19

Luigi looked into the pitch-black hall and saw what Mario was talking about. It was a subtle orange glow that kept growing brighter and then dimmer again almost like a firefly.

"What is that, Mario?" Luigi said, wiping his tears.

"I don't know." Mario replied. "I'm not sure if I like the looks of it."

"I'm scared." Luigi said.

Suddenly, the bright glow stopped and the only light left was the fireball in Mario's hand. The brothers were puzzled. What in the world would be causing the bright aura? Was it another Koopa Troop? Is it something other than that? They could only guess.

"Come on, Luigi. Let's go." Mario said. "Hopefully there is another passage somewhere that will take us back outside."

Mario and Luigi started walking down the hall and into the darkness. The only noises in the tunnel were the brothers' sandy footsteps and the burning fireball.

"Here, take one of these." Luigi said, handing Mario an unlit torch that had been suspended on the wall. Just as he was once again losing his fire powers, Mario was able to light the torch and save the light. They no longer had to use the fire flowers.

"Thanks, bro." Mario said as they continued down the hall.

"No problem." Luigi replied.

The farther Mario and Luigi ventured, the darker their surroundings seemed to get, despite having already being trapped in pitch-black darkness. The brothers now found themselves walking down a staircase which lead them deeper underground and going in the other direction under the temple columns just outside the entrance of the tunnel. They were beginning to shiver in the oppressing presence of limited sight.

"This place is giving me the creeps!" Mario said. "At least there aren't any ghosts."

"Don't say that!" Luigi said. "Now there's going to be ghosts! You jinxed it."

"You don't know that." Mario said. "Let's just hope that you're wrong."

Suddenly, the orange glow appeared again, this time even farther down the new hallway, revealing two other hallways that were seen branching out from it. And, just like that, it was gone and the darkness took over once again.

"This is really starting to freak me out!" Luigi said. "What the hell was that?"

"Well, at least we can say that it's not another Koopa Troop." Mario said. "But whatever that was, I'm convinced that it's something paranormal. I'm sorry, but that's what I think."

"Oh dear..." Luigi said, trying to hide his ever-growing fear.

"Don't worry, brother." Mario replied. "Let's continue."

The two brothers slowly and cautiously made their way down the creepy tunnel. The flame that Mario carried in his hand was starting to get dimmer already and there was no way that it was going to be lit again, for the wood was already black and full of embers. He kept blowing on it to increase the life of the flame.

"Which way are we going to go?" Luigi asked as him and his brother approached the two branching halls at the end. "Were you able to see exactly where the glow went? I think it went right."

"I'm not too sure either, bro." Mario said.

Suddenly, the brothers heard the sound of wicked laughter coming from all around them. It did not sound like Koopa laughter in the slightest.

"That laughter..." Luigi shivered. "I've heard it before...I'm scared!"

"Where have you heard it before?" Mario asked.

"I hear Boos inside these walls!" Luigi said in a terrified tone of voice.

"Take it easy, Luigi!" Mario pleaded.

The laughter occurred again and Mario began to shiver too. It was coming from all around them and was getting ever closer. Luigi was absolutely petrified.

"I can't take much more of this!" Luigi said. "I'm gonna die!"

"No you're not!" Mario said.

Then, out of nowhere, ten Boo ghosts emerged from the wall and caught sight of the two brothers. They had their tongues sticking out at them and showed their razor-like teeth along with their evil eyes. Luigi was completely petrified as his phasmophobia got the best of him.

"OH MY GOD!" Luigi screamed. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" He turned down the left hall and ran as fast as he could to get away from the frightening ghosts. Five of the Boos started chasing after Luigi into the dark.

"Luigi!" Mario cried. The five remaining Boo ghosts turned around and started getting closer to Mario.

"Oh, shit!" he said to himself as the Boos came at him fast. He then started running down the right passage, keeping the wooden fire stick in his right hand. The Boos' laughter echoed behind Mario viciously. Suddenly, Mario tripped and fell on the ground, dropping the fire stick in the process. He felt a severe stinging pain in his knee. Mario reached out and touched it and found that his right pant leg was wet in his own blood where he was scraped.

"Damn it!" Mario cried, trying to ignore the intense pain. There were no green mushrooms left in the rucksack, so he had no choice but to deal with the pain. The Boos kept getting closer as Mario struggled to get back onto his feet. The Boos hovered above Mario and laughed at the sight him being hurt. Mario looked up at them and glared.

"You think that's funny don't ya?!" Mario threatened. "I'll show you funny!"

Mario swung the fire stick at the ghosts and caused them to hide their faces and float back into the walls.

"I'm not afraid of you guys!" Mario continued when he heard Luigi's muffled screams coming from the left hallway.

"MARIO! HELP ME!" he cried.

Don't worry, Luigi! I'm coming to save you! Mario thought as he ran back towards the other hall, despite the pain he felt in his right knee.

"I'm coming, Luigi!" Mario shouted as he returned to the main hall and continued straight into the left hall. It was hard for him to run, especially since the cut on his knee was rubbing hard against the leg of his overalls. Still, he wasted no time and continued after his frightened brother to save him from the Boo ghosts.