Chapter 16

"Get away from him!" cried Tyrone as he went over to help the Mothman up slowly. The Mothman was a very heavy creature and he was slowly coming up. The BogeyMan stood there like a scarecrow, doing nothing. But his face was much paler than ever before. His eyes were also sickly. Orange and yellow were their colors and his face was much different.

"At long last I have gotten you my old friend." said the BogeyMan.

But this was NOT the BogeyMan. When he spoke, he had another person's voice. A much colder and sinister voice, guided by the voice of the BogeyMan himself. Almost as if he were possessed by something evil.

"Who are you?" asked Tyrone, now realizing this was probably not the same person who was stalking them. He looked down at the ground and saw some salt was burned off.

"Your pathetic salt is dollar store quality. It's magic is no good." said the thing.

"I never suspected it was you. After all these years, I thought you died." said the Mothman.

"In a way I did die. But not in the way you imagined. You see, I was brought back by a powerful force. The Dark Impulse." said the creature.

Tyrone tried to move the Mothman away but the BogeyMan walked up towards them slowly.

"I've been looking forward to this. The day I finally get rid of you for good." said the creature. Tyrone slowly placed the Mothman against the porch and stood in front of him.

"Who the f #$ are you?" asked Tyrone, using a strong word. On this occasion, he felt like he had to say it.

The BogeyMan's face twisted and he cackled. "I realize I never introduced myself before you. I am known as the Germ. Nothing more." said he.

"The what?" asked Tyrone.

"The Germ. I am an enemy of Rood Bridge Park young man. The world that is hidden under your nose has many secrets. Many hidden worlds within worlds. You only know America and Oregon. I have the power to erase your memory of what has transpired here. But you see, I need you to do something for me. Something big." said the Germ.

"What is it, and be clear about it! I'm done with the crappy riddles." said Tyrone.

"No! Tyrone!" cried the Mothman.

"Silence! You don't get to speak!" sneered the Germ.

"Leave him alone! Now get to it, or I'll kick your ass!" said Tyrone angrily.

"You will open the door to The Treasures of Oregon. It is a sanctuary where untold knowledge lies! I have been hearing whispers in my head to open the door. I will go to it and nothing will stop me." said the Germ.

"That's it? You want me to open a door? Why can't you do it yourself?" scoffed Tyrone as he tried to help the Mothman up.

"I realize it sounds very awkward that I'm asking you to open a door for me. But you don't understand. Only a pure heart may open the door and I will be inside, to consume all it's riches for me." said the Germ.

"You are an idiot!" coughed the Mothman. "You don't know what is beyond the door! It is not a place of knowledge! It is a prison! A prison holding him! You don't want to do this!" cried the Mothman.

"Him?" asked Tyrone.

The Germ then screamed and the BogeyMan opened his mouth. Upon doing that, a giant glob of black oozed out of his mouth and the glob formed into black smoke on the ground. Slowly, but surely, an alien-like creature stood before Tyrone and the Mothman. It was a sickly pale creature with the face of an old man and his body was tall and slim.

He also had long white hair and his eyes were large and green. This was perhaps the Germ himself, in his form.

"Ah, to be free again. So liberating indeed." he said in a raspy yet marked European accent.

The Mothman weakly stood up. "Please don't do this. You will bring nothing but misery and death to Rood Bridge Park."

"Look at how pathetic you are, Mothman! You have gotten weaker than I thought you were! I will open the door and I will have my heart's desire. The desire to destroy Rood Bridge and recreate it in my image!" cried the Germ.

The BogeyMan slowly stood up and looked up at the man. "This wasn't the deal. You promised me." he growled under his teeth.

The Germ waved his hand dismissively. "Yes yes, I did promise you your reward. I haven't forgotten. This Faustian contract you made with me is legitimate." said the Germ.

Just then, Gannon and Garret appeared out of nowhere, screaming at the top of their lungs holding their swords. They were about to strike the Germ! However, the Germ saw them and quickly vanished into smoke. Gannon and Garret fell on the floor and the BogeyMan flew into the air. His eyes rolled back and the Germ spoke through him.

"I will rule Rood Bridge Park!" he cried. He then vanished into black smoke.

"Curaga." yelled out Gannon. A puff of green smoke appeared and the Mothman was healed instantly.

"Gannon! That spell took a lot of your impulse stamina." said the Mothman.

Gannon kneeled before the Moth as well as Garret.

"We're sorry we're late, your Mothness. We didn't sense the danger in time." said Garret.

"Yes. I was fooling around with a tic tok video and…. You know." said Gannon.

"Seriously you two?" asked Tyrone.

"The Germ is still alive. After all these years." said the Mothman.

"I take it he's an old enemy?" asked Tyrone.

"He was. I defeated him long ago." said the Mothman.

"Oh yeah! You fought against him during the great Ka-needa War!" cried Gannon excitedly.

"I did and I thought I won. But he is still alive. I must consult with the Queen. Gannon, Garret, you two will stay put and take care of Tyrone and Mateo." said the Mothman.

"You mean, can he stay longer?" asked Tyrone hopefully.

The Mothman didn't listen. He opened his large black wings and flew into the night sky.

"Off he goes. To warn others. Let's hope people actually listen to his warnings." said Garret.

"How can they not? The Germ is back." said Gannon.

Tyrone turned around and saw Matt peeking behind the door. He looked like he was crying. His hands were close together and looked like he was panting. Tyrone realized he saw the whole thing unfold.

"Don't worry Matt. The scary man is gone." said Tyrone.

"He's not coming back is he? He's not coming to take you away?" asked Matt.

"No kiddo no! We will guard you guys with our lives!" exclaimed Gannon.

"That is if you don't lose your head first," said Garret.

"Shut up!" cried out Gannon.

Tyrone chuckled, but Matt bit his lip. Deep down, the boy knew how dangerous things have quickly become.