Merry ol land of oz
Chapter 11
Shadows on the wall
Flying through the sky with the flying monkees ,it began getting dark out which led the leader of the flying monkees to suggest that they all take shelter and start over in the morning.
Finding an old cave,everyone went inside where Stephanie sat on a large rock and took Mike's hat out of her pocket and just stared at it. Looking over at her,the scarecrow felt really bad about what happened and wished that there was something he or the others could do for her.
Since they still had a ways to go until they reached the castle, the last thing on Stephanie's mind was sleep . After Assuring her that she'd be back with her brother before she knows it,Stephanie curled up next to the scarecrow and lion and closed her eyes.
No sooner had she fallen asleep, Stephanie began seeing images of her brother being tortured and beaten which caused her to scream waking up everyone else in the cave.
" Steph? What happened? "Asked scarecrow Mike
" He's hurting him,we have to go save him."said Stephanie as she trembled
"Whose hurting who steph?" Asked Micky the lion
" he's hurting my brother " said Stephanie
" How do you know that? "asked gatekeeper davy
" I saw it,we've got to go help him and the others before its too late to do anything. "Stephanie said as she headed to the entrance of the cave
"Hang on there kid,you can't just go out there in the middle of the night all because of something you say that you saw while you were asleep. "Said monkee #1
" Look I appreciate everything you've done for me, but my brother needs me so no matter how many times y'all try to stop me im going to get to that castle one way or another, with or without y'all. "Said Stephanie
" I'll go with you. "Said monkee #4
" Me too."said gatekeeper davy
" Well, if they're going, im going. "Said tin man Peter and monkee #3
It wasn't soon after the four of them agreed to go with Stephanie that the others soon followed and soon they were once again on their way to the castle that belonged to .
After flying all night and into the early morning hours, they made it to the castle that was a lot scarier in person than it was at a distance. Knowing that they needed to find a way to get inside,they found a large red cast iron door that suddenly opened by itself.
With the other flying monkees hiding behind monkee #1 and the lion,tin man and gatekeeper hiding behind the scarecrow, Stephanie who was in front of everyone walked inside first and then the door slammed shut leaving the others behind.
Trying with all her might to open the door and let her friends inside to help her,stephanie suddenly felt a chill run down her spine as she saw red smoke seeping across the floor. Slowly turning around, Stephanie saw none other than Mr. Zero who had a creepy grin upon his face.
" Welcome Ms. Nesmith, I've been expecting you. "said Mr. Zero
" Where's my brother and my friends? asked Stephanie
" All in good time my dear,but first I have a deal to make you."Mr. Zero said as a contractor appeared out of thin air
"I ain't making no type of deal with any one until I get to see my brother you hear me?"said Stephanie
" Very well, follow me."Mr. Zero sighed
Following Mr. Zero down a long hallway, Stephanie was led down another long hall and noticed that Mr. Zero had stopped in front of a large door. Unlocking the door,Mr. Zero moved out of the way and allowed Stephanie to go inside.
Blinded by a very bright light, Stephanie soon found herself in a very familiar place. Finding herself back at home,Stephanie knew that it was all too good to be true but it wasn't until she saw her brother and the guys acting different than normal that she decided to do a few tests to prove that this was just some type of mind game.
Starting with Micky who was the only missing monkee,Stephanie paid attention to the spiral staircase and waited to see if he slid down the banister or used the stairs instead. After a few minutes of waiting, Micky emerged from the upstairs, and just like she predicted he didn't slide down the banister,but he did say something to her about the strange way she looked at him.
" Hey,what's with the weird look?"asked Micky
" Oh nothing, I just thought you would be sliding down the banister like you always do."said Stephanie
" I don't know what you're talking about, I've always walked down the stairs in all the years I've lived here."said Micky
" You know what, you're right I must have been mistaken. Sorry about that. "Stephanie said as she remained by the door
With Micky having been strike one,Stephanie moved on to her Davy theory next. Wondering if that Davy was as obsessed with her ,Stephanie walked over to him and planted a big kiss upon his lips. Receiving no reaction whatsoever, was definitely strike two. Since Peter would have been strike three,Stephanie chose to make that one her brother by doing the one thing she knew would make him use her nickname that he gave to her when she was little.
Going over to the bandstand, Stephanie picked up Mike's most prized guitar the blonde beauty and then walked up the spiral staircase where she planned to throw it from the balcony.
" Hey big brother? Aren't you going to stop me from what I'm about to do right this second? "Asked Stephanie
" What are you about to do?"asked Mike
" I'm about to drop your precious guitar over the balcony, but I won't do it if you call me by the nickname you gave me when I was a young kid."Stephanie said as she dangled the guitar
"Steph, I never gave you a nickname now hand over the guitar and I won't have to ground you."said Mike
" Sorry big brother but none of this is real so..."said Stephanie as she dropped the guitar
Leaving the 'pad' Stephanie saw Mr. Zero standing in the hallway looking more angry than ever.
" You stupid girl do you realize what you have just given up?"asked Mr. Zero " I gave you a way out of here, which you should have just taken."
"Sorry but,I ain't gonna live no lie."said Stephanie " Now either you take me to where my real brother and friends are,or I'll start tearing every contract you have to shreds."
"It doesn't matter if you get there on time or not,since your brother doesn't have much time left in this world and once he dies his soul will be mine."said Mr. Zero
" You liar ! I don't believe a word you say !Stephanie shouted
"See for yourself. "Mr. Zero said as he poofed Stephanie to the jail cell
