A/N: Hey, 'yall! Finally, here's chapter 25! Yay! I hope you enjoy! (Warning: this could be a cliffhanger...who knows? ;)

Choices

Chapter Twenty-Five

As I lay there in the sewer, I realized that there really wasn't much of a hope that Gramps and Rose would find me. I needed to defend myself—and yes, my situation did seem hopeless, but maybe…just maybe…I could hold him off long enough for them to find out that I was missing, and come after me…it was worth a shot.

I rolled over onto my back, groaning. My face stung and burned, and was still bleeding…but that wasn't what bothered me. I saw the Dark Dragon, looming above me like one of those monsters you always see on horror movies. I saw the Huntsclan, waiting for their next job. I also saw something that I hadn't noticed before…and that seemed very interesting…and even a bit odd…

The lid to the sewer was off, and although it made since that it would be that way, since I hadn't closed it when I went down into the sewer, and no one else had closed it, and still struck me as odd that all this commotion was not attracting nearby pedestrians—and then I remembered two things. One, that it was nighttime, and most people aren't walking at night, and two, that this sewer was rumored to be haunted, so people stayed away from it (I guess that DD made sure that the story stayed fresh in everyone's minds with his growls and snarls and other noises going on.) Still, someone should hear something…

Or maybe not. No sign of anyone, all night. I realized that this was my battle. Me, myself, and I. No one else. I had to fight, even if I didn't have my powers…the prophecy said that I would be the one to defeat the Dark Dragon…maybe…maybe…this was it. Maybe I would defeat him here and now. I knew, though, that this was very unlikely, but still…I had to try.

I stood shakily on my feet, clutching the scratch on the right side of my face with my hand, and looked up at the Dark Dragon.

"Yo, DD!" I said. "You know what? People may say that you're big, and tough, but that prophecy said that your butt's going to be whooped by the likes of me, so why don't you just give it up now?"

He roared angrily, and I got ready to run like I'd never ran, to dodge, duck, and…hopefully, to somehow, defeat him…I just hadn't worked out how yet…

Before he could do anything, however, we heard the muffled sound of voices above us, from the street. The Dark Dragon froze, yellow eyes unblinking on the open sewer hole. I was still too, listening intently, to the voices that sounded so familiar…

"Oh, man…I wonder where he is? He wasn't at the shop, and neither was the door…I hope he's okay…"

"Yo, dog, I'm sure…I'm sure he's fine…I mean, he's got Gramps, doesn't he?"

"Maybe they've been abducted by aliens!"

"No, maybe we should just—"

"Or maybe he's been kidnapped by his enemies!"

"Or maybe we should—"

"Or maybe he's been eaten by cannibals!"

"Say what?"

"Sorry…but it's been known to happen. Oh, yeah…it's real, alright. Evil is in the world…in the form of heartless man eating…erm…men…?"

All this time, the voices had gotten closer, and as they got closer, they became more distinct…"Trixie, Spud! Help!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and heard the Huntsman's oily voice hiss in my ear, "Shut up!"

The Dark Dragon was still standing motionless, waiting for the people to pass by…but his yellow eyes turned to look at me, then looked back at the entrance.

I sighed. Maybe Trixie and Spud hadn't heard me…but then…what was that Spud was saying?

"Trixie, did you hear that?"

"Yeh, Spud, I think, dog…we must be imagining things…c'mon, bro, let's get the heck outta here! This place gives me the creeps…and isn't that sewer haunted?"

"No, Trix, it sounded like Jake! He must have died! He's been taken into the spirit realm! His restless spirit is calling out to us, asking us for help! Dude, I'm scared! What do we do!"

I rolled my eyes in frustration, and was about to call something back to them, but then saw that all the eyes of the Huntsclan, plus DD's were on me, so it probably wasn't the best idea…

Spud, it seemed, was now going into hysterics. "Oh, Trix, we gotta save'em! I heard footsteps above me, hurried, as if he were running around.

"Spud, no!" I heard Trixie call out in alarm. "You're gonna fall into the sew—"

But it was too late. With a big splash and loud clunk, Spud had landed beside me.

"Jake, bro, 'sup?" he said. "I guess you're not dead, after all…yes!" he pumped his fist into the air.

"Yeah, but not for long," I said. Spud looked around and saw the Huntsclan and the Dark Dragon…

"Uh-oh," he said. The Dark Dragon was no longer being still, he was now bearing down upon us like a lion about to chow down on his fresh prey…

Yes, uh-oh was right. Spud took one look at my face and said, "Dude, what happened to your face?" Then he went a bit green. "Is that…is that…blood?" And he fainted.

I saw Trixie poke her head into the sewer. The Dark Dragon quickly ducked out of sight. "Trix!" I yelled desperately, before anyone could stop me. "Go get Gramps! At my house! Get help! Tell them I need the potion! I can hold'em off until then."

Apparently Trix had no idea what I was talking about, but thank goodness she realized it was a desperate situation and she darted off at once.

The Dark Dragon came out of the shadows. "Ah, so you're Grandfather is coming? Well, I had better kill you and your little friend now, before he can stop me…but you first, American Dragon." He raised his gigantic claws, each sharper than a spear. "Good-bye, Jake Long. Say good-night…"

A/N: Beep…beep…flump! Beep, beep, beep, beep…oh, sorry, folks, I'm having some technical difficulties, so I guess you'll have to just wait until the next chapter…sorry…okay, on a serious note, sorry about the whole cliffhanger thing…ok, so maybe I'm not, but can you blame me? I'm evil (LOL)!Anyway, I'll try to update ASAP (although I'm not sure when, it will either be tonight or Thursday evening), and in the meantime, have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

~Emachinescat ^..^