Chapter 2: Reliving an Old Fear
"It's the Magic Man", Mr. Grasshopper said in wonder. The Magic Man walked over to the bugs and stared gloomily at the sky.
"The balance has been shifted and we must act fast in order to save James", he told them.
"What are you talking about pops?" Mr. Centipede asked as his teeth bit into his cigar.
"The Rhino is a being from a realm known as the Nightmare Realm a place filled with every horrible idea or fear imaginable", he said.
"Why would the Rhino send James to such a horrible place?" asked Mrs. Ladybug.
"James defeated the Rhino and in doing so the Rhino will stop at nothing until he devours the boy's dreams", the Magic Man explained.
"So, how will we get James back?" asked Mr. Earthworm.
"By going to the Nightmare Realm and facing your worst fears only then will you be able to find James before it is too late", the Magic Man said.
"What do you mean before it is too late?" asked Ms. Spider.
"If the Rhino devours James's dreams then the boy will die and will vanish forever", the Magic Man told her. Everyone gasped in horror and the very thought of losing James.
Tightening her grip on James's jacket Ms. Spider asked", How do we get to the Nightmare Realm?"
"Yeah no puff of smoke is going to harm our Jimmy", Mr. Centipede said firmly. The others nodded their heads in agreement.
"Very well I have a spell that can transport you to the Nightmare Realm but once there the only way to escape is to face your greatest fears. If you fail all of you will be trapped in that realm forever", the Magic Man warned.
They all exchanged fearful looks but James's safety overruled their fears.
"Take us to this Realm", Mr. Grasshopper said.
"Alright everyone lay down on the grass and relax your mind", the Magic Man instructed them. Everyone lay down and fell asleep as the Magic Man sprinkled some magic dust on them and softly whispered", Good luck".
In the Nightmare Realm the bugs were surrounded by fog and darkness. Several doors appeared before them as Ms. Spider opened up one door and the rest soon followed. James awoke from a cold sweat as he remembered dreaming about the Rhino but knowing it was just a nightmare. Any minute now Mrs. Ladybug would come in and wake him up with a warm smile. Usually singing a merry song or she would bring him a hot cup of tea. Yet, he noticed he was very cold and his bed didn't feel right. It felt hard and lumpy like the bed he used to sleep in when he lived with his aunts. Opening his eyes his heart skipped a beat for he was in his old room. Everything from the dust to the cobwebs was here. Just then the door flew open and stomped in his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker.
"Get up you lazy little bug", Aunt Sponge snapped.
"You already wasted four minutes of daylight", Aunt Spiker hissed. James shook his head in disbelief. No this can't be real I must still be dreaming, he thought to himself. He closed his eyes and knew once he opened them he would be back in the peach pit house with his loving bug family. Opening his eyes again his aunts were still there.
"What are you doing you rotten little grub?" snarled Aunt Sponge.
"Lollygagging in dream world will not save you from your chores now get up and get dressed. If we have to come back up here you will be expecting a harsh beating", Aunt Spiker barked. They left him alone and James got dressed but couldn't wrap his mind around this situation. He escaped this place on a giant peach with his friends. They made it to New York and settled down in Central Park. Didn't they or was it all a dream and now he just woke up. Fear gripped at James's heart but he wouldn't give up he escaped this place once and he would do it again. Back where the bugs are they walked aimlessly around more fog and mist. They all called out for James but no answer was heard. Mr. Centipede walked around and saw a shadow in the fog.
"Jimmy is that you?" he asked. Instead of the little boy it was the ghost captain and his deadly crew. All the bugs yelled out in fear but it got worse. They were surrounded by water and the mechanical shark they destroyed was swimming around them. "What do we do?" Mr. Centipede asked. Just then the Earthworm let out a scream for a huge bird bigger than him had appeared out of the sky. They were trapped on land, sea, and air. So, the main question that they all had was how do they escape?
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you have any ideas on what you may want to see happen please let me know. Also please review.