CHAPTER 23: MAN DOWN

Dedede and Magolor snuck back into the school using leftover web rope they found from Taranza. They entered the building and got to the glowing green room. Dedede noticed that the door was locked. He couldn't open it at all.

"It won't budge! I think my friends are still in there!" cried Dedede.

"Stand back," said Magolor as he took out his gun and shot the doorknob off the door.

Dedede covered his ears at sound of the shot. "Are you crazy? We are gonna have the policemen hear us now and they'll come rushing over!"

Magolor holstered his weapon. "Don't worry, the policemen wont be expecting someone with a gun because there were never any gunshot wounds present at the murder scenes."

"But what if ther still hear us?" asked Dedede with worry.

"I think they'll search the other rooms first. The seem to be avoiding this hallway for some reason…"

Dedede was shocked to hear this, but it was true. Why didn't the policemen keep constant surveillance on this particular area? The green glow was so obvious.

MAgolor greeked the door open and stepped into inside. He stepped in and saw horror that made him gasp aplenty. There were rows of green liquid tubes everywhere. He noticed the labels of his deceased friends and was especially taken aback by Tiff's tube.

"Yo Joe and Taranza!" called Dedede upon entering. "Where are you guys?"

There was no response, but Kirby was still in the room hunched over the table whining sad noises. Dedede and Magolor approached.

"Poyo…" said Kirby weakly. He had lost his sword ability.

"Who did this to you Kirby?" asked Dedede with fear in his young eyes meeting Kirby's defeated warrior look. "Where are my friends too?" he asked.

"This is ravaging darkness…" said Magolor with fear arupting in his eyes. "We have to get out of here before its too late!"

"No! Not without Knuckle Joe and Taranza!" cried Dedede with tears in his eyes. "We have to rescue these souls too!"

"We can't do this now!" said Magolor as he backed away holding his gun. "There is something supernatural going on in this school, Dedede!"

"Magolor! Snape out of it!" roared the teen king as he swatted his egg-like cohort across the face with his backhand. He grabbed Magolor by the shoulder parts and shook him. "Don't be scared! We will save them together!"

Magolor had tears in his eyes. "Dedede, we are just kids. Whoever did this has kidnapped the others and hurt Kirby! We can't possibly match that kind of strength!" Magolor dropped his blasting and it fell to the ground crying.

Dedede shooked his heads. "We can't give up!" He turned to Kirby and helped him up. He wished Taranza was here to translate Kirby's speech so he could find out what happened.

"Poyo…" Kirby coughed.

"Its all right Kirby. We are here to save you!" said Dedede.