Maxx, Dan, and Zach lead Cody into the car, and Dan sat in the driver seat. Maxx was sitting next to Cody in the back holding his hand. Cody was a getting a little curious.
"By any chance, can you tell me where we're going to?" Cody asked.
"It's a big surprise," Maxx lied.
"That's why Maxx is holding your hand," Zach added.
Cody caught on about the lie, but he didn't say anything. Dan looked at Zach with a concern look.
"Come on," Zach said. "Lets get this over with."
*About a half hour later*
"Are we there yet?" Cody asked.
Dan pulled up in a driveway of a creepy old house. "Yup"
Cody looked out the window. "What the fuck is this place?"
"The surprise is inside the house," Zach looked at Dan. "Right?"
Maxx unbuckled his seat belt. "Come on, Cody. Lets go inside."
They all got out of the car and went towards the door. Dan knocked on the door, and they all waited for an answer. After what felt like forever, a woman answered the door. She was about forty-five.
"Hello, Shannon," Dan gave the woman a light smile.
"Oh, Danny," Shannon opened the door wide. "Long time no see. You and your friends can come in."
Cody was so confused. They entered the house. The wood planks beneath them would creak every time they took a step. Dan, Zach, and Shannon went into the next room while Maxx stayed with Cody.
"Um, Maxx. How is this a surprise?"
"I'm sorry, Cody. I lied," Maxx admitted.
"I knew it. Why are we here?" Cody took a seat in a wooden chair. "What's going on?"
Maxx took a deep breath. "We came here to help you, Cody. With your nightmare..."
"Maxx, I have it under control."
"Cody, you don't. I'm sorry but I have to do this."
"What are you exactly gonna do... To me?"
"We're going to go inside your nightmare..."
"Maxx, that's not-"
Shannon, Dan, and Zach walked into the room. Shannon was looking at Cody. Zach and Dan picked Cody up from the chair.
"Come in, Cody," Zach put his hand on Cody's back. "We're truly sorry."
"I understand," Cody signed. "I know you guys just want to help."
Shannon opened a door to a different room. "Shall we?"
The four of them entered the room. The lighting was dim. Shannon had Cody lay down on this hard but comfortable surface on the ground. There were sympols drawn on the ground-Ancient.
Cody looked around him. "Is this some kind of ritual?"
"You guessed it," Shannon sat next to Cody holding a bowl with some kind of substance in it.
Shannon had Maxx, Dan, and Zach sit in a triangle where there were sympols surrounded by a circle.
"In order for this to work, everyone must take a sip of this," Shannon held up the bowl.
Cody looked into the bowl. "What is in it?"
"That doesn't matter," Dan replied. "Lets get this done."
Cody took the first sip of the bowl. Then Maxx. Then Dan. Then Zach. The markings and the symbols started to glow a dim red light.
Maxx touched the light. "What does this mean?"
"Don't touch," Shannon glared at Maxx. "Let the ritual begin..."
