Alone Hour

Chapter 5: The Tower

As soon as the Vortex launched, everything changed. The forests shifted, the river changing shape, the plains sliding and bulging. Finally, it all came to a stop. The voice spoke again. "The objective is to find the ticket, which is your way out of the Vortex. On your left, there is a chest." I looked to my left. Sure enough, there was a chest made of solid gold. "Exchange the ticket for a key by placing the ticket in the chest. Close it, wait for 5 seconds, and a key will appear when you reopen the chest. Use the key to unlock the doorway. Begin now."

All of us immediately started searching the platform we were standing on. Victor found a hatch, and we all went down a ladder, finally arriving at a dark room. Someone pressed the lights, but instead of lights, flames ignited in torches around the room. "I see..." murmured Victor. He walked out of the room, leaving the rest of us confused. "Let's search this place for the ticket," decided Michael. "Thats probably what Victor went to do." Michael scratched his head and started shuffling around the room. "But what is this place?" asked Abby, stepping forward. As if in response, the wall in front of us began shifting. Out of the stone, emerged the words, "The Tower".

Soon, we had searched the entire room. We found helmets, armor, swords, bows, but no ticket. The tower was just a part of a medieval castle tower. I suggested we go look for Victor, to make sure he's safe. Emma, Michael, and Betty agreed. But I felt like we were missing someone. I ignored the thought. We should be looking for Victor. As soon as we stepped foot outside, we heard screaming. It had to be Victor. I looked back at my team. Michael was already running back into the dark room with Betty. So much for class president.

In the end, it was Abby and I who went searching for Victor. As we walked, I started getting sweaty. After all, it was like I was having a stroll with my crush. I shook my head, getting rid of the thought, and looked around at the landscape. It really was beautiful. The green plains, stretching across as the lake bubbled peacefully in the sunlight. The forests breezy and lively. It was perfect. The Vortex really was amazing. And terrifying.

A very loud, metallic screeching noise shook the entire tower. Abby and I covered our ears, and looked around to see where it came from. There was nobody around. Then we saw it. A massive, rock statue. It looked like a samurai, with horns on its helmet, and a katana in its hands. It emitted another screech. I backed away quickly, Abby following behind me. It was very intimidating, and its red glowing eyes stared right through my skull. It jumped from the ledge it was standing on and landed with a very loud thump on the stairway we were walking on. It gave another screech, then in one quick movement, it grabbed Abby and me.

The moment I was touched by those massive rocky hands, I couldn't move. I felt tiny shocks running through my entire body. The massive giant then tightened its hold on both of us, then leaped a gigantic leap. It must have leaped 50 yards at a time! In a matter of seconds, it arrived at a armory. We were somewhere in the castle, but I don't know where. I lost track. It dragged us over to a corner, where sparks were flying everywhere. I couldn't understand. Why would there be sparks in a castle?

Then, I understood. Or, I should say, I saw. A bright blue bit was shining from underneath the stone. It was a force field. Before I could understand what a force field was doing there, the massive stone thing slammed us into the corner. A searing pain came over me, so excruciating that I almost felt nothing at all. I heard screams, and one of them sounded like mine. I closed my eyes. My mind was blank. Nothing. But then, I felt something else. Fury and chaos, then peace. I opened my eyes. I understood everything now. I was a Kraknik all along.