James glanced at his partner in that kind of way that said, "are you going mad, or are you 
seriously thinking there's a way out of this?" His fears were confirmed when Jessie started laughing.
	He took a deep breath. "Jessica."
	Jessie glared at him. "What?"
	"You have lost your mind."
	Jessie gave him a nice whack to the head. "Don't you get it, James? Don't you get it at all?"
	James looked at her for a moment, blinked, and finally shook his head.
	"How typical."
	James nodded.
	"Let me explain it. While we are here, no one can get us from jumping from the top of that cliff, 
or from swimming in that ocean. We are safe!"
	James sighed. "Jess. they just have to come the same way we did! And before long, we'll be 
trapped here when the sea gets to high!"
	Jessie bopped his shoulder. "Idiot! They can't come our way, because the tide is too high to find 
that cut in the cliff!"
	James groaned. This meant certain doom.
	Jessie lost her playful nature. Her face darkened. "We will not die tonight."
	She sighed, and looked up the giant face of the cliff, and the endless stormy sky even above that. 
"We will not die tonight," she repeated. "There is someone watching over me. They will not let me die 
before my time. And because you are my best friend, and loyal partner. .I guess that means they owe you 
their protection too."
	James looked at her oddly. She leaned against the side of the cliff, and took a moment to catch 
her breath. She continued. "I don't understand why they want to keep a wench like me alive. A common 
criminal. I'm not smart, and I'm not too talented. I guess I do have my beauty going for me."
	She smirked.
	"For whatever reason, they want me here, alive, on this earth, or at least until I can help them 
do. whatever they want me to do. I don't understand it James, no more than you do, but somehow I know 
that. that's the way it is. I've figured it out. And as soon as we get home, we will, mind you, I will do 
whatever it takes. And for this reason I beg you for your trust. Listen, to me."
	James nodded, and didn't say a word. Common sense told him his partner had blown her mind, 
finally, but something, for whatever reason kept him from thinking that. Something wanted to believe her.
	"Because I have faith that they won't let me die, I'm going to take your hand, and we're going to 
close our eyes. We'll feel the sea slam past us into this wall, and we'll feel like we would do anything to 
end that moment, but we will not open our eyes. We'll feel everything go black, like life is over, but we 
will realize that we are breathing. When we open our eyes, we will be safe at the top of that cliff, together. 
You and me. Partners forever. But you cannot open your eyes, you can't, because if you do, it won't work. 
Whoever is working on our side won't be able to work their magic."
	James nodded, fully believing her, no matter how outrageous it sounded. "I won't open my eyes."
	Looking at each other's eyes, both realized something now that had escaped them so many times 
before. They loved each other. Not like a couple. Not like brother and sister. But in a different way. They 
shared a unique bond of friendship that tied them together, and made them so one was never found 
without the other. Despite how they argued, they always found their differences and went on with life. It 
was kind of like romantic love, and it was kind of like kinship, except not either. They weren't Jessie and 
James the couple. They weren't Jessie and James, soul siblings. They were just Jessie and James. And 
forever they would be. And if Jessie's bizarre idea didn't work, death could not break this bond. They 
would still be together, even if they weren't on this earth. They would go on.
	James hand found Jessie's, and he gave it a squeeze.
	"Are you ready?" Jessie asked softly.
	James nodded. They both backed up against the rock. They glanced at each other, and then 
looked straight at the waves in front of them, pounding closer and closer. And then they closed their eyes, 
and there was only blackness.
	The first wave struck them. As soon as it went down, they both gasped for air, but did not up 
their eyes. They heard another wave coming. They took another huge gulp of air. This wave crashed into 
the cliff, ramming them even more firmly into the rock wall. The rock stabbed into their backs, and they 
felt a new kind of pain then they had ever experienced. The water went well above their heads, by at least 
six or seven feet. The water came down again, just to Jessie's chin. This was the last chance they were 
going to get to breathe. This was it. They once again took a huge gulp of air, and prepared themselves for 
what could either be the end or the beginning.
	The water slammed them again. They felt their bodies being ripped into by the sharp and 
unforgiving stone. They felt their hearts pounding, and their minds telling them to run, and get away from 
there. But there was no way out of this one. The water did not come down again. Their chests began to 
ache. What Jessie wouldn't give for one more chance to breathe air? James wanted to cry out, but of 
course, he couldn't do that under water. The water itself was painful. It tasted awful when they got it in 
their mouths, and it stung the fresh wounds from the rocks like nothing they had ever felt.
	Their backs hurt. Their skin hurt. But most of all, their lungs hurt from going so long without 
fresh air. If it was possible, the blackness that they got when they closed their eyes was blackened further 
as they lost the energy to stay conscious. The sound of the water against the rock got softer and softer until 
there was nothing.
	And it remained to be nothing. No more sight, no more sound, and their bodies were numb. 
	There was nothing. There was nothing for a long time. And then, miraculously, there was 
something.
	Jessie twitched, feeling a cold wind touch her. Without opening her eyes, she said softly, 
"Kojiro?"
	"Musashi?"
	She opened one eye slowly. She was starring up into the stormy sky again. A small smile traced 
her lips. "You can open your eyes!"
	They both looked up.
	James looked at his partner. "You were right."
	"Of course I was right!"
	"But I don't understand."
	"I don't either. But we're alive. And we have to keep it that way. Where's the kid?"
	James looked at her blankly. "I suppose the police have found her by now.?"
	"Hmm."
	Jessie stumbled to her feet. "This salt water is killer on my hair."
	James starred at her, dumbfounded that her hair was what she thought about after something like 
that. Only Jessie would put her hair over a near-death experience.
	James pushed himself up off the ground. He walked to the side of the cliff, and looked down. If 
he didn't know better, he would have never guessed that just a few seconds ago, there was land where 
there was now water. His pondering was interrupted by the sound of a scream. He turned his head quickly. 
	"Jessie?"
	Together they ran away from the cliff, and peered over a hill.
	There was a girl. And there were four or five S.W.A.T team members stalking in her general 
direction.
	James made a move to go down and helped her, but Jessie stopped him with a menacing glare.
	Suddenly, there was another scream when the girl saw the men coming towards her. She started 
running away from them.
	"I have to go down there."
	Jessie scowled. "Don't be ignorant, James!"
	"Can't you see that that's Tiki?"
	"I'm very aware of who it is, but getting caught isn't worth that little girl. They'll take her to a 
better place anyway, and you know it! They're trying to save the girl, and kill us. Remember? Idiot."
	James groaned. He watched her run away from these men. That's exactly what they had planned 
right? But what an awkward position it was to watch someone who had turned out to be a dear friend get 
taken away right before his eyes. Especially when he could be doing something to save her. He could save 
her. Or at least he could say goodbye. Because if they were caught, he realized, or if they weren't, he 
would never see her again
His sharp eyes darted to the other side of the river. It was concealed behind trees and vines. If he were 
careful, no one would see him.
Without looking to Jessie for her approval, he took off at a run down the hill to the other side of the river.
"JAMES!" Jessie shouted. James looked over his shoulder at her, and glared. Jessie bit her lip, and chased 
after him. The men had looked up, but up on the hill there wasn't a soul. They had all ready disappeared 
into the jungle.
"James, what are you doing?!" Jessie whispered to the teen that ran in front of her.
"I've got to say goodbye, Jessie!"
He had caught up to Tiki before long, and ran across from her, even though she couldn't see him. But he 
could see her. Every panic stricken muscle in her face was visible to James. 
The men had her surrounded.
James stopped running and watched between two trees.
"You don't understand!" Tiki was saying as she was backing up. "They didn't kidnap me! You have to 
leave this place! You won't find them!"
James watched in horror as she lost her footing. She stumbled backwards, and fell into the river. She 
screamed as the river swept her away. She went under.
"TIKI!" James yelled, and ran out of his hidden spot in the jungle. He dived in the river after her. Jessie 
gasped. But the uniformed men still did not see her. Their attention was absorbed into the boy who had 
just dived into the river. They started firing into the water after him as he swam after her.
Before she knew what she was doing, Jessie ran out in the open and screamed at the top of her lungs. 
Immediately, the men turned to Jessie. Jessie glanced at James and the girl in the river being swept a way, 
hopeful that her interception had given them enough time to get away without being caught. hopefully.
The men were now coming after her. That hadn't exactly been intended.
She broke into a run back up the hill. The men followed her, firing their guns as she ran. Luckily, Jessie 
managed not to be shot by the bullets. But luck didn't stay with her. When she reached the land bridge, the 
uniformed men were able to cross the river. With the protection of the wild river no longer there, she 
yelped and changed directions. She ran back down the forested side of the river, with the men close 
behind her. 
There was a loud crash of thunder, as well as the thunder of the warning shots that were shot at her. She 
had to keep running, she couldn't stop. She had to catch up with James and Tiki!
She darted into the woods. Her earlier exploring aided her into knowing where she was going. This was 
the same river that connected to her lake that they had first set camp on! Of course, further down, of 
course. Right on its way to the sea. The sea? She knew a wonderful short cut to get to that point from 
where she was, and if she ran like mad, she might beat James and Tiki to it!
All she had to do was keep running in the jungle, and cause the men behind her to lose their place because 
of not being familiar with the territory. Then she could run east, and find that path near the waterfall that 
would take her right to the ocean, much faster than the winding river.
The waterfall.
A scream died in her throat. James and Tiki were in danger. They only had about ten minutes, in her 
prediction of time left before they reached that grand waterfall.

"James!" Tiki cried before she went under one more time. She flailed her arms, and kicked her feet trying 
to stay up. But the river was merciless.
James didn't say a word, just kept swimming towards her. Finally, he caught up to her, and grabbed her 
hand. He yanked her back, and held her close and protectively. They both gasped for air, as the river 
rushed them forward fast and faster and faster.
Where were they headed? It didn't need to be spoken to know that either had not the slightest idea.
"Hand on tight!" were the only words of encouragement James could give. "And please don't worry."
His ears picked up an interesting sound. It was the sound of falling water hitting rocks. He suddenly 
looked up, and let Tiki out of his protective embrace, but did not let go of her hand.
"What's.that?" Tiki asked softly.
"I don't think we want to know."
They were coming closer. And closer.
"James, it's a waterfall!" Tiki shrieked. "What do we do? What do we do!"
James looked franticly around. There were no vines hanging into the water. Nor there was anyway they 
could get out of the river.
James gulped
	But suddenly, there came a high-pitched yell out of nowhere, and a splash.
	"What!" Tiki and James said in one voice and turned their heads in front of them from where the 
splash had come.
	Jessie came up, gasping for air. She clung onto a thick vine from a tree above. "Hang on!" she 
commanded.
	She reached her hand out, and James grabbed it. "You got a hold of Tiki?" she asked quickly.
	James and Tiki nodded. Jessie pulled at the vine, and groaned at the weight that she was doomed 
to carry with her. The currant pulling them away from the vine didn't help either. She hung on with all 
her might, and gave a furious kick to the side, which slammed the chain of three people into the bank. 
	She grasped the vine tightly, keeping them stable. "Hurry!" she yelled. "I can't hang on much 
longer!"
	Tiki kicked and fought until she was able to reach the top of the bank. Her hand searched madly 
for something she could hang onto. She finally found a rock, and pulled herself up. She got out, and 
without a pause, she reached down and pulled James out of the river. James didn't hesitate, and hung belly 
side down over the bank, with Tiki holding onto his feet. He grabbed Jessie from under her arms, and with 
Tiki's help pulled them out.
	The trio emerged, gasping for air. They exchanged looks. Miraculously, the only injuries were a 
few deep scratches.
	"Are they behind. us?" James managed to say between gasps.
	"No. no, but they will be!" Jessie said, as she turned over on her belly, and faced the opposite 
direction. An entranced gasp escaped her lips.
	Tiki and James turned in that direction as well, and saw exactly what the reason for the gasp was.
	Before them was a house made out of would, with a sturdy bamboo roof. It wasn't a beautiful 
thing to look at. But it was big. And it was sturdy.
	"This is that house," Jessie said quietly.
	James and Tiki exchanged glances, not sure whether to feel sorry for ever doubting Jessie's story, 
or to laugh at their good fortune.
	They all got up, and walked to the door. Jessie turned the knob. At first nothing happened, but 
after a minute of tugging, the door popped free, and they were able to enter.
	Tiki pulled a cord that turned on a light bulb above their heads. The light shined down on the 
room, revealing a single bed, and several chairs. There was a rug laid out on the floor, and a picture 
hanging on the wall: an autographed photo of Jimi Hendrix. 
	James closed the door behind him, and sighed in relief of being out of the rain. He thought back 
to the events in the last forty-five minutes. It was unreal.
	The important thing was that all three of them were back together again. Tiki was showered with 
apologies about leaving her for the police to catch and take away like some mad dog. And in return, Jessie 
and James were showered with forgiveness, and 'thank-you's for saving her.
	Sadly, their reunion was interrupted almost before it began by the sound of someone trying to 
through the stubborn door. No, it wasn't just someone. It was several someones.
	Tiki grabbed Jessie, and shoved her behind the bed. Getting the picture, she darted under. She 
was followed by James, who brought a sheet after him, concealing them completely from view.
	Tiki sighed softly, and then shook the water out of her hair.
	There was another thunder crack, and the door finally gave way. It fell to the ground with a loud 
bang, and revealed many stern faces of Jennies and other officers.
	The lead Jenny ran to Tiki right away and grabbed her wrist. "You're here, now what happened 
to that boy who tried to kill you?"
	"Kill me?" Tiki repeated softly. "Um." she figured she meant James. Did they mean that they 
thought he had jumped in after her to harm her? She had to run with it. "I don't know. I. escaped! And 
got out of the river using a vine that was hanging in. I think he went down the waterfall."
	Officer Jenny grunted. James had all ready been dead once that week. Could he really be dead 
again? This time she wasn't so confident in this report.
	"And the redhead?"
	"You didn't catch her?" Tiki almost shouted, acting like she was very frightened.
	"No, she eluded our men on foot," Jenny said coldly.
	Tiki began to back up, until she bumped into the bed. She gulped, and tucked a strand of loose 
pink hair behind her ear. 
	Officer Jenny looked around the house, and said coldly, "Search the place. Leave no spot on 
searched!"
	"No! Really I'm all alone, I came here because I knew it was safe!" cried Tiki.
	She was ignored. The officers began to probe every corner of the house. It wasn't five minutes 
when one of them pulled the sheet away from under the bed.
	Several of the larger men had to assist in pulling a kicking and fighting Jessie and James from 
under the bed. But before long, they were against the wall, with no chance of escape this time.
	"Put your hands up!" Jenny commanded.
	Tiki tried to get their attention. But she tried in vain. It was as if she had disappeared.
	"You have a right to remain silent!" Jenny barked. "You have a right to a trial by jury. You have 
a right."
	The clicking of the large guns that were one by one rose to firing range.
	"STOP!" Tiki screamed. She jumped off the bed, and between the half a dozen dangerous looking 
characters and Jessie and James.
	"What are you doing!" Jenny exclaimed. "Get out of the way!"
	"NO!" Tiki shouted, more tears running down her face.
	"Don't you want to see these two behind bars? Where they belong?"
	"You don't understand, they didn't kidnap me! I followed them! And I don't think they killed that 
woman either!"
	Jenny scowled. "Of course they did!"
	"They didn't!" argued Tiki.
	"But what about him? He attacked you!"
	"What?!?"
	"There in the water! My men saw you!"
	"He wasn't attacking me, he saved my life! I would have gone off the waterfall if it wasn't for 
Jessie and James!"
	The gunmen lowered their arms, and looked at each other in confusion. Then they raised their 
eyes to Jenny. "Don't listen to her!" Jenny said in a cold voice.
	"No, do listen to me!" said Tiki. "They saved me, they saved me! Please don't take them off to 
jail, please! Please! I'll do anything! Don't take them away!"
	A kind of a stare down took place between Jenny and the young girl. Finally, Jenny sighed. "At 
ease, boys."