The three boys enter the next containment facility. And right on cue, Ortho's hologram appears before them.
Ortho happily says, "Hi again! Welcome to your third trial!"
The three boys remain silent in response.
"What's the matter? You all look so dour. Did you have a fight?" Ortho asks.
"It's none of your business," Jamil says, sounding bitter.
"Yikes, Mr. Scary Pants," Ortho says, surprised, "It's not nice to take your anger out on others, you know. Now you're making me worried. Will you be able to overcome your next trial like this? It's called: 'He who controls water controls all!' True heroes are the ones who fight the hardest even when struggling through waves!"
"Are you talking about this pool at our feet?" Leona asks.
"Yep yep. It's coolant, which is used to keep things at a low temperature. It stops equipment from overheating," Ortho says.
Suddenly, they hear a banging sound.
Jasper asks, "What was that?"
They soon hear banging sounds again, and someone shouting, "Is someone there?! Help me!"
"Was that a person?!" Jamil asks, giving off a serious tone.
"They're just past that cage on the floor!" Leona says.
The three rush over.
Jasper says, "Look there!"
They soon see a Styx employee banging and shouting, "Please, you have to help me!" and struggles to keep himself up in the pool.
"It's a member of the staff. Did you fall into the pool and miss your chance to escape?" Jamil asks, shocked.
He then calls out, "It's dangerous in here. You need to get out-"
The researcher screams, "I can't!"
Leona soon notices, "Tech... His foot's tied to a cage in the water with a rope. Someone's got a nasty sense of humor."
"I'll just cut the rope with magic," Jamil calls out.
But Ortho says, "Ah, ah, ah! Are you sure you want to do that? It might not just be a rope.
"What...?" Leona questions.
"What are you talking about?"
"That's one of the cables that controls this containment facility. If you cut it, all the cages will open at once. You'll have to unlock the shackle on his ankle if you want to save him! Those cages are pretty heavy, you know. If you don't act soon, that cage is gonna keep sinking lower and lower..." Ortho explains, and giggles, "Hee hee! So you better find the key before the researcher sinks with it! Best of luck, gentlemen!"
Then the hologram disappears.
The researcher continues to scream "Please, help! I can feel the cage dragging me down..." and struggles to keep afloat.
"Crud. If we don't act fast, he's going to drown!" Jamil says.
"Tch. I'm guessing our 'trial' is to save him, or else we can't advance," Jamil says.
"Who cares about that?! We need to save him now!" Jasper says.
"Jasper is right," Jamil says and turns to Leona, "I think we'd best put aside our differences for now, Leona."
"Yeah. Let's find that stupid key," Leona says.
He then calls out, "Hey, you. Did you see which cage Ortho hid the key in? Spill it."
"HELP! Please! Anybody!" The researcher panics.
"He's too panicked to listen. It'll probably be faster to just try the cages one by one. Come on, let's move," Jamil says.
Racing against time, the boys begin to search the cage to save the researcher in distress.
YOU ARE READING
Twisted Wonderland Book 6: The Watchman of the Underworld
FanficAfter Grim attacked Briar after the SDC, she and her friends search for him, but captured by Ortho. A few days later, the school has been invaded by strong people is armor, and has captured, Riddle, Leona, Azul, Jamil, Vil, and Briar, and has Grim i...
