Chapter 23

"What a bitch." Said Destiny out loud while Bubbles found a safe spot in the trees, far from Violet's wrath.

"Is she really that stupid? Did she really just admit that she works for Brion?" Said Matt while he was catching his breath.

"I feel bad for the kids she took." Said Tyrone, trying to keep his cool.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm facing her." Said Destiny.

"What the what?" Freaked out Matt.

"Alone? I don't think so." Said Tyrone.

"That psychotic prostitute is willing to kill kids for her beauty. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! Never in all my life have I heard such bullshit!" Cried Destiny.

"You're funny when you get mad." Said Matt.

"Destiny, take it easy. We need to think. We need a strategy to take this woman down." Said Tyrone.

"You faced this sort of thing before. What happened last time? You mentioned a germ." Said Destiny.

"A human Germ. He was a servant of the evil forces. And last time, we had help. We had the Mothman by our side." Said Tyrone.

"Then we need the groke! If only we didn't separate." Said Matt.

Tyrone turned to Bubbles and quietly whispered on his side.

Destiny noticed and so did Matt.

"What are you telling Bubbles?" Asked Matt.

Just then, Bubbles made some clicking noises as usual, and then he went straight for Matt. He picked him up quickly with both his massive claws and placed him on his back.

"T-Tyrone? What's this?" he asked aloud.

"I'm sorry little bro. But it's for your own good." said Tyrone.

"What?!" cried Matt.

"I'll see you soon. Bubbles will take you someplace safe and warm." said Tyrone.

"Tyrone! You blockhead!" cried Matt. Bubbles made his clicking noises and ran away with poor Matt on his back.

Destiny was speechless and folded her arms, processing what just happened.

"It's for his own good," said Tyrone.

"You did the right thing." said Destiny.

"I know he'll be safer wherever he's going with Bubbles. I can't have him close to that woman." said Tyrone.

"What's the plan now?" asked Destiny.

"To stop her. She's going to kill kids." said Tyrone.

"Then let's start by meeting up with Morso and the Groke. They were together when we were separated. If we regrouped, we might stand a chance." said Destiny.

"I hope you're right." said Tyrone.

Meanwhile, Bubbles arrived at the Snow Bunny. He hid behind some trees and rested with Matt on his back.

"We have to go back and help them! I can't lose Tyrone." said Matt.

Bubbles looked at Matt with his large eyes and said nothing.

"If only we spoke the same language. Perhaps we would both have good and long conversations." said Matt, petting Bubbles.

After a while, Matt sat next to Bubbles and put his head against his shell. "Gannon and Garret must miss you. I bet it wasn't easy for them to let you help us both." said Matt.

Bubbles made clicking noises and Matt chuckled. "Right. I wish I would understand you." he said.

Bubbles then stood up and Matt got the message. Something was up. He stood next to Bubbles and right in front of them stood a tall figure. His face was old and decrepit with wrinkles. His eyes were burning orange and his long black cloak was complimenting his horned helmet.

"Mateo Oaks yes?" he said in a deep and powerful voice.

Matt stood back and Bubbles shielded him with a claw. The tall and dark man smiled and placed his red gloved hands together. The gloves looked sinister and eerie with sharp looking nails at the end of them.

"You know who I am." he said.

Matt didn't say a word and the man smiled. "You have come a long way. I'm surprised you survived a grim reaper. Not many live to tell the tale of how they survived death." said the man.

"Go away!" cried Matt.

"I will. Just hear me and hear me well boy." said the man. He turned around an opened his arms wide.

"Isn't it magnificent? The curse? The Eternal Winter? A wonderful curse. A curse that actually protects humans from the hidden world which is Rood Bridge Park! A hidden world full of dragons, mystical beasts and castles! A dangerous world in which a normal human may die, if they were not enchanted by something powerful." said the man, then he continued by turning around, facing little Matt, who was cowering behind Bubbles. The hermit crab stood his ground, not letting the man take another step.

"My advice to you boy is to stay away from Rood Bridge Park. There is nothing for you there. And it's best you forget it. Rood Bridge Park brings nothing but grief and despair. I have seen humans come to the hidden world, and they never make it out. It's a world full of vice, sin and loss. You are no stranger to loss boy. Go home. Ask the crab to take you back to civilization and live the rest of your days a normal boy. Forget all this ever happened. In fact, I can make it all go away. I will send a Sandman to erase your memories. You will forget Rood Bridge Park and you will forget the grief you suffered. You will awaken with new memories and you will have a NEW life!" said the man, making his offer exciting.

He then turned around and opened a dark portal. "The choice is yours. But hear me, you don't want to get involved in any of this. By now, your older brother, or whoever he is to you, will probably die, alongside the girl he's with." said the man.

"What?" asked Matt nervously.

"It's the truth. The witch the boy and the girl will face is superhuman. She can kill them both with a swing of her hand. There is nothing they can do to stop her. She's a powerful sorceress. Pity that these human children are going to die as well, once the woman takes their youth away for herself." said the man.

"No!" cried Matt.

"Then leave . Leave all this behind. Like I said, there is nothing for you here. Be smart child. You will find a loving family somewhere out there. Just not here. Ask the crab to take you away. It will listen to you, if IT values your life that is." said the man, looking at Bubbles with a sneer.

Bubbles made clicking noises, almost like a warning to keep away and the man simply smiled and walked through the portal.

Matt sat back on Bubble's shell and thought long and hard to what the evil Viscount just told him.

"Tyrone and Destiny are in trouble! We have to help them both!" cried Matt.

Bubbles couldn't agree more. He picked Matt up and placed him on top of his shell.

"Let's go Bubbles. Let's save Tyrone and Destiny!" he cried .