I think everyone will like this chapter. Also, I am thinking about entering a short story contest, what do you guys think? Think I'll win? Well if I do enter, I'll tell you, and then If I win I'll tell you where the story can be found if you're interested. Anyway R&R:

"Oof!" I uttered as I was thrown from the vortex and hit the ground, hard. I landed on my stomach and I couldn't see, but so far I had figured out a few things. For one, the ground was pretty hot, as was the environment. I was laying in something that was kinda soft, and also gritty. I immediately recognized it; sand.

I was about to get up when I heard something "Ahh!" Ember screamed as she was launched from the portal. She landed on top of me pinning me down. I turned over onto my back and faced her.

"Hi." I said with fake enthusiasm.

"Hello." She said back and planted a small kiss on my lips.

"What was that for?" I asked surprised.

"I need an explanation, do I? Well excuse me for thinking I could kiss my boyfriend whenever I darn pleased!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like." I told her. "I was just a little…shocked." There was an awkward silence. "Um…could you…um… get off?"

"Oh right…" She said uncomfortably and slid off my chest and onto the sand. I wouldn't have minded her being like that if she wasn't a walking fire ball. I feel bad for her. I really do. Even while wearing clothes she still burns everything she touches.

"So…where are we?" I asked I got up, trying to avoid an awkward silence. I noticed we were in a very sandy desert…

"Home sweet home," She said getting up, "Texas."

"Texas?" I repeated. Great, I hate Texas.

"Good ole Texas." She said taking a few steps into the desert.

"Where are we going?" I asked chasing after her.

"My house, and my secret stash, and into town to sell some of this wu. But first, a little detour…"

So she was going to sell even more wu…"Well…Can we keep some of the wu?" I asked filled with hope, forgetting about the detour.

"Some of 'em." Good to hear. "Now shut up and follow me."

After about twenty minutes of walking in the hot desert, we reached a building. It was a silver-ish in color and looked like a giant cube.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"The bank of Texas." Was Ember's simple answer.

"Bank?" I repeated loudly.

"Yes, the bank. You can put two in two together, can't ya?"

"You're gonna rob it?" I asked slowly.

"Pretty much, yep."

"How can you pretty much rob a bank?"

"Simple," She said and started pacing, "You sneak in through the back, disable some of the cameras, weave through the other security cameras, and fill your back pack with money." She explained.

"Yeah, real simple." I said sarcastically. "Am I going in to?"

"Nah. It's just a small job. I'm only taking a little not robbing the whole place. You wait out here, and have some wu ready just in case." She handed me some and started to walk towards the building.

"Hey Ember!" I shouted.

"Yeah?" She turned around.

"I um…I um…Well you see I…Who on earth would put a bank in the middle a desert?" I said quickly changing the subject. I almost said it…almost…

"Idiots would, that's who." She replied then headed back for the bank. I sat down on the hot sand and followed her with my eyes. There was nothing else around, so I didn't really have to keep watch, but I had the wu she gave me ready just in case.

When she reached the building she dug the kitten claws into the side of it and started climbing. It was pretty cool. Those kitten claws are one awesome wu.

Several minutes later I was bored out of my mind with nothing to do. I started to doodle in the sand with my fingers to pass the time. Suddenly, my cell phone went off. I immediately jumped in surprise, forgetting that I brought my cell with me, but calmed down quickly.

Now I had another dilemma, do I answer it? At first I thought "no," but where was the harm in answering? I could always hang up or something. So I slowly brought the phone to my ear, and flipped up the cover…

"Hello?" The person on the other end said.

"K-kimiko?"

I really like this chapter. There's a lot of detail, not as much as some of my other stories, but whatever. It's another cliffy. And also there's that little bit with Raimundo almost saying something…I mean it's obvious what he wanted to say but you get it…And I've decided that I'm going to write all three stories at the same time. However, I'll be starting In the Shadows a little later than the first two because I haven't quite figured that one out completely yet. So tell me if you think I should enter the previously mentioned contest, and REVIEW!