Chapter Nine

Three groups were made. In one, there was Yan Lin, Taranee, and Hay Lin. In the other, there was North, East, and Cornelia. The third party consisted of Tibor, Will, and Irma. "Okay," North said, spreading out a map, "We split up and check the three regions of the Fallen City. Yan Lin's group will take the main part of the city. Tibor's group will take the southern part. My group will handle the suburbs." She gave Yan Lin and Tibor maps of the city. "We'll meet back up here," she told them, "He'll probably be in either the main or south parts.""

Why?" Hay Lin asked.

"Because the south is where the cemetery is," East explained, "And the south has the police station."

"Right!" North said. "Let's go. We'll meet back here at 7:00. It's 3:00 now, so we have plenty of time." With that the three groups departed to their designated areas to try to find Dark.

Scales watched as the three groups departed. They're making this too easy, she thought with a smile, They'll lead me to Dark. My work is being done for me. She decided to follow the team led by Tibor. Meanwhile someone else followed Yan Lin's group, while someone else followed North's team.

Hay Lin walked beside her "grandmother" in silence. She was still skeptical about her. Finally she said, "If you're my grandma, you'll know this. What do I do in my spare time?"

Yan Lin smiled and said, "You design clothes, you listen to music, and you save the world. Do you believe that I'm your grandmother now?"

"No."

"Well, you will when I tell you about the map."

"Well I-huh?" Hay Lin looked in her bag. She hadn't taken the map out of it in a while, so the only way she could know about it would be if she was her-

"Grandma?"

Yan Lin had been smiling ever since she heard Hay Lin's question, but now her grin went from ear to ear. "Yes, Hay Lin," she said, "I'm your grandmother. But when we find Chen and Joan, don't tell them. I look like I'm your age, so they won't believe us. If you could, ask Dark to let me stay with him?"

Hay Lin nodded.

"Good," Yan Lin said, "Now let's find him."

"What a happy reunion."

"Who said that?" Taranee demanded.

"Well I'm afraid that I have to cut it short. As a matter of fact, I have to cut you."

The voice sounded oddly familiar. Out of the shadows buildings, a small-built boy with low-cut hair revealed himself. He had an evil smirk on his face. He looked like he was in the eighth or ninth grade. He was wearing a cloak over his striped sweater. After looking him over, Hay Lin knew who he looked like. He looked almost identical to-

"Uriah!"

Uriah's smirk grew at the sound of his name. "The two of you," he said, "aren't who I'm looking for. But you, Taranee..." He stuck his hand out. In an instant, a lightning bolt took form in it.

"You are one of the people that I want." A second later, the lightning bolt shot out of his hand, aimed for Taranee!As the lightning bolt neared her, Taranee felt a surge of energy. Suddenly an orange aura encircled her.

ZZZZZTTTTTTT!

The lightning bolt had not harmed her. When her fear was at its peak, her power of fire had responded and made a shield that deflected Uriah's attack.

"How?" Uriah puzzled. "It can't be! What kind of monster are you?"

Taranee gave him an evil smirk. "It's my turn, right?" she said, sticking out her hand.

"I won't forget this!" he shouted at the girls.

Hay Lin walked beside Taranee. "Neither will we," she said, sticking out her tongue at him, "Surrender and we'll be merciful."

"You won't get me that easily!" he shouted. He pulled something out of his pocket. "I'll be back." With that, he threw the object on the ground. a cloud of smoke came from the sphere-like item. Within seconds, the smoke had cleared, and Uriah had disappeared.

"What's with him?" Yan Lin asked, finally joining the girls.

Taranee shook her head. "I don't know," she said, "but he's going to come back. Let's hurry up and find Dark. We'll talk to the others about this."