Never Look Back Part II: Looking Away

Chapter II

Rachel

Music: Snowfield from Gradius Gaiden

"Whew, that was kinda close!" I said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Ben added, "Yeah, that was unexpected."

We all got back in a group as Luke said, "Um, what do I need to expect from these monsters? Just wondering."

Shanna said, "A lot of fighting and not giving up. And maybe a few guardians."

We decided to continue from there on out. We explored a little while longer and found some woods. And my goodness, they were actually nice looking! The skies were no longer a solid gray, they were blue. Given how it was Winter Break, it was insanely cold, but we were dressed for the occasion. The wildlife was alive at the time, and there was lots to see. All of the trees, while stripped completely of leaves, were tall and overall beautiful. And, the grass was as good as grass could be during winter.

Then I saw the river.

Sean

Rachel called out, "Um, guys? Mainly Sean? I'd like you to see this!"

We all went to where Rachel was, which was near another river. Which looked familiar in more ways than one...

"Um, that river is still lime green. And there's the weird crack next to it," I pointed out. "I saw both of these things in my dreams, and they look INCREDIBLY familiar here. I think, while we were being captured, this was one of the places we passed by!"

I didn't think it would make that big of an impact on the rest of us, but Sam noted, "Which means we're one step closer to either finding home, or where those monsters are. Right?"

"Right," Ben replied.

Music: Big Core MK II from Gradius V

Then, my head started hurting like crazy, and I fell down to the ground. A voice in my head said, "Go no further, and you'll be safe. Go any further, and suffer the consequences. We are unstoppable." Then I see all of our monsters again before waking up. Luke was just standing there, awkwardly, not speaking at all.

Finally, he got out, "What... just happened?"

Elle went, "You didn't experience that?"

LUke replied, "No, but you all fell to the ground in pain, and a few of you looked up and randomly screamed. Then you 'woke up' as I call it."

I said, "Well, occasionally, these voices in our heads knock us out and give us warnings. This time it was, 'Go no further, and you'll be safe. Go any further, and suffer the consequences. We are unstoppable.' "

Luke just stared at me awkwardly. "O... kay?"

I was pretty sure he didn't believe us, but decided to go with it. We brushed that out of our heads, and, despite the warning we just received, continued forward.

I hope they're not that serious. Right then, Shanna yelled, "I found another house!"

-

Music: Veneno Sphere from Super Mario 74 Extreme Edition (Origin is Tower of Riddles from Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)

Several of the monsters are staring blankly at a monitor showing the kids. The Monster Master then gets frustrated with this fact and yells, "What the heck are you monsters doing? I want those kids dead!"

One monster whined, "But I don't wanna go." He got a bullet to the head. The Monster Master grinned. "Would anybody else like to resist me?"

All of them got their heads out of their behinds and started preparing to leave when the Monster Master said, "At least get the dirty blonde boy. No, I don't mean the pipsqueak, Luke. He's too useless. I meant the other one, oh what's his name..."

"Austin?" one of the monsters went.

"Yes! Austin! Get him, please. He's most important to us."

"Why?" another monster asked.

"JUST DO IT!" the Monster Master yelled as his minions went out. He then looked at the monitors and saw the kids had found the monster factory!

"Oh brother..."