Chapter 18. Max actually blows up a building, while Shelby lies to a goat.

56 2 0
                                    


Jess was stunned. Not to the fact that Jin just broke down their door, but to the fact that Jin was actually in their room, about to kill someone with a door and a crowbar. 

Adam gripped his notebook, and held it over his chest.

"No."

He said bravely as he stepped forward. Jin laughed.

"Oh, does the little mouse wanna roar? If you wanna die, I'd be happy to arrange that for you."

Jin said, raising his crow bar, and swinging it at Adam, who quickly managed to jump back in time. Red growled, gripped the hotel pen, and held it out in front of him. Barney frowned.

"Youz gons right off Jins with pens?"

He asked. Red sighed.

"Well we don't have anything else do we? Besides, it might become an awesome sword or something."

Red asked. Barney grabbed his shoulder.

"Thatz wontz happenz. Lookz atz Maxs."

He said, pointing at Max, who was literally steaming.

"Max... you are steaming."

Ross said to Max, who couldn't hear them as he seemed to be about to explode. And then he did explode, blowing up not only the room, but the entire hotel, leaving everybody covered in soot, and on the ground.


There were was one rock in the next room along with a button nearby. Shelby, being Shelby, tried to shove the rock onto the button, but found that her physical strength isn't exactly the best. She pleaded with her eyes to Cory, who sighed, and shoved the rock easily onto the button. From there, spikes lowered from a nearby gateway into another room. The two smiled in relief, and walked into another room, which revealed a sleeping ghost on the floor, making zzzz noises.

"Umm... is that ghost sleeping?"

Shelby asked. Cory shrugged, and grabbed a nearby stick.

"What are you doing... Cory! No!"

Shelby started, but stopped as Cory started poking the ghost with the stick. Shelby grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the ghost.

"Let's just... step... over the ghost."

She said, stepping over the ghost, who had probably no intention of moving. Cory sighed, and jumped over it, as the two walked into the next room, which had a large tree in it.

"I thought things couldn't grow down here?"

Shelby asked.

"It's dead Shelby."

Cory said, pointing to the tree. 

"Oh."

Was her response. As she said that, Toriel came out from behind the tree.

"My children! I am glad to see that you are not injured!"

She said, taking both of their hands. Cory looked at Shelby, which would've been almost pleadingly but nobody could see his eyes.

"Let us head inside. I made pie!"

She said, as Cory and Shelby went inside the house behind the tree. Toriel was right about the pie, as three slices were set out, one for each of them.

"So, your names are Cory and Shelby? It is a pleasure to meet both of you!"

Toriel said, as Cory quickly scarfed down the pie as Shelby slowly ate it.

"It's nice to meet you two!"

Shelby responded politely, as that wasn't Cory's strong suit at all.

"I am curious though, how come your friend Cory wears a mask that covers his eyes? Do all humans wear a mask like this?"

Toriel asked. Shelby looked at Cory, who wouldn't look her back so she figured that meant to make something up.

"That's because Cory can be a little shy about his appearance at times! He wears a mask so people don't see what he looks like because Cory doesn't want anyone to see what he looks like! Normal humans like myself or any of my other friends don't wear a mask, so Cory's really special!"

Shelby said, creating a story on the spot for Cory, who had just finished his pie slice. She didn't know the actual reason why he wore a mask so she had to make something up that seemed reasonable. Toriel nodded slowly.

"Well that's not very good at all! You shouldn't be ashamed of yourself, you should be proud of who you are!"

Toriel said. Cory shrugged.

"I guess I should be, but I'm really not."

He said following the story Shelby made for him, Shelby patted his back.

"It's OK."

She said. Toriel got up from her chair.

"You two must be tired. How about I show you somewhere you two can sleep?"

She said, taking the two of them to a room nearby, with two beds in it. Once they were inside, Toriel turned the light on, and shut the door, waving happily to them.

"So umm... I guess thanks for covering for me?"

Cory said honestly, scratching his head. Shelby nodded.

"No problem! Anyway... dibs on the left bed!"

She said happily, jumping onto the bed after kicking her shoes off. Cory sighed, took his sneakers off, and sat on the right bed watching the shorter girl fall backwards onto the bed, and pass out as soon as she touched the mattress.

"She is out like a light..."

He said, hopping off his bed, and looking down at Shelby, who was out cold.

"I mean, it has been a long day. I guess it makes sense."

He sighed after saying that, and pulled the blankets over her.

"... g'night Shelby."

He muttered, as he walked over to his side of the room. 

He didn't go to bed though, but went to the nearby mirror. Reaching behind his head, he pulled the strap holding the mask to his face upwards, revealing his blue eyes as well as some of his dirty blond hair. 

"I look good."

He said, before looking at himself for a bit longer before putting the mask back on, and hopping into bed without another word.

Our Souls Will Be Stronger Than Stone (SIUA BOOK 2)Where stories live. Discover now