Without warning, the images of her friends being tortured started to fade, but not before she caught the briefest glimpse of Tim, being dragged off into the shadows somewhere.
'Tim,' she thought, barely able to contain the tears that threatened to flood out of her. She'd had no memory of her relationship with Tim. And yet he'd meant so much to her. Momentarily, her resolve wavered just a little as she thought about not going through with what she had planned, leaving the dragon domain to deal with their own problems. But wish as she might that she could, she knew deep down that she simply had to go. After all, she was a dragon, despite what they'd done to her. Above all though, her friends were in dire trouble and anyone who knew her well would know that she'd lay down her own life for her friends in the blink of an eye. With a dragon's strength of purpose, Richie called forth information on the nearest access point to the dragon world. Very different images flooded into her mind. A church, two high street shops, a takeaway pizza outlet, a children's park, a disabled toilet and...
'Yes,' she thought, 'that's the one.' Closing her eyes, to her relief, it just went dark. No unwanted pictures, images, or thoughts. In the restaurant around her, she could just make out the clang of cutlery over a chain of whispered voices. Sensing the group of friends watching over her, she knew she had a lot to thank them for... lesser people might well have called the authorities in some way, shape or form. But what must they think? A good question, but one that she really didn't have time for at the moment. If everything she'd seen was true, then time really was of the essence. Uncurling, she slowly sat up, her brown curly hair matted with sweat. Audible sighs of relief resounded around the small group.
"You okay Richie?" whispered Hook, with more tenderness than his hulking great frame would have implied.
"I'm fine guys... really. Thanks to all of you for... looking out for me."
"What happened?" asked Emma.
Richie jumped to her feet, albeit looking more than a little shaky.
"I don't have time to explain now. But I will at some point. I'm sorry."
The group looked heartbroken after all they'd done. Across the restaurant, Richie caught a glimpse of Taibul, a familiar face from the hockey club, and beckoned him over with her right index finger. Obligingly he came straight away. The others made way for him.
"I need a torch Taibul, and a... knife. A really, really big knife. Perhaps the biggest that you have. Do you think you can help me?"
Nodding enthusiastically, the young lad turned and headed off towards the kitchen. Again, it was Hook who spoke up.
"What's going on Richie?"
The lacrosse playing dragon, as that what she now was despite the human form she was stuck in, turned to face the man mountain of a rugby player.
"There's something I have to do. And I need to do it now. I know things seem a little odd, but I'll try and explain later. I promise."
Hook paused, not sure how to respond.
"This has something to do with Peter and Tank doesn't it?" demanded Janice.
Richie turned to face the cute blonde, her expression wavering.
"I really can't say any more... I'm sorry."
Janice shook her head in frustration.
"You can be as sorry as you like, but I'm coming with you."
"I'm really sorry Janice, but this is something I have to do alone."
"Then you'll be needing that knife to stop me," replied the young bar worker, steely eyed.
'I really don't have time for all this,' thought Richie, watching Taibul argue with some of the kitchen staff through the small window in the kitchen door.
"Is this about Tank and Peter?" asked Hook.
"Are they in trouble?" enquired Emma.
"I really don't have time for all this!" exclaimed Richie, frustrated. Trying to walk through the group towards the kitchen doors, she was surprised when a large hand grabbed her bicep. Stopping, she gazed up at Hook. Her expression could have turned most to stone, but he wasn't perturbed.
"They're our friends as well. There's nothing I wouldn't do for the big man. Whatever's going on... you need our help."
Richie tried to wriggle free of his vice-like grip, but he was simply too strong.
"You of all people should know how a group working together can achieve more than any one individual. If I've heard Peter tell me about hockey and teamwork and how it was you who got him into it all, once, then I've heard it a thousand times. He believes it with a passion. And I believe it because he believes it," muttered Janice, her voice starting to wobble.
Richie stared at the other woman, incredulous.
"She's right Richie," added Hook, easing his grip on her arm. "If they're in trouble, then I'm coming as well."
The others in the group all agreed with Hook, apart from the hockey player who'd wanted to call the ambulance, slurring something about having to get home and look after his sick mum, clearly too drunk to know exactly what was going on. One of the lacrosse girls opted out, with Simon the rugby player declining to help as well.
Taibul returned holding a powerful torch, and the mother of all kitchen knives, bigger and sharper than any of them had ever seen.
"Uhhhh... we're going to need more knives and flashlights if you have them. Please..."
Smiling enthusiastically, the young lad darted back off in the direction of the kitchen. Hook asked what the others were all thinking.
"How much trouble are they in?"
"And we want the truth," demanded Janice.
Over the last few minutes, Richie had gained a new respect for the young girl. Turning to them all, and with her most serious voice, she said,
"The truth is... they're in planet changing trouble."
If anyone else had said this, then it would have been taken with a pinch of salt. But it was Richie, and she was deadly serious. Each and every one of them were more than a little taken aback.
"I'm not going to lie to you. I'd prefer to go alone, but I think you may be right... they, and I, might well need your help. But where we're going... it's dangerous... deadly so. If you want to tag along then I'm not going to stop you, and I'll do all I can to keep you safe. But it may not be enough. Peter and Tank are in grave danger, but there's more, so much more, that I can't even begin to explain. You'll have to just trust me. I'll repeat again, I would much rather go alone."
Nodding, they all once again expressed that they wanted to accompany her, albeit without the kind of enthusiasm that they'd shown before. With that, Taibul returned, carrying with him what looked like half the kitchen. In seconds, he'd distributed the few torches and all of the knives to the rather reluctant members of the group. He stood there holding a spare knife.
"Thanks Taibul, but I don't think we'll be needing that one," ventured Richie, slipping her torch onto her belt.
"It's not for you. It's for me. I'm coming with you."
Richie was blown away.
"I'm really sorry, you can't."
"Peter's my friend. One of the few I really have. My confidence at hockey, the reason I've stayed in the second team and progressed so well... it's all down to him. If he's in trouble, then I want to help. No, I need to help. PLEASE!"
Shaking her head in disbelief, Richie agreed that he could tag along. The beaming smile he shot her way troubled her deeply.