Chapter Eleven: Secret Hide-Out
"Haley! Where the heck are we?" Emily asked as Haley dragged her through yet another farmer's field.
"Chill! We're almost there." Haley assured her new friend.
Emily grunted. She had been a samurai for about a year, but even so she could say she had never been this tired from walking in her life. But that was probably due to the fact that the sun was burning down and had been for quiet some time.
"Look! I can see it from here!" Haley exclaimed excitedly as she pointed at a small shed in the distance.
"What is 'it' exactly?" Emily asked worriedly.
"You'll see when we get there! Hurry up slowpoke!" Haley yelled behind her as she took off running towards the shed.
***Going Home***
"Serena, can I talk to you for a sec?" Mike asked her in the common room.
Jayden and Mentor were in his study discussing the Serena/Emily issue, Mia was talking to Antonio in the kitchen, and Kevin was in his room, doing who knows what. That left Serena alone in the common room, with no excuse to not talk to Mike. Not that Serena didn't like him, but his behavior towards her didn't seem exactly friendly.
"Uhm, sure. I guess.." Serena said uneasily.
"I won't yell at you. I won't get angry, promise." Mike said, taking a seat across from Serena.
"Okay. Well what did you want to say?" Serena asked, she was getting more nervous by the second, very unlike her.
"I wanted to apologize. I've been a dick to you, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. You didn't do anything wrong." Mike apologized.
"I forgive you. I would have been mad in your position too. Especially considering you have a thing for my sister?" Serena teased.
"Awh shit. I was that obvious?" Mike asked with a laugh.
"Yes." Serena laughed along.
"Well, this is awkward then. Are you mad, gonna beat me up?" Mike asked. He was suddenly afraid of the older samurai. Not only was she a fantastic samurai considering her years of bed rest, but she was Emily's sister, older sister.
"I won't beat you up! Promise!" Serena said with a laugh, "Just you promise me one thing?" Serena's voice suddenly went serious.
"Anything." Mike said.
"If something does happen between you two, don't hurt her? She's gonna kill me for telling you this, but she doesn't exactly have much experience with guys." Serena confessed.
Mike chuckled, "What do you mean?" He was aware of Emily's past, she had shared stories of the bullies with him a few times. But he had always assumed that with a pretty face like hers, atleast a few guys must have liked her.
"Emily has never had a boyfriend. You are the first guy to ever express an interest in her." Serena explained.
"Are you serious?" Mike asked disbelievingly.
"Dead serious." Serena assured him.
"Well, while I process this horribly shocking information, I think I am going to talk to Jayden. I have to ask him something." Mike said as he slowly walked out of the room, head still spinning.
"Don't tell her I told you!" Serena called after him.
Mike turned around before yelling back, "As long as you don't tell her how big a dick I was to you!"
***Going Home***
Emily and Haley finally made it to shed in the middle of the field. Emily looked around as Haley hunted for the matches she swore were 'just right there'. Since the light was off, she couldn't see much, but enough light was coming through the windows that Emily could have a look around.
The shed looked much smaller from the outside but she noticed on the inside it was actually pretty spacious. There were two small windows on opposite sides. One window was still partially boarded up, but the other was completely open allowing light inside.
The shed looked hand made. It was made entirely out of wood and even the furniture seemed to be hand made. In the corner was a small couch with old worn out pillows crowded on it and a quilt draped on the side. In front of that was a small wooden coffee table with a few candles on top and a home made rug sitting under it. Near the window that light could actually get through, was a bookshelf. It was filled with books about what Emily guessed was close to every topic. Along with books, there were even more candles, and even a few empty food wrappers and soda cans.
"Ah ha!" Haley exclaimed as she lit a candle on the coffee table.
"What is this place?" Emily asked as she more closely inspected the small shed.
"I don't know, but it's old, abandoned, and all mine. Well, I guess it's ours now." Haley said with a pleased smile.
"How'd you find it?" Emily asked as she dusted off a few books and skimmed through the pages.
"I love exploring. One day I was coming out here and saw it. I went inside and decided that with a bit of work, it could look awesome. When I first got here it was filled with dusty old farm equipment. But I cleaned everything out, got some old furniture, and viola!" Haley said happily.
"Wow." was all Emily could say as she looked at the hand sewn pillows crowding the couch.
Haley nodded, "I know. I used to come out here all the time when I needed to think, or to focus, or just to get away from all this high school shit."
"So why are you showing it to me? We basically just met today." Emily asked as she turned to look at Haley.
"Hmm.. Let's say I had a feeling. I could tell you aren't one of those fake, plastic bitches who only care about themselves. You're different. And besides, it looked like you needed a friend." Haley explained.
"Thanks." Emily said with a smile.
"For what?" Haley asked.
"Being my friend." Emily replied.
"No problem. I know what it's like to be picked on. Kids used to pick on me all the time, nonstop. It really hurt. I know how much I needed a friend." said Haley.
"So what happened?" Emily asked curiously.
"One day some kids were bullying me, and I realized something. If I treat myself badly, they'll treat me badly. I needed to stand up for myself because I deserved it. I hadn't done anything to those kids. Ever since, I stood up for myself, and I don't let anyone hurt me." Haley said smiling.
Emily ran over immediately and gave Haley one of her famous hugs.
***Going Home***
Mike knocked on Jayden's door nervously. No one was supposed to disturb Jayden and Mentor when they were talking. It was an unspoken rule. But this was an emergency, and Mike needed to talk to them both.
"What is it Mike?" Jayden asked as he opened up the door.
"Can I ask you something?" Mike said.
"Sure, go ahead." Jayden said impatiently.
"Do you think she'll be safe?" Mike asked.
"Who? Serena? Mike, I know she was sick, but Serena is a really tough samurai and I think…" Jayden stopped when Mike interrupted him.
"No, not Serena. I'm talking about Emily. The nighlock know she isn't with us. Is she safe?" Mike asked again.
"I'm sure she'll be fine Mike. The nighlock have no reason to go after Emily, they won't bother. Even if they do, she's out in the country. They'll never find her out there." Jayden said as tried to close his door.
Mentor suddenly appeared beside the red ranger, "Don't worry Mike. We'll make sure she's safe. But I highly doubt the nighlock will come looking for her."
Mike sighed. He wasn't sure Jayden and Mentor totally understood what he was trying to say, but it had given him a little hope. Jayden was right. The nighlock had no need to go after Emily. And she was in the middle of no where, they couldn't find her if they tried.
***Going Home***
Back in the netherworld, Xandred was still stuck on his boat in the middle of the Sanzu river. He still had has killer headaches, and everyone else was paying for it.
"Master! Ooh-ah-ooh! I have done what you wanted me to do." Octeroo scurried towards Xandred.
"Good. Serrator, make sure you find the girl. I don't want you to come back without finding her. Once you do, report back to me." Xandred commanded Serrator.
"Of course Master Xandred." Serrator said with an evil grin.
Serrator transported through a gap in the ship and disappeared. When he got into the human world, he found himself in Paranorma city. He was outside Emily's favorite cupcake shop.
"Now, if I was the yellow ranger, where would I hide?" Serrator muttered, making his way through the crowds of screaming people.