CHAPTER SEVEN – Movie Magic

Darkness engulfed the Island as nighttime set in and Alan, TinTin, Scott and Virgil sat on the orange sofa in the lounge while Gordon and Fermat sat in the floor in front of them. Gordon had insisted on watching a particularly gory horror movie and as they had nothing better to do the kids, Virgil and Scott had decided to watch it with him.

The rest of the house was silent as they sat in the dark glued to the screen. TinTin had at some point unknowingly latched herself to Alan's arm, huddling into him as the film went on.

Alan didn't mind, he understood how she felt the movie was pretty gruesome. Alan looked down at Fermat and Gordon and noted that they had slowly but surely been moving closer and closer to the TV. Smiling, Alan looked to his left, over TinTin's head, and could see Virgil concentrating on the movie and Scott who appeared to be falling asleep, leaning his head back on the back of the sofa, his eyelids drooped.

Seeing this Alan yawned, it wasn't particularly late but he suddenly felt exhausted. Shaking his head he focused back on the TV screen.

Suddenly a woman on the screen let out a blood-curdling scream and TinTin jumped next to him gripping his arm tighter while Fermat suddenly scooted back a few feet.

"Hey don't worry squirt it's only a movie," Gordon said to Fermat turning round to look at him

"It's not scary I just wasn't ant-an-anti-an expecting it" Fermat answered defiantly.

"Come on, the monster isn't gonna leap out at you" Gordon tried to pull Fermat back to the screen.

"I'm f-f-fi-f comfortable here thanks " Fermat squeaked in reply settling in front of the sofa. Virgil chuckled at the scene.

Alan was struggling to keep his eyes open. It was like something was dragging him into sleep, something he couldn't see.

Unable to fight it any longer Alan drifted off leaning back against the sofa, and immediately found himself dreaming.

Alan was expecting to find himself in the same nightmare dangling above the Mole in the bank of London. But this was different. He wasn't in the bank of London, but in a large space.

It was dark, but light lit the room from fire torches that hung on the walls behind him.

Looking around Alan could make out red and gold painted walls and ceiling covered in elaborate patterns. The very ground appeared to be made of gold as Alan gazed in awe at his reflection in the floor.

'I don't remember this place' Alan thought trying to recall ever seeing a room like this.

"Hello?" Alan called to the empty room, his voice echoed eerily through the endless cavern.

Silence. An uneasy feeling started to dwell in his mind.

'This is stupid, its just a room. Must be a museum or something' he tried to convince his emotions to settle. Alan took a tentative step forward keeping his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead.

"Greetings Alan. It's been a long time" came a low menacing voice from the darkness.

Alan froze. He knew that voice. It had been haunting his dreams for months and fear gripped him instantly.

A figure stepped forward out of the darkness. The Hood stood just three meters from Alan, smiling at him.

"I told you I will haunt your dreams" the Hoods smile turned into an evil glare his eyes instantly turning a deep crimson.

Alan felt himself being shoved as he was knocked off his feet and thrown back 10 feet into the torch lit wall. Alan's ears were ringing from his head hitting the wall, but he quickly recovered and scrambled back to his feet.

"You can't hurt the Thunderbirds anymore. You're just an illusion," Alan shouted defiantly returning the Hoods glare.

The Hood smiled.

"I promised you that I will have my revenge soon….and I will" the Hood stalked towards him as his eyes turned crimson again. Grabbing Alan around the throat one handed he easily lifted him off the ground assisted by his power.

Alan could feel the air escaping his lungs as he struggled for breath.

"If you think this is just an illusion then by all means try and wake yourself up" the Hood said grinning as he tightened his grip around Alan's throat.

Alan struggled trying to wake himself up. His eyes widened. He couldn't.

His struggles intensified at the realization and, gasping for air feet from the ground, he could feel his oxygen-starved mind beginning to slow down as unconsciousness threatened.

"Just a dream….Please!" the Hood laughed.

Alan's struggling slowed as darkness started to take hold.

Then, without warning, the Hood let him go and Alan dropped to the ground in a half conscious heap.

"We'll meet again Alan. Only next time I will show you no mercy," the Hood snarled, and then turning around, he slowly melted back into the shadows.

Alan continued to lie on the floor, breathing hard as he watched the Hood disappear. He squeezed his eyes shut in quiet relief when a sound caught his attention. It was coming from the dark side of the room.

Alan looked up his eyes widening. 'Wait a minute, I've heard that sound before' he thought wildly trying to scramble to his feet. Then out of the dark he could see it! It was the Mole. It was hidden in the darkness but Alan could see the glint of light coming from its spinning teeth.

"What the…hell?" Alan squinted in the darkness trying to see more of the Mole as he slowly and shakily managed to get to his feet leaning on the wall.

Then without warning the Mole surged forward with shocking speed. Alan didn't even have time to react as it came straight at him catching him in the chest.

"Aaaaah" Alan screamed as he woke up, falling off the sofa to the floor as he did so.

Rubbing his back Alan opened his eyes squinting in the bright light. 'Bright light? I thought we had the lights off' he thought foggily.

Rubbing his eyes as they adjusted to the light he looked around. 'Where the….how did I get here?' He gazed around in shock, not at the lounge, but at his own bedroom. He hadn't fallen off the sofa; he had fallen off his bed.

He slowly got to his feet, his head pounding in protest as he did so. He sat down heavily on his bed before his legs had the chance to crumple.

The sun shone in through the large windows as the sound of the ocean filled the room.

Alan tried to remember how he had got from the lounge to his room without remembering it. 'I was asleep, wasn't I?', still confused and his head aching painfully he couldn't even remember if he had seen the end of the movie.

He looked down at his watch. 9:26 a.m. A frown formed on his face. 'The movie started about 10:45 last night. How long was I asleep?' Alan's frown deepened as he absently rubbed at his neck.

Closing his eyes as he tried to shake the feeling of tiredness, but he only succeeded in making his headache worse. Opening his eyes again he decided to go in search of some painkillers before attempting to solve his mystery, and slowly and groggily he got to his feet.

He looked down and noticed that he had also somehow changed into his nightclothes.

Every muscle in his body ached. Feeling more confused than ever he made his way out the door and headed down to the kitchen.

TBC