Not So Sweet Candyland

XLI: Caramel Desert

Chase and Berry walked out of the city where there was a small gap where the dark city suddenly disappeared behind them and started to turn into what looked and felt like sand, only it was a little more sticky.

That's when it started getting hotter and hotter, Berry changed her shoes and took off all of her clothes except for a very very tiny tank, super short shorts, and some weird heatproof shoes. She tied her hair up in a high ponytail and swooped her bang out of the way.

"What? You thought that I only had one eye?"

"Yeah, but no."

"Figures."

Chase suddenly started to feel uncomfortable.

"Are you sure that I should be doing this?"

"What are you expecting? That we're going to s strip club or a bar? No, we're literally walking into a desert. This place is known as "the suicide spot" because people here DIE. They die from overheating and dehydration. And who knows what else? Only 100 people live here. So, it's not very popular."

"Well, but there are people."

"Just take your clothes off."

Chase got worried, but he did it anyways. He felt so awkward revealing his almost everything to Berry. Berry just sighed.

"Look, unless a pervert tries to take you away, I won't let them. So, let's go because we have a whole world to explore."

Berry took Chase's hand and they started to walk through the desert. There were little shacks decorating the distance of the world and the more that you went in, the hotter and hotter that it got. Chase started to sweat almost on a whim.

"Is? This? Supposed? To? Happen?"

"We're not even halfway to our destination yet. It's only going to get worse from here. Drink all of your water while you can, because we have a long mile of so to go."

"GREAT." Chase said sarcastically.

They took out their flasks and started walking again, by doing a cheers with their glasses and letting the last of their cold water run down their throats and give them a cooling sensation.  When the two of them finished with their drinks, they tucked their flasks away on the their belts and they let go of each other.

"How far do we have, if you know by hand?" Chase asked quietly.

"According to how much that we have walked and the current temperature, we are nearing the center of the desert, which means the next clue is within a mile or less."

"What is our next clue?"

"I don't know. Why are you asking me?"

"You knew where some things were."

"That doesn't means that I don't know everything. Look, Chase, I might be a native, but I'm not a super fan. I can tell you locations of most places, I can help you with culture and tradition, and finally, I won't let you say as many stupid things as you would think. Remember, I am only trying to help you, not hurt you."

"Well, sometimes, you hit me."

Berry slapped his arm.

"Well that means nothing. I'm a bit of a tough love kind of person, ok? I express my affection in physical aggressive ways, it's just me. I'm a weirdo. I'm bizarre. But, that at the end of the day is what makes me unique."

"At least you know what you're doing. Because, if not, you would have to wonder about 368 bruises all around my body."

"Most of them were from training, they're nothing. Bruises are basically just internal bleeding but it turns your skin blue or something like that."

"Do you even know what a bruise is?"

"Of course I do! I just can't think because it's too DAMN HOT!"

"Well, we are in a middle of a desert, what more can you expect?"

"Too much cold and too much warmth causes my brain cells to die on me which makes me sound stupid. And then, I might tell you to do the wrong thing, and then you will mess up everything."

"Ok. Where are we even going?"

Berry looked in the distance.

"At the Hottest Point, which is Miser's Edge, there is a lo cabin that is slightly bigger than the other's. This is where our clue is. It will help us advance. Sometimes, the hardest things in life can be accomplished by one large challenge. And this, my friend, is a large challenge. But you know what? We're all in this together."

Within a minute, they were soon at the Edge of the cliff, and the house was right by it. It seemed a little larger compared to the cabin looking houses in the distance. They quickly looked over the edge of the cliff before they went in the house, clear and cold water was right below them.

That's when they turned back and Berry knocked on the door to the house. There was a man with chopped hair that almost went to his shoulders.

"How did... you guys.... nevermind. As long as you came here alone, that's all that matters. Come on in."

Chase seemed suspicious but Berry made him come along, so he went because he didn't want to get kicked in the balls by Berry.

They walked in the house and it was a little bit cooler, but the man was going downstairs and Berry nudged Chase to follow him.

"I can tell why you two are here. You're looking for a way out, aren't you?"

"Yes sir."

"Haven't I seen you around before? The girl?"

"You have, actually."

"I guess that you can't resist human boys, can you?"

"Bold of you to assume."

"Marissa's daughter never disappoints."

"How do you know that she is my mother?"

"You two kind of have similar characteristics, aside from the looks of you two. I can tell that you are more intense than her. You do have her smarts considering how you got here in the first place."

"Cut the slack."

"Fine. I know you want the aged caramel."

He poured some from a dispensary and gave it to Berry and Chase.

"And.... in exchange for your journey...."

The man opened up a safe that lead to a tunnel.

"Your journey awaits."