Hello, my dear viewers! To America, and to American people in other countries, Happy Fourth of July! This chapter is going to be quite dramatic with some sweet parts here and there just like the very first Fourth of July that began with winning independence from Great Britain. I wonder what George Washington would think if he was here throughout the 21st century, witnessing so much that America has went through. God, 20 years and 6 months!
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy your picnics, family gatherings, and of course, the bonanza of fireworks! Have fun! - Traveler.
(Silver's P.O.V.) -At the same time when Emma came into the big room-
I groaned lightly as I felt my shoulder shaking, hearing Barley's voice cutting into my dream, "Mister Silver! Mister Silver, wake up!". I tiredly blinked my eyes, "It ain't morning yet, sonny boy.". Barley yelled at me, "Miss Emma's not here!". I winced lightly, "Easy, lad. She must have gone to take care of business.".
Barley whimpered softly, "But, but she didn't take her spear with her!". I startled up at that, quickly taking hold of Ian who is clearly annoyed from being awoken up. I looked over, and sure enough, in the smoldering light of the fire, the newly fixed spear's here, close to the shelter in case if Emma needs it under five seconds. I glanced around, seeing faint tracks in the muddy dirt, going off into the forest.
I then remember Pippa and Logan recounting their adventures through they would never know who's next to go for the trials or amulets, and now, it's starting to look like Emma got picked this time. I sighed softly, knowing that Pippa and Logan returned back with success, and noticing that we have within a few hours or so of the night.
I smiled reassuringly to Barley, "Don't worry, sonny. Emma's safe wherever she is. We will find her at dawn as she would want you to go back to sleep, hmm? It's still very dark, and you're still tired.". Barley looked at me with slight curiosity and concern, "You think so, Mister Silver? I don't wanna lose Miss Emma.".
I ruffled his hair gently, "Oh, I am sure, Barley. Now, get some more sleep, lad.". Barley blinked, then yawned widely as he nodded, "Okay, Mister Silver.", crawling back to Emma's coat blanket, cuddling close to me as I resettled back into my back, smiling softly at a snuffling Ian as he squirmed slightly, getting comfortable within my hold, glad to see that my handkerchief is keeping on him warmly as it's quite a cool night.
I glanced at the smoldering fire, checking around to make sure nothing's disturbing us, and I murmured softly, "You can do it, lass. I believe in you, Emma.", having a last thought of what her trials would be like as I closed my eyes, slowly heading back to dreamland.
(No P.O.V.)
Sounds of running and hissing roars filled the atmosphere as Emma dodged to the side, hearing the sliding of the huge Acromantula behind her. She groaned loudly, "Why, why does it have to be giant spiders?! I shouldn't have watched that damn scene at the sleepover!", thinking furiously on the books/movies about the facts of those baby elephant-sized spiders.
Emma muttered to herself, "Okay, okay, they are big, which makes it easier to duck and dodge from them. They have soft eyes and bellies. If the legs are cut, they lose balance. Venom is extremely dangerous. They're naturally afraid of the Basilisk.".
She saw trees approaching, but no moon or stars, only strange torches in the far distance. She realized that this is a sort of a mixed real simulation trial. She hears the spider roaring as it took chase after her. She soon had bruises and superfluous injuries from having too far close calls; nearly being impaled by one of those huge legs, narrowly dodging the venomous fangs by moving a leg or arm quickly out of the spider's blood red six eyes' sight, and almost caught by a spiderweb here and there.
The forest was helpful in dodging and hiding, but the trees couldn't stand the plowing hits of the spider, falling down instantly as it kept chasing Emma. She didn't know how long she had been doing this, but she knew she's getting dangerously close to being exhausted, and only her adrenaline has kept her going. And then suddenly, something caught the corner of her eye, and she glanced swiftly to see a fallen statue close, but not quite far from a boulder nearby. Making a swift split-second decision, she ducked to the side, causing the spider to miss her as it crashed into a tree.
Emma made it to the boulder, heaving for breath, her knees buckling as she furiously tried to listen for any sound of that damn spider, glancing over to the fallen statue, judging the distance while making out a rusted, narrow metal pole with a mangled banner partly resting against the statue's arm. She can see the spade at the top of the pole, and she hopes it isn't much dull as it looks sharp which would impale a weak spot, or more specifically, a soft belly.
She hears the spider roar, sounding like it's really angry now, and she takes a deep breath, realizing that this is it. With tension, she waited a second before sprinting off from just under the boulder, hearing another roar, loud thumps, but Emma didn't look back, only focused on making it to the statue, partly hiding herself as she grabbed the pole, her eyes glancing at the side as the spider came closer and closer.
She counted carefully as she took a inclined step up across the statue, taking the height for advantage and a speed boost. Emma knew nothing one moment, and the next, she saw the pole impaling the belly, and the spider roaring, rearing back in pain for a few moments before falling over to the side, twitching for a bit before becoming deadly still.
She heaved for breath, leaning forward with hands on knees, her eyes wide as her head kept upwards, her heart beating so fast with her legs shaking so badly. She chuckled loudly, and then began to laugh heartily, "Oh, my god! That was the most intense thing ever!", a amazed grin on her face as she realized that she just killed a giant spider, one of her greatest fears.
She sighed deeply, "Too bad John is missing out. He would have been wicked bad-ass in fighting this spider! Well, that's one trial down...Two to go...Yipee.", feeling a tad sarcastic with some anticipation. Emma then looked around, noticing that the strange torches are close by, and she nodded to herself, "Okay, looks like I gotta go this way.", heading off to the area where the light of the torches is originating upon.
She figured that she must have lasted at least 15, maybe 20 minutes, probably 25 minutes at most, in this trial, and if she remembered right from Pippa's story, the physical/fear trial is usually first, and now, it was clear that she passed it with flying colors. And Logan was right about each person's trials getting harder, like jumping to a different level and such as well.
Emma remembers that the next trial is mental/traumatic, and she knew she is borderline intelligent yet having witnessed horrific sights in war back on her old Earth and all. As she got closer to the area, she could make out the flames, and to her surprise, they're bright blue-white, almost like the Goblet of Fire... She may be a Disney fan all around, having a hobby of being a songwriter, but she couldn't help being a Harry Potter nerd either.
As she exited the remains of the forest, she came upon a pedestal of some sort, looking quite ancient with its marble accents, and there, standing behind the pedestal, stood a strange door that's shaped like a crescent moon with a distinct face in it, made of thin white granite, layered upon the background of black wood, and the doorknob in the left center side, being made of silver metal. There's no wall behind the door, just standing still with no side support or anything.
She walked closer to take a clear look at the pedestal, and there at the top, is a inscription in dark gold with a small statue of a sphinx at the top center of the inscription. As she skimmed over it, she came to recognize that it's a riddle.
She read it out loud, "Two bodies have I, though together we are one. The more I stand still, the faster I run.". She murmured softly to herself, "Okay, two are one...It couldn't be a clock...Through time can stand still if you are Flash or something, yet time can run fast when you're not looking...People can stand still yet run fast, but how could one have two bodies to do that? Wait...sand, sands of time, they can flow fast when there's winds of change yet stand still when time stops, that's it! Two bodies as one. Hourglass! The answer's hourglass.".
Emma blinked in surprise as she took a step back as the pedestal suddenly glowed blue through the inscription, and somehow the sphinx became alive for a moment, speaking in a otherworldly tone, "Well done, you have decoded the riddle. You may pass, champion. Remember to keep your wits about, and you shall find who you are to be through that door. Destiny awaits you, champion.", before becoming silent once again, and the door took upon a shimmer of blue sparkles.
She took a deep breath, brushed off some dust, and walked past the pedestal to the door, placing a hand upon the doorknob with no surprise touch, and she figured that the drop of blood earlier at the entrance of the temple was enough. With a steady smile, she opened the door, and went through, wondering what awaits her beyond.