1At 9:00 pm, Essence was about to go to bed, but felt that something was wrong. She went to her desk and pulled out a large, long, flat item. It looked like a flat screen TV mixed with a high-tech computer tablet. It had no buttons anywhere and was about one inch thick. She set it down on her bed and sat criss-cross next to it. Green static fizzled in front of her eyes and on her fingertips. She aimed her powers toward the screen with her hands. "Okay, what's wrong?" she whispered.

The screen filled with green static quickly and soon enough, Essence focused in on inside Weird World. Zak seemed to be sleeping and was strapped to a table with Argost speaking to Munya about this new machine he had built. Zak was thrashing around, as if he was having a horrible dream. Then he violently jerked and stopped moving.

"This is what I like to call, a dream virus." Said Argost, pointing to a metal bug latched to Zak's neck. "It's connected to a computer where I can view whatever Zak is dreaming. I cannot control what he is dreaming, however; this bug stops him from waking up. It also makes the experience unbelievably real. Too real, in fact, that it could kill you. You die in the dream, you die in reality. Simple as that. But, it is glitched with the ability to give the victim six 'lives' if you will." Argost walked over to the limp Zak and petted his head. He grinned evilly. "Zak now has five."

Zak groaned. His head hurt, his arms hurt, everything hurt. Where am I? He thought. He touched his forehead and there were bandages. He slowly opened his eyes and saw that he was laying on a bed of leaves in a forest. He said aloud, "I'm not in real life, am I." And put his bandaged hand down.

"Unfortunately, no, Zak."

Zak jumped up immediately. Fists clenched, he shouted, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

"Whoa, Zak! Don't worry, It's me, Essence!" Said Essence. She came out from behind a clump of trees. Her face had a worried look to it. Her brown hair was a bit ruffled and she wore her regular white hoodie and green pants.

Zak got into a defensive stance and pulled out the claw. "I have been through A LOT of weird stuff tonight so I'm not going to believe just anyone!"

Essence sighed. "If I wasn't Essence, why would I save you? You were a bloody mess under a pile of savage cryptids. They beat you to a pulp!"

Zak calmed down a little. He examined himself. He was covered in bandages. Zak even had a sling for one arm. How could he have survived?

Essence continued with a serious face, "It was scary Zak. But before that, I used my powers to get into your mind. I knew something was wrong. But I know exactly what happened. You died–"

Zak just stared into the distance with shock. "W-wait a minute, did you just say I died? But this is all a dream right?"

"Right, it is all a dream. And yes, you did die. But it's because Argost captured you and hooked up a dream virus which gave you lives so you can die five more times until you're actually dead and by the way YOU'RE STUCK HERE FOREVER!" Essence paused to catch her breath. "But, there's always a way out of everything, right?"

Zak sat down. "I don't know, Essence. I think I'm done."

Essence ran over to Zak and shook his shoulders. "Zak, what are you thinking? Don't just give up! Come on kid who's powers means that he can beat Kur..." She blinked. "Yeah, they really do need a better nickname for you."

Zak smiled. "Thanks. Now, how can I end this nightmare?"

"Oh man... I think the only way out is to wait for help to come." Essence cringed.

Zak didn't like the idea either. "I'm in Weird World though..."

Essence stood up and put her hands on her hips. "Don't worry Zak! I'm here for you! We'll look for a different way out!"

Just as Zak got up again, a pair of gleaming yellow eyes appeared in the bushes behind him. Stepping backwards slowly, Essence said, "Z-Zak? Behind you..."

So... Apparently, I still very busy this summer.... Not much to say here.