Escape From Punish Land

Chapter Two

All motion within the hallway ceased, purely out of caution and for some, fear. The three puppets stood, facing their adversaries as their heartbeats pulsed rapidly. It wasn't until one of the unfamiliar figures took a step forward that put an end to the silent and eerie tranquility.

The man stood tall in front of the trio, his stern and rigid posture highlighted from the shadows. He wore a dark and long coat, and his skin was a blue shade, with a single red streak along his face. Instantly Harry recognized the similar features the man wore. It was the clock they knew all too well, Tony, but reformed into this new body. Finally the clockwork man spoke, "It's about 'time' we found you three." The man chuckled lightly at his own pun, while Harry rolled his eyes, clearly unamused. "Not a fan, I can tell. Don't be so serious it ruins the fun, Harold."

"My name's not Harold," Harry replied simply, as Manny clung onto his arm, terrified of the teacher who made him die in the past.

"Should I refer to you by a different term, maybe 'party pooper' is more appropriate, hm?"

Harry simply ignored the comment and shrugged it off, "Isn't this all just a waste of your precious time, Tony?"

"Would you prefer a quicker death?" Tony smirked and he lunged towards Harry knocking him back slightly, "Well, you're not going to get that so easy, you're outnumbered."

Robin suddenly interjected, "You and what army?" he said bravely while Harry and Tony stared each other down, both unwavering.

A voice spoke out from the darker side of the hallway, "Oh, nobody special," she said, stepping into the light, "Just a couple of old friends." The womanly figure grinned, she wore a dress with drawings scribbled all over the skirt and her hair had multiple colors over it, clearly expressing her creative personality. Her face was white as a porcelain doll, soon she glided her way to Tony's side.

"Wait, all of you are back?" Manny said in a hushed and inaudible tone. He was taken aback by all of the new sensations of fear and terror, as his eyes shifted rapidly from each new teacher that slowly peered its way out of the darkness. "How? Uh, why? Oh no.."

First, emerged a teenage looking figure, he was clearly the teacher known as Shrignold, the acclaimed leader of a corrupted love cult. His stance was casual, he smiled with a lighthearted manner, as if there was a hidden meaning behind its physique.

Soon thereafter, a man in black suspenders and a white shirt made his way to the frontline. He wore a thick pair of glasses with a square frame and his hair was a white dull color. This was Colin, the computery guy. He had two differently colored eyes, and his bow tie was multicolored with shades of red, green, yellow, and blue scattered on it in separate squares. "Don't touch me." He said defensively putting a gloved hand up to the puppets.

A pair of two teachers soon came to the center stage, both representing the Healthy Band who didn't exactly have all the right answers when it came to teaching. Nonetheless, they were brutal with their teaching, literally shoving it down one's throat. The male was a tall and broad shouldered man, he had a white apron on, and had the appearance of a butcher, which was quite fitting for him. The other was a younger girl, she had green hair, and wore a pair of overalls with a green t shirt underneath, she had a set of metal braces on her teeth which shown as she smiled at her students. She made sure she made eye contact with Robin while she did so, which sent chills down the bird's spine.

To finish up the crew of teachers, the best was saved for last, or in this case they had to settled for Larry, the teacher of dreams. He wore a decorated pair of pajamas and sneakers. He was a bit ditsy while he waltzed around the hallway. "Guys, guys, guys. Lighten up! Ha. Get it, it was a joke. Because I said 'Lighten' and I was a lamp. Good times. Hey, Yellow, you're here. Too bad, the bad dream isn't over, huh?"

Manny shivered, he remembered the sensation all too well of being plunged into the murky depths of black and thick oil. He was fearful of all the teachers, each bringing it's own sense of insecurity for the boy.

"Not talking, huh? Welp, oh well." Larry said nonchalantly, relishing in the fearful state of Manny. "Guess the gang's all here. Now the real party can begin." Larry said grinning. "Hey Spinach, take notes, I'm just going to punch my way through all these guys, the boss will be so happy!"

As Larry approached the much taller Harry, he was blocked by a single hand, while Larry merely flailed his arms, not doing much to his larger opponent.

"Just stop, you're making an idiot out of yourself." Harry said, as the teacher walked away defeated, with his head down.

Tony turned to the rest of his fellow teachers before speaking. "Enough messing around, everyone. Straighten up a bit, we have a job to do, remember?"

"Hey Mister Clock if you get to be the leader, can I request a nap?" Larry happily stated, as he leaned on Spinach's shoulder.

"Absolutely not."

"Oh well, guess it's light's out then?"

Tony nodded slightly and before anyone could respond, the lights within the hallway dimmed and flickered off. The puppets instantly tried to reach for each other, as Harry stood in front of his two friends.

A flicker of light shone like a flash of lightning. Manny's on the floor unconscious and unmoving.

Another flash. Harry is forced against the wall harshly as a loud thud is heard.

Flash. Robin is on his knees with his hands over his face, defensively.

The teachers were quick to divide and conquer each of their students.