Journey to the End: Chapter 4:

It had been about an hour since the motionless figures had been awake. Alan had figured that they all came from somewhere completely different. He had heard their stories and come to the conclusion that none of them had any idea where they were, only having the word "Coranaco" to bounce off ideas of their whereabouts. The twins who called themselves Underlanders said they had heard of the prophecy but that its meaning was cryptic, and no one had been able to decipher it. Everyone was confused but soon Alan took charge,

"OK, we all know we were brought here for some prophecy, I say we try and kill whatever we're supposed to and maybe then we'll be able to get out of here, wherever here is."

"But that's the thing,"

Brum began to say,

"we have no idea where we are,"

"Yes, yes,"

Alan retorted,

"but this is a whole other world or dimension, we should get out of this castle and ask a few people, where we are and what we can do to get out or fulfill this prophecy,"

Everyone began to nod and Maximillian led the group of diverse boys until they found what looked like an exit, it was heavily locked.

"Simple,"

Maximillian proclaimed.

"Alohomora,"

Every lock magically sprung open and the door swung outward revealing a breath-taking scene. It was as if the world was made of trees and plants. Everywhere around the large castle was dense foliage and trees too high for the human eye to see. Vibrant colors were seen as multi-colored flowers and vines added amazing beauty to the surroundings. As the group took a closer look they could see the forest was alive. Strange bugs and small birds circled around the flowers and the group of boys. Alan took the first step, it was a bad move. He didn't see where he was stepping and his foot landed atop of a vine. The forest instantly sprang to life as vine after vine lunged at the companions, the seemingly harmless creatures grotesquely transformed, growing and beginning to resemble brightly colored wolves.

"Run!"

Alan shouted. The boys split up and began prodding through the forest, further aggravating the plants. Maximillian was the only one who didn't move. He made a wide sweeping motion with wand in hand and spoke,

"Locomotor Mortis,"

All the boys, wherever they were, suddenly fell to the floor, unable to move their legs. Maximillian followed this spell with another,

"Impervius!"

he cried. As the organisms closed in they were met by an invisible wall, not allowing them to reach their quarry. Maximillian undid his first spell and the boys met up again about a mile into the forest,

"That was amazing!"

Raymond exclaimed. Maximillian was greeted with praise from all his companions and they continued, sticking to a path they had found. Soon they escaped the cannibalistic forest and found a road sided by deep green grass. It led to a small town where they found a small inn and began talking to the person manning the front desk. It was a plump and cheery looking young woman with rosy red cheeks.

"Excuse me ma'm,"

Alan began.

"do you know where we are?"

"Well young man you'd be in the town of Cherico!"

she replied.

"OK, but would you know where Coranaco would be?"

"You must be new or something, silly, you're in Coranaco, that's the name of the continent."

"Oh, thanks,by the way would know anything about some prophecy, something about saving our worlds?"

The cheerful woman's smile faded and her face turned pale,

"Well, it's that time already, tell you what, you go see that person in the corner over there, she's always ranting about the sacred prophecy, I'll get you a room ready, we only have one available so you'll have to share."

"Oh, thank you very much,"

She nodded and left to do the rest of her daily tasks. Alan relayed the news to the rest of the group and they moved toward the woman facing the corner of the old wooden inn, awaiting what information she might have to clarify their destinies.