"Oh I love Disneyland," Ray said enthusiastically, as he and Ryan entered Tomorrowland. "My parents use to take me every summer to go visit. Oh it was the best."
"Glad to hear that," said Ryan, as he scanned the park. "I always wanted to go, but my family... well, they were never that well off."
"But you're here now," said Ray with a smile. "Hey, do you think it's okay if we went on some of the rides?"
"The Doctor told us to keep an eye out for anything suspicious," said Ryan. "How is going on rides going to solve anything?"
"Well there might be something suspicious on the rides," said Ray logically. "Won't know till we check."
"Maybe in a moment," said Ryan. "By the way, why are you carrying that toy around in your pocket?"
"What toy?" asked Ray, before figuring it out. "Oh you mean my suit. Yeah it's not a toy. It's a suit that allows me to shrink down and fight bad guys."
Ryan let out a laugh. He'd seen some pretty wild things in his time, but he wasn't that gullible.
"Okay then," said Ray, always willing to show off his tech. He took the suit out and pressed a small button on it. Instantly the suit grew to its proper size, sending Ryan tumbling over in shock.
"You okay?" asked Ray in concern, picking Ryan back up.
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Ryan, trying not to look too awkward. "That is so cool though."
"Yeah it's pretty neat. Fitting too, considering where we are. Say..." Ray shrunk the suit and put it back in his pocket while looking over at an open manhole cover. "I don't remember ever seeing this before."
"Where do you think it goes?" asked Ryan.
"I'd say to an underground walkway, but that's in Disney World," replied Ray. "Worked there on my college program till the... accident. Anyway, if there's anything I've learned from doing all this, than it's that the monster is probably down there."
"I'll just stay up here and keep guard then," said Ryan, eyeing the ladder cautiously.
"Are you sure? I could do with an extra pair of eyes."
Ryan dithered, torn between doing the right thing and his own fears.
"Are you okay?" asked Ray, concerned.
"Yeah, it's just... I don't like ladders."
"Oh?"
"I have dyspraxia," Ryan admittedly, shamefully.
"Oh, so did a friend of mine," said Ray. "Yeah, he struggled a lot as well. That's cool though, I could use a look out up here in case anyone comes along."
Ryan said nothing, feeling a sense of relief that someone seemed to actually understand. He had another look at the ladder. As bad as it was, at least it was shorter than a crane.
"No, lets go," he said, making his way towards the ladder.
"You sure?" Ray asked.
"Like you said," said Ryan, slowly making his way down the steps, "you could use an extra pair of eyes."
But Ryan quickly regretted it when he and Ray started walking down the dark corridor, with only Ray's flash light lighting up their way. It was a giant tunnel, but one without any lights or signs. It was almost as if it had been hollowed out of the ground by some giant scooper.
"This was never in any history books," said Ray quietly, scanning the area.
"What do you think made this?" asked Ryan.
"I'm not sure... something like this would have surely come up."
"Hang on," said Ryan, patting Ray's shoulder and directing him towards a small light that was appearing around the corner of the tunnel.
"Now that's curious," Ray said, as the two walked towards it to find...
"You have any idea what this is?" asked Ryan.
"Absolutely no idea," admitted Ray. For sitting in front of them was a giant... well, it looked like a giant lump of plastic that glowed an unearthly red colour. Except it seemed to be breathing and shivering.
"Is it alive?" asked Ryan curiously, looking at it while not touching it.
"I don't know," said Ray. "But it seems like something the others would be interested in."
As they turned to leave they found their way suddenly blocked by another visitor.
"Roy Disney," said Ray, his face breaking into a smile, immediately reaching out his hand for a handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, I'm your biggest fan."
"What are you doing down here?" asked Roy icily.
"We got lost?" asked Ryan, hoping that the bluff would work.
"Yeah, we're engineers," said Ray. "You know, checking to make sure everything's working. Happened to get a bit lost and found..." He gestured at the plastic blob behind them.
"No one is suppose to be down here," Roy said menacingly. "But now you're here..."
He raised his hand. Both men frowned, until they saw the fingers of his hand flip downwards, revealing what appeared to be a small gun.
Before Roy could fire, however, he was blinded by Ray shining the flash-light in the monster's face. The momentary pause was all either of them needed, as they pushed past the man and sprinted back down the tunnel.
Roy turned, snarling. "Get them," he said to the plastic blob, which quickly made its way down the tunnel after them.
With the ladder in sight, both of them knew they were home free, until Ryan suddenly felt his feet go out from underneath him. He slammed into the ground, momentarily having the breath knocked out of him. Ray paused, mere inches from the ladder.
"Go!" said Ryan urgently, not wanting his condition to doom his new friend.
"We legends don't leave anyone behind," said Ray, running back over to Ryan and picking up the boy. It was for naught, however, as the plastic blob reared up, ready to engulf them both.