"I need to slow down. I'll be exhausted by the time I reach the dogs if I keep going at this pace." Coulson thought to himself as he power walked towards the kennels.
So Coulson slowed his pace to a crawling speed. He spent the next five minutes walking at this speed before he stopped at a large tree. The arrow he was following, yet again pointed down into a hole.
"I don't like this, but what choice do I have?" he thought as he swung his legs into the hole and jumped down into it.
There was another tunnel, but this one was tall enough and wide enough for him to comfortably walk down it, and it was dimly lit with phosphorescence on the walls.
Taking a deep breath Coulson steadied his nerves and headed down the tunnel. He didn't make it very far when he heard a creaking above him and looked up in time to see a bucketful of foul smelling green ooze get upturned on him.
He had no time to react.
The ooze hit him as hard as a waterfall knocking him to the ground and made the floor or the tunnel slippery.
He wiped the ooze out of his eyes and away from his mouth before gripping onto the rugged rock that made the side of the tunnel and hauling himself to his feet.
Hesitantly Coulson stepped forwards and immediately he felt his legs slide in opposite directions, forcing him to take hold of the wall again for support. When he regained his balance, he set off down the tunnel, keeping hold of the wall so he didn't fall. Once he was clear of the ooze on the floor he let go of the wall, only gripping it again when he slipped on a wet patch of floor.
He was still walking at a crawl.
Coulson could now see daylight up ahead, streaming in through the ceiling, illuminating a small ladder he would have to climb to get out of there.
Suddenly a clanking sound filled the tunnel. Coulson spun his body all around trying to find the source of it.
He couldn't.
Deciding it would be safer to get to the dogs he took three quick steps forwards before being engulfed in white floating feathers.
"Greeeaattt." He groaned, once again clearing his eyes and mouth.
He hurried forward to the ladder and swiftly climbed it, breathing a sigh of relief when the rain hit him and divested him of some of the looser feathers.
Coulson saw he was now right outside the door to the kennels, so he pushed it open and went to find box number '4'.
"So you're telling me, whatever happens next, I am running?" Skye asked Ward, wondering what had made this a predetermined choice.
"It was decided when May went first. Besides, I'd rather not get into Coulson's bad books again. Not after last time."
"What did he do?"
"Well, he shouted at me, threatened me, and do you remember that 'errand' he sent me on?"
"The one that nearly killed you?"
"Yeah. Like I said. It's not worth the wrath of Coulson."
Skye laughed and took his hand.
The two of them set off following their arrow and found themselves walking deeper and deeper into the woods, only pausing when they heard the blood chilling announcement:
"Release the Hounds."
"Hey. At least he made it there safely." Ward said
"What do you mean?"
"Well we reckon Simmons got lost, and I had wondered if we would be punished for taking out those guys."
Skye paled.
"Like I said, at least he made it safely."
The gate started moving and Coulson set off from his sprinters start. He could see Fitz and Simmons ahead of him and thought of them instead of his not so brilliant head start.
He powered his legs as fast as they could carry him, thankful he had changed out of his suit for their expedition.
He was also thankful for ooze.
It smelt so vile the dogs were reluctant to chase him, so Coulson slowed off his top pace for a while and reached the ladder in plenty of time, noticing the scorch mark on the ground as he did.
Once he climbed the ladder he was greeted by two pairs of eager hands pulling him over the wall.
"Where's May?" Coulson asked, worried she hadn't made it.
"Skulking in a corner, trying to wash herself down with a flow of water out of a tree."
Coulson headed to the corner where Fitz had pointed May was and recoiled in shock.
"May, I need that impromptu shower." He said, pulling at a feather that was tickling his neck.
"Well this is it, me and you and probably another chainsaw clown." Ward teased Skye as they stumbled through the woods.
"Don't. I had nightmares about that for a week."
"I know. You managed to break my nose remember."
"I hope it's not body parts either. I think I'd be sick if it was."
There was a big bright red arrow in front of them, indicating a change in direction. They took it and found themselves on the bank of a river.
"I guess we use those ropes to cross?" Skye asked him, pointing at the two ropes spanning the rushing water.
"Just like last time."
"Together?"
"Is there any other way?"
Ward helped Skye onto the ropes and after making sure her feet were safely on the bottom one and that she had a firm grip on the top one, he climbed up next to her.
Slowly they made their way across the ropes to the other side of the river and followed the arrow that was there waiting for them.
They made their way through the now dense forest, climbing over boulders and fallen tree trunks, before Ward saw something that made him shiver.
It was a bright illuminated sign over a one storey, crumbling building that read 'Insane Asylum'
"Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be good?" he mumbled as he tugged on Skye's hand and led her towards the building.