Chapter 12: A Game Of Cat And Mouse

Meanwhile, Candlehead and Kandle led Fatima and Katie around Sugar Rush. They led the two new characters to every location in Sugar Rush, like Candlehead, Gloyd, and Candi had done for Kandle earlier that day. After their trip, the four of them stopped at a place that was called Ho-Ho Hill, where they decided to watch four chocolate pinwheels that were currently in season. Ten minutes after arriving at Ho-Ho Hill, Candlehead's portal key's communicator beeped. Candlehead took out her portal key and answered the communicator.

"Hello?" Candlehead asked.

"Candlehead, is that you?" Swizzle asked from the other line of the phone.

Candlehead nodded.

"Yeah, it's me. What's wrong?" Candlehead asked.

"Vanellope just called and said that Licortwist broke into the castle and activated the new characters. Vanellope's fighting off Licortwist by herself, and I'm gathering the rest of the team. I need you to head to the castle and wait for me and the others." Swizzle replied.

Candlehead nodded.

"Alright, I'm on my way." Candlehead announced.

Candlehead then shut off the communicator and turned to Kandle, Fatima, and Katie.

"I'm sorry, guys, but I have to go." Candlehead said.

"Why? We just got here." Katie asked.

Candlehead sighed.

"I know, but Vanellope needs me for something. Don't worry, we'll hang out again later." Candlehead replied.

Kandle, Fatima, and Katie nodded, and Candlehead ran off.

Meanwhile, Vanellope exited the castle. She knelt down on the ground and started catching her breath.

"Okay, I'm out of the castle. That's good. Now all I need to do is..." Vanellope started to think.

CRRRASH!

The sound of something being smashed open interrupted Vanellope's thoughts, making her head spin around to see what it was. Her eyes widened as she saw Licortwist use the licorice pieces to smash a hole through where the doors of the castle had once been. Licortwist looked around and then grinned menacingly upon seeing Licortwist.

"You've been a pain to my side for too long, Vanellope! It's time that you got what you deserve!" Licortwist sneered.

Licortwist held his hand up high and then swiped it down. The licorice pieces formed into spikes that shot out at her. Vanellope gasped and let her body pixelize, and she glitched out of the way just as the licorice spikes smashed into the ground where she had just been standing. She wailed in fear and stumbled away, continuing to glitch and skip in her movements. Meanwhile, Licortwist laughed at his own miss. A little challenge was always a good time to him.

Vanellope continued to run and glitch, and eventually, she spotted the lining of the Candy Cane forest and stumbled slightly. Her hands patted the sugar as she tried catching her balance, and Licortwist spun around to lock her in his sights.

"Where do you think your going?" Licortwist asked sarcastically.

Licortwist chuckled and raised the licorice pieces up again to strike. Vanellope grabbed a handful of the sugar and threw it upwards with all her might, grunting as she did, and then she shot a blast of pixels that propelled the sugar at Licortwist. The sugar clashed with his face, his eyes getting the majority of it, and Licortwist immediately lowered his hand and howled at the gritty bits that were in his eyes. He held his eyes with his palms and teetered in all directions as he tried finding Vanellope and the ground at the same time in a confused mess.

"YOU LITTLE GLITCH!" Licortwist roared in rage with his face still in his palms.

Vanellope dashed to the Candy Cane forest without looking back. Then it occurred to her that she had to still keep Licortwist distracted long enough for the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Candace, and Toxika to show up. She couldn't risk Licortwist running off, even though his attention was focused on slaughtering her. She had to let him know where she was, but that realization made her stomach drop in horror. The last thing that she wanted was for Licortwist to know where she was, let alone chase her... but she had to... for the safety of the arcade.

Licortwist lifted his head from his palms, and the sight was horrid. His eyes were blood red and spider-webbed in veins at the irritation. His face glowed with blood that rushed to his cheeks and forehead, and his teeth were bare and open.

"Vanellope you glitch, where are you?" Licortwist asked angrily.

Licortwist growled as he scanned all around him. Vanellope hid halfway behind a candy cane tree, allowing him to catch a glimpse of her black ponytail and wide eyes that were filled with terror. He grinned and cracked his knuckles.

"There you are." Licortwist said.

Licortwist had the licorice pieces form into a rolley-polley shape with him on top, and he had them spin forward. The sound of the licorice pieces slicing through the air in quick motions made Vanellope's heart race, and she took off running deeper into the Candy Cane forest. Licortwist rolled and crashed over the candy cane trees, throwing sugary sand and solid chocolate dirt upwards behind him. The trees cracked and shattered as he plundered his way through them, and Vanellope could hear the sound of crumbling trees behind her as she ran.

Eventually, Licortwist released the licorice coil and slammed it into the ground, making it shake and rumble beneath him. He swung him arm in front of him and the licorice pieces knocked down a candy cane tree that was in his way. He then swung his other arm and the licorice pieces broke several more candy cane trees, and he continued using the licorice pieces to bash his way towards Vanellope.

Vanellope hid behind a candy cane tree, panting and holding her chest as her heart began to hurt from the constant pounding. She tried catching her breath and whimpered as she pressed herself against the trunk.

"Please be gone... please be gone..." Vanellope silently prayed.

Vanellope jumped as she heard another candy cane tree snap and shatter. The sounds of destruction echoed all throughout the forest. She wondered where the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Candace, and Toxika were, and she hoped that they would arrive soon to help her.

Lost in her thought, Vanellope didn't realize the eerie and sudden silence. She took in a deep breath, but didn't relax. Her coding told her that something wasn't right. She slowly and ever so quietly peeked around the tree trunk to the left, and then she put her sweaty palms against the sticky peppermint bark. She scanned the area, only seeing a trail of shattered candy cane trees and piles of sharp leftover shards from Licortwist's rampage. But Licortwist was nowhere in sight. That shot fear down her spine. Where was he?

Suddenly, Vanellope began to smell his breath, which was licorice scented. She could feel heat on her back and neck behind her, and she could hear slight ticking noises from the sharp pointed ends of the licorice pieces. Fear kept her from looking, but only for a moment. She gathered the bravery to look behind her, and the second she spun around, there was Licortwist! Vanellope screamed and fell back as he surprised her.

"SUPRISE!" Licortwist shouted.

Licortwist cackled and slammed the licorice pieces over her body, trapping her like a bird in a cage. He pushed down on her torso with the licorice pieces, and Vanellope squirmed and grabbed at them, screaming and wailing. She tried glitching and shooting blasts of pixels, but her blue pixels turned red when she tried using her glitching abilities. Licortwist chuckled, leaned down to her level, and let his tongue fall from his lips. The tip of his tongue dragged along her face, and Vanellope gagged and turned her head away.

"Mmm, my my, what a sweet flavor you are. I bet your insides look like cherries, or perhaps lovely mashed strawberries." Licortwist said.

"L-Let me go! Please!" Vanellope cried.

Vanellope tried pushing the licorice pieces off of her, but Licortwist only applied more pressure to her body.

"Oh, but what fun would that be? I would rather turn you into a little milkshake." Licortwist said sadistically.

Licortwist grinned and pushed down on her, squeezing the air out of her lungs. She couldn't inhale, and she opened her mouth wide, desperate for air. She then felt something snap in her chest, and it sent a wave of agonizing pain throughout her body and up her spine. Her ribs were beginning to crack under the pressure. Licortwist hardly had the weight of the licorice pieces on her, yet he was crushing the life out of her. He chuckled as he watched blood trickle from the sides of her lips. Vanellope continued to struggle and squirm, but her strength began leaving her as each gruesome second passed by. Would the others be able to save her? Was there anyone there to help her? Was this how she was going to die? Would she even regenerate?

But just as Licortwist was about to apply more pressure to finally smash Vanellope flat, a brown cinnamon spike flew into Licortwist's cheek, splattering blood across his face and neck. Licortwist yelled in pain, reached for the cinnamon spike, and ripped it from his cheek while he had the licorice pieces let go of their grip on Vanellope. She gasped and took in a deep painful breath, stretching her broken ribs before letting out a scream and holding her chest. Blood poured from the wound in Licortwist's cheek, and he took a look at the cinnamon spike in his hands. Warm red blood dripped from his palm and he realized what the cinnamon spike was. He gripped the cinnamon spike and looked in the direction of where it had flew, and he spotted the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Candace, Toxika, and Damon.

"Leave her alone, Licortwist." Rancis ordered, extremely angry that he was harming Vanellope.

Licortwist simply laughed and faced the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Candace, Toxika, and Damon, ignoring Vanellope. He sent the cinnamon spike to the licorice pieces, which snapped the cinnamon spike in half.

"Oh, the game has only just begun, fools." Licortwist sneered.