They the Wubbox : Rewritten

[Chapter 25]

Air had been walking along the street alone, as usual. The sun leaves the sky a delicate amber as night starts to infect its way into the sky.
Pompom was still a bit nervous about being outside, but she was more confident after the gathering. Now, he was just on his way to the store to pick up a few things. He didn't expect much to happen, maybe a few mocking looks and taunts, but when he was with his friends, he was better. Maybe he'd see them at the store!
As he rounded another corner, he heard his name. "Hey, Air!"

He turned around, and saw Pango and a few other monsters in the alley. Odd, but he didn't mind. "Hello! I do have to go though, the store is going to close soon!"

"Sure, but you can wait a moment to talk with us, right? We just need to ask if you know what's been happening recently."

"...S-Sure!"
Air stepped forward, and though he felt a bit off by going in, it had to be important!

They walked over to the other side of him. "So there have been a few missing monster cases, and we were wondering if you had any idea what might have happened to them." A rare congle spoke.

"Oh, no, I don't, sorry. But, I can help look for them!" Air replied, hopeful that if he helped, perhaps they would like him.

"That would be so kind of you!"

"Maybe since i can fly, i can fly over the forest, and look for anything suspicious!"
Air's wings started to flutter, and his chest opened as he imagined helping them, and being liked once more in the end. Finally, they would see him as something other than a source of entertainment!
As he finished speaking then looking back at them, he saw the glimpse of a familiar weapon held by pango, before he was quickly shot in his Core. He fell to his knees as he gasped in pain, holding his chest as the group then ran off quickly, laughing all the while.
Air should have listened when he first came across them, but he was so foolish to listen and get closer. He should have known he was in danger once they closed him in.
He laid on his side as pain throbbed in his core, as if fire was spreading through him at a quick pace. He knew he wouldn't have the energy to get up or get help, so he would be stuck in the alley for a while. His body would also turn into the box form, and he would never get out unless someone helped him, so he did the only thing he could think of.

Beep beep! The phone dial rang. Rare did not move from his spot until the phone rang a third time. He sat up from the floor which he laid nearly lifeless upon, snatching up the phone and taking in a breath before pressing the answer.
"What." He said sternly.

"I-I need you to.. G-get over to air island... It's serious this time.." Air seemed to gasp and whine with pain.

"W-What?" Rare asked confusingly.

"I-I was dumb enough to think some monster was going to accept me, but... They shot me.. I-In the core... I-I don't know how much longer I can stay normal.."

"Where the hell are you?!"

"Air island. Um...S-South avenue..? I-I'm gonna have to go, I'm sorry.."
Rare was left in silence as he hung up. He couldn't believe this was seriously happening. This had to be a cruel joke. Air never said anything about being hated, and just the sudden drop of information that no one liked him was aweing.
He was going to have to hurry.

The darkness was all too familiar. Monsters said it was like a "dark abyss of death," and that was a pretty good description for it. Only this time, instead of a pitch black box with no end, it was pitch black box, with light coming from above. Was this maybe what it was like to be in his box form? Did the others see this?
Time in the box must have been different from outside it, because it seemed as if after just a few minutes, Rare and Wubbox had shown up.
"Air, are you in there?" He heard Rare's voice echo in the abyss.