Stir of Shadows
by Queen of Sarab
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Chapter Thirteen

Black and white filled Rowen's vision, and he felt as if the ground beneath him was gone and he was suspended frozen in the almost non-existent air. He couldn't move. His whole body was paralyzed in an empty space that barely held enough air for him to survive.

Ohmygod, we could be killed here and not be able to do anything about it, Rowen thought. Kurai's upset we got out and will win at any cost, even going back on the rules...

Rowen began to struggle with his muscles, trying to get them to move, even just to twitch. He needed to know they were still there- a strange, disembodied feeling filled him, even as he began to believe his air was getting low.

And he dropped.

He hit the floor with a loud thud, quickly looking to make certain the other ronins were with him.

"Everyone ok?" Ryo asked shakily.

"I think so," Sage shivered.

They were standing in circular stone room with chains and shackles dangling from the wall. There didn't seem to be any way in or out, adn the air was heavy and damp.

"Welcome to my dreamscape."

Kurai was leaning against the wall, her voice self-mocking and almost bitter.

"We got through, Kurai," Ryo called out. "Now let us, Mia, and Yuli go."

"Oh, you're not through yet," Kurai's wolfish grin crept across her face. "You still have one more challenge."

"Then let's go! Why did you bring us here?" Kento demanded.

The dark sorceress laughed. "I needed to make it more interesting.

Only two of you will face this challenge." She raked her eyes over the warriors, and suddenly, with a flip of her hand, Ryo, Kento, and Sage were thrown against the wall. Shackles closed around their wrists and ankles with resounding clicks.

Rowen and Sai looked at their nemesis.

"What do we have to do?" Rowen asked quietly.

"Close your eyes and I'll show you."

They were in Sai's nightmare. At least, it looked like his nightmare– it was the same rugged, untamed beach and sea, but instead of Sai and his father in the boat, Mia and Yuli sat there, tied and gagged.

"Oh......" Sai let out a low moan of despair, dropping to his knees. "No, not them too..."

"We have to save them!" Rowen cried out, already sprinting towards the shore. It wasn't until he was halfway there that he realized Sai hadn't followed, but he didn't have time to go back for his friend. He was set on Mia and Yuli. The water was up to his waist now, and he began to swim, knowing he had to reach them– the sky was already becoming stormy and the sea choppy.

Rowen felt the side of the boat cold against him very suddenly, just as the sky opened above him. Gasping for breath, he hauled himself over the side and into the boat. Instinctively he began to fumble with the knots. "Dammit..." he cursed. "Just a second, guys, these knots are too tight- I'll have to cut through them." He looked around furiously for something sharp.

"There's no time!" a light British voice called from the shore, and the blue-haired archer could see that on the shore Sai had gathered himself together and was fighting his way towards them."Just get the life vests!"

Rowen immediately obeyed, fastening life vests to Mia and Yuli and gunning the engine of the boat, pointing it towards shore.

"ROWEN! WATCH OUT!"

He barely caught a glimpse of the giant wave towering above him before the world went black.

Author's note- Yeah! Almost done! And although I'm sure it's getting old by now, e-mail me! [email protected]