Fifteen Journey - Chapter 41

A/N: As I stated before, chapter 41 didn’t take that long to come out. I wasn’t really inspired to do this chapter but I must say Fifteen Journey is ending. Two more arcs and it’s over… (cries, cries…)
Well, just be sure to actually SAY something. Even just a comment saying “hi”, I’d like that.

Chapter 41 - Secret

“NO!”
As Katie was felling into the cliff’s river, she shut her eyes and remembered her short life: father, brother, her friends, Rick and even Vince. She would have to leave.
“Goodbye…”
“Who are you telling goodbye to?” a man’s voice asked.
She opened her eyes and found Vince looking expressionless at her. She was still grabbing Rick’s sword and was lying in Vince’s arms.
“Hmf, no one.” She said trying to find any other spot to look at.
As soon as they landed, the question appeared. Had Rick won or could the fight be continued? Katie painfully answered the question.
“I’d be dead if you hadn’t helped me…”
Rick looked at her with tender eyes. Cassey’s attention was attracted when Rick approached her with a decided expression. Was he in…? No… or could he?
“Please give me back Thynia.”
Cassey wanted to tap herself from being so stupid. This wasn’t her business after all; she had nothing to do with that… So why would someone feel like that?
Having Thynia back made Rick feel more relieved. However, he couldn’t avoid feeling guilty for Nick’s interference, which could have cost Katie’s life. The other teens were feeling his worry but they’d ask him when they felt it was more convenient.
The innocent voice broke the silence.
“So, will you guys accompany us?” she asked the three ex-players. Sarith, Vince and Katie looked at each other, but Sarith was the first to speak.
“Yes, for sure. You guys will be needing back-up!” she said cheerfully.
Rick was pleased with the idea. Having more people in the “small” team could be troublesome but Sarith’s presence would certainly cheer all up. All except one girl…
However, Katie was still deciding but Vince clearly said his choice.
“Sorry, but we are not accompanying you…”
The most surprised person was Katie. Why had he said “we”? He was counting on her even before asking her?
“Hey, hey…”
“You have a debt to pay, missy.” He spoke only to her, eyes to eyes. “And I’ll be needing your ability.”
Katie thought for a moment. She needed rest, since she had many straches from the battle with Rick, but going with the active player would only cause her more trouble.
She finally raised her hand and spoke loudly to the group.
“I will go with Vince.”
Yes, this was the decided person Rick had met before Tourch’s ceremony.

There was another advantage in having Sarith in the group: she still had plenty of food with her.
That night was special: a commemoration. Rick hadn’t had a second to rest since he had fought Annya and only Mike and himself were able to cook decent food. Although Sarith was not a good cook, she had many ingredients with her, which permitted both to make a typical family’s meal. But when they sat to eat, Rick felt melhancolic again. The more he thought about that day’s events, the more he would feel guilty. He had not control of Nick nor he had predicted that action. He clearly remembered the ghost’s image in his head when he would loose control of some part of his body, the ghost smilling at him from joy. It was like if Nick had pleasure in killing people.
“Rick…” Cassey and Mike started at the same time. However, they were interrupted by Sarith.
“Let’s do a game! It’s called ‘Who gets the midget’!”

Next Chapter:
“I met you in a blue mooned night. My name’s Matt Drutond.” – The Midget