Me: Welcome to Chapter Seven!

Chiro: Why does this take so long?

Me: (Shrugs.) I want to get you home but I have to make it exciting.

Chiro: I miss Tauri.

Me: I know.

Chiro: How could you understand?

Me: I feel like that when I spend a long time away from my mom Chiro.

Chiro: Oh yeah.

Me: Just hand on. You'll get home.

Chiro: (Sighs.) I know. It just sucks.

Me: I know. I've never hitchhiked but I did get dragged around Mt. Morris for a day. That sucked.

Chiro: Yeah.

Me: I don't own SRMTHFG.

Chiro: Please Read and Review.

Chapter Seven: Return of the Kidnappers

A day had passed since I had left Harrison City. I was now at Dug Out, a five day journey by foot to Bill's Gas Station. I sighed and took off my glasses. I quickly cleaned them with my shirt and put them back on my face so I could continue. Antauri and the others had probably gotten Willard's note by now and I was sure they were at least a little calmed by what they had heard.

As I walked I felt I was being followed. I took a quick glance behind me and saw my kidnappers. How long had they been following me? When would they try to jump me, abduct me, and take me away? Would I ever get home?

I sighed again and ran as fast as I could. Car doors slammed and I knew they were following me. "Stop kid!" a man shouted. "We aren't gonna hurt ya!"

"Yeah!" a second voice said. "What he said!" Their words only made me run faster.

We were approaching a bridge when I felt my ankle crack. I screamed out loud and went under the bridge, where the kidnappers couldn't follow me because of the thick foliage. But my ankle barely supported my weight and I nearly fell into the little stream.

I saw a huge, abandoned tube and wobbled inside. It began to ran again and I felt feverish. What was wrong with me? Were all those nights in the rain finally catching up with me? Was I going to die?

I couldn't stop the tears. I felt like a disappointment. A goof ball. A failure! What did I expect? An easy ride home? I began to cry harder. The rain continued to fall and my sobs filled the hollow tube.

I finally stopped crying after a few moments and found two sticks I could use as crutches until I could walk by myself. After I positioned the sticks I left the tube and began to hitchhike again.

After a minute or two a man and his wife pulled over. I hobbled over. "What's wrong dearie?" the wife asked.

"I think my ankle's broken," I said. "And I still have to hitchhike all the way to Bill's Gas Station. I don't have a clue how I'm going to make it,"

"Just get in the car," the man said softly. "Leave the sticks. We're on our way to Bill's right now. Just take a seat and try not to put to much weight on your ankle son,"

"My name's Chiro," I said.

"Chiro," the wife muttered. "Haven't heard that name before. Well I'm Beth and this is my husband Jack. We'll take care of you till we reach Bill's. Then you can call someone to pick you up and get that ankle looked at. Okay?"

"Okay," I said. "Thank you Beth. Thank you Jack,"

"It's our pleasure," Jack said. "Helping each other is just a way to spread peace and happiness. If we could all just see each other as equals instead of upper and lower class we could be at peace right now,"

"Tell me about it," I said. "Everyday back home we have to fight for freedom and peace. Get's real tough too. Never now what's going to happen,"

For the next hour or two I explained my situation to Beth and Jack. I explained the Monkey Team and Skeleton King and our existence in the world. The just nodded and agreed with me that the only way to end violence is with all the evil to be abolished in a civilized manner. They reminded me of Antauri and Nova.

I yawned and Beth looked at me with her big brown eyes. "Get some sleep hon," she said. "Tomorrow's going to be a big day," I nodded and let myself drift into sleep.