enemy, Beryl's daughter Amethyst. Even worse, she had run away and they had no idea just how far she had gone. Rini made a charm of forgetfulness so that Serena's family wouldn't miss her. Luna was hoping Darien's bond to Serena would be stronger than all else and would bring them back together. To Darien, this meant leaving his internship at the hospital, but traveling the world chasing after Serena was more important than anything.
Darien paused in front of his car. He suddenly felt like he was being watched, and, more importantly, that Serena was near. He looked around, but the populace of Chicago formed to a density that rivaled the infamous fog of London when it came to obstructing vision. Still, Darien didn't get into his car immediately. If Serena were there, he would find her. Then, suddenly, he lost all sense of her.
Aneresa wouldn't have moved on her own. She wasn't afraid of Darien finding her, how could she fear the man she loved? That was, after seeing Darien in person, the one thing she and Serena could agree upon. Serena was becoming more vocal now. While Aneresa was the dominant personality, Serena was becoming the quiet voice of reason. Like, for instance, why hadn't Aneresa ran to Darien and told him all the troubles of her soul when he was part of that soul!? Aneresa shook her head clear, which was difficult not only because she was about to develop a split personality, but also because she was still feeling faint and depressed. Again, she wouldn't have moved from that spot on her own. The mob that crowded the sidewalks and over flowed in to the streets had dragged her down with it. Aneresa had no idea what was going on; even Tokyo at its worst had not been this bad. That voice called out to her once more that there was something not quite right, and certainly not normal. Aneresa allowed herself to be swept away without struggle. If this was how life was moving her, then she would let it.
Where is she being taken to? Wait and see. Thank you for all the reviews and encouragement!!!