Chapter three
Wood ash.
Lucy Loud on the grassy hill still looking at the view. The others were near the trees in the middle of the hill trying to relax. Lincoln was keeping watch out for the orbs that they saw earlier. Lucy was thinking a lot about their situation. She was thinking possibilities of why this is happening. Are they dead already and they just not know it? Are they being punished by whatever they did? Or maybe they are dreaming in the same dream? Lucy couldn't really find any answers in her head. She read books and seeing movies like this, but being in it is far more terrifying. Looking at the four layers of land was making her feel dizzy. I mean there's the burned forest, the desert pyramid, the worn-down city and the sea water in that order. When she looked at the sides of them it had a mob of bear traps. So, there was no way getting around that that's for sure. What scared her the most that they will have to go through that if they didn't want the orbs to get to them. Speaking of those she was wondering what they were? All of them are going at the same speed and they are formed like a wall. It looks pretty but deadly. Lucy knew that the orbs were their enemy and they had to avoid it. Lucy decides to return with the others and see how are they holding up? She gets to them to find them sitting in a circle form on the grass except for Lincoln.
"Lincoln still on the lookout?" Lucy asked sitting with them.
"Yeah" Luna replied.
Leni had her left leg resting on her right leg. Leni was feeling guilty that they had to deal with her slowing them down ever sense they found her. "I'm sorry" Leni said with a sad look.
Lynn looked towards Leni "for what?"
"For slowing us down."
"Leni just don't worry about that" Lynn said back.
"You wouldn't mind if I slowed you down would you Leni?" Luna asked trying to tell her that it's ok.
Leni looked at Luna quickly and said "no I would never!"
Luna smiled at her "well there you go."
As they finished with that Lincoln came back and sat next to Leni's side. With a sigh he said "the orbs are still far away from us, so we got time.
"thanks' bro," Luna said.
Leni had something on her mind which worried her. "You guys" Leni said to them all "do you think the others are here too?"
"I fucking hope not." Lynn said with an annoyed tone hopping her other sister are not here too. She is hoping that they are still at home where it's safe and not in this fucking world.
"Bro, tone down with that?" Luna said.
"Sorry, I just don't want them to be here" Lynn looking down with a sigh.
Luna noticed Lana was thinking about something and she asked "what's on your mind?"
Lana playing with her thumbs and said sadly "I miss my friend Hops." Hops the frog that she has meet a while ago. She still remembers when they first met at that pond and when she took him in. They both had the best time together that she will never forget. But knowing that she may never see him again brings tears to her eyes and starts slowly sobbing.
Luna felt bad for Lana having her being away from him. She never understood their relations ship but she knew it was important to Lana. She scooted closer to her little sister and gave her a hug to comfort her. "Don't worry Lana, were going to get out of her and make sure we get home." Lana said smoothly to ease her.
Lana looked up her "promise Lana?"
"Promise" Luna smiled at her warmly.
They broke their hug and Lana wiped the small tears off her eyes. She feels a lot better and has more hope that she will see him again.
Lynn was looking at Luna's hand wondering how she feels about it? "What you think about your hand?"
Luna took out her right hand out of the strap and took a look at it. It was more swelling than before and needed to be cared. Luna put her hand back to rest on the strap and said "to be honest, and sorry for the language, but I think my days with my axe is fucked." Trying not to think about too much even though it saddens her that she might not able to play either for a while or never again. She would like to have tears to let it out but she had to be strong for her little siblings. What were her ban mates think when she gets back? What would Sam think? Sam would still love her, right? No of course she would, but the same way? Will she even be able to get back at all?
Lucy saw Luna in deep thought and crawled in front of her. Lucy looked up at Luna "let me see" Lucy said while holding her hand out. Luna looked at her sister with confusion but did not ask. Luna put her right hand gently on to her sisters' hand and Lucy absorbed it. Lunas's hand was in a rough shape but she can at least put her fingers back in. "I can put your fingers back in place" Lucy said in her usual tone.
Luna went wide eyed and took her hand away from Lucy "what, no way, you'll just make it worse." Luna was not going to let an eight-year-old try and put her hand back together.
"Do you even know how to do that Lucy?" Lincoln asked curiously.
Lucy turned around to look at her brother "yes."
After a while Lucy convinced Luna to let her fix her hand. Luna thought about it and realized she might as well take the chance because if she waited too long it might be even more fucked. Lucy told her to try and hold still while biting her nightwear. The rest looked away except Lynn as she was going to watch. Luna took a breath and was ready for Lucy to start. When Lucy started doing her work Luna was grunting out loud while some tears went out of her eyes. Lynn was cringing at the sight of Luna's fingers being popped back into the sockets. Lynn sometimes had her arm being dislocated from soccer for landing on the ground wrong when she did an air kick. But the fingers looked worse than that. Luna muffled curse words while squinting her eyes trying not to move too much. Lincoln and Leni were trying to block out the sounds of the fingers popping but Lana took a peek trying to get a good view on it.
Two minutes has passed and Lucy was done. Luna's hand was a lot better looking than before and Lucy used Lincolns remaining sleeve to wrap it around Luna's hand. She was now able to move her arm more freely now that her hand is back together. But she was still not able to move her fingers still so she had to make sure not to do that.
Lynn looked at her sister Lucy and asked her this question "ok how in the hell do you know how to do that?" Not even Lynn doesn't know how to do that.
"When you see the stuff that I seeing you would understand." Lucy tends to witness stuff that usually eight-year-old are not sopped to see yet.
"Well thanks for that Luce." Luna gave Lucy a hug with her left arm and she return one. Luna wiped the left-over tears away and try to catch her breath. They separated their hug and gave a warm smile to each other.
Lincoln went over to Luna to check on her hand which seemed a lot better than before. "Can you move them now?"
"No, not really, it's still bruised from the fall I had." Luna was sighing in relief that she had more of a chance to use her hand again.
In the back Leni was trying to stand by herself but failed causing her to wince. Lincoln herd her and came back to her side to help her up. She was feeling worse for her little brother that he had to help her around. She is supposed to take care of him sense she is the older sister, not the other way around. But thanks to her air head she got herself hurt. Lincoln notices the sad look in her eyes and gave a warm hug to let her know it's going to be alright. Leni return to hug him to only cry a little on his shoulder. She wished she can be more like her sister Lori, shies more brave, strong, and knows how to take care of her younger siblings. Ever sense Lori moved away it's been hard for Leni to be in charge. Leni wished she was here but at the same time not. She wouldn't want any more of her family members here. Leni and Lincoln broke their hug and both looked at the others that were talking about something.
"So, what's the plan?" Lynn asks Luna who looking at the view of the lands.
"I think it's pretty clear that we are not on earth anymore." Lucy was still getting chills at the place they were in.
Luna really did not want to believe what Lucy said but the same time she knew she was right. Luna turned to face everyone "ok, so here's the plan-." Luna notice there was only five of them include herself. She did not see Lana in sight. "Dudes where's Lana?"
All the other looked all directions but she was nowhere in the area. Intel, they herd small little footsteps coming from the other side of the hill. Lana came rushing out of the bushes with a terrified look in her eyes. Luna came up to Lana to see what was wrong.
"Lana where were you?" Luna holding Lana's shoulder.
"Th- the orbs there coming faster!" Lana pointed up at the sky.
The others looked and saw she was right. The orbs were getting closer and faster it seemed. Knowing what the acid wall can do, they better get a move on. Luna grab Lana's hand and told everyone to start moving down the hill. The side of the hill they needed to get down to was a lot steeper than the other side. So, all of them had to be care full not to lose their balance. What makes it worse that being bare foot while trying not to go too fast down the hill was painful to all of them. The scary part was if they step on any rocks or one of them, that person is fucked. As they were going down as fast as they can Leni pointed out that the wall of orbs was now at the same spot that they were at not like two minutes ago. The Louds had to pick up the pace. The more they went down they notice the ground started to get more gray. They were getting closer to the burnt woods, the second layer of the land in this world. They started to step on either ashes or dry dirt as they were making their way there. Lincoln was getting tired from assisting Leni and started to lose his balance. Lynn was holding Lucy's hand to make sure she keeps up. The Louds were close to the bottom now, but all of them came to a halt. The rest of hill was like an 80-degree angle and there was no way they can just walk down that. Luna looked back and saw the orbs getting too close to them. They had no choice but to slide down and hope they won't hit anything on the way down.
Luna looked back down and said these words. "Everybody, jump on three."
"What!" Leni shouted.
"One."
"Wait Luna." Lana said while shivering.
"Two."
"Fuck." Lynn grinding her teeth.
"THREE!"
Luna and Lana jumped first before the rest join. Each one of the louds had their backs against the ashes while sliding down fast. For Leni she was in pain from having to use both of her legs to steady herself and trying not to lose her control. On their way down they can see more clearly of the burnt trees and bushes but the sky started to change for them. As they went deeper, they could no longer see the blue sky anymore. Luna was trying to hold on to Lana as best she could, but only being able to use one hand was causing her to slip. Lana was trying to hang to her big sister but she couldn't hang on any longer. As she slips from Lunas's hand, she started to lose control of her legs and started to flip on her back and over. Luna yelled her name as she saw her going faster than the others. As Lana made contact to the ground, she landed on a pile of ashes which made her hard to breath. But at least it softens her fall.
Lana shaken by the fall and was coughing out the ashes that got into her mouth. "Ow." Lana had hit back pretty hard on the way down, but she was alright.
Luna came rushing down to the floor caching herself and running towards Lana. She kneeled next her and hugged her. "Lana are you alright, are you hurt!?" Lana broke the hug and looked at her to make sure she was ok. She didn't seem to have any bruises on her or cuts but she did look in pain.
"I'm ok, but my back-."
Lana was interrupted by Lynn and Lucy when they made it down. Lynn landed well but for Lucy, she stumbled a bit. A few seconds later Lincoln and Leni came crashing down hard on the floor. For Lincolns luck Leni landed right on top of him making him loos his breath.
"S-sorry Lincoln."
"D-don't, w-worry about it." Lincoln trying to say as he's catching his breath.
Lynn came up to them to help Leni get up from her brother. Luna with Lana came to check on the others witch they were alright. After checking with Leni and Lincoln Luna noticed Lucy looking back up where they came from. Luna looked at the same direction and was startled by the site. The Orbs came to a halt at the edge of the floor.
Lincoln slowly getting up and turning around to only see the same thing. "What the?"
Lynn was looking confused at the sight and not knowing what was going on? "What happened, why did it stop?"
As the Louds kept on looking, they slowly step backwards to get some distance away from the them.
"Maybe it reached its limit?" Lucy said having some fear in her voice.
"I don't know but this ash in the air is not helping" Lynn said while using her shirt to cover her nose and mouth.
"I think we should start moving" Lincoln said finally getting his breath back into check.
They started moving away but had a hard time breathing do to the fact that there is nothing but left-over ashes from the burned trees. Some looked up to try and see if they can see any blue sky but no luck. All they can see is nothing but dark gray like if everything lost color. Lincoln, Leni and Lucy are walking close to each other while Lynn was carrying Lana because of her back. Luna was up front leading the way, but was having a hard to knowing which way she was going. Their view distance was really short, all they can see was about maybe 10 meters away and the rest was just dust. They walked for 10 minutes and Lynn stopped everyone.
Lynn put down Lana gently and started to speak. "Ok, ok I want to know r-right now of why we are here?" Lynn coughing up the ash. Lynn started to get angry at the situation. "I mean, like what the hell is this place?"
"Look none of us know why Lynn, all I want to do is find our way back." Luna said trying to not open her moth too much.
Lynn resting her hands on her hips while looking down. "Yeah, no kidding." Lynn trying to use her head and not to start anything. "So, what's the plan?" Lynn looking at everyone to see if they had answers.
"Well, I think we should just keep going straight so we can get out of the smoke area" Lincoln suggested.
"The only thing that is best for us is that we all keep going intel we find a spot that isn't as bad as it is here." Luna was about to start walking intel she heard something.
The Louds were hearing the same thing but could not tell what it was. The sound was too distance to recognize it. Everyone did not say anything but started to make their way.
15 minutes of walking in the ashes was starting to make their lungs hurt. Their hair started to get covered in white particles making Leni trying to get it off her witch was no use. They can still hear that sound that none of them can make out of what it was but did not want to stay and find out. It kind of sounds like someone is trying to start a lawnmower but it wasn't kicking in. That made Lynn kind of nervous because she remembers a while ago, she was helping Lucy trying to get Lincoln and Clyde not scared so Lucy gave a hocky mask and a chainsaw to try to frighting them witch it did. But the thing is she remembers how a chainsaw would start because she remembered how hard sometimes it is to start one. Because to Lynn that is what it sounded like to her. The more and more they walked they felt as if they were not making any progress giving the fact everything looked the same. And my god their feet were killing them, Lynn at that point just took off her socks she had on and threw them because they were torn and not usable. While Lincoln was helping Leni walk, she tripped over something and fell hard on the ground causing her to grunt.
Lincoln came to her side to help her up "my gosh Leni are you ok?"
Leni turned over still sitting and coughing "I'm ok." She looked at her leg to see if she did any more damage to it but it seemed ok, for now.
They all walked a little bit further and Luna decided to stop and have everyone take a breather. Lucy and Lana said that they needed to go to the bathroom witch Luna let them go but said don't go too far.
Lucy went one of the burnt trees and went behind it so no one can see her. She was having a hard seeing because of her bangs being covered with ashes almost not giving her a choice but to expose her eyes. She did not really have a reason to hid them, it more like she did it to be more mysterious. She decided to at least expose her right eye so she can see better, but she thinks about just showing both eyes because of their current situation she needs to be observant, but she decided not to. After she was done with her business, she went back where the others were talking about something.
Lana went a bit further than Lucy was and found a tree to go behind. Lana was still wincing at her back she hurt and was trying to not shake much. When she was about done with her business, she heard that same sound that the others heard a bit ago. It still sounded far away from where she was but Lana decided to not take any chances and went back to where the others were.
"So maybe we got beamed up by something and they put us here?" Lincoln guessed.
"How would they do that when we were in the house?" Lynn questioned "If they did that wouldn't we all be here?"
The Louds were trying to think of an explanation of all of this but nothing was fitting in the puzzle. While there were guessing Lana finally returned but with some fear in her.
"Guys I heard that noise again." Lana said in a rush.
Luna looked where Lana came from and heard nothing but she believed her "alright let's moving."
Lana jumped on Lynn's back to carry her while Lincoln helped Leni up to once again assist her. Lucy decided to walk next to Luna this time. All made sure to walk at the same paste so no one will get left behind. Luna Turned to the left of her to see Lucy next to her.
Luna smiled "I see you have your right eye out."
"I couldn't see with all of the ash in the air."
"Ah" Luna never really saw Lucy's eyes much. The only time she sees them is when Lucy thinks she alone in a room so she has her eyes out but when she notices someone's presents, she covers them again.
"So, Lucy you have a theory about all of this?" Luna asked.
Lucy turned towards the gray sky to think of anything, but she couldn't. She read so many books about cursus, dimensions and many more and yet she had to answer. "No, I don't have a theory."
Luna didn't say anything back and just kept walking. Luna checked her hand and saw how much purple bruises she saw, guess it matches her color, laughed at her own joked.
After sometime the Louds had some conversations with each other but most of the time did not say much. The air was begging to feel like it was clearing up which was a good thing because they can see more better before. They can almost see they sky again but just barely. Lynn and Lana were talking about stuff just to try to put their minds at ease and were the only ones to talk much.
"If you had to play a sport witch one would you choose?" Lynn asked Lana
Lana thought about this for a couple of seconds and answered "I would pick baseball, only because there's dirt to be honest."
Lynn chuckled a bit "fair enough, your turn."
Lana thought for a moment "would you try to run away from a grizzly bear or a wolf?"
Lynn thought this was a tricky one to think about. Of course, it depended where the location was at but she also was not sure which ones were faster? A wolf is smaller than a grizzly bear so that could mean their faster? But she also heard that a brown bear can run like 38 mph and she knew the wolfs can run around that speed. "I think I would run away from- "Lynn was interrupted by a horrifying scream behind her.
All six of them jumped in fear and turned around in the direction of that sound. Lucy was terrified of what she was hearing, it sounded like someone was screaming in pain but sounded a bit muffled too. That scream screeching into their ears making them wince.
"What the fuck is that?" Lynn said out loud.
No one answered and was remaining still only because they were in shock. No one was doing anything intel not only the scream was still going they started to hear that sound again witch they heard before. The sound of something trying to start but this time it sounded more desperate than before.
Luna was the first person to act and grabbed Lucy's hand "Come on let's go!"
Lynn still carrying Lana followed along while Lincoln and Leni did the same thing. When all started running, they finally heard of what Lynn was afraid to be true, a fucking running chainsaw. The fear in them was growing and causing them to panic making them stumble a bit. Lincoln was making sure Leni was keeping up the paste so they won't fall behind. Leni was really trying but every step she took was making her cry more a more and Lincoln was doing the best he could to help her. The scream the sound of the chainsaw was enough to scare them all but one thing they started to hear was footsteps. But these footsteps sounded if someone was running in place trying to make their feet sound fast. While Lucy was running, she turned around to see no one still, the view anything was still limited. Just knowing the fact this thing was in the part where they can't see was making them more and more terrified by the second.
As they ran much more Leni hit a rock with her injured leg causing her to fall down making Lincoln to do the same. Luna took notice and was about to help but she saw lucy was about to pass out at any moment. Lucy was breathing out of control and before she made a choice, she saw Lynn go back for the others.
"Go, go I got her!" Lynn shouted
Luna was going to argue but she had a feeling she had no time. She lifted up Lucy making herself wince at her right hand and continued to make her way out of there.
Lynn came to Lincoln to help him with Leni who could barely stand up now. Lynn saw she was crying but she had no time for that, she forced her up while Lincoln helped but before they started moving Lana looked back and finally saw, that creature. It was running at them in the most disfigured way as possible. It had a mask on with faces all around it and had the chainsaw on his right hand spazzing up and down out of control while the other arm did the same. And the way it ran at them, legs going up and down so fast while it did a zig zagging to left and right. Lana shouted Lynn's name and all looked to see the horror, they wasted no more time and ran.
The creature was gaining up on them quick and they were running out of strength to keep running. Lynn having to carry Lana and helping Leni was taking everything she had she was begging to doze off almost. They were getting to point where everything was clearing up and they can see the next area and Luna was there with Lucy.
Luna was exhausted from having to carry her sister Lucy but she made quite the distance. Luna was trying to catch her breath but she was too tired to be able to run again so trying to pick up Lucy again was out of the question. She started to notice that she made to the other side of the land but also notice her other family members were still in danger. She was going to see if she can find anything to use as a weapon but where she was there was nothing but sand.
Lynn was going to collapse any moment and she has no other options. They were getting close to cross but yet she thought she can't make due to her speed paste she was going at. Leni was almost not even trying because she could not take it anymore, she was tired and she cried all her tears making her more dehydrated. Lincoln however was still able to push through but not much left on his end either. Getting closer Lincoln saw one normal size rock that they were going to pass, quickly acting he left Leni's side and went for it grabbing and throwing instantly at the mad creature. The rock hit right on his forehead making this thing shriek for a short period of time before it ran at them again. Of course, Lincoln did not bother to check if he hit it or not instead, he went back to the other three and continued. The floor started to transform to the ash to sandy as they went further on which means they were almost out of that place. But even if they did that thing is still chasing so what would be different?
"I c-can't" Leni barely said.
"Come on j-just hang on" Lincoln said with desperate almost dragon her fully.
Lynn can't continue on; she has no more strength to pull Leni and carry Lana anymore. She can hear nothing but muffled breathing sounds and voice she can't make out. Her vision was now nothing but a blur and can't even tell where she was going. Suddenly she felt a lot lighter causing her to trip and fall due to the weight difference. As she hit the sandy floor, she felt being dragged by one hand and heard muffled screaming all around her intel she passed out.
Luna and Lucy started to back up when the rest got closer to them. Luna made sure Lucy was behind her so she can protect her as best she could. There was nowhere to run to and they still weren't recovered enough to continue on running.
What Luna saw next horrified her, that thing hit Lana's back with that chainsaw making her cry out loudly and fell to the ground behind Lynn witch also felled. Luna came on rushing towards them and before the mad man can dig into Lynn's chest with the chainsaw Luna used her good hand and pulled her out of the way intime. But as Luna was dragging her the screaming man came rushing towards them about raise its chainsaw but it came to a stop about two feet from them. It looked at them and all of the Louds could do was look in horror as to try to back away more. Leni finally fell to the floor while Lincoln came to hold her. Her breathing was heavy and Lincoln tried to help her with it. Luna still not taking her eye off the creature Lucy finally spoke.
"H-he can't g-go any further, he r-reached it's limit." Lucy said while sobbing in fear.
Luna looked at Lucy and Looked back to understand.
"LANA!" Leni screamed in fear.
The Luna looked to see Lana is still at the other side crying in pain. She notices the creature started to slowly looked towards Lana and makes his way to her. Luna came close behind him and shouted and the thing looked to Luna and almost got her causing Luna to stumble back in fear. The thing started to make his way to Lana and there was nothing she could do.
Lana still crying and when she looked up, she saw that thing looking at her. Before she can think of anything else the creature digs its chainsaw to her legs making her scream in pain. She tried to back away but the thing kept it's distanced the same and continued to have it's fun.
The four Louds were screaming in horror as they watched Lana getting tortured and having no mercy. Lincoln hugged Leni to look away while Lucy crouched down and covered her ears. All Luna could do is watch and cry. The man moved on to her arms and cut her bit more on her chest.
After 5 minutes they can no longer hear Lana scream instead, they only can hear the chainsaw still going. The creature looked at them for one last time and it returned to its home where it belonged. He left nothing but a pile of flesh on the floor causing the sand to turn red and rot in smell. The Louds were in silent. They said nothing but stare at the aftermath. Luna started to hear Lynn wake up after she passed out earlier. She did not know how to tell her and yet, maybe she wouldn't have to.
