The Mansion of Trials and Trials

Chase of the Cannibal Flowers

In blinks, the odd-looking flower enlarged itself and stuck out its white stamens to grab the air. The petals straightened. It opened its mouth wide.......and bit a head off.

Without warning, splashes of blood splashed out from the edges of the neck and sides of the petal flower. The deadly liquid spilled on the ground mixed with bits of red muscles and fibers, broken parts of human pieces. The no-head body lost strength and collapsed, followed by a heavy sound. As the scent of blood fluttered in, the colors on the 'flower' brightened and sparked. It opened its mouth again and swallowed the entire corpse.

"PAXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Pike screamed and yelled. He stretched his arms near the monster. It was nothing like he had ever seen.

Hearing the shriek, the 'flower' turned its head immediately, targeting Pike.

"PAXXXXX! PAXXXX! PAXXXXXXXXX!"

"WHAT? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?" Inga screamed.

"A Cannibal Flower.......?!" I bit my lips and stared at the monster. Argh.....why didn't I notice? If the tooth sign at the entrance represents the Skeldo, then the flower sign must represent something else too.......something as deadly and crazy as the moving skeleton.

"PAXXXX! PAXXXX! YOU MONSTER! HOW YOU DARE TO KILL PAX! I WON'T—"

"Calm down, Mr. Pike! We have to leave," said Von.

"DON'T BE KIDDING ME! LET ME GO!!!! I AM NOT GETTING OUT OF HERE UNTIL I TEAR THAT MONSTER INTO PIECES!"

"PIKE!" Von grabbed his shoulders, "Just calm down, ok? Look at it! Do you think that is something that we can take care of?"

".......err...!"

"Let's get out of here first. Levi, do you know the way?" Von asked.

"Of course, follow me," I stared at the Flower, my hands were shivering. My legs couldn't move.

"Reed! Let's go!" Levi pulled my hand and dragged me away. The Cannibal Flower straightened its petals and screeched. The roots grew bigger, broke the stone tiles and extended out, lifting up the Flower. They started moving, stretching up and down, stepping and crushing the floor and walls. Leaves fell to the ground, torn apart and squashed into pieces. The Cannibal leaped forward and roared. Numerous of white stamen worms came out from the mouth, wiggled and darted straight at us. A cold gust of wind blew from behind, I immediately ducked my head. A large, wide white stamen went past me and hit the ground. It smashed the tiles with hairs falling over.

I held my breath. More stamens dashed in, followed by cracking sounds. The sounds became louder and louder. I didn't dare to look back.

"AHHHHHHHH! IT'S COMING! IT'S COMING! IT'S GOING TO CATCH UP WITH US WITHIN ANY SECOND!" Inga screamed.

"DON'T LOOK BACK! JUST RUN!" Von cried and took another step. Underneath his foot, the stone tile moved by itself downwards. Sounds of wheels rolling. Von looked down. He had a bad feeling about this. He turned his head immediately. A spark of light glittered inside the hedge walls.

"EVERYONE! KNEEL DOWN!!!"

Startled, I covered my head and bent down. On the right, behind the shadows of bushes, numerous arrows darted right above at our heads. Some flew through the other side of the hedge walls, trapped under the leaves while others scattered around on the ground.

"Let's go!" Von said. Everyone followed.

More of the sounds of bricks rushed in, as we ran, the road ahead split into two different paths.

"There's a fork ahead! Which way, Levi?!"

"Go right!" Levi answered. The Flower roared again. Another group of stamens swung and whipped the floor. The cries traced my nightmares of those creepy, bloody Skeldos. The vine-like stamens were no difference compared to the brutal claws I remembered.