Planet Suibom BOOK 1

Darkness Is Rising

"You! You, tell me where those god damn kids are!" Hue cried, pointing to a random guard outside his room. He had gotten changed into his normal clothes. From what he understood, his people were being corrupted by some unknown force that he had certain suspicions about.

"K-King Hue! I am sorry, but I have no ide-" The guard began, but Hue suddenly lifted his helmet, revealing the cheetah.

"Alma...pull your kid together." Hue said, tossing the helmet aside. "I want you to gather your son and his friends and bring them to the throne room. I would like to have a talk with them before I punish them." His voice got quite dark towards the end.

"Punish them? If you do not mind me asking, what is the punishment, and why are they being punished?" Alma asked. Hue gave him a look that answered his first question. Alma's face suddenly paled. "No...King Hue...you cannot. They are just childre-"

"Children who need to learn that there are some places you shouldn't poke your nose around. Round them up, bring them to the throne room, and bring them to the dungeons with me. Got it? Those are your only orders. Do not displease me!" Hue said, whipping around, in search of a certain fox while Alma left on his little 'quest'.

The castle was in hell. Just about everyone had somehow found out what was going on throughout the castle. Probably because the people who were attacked screamed TOO loud. Women were running with their children while soldiers were helping elderly. Everyone was looking for one thing. A way out.

Hue walked through the hallways and down the many flights of stairs. He had done it so many times, it seemed like a part of his schedule now. He spotted a familiar face helping someone walk through the chaos. "Arachne!" Hue called, causing the jackalope to stop in her tracks. She half-helped half-carried a depressing looking Dani. There were bags under her eyes and she wore what would become a permanent frown. "What's up with the kid?"

"Corruption, Hue. I'm taking her to the hospital win-" Arachne started, but Hue cut her off.

"No." He said bluntly.

"No!?" She cried, utterly shocked from the answer she was given. "But, Hue, she's in need of serious medica-" Once again, the king interrupted her before she could finish her sentence.

"No. I want her and the rest of her little 'posse' out of this castle, and off this island if possible! Send them back to the disgusting town they came from! You hear me?" Hue demanded.

Arachne gave Hue a cold stare. "Remember who you're talking to. I am not one of your guards you can order around whenever you like. I am not some citizen you can tell whatever you want. I am a Master of Power, and I don't take orders from someone like you. I've met peasants from other universes with more care for their 'people' than you could ever have." She looked Hue up and down before turning to Dani. "I'm taking you to the hospital wing, alright hon?"

"...no..." Dani groaned. She closed her baggy eyes, as if looking through her mind. But she wasn't. A single tear streaked down her cheek. "...Dusk..." Her eyes suddenly flew open, radiating yellow light. "Dusk!" She screamed, grabbing everyone around her's attention. "Dusk! Please! Help him! Someone!" She was close to sobbing now.

Arachne waved her hand at the crowd. "Shoo! Shoo! Scram! Get out of here!" She yelled at the people. The panicking people soon returned to trying to escape the castle. Though the guards were trying to help them leave in an orderly fashion, most people were screaming, running, and pushing past others. As long as they were getting out, they didn't really care about what it would take.

"I...I..." Hue spluttered, unsure of what to do.

"If finding Dani's friends is so important to you, then why don't you go and look for them yourself, huh? Or at least help your guards?" Arachne suggested, a tone of annoyance in her voice. "Now, leave us be while I try to-"