"It's official, I have no idea where I'm going.", Theo stated plainly as he downed his seventh glass of grape juice before the pitcher near him refilled itself and he started pouring another round into his glass and looking out into the vast emptiness of Subspace, "This is taking a lot longer than the last few times I've travelled throughout Creation."

He paused as he recalled the Wish Dragon story he had just left.

"I hope the holy beasts are holding up with keeping Long on the straight and narrow.", he added before rolling his eyes upward, "As much as I am able to alter the fabric of a world, I can't stay on a plain of existence long enough to keep the changes I create stable. So far, I'm only able to duplicate them and preserve them in the tomes I read."

He took a moment to observe the bookshelf floating ominously beside him.

"If my memory wasn't so bad I could recall how I got into this situation."

That was when Theo felt his chair come to a sudden halt and almost launched him out of it, but luckily he didn't and not spill his juice.

"Note to self: install breaks on riftwalking if that is even possible.", he stated, "Okay, what's the story this time?"

He held out his hand after drinking his juice for a bit, but no book came out making him pause.

"Um, hello? Where's the book?", he asked frowning.

Still nothing happened except the pitcher of juice vanished making Theo a bit nervous. He floated off his chair and looked on its side. Unfortunately, what he found there made him wish he didn't.

"Great, I'm low on power.", he groaned, "I'm going to need to pause and find something to occupy myself while my riftwalk recharges."

As if to answer him, seven books came off the shelf and hovered for a moment before they flew over to a large storage trunk on the other side of the fireplace that opened.

"Now what?!", Theo asked hovering over to the trunk.

The books that came over flew back to the shelf, but Theo opened the trunk and noticed something off.

"Wait a moment, let's take a look inside shall we?"

Theo slid into the trunk which was surprisingly roomy with a bunch of artifacts that had been collected in his travels.

"Let's see what we've got here.", Theo said as some objects came by him, "Orb and notes of forbidden magic from a forgotten kingdom, sack of crystalized enchantments, a magic board game, a chalice that grants immortality, and a lamp that no longer holds a genie. Man, I really got to start cleaning this place out more often."

After a little more looking, Theo found a rolled-up piece of parchment that looked pretty old. After untying the faded ribbon, Theo read what was on the parchment and frowned.

"I can't believe I have to go there of all places.", he groaned, "But considering my situation, I really have no choice."

/

Theo hovered near his chair and fireplace with dread and uncertainty on his mind.

"Okay, I'm about to jump into a vortex through space, time and reality that just so happens to be near the place where my riftwalking area has crashed with no idea where it might take me.", he reminded himself, "If I had my chair, I would just grip the arms and hope for the best, but I do have a job and it's not getting done with my constant complaining."

With a breath, Theo jumped towards the scary dark vortex which pulled him in with such force that Theo felt like he was on a roller coaster only he wasn't in a car, not on a rail, and with debris coming at him at about a hundred miles an hour! As much as Theo avoided them, a landscape came into view, but with the fog and dark creepy music, it made his nerves tense.

"I'm guessing this place's theme is scary?", Theo guessed a bit nervous.

That was when the dark storm clouds overhead lit up and a loud rumble of thunder shook the air.

"Yep, it's horror.", he said sighing, "I'm going to be having nightmares if I didn't have a "tone down the scary" thing going on with me. Guess I may as well-"

He paused as he remembered something.

"Hmm, I know he's creepy, freaky, and oh what's the word I would use to describe him?"

A wolf howl in the distance interrupted Theo's train of thought and snapped him back to reality.

"Oh yeah, need to get somewhere safe first."

Theo hurried down the road that he found himself on and the surrounding area reminded him of English countryside. Another wolf howl came out, but Theo tried not to freak out. Fear in a realm like this would provide danger. Fortunately, he came to what looked like a tavern with a sign hanging over the door.

"The Slaughtered Lamb?", Theo asked himself noticing the severed wolf head on a sword used to illustrate the sign, "Not much of a name, but if it provides a place to sleep, who am I to judge?"

He walked up to the door and after a quick glance over his shoulder, knocked a couple times.

"It's open."

/

Theo entered to find several grizzled looking men sitting around tables in the common looking tavern with a middle aged woman who looked just as tough as the men even though they had shotguns and she was wiping the polished counter while looking his way.

"Rough night?", she asked.

Theo looked down and noticed that he was wearing black shorts, black sneakers, white socks, and a black shirt. A quick glance in a mirror revealed he had black hair that was tied in a ponytail style with a white band though his blue eyes remained the same. Sensing that the men around were looking his way with suspicious stares, Theo knew it was better to say something now than keep quiet.

"Um yeah, I…was just wandering around and…had a little accident.", he said quickly, "And I need a place to stay for the night."

"Good call.", one of the men at a nearby table said gravely, "Beware the moon and stick to the road."

The barmaid pointed to a staircase on the other side of the room.

"Beds are upstairs on the right. Keep windows closed and curtains shut, lock your doors, keep the lights low and no matter what happens, until the morning comes, never let anyone or anything in or out."

Theo gulped nervously.

"I'll live up to the best as I'm able?"

Most of the people just kept watching him until he was up the stairs which creaked with each step.

"This is going to be a long night.", Theo muttered.

Then a wolf howl came out faintly, but the people sitting down, playing darts, or whatever stopped suddenly and some grabbed their shotguns which they cocked. Theo decided to just get to the room and hopefully get out of the way. As he got upstairs, he found several doors, but paused.

"Um, which rooms are available?", he called down.

"Second and fifth.", someone down below called up.

"Thanks."

Theo went to the second door since it was closer to the stairs and opened the door to reveal a simple bed, a desk, and a door which led to a bathroom illuminated by a single lamp on the desk. There was also a window with a view of the outside fields and thick curtains. As much as Theo wanted to stay awake, he was worn out from the traveling and quickly closed the door behind him, locked it, closed the curtains, brushed his teeth and fell into bed. Oh, how soft it felt and he slipped under the covers, clicked off the light and was soon asleep. There came the sound of a gun firing, but Theo tried to ignore it.

"And this is one reason I try not to do horror.", he said to himself, "Too many crazy people."

/

The morning came a little longer than Theo anticipated, but the moment the sun had started rising, the outside seemed less scary (slightly), he got out of bed and was downstairs just as the waitress from last night was up looking a bit annoyed, but not much.

"Interested in breakfast?", she asked.

Theo heard the sound of chopping in the back which made him cringe a bit.

"Um, just a plate of eggs and bacon?", he asked a bit nervous.

The waitress rolled her eyes.

"City boy.", she grumbled as she wrote Theo's order and placed it into a window behind her and turning back to him, "So, what brings you here?"

Theo sighed.

"There's someone I need to see.", he stated plainly as he sat down.

The waitress sighed.

"I'm to one for remembering people, but if you're going to ask about anyone, there's a club about five miles down the road you can try."

Theo rolled his eyes again.

"Let me guess, it's a club that's open all day and has a nineteen sixties vibe?"

The waitress nodded just as Theo's order came out and she brought it to him.

"Fresh from the stovetop.", she said plainly before setting it before him, "Don't wolf it down or I'd think you're a lycanthrope."

Theo just picked a fork up and paused.

"How much do I owe you for all this?", he asked.

"It's on the house.", she said, "A thanks for heeding our warning."

Theo felt a bit at ease as he finished his breakfast and left, but the moment he was outside, he was temporarily blinded by the bright sunlight, but got over it.

"Okay, just five miles down the road, a talk with a club manager and hopefully I find who I'm looking for."

The walk was long, but by the afternoon, he arrived at what looked like a small town with a sixties vibe. Just as he stepped on to the street, he saw a club a couple blocks forward.

"This looks like the place.", he guessed.

/

As soon as he entered, the place was in full swing with people dancing crazily, some were seated and having drinks or hanging. The dress code was about as crazy and the wacko hairstyles were just as "far out" as Theo guessed they would say.

"Excuse me, can I help you?"

Theo paused and turned to a well-aged Asian woman dressed in indigo dyed clothes and counting a stack of bills and wearing half spectacles looking his way with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm just here to see someone.", Theo answered, "He's kind of wild, but I hear he's a regular here?"

The woman pointed out on to the dance floor.

"Hyde's out there.", she answered plainly before turning back to the money she was counting, "At least when he visits, I get actual money."

Theo followed where her finger and saw a man in the middle of the fray wearing light tan pants, brown shoes, a light shirt partially open enough to reveal he was wearing some gold chains around his neck and a thick forest of chest hair, a gold earring, and a hairstyle that looked like he had been electrocuted. The moment "Hyde" got a break and noticed Theo, a smile came to his face revealing he had a good tooth in his mouth before turning to a couple of ladies he had near him.

"Could you excuse me girls? Gotta welcome the new guy."

Theo barely had time to say anything before "Hyde" was in his face.

"Hey there!", he said enthusiastically, "What brings you here?! A meet up?!"

Theo placed a hand over his mouth to make him pause.

"I didn't come to get high, get hooked, or catch up Hyde.", Theo said firmly as he took his hand away, "I'm looking for a certain someone. A Dr. Creepy if you know him."

The moment he finished, the whole room went silent and everyone seemed to look terrified. Even Hyde looked shocked.

"Crazy looking guy in a lab coat, wearing black rubber gloves, jeans, and black boots?", Hyde asked.

Theo looked a bit thoughtful.

"Possibly."

Hyde sighed.

"He's in the creepy old building about five minutes outside of town.", Hyde informed, "But I wouldn't get near that guy if I were you. He's known for his sadistic point of view, and really bad addiction to tormenting others."

Theo rolled his eyes.

"I know. That's why he sent for me."

Hyde looked more shocked.

"He…sent for YOU?!"

"Hyde, I appreciate your opinion, but I have a job to do and a really big and evil event is coming up and I need something from Dr. Creepy if I'm going to survive it."

Hyde tried looking supportive, but the look in his eyes told Theo that he was still concerned.

"Well, good luck."

/

By the time Theo arrived at the location, it had gotten dark and stormy again. After knocking a few times, the door opened to reveal a really messy room with textbooks, science notes, and hardly any lighting.

"Well, this is certainly his style.", Theo thought, "What could he want?"

He had just stepped inside when the door slammed shut behind him with a bang cutting off most of the already dim lighting. Theo reached into his belt and took out a flashlight and clicked it on. As the occasional thunder crash and lightning flash went off, Theo came up a set of creaky stairs to another door he cautiously opened. A squeak came off and Theo turned to see a rat sitting on top of what looked like rolls of old film for the old fashioned movie projector. There was light, in the far side of the room which got Theo to turn off his flashlight and try and slap on a smile.

"Good evening.", he said trying to sound calm, but not hearing anything, "Hey, you called for me, but you don't answer? That's no way to treat someone who's accepted your note."

"I just invited you to tell you that I won't help.", a voice came from the shadows.

Theo felt bolder.

"Really? This matter concerns all realms. You're familiar with horrors are you not?"

A shadow stirred in the back.

"What if I am?"

"I happen to know that others like me have opinions that don't agree with me, but they can only manipulate horrors. They can't control them due to them being loyal to their master. You."

"I am aren't I?", the voice answered smugly.

Theo smiled.

"Then you're aware that I know that you possess a certain artifact I'm looking for. A set of dice I would say."

A person stepped out of the dark. Hyde may have described him, but he didn't' mention the scary metal eyepatch, bald head, and creepy smile of sharpened and broken teeth.

"Tell you what Theo, let's play a game and if you win, I'll let you keep the dice."

Theo frowned.

"What's the game."

Dr. Creepy's smile broadened.

"Call it a deadly game of hide and go seek. And here's a little hint: inside seven events where a horror resides, a magical dice hides from most sights."

He tossed another rolled up piece of paper and what looked like a little box at Theo who caught both.

"You have what you wanted, now leave and may you live long enough to find what you're looking for."