Authors Note: Hi everyone! Sorry if you guys don't like cliffhangers, but I think it makes it more suspenseful. Anyways, here is chapter 8, where we'll see how Pops/Skips are doing with Muscle Man/High Five Ghost and hopefully Benson and Mr. Mallard will find them. Enjoy and follow/favorite/review! :D
Muscle Man ran up to Pops' voice, smacking into each other and knocking Pops to the floor.
"Oh my! Mitch?!" he cried.
"Oh I'm so sorry Pops!" he replied, dusting Pops off.
"It's all right, my good man. Skips? I found Muscle Man and the ghost!" he yelled behind him.
"I'm Fives, Pops, remember?" he slapped his face.
"Oh of course. I'm not around you very often, Fives." he apologized.
"It's cool. So, where is Skips?" he asked.
"He was right behind me! Oh I do hope he's not in danger!" he cried.
"Don't worry bro, we'll find him!" Muscle Man said confidently.
The three friends walked back, they thought, the way Pops had come while shouting Skips' name.
"Skips?! Skips?! Oh Ski- OW!" cried Pops, who ran into a large stone wall hidden by leaves.
"Oh my noggin! What did I hit?" he whimpered.
Muscle Man pulled the leaves off to the ground, "I don't know bro. Let's see..."
"Whoa! What is it?" High Five Ghost asked.
Suddenly, a group of men, clad in purple robes, with a red cross across the front chest, while also hiding their faces, came out of the bushes off to the side, "It's something you should leave alone!"
"Oh no bro!" Muscle Man squealed, before being knocked unconscious along with Pops and High Five Ghost and dragged into the structure.
In another part of the forest, Benson and Mr. Mallard were unknowingly making their way towards their friend's position.
"Um, sir? Are you sure you know where you're going?" Benson asked.
Mr. Mallard pushed branches away with his cane, "Yes Benson! I went on a safari in my younger years, it was glorious!"
"Really sir? That's fascinating!" he said sarcastically.
"Yes I know! In fact, Skips and I used to take Pops to the zoo and I would tell Pops all about my adventures." he smiled.
"That's nice sir." Benson sighed, lagging behind.
"Benson, why don't you start a family?"
Benson stopped in his tracks, "Wha-what?! Why would you bring that up sir?"
Mr. Mallard kept going, "Well, I just assumed a man of your age would have children by now or at least settle down with someone."
"Mr. Mallard, I live in an apartment with a, until recently, low-wage job, and I'm just now getting the courage to go out with this girl back in the city."
"What's her name?"
"Audrey, sir."
"Oh yes Audrey! I've met her before...she seems nice enough."
"Yeah, she's pretty awesome sir." he smiled, blushing a little.
"Have you thought of getting more serious, Benson?"
"Well, I've thought about asking her to move in to a bigger apartment with me, but I'm too nervous sir." he said sadly.
"It's perfectly normal to be nervous Benson. When I asked my wife to marry me, it took a lot of courage and I almost didn't go through with it, but I was so glad I did!"
"Thank you for the advice sir." he said quietly.
"You're welcome, Benson."
They finally came to the large stone wall, stopping to take a break.
"Say, what's this here Benson?" Mr. Mallard asked, poking his cane at the wall.
"No-no idea sir." he replied, panting from all the walking.
"Looks like a part of some building, from an ancient civilization..." he muttered.
"Whatever you say sir." Benson sighed, resting against the wall and closing his eyes.
A few minutes later, Mr. Mallard heard a rustling in the distance.
"Benson, wake up!" Mr. Mallard shouted.
"HUH?! Damn it, I was sleeping sir." he grumbled.
"No time for that, I heard a noise." he whispered.
"Wait, why are you whispering if you just scream-"
"Quiet!" he whispered, putting his hand over Benson's mouth.
The person came closer and closer, finally coming out of the bushes and falling to the ground.
"Skips?!" they both yelled at the same time and ran over to him.
"Skips? Are you ok?!" Benson shouted, patting his cheek to try to wake him up.
"Wha-what? Benson?" he grumbled, opening his eyes.
"Skips, what happened? Where is Pops?" Mr. Mallard asked scared.
"I lost him, Mr. Mallard. We were going through the jungle and he ran off after some butterflies or something and I started to go after him, but tripped over a branch on the ground and when I looked up, he was gone. I'm sorry." he frowned.
"You lost him?! Damn it Skips! We've got to find him!" Mr. Mallard shouted, going for Skips' throat, but Benson held him back.
"Sir, stop! We'll find him, but you need to calm down!" he yelled.
"Ok, I'm sorry for shouting at you Skips."
"It's all right, sir. Hey, what's that behind you?" Skips asked, pointing at the wall.
Skips went over to the wall, scratching his head, "Hmmmmm. I recognize these writings along it."
"What does it say, Skips?" Benson asked.
"It's partially cut off, but I can make out: 'Don't enter unless you wish for death. If you try, you'll-' then it stops."
"Okay...sounds like a warning. Should we go in?" asked Benson.
"I guess we could, maybe there's a way to get in or-" Skips stopped as he ran his hand along the wall and pushed a panel in.
A part of the stone wall slowly raised up, revealing a dark pathway down into the structure.
"Whoa..." Benson said under his breath.
"Come on, let's rescue my son!" Mr. Mallard shouted, running down into the darkness.
"Sir, wait! Ugh!" Benson sighed slapping his forehead again.