Syrus, Wizeman, and Mr. I continue

walking toward Wizeman’s Castle. It is about

a quarter-mile away from them. The castle is

really large. It appears that it is night time out

now. The ground is such a dark purple, and a

very dark shadow is cast all over the island.

Everything is so quiet out here. The only sounds

are those that come from Syrus and his monsters

scuffing their feet along the light purple pathway.

The only light on the island is coming

from the stars and from Earth’s moon. There is

a faint red glow from the volcano, and the glow

of the lava moat around Wizeman’s Castle up

ahead. They finally arrive at the castle.

“Well, we’re here.” Syrus says, breaking

the dreadful silence. “Let’s break in.”

“Syrus, it’s very late. Maybe we should

camp here untill the morning.” Mr. I suggests.

“Okay, but what if Synan catches up?”

“You already beat him to the castle.

What are you worried about?” Wizeman asks.

“Good point.” Syrus says as he slowly

sinks to his knees in the soft purple dirt. Syrus

lays down, and before long, he is asleep.

Suddenly a voice says his name, “Syrus!”

Syrus quickly sits up. Mr. I and Wizeman are

asleep on the ground around him. Syrus looks

around to see who said his name. In front of him

is the shadow of a human. The figure steps into

the light of the lava at Wizeman’s Castle. It’s

Zoe!

“Zoe?” Syrus says, sleepily. “What are

you doing here?” It is still really dark out, maybe

even darker than it was when he fell asleep.

“Come with me.” Zoe starts to walk

away. Syrus jumps to his feet and follows her

into the darkness. Zoe walks into the shadows

of the volcano, toward another human.

“Watch this, Syrus.” Zoe says. Soon,

the other human quickly lights up in a golden

flame. It’s Synan!

“Synan! You’re... you’re...”

“A mega-monster.”

“No way! How??”

A creaky, leathery finger lands on Syrus’

shoulder. Syrus quickly turns around to see

the most ugly thing ever! It looks like it’s dead,

wrapped in a torn purple cloak, carrying a

lantern. Syrus can’t see his face, but his arms

are so scrawny and leathery.

Syrus screams and backs into Synan.

In an instant Syrus is in a very bright room.

A tunnel, actually. The tunnel is circular and

spinning. The dead monster stands taller.

“I’ll be your guide on your way,

But coming back I won’t play. If to the other

side you wish to go, than follow me and don’t

be slow.” The dead creature says as he begins

to float away. Synan seems to have lost his

mega-monster power suddenly and he and Zoe

run off after the monster. Syrus gets up and runs

after them.

The three of them suddenly stop but

Syrus keeps running. He didn’t stop in time.

Suddenly Syrus falls into the floor through another

spinning tunnel, only vertical and not horizontal.

Syrus screams his lungs out as he falls deeper

and deeper. He can’t tell when he’ll ever stop

falling.

Syrus keeps falling through millions of the

same room. Square rooms, with a horizontal

spinning tunnel on each wall, as well as vertical

tunnels in the ceiling and floor, those of which

Syrus is falling through.

Syrus falls through a room where he sees

Zoe hugging Synan, crying into his shoulder, as

the dead monster watches. Syrus falls through a

few more rooms and sees another dead monster.

This monster looks like Clawz. Mr. I was talking

about Clawz as Syrus was falling asleep.

Clawz looks dead and rotting. Syrus

gives a louder scream as he falls even faster than

the monster’s dead corpse. Suddenly Syrus falls

through the last room and sees The Land of No

Return below him.

He hits really hard at the exact point he

fell asleep.

“Syrus, wake up!” Syrus gets up, frightened.

“It was just a dream.” Syrus says, relieved.

Then, the dead corpse of Clawz crashes right in

front of him. Syrus screams as he wakes up.

“Syrus, are you okay?” Wizeman

asks.

“I’m fine.” Syrus feels around the

ground for any sign of a dead Clawz.

“I just had the worst nightmare.”

Syrus says.

“Yeah, we noticed. You were

screaming in your sleep.” Mr. I says.

It is now morning. The island is

bright. Syrus looks over to where Zoe and

Synan were standing. Nobody is there.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mr.

I asks.

“I’ll be fine.” Syrus gets up and looks

at the castle. “Let’s not break in quite yet.

I have a feeling we’ll be meeting Synan and

Zoe really soon.”