Don't Hug Me I'm The Chosen One: Bound With Fate (Book 2)

fight for freedom

For quite a while, I tried figuring out how the fuck have I managed to control a stabre's mind when I was about to finish the 1st task. But I don't have enough time left. The cultists that I haven't freed yet would soon arrive to recapture me and the creatures in the maze are coming to slaughter me.

"Wait wait wait! L-let me f-figure out s-something!" I declared nervously while slowly backing away.

A 6-legged gigantic rat hops on me, screeching. It flexes its claws, which length resembles a walrus' teeth, and threatens to scratch me. But before it could, I blocked and kicked the creature on the stomach. All of a sudden, something sharp stabs on my butt.

"AAAAGH-!"

I jumped a mile into the air and away and landed headfirst on the ground. The rat thing approaches me, its nose sniffling on the ground and towards me. Above me, a vine threatens to seize me. I got so scared I forgot to think properly and just impulsively leaped on the giant rat and grabbed one of its ears instead of simply running away. I felt sensation crawl over from my arms up to my head, followed by extreme headache.

The giant 6-legged rat started moving according to my will. I smiled in delight but then I hear noises from outside the labyrinth. Malcolm's slaves are arriving! And I have another problem right now: I don't know how to control multiple creatures at once.

"C'mon, there gotta be something I can do about this," I muttered, tapping my head with my fist.

I felt the sweat on my face so I wiped them off. All of a sudden, I saw a glowing sphere of energy hovering above my hand. I'm not sure what have I done but I marvelled it. I got so distracted, I didn't notice the cultists have arrived. Usar is in lead, this time.

"Surrender now, Manny, if you still want the higher rank!" he commanded.

"NOOO!" I shouted and tried to run away but tripped on some rock.

The sphere crashes on the ground. It evaporates into shimmering dust and scatters around the maze. Every creature that were touched by the dust stopped acting naturally and just stood up and froze in one place. But as I was seized by the cultists and I tried to fight back, all those creatures went towards me and attacked those seeking to capture me. I freed Usar from Malcolm's control and used the creatures I'm manipulating to shield myself from the others while I ran away.

Currently, I have 3 goals: destroy Malcolm to free everyone from his manipulation, find Michelle, and get out of this insane place. I went back to where Malcolm's statue head is to achieve my first 2 goals. However, I couldn't find Michelle anywhere and it's making my heart shatter even more. Not only that she betrayed me by helping with the ritual that could potentially kill me, but also that I couldn't get to even free her from Malcolm's manipulation.

Right now, the only nearest goal I can achieve is to destroy Malcolm once and for all. I grabbed a bunch of firewood I found in the storage room for ritual objects and threw them below the statue head.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" he asked angrily.

I ignored Malcolm's furious shrieks and just lighted up the pile of firewood with a fireball I summoned. Then I quickly projected shield around me. The crypt bursted into flames as I dashed out of that place. I then continued searching for Michelle amidst the chaos.

"OVER HERE!" I hear a familiar voice call out.

Benny and Usar were standing next to a boulder in the garden. The bunny is holding the glowing white stone.

"We don't have time to waste!" declared Benny. "Let's get outta here before Malcolm gains on us again!"

"B-but I gotta find Michelle first!"

As I was about to run away, Usar seizes me. "I wouldn't risk us getting controlled by Malcolm like puppets again!"

I was left to no choice but come with them. They pushed me into the portal that the split boulder created. Before I knew it, we're back at the realm of critters. We've landed on a huge puddle of mud in the swamp, where the 3rd task took place. I looked up and saw a huge dark grey cloud. It looks like as if there's an upcoming thunderstorm.

"Hey Manny, you seem gloomy," remarked Usar. "Is everything alright?"

"Uhh...well it's hard to process it all," I sighed.

"Oh there's something I wanna tell you that I'm certain will cheer you up," Benny said with a smile.

"What is it?"

"There's nothing more I wanna say than thank you!"

I looked up at him. "Thank you for what?"

"For helping us break free from Malcolm's chains of mind control! Can you believe it, Usar? The rumors are fake! The Destined Boy is actually alive and well! LET'S CELEBRATE...!"

"Wai wai wait...hold on," I said, holding my hand up. "'alive and well'? What were the rumors about me?"

Usar clears his throat. "11 years ago after the incident, everyone thought you've..."

Before I could even hear what he's going to say, we all heard a loud thunder. Throbbing headache returned to me. Out of a thick mist came a huge army of the creatures I've controlled, along with the cultists that I've freed. All of them seems to be drenched wet. They were also covered in withered flowers and grass. They headed towards me, not to bring me back to Malcolm, but to celebrate with me. I smiled despite the pain in my head as the freed cultists toss me into the air happily. The creatures circled around us and jumped and danced.

"Ok ok! Thank you everyone! I appreciate how much y'all admire," I chuckled. "But can I uhh have a second of..."

Before I could even finish my sentence, my vision went black. It must've been so long since I've fainted because as I've woken up, I'm now in the middle of what looks like a town square. So many people...err...anthropomorphic animals were gathered around me, muttering, gossiping, and trying to take a peek at me. I shook my head and tried to take a better look. This town square is more of a garden, with huge mushrooms and trees designed like buildings and stuff.

"He's awaking! He's awaking!" announced a possum.

"My dear, are you alright?" asked an elderly goose. "A group of animals brought you here unconscious. They said you've fainted for some unknown reasons but a rabbit explained you've probably ran out of some kind of wizard energy called mana."

"Uhh...well I guess I am ok," I muttered, rubbing my head.

In reality, I've got a list of things I'm worrying about. Where the hell is Michelle? What happened to the other cultists I've failed to free from Malcolm? Have I actually managed to destroy Malcolm? Where are Robin and Harry? Thinking about too many shit is gonna make my headache return.

From afar, I saw some of the crowd trying to make a path to someone. Some of them were annoyed while the others were confused. As they were getting nearer, I've heard familiar voices and saw a pair of recognizable red and green among the crowd. My dads have arrived!

"OMIGOSH MANNY! IM SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK!" exclaimed Robin as he pulls me into a tight hug, tears running down his face.

"You've had me and your papa dead worried!" added Harry. "3 months without you is pure torture!"

"3 MONTHS?!" I asked in shock and disbelief. "I'VE BEEN GONE FOR 3 MONTHS?!"

Robin nodded. "Yes, Doi! You've disappeared for 3 whole months! Where have you been?!"

"Well it's a long story but let's just say I discovered the secret cult you've told me about," I said.

"They captured you?! OH I'M GONNA KILL THEM!"

"Calm down, papa," I replied, patting him. "Remember when I got lost in the forest? Well, the leader of the cult, Shrignold, lied to me about helping me find my way back to you guys. That's how I got lured into the cult. I even almost got mind controlled by Malcolm but I escaped and that's how I managed to survive."

Robin faints while Harry grabs and hugs me. He assures me that such thing won't happen to me again. I think he's right because I've learned from my experience that I mustn't talk to strangers ever again.