Fierce Fox and myself arrived on Counterfeit Island. We landed in a garden, with neatly trimmed bushes, lush green gas, polished footpaths, and a statue of a Poptropican pampering herself. Fierce Fox followed me past all of this to Downtown.

We entered a store called Bobo's Clown store. It was a store filled with many bright plastic hats, clothing items and other over-saturated nonsense.

I grabbed a green balloon, feeling slightly weightless as I clutched it in my fingers. Poptropican physics, I suppose.

"What's up with the balloon?" Fierce Fox asked.

"It's about to create one of Poptropica's greatest legends." I explained.

She made a face as she trailed after me. We arrived at the Countryside, which, as you can probably guess, was a grassy land full of trees. Underneath some of the trees were two kids. I handed the balloon to the boy in front.

"Here you go, kid." I said.

He grabbed the balloon; it suddenly lifted him high into the sky. The girl next to him rushed off.

"Uh..." Fierce Fox stared at me. I chuckled.

"Balloon Boy," I explained. "Come on. We've got some trash to dig through."

Fierce Fox raised an eyebrow. I sighed and led her back to Downtown, to the outside of one of the grey apartments. A trash can had its lid slightly ajar. Now, I knew that I wouldn't get sick by sticking my hands in there (thanks Poptropican physics), but I still didn't like the thought. So I made Fierce Fox do it for me.

She managed to snatch two tickets from the revolting mess. She was intrigued at first, but then I explained that one of the tickets had to go to a tourist. (I swear I saw someone hanging out in the trash can, too…)

"Really?" Fierce Fox complained, folding her arms. "We gotta give one away?"

I patted her shoulder. "Never mind. The tour is pretty boring anyway, you won't be missing much."

Fierce Fox followed me into the 'Web Browser Internet Cafe'. A guy outside the building was talking about Balloon Boy, which made me wink at Fierce Fox. The cafe itself had brown walls, brown chairs and tables, and a dirty white floor. Coffee cups were printed on the wallpaper. A tourist was standing near a computer on a desk.

I approached him, holding out the tickets, expecting him to take one. But he did something I didn't expect.

He grinned at us and said, "You two keep the ticket, no problem! I'd hate to break a duo up."

"Wha…" I trailed off. "Are you sure? This is your ticket, right?"

"I insist!" he waved a hand. "Go! You'd make for a great couple, anyway."

My face heated up and Fierce Fox looked away.

"Yeah… no," Fierce Fox grabbed my arm. "We're just accomplices."

Once we got out, Fierce Fox gazed over my face.

"What's up?" she asked.

"He's supposed to take one ticket," I told her.

"What's the big deal?" Fierce Fox asked. "It's just some tickets."

"No, it means…" I paled. "It means we're changing the game."

We got to the front of the Underground Tour. Basically it looked like a hill with a metal gate, and broken pillars surrounding it. A lady with a green beret was standing outside it. I handed her the tickets.

"Bonjour!" she greeted. "When you're ready to start the tour, just ahead inside."

We did such thing, entering the tunnel. The walls were made out of pale cobblestone, broken pillars and tombs. Spray painted skulls were on the walls, as well as metal pattern designs. It was like a mild version of the Underworld from Mythology Island.

The two of us climbed down a few ropes and jumped over stone walls and platforms. We eventually reached a dome-shaped room, with skulls underneath it. I instructed Fierce Fox to slither up a hanging electric light, and grab a piece of paper hanging off a wire. She did such thing. It was added to her inventory, which was for a puzzle later on. (And by the way, we didn't pay any attention to the tour, since it was a snoozefest.)

After that we exited. The exit, however, was outside a sewer underneath a harbour. A shady-looking guy was waiting outside for us. I could see a scar under his sunglasses, and shadows covered half of his face.

"Psst," he said. "Come here."

Fierce Fox and myself approached him.

He scanned the area nearby, then looked at me. "You're that... girl from another world or something, right?"

I jumped back. "Wh-wha… how do you know that?!"

He kept his voice to a whisper. "I'm not really supposed to tell you. That's another person's job. But I did wanna say stick with your friend over there - things are getting more dangerous. Anyway, I think you should know what to do now."

"Please just tell me what's going on here," I pleaded. "How do you know about me?!"

The man tilted his head. "Hmm… y'know what, meet me at the museum tonight, after hours, near the Scream. Maybe I can tell you some tidbits."

"... I don't trust you," I replied.

"I know," he adjusted his hat. "You know who I'm affiliated with. But I'm not working for her anymore. I want to help you."

Fierce Fox and I gazed at each other.

"Your little friend here could surely kick me to high hell if I tried anything," the man assured me. "And besides, who else is going to give you any answers?"

We stared at each other, long and hard.

I sighed, biting my lip. "Fine. We'll meet at the museum tonight."

After grabbing a piece of paper on a rock lying on the sand, Fierce Fox followed me past some old boats on the dock.

"So," she questioned, holding her arms. "What was all that about?"

"I honestly don't know," I admitted. "I really don't trust that guy. But we don't have anything else to go off on. He knows about me."

By then, we had reached the museum, which had a great, dome roof made out of marble. With my direction, Fierce Fox climbed up to the roof and grabbed another piece of paper. Then, the two of us went to the grand, glass doors. A woman with straight black hair stared at me. I could tell she knew who I was... and I knew who she was.

I urged Fierce Fox inside.

We spent the next five or so minutes moving paintings around to become security guards together. Interesting experience to have with your Poptropican, I must say. The assistant curator was impressed and allowed us into the Forgery Detection Lab for our training.

The Forgery Detection stage was easy, for me at least. I had to help Fierce Fox and give her all the answers. Which was what I did, anyway. It was actually kind of fun, and sort of reminded me of my science classes. Especially the part where we tested paint samples. I found that more fun than I thought I would.

We both got the job successfully, and the assistant curator handed us keys to the storage room. To get there, we had to go into the statue room. The statues were perfectly sculpted, looking like they belonged on Mythology Island. However, we didn't have time to gawk at the statues. We went to the supply room, which unfortunately was much less fancy than the statue room. However, it did have a piece of paper, so we got that.

Cut to the evening. Fierce Fox and I snuck back into the Underground tunnel. It was pretty easy to hop through the tunnel, and using the complete picture thanks to all the pieces of paper, we managed to leave the tunnel through a drain.

The tunnel's exit took us to the supply room in the museum. It was almost pitch black, as my eyes scanned my surroundings. I used my key to click open the door. It led us into a corridor, where a guard was roaming around outside. Fierce Fox and I waited with baited breath.

After sneaking past the guard, we got back into the statue room. However, little red lasers were sprinkling down from the ceiling. We avoided them by hiding behind the statues, which was a popular thing shared between Poptropica Islands. Once we passed that, we got into the main art archive.

I spotted 'The Scream' up ahead… and I knew it was the thing that was going to get us busted.

"Where's that man?" Fierce Fox grumbled. "Isn't he supposed to be here?"

"I bet he's trying to get us busted," I told her. "That, or he hasn't come yet."

We waited for a few moments. With slow, cautious movements, I approached the Scream. No sign of the man.

I knew it, I thought. He's not-

"Hey."

The whisper made me perk up. Hiding behind a potted fern was the shady man. Fierce Fox joined my side, glowering at him.

"Nice to see you've come," she hissed.

"Please," I bowed my head. "Give us some answers, would you?"

The man breathed out. "Very well. Ahem. Listen, it's about… a prophecy."

"Huh?" I asked.

"... a prophecy that you're going to fail." He turned away, pressing a button on the wall. The alarms went off. The whole museum flashed bright red.

"HEY!" Fierce Fox growled, holding out her staff. "YOU-"

She was interrupted by a wave of police racing in. I sighed.

We're done for…

The next morning, we woke up in a jail cell. The black-haired woman - also known as the investigator - was watching me with sharp eyes. Let's just say it wasn't pleasant.

The investigator smiled sweetly at us. "Don't worry, I know you're both innocent. But I need to have a little conversation with Miss Manchester. Miss Fierce Fox, you can go."

I gulped and faced Fierce Fox, lowering my voice. "Go back to the museum and to the security office. Go to the computer and take a picture of the shadowy man. Then go to the Jazz cafe and chase after the man. Then come back for me."

Fierce Fox raised her brow. "That guy said we need to stick together or whatever."

"That's what he's expecting," I replied. "And you really want to trust him after that?"

Fierce Fox scowled. "You're right. I'll kill that man." She dashed off, leaving the investigator and I alone. Chills went down my spine.

"Well," the investigator took a step towards me. "If it isn't Alice, the girl from another world."

"What's going on?!" I demanded, clenching my fists. "How do you know about me?! Who told

you?!"

"Patience, Alice," the investigator said, as she grew nearer. I couldn't help but take a step back. "Your questions will be answered sooner or later."

"By whom?" I demanded, with a scowl.

"I'm not going to tell you," she replied, circling me like a shark. "Oh, what a shame. Stuck with all these questions, eh?"

I felt something in me I hadn't felt for a while. A spark of… something burning hot. A spark of RAGE.

"No!" I spat. "Tell me now! I don't like all of these unanswered questions! I don't like what's going on! What's happening?!"

The investigator chuckled. "Oh, Alice. Don't get so grumpy." She grinned. "Hm, because I feel nice, I'm going to say there are two sides of the prophecy. Your side, and the other side."

"What?!" I cried, biting my lip.

"And unfortunately," the investigator gripped my shoulders. "I'm not on your side." Then she hit me over the head. Everything went black.

My eyes flickered open. I was tied up - scratch that, tied up in chains underground, in the Underground tunnel. All around me was darkness, and the crumbling walls of the Underground tunnel. The skulls in the walls bored into my own eyes.

That man was right after all… Fierce Fox and I need to stay together…

"Help!" I cried in desperation. My voice echoed into the void. "Somebody! Anybody! Help!"

But nobody heard me and nobody came to my rescue. I was trapped. Screwed. I struggled against the chains, but they wouldn't budge. My body shook.

"Help!" I yelled. "ANYONE!"

No response. I slumped over. I was all alone, hopeless.

Suddenly, I heard… grunting? Footsteps pounded along the floor, becoming more audible as they came closer to me.

It was none other than Fierce Fox, who had come to rescue me. Her lightning staff glowed in the dark. My jaw dropped.

"But how-" I spluttered. "How'd you find me?"

"I got a calling," Fierce Fox explained, raising her brow. "Like the voice."

"What…?" I asked. "But… I'm your voice."

"I know," Fierce Fox began untying my chains. "I think… I think there's someone watching over us. Like a guardian angel or something."

I shrugged. "I don't know… but I do know we need to stop the investigator, or should I say… the Black Widow."

"And how do we do that?" Fierce Fox asked, as my chains fell off.

"She's meant to kidnap you after you go inside her house and discover she stole the Scream," I told her. "Then, she brings her to her base of operations, and you make your way out of there."

"But…?" Fierce Fox raised a brow.

"But I know she has a secret entrance in the Web Browser cafe," I stood up. "I think it's time we paid it a visit."

And so, the two of us returned to the Web Browser cafe. At the back, my eyes spotted a part of the tiled floor that was slightly unhinged. Fierce Fox and I got close towards it, gazing at each other.

"There it is," I told her. "Let's do this."

I opened the tiled floor, revealing a passageway. And inconspicuously as possible, the two of us slid in, making our way through a passageway.

Before long, we had reached the Black Widow's base of operations: long, metal halls with symbols of black widow spiders, and piles of stolen art. Red occasionally flashed from the roof, making me hold my breath.

Guards walked around, eyes open. I hid behind a fern, Fierce Fox behind me.

"So, where's the Black Widow?" she asked me.

"In that room," I pointed to a large, sliding door. "We'll have to steal a keycard off one of the guards to get in there."

"Oh no you won't."

My whole body went cold. The Black Widow herself was standing behind us, bright red lips spread into a grin.

"Did you honestly think I wasn't expecting you?" she asked. Her guards surrounded her.

And then everything went black.

The Black Widow had tied me up in a totally different room, like a panic room. I was surrounded by thick metal, and my body was wrapped in chains again; I was practically being strangled by them.

There was no one around me. The only reassuring thing was a single light hanging from the ceiling.

"You're all mine," The Black Widow entered the room, with a wicked smile. "They couldn't catch you, but I did! You fell into my trap. I will be rewarded."

"What are you talking about?" I gasped as she grew nearer.

"Sides, Alice," she hissed. "We oppose each other, but we both want the same thing - you."

The leer in her eyes made me tremble.

"Sides?" I questioned. "Why do you want me?!"

"Why do you think, idiot?" The Black Widow asked menacingly. "You, in a way, are the voice. Of course we want you. You have untold powers."

"But how did you find out about me?" I demanded, struggling against the chains. "Who told you?"

"Hmm, you may or may not know them," The Black Widow replied, caressing my chin. "But for now, you are mine! You're worth as much as all the art in my gallery! HA HA HA!"

"No!" I cried.

"And there's nothing you can do about it!" Black Widow teased. "You can't stop it Alice. Nobody can!"

My stomach turned. I was sick. Sick of worry. Sick of confusion. Literally sick. Danger was around me - and I still didn't understand what was going on!

"What is 'it'?" I wailed, as the Black Widow continued to circle me.

Suddenly, I heard banging on the doors. The walls groaned.

"Surrender, Black Widow!" Fierce Fox shouted. "We're calling the cops!"

"Never!" Black Widow cackled. "She's mine now!"

"Don't make us call the big guns!" the shady man cried. I raised my eyebrows.

"The 'big guns'?" I questioned, shaking my head. "Who's that?"

My head started to pound.

"Bring it on, then!" Black Widow sneered. "They'll never get to me!"

Suddenly, the ground began to rumble. The walls began to shiver like jelly, and my chains were jingling. There was an earthquake, and it was coming straight for me. I wasn't sure if I was more scared of the earthquake or 'the big guns'.

"Curses!" the Black Widow complained, as the floor began to split, walls groaning. She faced the door. "You win this time, but next time you'll fall!"

Then she disappeared up a vent, where I heard her getting beat up by somebody.

What the Hell is going on?!

Thanks to the earthquake, the door exploded open, revealing the shady man and Fierce Fox. They rushed over and speedily untied me, sending the blood back into my arms and legs. I freely wiggled them around, before Fierce Fox clutched my arm.

"We have to go!" she ordered.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"COME ON!" Fierce Fox almost picked me up and threw me over her shoulder.

I raced along with them to escape Black Widow's lair. We dodged past falling parts of the roof, and cracks in the ground. Black Widow's crew was also escaping, and they appeared to be just as terrified as us. I noticed that a lot of the stolen art was getting covered in debris.

"What about the art?" I cried, pointing a finger at it.

"Never mind the art!" the shady man yelled. "We have to go!"

We continued shoving through falling debris, floor shaking. My heartbeat got faster and faster. Fierce Fox kept a tough grip on my arm; it seemed to be my only guide, honestly. I could barely even think.

It felt like eternity when we finally escaped Black Widow's lair. And once we did, the earthquake began to slow down. I slumped over in Fierce Fox's arms, sitting in the cafe.

On the bright side, the Black Widow had been caught by the cops and taken away… leaving me with even more questions than before.

"Did you start that earthquake?" I asked Fierce Fox, as we made our way to the museum. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Not exactly," she answered. "The shady guy told me he 'knew some people', then he... made this weird calling, and the earthquake started. Oh, and he warned me to be careful."

"But.. what is this all about?" I persisted, folding my arms. "This… prophecy stuff. Isn't that what you were telling me about?"

Fierce Fox grimaced, turning away. I had a feeling I wasn't going to get much else out of here.

I groaned. "Go get your medallion in the museum."

I gazed up at the sky, biting my lip.

Whoever's up there, if you can hear me, please tell me what's going on. It's scaring me.

No response. I really was all alone.