RC9GN--Poisoned: Chapter 8: The Portal.

Theresa and Howard arrived at the abandoned building that used the ‘Club Super-Secret Awesome Club.’

They closed it down when the police heard about the Sorceress trapping the whole school inside. The parents being parents, ordered the city the close it down. No one is allowed inside, but here they were, about to break inside to find a magic portal.

Howard and Theresa both had on a backpack, both filled with items that would come in handy. In Theresa’s bag, she had it filled to the top with chips of different favors and the 800 year old book known as The Nomicon. They figured it might come in handy in tough situations.

In Howard’s bag, he had it filled with water bottles and a first aid kit, for when they get thirsty and if one of them got hurt. To Howard, it weighed a ton on his back. Every step they take, he would lean forwards to keep from falling over.

“Man, this thing weighs a ton! I would be glad when the waters gone!” Howard complains.

“Be glad you at least have water,” Theresa says matter-of-factly in front of Howard, without turning around she says, “And food for that matter, also something that would help on this mission.”

Howard glares at her back for what she said. Her light-purple hair was in a full ponytail, instead of half a ponytail. Her baton twirling team outfit she always wears was switched with skinny jeans that looked almost like Randy’s. Her shirt was a pink long sleeve shirt for the cold weather, if it gets too hot; she wore a black tank top underneath, her shoes where even for long distance travel. Her purple coat was stuffed inside her bag with the chips and Nomicon.

Howard couldn’t stop thinking about how much more prepaid she was instead of him. He wore is usual outfit he wore every day.  The only thing he brought was a hoodie for the cold weather. He kept thinking that Theresa changed soon as she found out about Randy. The little shyness she had inside her eyes been gone. What was left was an unusual gleam that told Howard that he better not mess up.

He was a little frightened about this change but didn’t think of it much. He sighs, “Ready to get this over with?” They were at closed metal doors that lead inside the dark building. The sun was going down, leaving the sky with a dark blue and purple look to it. 7:45, Howard quested.

Theresa then gives a quick, but hard kick to the doors, busting those inwards with a loud crack and bang as it hits the floor. Now Howard was definitely afraid of her.

Her turns back to Howard with a big grin on her face and said, “Now, I’m ready!” And walked in without stopping.

Howard follows and once inside, he was blown back at how creepy the inside was. There haven’t been people inside the building for at least two months, but the look of the building, it looks like no one has been inside for years.

The place was covered from top to bottom in dust, and at least a few layers too. The counters and floors had at least an inch of light brown fuzzy on them. Every step they took, they kicked the dust up in the air and makes them cough. Cobwebs were hanging at the top of the roof and chandeliers. The only light in the building was the setting sun shining through the busted down doors and windows.

“This place is disgusting!” Theresa shrieks. Her hand was over her nose and mouth trying to keep the dust away from her breathing source.

Wanting to add humor to everything, Howard say, “And wait till you see my room.” He turns to Theresa with a smile to tell he was joking, but she didn’t catch the message. “Gross!” She shouts while walking faster away from Howard. “I was joking, man, do you girls take everything seriously?” Howard shouts back.

“Yes and now, which bathroom was the secret passage in?” She answers getting back to the mission. She stops near the sign that Randy broke down with Theresa’s baton stick.

“It was the boy’s bathroom I remember. I’m not sure which one though.” Howard answers back glancing around to see which one it was. “That one!” Theresa says pointing at a glowing door. The light was a deep orange with white.

“Huh, weird!” Howard states, staring at the light. It gave off an aroma that smelt like dead flowers and rotting eggs. “What the juice? That smells worst that the school’s bathroom!”

“Well, such it up and let’s go!” Theresa says running towards the bathroom. When she and Howard made it there, the light was so intense, that it was impossible for them to see the door handle. The smell was even worst up close too, making their nose sting. “Watch out!” Theresa tells Howard as she delivers another kick to the wooden door, which flew open with a loud snap.

When the door was open, the light died down to a normal every day glow from a light bulb. They take a look in and sure enough, the secret passage door was there and already opened, showing a dark cave with sharp rocks everywhere. On the ceiling hanged cone-like shapes that ended in a point. Same as the last time.

They walk on in without hesitation. They had a job to do and they didn’t know how long the passage will stay up. Once inside, the door closed shut, which startled them to death. Howard yelped, while Theresa turned around with a pocket knife in her hand. Where the cheese did she get that? Howard wondered.

They continued walking down the passage aimlessly. Turning corners, up small and large hills, dodging holes, and picking passages.

Finally, when it felt like hours, they came upon The waterfall. The water was sparkling blue that reminded Theresa of Randy’s eyes. The rocks had crystals in them that gave the waterfall an enchanting shine to it.

Tired as Howard was, he fell to the ground next to the fall. Panting and sweating like a dog. He grabs a water bottle from his bag and started chugging it down. When he was done he handed Theresa one, who declined. She was still on her feet, waiting for Howard to get up.

“You ready Howard?” She asks getting impatient. She was pacing in front of the waterfall, thinking about how she would create the portal. Before the started, Howard has asked her to conjure up the portal.

“Yeah, let me just stand up here and you can start!” Howard says while struggling to stand on his short legs.

When he’s up, Theresa takes a deep breath and says what Julian told them to say, “Ostende mihi viam aperie!” She shouts with every commanding voice she had. Within seconds of saying it, the sparkling blue water turned to an orange and yellow swirling vortex.  Within the vortex, a deep man’s voice asked, “Where do you wish to go?” Without hesitation, Theresa answers, “The Land of Shadows!”

Lightening shot out from the middle of the vortex and was sent through the roof of the cave. A loud crack was deliver to the top was another was shot out of the vortex, and another, and another instill they were no longer lightening. They were black and yellow mouth looking things.

“AAAAAAaaaaaa!” Howard and Theresa both shouted as they were both picked up by them and pulled into the vortex water. Their screams become gurgles as they went under.

As soon as they disappeared through the surface, the vortex disappeared into the nice, calm, sparkling water without a trace a anyone being there.