Imprisoned II: Sacrifice

Chapter 12

Jeremie breathed a sigh of relief when the Elevator opened and his four friends came running in.

"Jeremie," said Aelita, "are you alright?"

"For the most part," Jeremie replied, "but don't worry about me. We've got a larger problem on our hands. William is still alive!"

Yumi gasped. "What? How could that be?"

"I don't know, but he's under XANA's control. XANA may have saved him somehow. Remember how the tower deactivated itself after William fell into the sea?"

"Yes," said Aelita, "but I don't understand why XANA would save him just to posses him."

"XANA must have something in mind that we don't. Before William attacked me, I did see that XANA had materialized some monsters."

"Yeah, we know," interrupted Odd, "we had fun playing with them before we got here. Especially Aelita. She got to play with the Scipizoa."

"The Scipizoa? Why would XANA materialize the Scipizoa? That would give Aelita a free pass in Lyoko."

"I don't know Jeremie," said Aelita, "but we mustn't waste time trying to figure out why he did. We've got to save William!"

"Just one question," said Ulrich. "Where is William? Wouldn't he be coming after Aelita?"

"Normally he would," said Jeremie, "but it appears that XANA has other plans. Get to the scanner room. There is only one working tower left, so I'll send you all in one at a time."

"Why didn't XANA just destroy the last scanner?" asked Yumi.

"He must need it for William. Now, hurry!"

The gang made their way to the scanners. "Okay," said Jeremie, "I'm sending in Ulrich first to scout the area." Ulrich stepped into the scanner. "Virtualization!"

Ulrich landed cleanly and took a look around. He could see the tower way off in the distance. "All clear, Jeremie," he said.

"All right, I'll send Yumi, then Odd, then Aelita."

Once all four of them were together in Lyoko, Jeremie brought up their vehicles and they made their way towards the tower. They were almost there when Jeremie alerted them.

"Watch out! There are several monsters headed your way." Odd and Ulrich got off their vehicles, preparing for the coming attack.

"Huh? What's that?" said Yumi, squinting. She gasped when she realized. "It's William!"

William was leading the monsters towards the four friends. He slowed down and turned invisible as the monsters passed him.

"Aelita," said Ulrich, "take cover. Don't come out until we tell you." Aelita ran southwest towards a large boulder and William made his way after her. She wouldn't get away that easily.

"Laser arrow!" Odd fired several arrows at some approaching Blocks, taking out a couple of them. Ulrich triplicated himself and ran towards a Tarantula. He triangulated himself and easily did away with it. Yumi flew after the Hornets, taking several out with one of fans. These monsters were a piece of cake compared to the ones they had faced in the real world.

Aelita made it to the boulder, unaware of William's presence. She crouched down behind the rock and watched Yumi, Ulrich and Odd battle the monsters. William, still invisible, crept up behind her and grabbed her, putting his now visible hand over mouth. He turned her head to the right and Aelita's eyes widened in horror. It was the Scipizoa.