I am so, so sorry this took so long. I usually just work on the story when I think of it. But hey, enough apologies- enjoy! :)


We slide off the roof and race down the street. "Do…do you have a place to hide in mind?" I pant.

"Nope," Yuma replies.

The rumble of an engine catches my attention.

"Your sister owns a motorcycle, correct?" I say.

"Yeah," Yuma answers. "Why?"

I look over my shoulder. Yuma follows my gaze. We both double-take at the same moment, then slowly look back at each other and gulp.

Kari is pursuing us on her motorcycle, and she is closing in. Fast.

"Oh, geez! RUN, ASTRAL!" Yuma shouts, and sprints forward.

I run as fast as I can, but there is clearly no point in trying to out-run a vehicle on foot.

Headlights shine ahead of us.

"Hey! Shark!" Yuma calls, waving his hand frantically.

Shark stops. "What?"

"Can you give us a lift?"

"No." Shark prepares to zoom off.

The sound of Kari approaching makes Yuma desperate. He shoves Shark off his bike and jumps on. "Come on, Astral!" Yuma says, holding his hand out to me.

I'd like to object, if this were an ordinary situation. But when you have Yuma's fuming older sister at your heels, you do not have much choice.

"Hey!" Shark's angry shout is drowned out by the roar of the bike's engine as we speed away.

"Tell me that you know how to drive," I plead.

Yuma doesn't answer.

My stomach does not feel well.

Yuma presses his foot down on the gas pedal, increasing the speed to its maximum. He swerves into an alley, knocking down a few litter-bots.

"Man, Kari's comin' fast…" Yuma mutters.

"Yuma! Wall!" I yell. Then I cover my eyes; I can't bear to watch anymore.

Screeeech!
Yuma veers sharply right just in time. Behind us, I hear brakes squealing as Kari crashes straight into and through the wooden wall.

"I think we are safe." I tell Yuma. He slows down a little.

"Now what?" he asks.

"Should we go home?" I ask. "I mean your home?" I correct myself.

"Sure. It's getting cold."


Magically, the water is gone. That is the first thing I notice when I step inside.

Yuma notices, too. "Where did all the water go?"

"Perhaps it evaporated," I say, thinking of Kari's fury, hot as flames.

"I bet Kari's still out there looking for us." Yuma says. "We should get to bed before she karate-chops us."

The attic is dark. Darker than usual. I can't even see the window.

Yuma yawns. "'Night Astral,"

I stare at him.

"Oh, right. You can't go inside the Key." Yuma realizes. "I think there's a bed downstairs."
I climb down.

Suddenly the lights turn on. Someone is standing in the doorway.

Oh, no…
I think. I swallow hard.

"You're gonna pay for stealing my bike." Shark says. "You and Yuma are gonna pay."

The excitement never ends.