Chapter 2: The Cliffs

"Okay then Neutron, how do you explain the ten-feet-tall mushrooms and the air that smells like straw?" Cindy questioned, obviously annoyed. They were all sprawled out in the middle of a beige concrete platform. Surrounding them were 10-foot tall mushrooms and the air smelled faintly of hay. Odd things were all around. Through all of their adventures none of them had ever seen anything like this.

"I don't understand," Jimmy said standing up wobbly. "We were supposed to end up at the Candy Bar, which was 5 miles from my house, far enough from my house to prove how fast you travel."

"Well, maybe I'm just a little off my rocker today, but to me this doesn't look much like the Candy Bar. Or maybe Sam just had some renovations," Sheen said. Everyone else, except Carl, knew that these were definitely NOT renovations. Cindy began to get irritated.

"Well I am going to at least try to do something about it," Cindy said. "Whoever wants to do something other than sit, follow me!" Cindy exclaimed.

"Well we should do something," Libby said to Jimmy. "Obviously sitting here isn't doing us any good." He thought about it, 'She has a point' he thought 'But what could be beyond here? We could all get hurt!' Cindy interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey, I think I see bridges!" Without a second thought, Cindy started for the bridges. As soon as she had put one foot down, the bridge flipped up at one end. The ripple went through the bridge and before Cindy could say anything the end she was on flicked up and Cindy went hurtling through the air.

"CINDY!" Jimmy yelled. Libby went running to where her best friend lay.

"Cindy, girl wake up! Come on girl, come on," Jimmy left Libby kneeling by her friend. He knew that she'd wake up, at least he hoped. Well, Cindy was right that was the only way. Soon, Jimmy heard Libby's excited voice.

"CINDY! Cindy, gees girl you scared me to death," Libby was talking to her friend, relieved she was alright.

"Libby, Libby calm down. I'm fine," Cindy said. Libby just hugged her.

"Cindy," Jimmy walked to where the two friends sat, "You're right. We do have to cross those bridges, but-"

"But I'm not going anywhere near those bridges," Cindy said flatly.

"Cindy, I know what I'm doing now. Come on, trust me," Jimmy said. Cindy surveyed him, then slowly got up and headed towards the bridges.

"Wait! Go on the left one this time, not the right one," Jimmy warned. Cindy nodded, and slowly, very slowly, she closed her eyes and put her foot down on the first plank. When nothing happened she opened her eyes and looked down at her foot. It remained there. She took a few more cautious steps forward, and when nothing happened still she ran across.

"I'm alive!" she yelled, being obnoxious for he first time.

"Now, Sheen," Jimmy said, "I need you to go over the right bridge. If you make it, then I know the pattern, and if you don't I know the other version of the pattern."

"So what's the pattern?" Sheen asked.

"You'll see," Jimmy said teasingly. So Sheen leaped towards the bridge on the right. The same thing that happened to Cindy the first time happened to Sheen. He was flung through the air and landed behind Jimmy, Libby, and Carl a little off to the left.

"Oooooooooo," Sheen said dizzily. "I feel sick and disoriented."

"Sheen, head for the left one now," Jimmy instructed. Sheen shook his head and stood. Slightly dizzy, he walked across the left bridge and made it. He stood next to Cindy and she backed away from him slowly. "Okay, Libby you need to go right and Carl you need to go left. I go right," They both did as instructed and got safely to the other side. Jimmy crossed too. They walked in silence, but soon Sheen broke it.

"Hey Jimmy," he said, "What was the pattern anyway?"

"Well Sheen, the mellow people, Libby and me, crossed the right bridge. And, well, Cindy, Carl, and you crossed the left bridge," Jimmy explained.

"And our trait was?" Cindy asked.

"Being annoying a large percentage of the time," Jimmy said. Cindy scowled and gave Jimmy an evil eye

They continued forward, wondering what challenge awaited them next.

TO BE CONTINUED...