The Dark Crystal

Together we took a step toward Rob and Anna then our world melted away. I felt a sickening pull in the depths of my stomach as my vision went dark and then faded to light upon a scene that was only described to me.

All my friends from the Zetes Institute were there. Kait was dripping wet in a one-piece black and white stripe bathing suit. Rob and Anna were by Lewis struggling against something. Surrounded by some crazies, Joyce and I also were fighting against some invisible force. I knew the cause came from the giant slug people that an evil looking old man, Zetes most likely, was beating. All of us were trying to get to Gabriel and an ominous looking dark crystal.

"What's going on?" Lewis demanded in Keegan's voice.

"We're reliving the Institute revolt. Anna told me she still has nightmares about this day." I shouted. Looking around I discovered I was playing the role of Lydia.

"So what happens next?" Joyce asked in Julian's voice.

"See those pupa things?" I replied motioning with my head toward the slugs. "They're fixing to send Zetes flying into the crystal at the same time Gabe stabs the crystal with the shard in his hand."

"But I'm not Gabriel!" Gabriel said in Damon's voice.

Then we have a big problem, Angel said from Kaitlyn's direction.

This is Anna's nightmare and the only way to get through it is relive the day. But what about Rob, I asked myself. Why is he here? Is this also his nightmare? Is he also afraid of the events that unfolded here?

Or is his desire to change them

"Gabe---I mean Damon! When I say, toss the shard to Rob and get out of the way." I told him.

Damon nodded and prepared for my order. Together we watched as the scene unfolded.

I heard the savage swishing sound of Zetes cane and then the dull thud of the blows. We saw Rob's face tighten, saw it go grim with purpose. The shard quivered and moved an inch toward the crystal.

"Think of all your ambitions." Zetes was saying to Damon as he once did to Gabriel, "You wanted to go to the top. Have everything good. Money, power, position—all the things in life you deserve."

Damon looked nervously at me and back at the shard that lay inches away from his destruction.

"Recognition of your superiority—you'll never have any of it without me," Zetes went on franticly. "What about all that, Gabriel? Everything you always wanted?"

There was a long pregnant pause as Damon smiled.

"Go to hell."

Zetes began to scream, sharp and piercing, and to beat the slug beings again. Even though I knew to expect it, I began to scream and cry.

Then suddenly the muck that held everyone immobile was gone. Everything began happening too quick for my mind to process.

"Now!" I screamed before being tackled to the ground.

I saw the glimmer of the crystal shard as it danced across the air and Rob lunging toward it. I heard Anna scream as Zetes smashed into the dark crystal. I watched helpless as Rob thrust the shard forward like a deathblow towards a foe.

Rob! I somehow heard Anna cry and felt the joining of six minds intent on shielding a friend, lover and hero.

The sundering sounds of the crystals mixed in with us crashing to the floor of Purgatory. I looked up from the tangle of my friends to see a gateway full of beautiful colors, dark shadows and strangely…a smiling face.

Someone beneath me groaned, followed by five others.

"Whoever's elbow is in my gut, please remove it."

"Hey! Who pinched me!" Rob cried before Anna giggled mischievously.

"Whose elbow was that?" Julian demanded as everyone untangled himself or herself then found a seat in the pub.

"Wasn't mine, I was on top." I said offhandedly as I sat down at the bar.

"I always did like a girl who knew what she wanted." Keegan replied with a roguish grin. I smacked his arm as Fenris and Jormungand snickered.

"Okay, mind telling me where we are and what just happened?" Rob asked. "One moment Anna and I are at the faire, the next we're at the Institute and now we're here with everyone at Purgatory with Keegan and Julian's pets."

"Fenris and Jormungand are not— " Keegan growled before I held up my hand to silence him.

"Long story short: we were lured into the Shadow World by Raziel, the second in command here, who wants to have me as a prize in the Game we are playing." I told Rob and Anna.

"The Game is like the movie Labyrinth, go through a maze full of weirdoes and stuff but it has a Shadow Man twist: we have to face our fears and/or our deepest desires. So far, we are winning since we've collected and faced everyone's nightmares and/or desires."

Anna glanced at Madelyn and turned back to the rest, "So we face what is inside Madelyn and then leave?"

"Not quite." The bartender said startling us. Gesh! I forgot he was here!

"As we told your friends, they must face a final test before withdrawing from the maze." Jormungand hissed.

Angel rolled her eyes, We are so scare.

Fenris smiled sinisterly, "We'll see, Angela. We'll see but now you must free Madelyn."

Upon the uttering of Madelyn's name, icy winds swept all through the pub, bringing in shadows and the mutterings the depraved dwellers of the Shadow World. Now the pub stood as empty as before but with a feeling of a bustling crowd.

"This is cre--epy." Anna said to no one in particular as an invisible claw slid down my arm.

I shrieked and jumped into Keegan's arms. "Something touched me." I told him as us and our friends inched carefully over towards Madelyn.

A mug clattered on the ground and Angel swung towards it trying to pick up a sign of our invisible audience.

I'm not liking this. Not liking this at all, Angel said sounding just as scared as I was at that moment.

"I don't think they'll harm us." Keegan said just as Damon hissed and clutched his arm.

"Something, just said they will." Damon replied just before his other arm was cut. "Keegan, what are these?!"

Something giggled and then cackled in response.

"Rob," Keegan asked rather calmly as something sliced open his shirt, barely missing skin, "Is there anything that you're particularly scared of that's invisible?"

Rob looked sort of sheepish, "Nothing really."

"Nothing, okay."

Just then Anna screamed as her hands began to fade. Our invisible foe was really laughing now.

"Rob, fess up." Damon snapped. "I had endure having funky hair as a sick joke and then being caught with it."

And don't forget that secret desire you have about the harem where you had your brother kissing your feet, Angel reminded Damon as Anna's arms vanished.

"What are you scared of?" Julian asked. "Why's Anna fading?"

"Because I'm afraid to lose her—like I lost Kaitlyn."

Anna stopped fading but her arms were still missing. Everything was quite as Anna faced Rob.

"Remember our first date?" she asked him.

"I was going to Purgatory to meet Damon and Julian but before I could go out the door you asked me to go to a movie with you." Rob replied.

"How long has it been since that movie?" Anna asked him. "How long have we been going out?"

"Around five-six years, why?"

Anna seemed shy for a moment, "This really isn't how I pictured it but here it goes." She took a deep breath. "Rob, will you marry me?"

Rob made a sound that sounded a little like a laugh and a cough. Angel was frowning at Anna probably asking herself what was going on in that girl's head. Damon was smirking and Julian was trying not to laugh. I was stunned silent while Keegan calmly awaited Rob's answer.

"Uh, yeah. I mean yes I will." Rob stumbled. Anna threw her newly restored arms around her fiancé and rained kisses on him.

"When we get out of this place we'll tell everyone and—" Rob said before Angel cleared her throat gaining everyone's attention, like it or not.

Rescue now, plan wedding later, she said firmly.

Anna sighed and both of them nodded.

"Let's get Maddy."

**Coming soon** The Queen of Hearts make her final appearance and reveals why she is called The Queen! Secrets of the past and present are revealed! And THE END!