Twisted Wonderland 2

Been Here Before

Jack leads you and the boys to the mines where Deuce was last seen. You enter the dimly lit tunnels and find the spot the boys found the pickaxe.

Jack gestures with a nod. "Here's where we found the pickaxe. Deuce and I didn't go past this point when we were doing the challenge. It wouldn't make sense for him to go any further if he was just getting the pickaxe... But at this point, I'm pretty sure that's the only direction we haven't searched."

Ace's eyes widen. "Whoa, wait... Haven't we been here before? This is where we came looking for magestones, and then that freaky monster attacked us."

"Hey, over here." Leona calls out. "Found something interesting."

Ruggie rushes over. "Is it a magestone?"

Leona shakes his head. "Somethin' rarer. At least in these mines."

Walking over, you see the thing Leona is talking about is a large cauldron. You tilt your head curiously. "How'd that get in here?"

"What's this?" Sebek exclaims. "A cauldron? What is a cauldron doing in the middle of a cave?"

"That voice... Is that you, Sebek?"

A head pops out of the cauldron, nearly scaring you half to death. Deuce glances around and stops when he sees all of you.

"I knew it! It IS you! Whoa, and you brought a whole entourage!" Deuce smiles to you. "Even Y/N is here! What are you all doing here?"

"What kind of question is that?" Jack scoffs. "We were trying to find YOU."

Grim places a paw to his hip. "Ain't you lookin' swell! Why didn't you come back to camp?"

Ace quirks an eye. "Did you hide out in a cauldron for a whole day just to skip camp? Is that the punchline here? Lousy joke, if you ask me."

"Shhh!" Deuce urgently tries to quiet them. "Quit making noise!"

"HOW DARE YOU TAKE THAT TONE WITH ME!" Sebek angrily shouts. "I DEVOTED MY PERSONAL ENERGIES TO SEARCHING FOR YOU! NEVER PRESUME TO TALK DOWN TO ME, HUMAN!"

"Seriously, Sebek, keep it down! If you keep yelling-" Deuce's eyes widen. "Oh no... It's coming!"

Ruggie flicks his ears, his eyes wide. "Something's behind us!"

"It'ssss... Mmmm... Miiiine..."

Whirling around, your breath catches in your throat when you see it. A large, towering figure in ragged and torn clothes. It carries a huge lantern and pickaxe in each hand. The lantern casting an eerie green glow. The creature's head is made of glass and black liquid swirls inside.

"What is that thing?" Ruggie exclaims.

"MYAAAAH!" Grim jumps behind you and hides behind your legs.

"Not again!" Ace groans.

"Myyy...stooone..." The monster drags its pickaxe along the floor as it moves closer.

Jack steps back. "A lantern and pickaxe, inky black stuff oozing from its head... That's the monster Deuce told me about!"

Your heart hammers in your chest. "It's a bit different than before..."

"We ain't got time to debate the details!" Grim tugs on your hand.

"We didn't see it on our way in." Jack flattens his ears. "It must've been hiding in one of the side tunnels."

"Crud." Deuce climbs out of the cauldron. "It's blocking the way outta here. Looks like we'll have to fight our way out."

"Are you serious?" Ace shouts.