Hi everyone! I'm sorry for the last update being late. I hope you enjoy this chapter! I want to thank every one of y'all for your last reviews!

Landi McClellan, FireFairy032003, SetoxSerenity, Anayas-Creater, SeleneXAngel, XxSexiItxX, NinjaAngel, -&- PacWoman

I'd also like to thank Ceara Corey for all her help.

Italics are thoughts

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Chapter 7- Joey's Amazon

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The guard handed Mai a cup. She looked at the guard with a puzzled look and tried to give it back, but he was already gone. Looking in the cup, she saw water.

Do I look thirsty?

She shrugged at the thought. Feeling a just a hint thirst, she was about to take a sip when, blond hair caught her attention. Setting the cup on the floor, she walked to the iron bars, and pushed her face forward. She wanted to see what this blond-haired person looked like. Catching a glimpse of sun-colored hair, she hoped that it was Joey. Mai put her hands over her mouth and felt her eyes begin to water.

"Joey?" she whispered quietly.

Suddenly, the guy turned around and their eyes met. Mai blinked a few times, hoping her eyes weren't deceiving her.

"Mai?" he asked as he walked to her cell. She nodded her head once, on the verge in breaking into tears. "Mai!" he exclaimed, grabbing the bars, trying to get close to her.

"Joey! It's been so long! I've missed you so much!" she said happily as tears streamed down her face.

Joey looked at her in shock. She was a slave. He reached out to her. She took his hand and placed it against her cheek. Closing her eyes, she moved her cheek against his hand. Joey gave sad smile, realizing he missed her so much.

"How didja end up in here?" he asked worriedly.

Mai let go of his hand. "It's a long story," she said carefully, not wanting to discuss howshe really ended up in the place.

Joey nodded and called the guard. While the guard was walking towards them, Joey kept his eyes on her. Mai's eyes shifted a little and noticed Tristan sitting across from her cell. He smirked sinfully at her. In his hand was a cup. He placed his finger on the rim of the cup and slowly began to trace the rim. Mai was confused and turned around to see the cup she had set on the ground.

Could it be poisoned?

She turned back and his malicious smirk grew wider. Mai quickly let go of Joey and turned her attention to the cup. It looks like normal water to me. Then she tipped the cup over with her foot and the liquid spattered on the floor. The substance began to bubble, but rapidly made a hole on the floor.

-Flashback-

"I don't think so. Since you saw what just happened, you won't be able to get away. It's a good thing Joey got adopted because he'll never see you or his baby sister ever again. You mention one word of this, and I swear you'll never see this world again," Tristan said to me.

-End of Flashback-

Putting a hand over her mouth to keep from gasping, Mai couldn't believe that it was some sort of acid. I hope Joey doesn't see the hole. There was no way she could tell Joey about her past. She looked at Tristan again, and knew that the cup of acid was warning.

The guard opened her iron bar door. Then the guard revealed the key to her collar to Joey. After that, the guard took a paper out and handed Joey a pen to sign.

"Mai's officially free. This is her collar key," the guard said, giving it to Joey. He nodded and walked in.

"Everydin' all right, Mai?" Joey asked.

Mai shook her head and turned back to him. "Yes," she said, putting a smile on her face.

I wonder what she was looking at just right now. Joey arched an eyebrow, but decided to forget what just happened. I'll ask her about it later. Maistood beside the bed and Joey followed her.

"I'm gettin' ya outta here," he said to her, making Mai blush a little. She leaned against him, making him really blush. Mai saw this and began to chuckle.

"Hey, Mai," he said.

"Yes, Joey?" she replied, still leaning against him.

"Whatevah happened to my sistah?" he asked, hoping Serenity had found good parents.

Mai's eyes became wide. I can't tell him the truth; yet, I don't want to make up some story, either. "I- I don't know. I'm sorry Joey," she said, looking down at the floor.

Joey lifted her chin up and smiled at her. "It's okay. I just hope and pray that she lives with a nice family," he said, smiling.

Mai nodded at him, and looked past Joey. Tristan was now standing, a grim expression on his face. He liked the idea that he could still control Mai with a small threat.

Tristan gave her one last ugly look. Joey looked at her eyes and noticed that she wasn't looking at him. Joey turned to see what she was looking at and saw Tristan.

"Tristan!" Joey exclaimed.

Tristan quickly replaced his angry look with a fake smile. "Hey Joey! What's up?"

"I'm here to set Mai free. Whaddabout you?" Joey asked.

"I'm looking for a girl myself, but so far, none have caught my interest. Anyway, how are you doing? How's your father?" Tristan asked, changing the subject.

"My father… I moved out a few years ago. Hey! Do you know what happened to Serenity? Is she okay?" Joey asked, thinking about his sister.

Tristan kept his eyes on Mai. "Yeah, she got adopted right after you left, and her parents were really nice. I haven't seen her since the day she left, though," Tristan said.

Mai turned away from Tristan, ignoring his look. She did not like it when he kept looking at her while Joey and he talked.

"Hey, Joey, I gotta go," Tristan said as Joey and he shook hands.

"All right, man. Talk to ya later!" Joey said as Tristan walked away with a grin on his face.

Joey turned to Mai and saw that she was looking down. He lifted her chin. Mai's expression didn't change.

"You okay?" Joey asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, putting a happy face on.

Joey smiled back at her and slid the key into her collar. It came off and Mai dropped it on the floor. Joey grinned at her, and took her hand.

"Where are we going?" she asked, now that she was free from the horrible place.

"My mansion," he grinned as she started to laugh.

"You own a mansion?" she asked him, finding it hard to believe.

"Yeah!" he said and carried her off.

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Serenity watched Mai and Joey leave the place. She was glad that Mai didn't mention that she was here. She was happy now that she knew her friends were going to be okay. She looked at Tristan, and she knew that he wasn't pleased. Mai was the only witness who saw what happened twelve years ago.

"She's right over there," she heard Tristan say, pointing to her as two men walked to her chamber.

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Sorry about that. Whew! Now, I can finally go back to writing Serenity!

Ki Wingz