The Dark College: Back to School
By Scott White

Chapter One,
Gathering Gloom, Brightening Light
"The government has release a statement saying that arrests have made in case of terrorist attack on a local college last spring and that the college has been inspected and everything is now safe" The TV droned on, but the people that sat in the room with it were no longer paying attention.
"They must have been the ones." Hissed one of the black robed figures.
"Of course they were fool! How else could the defeat all of us, and yet not lose one of their number!"
The angry voices filled the dark cavern and sent rats running. Each had a point that needed to be spoken and no one wanted to wait. A few months ago their numbers had been much greater, but that had been before the defeat at the college. Those who hadn't died in the attack had left after they had felt their power began to ebb. Only the darkest of the dark remained.
"Silence!" a voice rasped over the din, causing the other voices to cease immediately. A dark robed man entered the room; his hood was drawn back exposing a cruel, young face. He had a hawk like nose and high cheekbones; the flesh on his face seemed a little too tight for his age. He walked slowly a cross the chamber and took his seat in the only empty chair left.
"My brethren, it was written in the Dark Book, 'When the Dark One returns, when summer dies, and horror is loosed, then shall four be chosen and together shall they banish the orb for one hundred years.' Yes my brothers, they were the four spoken of. There have been others through out time, but these are the weakest."
At this pronouncement the others began to murmur to themselves, how could so powerful of heroes be the weakest?
One stood and bowed, "Master, how could that be? I was there; I felt their power, even the strength of the Orb was no mach for them?" and as if to prove his words he pulled his hood back and revealed a long jagged scar that ran a cross his face.
"Because, you fools" spat the Master, the inverted pentagram on his chest caching the light, "the Dark One is still with us! Bring it!" The last part directed to a figure that stood at the door. Quickly a metal bound chest was brought forth and the figures stood to see what it contained. It was the cracked remains of what appeared to be a black glass ball. The cult members fell to their knees as the box past them.
"Yes the Dark One has been wounded terribly, but it has informed me that the blood of the four heroes will heal the wound and restore it to power." Droned the Master.
"But Master!" Cried one of the younger cultists, "we don't have the Horde of Darkness, how are we to defeat the heroes to take their blood?"
"This too has been revealed to me." Rasped the Master; "The Orb has not lost all of its power, and now it gives what is left to us so that we will be stronger than ever before! The heroes missed their chance, and they shall pay for their weakness!"

The crowd roared as four well muscled young men walked calmly into the ring. It was the Eternal Fighting Championship, the hottest, bloodiest, most real fighting championship in the world. Teams from all over the world came to compete in this highly televised event.
As each fighter entered the ring the TV announcer read a stat sheet for each of them, "First and leader of the German team is Han Smithsburg, he has several black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Aikido. The rest of his team has black belts in other martial arts. They have been strong competitors in this year's Eternal Fighting Championship, but they are up against tough competition tonight as they take on the Championship favorites."
The crowed began to roar even louder as Queen's 'We Will Rock You' began to play across the speakers. First came a young powerfully built man with long blond hair and standing about six feet tall. Next came a shorter figure, still muscularly built, with dark, almost black hair cut short. After him came a thin young man with extremely well defined arms, and lastly the largest of the team, standing six feet two inches tall and having a large muscled frame.
"Yes folks, here they are, the White Tigers, named after the leader of the team, George 'the Tiger' White. George has a blue belt in Kadaka ryu, but has been training for eight years by himself and with his brother. The one behind George with the black hair is Scott White, George's little brother. He holds a green belt in the same art as his brother, and like his brother, his belt level shouldn't be confused with his explosive fighting ability. Next is David Slone, trained in boxing and something he calls 'George and Scott art' he holds no belt at all! Last, but by no means the least, Matt Morgan. Matt stands 6'2'', weights 220 Lbs. of muscle and is the only member of the team to hold a black belt."
"That's right," broke in the second announcer, "and tonight each team is up against a special challenge. Instead of the normal one-on-one fights that we typically see in this competition, the sponsors have decided to make this extreme sport even more extreme! The two teams will be taken to a special obstacle course for a four-on-four fight. Each member of each team will be placed in a different part of the arena and finding his teammates or opponents is up to him.

"This is different." Said Scott.
"This is cool!" corrected Matt as they were walking to the new battle arena.
"What's so cool about the chance that all of them are going to gang up on one of us and we won't even have a chance?" asked David in a tired voice.
"What's the problem Davy?" asked Matt, "You've fought all of us at one time."
"And I got creamed!" argued David.
"Exactly, so now that you have that experience you can't lose!"
"What?"
"Well have they had the experience of fighting all of us at once? No! So you have the advantage!" Matt droned on. Scott smiled, David always underestimated his skill and Matt always grossly overestimated it.
"It's true" Scott thought, "We're up against some tough fighters, but after what happened last spring, I can't be afraid of normal things anymore" He absently rubbed his chest where he had been impaled in his fight with the Dark orb a few months ago. "It's hard to believe that of our whole team that David ended up being the one that saved us all, but then again David is the one member that doesn't take his skill for granted so he's probably the strongest on the inside" Scott's musing was interrupted by one of the competition officials.
"We've got to get your positions now."
"Ok guys," said George, "defeat any opponent you find and try to regroup as soon as possible, good luck."
Each of them was led though diffrent doors and into what looked like someone's bad idea of a jungle. All around were fake plants, trees, and rocks.
"But," thought Scott, "I'll bet it all looks good on TV."
The official left him standing next to a fake waterfall and a not very well hidden camera mounted on the side.
"Well, better put on a good show." Thought Scott. He dropped into what any kid who had watched TV could identify as a 'ninja' stance and glared at the bushes in a grim manner. Then as if his suspicion was confirmed, he took of though the 'jungle'.
"Ok, now the hard part," Scott thought, "Find my opponent without seem to be cluelessah, follow the cameras."
Every so often, there would be a camera mounted on a tall rock or tree, and so intent was Scott on following the trail of cameras that he failed to notice a form slide out from behind a rock. Scott caught a flash of white out of the corner of his eye and turned just in time to catch a foot with the side of his face!

Matt looked at the camera pointed at him and came to a different point of view than Scott, "If they have cameras going that way that means that they want me to go that way, which means that I should go the other way, on the other hand they must have known that I'd see the cameras and go the other way which means that I should go in the same direction as the cameras, but then again, they knew, that I knew, that they know, that I know, what they're up to soI'll hide and wait for my opponent to find me! That's a great idea." And Matt did that very thing he plunged into the fake undergrowth and disappeared.

David didn't see the cameras, nor would he have cared if he had, he was set on finding his teammates before the other team found him and forced him to fight a one-on-four battle that he had no wish to fight, "After all he," thought, "I didn't want to fight in a contest anyway." David pushed his way though a bush and found himself facing one of the white uniformed opponents.
"Wonderful." He muttered under his breath as he dropped into a fighting stance.

The kick propelled Scott backward into one of the trees. He fought to clear the confusion from his reeling mind. His opponent left him no time to recover and sent a right hook that sent Scott tumbling away. The tall blonde man continued to sent attack after attack into Scott, pressing his advantage every step of the way. Scott finally cleared his mind enough to defend himself better, but it was only a matter of time till he couldn't fight at all and he knew it. Scott also knew that his opponent would make a mistake some time and if he could survive until then he may have a chance, and he wasn't disappointed, for just when he thought he couldn't go much longer, his attacker missed one of his kicks. Scott moved quickly and caught the leg as it shot past his head, and then caught the fist that followed after the kick. Holding his attacker's leg and arm, he smiled.
"What mistake did you just make?" Scott taunted and head butted his opponent, followed by an elbow to head, and then an ax-kick. The battle changed entirely, now Scott seamed to have all the advantage and his opponent was the one in deep trouble. Scott threw every one of his special techniques, the Scraping Dragon Kick, the Falling Thunder attack, and finished with a Ki upper cut.
"Cease!" crackled a voice from a bush near-by, "Fighter number 27 out. Mr. White, continue with the contest."
A team of medics walked out of the trees and carried Scott's semiconscious opponent away and Scott continued his search, only much more carefully than before.

David cried out as his opponent landed another strike to his chest. David twisted to the side and struck the side of his foe's head, hard. The blow made him stagger, giving David a chance to think.
"Lets see he's better at hands than I am, so what do I know that will give me an advantage? Ah!"
David jumped for his opponent and instead of trying another head hit, he dropped below his defense and stabbed his opponent's leg with his fingers. The attack had the desired effect, the German fighter gasped in surprise as his leg shutdown and he collapsed in a heap. David jumped after his opponent knowing the nerve strike would only last a few moments. He caught his opponent around the neck and began to tighten his grip, he felt his opponent grow weaker, until finally he felt a tap on his leg; the universal sign of surrender in the marshal arts. David let go immediately and helped the beaten man to his feet.
"Thank you," gasped the man in a thick accent, "I haven't seen that technique before, I guess I need more training."
"It was a good fight," said David, "I just knew one more trick. That's all."
"Cease!" Came the voice from a hidden speaker, "Fighter number 26 out, Mr. Slone continue with the contest."
David paused wondering which way to go, then he heard the sound of battle and began to walk in that direction.

He hadn't walked for long when he came to a fake lake with an island sitting about twenty feet from shore. The sound came from the island, and David could see George and Han (the leader of the other team) engaged in a battle of high dueling. Both were using very advanced moves and seemed evenly matched. The only way out to the island was a bridge and none other that Scott himself guarded it. Scott must have had a hard fight, thought David for there was blood on his face and his white gi top.
"Scott, what are you doing there?" call out David.
"Keeping the other team from helping their leader." Scott yelled back.
David came closer so they didn't have to yell.
"Why don't you just help George finish him off, and that way you don't have to worry about them ganging up on George?" asked David.
"Well," said Scott, "First, George would be very upset if I interceded in his fight. Second, it would be dishonorable to double team him."
"Oh, no." thought David, "here comes another honor speech. All that guy cares about is what's honorable, in his own eyes that is." But David honestly didn't mind, he thought the fact that Scott thought so much of honor was great, but he wished he didn't have to hear about it every waking moment. All Scott talked about was fighting or honor or a combination of the two.
"Sun Tsu said in his book the Art of War" Scott droned on, "The Book of Five Rings The Code of Honor clearly states" But David wasn't listening, he was watching the battle.

"Very good!" said George blocking a kick meant for his head. He turned and threw a kick in return.
"Not so good." Said his opponent catching George's foot. George said nothing, but he smiled and jumping swung his other foot in a powerful arc that struck his opponent cleanly in the face, at the same time he pulled his trapped free. His opponent was hurt, but was well trained and executed a back flip that took him out of George's attack rang. George stood perfectly still, watching. Han waited for only a second before attacking again. He lunched himself at George, who dodged the attack, but Han hadn't mean for that first attack to land. Han flew past him and stuck a near by rock, he ran vertically up the rock then sprang off, preformed a triangle jump off the a tree and came down with a two footed stomp on George's shouldersor would have. George had moved instinctively when he had seen Han's technique then when he saw him coming back down he quickly threw a kick that stuck Han's legs, tipping him in air so he hit the ground on his back. Han lay there stunned, the breath knocked from his body. George walked slowly over to where he lay,
"Do you want to continue?" he asked looking down at his opponent's prone form. Han tapped his hand on the ground feebly.
"Good," said George helping him up.
"End of match." Blared the unseen voice, "The White Tigers win."
"Yeah," said George as he helped Han over to the medics, "we might have won, but after that technique, you're the one who has a career in the movies."

Chapter Two
"The 'White Tiger' team has won the purse of one hundred thousand dollars! Oh, here comes one of them right now, Mr. White, how do you feel after becoming a champion?"
"How do you think he'd feel after being beaten up?" Janelle muttered at the TV. She and her twin sister sat watching the fight because they knew that it would be all they (George, Scott, David, and Matt) would talk about when they got back.
"Well," said Scott, "It's cool; a little sore, but cool. I wish I hadn't have started my fight by getting kicked"
"Well, you sure finished it well." Said the announcer.
"Good," said Jenni, "now we can go to bed."
Jenni and Janelle had been friends of Scott, George, and David for a long time. They had all been home schooled and had met though a local home group. Later, they had met Matt a fighting buddy of George and Scott's. Last year, they had been part of the adventure that had nearly killed everyone at their college. The shared danger had cemented their friendship and now they could almost always be found in a group. Jenni sat watching wearing a full kung-fu outfit given to her by the group, she wore it for two reasons. First, to show support for the guys as they fought (like some fans wear team jerseys) and second, both her and her sister used them for pajamas; a habit Scott had tried to break them of, but to no avail.
"When do they say they'd be home?" asked Jenni.
"Probably right before the semester starts" Janelle hesitated, "or knowing them right after."

Nether Jenni or Janelle realized they were being watched from outside their dorm. A black shape seemed to hover outside the window taking in everything that was done and said. They weren't the only ones. Across the country as they drove to their hotel a shadow followed at a distance.
"And then I hit him with our Scraping Dragon Kick, that took his feet right out from under him"said Scott.
"Then I came out from behind a bush and there he was," said David at the same time.
"I figured out that I knew, that they knew, that I thought,"Continued Matt.
"And then he ran up the wall!" said George.
All of the young men talked and talked, however no one felt the urge to listen, but no one minded, they were all just glad to be together and victorious. They continued in this manner as they entered their room.
"OK! Listen up!" yelled George cutting though the din, "We're going to get thrown out if we keep this up.
"Ok, Ok." They all muttered and threw themselves on the diffrent pieces of furniture in the room. David logged on to their web site to tell their fans that they had won, and to post so more of his artwork. Matt popped a Jacky Chan move in the VCR and everyone just chilled out.
The shadow began to climb up the side of the building.
By this time George had changed places with David and was E-mailing his girlfriend, as Scott handed out root beers and Matt did one-armed pushups in the corner.
The shadow leaned closer.
George spun snatching up a pair of Kama (which just happened to be lying on the table), Scott sensing George's distress also leaped to his feet, Matt was quick to follow as was David. They continued to stand like this, at the ready, waiting. The shadow dropped from the window to the street below. George began to breath easier, the rest of the group turned to stare at their leader.
"To much coffee." Laughed Matt.
"Sorry guys," said George walking over to the widow and looking out in to the night, "Ifelt somethingbut it's gone now."
After a few remarks about being high strung the group calmed down and returned the their normal activities. George and Matt watched the movie with rapped attention, David talked to Scott about something, and Scott fell asleep while David talked every once in a while waking to nod or say something that had little to do with the conversation.
Across the street a dark shape watched the light go off in their room. It's hands clenched and its eyes glowed red. It spoke only once before to vanished in to the night,
"Curse them!"

Chapter Three
"It is impossible I say!" Spat the hooded cultist.
"He speaks truly master," said another rising from her seat at the stone table. "If we come even close to them they know it, and are ready to defend themselves. There must be a better way."
The Master sat without moving, his face hidden in the recesses of his black hood. Some of the others thought that he might have fallen asleep. Long moments passed, and whispers filled the cavern. Finally the head cultist lifted his head and spoke in a musing voice,
"Four powerful heroes and two unwitting friends, each was very nearly killed and yet was saved by the action of the others." His mind traveled back in time to the first time he had seen them: 'a man walked forward, and it seamed to George that the man was about to speak; however Matt didn't wait. Leaping out of the car he threw a jump kick to the mans face! The thin cultist hit the ground before he knew what hit him. With a howl of rage the other cultists rushed forward; George by this time had reached Matt's side and with a blaze of hands and feet, dealt punishing blows on his attacker. Matt did the same to the first cultist to reach him, but the next ducked under his attack and stabbed Matt with his fingers. Matt doubled over in pain; his attacker made a slashing motion with his hands and Matt was thrown against the hood of the Impala crying out in pain. The Impala roared to life and leapt forward. It was all Matt could do to hold on to the windshield wipers as the Impala plowed its way though the cultists. Matt's face contorted as he saw the fire loom closer, then it struck the bon fire, scattering burning wood and sparks everywhere.'
Yes, he remembered all to clearly, he had been the thin cultist, the first to fall before the hero's onslaught. The big hero had almost been over come by the dark power wielded by the cultists, however his friend saved him, later when the smaller one was being consumed by fear that surely would have meant his death, one of his friends had appeared and both were stronger for each others company, when that short swordsman had been bitten and poisoned the twins had stood over him fighting until they had no more strength and then continued fighting.
"Perhaps it is impossible," he thought to himself, "Together we are no match"
"That's it!" He shouted springing to his feet. The others startled and stared at their leader.
"What fools we've been! Don't you see? Last time we attacked them and caused them to act as one. Shatter the unity and you shatter their power!"
Drawing them close The Master began to unfold his new plan.

George's Trans Am rolled down the driveway to Scott and David's cottage. The cottage sat back about two hundred yards from the college which Scott, David, and now Matt attended. The twins also went to school here, but they lived in the college dorms and only came here on weekends for the training which each of them did together. Behind the cottage was an old barn that doubled as the group-parking garage. Inside was Scott's Honda shadow and George's old Impala. George dropped Scott, David and Matt off at the door, and then sped back out of the yard. George had a job to return to and had to get some sleep before the next day, or at lease that's what he said. In reality, he wanted to get back to his girlfriend; who he hadn't seen in a month.
The three friends unlocked the front door and walked inside with their bags. Then Scott froze, the inside of the house was perfectly clean, the beds made, the table cleared, and the weapons stacked neatly on their racks.
"We've been vandalized!" Scott yelled dropping his bag.
"Wow!" said Matt in aw, "I had no idea we had this much room!"
"I thought they'd be surprised." Said a girl's voice.
The group turned.
Laughing behind them stood Jenni and Janelle.
"You two cleaned up the cottage?" Scott asked dumb struck.
"It's good to see you to, Scott." Laughed Janelle.
"Oh, yeah, hi Jenni, hi Janelle. How was your summer?" He said quickly.
"Yeah, must not have been to good if you were bored enough to dare the dark and dismal depths of our of our cottage."
"Oh, no. I was a great summer." Said Jenni, "We thought that since we all use the cottage we should clean it up for you."
"Besides," put in Janelle, "It's a 'congratulations on wining' present."
"Well, thank you very much." Said Scott dumping his bag on his bed. Both girls grimaced as he did so, but said no thing.
"So, how have you guy decided to split the prize money?"
"We're splitting it four ways," answered David, "and after taxes that leaves each of us twenty thousand dollars. Unfortunately, because of the increase in income Scott and I lost most of our financial aid, so most of our money will be going to the school this year."
"That's not fair! Said Jenni.
"Well, look on the bright side," said Scott, "We're about four thousand ahead, and we've been on national television. I can't complain."
"Anyways," broke in Matt, "you know about our summer, what happed with yours?"
"Well," started Jenni hesitantly, "Our boyfriends broke up with us."
"Both!" said David, "I knew twins did things together, but that's going a bit to far."
"What happened?" Asked Scott.
"Those rats said that they'd been uncomfortable with us ever since what had happened to them ." Stated Jenni angrily.
"Yeah," said Janelle, " They felt like it was somehow your fault, and since we're your friends and helped you destroy the orb, that we're weird somehow."
"What'd they do, get together and plan this?" asked Matt.
"No, that's funny isn't it? That they'd both feel the same way and at the same time." Said Jenni, "By the way Scott, we saw that in your last fight that your wound came open . Are you ok?"
Scott pulled off his shirt. The right side of his chest had a round scar.
"I'm fine, the kick just made it come open. I didn't even feel it until after the fight, and it looked really cool too."
"That's only if you think blood looks cool." Said David.
"David, why do you always have to contradict me?" asked Scott, "Watch yourself or I'll give you my Drunken Elbow!"
David backed up in mock fear. "I'm just worried sick about that!"
Scott and David began to spar playfully, but stopped when they realized that they were going to mess up the other wise clean cottage.
"Now," said one of the twins, "Have you guys felt like you've been watched lately?"
Chapter 4
The beginning of the end.
That night after the twins had left and everyone was sleeping Scott had a dream.
Scott walked through a mist filled hallway. In his hand was a sword. He walked into a room and standing in it were his friends: George, David, Matt, Jenni, and Janelle. Scott was about to greet them, but he stopped when he saw the looks on their faces; on George's he saw confutation, on David he saw black anger, on the twins he saw fear. Scott turned around to see what was affecting them like that, and then he realized they were staring at him! A blow caught him in the ribs, driving the wind out of his lungs. He spun and to his surprise David stood before him ready to attack again. Scott didn't move. Behind each of them he saw a black robed figure whispering in their ears. Scott swung intending to strike the dark being behind David, but somehow he missed and struck David instead. Scott flung his sword away as David fell. The black robed being begun to laugh.
Suddenly, Scott was somewhere else, a carnival. Here too were the black robes, only they didn't whisper anymore, they were attacking. They changed shape into nightmarish beasts and flew to attack him, but suddenly he felt very tired and couldn't fight any longer. A blade pierced his chest and as he fell he looked up at the sky, but instead of a moon he saw an inverted pentagram.
Scott awoke clutching this chest and breathing heavily. Sun steamed in his window, but it was still quite early, about 6:30. He looked around; everyone else was still asleep. He dressed and left silently. Once outside he began to train, all the while pondering his dream. He decided not to tell anyone for now.
Poke, poke. David opened one eye. Matt sat there poking him with his foot.
"Go away!" David commanded.
Poke, poke, poke.
"I mean it!"
Poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke.
"That's it! You die!"
David leapt up from bed and took a swing at his friend.
"Ha, ha, ha."
David gave up and stumbled over to a chair. "Why doesn't he pick on Scott?" He wondered.
"Sorry David." Said Matt, "It's just that you have a class this morning and I thought"
"What! No, not today, I think its not today, it had better not be today!" David stammered and looked at the calendar. "Ahhh!" he screamed and ran out the door.
A moment later, Scott walked in the back door.
"Where's Davy?" he asked.
"Oh, he had an early class." Answered Matt.
"That's right," said Scott, "Class does start today. I had better get ready."
"Where were you anyway?"
"Training."
"Cool."

Janelle yawned. She had been up late last night getting things ready. This was her first semester of college and she felt that she needed to be prepared. She sat in a computer lab waiting for her teacher to show up.
Bing!
An instant message window popped up on her screen.
Fighterguy3: Hi, Janelle. How's class.
"Fine Scott. Aren't you suppose to be in class?" she typed and hit send.
Fighterguy3: I am, but this year I got a seat in the back and there's a really big guy sitting in front of me, so the teacher can't see me!
"Great, um, I hope you enjoy it." She typed.
Fighterguy3: Hey! David is online."
Kung-fu-Artist: Yo, yo, yo. How's everyone doing this fine morning?
The door opened and a young man came in.
"I've got to go. The teacher's here."
Fighterguy3: Who do you have for computers?
"A guy named Mr. Geon."
Fighterguy3: That's not good. I here he's weird.
"Miss, I'll thank you not to play on the computers while on class time!" said the teacher.
Janelle closed the window on her screen. This was not the way to start the year.

Scott typed another instant message to Janelle, but she didn't reply.
"Be like that." He muttered.
"we even have a local hero here in this class." His teacher was saying. Scott sat up and looked around.
"I wonder who it is?" he mused.
"Mr. Scott White!"
The big guy in front of him turned around and looked at him, "Oh yeah, you're the dude that won the Eternal Fighting Championship; cool."
"Not only that, he and five of his friends single handedly stopped the terrorist attack last year!"
The whole class turned and stared at Scott in wonder. Scott felt a little ashamed. The 'terrorist' attack had been a night of horror, when the black orb had reanimated the bodies of the dead, and had frozen most of the people at the collegeor at lease the lucky ones. The unlucky ones had been killed. The government had stepped in right after the orb had been shattered and told them that they were going to announce that everything had been a terrorist attack, and to go along with it. The friends had told them that they wouldn't lie so the CIA agent had put it this way; if we tell the people that some super natural force had raised the dead and killed a whole bunch of people, everyone will think the end of the world was coming. So don't lie, tell anyone that asks that it's confidential and that you can't talk about it. So they decided to follow his advice.
"At lease we're still heroes." Scott thought, "And if everyone remembers that it will be a good year."

Chapter 5
The week went surprisingly fast for everyone, but they really didn't have a chance to talk for any amount of time. Fortunately, the weekend came. For once David managed to wake up before George arrived for Saturday morning training. Stretching, he stumbled out of bed and looked over at the others. Matt lay sprawled on top of his covers sleeping soundly, Scott's bed was empty and oddly, it had been made.
"Oh well," thought David, "I guess I'll go find him."
He walked out of the house and looked around.
"Not here," he thought, "Maybe he walked down to the dorms to see the twins."
David turned and walked up the trail to the college. The sun shone brightly, but yet something made him shiver. Then he heard the scream.
Instinct took over and David was flying up the path towards the sound. He reached a clearing and couldn't believe what he saw.
Scott stood in the path, he held Janelle by the throat, and behind him Jenni was rushing to attack. David continued to speed toward them. Jenni attacked with a low sidekick, hoping to break Scott's leg. Scott dodged the kick and took one hand off Janelle to backhand her, leaving her dazed. Janelle took advantage of moment and stuck with an attack that he himself had taught her. The technique caught him full in the face, breaking his nose, but he didn't let go. Scott seemed to hear David's approach and turning he threw Janelle at her sister, knocking both to the ground. Then Scott then took off running. David didn't bother chasing him; his concern was for the girls.
"Are you ok?"
Gasping Janelle nodded.
"What happen?" He asked.
"I don't know?" Stammered Jenni, "He just appeared and attacked us. We didn't think to fight until it was too late ."
David had heard enough, caught in a battle rage he didn't think, he simply ran for where he knew Scott was bound; the cottage.

Matt grunted as he stretched. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "I'm stiff this morning!"
"Yeah, me to." Said a voice from the woods.
"Hi Scott." Matt replied without turning, "Where's everyone else?"
"Got me. I've been meditating by the stream."
"Meditating about what?" Matt asked
"Lately I've been having these strange dreams and" A hash cry cut off Scott's sentence. David bounded from the woods and threw himself at Scott. Thinking this was some training idea ; Scott sidestepped the attack and returned it with a light back kick. David twisted and punched Scott cleanly in the face, splitting his lip.
"Hold on!" Scott yelled, "That's to hard David!"
Only then did Scott and Matt see the rage on his face.
Matt grabbed him from behind and held on to him. Scott grabbed his shirtfront and stared him in the eyes.
"What on God's green earth has gotten into you!" he shouted half shocked half angry, "Have you lost your mind? What have I done that you act like this?"
"You know I saw you!" spat David, "I saw what you did in the woods!"
This really confused Scott, David had watched him sit and think? Scott's face softened, of course, David must be sick.
"David, you're sick or hurt, all I've done this morning is sit next to the stream and think for awhile, but don't worry, I'll" He was interrupted by a kick aimed at him.
"Matt, let him go." Scott ordered, his large friend looked at him then obeyed, "There, David, if beating me senseless will make you stop being angry with me and forgive whatever I've done. Then I won't stop you, however I would like to know what I've done."
David stared long and hard at Scott, something wasn't right. Scott was too sure of himself; none of the madness that he had witnessed in the woods was present.
"You attacked the twins in the woods." David said watching Scott's reaction to the pronouncement. Scott's face went through a number of transformations, first shock, then anger, concern, sadness and finally understanding; as if a veil had been pulled away and now some secret had been laid bare.
Scott looked into David's eyes and said sadly "I didn't do it and you know it."



Chapter six
The twins sat unspeaking in their dorm room. They had done this for most of the afternoon, each of them trying to sort out what had happened that day. Their world had stopped making sense; Scott, their friend and teacher had attacked them. The day before they would have told anyone that they'd trust him with their lives with no worries what so ever, now they were very confused.
Janelle finally broke the silence, "It wasn't Scott."
"What?" her twin blinked, "Of course it was!"
"No," continued Janelle, "There was something wrong with the eyes."
Her sister fell silent. She was right, there was something wrong. The eyes were the same as always, but behind the eyes was a diffrent will. Like someone was wearing Scott's face like a mask.
"And," said Janelle, "I broke his nose. When we got there his nose wasn't broken. Oh, I know his face was hurt, but I felt the nose give and there's no way the Scott we saw at the cottage had his nose flatted."
"Then who attacked us?" asked Jenni.
"That I don't know," said Janelle, "but we're going to find out!"

Scott hadn't returned to the cottage after he rode off on his motorcycle, but late that night he returned to sleep in the barn. And as he slept he had a dream,
He walked through the woods searching for something; suddenly he saw a shape move to the right. Turning he saw Matt standing leaning against a tree. Then he saw Matt change shape into a black robed man. Fear shot though his spine, he turned and fled. His feet stepped off something and he found himself plunging striate down. He hit the bottom of the hole and looked around for a way out. He saw George at the edge, "Help!" he called, but George laughed and rolled a rock over the mouth of the hole. Blackness blocked out everything.
Light poured in the open doors of the barn providing comfort for the troubled dreamer as he woke in strange surroundings. The adventures of day before rose to his mind. The dreams were coming nightly now, and always left him confused, but now he knew the answer, something was wrong, and what ever it was, he had to stop it, but he now knew that he couldn't trust the others. What ever happened he must do it alone.

"Things just don't add up!" thought Matt as he lay awake that night. Scott hadn't returned and that worried him. David thought that Scott had attacked the twins, but everyone knew that Scott would never do something that dishonorable, on the other hand, David was the most level headed of the group, so if anyone could be trusted to understand things like this it would be him.
"I wish George was here." He said softly to himself, "He would know what to do." Or if he didn't he would find out fast. Matt was a fighter, and he wished there was something tangible to fight, not this business of dark secrets and odd happenings.
"Still," he thought, "Something must be done."

"Something must be done!" Announced a dark robed man as he swept into the camber, "They have alienated the short swordsman, but the others cling to each other more tightly."
"Calm yourself Robert." Spoke the Master, raising his head so that the light caught his eyes. "We have opened a crack in the wall of their friendship. It will be a simple thing to widen it." He began to laugh, a terrible laugh that was with out any warmth. Even the other cultists, steeped in darkness though they were, shuddered at that sound, for it was devoid of humanity.
"I will began my part tomorrow."
Chapter Seven
Janelle wasn't happy. Things had gone all wrong for her this morning, she hadn't had a restful night, when she did sleep, she had over slept, and now she was late for class. To make matters worse, her teacher was really mean. She hadn't seen Scott on her way to class and that was odd. However no one had seen much of him in the last week. He still attended class, and got his food from the cottage, but it was as if he was invisible. Janelle pushed thoughts about him out of her head as she walked into the classroom.
"Miss Janelle, you are late." Sneered Mr. Geon. He was also Jenni's teacher for history. He had a thin face with large glasses and forever had a scow pasted on his face.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled as she took her seat.
Then a truly remarkable thing happened, that face softened and a look of understanding replaced the scow.
"Oh well," he said warmly, "It happens. And everyone knows that this time of year is hard on new students."
The other students looked at him in awe, but dare not say anything for fear of breaking whatever spell had been placed on their teacher.
The rest of the class went even better, Mr. Geon told jokes and was the nicest teacher that they had ever met. Afterwards as everyone was leaving he called Janelle to his desk.
"I noticed some bruising around your neck today." He said, his voice filled with concern, "I hope everything is alright."
"Oh, it's fine." She said, avoiding his gaze.
"Is someone trying to hurt you?" he asked.
"No, no," she said, not wanting this well meaning teacher to call the police or something. And before she knew what was happening she had roughly sketched to what had happened for him.
"But its not him!" she said sadly, "I don't know how I know, but it isn't him."
"You place a lot of trust in him." He observed, "Which means that he probably would never do something like that, unless he is out of his mind. But if he were, he would have attacked you friend David too. So, I would say that you should trust your instinct."
Janelle thanked him and left. One thing at lease was going all right today.
That night Scott slept in his place in the barn. Suddenly, he felt some presence near by that woke him from his troubled sleep. Looking outside he saw a shadow move a cross from the cottage to the woods on the far end of the yard. Interested, Scott got up, strapped his sword (which just happened to be hanging from a rafter), and slipped out of the barn.
He followed the darkened shape down the path and though the woods, as it moved towards the college. Scott stayed back quite a bit as he trailed the shape, fearful that he would be heard and couldn't make out who the shape was. It was taller than him, and a little heaver; or at lease he thought, it was hard to tell, because whatever it was seemed to be wearing a robe that concealed its body.
Robe! Scott felt a chill wash over him and brought back a river of memories. He had battled dark cultists that wore robes like that, and at the same time the dreams that he had been having had dark robed enemies! Some of the cultists must have survived the battle and escaped the police! His breath became short as he drew the katona from its sheath. He didn't intend to slay it, only catch it, make it talk, and find out what was going on. The cultist must have caught the glint of moonlight of the blade of Scott's sword because it turned and stared at him. Scott charged it, fearing it would try to escape, but it didn't, it simply placed its hands together and began to chant. Roots seem to catch Scott's foot as he ran tripping him. He went down, but not before he saw the dark robed being shimmer and start to change. As Scott fell he rolled and brought his sword around in an arc, freeing his feet. Then free from roots, he leapt up, only to find one of the twins standing in the path ahead of him.
"Scott!" she said loudly, "What's wrong?"
"You must think I'm a real idiot if you think that shape change trick, as fancy as it is, would fool me!" he said grimly, knowing at once what had happened.
"It's not you we have to fool." She said in a low voice.
"What ever!" he said and moved towards it, sword at the ready.
A hand struck the sword out of his grasp and sent it flying into a bush.
"I would have believed it." Said Matt sadly. The thing that looked Jenni ran off in the direction of the college.
"You fool!" Scott spat, "You let it get away."
"Scott!" said Matt gravely, "There's something wrong with you, so stop and come with me or I'll make you come." Matt had awoken too, only he had been following Scott, only because of Scott's skill, he had followed a far distance and had missed out seeing the exchange between Scott and the thing that looked like Jenni.
"How do I know that you're the real Matt?" Scott asked and immediately regretted it. "So that's their plan." Said Scott in half horror, half admiration, "And it's working."

Back at the cottage, Scott sat unmoving and silent, not daring to trust David or Matt fearing that if they really were real that they'd only think he was crazy if he spoke about what he had seen. David sat a cross the table from Scott, hoping his friend would talk to him about what ever was the matter and Matt was in the other room on the phone with George.
"I'm going to bed." Scott finally announced, and for the first time in a week slept in his own bed.
Matt and David watched their friend sleep and talked in low voices,
"What do you think?" asked David.
"I don't know what to think." Came the reply, "he's acting just like Scott would if we happened to run a cross a bunch of shape changing cultists."
"He'd act really odd and alienate himself from his friends?"
"I'm glad you think so too." Responded Matt.
"I don't think so!" cried David, "Why would I?"
"But you said" started Matt, but David cut him off,
"I was being sarcastic!"
"Ok," said Matt, "what would you do?"
"I'd tell my friends so that we could all fight what ever it is together."
"Even though your friends might be shape changed enemies?" asked Matt.
"Yes even though they might be" David's voice trailed off, he hadn't thought about that.
"Yes!" he finally said, "It's better that you give your friends the heads-up if something like that would happen, but more to the point, it can't happen. Shape changing is impossible!"
"So are zombies." Matt thoughtfully.
"That's different, the Orb was powering them, but I broke it! There can't be that sort of stuff happening!"
"That's why I don't know what to think!" said Matt triumphantly.
Dazed David asked what George had said.
"Well," said Matt, "Besides asking me twenty times if I was joking, he said he'd be here tomorrow morning."
"Good," said David, "He'll feel better with George here" David looked in horror. The bed Scott had been sleeping in was empty, he'd escaped!

Outside, Scott stopped and looked back at the cottage, "Sorry guys, I don't know who to trust, so I have to go with the only person I can, myself."
Turning, Ready Bag in hand (A cloth bag with weapons, food, and a ninja uniform. Kept for emergences.) He walked into the darkness.

Chapter eight
Janelle thoughtfully walked to her classes. She was very deep in thought, and wasn't happy about it. She had spent too much time it thought lately. Too much thought and not enough answers. She didn't have computer class today and for that she was thankful, Mr. Geon was still being his new self, but after the shock of his change was over, she found she got a weird feeling from being near him and tried to stay away from him. She wished things were clearer, but until they were she would keep on thinking.
"And the Christians were so threatening that the Druids had no choice but to oppose them. Unfortunately, through trickery they managed to convert the king, who became a mere pawn in their mad plans to covert the whole of Europe." Geon droned on.
Jenni sat musing over a difficult question; should she be outraged at what he was saying or relived that no one else seem to be paying attention. Jenni and her twin sister Janelle had been home schooled, so their study of history had led her a very different then the thinly veiled attack on her faith that she sat through each day. She had tried to argue with her teacher earlier, but he had told her and the class that they would be tested on what he and the book said; they didn't have to believe any of it if they didn't want to. It was hard to argue with that line of logic. He had mentioned to her about the talk he had had with Janelle, and told her the same thing as her sister, only he had added that he thought that David was being totally unreasonable and intolerant.
"Yeah," she had thought to herself, "like I'd believe anything you said." But right there was the problem; if he thought it then it couldn't be, could it? Next time she saw Scott; she'd hit him just for making things so confusing!
Class ended and as she walked down the hall she noticed a new poster. She moved closer, it advertised a carnival that would be coming to the college the next day, it boasted lots of place to scare you as well as plenty of drinking joints and it alluded to other things less legal. It was not the kind of thing for her.

The Master swept into the meeting cavern, his black robes billowing out behind him, a rare smile lit his face.
"I guess by your face that things are going according to plan?" ventured a dark robed female. She was one of the new cultists, and had just recently earned her robes.
"Yes!" he said almost gleefully, "Everything is set. Is your group ready?"
An older cultist answered, "Yes master, I have only to send the messenger."
"Then do so." The master commanded. Looking at the alter that the orb sat on, he laughed to himself, "In a few days you will be revived and the full power will be ours!"

The messenger did his job and was returning, he did so on foot because he was new to the dark brotherhood and his powers had a habit of disappearing when he needed them, so he felt it was safer to walk then fly. He had been born to a rich family and never went with out anything his whole life, except respect. He was thin of build and had become a Goth in his teens. He liked the fear that every one held him in, and so he continued getting weirder and weirder and time when on. But not every one had feared him; the rest had picked on him though school, and made life intolerable for him. That's why he had joined the occult group, to get power so people wouldn't step on him again, or at lease that's how he justified his actions in this wholly evil group.
A hand wrapped around his head, over his mouth and pulled him behind a tree. He felt a blade press against his throat.
"All righty now," said a voice, "What do we have here?" Scott asked.
The cultist stammered then began to chant.
"I guess the real question is can you transform before I cut your throat?"
The chanting stopped abruptly, "What do you want?" The dark one asked.
Scott kept the blade on his enemy but slowly turned him so that they could look at each other. Scott wore his ninja suit and mask, his blue eyes blazed out into the dark.
"You're going show me your head quarters or where every your leader hangs out, or I'll let a little light into your dark little body with my sword. Got that?"
The cultist nodded.
"And on the way you'll tell me what the heck is going on, and you had better do your best to convince me that you're telling the truth, because if I even think you're lying I'll end your lying ways once and for all."
The young man looked into Scott's eyes and fining no bluff there happily spilled everything he knew about the Master's plans.

Ring! The phone in the cottage rang. Groaning Matt stumbled over to where the phone normally was. Only to fine that it wasn't there.
"Of course," he thought, "There's technology for you. We get a cordless phone and now we can't find it. At lease with a normal phone you just follow the cord." Finally he found it behind the spear rack.
"Yeah?" he said to who ever was calling.
"Matt?" said George's voice.
"Yep." Matt replied.
"Good, I came up to visit and I can't fine David anywhere. Come help me look, I'll be at the school, by the door at the west wing. Leave David a note in case he comes back there."
"Ok, got it, do we need weapons?"
"No," said George, "Just hurry, see you." And the phone went dead.
Matt looked around for some paper to write a note on, "Hmm, David's home work? No, he got mad last time. Ah, there, a page from Scott's story." Scott was trying to write a story that involved all of his friends, but hadn't had much luck. Knowing this Matt didn't feel bad about stealing a page. "He'll just rewrite it anyway." He thought.
He left the note on the table and plunged out into the darkness. As soon as he was gone the chest in the corner changed in to the shape of a man. The Dark robed warlock slipped over to where the note lay, crumpled it up and left another in its place. The cultist then slipped out the door after Matt, chuckling to itself.

"Your master hangs out in a carnival?" Scott asked, "I'm disappointed. I thought you'd have a creepy old mansion or an evil temple in the middle of an old grave yard or something."
"No you fool!" the cultist spat, "There's a trap door that they're parked over!"
"Oh," said Scott, "that's better."
They walked through the half assembled carnival to the building Scott should have known that the door would be in, the haunted house.
"You know," continued Scott, "This is a little cheesy. I mean, the haunted house? What kind of self respecting would set up shop in a haunted house?"
The cultist said nothing but led him through the dark rooms until they reached the back, there in the floor was a stone trapdoor.
"Ok, you open it and no tricks, got it?" Scott said.
The cultist grabbed the ring on the door and pulled it open.
Scott walked over to him and looked at him a long moment, "Well I'd hate to kill you, but since I can't leave you here" Scott knocked him out with a heel kick. Climbing down into a damp tunnel Scott realized that this must be part of the old basement. Following the walls he walked until he reached a large wood door. He placed his ear against it, but he heard nothing, so he leaned over the crack and tried to look through, and as he did the door swung open and he fell through.
Scott landed in a heap on the other side of the door. Looking around he felt his heart freeze. Ten cultists stood around a circle drawn on the floor with another standing in the center.
"Hi there," Scott said shakily, "AhI don't think I'm support to be here."
Turning Scott tried to walk back through the door, but two cultists stood in front of it.
"I'll make you a deal," he said to the cultists that still stood staring at him, "I walk out of here and forget I found you and you guys forget I was here? No? How about this!" Scott's and disappeared into his jacket and came back with a hand full of throwing stars, which he threw at the crowed before him. The shock wore off the startled cultists and they leapt to attack him. The cultist in the center yelled "Don't kill him I want him alive!"
Scott disappeared under a pile of dark bodies, then he seemed that he would fight his way out,
"Hey!" He cried, "How about one at a time? I mean it'd be fair." But a hard blow stuck the back of his head and he knew no more.

Scott woke up. He lay on a stone table in a small chamber. One or two dark robed cultists stood close at hand.
"Ah!" said a voice from the doorway, "I see our hero has awoken!"
Scott groaned inwardly, "Just great," he thought, "This is the part of the show where they sacrifice the stupid hero!" But aloud he said, "So I guess this is where you come in, gloat, and explain everything to me, so when I get rescued I can explain it to everyone else, right?"
"Right." Agreed his captor, "Only you missed one thing."
"Let me guess," said Scott, "That this time there is no chance for escape. Right?"
"Very good Mr. White, I see you have more brains then you use."
Scott lifted his head and let out a laugh, "Mr. Geon! I've called you many things after the grade you gave me, but not warlock. What's the matter? Didn't a Doctorate let you have enough money, that you need a night job?"
"It's good to see a man laugh in the face of death. And by the way Mr. White, mine is the face of death for you."
"You'll pardon me as I quake uncontrollably. Oh I forgot, now you say that I will beg for death by the time you are through with me."
"Well," said Geon pleasantly, "Since you know already why should I say anything?"
Another cultist pushed a tray of wicked metal interments through the door. Scott lost all traces of flippantness, and his eyes began to fill with fear, bracing himself he sent up a prayer, it would not be his last.

Matt walked quickly to the place the note had indicated. George and David waited in a dark corner; one saw Matt and waved him over. Walking over to them he looked around, "Guys, do you sense something?" he asked.
George nodded, "Yes Matt, victory." And reaching into his jacket he pulled out a long knife. Matt backed up only to find his path blocked by David, and as he watched, David changed shape, growing bigger and his clothes turned into black robes. Matt felt the blade cut into his shoulder, and immediately he shook out of his shock. Blocking out the pain Matt attacked with a strength born of desperation, for he knew this could be his last battle.

David sat in the library working on one of the computers, since no one else would; he had appointed himself, 'Web-master' of the group and had taken over the group's web site. He had made many improvements on what was there and had even added their favorite work out songs so fans could download them.
"Bye Davy." Said two matching voices.
"Bye." said David; he didn't know that the twins had been in the library. Then again, they were normally well behaved and quite, so it was nothing new.
The twins walked down the halls towards their dorm room. Suddenly, there was a crash and Matt came flying through one of the tall windows that the west wing had. They rushed to his side and found him wounded and semiconscious,
"There! Out there! Fight!" he groaned and tried to climb to his feet, only to fall to his knees again. The twins both turned to see four black robed shapes glide through the window; one pointed at them and said, "Kill them!"
The twins knew that they were dealing with to many to take at once, but they stood over their fallen friend anyway. The dark ones leapt to attack, but the twins were ready. One dropped into a tiger stance while the other one fell into snake stance. As their first attacker reached them Janelle threw a 'tigers claw' to the face of her enemy, he fell back clutching his face. Jenni had a harder time. Her enemy attacked from the air, not giving her a clear shot at his eyes as she had hoped. His foot came crushing down were her face had been, but it met only air. Jenni had rolled, jumped, and bounced off the wall, throwing a jump kick that would have made George proud. This connected with her attackers head, which made a sound like a melon and he fell to the ground. Unfortunately, she landed with her back to the next attacker, who dealt her a blow to the back of her head with a hand pulsing with energy. She fell and hit her head on the wall, but as darkness closed she heard a roar.
The roar came from Matt, who had recovered and grabbing Jenni's attacker and flung him into a wall. Next he threw a two-footed kick that caught both of Janelle's attackers to, but unable to land, he crashed into the floor, hard. The last standing attacker and the one that Matt had flung closed in on Matt. Janelle leapt to stand over the bodies of her friend and sister, as she did so the cultists razed there hands, crossed them then pulled them apart in a slashing motion. Janelle felt claws cut though her, she dropped to one knee. Darkness began to fill her vision when she heard Jenni groan and climb to her feet. Janelle fought clear of the fog and rose stand beside her twin. Moving as one they sprang at their two foes, stopped three feet away, then jumped high into the air and spinning slammed into the cultists with power that belied their thin frames. The two men fell, one with his neck at an unnatural angle.
"What now?" asked Janelle.
"We get Matt somewhere safe, we can't take the chance that more will come." Replied Jenni.
"What about him?" asked Janelle, nodding to the prone form of the still breathing cultist, "I guess we have to take him too, or he'll just tell his friends where we are."
They dragged the two men back to their dorm and Jenni tried to call the police about the cultists, while Janelle tended to Matt's wounds.
Jenni stomped back into the room a moment later, "I can't believe that!"
"What?" asked her twin.
"There's no one at the police station. They said to leave a message and they'd get back to us tomorrow! Anyway, how's Matt?"
"That's the weird thing," said Janelle, "He seems ok, I mean he gets worse in training, but he won't wake up. As for this other one, I tied him up; he was starting to wake up."
In fact, he was struggling at his bounds at that moment. Snatching up her short sword (in fact Scott had made it for her) Jenni walked over to the dark robed man, "Now sweetie, you and I are going to have a talk."

Chapter 9
Battle Ground
Scott lay stretched out on a stone table, calm on the outside, but crying out on the inside. Only one thing was he glad of, that they were torturing him for the sheer fun of it, not for information. He had often wondered how much he could handle when he had been younger, but now he had only one question, when would it all end. Across his chest were lash marks, cuts, and burns. Across his left eye he had three cuts, in fact he had even thought how cool it might look if it scarred just right, but it had been a pain induced thought. They hadn't beaten him, for fear of killing him before they were ready, so none of his bones were broken. As far as time went, Scott figured at lease three days, though it seemed longer. One of those blasted cultists, the one every one call Master, had filled a vial with his blood.
His captors had left him alone for a few hours, but Scott couldn't sleep knowing what would come. He cried out in his soul, a cry of fustian, a cry of pain, and a cry for help. Finally, he fell asleep.

The twins slept, and as they slept Janelle had a dream.
Janelle was walking out of the college, and into the carnival grounds, before her flew a butterfly; she felt the need to follow it. She walked though the buildings and into the haunted house. There in the floor was a trap door, as she watched it opened and a voice beckoned. She traveled down, and followed the tunnel along, following the voice and the butterfly that flew before her, leading her deeper. She walked until she was lead to a door. "Inside." Said the voice and the door opened, inside lay Scott, he seemed asleep and was covered in wounds. Behind her she heard footsteps, in walked a dark robed man. In his hands he had a nine stringed scourge. She saw what he meant to do and she tried to stop him.
Janelle woke. She sat shivering for a moment, then stood, she had a plan.

"Let me get this striate, Scott has disappeared and has been gone for days, now Matt disappears and leaves a note that says meet him at midnight in the woods?" asked George.
"Yeah, that's it."
"Great." Said George, "Why did you three have to go to this college? I mean, other guys go to college, party to much, get kicked out of school and that's the worst that happens, but no, you guys had to go live down the street from hell's gate. So far we've had zombies, spiders, day turning into night, crazed cultists, and now you tell me Scott is going loopy on us. And we pay for this!"
"So what do we do?" asked David, growing tired of the banter.
"I guess we walk down to where Matt said to." Said George as he climbed to his feet. They walked outside and down into the woods. A crescent moon shed little light, but they were used to the night, since they trained in it so often. They walked down in to the woods, but not even their keen eyes saw the doom waiting for them. As they neared the creek, cultists in the shape of misshapen monsters dropped from the trees. David was struck before he had a chance, and George was unlucky enough to be standing right under one of the falling foes. They didn't hesitate, but threw themselves on George and David, who disappeared beneath an ever-thickening pile.

Scott woke up, he had the impression that he seen some one he knew. Shaking his head weakly he banished such thoughts and began to study his cell once again. He probed the chains for weakness, the walls of a means of breaking out. Nothing. Sadly Scott tried to slip into sleep once again. He had just dozed off when he heard the door open quietly. Scott braced himself; he was determined not to show weakness to his tormenters. A laughing voice pierced the silence and broke through Scott's thoughts,
"What's a guy like you doing in a place like this?"
Scott turned his head, there stood, like a shadow framed against the doorway, a ninja. In fact, Scott noted, it was one of his outfits, the one he had dripped bleach on, now there was a small white dot on the jacket.
"Ok," he said weakly, "which twin, you guys are hard enough to tell apart with even when you aren't wearing a mask."
Janelle giggled as she walked into the room, "It's Janelle it's good thatOh my!" She gasped as she came nearer. A web of shallow cuts ran around his chest, stomach and snaked out on to his arms, there were also burn marks and welts.
"Look at the bright side," said Scott seeing the pain in her eyes and trying to make light of it, "They were nice enough to leave my face alone, except to give me these cool marks, so that I look like a hero from a video game. The bad part is that most of these won't scar so no one will believe that I had them." He tried to laugh, but he failed to make it sound real.
"I'm almost afraid I'm dreaming," he whispered as she started to free him, "I've lived a nightmare these last few days."
"Don't worry," said Janelle, "Everything will be fine."
Scott sat up weakly with her help and began to work the blood back into his limbs. "Where is George and everyone?" he asked, "And how did you know I'd be here?"
Janelle ignored his first question, "I had a dream that told me where to go, and what room you were in."
"Where are Matt, David, and George?" Scott pressed.
"Matt was injured and asleep, David disappeared, we called George, but there was no answer."
"Is Jenni ok?
"Yes, she's guarding Matt, we flipped a coin to decide who would come and break you out and I won."
"Speaking of guards, wasn't I guarded?" Said Scott feeling a little hurt they didn't fear him enough to guard him.
"Yes," said Janelle, her eyes flashing mischievously, "He's over there. I took him out with a Den-mock technique."
Scott blinked, "I never showed you any of that!"
Janelle had removed her mask and was dragging the body into the room, "I know, I watched you and Matt practicing them with George."
"How?"
"Because," said Janelle proudly, "you aren't the only one that plays at being a ninja, it's one of our favorite games, try to see how close we can get to you without you knowing." She laughed at his expression, "Anyway, can you walk?
"Of course." Said Scott, as he pushed himself off the table and promptly fell to the floor. "Ok," he said, "Lets try this again." And he pulled himself to his feet, he stood a little wobbly at first, but he gained his balanced after a moment. "Any chance that my shirt is around?"
"Scott, you want too much." Said Janelle, "and no, I haven't seen it. Here." She handed him the robe of the dead cultist. "You'll be leaving in style."

Matt lurched awake, "Ok, where am I?"
"You're in our dorm room." Said Jenni as she hurried over to his side. "How do you feel?"
"Fine." said Matt who was already on his feet; Matt had always been a quick healer. He turned at the sound of a thumping from the closet, "What's that?"
"One of your attackers. He wouldn't stop thrashing, so we threw him in there."
A thought finally struck Matt, "You two beat all four of them?"
A proud smile lit Jenni's face, "Oh, yes, but of course you helped."
"I did?" asked Matt in confusion, "Can't remember anything past being thrown through the window."
There came a knocking at the door. Matt moved towards it slowly, grabbing a knife that sat near him. The knock came again, Matt flung the door open and found himself greeted by two dark robed men, truly greeted, for they both held up their hands and called him by name, Matt stopped the attack he had been about to unleash, and stared as the men pulled their hoods off. He saw the faces of David and George. Matt kept his knife poised and ready to strike.
"Matt it's ok, it's us." Said George.
"Hmm, how do I know for sure that it's you?" asked Matt.
David clapped his hand over his face, "How do we prove it to you?"
"If I told you, you'd know and then I couldn't test you could I?"
"Matt"George started in a firm tone, but Matt cut him off.
"Question one, if you are George, what was the club password?"
George's eyes became unfocused as he thought.
"While he thinks about that, person who looks like David, if you are David, perform the Frosted Monkey kata."
David paled, "Matt I don't know the Frosted Monkey, you never taught it to me!"
"And" George chimed in "We didn't have a club password! This is ridiculous!"
"But," said Matt solemnly, "Only the real George and David would know that."
George and David shook their heads as Matt led them inside.
"Hi guys!" said Jenni; laying down the crossbow she had been holding.
"Hi, where's Scott and Janelle?" asked George, "I hope you didn't let him go out by himself."
"Of course we wouldn't do that!" said Janelle.
"Good," said David, "We left a message a the police station, but I don't think they'll be here till morning, so I guess we should just barricade ourselves in here until they get here."
"So," said Matt, "Where is Janelle?"
"It's ok," said Jenni, "She's with Scott."
"And where is Scott?"
"Ahbeing held by the cultists."
"She's been captured!" asked George rising to his feet again.
"No," stammered Jenni, "Well, it's like this, Matt was being attacked by cultists, and we saved him, then we questioned one and he told us all about their new powers so that they can change shape, andandwell, she had this dream that Scott was being held by them in a room underneath the west wing's lawn, so she went to save him" her voice grew quite.
George's face turned red and a vein appeared across his fore head. "Ok," he said in a deathly calm voice, "so much for staying put. Matt, can you fight?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good, you come with me, we're going to find Scott. As for you." George turned to regard Jenni, "You will stay here. No!" George silenced her, as she was about to speak, "I know that you have grown strong, but I won't put you at risk, you're strong, but you aren't as strong as the rest of us, and are no match for them! David, you stay here to, keep her safe. Give Matt your robe."
"But George," he started, but George gave him a glance that silenced him, so he removed the robe and handed it to Matt. Matt donned it and George and he left, leaving David and Jenni alone.

Chapter 10
"Not as strong as the rest! No match for them!" Jenni fumed, "How dare he talk like that to me! I'm not a child!
David simply sat on the couch, lost in his own thoughts. "How could I have treated Scott like that?" he berated himself, "I should have known some how. If Scott is being held, it's part my fault, because Scott felt that he couldn't talk to us after how I talked to him." David continued to heap guilt upon himself, most of which wasn't his fault.
"I'm going after them!" Jenni announced.
"What?" David snapped out of his musing, "No you aren't!
Jenni disappeared into the bathroom and reappeared dressed in her kung-fu outfit.
"Yes I am."
"But George told you not to!"
"So?" she demanded, "He's not my leader! I'm not part of the group, and nether is my sister, so we do what we want! You stay here, that's what he told you to do, I'm going after my sister and Scott!" she turned and grabbed a bag out of the closet, kicking the cultist as she did. David watched her helplessly, and then moved over to the door.
"Sorry Jenni, I can't let you."
Jenni smiled sweetly, and produced a crossbow, "Why David, who said you had a choice?"
David stood for a moment then crossed his arms, "Ok, but I'm going to, and we have to make a stop first."
"Where?" Jenni asked.
"The cottage, we came here to check on you two after being jumped but a bunch of them, but if you plan to go kick in the gates of hell, I've got some stuff that will help."
Jenni smiled, and she and David disappeared into the dark.

Scott and Janelle crept down the halls of the underground complex.
"It seems that they've been recruiting heavily," Scott whispered, "There's more of these than before." He said referring to the cultists.
"What's worse," Janelle whispered back, "They've all grown more powerful."
She stopped abruptly for Scott held up his hand, sure enough, they heard the whisper of robes up ahead. Scott scanned the hall for hiding spots, but there were none. As the sound grew closer, he could make out the sound several footsteps. Scott didn't want a pinched battle here and now, in fact, his breathing became labored, and his eyes wide at the thought of being captured again. Janelle noticed this change in her friend with alarm; Scott was one of the bravest people she knew, almost reckless, he seemed to have no fears normally, what ever had happened to him had some how pushed him to far. She looked at his face, or at least what she could see of it, and saw that his lips were moving soundlessly, then his breath came easier and his face smoothed. His silent prayer calmed him just in time for the group of cultists came around the bend in the tunnel. Scott pulled his hood over his face, grabbed Janelle roughly, forced her arms behind her and hailed the group. As they walked into the torchlight, he could see there were six of them. With them walked his tormenter, the Master.
"What is this?" demanded the Master.
Janelle tried to conceal her shock, before her stood her teacher Mr. Geon! Then she almost gasped because of what see heard Scott answer him.
"I caught this girl in the tunnels, near the prisoner's cell." His voice came out a hiss that was filled with pure evil. The very sound coming from her friend's lips made her skin crawl.
"Now do you see master? I told you that they had caught on to our plot. Now they've come to save their friend! We must kill him before they all get here!"
"You fool! Why do you think I kept him alive so long, I knew that they would feel his suffering from afar and flock to him! That's what we want. True, we wanted to kill them before they reached him, but since you and your men bungled the job, they are still alive. See how my plan is working, they come, but one at a time, and they shall be caught, just like this one." The Master laughed, "But you are right about one thing, he is to dangerous to leave alive, now that we have a weaker captive to hold for bait."
"You," He pointed, to three of those with him, "Go with this one and bring the girl to the council chamber. I'll be there right after I say goodbye to our used up hero!"
Laughing along with the rest of them, Scott and his three escorts walked off in the direction of the great hall. Halfway there, Scott stepped on the back of Janelle's knee, and sent her crashing to the floor. The three cultists all turned their attention to her fallen form, and Scott attacked. His fingers found the throat of one, and he heaved the cultist's head into the wall with bone shattering force. There was a sound like tomato hitting the floor and the body slumped to the floor. The two remaining cultists turned from Janelle, back to him. Janelle immediately grabbed one of them and pulled him back down. The other loosed a ball of blue fire in Scott's direction and followed it, his hands glowing.
Scott sidestepped the fire and caught the cultist's hands, which he twisted to the side, and head butted him. The dark one fell backward, but Scott didn't let him recover, he leapt after him and drove his knee into the cultist's face, felling him.
Janelle was having a harder time, and it didn't help that she had to start from the floor. Scott had told her in training not to let some one take her down in a fight, because she was smaller than most people she'd be fighting, she would be at a disadvantage, and so she was.
A first, she held the upper hand as she grappled with her attacker, he had thought that her hands had been tied; but as things progressed, his magic and lager size were beginning to get the better of her. Just when she thought that she couldn't hold out any longer, his weight was lifted from her. Scott stood staring down at her. She took his hand and stood up.
"Why did you do that?" she asked angrily, "I had to fight from the ground."
"Sorry," said Scott, "I got scared and did the first thing I thought of, I guess I haven't adjusted to your power yet, so I thought I'd have to take them alone."
"Oh well, you're forgiven." She said graciously. They turned back down the tunnel and carefully made their way back to the trapdoor. As Janelle was climbing the latter a shriek of fury split the air, echoing down the tunnels, followed by the sound of many feet. Scott heaved the trapdoor aside and climbed out, for the first time in days he breathed fresh air. They closed the door and pulled a crate over the opening. They stole out of a back door and found themselves in the midst of a crowd. Janelle remembered the posters she had read about it, but they had greatly under estimated the amount of scum it would offer. The good part was the fact that no one blinked at the fact that they were wearing a ninja outfit and a black robe. In fact, compared to what people were (and in most cases with girls, weren't) wearing, they seemed very normal. They vanished into the crowd as quickly as possible, never knowing if they were being watched or not.

As it turns out, they did escape the eyes that searched for them, the bad part is the fact that the eyes that they avoided were the only eyes in that place that were trying to help them, the eyes of George and Matt.
George and Matt were at the moment perched upon the roof of the haunted house.
"So," whispered Matt, "How do we get in?"
"Through the front door I guess." Came the reply.
The two dark robed heroes dropped from the roof, startling the few in the crowd that weren't high or drunk. They pushed their way through the line to the haunted house and made their way inside. They walked on, surrounded by darkness that was only broken by the glow of black lights. As they walked into a room, a dark form dressed in black robes rose in view, in it's hand it carried a large scythe. The hellish thing swung, but Matt was to fast, grabbing the hand, he kicked the thing, striking it four times. Matt staggered back from his attack, almost falling; in his hand was the thing's arm!
George looked from his friend to the dark "disarmed" thing, and then started laughing. Taking the arm from shocked Matt, he pulled the sleeve up from the shoulder, revealing a bundle of wires!
"That scared me!" said Matt looking at the fake Grim Reaper, "I had forgotten that this is a haunted house!"
"Yes, well, don't let your guard down!" George warned, "If we have to make a mistake, lets make it by being to ready!"
"Right." Agreed Matt.
They stepped into the next room, and an iron gate slammed down, sealing them in. At the sound they spun about and saw the gate, then the spun back around and to their surprise found them selves looking at three cultists.

"Two more attack from above!" cried a young cultist running down the corridor. The Master didn't look up. His plan was crumbling before his eyes. The young warrior had escaped, then the young maiden. Of the men he had sent to kill the leader only a few had escaped. He had only one hope, reviving the orb completely.
The cultist skidded to a stop in front of the master, "Master, did you hear, the two are..." Geon's raised hand stopped him.
"Yes I have. Come with me, we have work to do."
"What work sir?"
"You will assist me to heal the Dark One."
The young man gasped at the unspeakable honor he was being paid, and bowed low.
The Master smiled, if nothing else, the attack had yielded one thing. He lifted four glass vials each filled with crimson.
In the main hall, all was dark, except two torches that burned on the alter. Next to one, a dark robed man stood holding a great book. Drawing a breath, he began to chant the words written there, first he chanted in the words in the old tongue of the druids, then the words changed into English.

Earth, from which the life was formed,
Air, that fills the void,
Fire, by which the world will end,
Water, that runs like blood,
Darkness, by which all are bound.
As he spoke each line, the sparkling shape of a star formed on the floor of the chamber.
Foul is the power we call,
Darkness incarnate is our aim,
Through the curtain of the night,
We summon power of the evil name!
As the last words were spoken, the remains of the orb shone with an unholy light; if it could be called a light, it seemed to make the darkness even darker, yet strengthened the shadows.
"Take the vials," ordered Geon, "Crush them over the orb!"
The cultist did, crushing the vials. The glass cut his hand and his blood mingled freely with the blood of the hero's. The blood flowed down his hand and dripped onto the orb, covering it. The cultist shrieked, and disappeared, his empty robe falling to the floor. Geon walked over picked up the blood-covered orb, it was whole. Geon felt the power flow from the orb and began to laugh.

Scott and Janelle made their way through the people clogged carnival. As they walked, a foot stuck out and tripped him, sending him falling to the ground. The crowed parted and four cultists floated into view, their eyes glowed red with hate. They stopped in front him; laughter came from inside the hoods. Janelle stood over Scott, her short sword drawn.
"Out of our way girl!" said one.
"There is no way you can beat us." Said another.
Janelle did not speak, it was a waste of breath, instead she thrust her sword at the closest attacker. There was a shower of sparks, and a shock like lighting almost made her drop her sword. The four cultists laughed at her as she fell back, and one raised his arm, the tips of his fingers glowing with a blue light.
"Hey punk," called a voice, "I think it's time you move on!"
The cultist half turned, and a young man pushed his was through the crowd. He wore a leather jacket, a spiked collar, and sported a head of blue hair. Behind him walked four or five others, each wearing an assortment of jewelry and attitudes.
"Get out of here you low brow scum!" spat the cultist as lightning leapt from his hands and struck Scott who had leapt to his feet and was coming forward to attack. The other cultists each had their hands held out in front of them, and seemed to be concentrated on some difficult task.
"I don't think so." Said the punk.
The crowd became quite. The cultist turned and gave the young man and his gang his attention.
He lifted his hands and they began to pulse.
"Get him!" the young man ordered.
The gang reached into different parts of their clothing and came up with handguns. The guns went off, and flashes like fireworks erupted all around the cultist. The punks let off their assault in surprise; the bullets had stopped before they had reached their targets. Scott and Janelle, temporarily forgotten, clamored to their feet and made a dash for the nearest building. They felt the heat of an explosion at their backs, and found themselves running along side of the punk leader. Diving inside the building, the punk ran to a window and continued firing. The cultists that were sustaining the force field rocked with each bullet that their power kept at bay.
"Thanks man." Scott said to the punk, "Why'd you help us?"
"I hate freaks like that." Came the answer, "The name's Robert."
"I'm Scott, and that girl in the ninja suit is Janelle."
Robert only grunted.
"Wait a moment," Scott said, "I'm dressed like one of them."
"Then be glad I saw them first." He said grinning wickedly.

"Only three of you?" I don't know if I should be relived or insulted!" said George.
The cultists had thrown off their hoods and George saw their faces flush with anger. "How about this?" said one of the cultists, and dragged a form from the shadows. Bound hand and foot was Scott. His ninja uniform hung in tatters, and his eyes were wide with fear.
"Scott!" George yelled in brotherly concern.
"Drop your weapons and lay flat or I'll cut his throat!" ordered the cultist that held him.
"Please!" Scott said in a pleading voice, "Just do what they say."
"Scott," said Matt calmly, "You want us to surrender?"
"Yes!" cried Scott, his eyes on the knife that cultist had drawn form some hidden pocket.
George and Matt exchanged glances.
"Ok, just don't hurt him!" said George.
Both he and Matt reached for their belts, but instead of removing them, they both grabbed something and flung it at their attackers.
George had grabbed a fist full of throwing-stars; Matt had flung his swordright at Scott.
Scott received the sword in his chest, and pitched forward to lie writhing on the ground. George's attack had been a wide range and caught several of them with stinging blows. Both attacked right behind their first salvo and caught their enemies flat footed. Within a few moments Matt and George were the only ones standing in the room.
"That was a pretty good trick." Said George.
"Naa, anyone knows that Scott would never ask us to give up."
"True, but we've got to be careful."
Matt nodded as he walked past the bodies of the fallen. "Hey! Check it out!" Matt said, as he bent to look at something near his feet. "Looks like a trap door."
George walked over as Matt pulled a body to the side. "I guess that's the door we're looking for."
They slipped down into the darkness and crept down the empty halls. Finally, they reached the main hall; George and Matt froze, horrified at what they saw.
Geon stood before an alter laughing; in his hand he held a round black orb. Out of the orb came a voice that wasn't heard, it was felt.
Two of the heroes stand behind you! The orb warned. Geon turn and saw them in the shadows.
"You fool!" he laughed, "You are too late! The orb is whole again, and this time it will sweep all of you away!"
"Right." Said George, "I've heard that one before."
"But have you seen this?" said Geon, lifting his hand. A ray of black light shot out-ward, striking the ceiling far above them, and with a crash it began to cave-in.

Above Scott felt a wave of horror steal over him. Robert and his remaining men were still held up it the building with them, though they out of ammo. Scott remembered the feeling the same once before, right before zombies had crashed into the cottage months before. Slowly Scott turned, remembering as he did where he was--the wax works. In the darkness behind him, Scott saw forms stepping off their pedestals.
"Robert!"
"What? I'm busy!"
Janelle had seen too. "We've got to get out of here!"
"Are you two nuts? We've got cover here, out there those freaks will toast us!"
Scott grabbed Robert and jerked his head around. Robert's face drained of color. The wax figures had become alive!
"Alright!" Robert shouted, "Everyone outside!"
One of Robert's men dove out the door, only to be struck by a blue beam of force and hammered him into wall, he didn't get back up. Scott jumped in front of Janelle as one of the wax figures lumbered over to attack her. Scott brought his sword down in an arc. The figure suddenly had one hand too few. "This is easy!" Scott thought, "Wax isn't hard to cut at all." Then Scott groaned inwardly, the hand began to crawl by itself.
Janelle slashed the wax body through the middle, but the wax refused as quickly as the sword cut. She dropped her sword and kicked the thing. "That worked." She thought as it stumbled back. Scott dove at it and kicked its legs out from under it.
"Maybe we can smash it into a shape that's less life threatening!" he shouted to her. But before he had a chance to try this idea, he noticed about twenty more coming for him.
"Maybe we should run!" Janelle yelled back.
Fleeing the wax monsters, Scott smashed through a window, Janelle rolled through the door, and Robert followed after her.
The cultists had ether recruited some of the crowd or some of the crowd were cultists out of uniform, because standing with the four cultists were about ten Goths. The Goths produced switchblades somehow and attacked them. Finally Scott had an enemy that would bleed. Robert watched Scott and Janelle weave and cut a bloody path through the enemies, and shook his head.
"That's pretty cool." He shouted over the battle.
"What?" called back Scott as he dodged an energy blast.
"That Kung-fu thing you guys do."
Scott disappeared beneath a pile of Goths and didn't answer.
Robert fought over to him and pulled bodies off of him.
"Thanks." Scott said breathing heavily.
Robert didn't reply. He had stood still to long and a ray of black light had lanced through him. He stood transfixed for a moment then fell slowly to his knees. Scott knelt beside him, "Please," he said softly, "Why did you help me?"
Robert opened him mouth, but no sound can forth. Then he looked at Scott, and whispered, "OnceI waslike youa goodpersonbut I fell" Scott saw the light leave Robert's eyes.
Rage filled Scott's vision and everything went into slow motion. Scott leapt forward, his sword tracing a silver arc through the air. One of the cultists saw him coming and turned, lifting his hand at the same time. There was a flash of silver, and a burst of light. The cultist fell, cut in half. The sword fell from nerveless fingers, and Scott crashed to the ground. Janelle cried out in shock, and then things went back to a normal pace. Janelle stood alone on the field, with a score of wax men behind her, three cultists in front, and the bodies of the fallen around her. Even the dead were not friendly, for the bodies of the Goths were stirring as the orbs power breathed unholy life back in them. Then an odd sound filled the air, the sound of a motorcycle.
Suddenly, above her Scott's motorcycle shot off one of the near-by roofs. On it, with black robes flapping around him sat David, behind him sat her sister! The cultists stared, enthralled, as David, drew a pistol and fired off a round. One of the shots caught a cultist in the chest; another fell as David landed the bike right on top of him. David unsung a shotgun from his back and finished off the last cultist.
David swung the bike around, "Miss me?" he asked.
"Sure did." Scott answered from the ground.
Janelle ran over to him. "Are you ok?"
Between Janelle and Jenni, they managed to drag him to his feet.
"Let's just say I've had a hard day."
The wax men were slowly exiting the building and a few had even made it near enough to attack. The twins let go of Scott, who fell over immediately, and drew their swords.
"Wait a sec!" Said David with a smile, and reached into a sack he had brought with him. He drew out two bottles filled with liquid with rags jammed in the top. David lit them and flung them into building. The bottles smashed and fire exploded everywhere, catching the wax men between two walls of flame.
"Cool!" said both twins.
"Oh, it's nothing." Said David, "That's just what happens when a guy is prepared."
"UhMr. Prepared."
"Yeah Scott?"
"That didn't stop them."
David turned and looked back at the now burning building. The wax men were burning all right, but they hadn't stopped!
"One more question David. Why are we standing here? It's not like there's anything holding us."
"Right!" said David, "You take the motorcycle and get back to the cottage."
Scott's eyes blazed, "No!"
David didn't bother turning, "Scott, you're a fine one to order us around all the time, and most of the time you maybe right, but you're so prideful that you won't do the smart thing! Right now you are so tired and hurt that you can barely stand, if you continue as you are, you'll DIE. And what's worse you might get one of us killed since we have to protect you!"
Scott's face contorted in anger. Then he lowered his head as tears of shame streaked down his cheeks. "All right." He whispered.
"Janelle, you go with him." Jenni told her sister.
Janelle nodded and helped Scott over to his bike. Jenni and David disappeared with a swirl of black robes and Scott and Janelle roared off.

"You fool!" shouted Matt, "You'll be killed too!"
The Mater said nothing. The ray continued to blaze away at the ceiling forming a hole. The master clutched the orb tightly and began to fly toward the gap in the ceiling.
"Oh, I see." Said Matt.
"Come on!" ordered George, "The whole place is coming down." There was no way that they could make it through the hole in the roof, so they turned back the way they had come.
"But what about Scott and Janelle?" asked Matt, as they ran down the corridor.
George's face was grim; "There's no way we can make it down to them in time. We can only make sure their killers don't get away."
They reached the trap door just as the tunnel roof fell. They clawed their way up the ladder, choking on dust from the cave-in. All around the light's had died. The cave-in must have killed the electric. George caught their breath then slipped out of the building. A reddish light glowed in the night as a building across the grounds burned brightly. George and Matt slipped silently through the shadows. Nothing moved. Carefully, they moved down the lane. Their eyes probed the darkness for any sign of life. As they walked Matt's eyes were drawn to a Merry-go-round, off to his left.
"Funny," he thought to himself, "You'd think that the crowd here wouldn't be into cute stuff like that." As he looked, one of the horses turned to look at him, its dull painted eyes glowed red with hate. Then the glow vanished and the horse returned to its normal posture.
"George!" Matt whispered, "That horse just moved!"
Nodding, George began to move in its direction. Upon investing it George found only a normal fake Merry-go-round horse. "It's only your imagination." He whispered back.
"Right." Said Matt. But as they walked Matt looked back, only to see the horse had turned and was again looking at him. Matt paled but said nothing.
Down the street, a golden lettered sign proclaimed a fortuneteller's booth. The teller had run away like most of the other people, but the crystal ball still sat on the table outside. As George and Matt got nearer, it began to glow red. George and Matt immediately thought of the Black Orb, and rushed at it. However as they got closer the glow died, and it became a simple clear glass ball. George picked it up carefully and looked at it. As he held it up it turned red again; George almost dropped it, and then began to laugh. Matt looked at him questioningly. "Look." Said George and held it up again, and again it filled with red. "See, it's just reflecting the fire light."
George set the ball back down, knocking over a deck of tarot cards at the same time. Two cards fell off the table. Matt picked them up and handed them to George. The one on top was a card that read, "hanged man" and had a picture of a man with a noose around his neck; the other read, "Death" and had a picture of a dark robed figure with a scythe.
"That's cheesy." Said George, though even he seemed startled by this sight.
"Over there!" Came a whisper from the dark.
"Did you say something?" asked Matt.
"No." said George drawing his sword.
"Behind you!" the said the voice again, so quiet that each doubted that it had spoken. However they both spun to look behind them just incase.
"Above!" the whispers filled their minds, "In the shadows. Behind that box. Under you. Inside you!"
"It's the orb. It's playing with our senses." Said George, "Ignore them."
"Ignore them!" the voices whispered.
Matt and George continued walking slowly down the fairway. The voices filled their minds with a frightening and confusing buzz. Around them the shadows would move and contort, but they pressed on. They heard a new sound up ahead, footsteps. They pressed themselves against the wall and waited. After a while two black robed figures appeared. George motioned to Matt to catch one, not to kill it. The robed persons walked closer, and then stopped catching sight of Matt and George's form by the wall, but they weren't fast enough to react as George and Matt leaped to attack. George caught the taller one and flung him head first at the wall of shops. Matt tried to tackle the other one, but only managed to knock it down. It twisted in air and came up on its feet with a cat like grace. George's enemy also twisted in air and only struck the wall with his feet, however the walls were hastily constructed and gave way so that he still ended up inside. Matt suffered a kick from his opponent before finally catching him and pinning him to the ground. George ducked to the side as a shot rang out from the darkness. David sprang from the darkness of the building with his pistols drawn and pointed at George. David's hood had fallen down, uncovering his face.
"Whoa David!" George cried, "It's me!"
David stopped but didn't lower his weapons.
"Speaking of which!" said George, "I seem to remember telling you not to come with us!"
David lowered his guns, "She made me do it!" he said.
From under Matt came a muffled voice, "Mphle hrrer yey!"
"What?" asked Matt, letting Jenni up.
"I said, 'I did not!' I told him I was coming and he decided to come with me."
"That doesn't matter." Said George angrily, "I told both of you to stay put!"
"George!" Matt interrupted, "There's a bunch of zombies coming this way!"
"Fine, "Said George, "We'll talk about this later. Right now we're trying to fine the Dark orb and Mr. GeonWhat is that?"
David turned to look, "Oh, those are the wax dummies I lit on fire."

Scott's motorcycle roared over the darkened college grounds. Janelle hung on to him as they entered the woods.
"So it's finally happened." Scott thought, "It's finally been proven that I am the weakest member!" Scott heaved a sigh, "If that's not bad enough, I'm a risk to everyone around me! Even the twins, who I trained, have more of a place on this battlefield! It's just like last time, one of the twins stand over me because I'm too weak to fight!"
Scott smirked, "Well in a way I guess that's good, after all that means I was a good teacher. The only thing I don't get is how David got so good?"
Scott's mind flashed back to their first battle, 'Scott heard David's cry of rage and grief and though still struggling for his life Scott found the time to think "Is that my friend? To think he had that kind of feelings penned up in him all this time. Maybe I don't know him as well as I thought."' "Yes," Scott thought, "I guess it's good that everyone has grown."
Scott continued to think and muse, when suddenly the path ahead disappeared. Well, it didn't disappear; Scott ceased to see. Before him a vision unfolded.

The Orb sailed through the sky. It flew over an ocean, a jungle, and then another ocean. It came to rest on an island. On this island were large stone heads all facing different ways. The Orb landed in the center then sank into the ground. All was still for a moment, and then the ground split apart revealing a Demon. Scott knew with out a doubt that some how this monster and the orb were one.

Scott came back to himself with a jolt. The motorcycle hit the bridge and slid. The front wheel went over the edge, sending both he and Janelle flying. Scott saw a tree ahead before darkness descended on him.

They found Geon in the center of the carnival with what was left of the cultists. They had built a large fire, which they stood around. Geon was addressing the remaining followers; they could hear his words as they crept forward.
"You are the chosen amid the chosen! To us does the orb give its power! Now only one more act do we need to do to sweep away all of our enemies! We must" Geon stopped and dropped to the ground as a gunshot split the air. The warlock that stood just behind where Geon had been standing pitched forward as the bullet caught him in the chest.
"Get them!" Geon screamed.
"Sorry George." Said David with a smoking pistol in his hand, "He moved to fast."
"No buddy's perfect." Said George. He and Matt sprang forward with Jenni only a step behind.
Some of the cultists came forward to attack, some held back to work their deadly magic. Geon and some of the more powerful warlocks formed a circle around the orb and began to chant.
George sprang and twisted, he dodged and spun, and the fire that the warlocks flung at him missed him widely. He drew a new weapon from his belt, the Tiger Claws. The Tiger Claws was a weapon Scott had made for George back before all of this had happened. It was three blades wielded to a steel handgrip; one blade, the center one was longer than the rest. He had one for each hand. George had never used it for two reasons, first, he normally used weapons that had greater reach, and second, he normally didn't kill people, but now it sited him perfectly. He dealt slash after slash, and it seemed that nothing could stop him.
Matt moved with purpose and each move was thought out and executed with precision. He moved around the out skirts of the fight with a spear David had brought with him, appearing for an instant striking and disappearing. He didn't care about killing these cultists; there would be time for that later, right now he was after the leaders. One of Scott's saying came to mind unbidden, "Destroy the head and the body falls."
Janelle plunged recklessly into the thickest pocket of fighting. Her thin form and cheerful persona concealed a fierily spirit. She wielded her sword with deadly affect, if not as much skill as George's flashy attack. One of the cultists caught her from behind and another made a grab at the handle of her sword. She rewarded one with a knee to the face, and threw the other into a knot of other warlocks and witches that were converging on George.

David didn't run into battle for a moment. He wanted as many clean shots at the enemy as he could before his friends got in his way. He got six shots off then paused to reload. As he did so he happened to look back down the street. Closing on them came a small horde of zombies and flaming wax men.
"Or," thought David to himself, "I guess they should be called flaming wax 'dwarves' now." For they had melted to the point that they stood at the most only three feet tall. "Hey George!" he yelled.
"I'm busy! What do you want?"
"We have a couple of friends on the way that want to be a part of this."
"Well deal with it!" George yelled as he head butted an enemy.
"Yeah David," David muttered to himself, "Deal with it. Who does he think he is? Deal with it." His voice droned off as he reloaded.
Across the fire the cultists had finished their chant. The fire flared upward, and finally took the shape of a man. At the same time a ring of fire sprouted around them cutting off any escape. The huge fire monster turned and stepped out of the fire towards them.
"Well, this is something new." Said Matt; trying to shake off the fear that congealed in him.
George threw his remaining throwing stars at it, but they melted upon impact. The Master's laugher rang out as he viewed his work through the fire.
George shook his head and said in a low tone, "This is really going to hurt."


"Scott?" said a voice through the haze.
Scott bolted upright or at lease he tried to, his muscles were cold and stiff and his movements were sluggish. He was lying in the stream; his motorcycle lay to one side. Janelle helped him over to the bank.
"What happened?" he asked her.
"You passed out or something and drove off the bridge."
"Oh, I remember, I didn't pass out, I had a vision."
"Really? Of what?" She asked him remembering the dream she had that led her to where he had been held.
"I just need to destroy the orb."
"We already know that! What else?"
"I can't tell you, but if I don't do it soon then bad stuff will happen."
And how do you know this is true and not brought on by your wounds? She asked.
"Because I've had dreams like this before that warned me about the cultists and their powers!" Scott returned.
Janelle paused. He had known about the cultists! "So I guess you were on your way to tell us when you were captured?"
"Well, no I'd known about them for about a weekwhy?"
Janelle flushed angrily, "Why didn't you tell us? And don't give me that 'I was trying to protect you' bit! Either you wanted to defeat them yourself, or you didn't trust us! Both are really stupid!"
Now it was Scott's turn to think; he didn't keep it a secret to get the glory for himself. No of course not! The fire of his anger flared through him warming his cold body. "Ok, fine! I didn't trust anyone! Why should I? Everyone thought I attacked you. What should have done? Ran up and said, 'Hey guys! Guess what? You know how you think I'm going nuts? Well, I can explain everything. It wasn't me it was some dark magic shape changers. How do I know? I had this dream' Yeah right, like anyone would believe that. If I could have trusted you no one would have thought that that thing was me in the first place!"
Janelle was stunned for a moment. She had seen Scott be angry before, but that anger was never directed at her. Scott's eyes smoldered as he stared holes in her. Janelle reacted differently then she would have ever thought she would, instead of being scared, she was surprised to feel her anger rise to match his level. "Listen, first of all, you didn't even try! Don't you think you owe us a chance? Second, Jenni and I didn't believe it was you to start with! So you could have avoided being captured and us having to fight something without any kind of info to work with, if you had just trusted your friends."
Scott's face paled as he realized that she was right, but Janelle spoke before he had a chance, "I'd love to let you feel regretful for a while, but shouldn't we go tell them what you know, and maybe help them win"

"So," David said as the fire monster lumbered towards them, "How does one fight a being made of fire and black magic?"
"You don't." said Matt grimly.
The cultists outside the ring of fire howled and cheered as the beast swung it's searing arm at the heroes. David dropped to the ground as it's arm swept over him, heat burned his skin and set his black robes alight. David jumped up and managed to cast the robes from him. The others removed their robes to realizing the risk that the billowing cloth would catch fire. David wore a white tang-top with baggy jeans, across his chest were crossing straps of ammo and a bag filled with explosives; useless when fighting a being of fire. Jenni ran to his side, she wore the black pants from her kung-fu outfit and a white tang-top; to free her hands she had strapped the sheath of her sword across her back. George's long hair had come out of its ponytail and spilled across his face, he had shed his equipment belt to give cut down on weight, and so he carried his katana in one hand, its sheath in the other. His white tang-top was dotted with flecks of blood, mostly his enemy's. Matt was the only on out of uniform. Long ago, back before college when the team had only consisted of George, Scott, Matt, and David, they had joked that the white tang-top and long pants had become the team "uniform", and they always wore the same thing to training. Matt wore shorts and a faded blue tang-top that read "Old Navy" across the front. In his hands was a pole that served him as a staff since he had lost his sword in the battle. Jenni shook her head sadly, she was so very tired, and yet the battles became increasingly harder. She looked over to George, the leader to see if he had any plan to save them this time. George's eyes gleamed out from his mane of hair with the look of a cornered tiger. There was no plan there, only exhaustion and despair. Matt showed no fear; he looked as he always did, as if this was no more then a very difficult training course. David face was grim, it was bad enough to fight the living, but the living could die, David had never faced something like this, and there seemed no way to defeat it, he could only hope for a swift painless death. Jenni rolled sideways to avoid a flaming hand. She saw no comfort in the faces of her friends, and that scared her more then the fiery terror before her.
Matt attacked the thing, using the advantage of his longer weapon to strike while remaining out of range. The staff swept through the fire giant with out slowing or doing any damage to it. George ran to slash at the thing's legs, but merely succeeded in turning the blade of his sword red hot. David fired off a round, but again the bullets swept through with out harming it, though the bullets did fly through the fire ring as well, hitting and killing a cultist on the other side.

Suddenly the sound of blades cut the air and a wind swept through the field! The monster was forced back by the wind of a helicopter that swept overhead. Soldiers dropped from its open doors, and hit the ground shooting. Other aircrafts began landing around them. The overhead helicopter fired a missile at the group cultists that stood around the Master. The explosion knocked all of them flat. The fire monster and the ring of flame flickered and died. The master transformed into a fireball and flew off into the sky. All around there were flares of magical fire and answering shots of weapon fire. A final dark form dropped from the helicopter before it moved on covering the ground troops. The figure landed in a crouch near them and stayed that way for a moment before standing.
The man wore a black trench coat and had jet-black hair. He stood up and studied them with eyes that were as black as his hair. "You are George, Mathew, David, and"He paused, "One of those twins." He did not ask he simply made a statement.
George stepped forward. The man before him was handsome and seemed to be only a few years older then himself. "That's us, who are you?"
"I am Alvarado de Narvaez. I am in charge of this case." He reached into his coat and produced a photo ID that identified him as a member of the government. "I'm part of one of those agencies that everyone knows exists but no one ever hears about, so why bother explaining which one. Now where is your brother and," he pointed to Jenni, "your sister? Not dead I hope." It was evident that he really didn't care despite his words.
"No," David spoke up, "He got hurt so I sent him and Janelle off to recover."
"Shouldn't you send your men to catch the orb and that guy that just flew off with it?" Put in Jenni.
"It's already being seen to."
"Did I hear you say the orb is gone?" Came a voice behind them.
"Allow me to introduce Dr. Joseph Smith, an expert on so-called supernatural things." Said Agent Alvarado de Narvaez with a sneer. It was apparent that he didn't think much of the Doctor.
The Doctor and a small party of men and women in lab coats had stepped from a helicopter that had landed behind them. The Doctor himself was what you'd expect for a supernatural expert, he was a short thin man with long unkempt hair and a scowl frozen on his face. "What what what?" he said in a thin high-pitched voice, "The orb is gone! Well get it back! Your trigger-happy soldiers are what chased it away I'll wager! And who are these people?" He peered at them intently.
"Doctor, these are college students, in fact the same students that destroyed the Black Orb last time. George, Matt, David, and one of the twins--Jenni isn't?"
Jenni opened her mouth to answer, but the funny little Doctor interrupted her, "Yes, yes, wasn't there another one? Got himself spitted or some such thing?"
"That's Scott." Said Matt.
Something buzzed and Alvarado reached into his coat and pulled out a cell phone. He raised the phone to his ear for a moment then returned it to his coat pocket. He clenched his gloved hands, his finely chiseled features contorting in anger. His eyes seemed to glow red for a moment, but no one noticed. Turning back to them he paused before he spoke, and when he did, his voice was cool and calm, "The Master and the Orb have crossed international borders and were told to break off. My orders are to secure this area, no is allowed to leave. I have things to attend to, if you'll forgive me." He turned before they could speak and disappeared around a building.
"Called off! Not allowed to leave! Why the nerve of that man!" The Doctor sputtered, but he stopped when he realized that no one was listening to him. They were all staring at the helicopter.
"What is he doing?" George murmured.
As if in answer the blades of the helicopter began to spin.
"Who is that?" Piped the Doctor.
Janelle appeared in the still open door of the helicopter, "Come on guys, we have to catch that orb!"
"Everyone on!" shrieked the Doctor.
George and David looked at each other then back at their friends and the group of sciencetists that were throwing themselves aboard, then shrugging did like wise.

The stolen transport took to the air and slowly turned south. The engine roared and it soared off into the night. On the roof of the college a shadow watched them go. The moon light struck the darkness and reviled Agent Alvarado de Narvaez standing far above the ground. His handsome, yet pale face followed the flight of the helicopter until it was out of view. A buzz came from the phone in his coat. He held it to his ear, "Agent de Narvaez here."
"Sir," came a military voice, "a helicopter just took off with out clearance. Should we shoot it down?"
"No!" Alvarado said quickly, "And for your information, there was no copter, and that's an order! Understand?"
"Understood sir!"
Agent Alvarado de Narvaez looked off into the night and smiled reviling fangs, "Let's see what you four can do."

Chapter 11
"Ok," Scott as every one spilled in, "who knows how to fly this?"
One of the lab assistances stepped forward and took control, the others turned on computers and monitors that tracked the energy that the orb released.
"I say!" Dr. Joseph said, "Young man, you don't look well at all! What is wrong with you, it's not catching I hope!"
"No." said Janelle, "It's just about a week of torturing, with a healthy dose of fatigue thrown in."
"Yeah," agreed Scott, "No one has a first aid kit do they?"
"Excuse me!" said the Doctor ignoring Scott's question, "But are you this Scott that helped stop the orb the first time?"
"Yeah, that's him." Said Matt.
"Get this man healthy!" the doctor ordered his underlings. The lab-coated people rushed Scott into a back compartment of the chamber and shut the door.
"Ok, odd little man!" said George, "Start explaining!"
"What exactly do you wish to know young man?" The doctor asked as he squinted up at George.
"First, why you're letting Scott steal your helicopter, second, why you're going with us, and third what is this Black Orb thing?"
"Very well young man, I'll answer two of your questions at once. I'm an expert on super natural thing, so of course the chance to study an object as powerful and evil as the orb is too much to pass up, and since the government won't allow us to follow it, your brother afforded us a wonderful opportunity to side step this ruling."
The Doctor shifted uncomfortably, "As for the third, it's a very long tail."
Matt eyed the Doctor, "I'm not going anywhere right now and nether are you, so get started!"
"Ok, very well." Puffed the Doctor, "It seems that once every hundred years an orb falls to earth. Each time it lands, there is a battle between the dead the orb animated and those that seem to worship such dark things, and four warriors that seem to appear each time to destroy it. Those cultist have kept wonderful records of each of the battles, in fact I once found a copy of one from"
"We get the idea, this isn't a new thing that is happening, now get on with it." Interrupted David.
The Doctor glared at David for a moment but continued, "They, meaning the cultists, feel that the orb is somehow alive and is trying to do something to destroy the world, but has always been destroyed by the "heroes" before it could muster its full power. They worship this power and swear themselves to the orb's service in exchange for magic power of their own; fortunately the heroes normally kill enough of the cultists each time that they have become nearly non-existent."
"Nearly but not quite!" murmured Janelle.
"This time something different happened," continued the Doctor, "The orb was not destroyed, it was merely shattered. This allowed the remaining cultists to revive it."
"So this means we're heroes? All right! I knew we'd be all be heroes some day!" Matt exclaimed.
Jenni was more then a little annoyed, "So what you are saying is that the world is coming to an end?"
"Well" the Doctor hesitated, "Not as long as the four heroes are there to stop it."
"But you just admitted that it had never reached full power before."
"True, but"
"So is this why you don't mind having us here, to save the world and let you watch?"
"To put it very bluntly, yes." Puffed the Doctor.
One of the Doctor's assistants came out of the back compartment and called to the friends, "The young man would like to talk with all of you."
Everyone squeezed into the compartment around Scott's bed. He had IV's going into each arm and each leg.
"Hey guys!" said Scott, "I'm not sure what they have me on, but I feel great!"
"Scott," said George, "Why did you try to steal a helicopter that you couldn't even fly?"
"Ohwell, in the movies everyone is just able to fly any aircraft they come across so I figured that it couldn't be all hard. I did get it to start."
"But why try to steal it?" asked David.
"Oh, it's like this, while I was running away after David had told me to leave, I had this dream-."
"And because of this he crashed, and threw us in the a stream." Interrupted Janelle.
"eryes, thanks Janelle, anyway, I saw the Orb reach this Island and sink into the ground, and if we let it happen it'll cause some really bad stuff."
"Like as in the end of the world bad stuff?" asked Matt.
"Yeah, something of that nature."
"Well that seems to fit with what that Doctor said." Said George.
"Hey Scott." David said slowly.
"Yeah Davy?"
"I-I'm sorry for thinking that you were going nuts, and for hitting you that one time."
Scott smiled, "Hey David, it's as much my fault, I knew all this was going one long before everyone else, but I couldn't trust anyone. So I tried to handle by myself, and I put everyone at risk. At least you had a really good reason not to trust me, I had no reason not to trust the rest of you guys, so I'm sorry."
"I feel a group hug coming on." Said Matt.
"In that case we had better stop." Said George.
"Now," said David trying to get past these warm touching moments. "Any idea where this Orb thingy is headed?"
"Ahit looked like Easter Island to me; it had all those stone heads and stuff."
"Of course!" Exclaimed the Doctor from the doorway. Everyone turned to look at him questioningly. "Erwell what I mean to say is that it would make sense. There are only two places in the world where unexplained and seemingly magical sites are located. Stone Hedge and Easter Island. Stone Hedge was built by Druids and was used as a sundial, but no one has ever found out how and for what reason the Heads on Easter Island are there! This must be the reason! It must be the keeping place for what ever the Orb has been looking for all these years, only it has always been destroyed before it could become powerful enough to get there!" The Doctor stopped and beamed happily at them.
"So," Matt started, "The Orb has been trying to make it there for hundreds of years?"
"Quite so young man."
"And you're happy about this?"
"Of course"the Doctor started, "Oh, I see your point."
They left Scott to catch up on his sleep and spilled out into the outer room. The Doctor left to tell the pilot to fly directly for Easter Island instead of following the Orb's course. David found a seat by a window and looked out into the night sky.
"I guess if this was a movie this would be the part where they would show each of us thinking about the up coming battle and then show those hokey 'flash backs' of our lives up till now as we act grim that life dealt a hand like this. Well now I know that they're wrong, I just wish I could play a little video games and go to bed. After all, its not like we're anything great, even as fighters, I mean, Scott's old teacher could still beat all four of us at once!" David looked over at Matt and the twins. They were playing Scott's favorite game, poker, with a small deck of cards one of them must have somehow brought with them. They were playing it Scott style, meaning the point of the game was to try to cheat as much as possible with out getting caught, it wasn't even who won, it was who cheated the best without getting caught. Scott said that it wasn't cheating as long as everyone agreed to cheat as part of the rules. David almost laughed to himself as he watched them, "I guess some things never change." He muttered aloud.

Chapter 12
About 12 hours later George was called up to the cockpit. They were nearing Easter Island, but what they saw there was a little shocking. First, the air for miles around had turned icy, and second day light never showed. Everything on the island was wreathed in ice.
"Hmm, it looks like they got here first." George commented, "Scott did have to steal a science helicopter didn't he? No weapons, bombs, or armor."
The pilot began to descend toward the island. He had to be careful because ice had begun to form on the propeller.
George walked back to the others. "Hey Doctor," he said, "I guess it would be to much to hope that you guys might have some weapons aboard."
"Young man," said the Doctor, "Our Unit was made to study the supernatural, not destroy it."
"So what do you do when a ghoul wants to suck your liver out?"
"Ahyeswell," the Doctor stammered, "We do have some things for that sort ofproblem."
The Doctor opened a locker on the wall and with drew several metal cans. He opened one and dumped what looked like blue clay into his hand.
"You keep modeling clay for dealing with monsters?" asked Janelle.
"No no no!" Huffed the Doctor.
"It's C4 explosive." Said Matt, "Right?"
"Correct." Said the Doctor, "However I'm shocked that a student would know. It seems that schools teach more about destroying things then learning, and--."
"It's a hobby." Said George, cutting the Doctor off mid sentence.

The helicopter landed with a bump and everyone spilled out.
"Ok Scott," said George, "You're the one with the dreams of this place. Now, where do we go now?"
Scott turned in a slowly around to get a better view. Everywhere the stone heads that had made the island so well known were covered in a thick layer of ice. Scott drew his Katana and beckoned the others to follow him. Suddenly as they walked, white fleshless hands broke from the frozen ground and seized their legs. Jenni screamed as the cold bones bit into her flesh. Scott tried to slash them away, and did manage to destroy a few, but hitting the hands with out hitting oneself was very hard. They began to feel themselves being pulled down to their graves.
"I thought there were not people on this island!" George yelled fighting to free himself.
"No recorded peoples!" confirmed the Doctor. One of his aids was already up to his knees in the ground. The evil beings that held them seemed so sense the young man weakening and David felt some of the hands let go of him, only to them latch on to the young man. David swung his shotguns up to fire, but how could he hit the hands but not shoot the guy? David looked away as the young man was pulled from sight. The hands gave way at that moment and the rest of them climbed out. Grim faced, Scott took the lead.
They arrived at the center of the island without further problems. When they got there, they saw that the ice had been melted and the ground had been scorched. As they stood there George and Matt cried out together for the rest of them to jump on to some of the surrounding stone heads. Not a moment too soon they got off the ground and a skeletal hand burst from the ground. David took aim and was about to fire when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Wait," Scott said, "Let me try this." Scott had drawn out some C4 and connected the detonator. He threw in on the ground near the hand. The hand seemed to feel the bump of the C4 hitting the ground and immediately grabbed it and pulled it underground. Scott hit a button on a control box and there was a boom from under ground. The ground cracked and fell away -taking everyone with it. When they hit the bottom, the Doctor produced a light and looked around.
"Great work Scott!" said George Angrily.
"Yeah!" said Matt happily, "This is great!"
George shot him a glare, but said nothing.

They stood in a tunnel of packed dirt. From under the rubble skeletal forms began to rise. One popped up near David, but disappeared into dust as David blasted it with both of his shotguns.
"As much as I'd love to fight these undead single handedly," said Scott, "How about we get going before they pull themselves together?"
"But which way?" asked Janelle.
Fog began to roll from one of the tunnel mouths.
"You've got to love the special effects." Said George gloomily.
They turned and running down the tunnel. As they ran in through the fog filled tunnel they saw eyes gleaming out from the walls and ceiling. They increased their pace as spiders the size of small dogs began to drop on webs. The floor sloped slightly downward and seemed to always be turning to the right. George and Matt had taken the lead, but soon noticed that they were out distancing the rest of the party. Scott had kept up ok, but was breathing hard. David was a little farther back and looking pale. Jenni and Janelle were barely visible through the fog. The rest of the party was lost from sight, but could be heard breathing raggedly. Then a scream ripped through the air. Matt, George and Scott turned in unison and started back to the rear. David pivoted, but he slipped on some lose dirt and went sprawling. Jenni and Janelle caught up with him instantly and tipped over his prone form. All of them ended up in a heap.
At the back, the skeletons had caught up with the last man in line-the Doctor. To make matters worse, the Doctor was so winded that he had no strength to resist the undead monsters that sized him. Matt thundered into view and smashed into the Doctor and his attackers with powerful tackle. Even though this attack left Matt down, it knocked most of the skeletons off of the Doctor and smashed the rest. George ran up silently and went air born striking three spiders in midair. Scott rolled under him and came up with his sword drawn in front of the Doctor. The Doctor's aids had also turned to defend their odd leader. George, Scott, and Matt attacked as they had been trained. One would set the other up for an attack then fill the opening the other created. Scott let out an angry howl and began to move faster then the rest of them, becoming a whirlwind of steel blade. He rampaged for a moment then drew back.
"Did you have fun?" asked George.
Scott croaked something, but was to out of breathe to make sense, and motioned them to continue. Matt and George did so, only they were more careful of expending their energy in one burst. The monsters were destroyed soon, but more would be on the way, so the whole party continued onward.
They encountered no more enemies for the rest of their flight. Soon a soft light began to be seen ahead. The tunnel opened into a large cavern. In the center the floor rose into a pedestal about ten feet wide. Upon this pedestal stood Mr. Geon, college teacher, cult master, and mad man. In his hand, glowing darkly was the Orb.
"You fools!" The Master Shrieked.
"He keeps saying that" muttered Matt.
"You are too late! The Dark One is ready to return! You have failed! Watch and despair!" Geon lifted the Orb, then swung down and slammed it into his chest. It was hard to describe later, but it seemed that Geon and the Orb imploded. But it didn't stop there, it seemed to suck the air itself away, and finally left what looked like a black hole about six feet wide. Silence filled the chamber.
"I guess it would be too much to hope that he killed himself and destroyed the Orb by accident, right?" asked David.
The thought was interrupted by a very loud, "AH!" from the Doctor, as he seemed to get a second wind and ran over to the wall. David turned and looked at whatever was making the Doctor so excited. He noticed that the wall was covered in writing.
"Oh dear" said the Doctor.
"What?" asked George.
"That doesn't sound at all good."
"What doesn't!" asked George again.
"Well," began the Doctor, "I saw these markings on the wall, and they looked to me like a certain-"
"What doesn't sound good!?" George yelled.
"Ah, yes, I had forgotten how impatient you all are." Said the Doctor, "It says here that if the orb ever gained its full power and was allowed to travel all the way here then it would open a portal and be released."
"What would be released?" asked Jenni.
"It." Said the Doctor.
"What it?"
"Why! Didn't you figure it out already?" asked the Doctor in surprise, "The Orb was only a manifestation of a greater power, sent to open the door so it could come to our world in it's true form."
"Wonderful!" said George, "So are we like toast, or can we fight this thing?"
The Doctor squinted at the markings, "It would appear that there is no recorded way to defeat it, only prevent its return. However, I have studied this sort of thing and it is always the same. If this evil was somehow imprisoned in another dimension, it would be to weaken its power, or it would simply use its powers to return. It seems that if this great evil was native to our world, then it is here that it would be the strongest. Therefore if it returns to our plan of existence, it will regain all of its power, making it unbeatable."
"I get it," said Scott, "So, if we enter the plane it was imprisoned in then it would be weaken and vulnerable to attack."
"Very good, young man!"
"Cheater," said David, "Anyone who plays video games could have answered that!"
"I guess I have only one question." Said Matt.
"Yes?" asked the Doctor.
"Is this Evil thing locked in a place that has air?"
Everyone froze for a moment, the Doctor said, "I guess there's only one way to find out."
George sighed, "Ok, Matt, Scott, David. You come with me, we're going through the portal."
"Hold on a second!" cried Jenni.
"We're coming too!" said Janelle.
"I think not!" said Matt.
"You need to stay here in case we fail. Try to stop it from coming through." Said George.
"Yeah right! If you think it's too dangerous for us to go with you, it would be safer trying to fight something that could take all four of you and then get super charged when it steps out?" said Janelle.
"For goodness sake!" said Jenni, "We can help, that way maybe no one will die!"
George sighed again, and then smiled, "Fine, I guess there's no stopping you. After all, you could walk right through the portal after we leave."
"Yeah!" said Jenni, "That too."
Together the six of them walked over to the 'black hole" and peered inside. Nothing could be seen.
"Ok then!" said Scott and he stepped into the center.
Scott felt as if he was being pulled apart, then, his feet touched something solid. Scott looked around; the ground beneath his feet was black and shiny. So much in fact that he thought that he was standing in the night sky. However, the sky was not blue, it was white. The landscape was a striking contrast. The black ground stretched for eternity, being lost from sight where the white sky seemed to touch the earth. Scott felt lost for a moment in the sheer size of the place. George and the others appeared beside him, but they said nothing, merely looking around.
"I can't see what is so fascinating." Said a low voice, "But then again, I've had plenty of time to look at it."
Everyone spun to see a dark shape standing out against the white sky. It was roughly man sized, standing about six feet tall with it's body hidden from view by the black robes it wore. Its head was a monster like skull with horns like a ram that came out the sides of its head. From the eye sockets a red glow emitted.
Before anyone could speak the monster laughed again and said, "So you are the latest heroes! Simply amazing! The heroes that destroyed my Orb before you were all grim warriors, not half grown weaklings like you. And will you look at that; they've brought two pretty little girls with them! How sweet! How pathetic!"
It raised it's hand and a spiked and bladed spear appeared, "Now, get out of my way, and I'll make your deaths a little quicker!"
The sound of a blade being drawn cut the air. Scott walked forward, seemingly calm. "Demon, know this; I will destroy you, and this time there will be no return!"
"Don't bother with your act." Spat the demon, "I can smell your fear from here."
George drew up beside his brother, "Get him!" he yelled and charged the dark being. As one the group attacked him. David fired round after round of bullets into it until the others were to close to try to another shot, then he drew his sword and joined them. Matt leaped forward and slammed the point of his spear into the monster, but the monster blocked his attack. George slashed with his claws, ripping the robes. Scott's sword swept in a silver arc that was aimed at the thing's head.
The demon gave a yell and black fire issued forth in a shockwave, knocking everyone back. Scott's sword had connected, but the only thing it had produce was knocking off the thing's helmet. They could all now see, what they had mistaken for its head was only its helmet. The face beneath startled them more then the frightful mask. Instead of the face of a monster, they saw the face of a handsome young man.
"Surprised?" Asked the Dark One, "Did you expect my face to look like this? No? I thought not. Well look, and look well for this is the face of death! Now what have you to say?"
Matt walked forward, "Talk is cheap. You don't look so tough."
Before he had finished speaking, the Dark One had darted forward and punched Matt, knocking him to one knee. The others gasped. The speed of the monster was amazing.
George motioned to Scott, "You and Matt stay here and guard the Portal, don't let it get through if it slips past us." Scott only nodded.
Matt was on his feet again and attacking the Dark One with his spear. George hurried to attack the monster as well. George attacked from one side, and Matt from the other, hoping to catch it between them. The Dark One waited for them. George slashed at its legs while Matt stabbed at its face. The Dark One jumped and twisted around, turning horizontal in air. It landed and swept George's legs out from under him, and at the same time it thrust its spear back behind it at Matt; a move he barely deflected. It then twisted on the ground and sent kicks at both of them at once, both found their target. David seeing the field open for fire again drew his shotgun for another shot at it. The Dark One must have sensed this, for it turned and hurled it's spear at David. David Ducked, but the spear still hit the shotgun, shattering it. "Great!" said David, "Just Great."
Even though it resulted in the lost of a weapon, the attack did give George and Matt a chance to recover. George rushed in with speed that had brought him victory in many other battles. He swung his sword in a silver arc that cut though the air leaving a trail behind. The Dark One gave a short laugh and claws sprang from his arms, he used these to block the attack. The Dark One then kicked George's arm, sending George's sword flying. It flew through the air where it stuck into the white ground. The Dark One then slashed at George's exposed stomach. George brought his arm down to block, and therefore saved himself from being gutted, but the attack opened the flesh on his arm down to the bone. George cried out, but managed to land a round kick to its face. At that moment Matt came bounding up from behind and caught it from behind with a sidekick. The Dark One was up on its feet almost at once. George threw another kick, but this time the Demon caught his foot. Matt came to attack them again, but it flung George into Matt, knocking them both down again.
"You fools." The Dark One said almost pityingly, "What chance do you have? You have studied fighting for only a few years, I have lived for hundreds of thousands! I understand things you've never even thought of. You have no chance."
Matt flung his spear at it, but the Dark One caught it in mid flight, about an inch from its face.
"Close, but not close enough." It taunted.
"How about this?" Said George as he slammed his fist into the demon's face. He followed this with a knee to its middle section. The Dark One slashed out at him but it only grazed George's chest. George grabbed both of the thing's arms and placed his foot on its throat and began to push. Matt had been about to attack, but it seemed that George was doing fine so he decided to catch his breath.
"glyou (hack)need to(cough) knowsomething" it gasped.
"And what might that be?" asked George, never letting the pressure off.
The Dark One broke George's hold on his arms and kicked his leg out from under him, "The warm up's over!"
Matt didn't like the look of this and attacked. Matt attacked with a blitz of punches and kicks, but the Dark One matched every blow with block.
"You are much too slow!" it taunted.
The Dark One drew back and planted an uppercut into Matt's stomach. Matt's body curled around the demon's fist and the force of the blow lifted Matt off his feet. Matt fell to his knees, his arms clutched around his middle. He tried to rise, but he only made it half way up. He choked and fell back again, this time he fell flat. George was back on his feet again and had gone air born; he came crashing down on the Dark One's shoulders. The Dark One hit the ground, rolled, and was back on his feet.
"Not bad." It said, "I'm glad that at least the strongest of the group was able to get a hit in. This was getting pathetic."
George said nothing, but he answered by reaching down with in himself and drawing on all his strength, he delivered a kick or thunderous power. The Dark One also threw a kick. Their legs cut though the air and hit one another with shattering force. The Dark One and George didn't stop there. The Dark One threw a punch and received a counter punch from George. George's speed was intense, but the demon was faster. They raged back and forth for a moment, but it was beginning to ware on George. This time the Dark One managed to duck the kick George sent at his head and swept George's leg out from under him. While George was still in the air, the demon hammered him with a knee to his back, then sent him crashing to earth with a downward elbow. George fell to earth shuttering.

Scott, David, and the twins had watched all this happen from their place in front of the portal. They hadn't moved even when the thing had taken Matt out, because they were sure George had it dead to rights with his last attack. They watched when Matt had tried to get back up and hadn't been able. They watched as it took the full force of George's attacks, but hadn't slowed. But when Scott saw his brother fall his mind stopped working. He forgot George's order to guard the portal, he forgot that this unholy monster had taken the two strongest members of the team together and beaten them. Scott knew only one thing, his brother was about to die, and to Scott that meant one thing, that demon was about to die first. Scott moved forward, his sword swept forward, the guard touching his nose and then swept down again. He half heard David call something to him, but didn't make out the words.
The monster stood with his back to Scott. It raised its foot and brought it down on George's back where he lay. George was awake enough to cry out. Rage burned through Scott's body, only this time Scott didn't suppress it, he drew strength from it. His knuckles turned white and he heard a growl escape from his throat.
The Dark One turned around and looked him in the eyes. This time those dark eyes found no fear, only anger, deep, burning anger. Those Dark eyes went wide for a moment, then it began to laugh.
"You're anger doesn't empress me!" It informed Scott scornfully.
Scott shrugged.
The demon sprouted it's claws again as Scott attacked.
Scott swung his blade with the skill he had gained through the love of that weapon. He moved so fast it seemed a blur. Once a claw had swept past his face, leaving three scratches. Scott ignored these, not even pausing as he hammered at his enemy. Scott even managed to mix kicks in with his waving blade. One of these connected and the Dark One slowed enough that Scott managed to inflict a minor wound to the Dark One's hip. Scott began to laugh.

David saw that the demon was totally absorbed in killing his best friend, so being the practical one of the group, he saw his chance to get his other friends out of harms way. Leaving Jenni and Janelle to guard the portal, he managed to drag both George and Matt over the relative safety of the portal.
"Are you ok?" Jenni asked Matt.
Matt was still clutching his chest. "I don'tknowhow one punchcould damage me so much!" he gasped. Blood ran from his mouth. "I think I'll be okgive me a second."
George wasn't in much better shape; his eye was swollen shut and a trickle blood ran from his left ear. "He's so strong!" he told David, "And he's so fast that I can't seem to hit him!" His eyes weren't focusing right as he cast about for his brother. "Where's Scott?"
"Fighting that thing." Said David pointing.
"Alone? No, he'll get killed!"
"Well," said David watching, "He's doing pretty well right now.
Almost as if it was listening, the monster started to win. Scott's smile vanished as the monster scored some major strikes on him. Blood ran from a cut on his brow, covering changing Scott's face into a crimson mask. Scott took one hand off his sword to wipe the blood from his eyes and the Dark One took that opportunity to strike him. The claw plunged into Scott's middle. Scott's eyes widened in shock and pain. Something was happening that Scott had never thought possible-he had lost. All of his life Scott's pride had never let him believe that he could lose, not if he really tried, but now at the in the true test of Scott's skills, he had been found wanting. The Dark One lifted Scott on his claws till he was level with the monster's face.
"My poor prideful one," it said softly, "your anger and pride had made you think that you were invincible, but don't you realize? Anger and pride are not virtues, and they go before a fall, and you are taking that fall now." He dropped Scott to the black ground and watched as a puddle of blood formed around Scott's prone form. Then bending down he picked up Scott's sword from his nerveless fingers. He lifted it, and then brought it down in an arc to take the young fighter head from his shoulders. Scott's sliver blade swept downward toward its owner, but a foot from its target another blade turned it away. At the same time he felt a blade stab him in the back.
The monster screamed and twisted about to find Janelle holding a short sword with fresh blood on the blade. David was the one that had blocked the attack aimed at Scott.
"Where's the other one?" the Dark One asked.
"Here!" said a voice off to the right.
"Oh dear!" said the demon mockingly, "They have me surrounded. Exactly what are you going to do? Fight me? You just saw me defeat your leaders. You sweet girls aren't even one of the chosen. Heck," it spat, "you're barely fighters." He pointed at their swords, "None of you have even really trained with those! I'll give you one last chance. Go kneel with your fallen friends and death will descend on you painlessly."
"Wow let me think about that," said Janelle, "ahno!"
"I mean," said David, "Thanks for the offer, but there's no demand for that kind of that thing in this group."
The demon nodded, "Very well, come and die."
David leapt forward and got a foot in the face for his trouble. Jenni slashed low at the thing's legs. It merely jumped over the attack and came down on the blade knocking it from her hand. Janelle tried slashing high, but the thing caught it with its claws. It reached out and grabbed Janelle by the face and threw her at her sister. Jenni had the sense to duck, then snatched the sword from her sister's hand and attacked again. David threw a sidekick at the thing's leg and was rewarded with a gasp of pain when it connected with its knee. It knocked David's sword aside and thrust it's claws at David's unprotected belly. Fortunately, it caught Jenni's movement out of the corner of its eye and had to turn to defend itself from her. But this time Janelle was up again and had taken Scott's sword (which the monster had discarded) to use since her sister had taken her own. The twins now attacked together being more dangerous together then individually. David added his skill to the attack as well. They attacked here, then twisted around and attacked some were else. It was very confusing. The monster nearly pinned Jenni to the ground when David saw it extending its hand and with a quick slash took the hand (claws and all) off. The Demon screamed staring at the stump that had been its hand. David and the twins moved in close to finish it while it was busy with itself. But when it saw them closing it closed it's eyes and with a scream caused energy to rip forth from it.
This energy struck David and the twins, picked them up and flung them back. The energy scooped up Scott from the ground and tossed him to. George was climbing to his feet when the energy wave carrying his friends struck him. Together they landed in a heap in front of the portal. David and the twins had been closest to the Dark One when it sent out the wave and so were rendered unconscious. The rest were a mix of conscious and semi-conscious. Scott lay at the bottom of the pile and was barely in this life.
"I trained so hard." He thought to himself. "I gave every ounce of power I had to that fight. All my life I trained for this battle, I didn't know it at the time, but now it makes sense. After all that pain, loneliness, and discipline, I failed. It's not fair! I have been tortured, burned, hacked, and fought every horror that exists, in the end it doesn't matter." Scott thought about what the demon had said about his pride. He had trusted it his own strength and it had failed. He thought back to what the monster and the Doctor had both said, that they were the chosen. The chosen of who? The answer smacked Scott in the forehead. The only one that had power greater then anyone; the Author of life himself. All this time Scott had tried to battle these forces with his own power alone, it had never dawned on Scott to question who had warned him in the first place.
"Forgive me." He whispered. Then he reached down into the very center of himself that place where dwelt a force that Scott had found many occasions to ignore, but one that never forsook him.
From his soul he whispered a prayer, "Save us God."

The Dark One had almost recovered from the use of energy. If it had been in it's own plane it wouldn't even have paused at the expenditure of power, but here even the smallest usage left it weakened. Something moved in the pile of bodies. The Dark One looked up. The pile moved again and a hand shoved on of the bodies off the top. Out of the center, Scott rose.
"Those holes on your middle go great with your outfit."
Scott said nothing. His hands tighten into fists and his eyes blazed at the demon.
"I'll give you this," said the Dark One, "all of you have the hardest time dieing I've ever seen."
Scott leapt forward and caught the demon with an uppercut. The blow knocked the demon down but it rolled back to its feet. It attacked with its remaining claw, but Scott caught it and flipped it on it's back. The thing kicked Scott in the face from where it lay and jumped back to its feet. It moved towards the portal.
"No!" Scott yelled.
The demon moved quickly and neared the portal. It was surprised to find its path blocked by Matt's large and newly recovered body. The Demon grabbed Matt to push him out of the way, but Matt grabbed it back. The demon was no longer amused; these annoying fighters had delayed it long enough. It pushed with all of its strength. Matt gasped at the strain, veins popped out all over his body. Matt's face turned white, but with a roar he began to push the demon back. For the first time the demon's face showed shock. Matt exerted one last great effort and threw the demon back from the doorway. Matt dropped to one knee, then passed out. Scott had recovered and attacked again. His fists pounded into the demon's face with awful speed. The impact could be heard loudly. Scott drew back and time seemed to slowdown, his fist moved toward the demon and finally impacted with splintering force into the center of its chest. The demon's eyes went wide and a groan escaped its lips. The blow left an impression in the demons chest. The demon tried to swipe at Scott's face with its claw, but a hand caught it from behind and using his elbow, George broke its arm. The Dark One sucked in and spat a ball of venom into Scott's face. Scott went down. George let lose of its arm only to catch a knee to his face. Stunned, George fell back. The thing made a dash for the portal.
"What happened?" It screamed to itself, "A moment before they were helpless. Then suddenly the most wounded among them gets back up and starts fighting with more power then at the start! I can't fight them any longer, I'm losing strength and it seems that theirs is growing. I have to get through before the rest of them regain their strength."
David rose before it. In his hand he held Matt's discarded spear. The demon tried to block, but it's damaged arms refused to respond. The spear lodged itself in the Dark One's chest. Still the Demon didn't stop. It summoned the last of its power and knocked David out of the way. The twins appeared and attacked at exactly the same moment. Their swords buried themselves into either side of the Dark One's neck. The Demon staggered under the girls assault, then it's eyes flashed and the twins were flung back by an invisible force. The Demon staggered forward. The portal was only a few steps a head; suddenly he heard a cry from behind him.
"It's to late!" he thought gleefully, "Nothing can stop me!"
Scott took his sword back from Janelle and with both hands threw it at the demon's back.
The sword spun as it flew toward its target. It flashed sliver and seemed to catch fire as it flew. The demon had just started to enter the portal when the sword struck it. It jerked up strait and howled. It shuttered and clawed the air before it. Then the demon began to change. It grew larger and it's face lost its handsomeness, it changed into the demon they all imagined it to be. The ugly face, the leathery hide, muscled body were all there. Then it began to break apart. It shattered and turned to dust before their eyes. Then it did exactly what David expected it to do-it exploded. The blast picked them caught them, but instead of tossing them it pulled them towards its center. At the center loomed the black recesses of the portal. Scott felt as if he was being pulled apart, and then knew no more.

Scott awoke in his bed at the college. The odd little face of the Doctor loomed over him. Scott sat up suddenly, but the room swam before his eyes and he fell back down on his pillow.
"How do you feel?" asked the Doctor.
"Well, considering the fact that I've been stabbed, beaten, tortured, and finally blow-up, not bad. I guess we won?"
"Yes yes, it's all taken care of. Somehow the explosion knocked you all through the portal before it closed."
"Thank God."
"And so you should. The medics said there was no way you should have survived. You lost blood, puncher a lung, and were in such a state of shock that you shouldn't be talking to me now."
Scott nodded.
"Anyway, I have to go, I have a lot of research to complete." The Doctor started to stand. "Oh, and by the way, the college is giving all of you all A's for this semester even thought you haven't finished it. I told them how helpful you were to my research. And please remember that, you were helping me with my research! If you ever need me, I left a number where you can contact me by the phone. Oh, and please tell the others good bye for me, they aren't awake yet."
Scott nodded, "So once again, we saved the world and got no credit for it?"
The Doctor smiled, "You didn't save the world for the credit-you were born to do it."
Scott laid his head back and heard a helicopter take off outside. He could rest easy for the first time in weeks. The nightmare was over for good this time. The Darkness had fled like shadows before the Light. And so it would always be.