Aru Shah - Jumanji: The Next Level AU

Chapter 3

Aru stared at the barely put together form of Jumanji she had put together. She sighed as she looked at the broken metal plate she had used to hide the old pieces after the group had destroyed it with the bowling ball.

Is this really a good idea? She thought, running her fingers over the jagged pieces of wire.

Her mind flashed images of her life in the past few months. Tears blossomed in her eyes, but hurriedly wiped them away. She truly didn't know what she wanted. She wanted her mother, who would have comforted her with all of the uncertainties she had. She would even settle for Boo, who had years of experience with life and pain. He was technically the only one who could connect with her. Then, there was Aiden. She didn't want to think about him, especially since she would be coaxed to change her mind again.

She glanced at the video game again, remembering the strength and power she had. She remembered how she brought Boo back to life. Aru yearned for that power again. Before she could regret it, or even truly think about it, Aru grasped onto the controller for dear life as she turned Jumanji on. She beamed as she heard the steady whirring of the machine coming to life.

~~

Mini and the others pounded on the detention room door, realizing that it was locked. She banged the door in frustration, suddenly shoved aside.

"Let me. I've done this plenty of times. Anyone here have a credit card and a bobby pin?" Keira said, standing up independently

Her eyes were still tired, and she looked like she would collapse any minute, but the adamant look on her face showed everyone that they had no choice but to let her do her thing. Nikita took out a bobby pin from her hair and handed it Keira, who took it gingerly, her hands shivering. Aiden had taken out an ID card and handed it over.

She put the pin into the key-hole and crouched down, her ear to the knob. She twisted the pin around until she heard a faint clicking sound. Then she had slid the ID card through the edge of the door, near the door handle. Standing back up, she smoothed out her hospital gown, and opened the door, ushering everyone inside.

They all filled in, one by one, in awe of what they saw. The Jumanji game was perfectly reassembled, pieces and all. The game console was on the ground, and they saw on the screen that one of the characters was 'in use.' The character had no name, and no picture. But the new Jumanji system had the name of the user.

Arundhati Shah, Age (15) 2 time user. Update Jumanji 2.1.0.7.8

Aiden pupils dilated in fear and both Hira and Brynne seemed to notice because they both snorted and said, "Relax, Loverboy." Of course, they proceeded to have a jinx battle after that - no one won - but that bit isn't important.

However, they soon noticed that something wasn't right.

"Right, well I could be mistaken but I believe that you are missing 2 people from your group, excluding your friend Arundhati," Keira huffed, leaning against a wall, carefully analyzing them. " I believe their names were Subala, and Sheela? I heard while I was supposedly 'knocked out.' I'm a light sleeper."

Aiden stopped, staring at all of them, mentally counting. Mini took in a sharp intake of breath, and everyone except Hira widened their eyes.

"Um... Ima ask one of the local snakes here if they saw them okay?" Rudy said, glancing around wearily.

Aiden raised an eyebrow, "You'll what now?"

Rudy rolled his eyes, "Watch and learn, dear cousin."

Rudy proceeded to lay down on the floor in a planking position. He used his elbows to crawl around. Aiden laughed momentarily forgetting their current position, "Am I supposed to learn that you're an idiot? Because I knew that already."

Rudy smacked Aiden's shin bone, and snickered as his cousin hopped in pain. He looked under the tables and edges of the walls, and his eyes narrowed in on a corner of the room. Rudy got to his feet and ran to the corner, picking up a small brown snake and bringing it over to the group.

Mini shuddered, "That's unsanitary. Those things carry so many diseases. Plus, some of them are venomous. You could-"

"Die?" everyone finished for her - even Hira and Keira, which was a surprise. Mini huffed and nodded.

Rudy laughed, "Don't worry, darlin'. We won't hurt you."

Nikita snorted, "You sound like a cow wrangler."

Rudy glared at her, "It's a Coachwhip snake. Commonly found in Texas. So, I'm trying to appeal to her."

Mini stared at him, "One, don't stereotype things from Texas. Two, when did you get so smart?"

Rudy smiled, "I did some reading." He glared at Aiden, "I'm not an idiot. You just can't comprehend my genius."

Brynne snickered, "Either that or you're an idiot."

Rudy scowled, "Whatever." He cradled the snake, which seemed quite okay with being held by a stranger, "Can you tell us if there was a girl in here? Before us? And where she went? Also, do you or any of your friends know anything about a boy with glasses about this big..." He rattled on, in a series of hisses.

The snake slithered up to Rudy's neck, wrapping itself around his head like a crown before hissing. He nodded and gave the snake a smile before setting it down, letting it slither back to a corner.

Rudy sighed, "Aru did go into the game. And apparently Boo and Sheela are back in the museum."

Everyone gaped at him. Mini was the first to get out of shock, "H-How'd you do that? And do you need hand sanitizer?"

Rudy shrugged, "Remember when I took the potion in the game, and it said something about powers being retained in the human world? A few weeks ago, I figured out my power to talk to snakes and yada yada yada. And no hand sanitizer for me, thanks."

Mini marched up to him, "Too bad." She grabbed his hands and squirted sanitizer into them, not noticing Rudy's blush.

"I am sincerely surprised on how you all are still alive, but I am rather inclined to go and save your friend who ended up helping me and Hira. Can we get a move on already and go in this stupid 'video game?"

"You talk like Boo. When was the last time you got out?" Nikita mumbled.

"I have not been in the outside world since I was 5 years old Miss Nikita."

Aiden sighed, running a hand through his hair, "That's great and all, but we gotta get Aru."

Brynne snorted, "Okay, Ammamma. Don't get so frustrated." Brynne picked up a controller, ready to choose her character."

"Although, it is quite curious. Based on your reactions, it sounds like this video game is terrible. Why would Aru, I hope it's okay to call her that, but why would she go back in?" Keira asked, cocking her head.

Hira stared at her friend, "You question that, but not how they go into it. Whatever, man. You do you."

"Why should I question something that I am not familiar with? I mean... A video game?" Keira said hesitantly.

"That's exactly what you should question!" Hira yelled. She sighed out of exasperation, "Just put us in the game, Brynne."

Brynne nodded and was about to choose her character when they heard footsteps from outside. The Janitor. They'd be in trouble if he saw them.

The others had stared at the door apprehensively. Brynne had slowly and quietly set the controller down. But then, they heard the dreaded Jumanji drums. That's when they saw the Jumanji set glow very brightly as their bodies dematerialized, their body particles being sucked into the game. The Jumanji set floated back behind the metal plate.

Just then, the Janitor swung the door open, his mighty broom up and ready for a fight. He ran away though, screaming at the sight of a brown snake hissing at him. His mighty broom was defeated as the snake hung on to it.