The Dome

The Castle

   The morning sun shone down on Rona's group as they continued their journey. Butterscotch still rested in her arms comfortably as they walked. Gil's dirty hair brushed down against his eyes.
"Ugh." He brushed it aside with his hand and it continued to distract him. Hunter took the water from his satchel and rose it over Gil's head. A bubble of water dropped down on his head, causing his hair to flop down. Gil stood still and shook slightly to the cool water.
"T-thanks." He gave Hunter a death stare. Hunter just smiled and retrieved his water back in his satchel.
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   Cathrine's group woke up from their much needed sleep and set off on Zeus. Greer and Zach watched as the clouds passed them overhead. Thomas was still half asleep and stared off in the distance. They all remained silent during the flight. Cathrine watched the ground beneath them in search of any signs of live. She saw large creatures flying and some walking on the ground.  Her sight still remained fixed on the ground however.
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   Rona's group noticed a large beast soaring through the air. Madison starred and her thoughts rushed through her mind.
"I...I saw that last night." She claimed. "I thought i was dreaming but i suppose not. It flew overhead during the night."
"YOU SAW A DRAGON?" Gil jumped in excitement. Madison nodded and they all watched as it flew.
"Gil...think you can phase on up there?" Rona asked.
"Uhhh..." Gil slid back one of his feet and starred at it. "I mean i can try but no guarantees."
   The dragon overhead then came soaring down towards them. Holly's eyes widened and she came closer to Rona.
"Rona.." she whispered "Don't hesitate to give it to me." Rona nodded and they all watched.
   The Dragon crashed down in the sand in front of them sending up a large wave of sand. It all came crashing down on the group. Cathrine jumped off from the Dragons back and screamed, running toward Rona. Rona's eyes widened and she placed Butterscotch on the ground before running. The two hugged each other.
"RONA!" Cathrine screamed.
"CAT!" She responded with a shout.
   Zach and Thomas got off and met up with Gil and Holly. The four got very excited and began showing off their powers to one another. Greer hopped off last and ran towards Madison, hugging each other. Butterscotch ran towards and looked at Zeus. The two starred off until Butterscotch's tail began to wag. She ran and jumped on his head, sprawling out on him. Zeus closed his eyes and remained docile.
   After the reunion, the large group traveled out together. Cathrine, Thomas, Rona and Madison traveled by the skies as the rest walked on foot. Zach and Gil both raced each other certain distances, all of them resulting in a disagreement.
"NO WAY! IM WAY FASTER THAN YOU." Zach claimed.
"How can you be faster than someone that can teleport?" Greer asked. Zach shrugged and starred back at Gil.
"I'm just faster alright!"
   The argument continued until Gil finally agreed that he was faster. Greer and Holly took turns carrying Butterscotch as the sand was still burning hot.
   Their journey continued on until they came across a large castle. The walls were made of stones wrapped in vines. They all looked at it, fascinated by it's size. Rona's mind ran wild as she remembered her past vision. She looked down at everyone and remained silent. Zeus flew down to the gate and everyone met up. A voice called out from atop the Castle.
"Who are you people?" The voice questioned.
   Gil bursted into laughter, everyone looking at him confused. He slapped his knee and grabbed the bars of the gate.
"Ayden open this god damn gate."
   Silence captivated the group until a small mumble was heard, the gate then opening. The group entered the castle, Zeus soaring up and landing down on the highest point of it. Ayden traveled down the interior and met up with them all on the bottom.
"How'd you guys find me?" He questioned with confusion.
"Well..." Rona's eyes scaled the whole castle before Ayden caught on.
"Ohhhhh that makes sense.."
    The castle was completely empty, no signs of life anywhere.
"Where is everyone?" Zach asked.
"Yeah this place is like a dead zone." Gil added on.
"Well uh...you see someone had a little panic attack.." Ayden stated nervously.
"Someone? Who?" Greer asked.
   Ayden sighed and clapped his hands. A loud roar drew everyone temporarily def. Everyone clasped their ears in pain and groaned. A large beast dropped down from the sky and landed just beside Ayden. It had the body shape of a Lion, the wings of a Dragon and tail of a Ankylosaurus. Spikes lined down with its back, standing up tall. It opened it's three eyes and starred at the group.
"Guys..." He gently pet the beasts head.
"Meet Whiskers."
   The group starred in amazement and fear. Butterscotch crept behind Rona and so did Gil. Whiskers laid flat on the ground and licked his large paws, wings spreading across the ground.
"Y-you mean to tell me...that thing killed everyone?" Cathrine asked in terror. Ayden nodded slowly and Whisker's tail began slamming down on the ground like a hammer.
"Oh! I'm not alone by the way.."
"Yeah obviously." Greer interrupted.
"You got that huge killer standing right beside you." Thomas added in.
   Ayden sighed and rose his hands up.
"Let me finish!" Everyone rolled their eyes and grew impatient.
"Ruthie is here as well. She hasn't spoke much though as her power frightens her."
"Frightens her? How so?" Gil asked.
"Well let's just say she isn't really...alive?" Ayden said with a nervous smile.
"What..? Where is she?" Zach asked.
"She's up in the tower." He pointed up at the tallest one.
"Here i'll go check up on her." Gil stated.
"I'll go too." Madison joined.
   The group split up and explored the castle. They all found a room and made it their own. Gil and Madison scaled the tower, discussing on the stairs.
"What do you think happened with her?" Madison questioned.
"I'm not entirely sure." Gil focused on each step. "Ayden did mention something about her being not alive."
"The hell does that mean?"
"Maybe she's a ghost or something." Gil shrugged.
   The two finally reached the top where they were met with a door.
"Ruthie?" Gil called out.
   The door unlocked and slowly opened. The two entered inside the dark room and the door shut on its own. The door locked and Madison turned back. She tried opening the door but the knob wouldn't turn. Chills ran up their skin. The two stuck together and walked around the room. Books flew off the shelves and the curtains to the windows flew upward. Gil screamed like a little girl and held onto Madison. A ghostly figure appeared in the chair at the end of the room, rocking back and forth. Gil covered his eyes and shook in fear. Madison shrugged Gil off and crept over to it.
"R-ruthie?" Madison whispered.
"Is that you?"
   The figure continued to rock, the sound mesmerizing Gil. He stood in place and shook. Madison continued walking over to the ghost before stopping. Ruthie turned back and looked her in the eyes.
"Y-yes..." her voice was soft and low.
"I-its me"
   Gil's fear faded as he walked over beside Madison. The two stared at her with their mouths slightly opened.
"W-what happened to you?" Madison asked.
   Ruthie rose up from the chair and flew towards them. She passed through the table between them. Cups fell down onto the ground as she passed them. Ruthie then stopped in front of the two.
"I..." She starred into Madison's eyes. "I truly don't know."
   Tears fell from her face, passing through the floor like nothing. Gil remained silent, watching helplessly. Madison reached out to try and rub her shoulder. Her hand passed through her and Ruthie watched. Her little cry grew into bawling.
"I-i'm sorry." Ruthie disappeared. The door behind Madison and Gil opened wide and the two were lifted up. They were placed outside the room and it closed up again, locking itself. Gil and Madison starred at the door upset with what they just saw.
"He was..." Gil starred down at the ground.
"No. Don't say that. She's still here with us just as a ghost. It's okay Gil." She placed her hand on his shoulder.
   The two entered the room once more, Gil phasing Madison in. They looked around and called out.
"RUTHIE WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU!"
   A faded voice responded back.
"Go away! I can't have anyone see me like this okay!"
"You can trust us!" Gil reassured.
"We just want to help okay."
   Ruthie then appeared in front of the two, looking down at the ground.
"H-how can you help me?" She asked.
   Gil thought for a moment and grabbed Madison's arms. He phased and they both looked at Ruthie. Her figure looked clear and normal.
"T-TOUCH HER..." Gil demanded as he tried holding them in the state. Madison, without hesitation, reached out and grabbed Ruthies arm. Gil struggled and pulled them out of the phase. Ruthie stood still on the ground. Gil coughed and took a breather. Ruthie looked up and down her body, finally being human again. Madison smiled and the two were hugged. Ruthie squeezed them both.
"THANK YOU!" She cried.
"Y-you're welcome." Gil managed to say.
   Ruthie then stood back, closed her eyes and faded back into her ghostly state. She looked at herself and tried closing her eyes again. She came back into her human form and smiled.
"GOING GHO-" Gil jumped.
"ANYWAY" Madison interrupted, hitting Gil in his back.
   Ruthie smiled and hugged them both one last time. The three then left the creepy room and headed down. Daylight turned into night and everyone gathered around for dinner. Ayden and Ruthie placed plates down all across the table, Whiskers helping as well.
"I'm starving." Holly's stomach growled.
"Me too! Hurry up!" Zach hurried.
"We're going as fast as we can Zach calm down." Ruthie stated.
   The group enjoyed their large buffet and talked for the rest of the evening. Whiskers and Butterscotch stood at opposite sides of the table staring at one another. Zeus fell asleep on the top of the castle.
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   "This place shall be their grave." The figure whispered to itself. It stood far from the castle, watching the lights and hearing everyone talking. It smirked and pulls its hood off slowly. Her hair gracefully fell down to her shoulders and she grinned. Her eyes shone a bright red.
"You'll all know true pain soon enough."
   The figure then bursted into smoke once more and flew off with the wind.