Yes, I'm thinking a pen, or sheet of paper, or something like that for Max. I'm thinking (at least until/if SC returns), he could be our anti hero type figure. What do you think? Is "bad" but has potential to be good? I dunno, but anyways, I think that's our layout for our EPIC CLIMAX!!!(dadaDAHH!!!)(okay, sorry, I had to add that!;)

Taday! (Okay, I'm in a semi crazy peppy mood.)

Hmm. Perhaps. I know as a reader myself of other things, I like to have things like that answered. Plus, when questions like that are left hanging, my mom goes on rants about the book (true story). So I'll try and explain it. Try...

Dehlia ~

I blinked my eyes open. The New York before me was quite different from the New York in the past. The sky overhead was dark, almost black, with storm clouds. Scraps of paper, bottles, and other junk littered the streets, blowing past as the wind picked up. The shell of the buildings were the same, tall, rising up toward the sky. But many of the windows were broken, doors hung on hinges, and the lobbies were in ruins. Furniture was overturned or broken entirely. Occasionally a rat would scurry from one hiding hole to another. Two broke out into a vicious fight of a scrap of food. 

"This is it?" I asked quitely. Things were bad here. Really bad. 

"Come on," Elexhiia hissed, leading down a side street. I walked along beside her, keeping pace.. 

"How did you travel with us?" I asked. "You haven't used any tears recently." Elexhiia pulled a small device from her pocket. It was a small black box, sort of like our communicators, but with more dials, switches and buttons.

"This," she said. "It's a prototype. This is our first time testing in the field, actually. That's why I didn't let you all use it. I wasn't sure how it would work."

I was surprised, but didn't say anything. Just what all did this organization Elexhiia belonged to have? 

Elexhiia continued leading us down what seemed random streets and alleyways. We often had to hide whenever we heard the sound of marching boots. At one point, I sat huddled behind a crate beside Dora, and I heard one soldier talking through what seemed another communication device.

"Yes, no sign, sir," He said.

"Fine," said a voice gruffly through the device. "But shoot at first sight."

"But, commander..." the soldier hesitated. "Aren't some of them just kids?"

"I don't care if they're five or seventy-two. Kill them. We CANNOT risk these tears. Every other country has been hit. We cannot take this risk. If they're Weeping Angels, then there's more to them than meets the eye. Got it, soldier?" Barked the voice.

"Yes sir," said the soldier quietly, and continued down the alley.

"Weeping Angels??" I quitely whispered to Dora, who shrugged. We all emerged from our hiding places. Before anyone could do or say anything though, Errol demanded "What are Weeping Angels?"

"It's nothing," replied Elexhiia. 

"It has to do with the organization you're with, doesn't it?" Pushed Errol.

Elexhiia hesitated, evidently debating what to say.

"Yes," she said hesitantly. "We call ourselves the Weeping Angels because we deal with and recover time tears. But I can't tell you anymore. Besides, we have to keep moving." With that, she spun on heel and started hurrying down the street. We had no choice but to follow.

*********************************************************************

So, I thought we could at least come up with a name for Elexhiia's organization. Weeping Angels just came to me, but that's just an idea. We can change it. I'm totally open to ideas! Thoughts?

Hmm. I'm not sure where the tears should be hidden. I'm not really knowledgeable on New York City. The Empire State building? I dunno. Thoughts?

Admins, do you by chance have any suggestions?

These pop into my head: the ice rink at Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Central Park, Staten Island Ferry, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Grant's Tomb, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Gugenheim, Saks Fifth Avenue, Coney Island (amusement park). Empire State Building is good, too. Or the Chrysler Building as mentioned in It's a Hard Knock Life from Annie.

Admin

@ Admin: Thanks! Hmm. Well, maybe Lincoln center. I just googled pictures of it, and it looks like a good place. True, what do you think?

That's what I thought! When I first saw the pictures, my mind instantly thought BATTLE!!! I dunno why, but my mind always turns to action, battle, weapons, or cars. I guess that says a lot about me...

Dehlia ~

Fear surged through me. We were running now, following Elexhiia. Suddenly a wall blew out behind us, sending rock chunks and dust flying everywhere. I stumbled and screamed when I heard the sound of bootsteps just behind us. Just a few feet away, I heard Dora. Then somebody grabbed my arm, and we were moving again.

"Elexhiia is just ahead," Felix said in my ear. I could just see the vague outline of Elexhiia a couple feet ahead. We were now running on blind faith alone, literally. Eventually, the dust cleared, and we were running full out, dodging through streets, alleyways, and occasionly buildings. Finally we arrived in a large plaza with what once would have been a beautiful fountain, now broken and corroded. Large building with tall pillars surrounding the plaza. 

"Lincoln center," Elexhiia said breathlessly. "This is where the final time tears are." We slowed to a walk, but I was thoroughly unnerved. Why was it so quiet and deserted if this was where the time tears were? I glanced at Elexhiia, but she seemed grim and determined. I didn't doubt her, but I couldn't shake the feeling, something very bad was going to happen here.

I actually am kinda stuck on where they should be hidden too, so that's why I haven't written. I was hoping thinking on it would help, but notta. So I'm just gonna wing it! (but then again, that's what I been doin' all along!;) Haha! (sorry, I'm feeling tired yet perky which creates a strange affect in what I say/write).

Dehlia ~

We all started talking at once, explaining what we'd been through getting the tears. Then I realized Elexhiia wasn't listening. Not really. I glanced at Dora, who hadn't said a word. She looked at me and shrugged in a "I have no idea" sort of way.

"All right," said Elexhiia, breaking in. "I've got an idea." She led the way to the fountain. She stopped suddenly, and turned to face us. There was no mistaking the fear in her eyes. "I just want you to know, you've been great to know, no matter what happens here. Thank you for all your help." But before we could say a word, she hurried over to the fountain. She stood in front of it studying the inside, rubbing her hand along it. "I think... it might be... somewhere. here," she said vaguely, lost in thought. Despite the fear I knew we all must have felt, we spread out along it, searching. I looked toward the center, and noticed the dust and grime looked different. Not as natural, and not as old. I clambered over the edge and started slowly making my way toward the center.

"Dehlia, what are..." Elexhiia started, then stopped, seeing it too. We'd both noticed something else. The tile pattern was ever so slightly different.

"Careful," she cautioned. "They likely as not set traps." I nodded, already watching my foot placement. Slowly, I edged my way forward, till I finally reached the center. I stood for several moments, carefully studying the area. But there was nothing. Slowly, ever so slowly, I knelt down, and started carefully clearing away the dirt and grime till the tiles were somewhat cleanly exposed. I tried prying them up, but I couldn't get my finger beneath.

"I need something to pry it up," I called. Elexhiia quickly rumaged through her things.

"Here," she called, carefully tossing something to me. I caught it, finding it to be a small file. Carefully, I wriggled it beneath the tiles, slowly pulling them up one by one till I had an eight by eight square space. Beneath, the cement was gone, replaced by some filling in a perfectly round hole. 

"I think this is it!" I said excitedly. Though in the back of my mind, it said this was too easy. I did my best to ignore it, took the file, and started hacking away at the filling. It was far easier than I'd imagined, breaking away in big chunks. Finally, I managed to clear a hole just big enough to fit my hand, and a small bottle. Slowly, I reached inside, feeling my way in. It was deeper than I though, and almost had to reach in to my elbow. Finally, my finger tips brushed the now familiar smooth glass. I gripped hard, almost crying. We were so close now. We just had to wish ourselves back, and it would be alright.

"I got it!" I cried, holding the bottle high.

Thanks!

Dehlia ~

Dora embraced me in a hug, smiling happily. Though our happiness was short lived, when Felix and Errol both yelled in alarm. Elexhiia yelled in anxiously for backup into her communicator. Dora and I turned. A huge line of soldiers met our eyes, some still appearing out of nowhere.

"Cloaking devices," Elexhiia muttered under her breath. My breath caught in my throat. Two tall men in suits and darkly shaded glasses walked slowly and deliberately forward.

"This can end, very simply," one said slowly, clearly. "You can hand over the tears, or..." The other one showed a gun stowed in his belt. I took a sharp breath. Dora and I clasped hands. Elexhiia gripped the tears even tighter, her eyes darting everywhere. We were completely surrounded, with still more soldiers arriving.

"Give them to us. Now," said the man, advancing.

"Not on your life," Elexhiia hissed through gritted teeth. The man laughed cruelly. 

"Elexhiia, you know how this will end! There's no way they are going to leave here alive!"

Elexhiia winced. I wondered how he knew her name, and what he meant by "they". 

"They might... we still, could... could try to find a way," Elexhiia whispered the last part. I realized my breath was coming hard and fast.

"Elexhiia. What, what do you mean "still find a way? What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice hoarse. She looked incredibly pained, which nearly made my knees buckle with fear. Elexhiia never, even when she was dying, looked pained, or scared. Never anything but strong and determined. But now she looked sad, scared, and broken. 

The man in the suit laughed harshly. "No I don't suppose she would have told you. You see, in order for this whole operation to work. For them to get these tears, to restore the space time continuum, bla blah blah. Whatever. For all this to work, you all... have to die." I stood a moment, blinking. My mind just stopped. I couldn't think. I didn't want to believe it, but... somehow, I did. I looked tward Elexhiia, hoping against hope she would tell me it wasn't so. He was tricking us, trying to get us to hand over the tears. But she turned her head away, hiding tears. That was all the confirmation I needed. Tears welled in my eyes. I looked at the others, who were equally shocked.

"Now," the man continued, smiling at Elexhiia. "This really doesn't concern them since they have to die anyway. This, is a decision for you. You can either join them, and die for real this time. Or hand over the tears, and leave here peaceably. We can take care of the... messier things," he said glancing at us with a smile. 

Sorry! I've been meaning FOREVER to write! I love what you wrote! Genius!

As to my novel, it's going quite well! I've gotten a little caught a few times, but other than that, goin' good!

Dehlia ~

I knew, from the moment he touched her, I knew. 

"Volt," I whispered, gripping Dora's arm to support her. Felix and Errol were surprised as well. Then a boy, Max, stepped out of the ranks.

"What is the order sir?" he asked. Fear started swirling inside me. Felix and Errol were standing on either side of Dora and I now.

"Elexhiia?" Volt asked, smiling cruelly. She looked back and forth between Volt and us.

"No," she said low, and all heck broke loose.

"Kill them!" shouted Volt, reaching for Dora. We screamed and bolted. Soldiers swarmed forward, guns raised. Elexhiia had two stunners in her hands, firing at one soldier after another. But where one soldier fell, two more took its place. I too had my stunner in hand, as did the others. Suddenly I heard a loud sound above, and looked up. Two large machines hovered above, men dropping down from ladders and ropes. I thought they were more of Volt's men, but they turned and started firing on the soldiers.

"Backup has arrived!" Elexhiia shouted with relief.

"Split up!" Errol shouted. "We're harder to catch that way. Maybe at least one of us will make it out!" But as he said that, gunshots rang out. Errol stumbled to one knee, gripping his arm. Dora jolted at the sight of the blood seeping through his sleeve. He stumbled up to his feet. 

"I'm fine," he growled.

"Go, I'll see you soon!" I shouted to Dora, giving her a small hug. She took off, heading in one direction. Felix caught my eye for half a second.

"I'll see you too," he said, then took off. Errol stood, trying to his bearings straight. He nodded at me, then we both took off simultaniously. Gun shots rang out all around me. I was stunning every soldier I could aim at, taking them out one by one. A bullet shot pass my ear and through my hair. I fired back in retaliation. I heard Elexhiia and Volt shouting at each other. Suddenly something grabbed my arm. I spun around, swinging my arm toward my assailant. Max easily dodged, reaching for my other arm and stunner. I kicked hard at his shins, causing his grip to loosen. I was about to pull the trigger to stun him, when he said, "None of us will make it. Not you, me, your friends."

I opened my mouth to yell at him, but he hurried on.

"I have no idea about Volt. I don't even know what time he's from. But if you all just give him the tears, it may not have to end quite like this," Max continued. He sounded sincere, like he wanted all of this over with. Suddenly his eyes got large, and he fell to his knees. Blood soaked through the back of his shirt. I gasped, staggering backward. Volt stood behind him, cocking his gun. I gave a strangled scream and ran. I hurried toward the edge of plaza, toward a break in the soldiers. I didn't see or hear the others anywhere. I kept running, a faint hope starting to build. Maybe I'd make it, maybe we would be okay, maybe... That's when I felt a hard force hit me in my side. I put my hand on my side, and saw blood. I stumbled back to my feet, and kept trying to run. 

If I can just get out of here, I thought. Then another another hit in my shoulder. And yet another in the back knocked me forward. I couldn't bring mysefl to check how much blood I was losing. I lay on the ground, heaving. I heard bootsteps running up, a gun cock. I closed my eyes, braced to die. Suddenly another gun shot rang out, and the soldier fell dead beside me. I heard soldiers everywhere retreating, and cries of victory from Elexhiia's men. I heard Volt swearing revenge, but even that was growing faint. Footsteps echoed all around me, then an eerie silence followed. A pair of strong arms lifted me up, carefully carrying me back toward the fountain. My vision started blur, and the shock was wearing off. The pain started to stretch through my body, and I tasted blood in my mouth. I prayed Dora, Felix, and Errol were all right, though I doubted it.