Me: Welcome to Chapter Nine!

Chiro: He's coming! He's coming for me! (Breaks into another coughing fit.)

Me: (Smiles.) I know. You've had a rough week.

Chiro: Tell me about it.

Me: Seriously?

Chiro: No. I would rather certain memories stay in their places. (We both shiver at the memories.)

Me: Well I have to give Mandarin to LS7. Would you finish up for me?

Chiro: Sure.

Me: Thank you!

Chiro: No problem. (I leave with a struggling Mandarin in tow.) Aunna doesn't own SRMTHFG! But she is responsible for the second death of Mandarin. Please Read and Review!

Chapter Nine: Reunited!

I woke to sunlight in my face. I groaned and rolled over in the cot. Cot? I thought. Wasn't I out on the streets? Wasn't I sleeping on a bench?

Then it hit me. Last night. Oli offering me a place to sleep, knocking out on the cot, Antauri promising he'd be here today.

"Antauri!" I shouted and ran out the room. I feel as my ankle cracked and my foot gave away. I held back a scream of pain and Oli came into the room.

"Oh my!" Oli shouted as he picked me up. "What happened?"

"I forgot I had hurt my ankle," I said as I sneezed. "I think I shattered it,"

"Ouch," Oli muttered.

"Did Antauri come?" I asked, my pain forgotten momentarily.

"Not yet," Oli said and I frowned. "Let's get some breakfast and then you can watch for Antauri. I'll keep an eye on you from inside the shop. That okay?"

"Yeah," I said. Oli carried me out and say me down at a little box with two plates of eggs on it. Oli and I began to dig in, my eyes trained on the window. Maybe Antauri would show up while we were eating.

When we were done Antauri had still not appeared. I sighed and limped outside. My ankle throbbed but I refused help from Oli. I could handle myself. At least I thought I could. I took a seat on the bench and waited for Antauri.

Hours pasted and my hope was diminishing. Had Antauri gotten lost? Had he got in a fight with Skeleton King? Had he forgotten me over the night? Had he lied to me?

No! I mentally scolded myself. Antauri would never lie about a situation like this! He probably ran into some trouble.

I saw a familiar blue car pull up and out came Emily. "Emily!" I shouted.

"Chiro!" Emily shouted and ran over to hug me. After that she looked at me and gasped. "What happened?" Emily asked. "You look like you got in a fight with a grizzly bear!"

I sighed and explained what had happened after she had dropped me off. She screamed when I told her about the man in the black SUV. When I was done she hugged me tighter. "Don't worry Chiro," Emily said. "Antauri will come and rescue you from this living hell," I gasped. For one she jolted my ankle, for two Emily wasn't very big on cussing.

Emily gave me a smile and went to pay for her gas. I sighed and resumed my watch for Antauri. Talking with Emily made me feel better and I sat up straighter as I waited for Antauri.

If Antauri didn't come today I would wait all day tomorrow and then call to see if he was alright. There was no way Antauri would betray me like that.

Oli came out a moment later with two sandwiches and I gladly took one. I reached into my bag and pulled out two apples. I gave one to Oli and we ate lunch. We talked about Shuggazoom City and the crazies that lived there. He told me about his Uncle Kip and I told him about Gyrus Krinkle.

After lunch Oli went back inside and I kept my eyes on the sky.

Hours pasted by and I started to cry. Antauri wasn't coming. I was on my own for another night. I buried my head into my arms and cried harder. Antauri forgot me, I thought. He lied to me,

I heard a faint buzz and looked up. The buzz became the roaring of an engine and I sprang out of my seat, succeeding in causing me more pain. But I didn't care. Antauri was here!

He landed after a minute and I let out a shout of joy. Antauri came out of the aircraft and spotted me. "Chiro!" Antauri shouted. He ran towards me.

"Antauri!" I shouted and got on my knees. Antauri enveloped me in hug of caring love and encouragement. I cried and he calmed me with his soothing words.

A sharp pain shot up my leg and I yelped. Antauri let me go and asked, "What's wrong?"

"My ankle," I whimpered. He squeezed lightly on my injured ankle and I yelped.

"Chiro," Antauri said worriedly. "What happened this last week or two?"

I sobbed as I told him everything. His eyes became more worried and saddened as I told the story. When I was done I was gasping for breath and Antauri was rocking me the best he could.

I never wanted to let go of Antauri again. Every time I was without him I felt sad and lonely. Nothing was the same without Antauri.

I looked inside the gas station and Oli gave me a nod. He knew we had to leave sooner or later.

Antauri broke up the hug and levitated me into the Brainscrambler. Floating in mid-air made me a little scared but it was better then walking on a broken ankle.

Once inside Antauri lied me down, gave me a kiss on the forehead, and prepared to fly us out of here. I smiled. Emily was right. Antauri was saving me from my living hell. He and the others had saved me twice from it.

After a hour of flying Antauri spoke. "Chiro," Antauri said. "I know we were just reunited but you need sleep. The last thing we need is for you to pass out from exhaustion the moment we get home,"

"Okay," I said. "I'll sleep," I let my eyes drift shut.

The last thing I saw was Antauri smiling at me.