Navigating the hallways was not going to be easy. Rudy knew this very well. Still, they had to keep moving. He had no idea how Skrawl and the Beanie Boys came to the rescue. They had been controlled by Cosmo and he doubted the man would have them attack him when things were going in his favor. Some outside force helped them.
He silently wondered if it was the artist that faced Cosmo in the past. Maybe he still had his memories in tact and finally realized what was going on and gave them a helping hand. Whoever had helped them, Rudy would be sure to give them a big thank you.
When the gate had opened, while Mr. Cosmo was still distracted with the remaining two Beanie Boys, Rudy called out to the others, including Skrawl, to run. Snap didn't seem to be controlled anymore and could move to his own accord. Penny helped him up to his feet and let him ride on her back. She held his legs while he put his arms around her neck. It was the only way he could be held without hurting him.
A few minutes after they started running, Snap had closed his eyes. Rudy couldn't blame him. The forced battle earlier took a lot out of him. The poor guy deserved a rest. This brief moment of relief would do him good, and give him some time to heal, even if it's just a little bit. Rudy only wished that they were out of the building so he can give Snap a place to lay down. Getting out of this building was going to be a challenge...
This place was quite massive and there were so many ways to turn. Rudy couldn't tell which path to take. He had a hard time remembering the way that Mr. Cosmo had led them. No matter which hallway he went down, nothing seemed familiar. He was greeted with more and more disturbing imagery. More blood on the ground. More zombie-like zoners walking about. Some hideous machinery being built. He thought he saw some large weapons as well. It was like this man was preparing for war...could that be true?
He didn't have time to dwell on it. They reached a deadend. Well almost. They could go left or right. Rudy chose left. Either way had the same potential of giving the same result; going somewhere they didn't know. Nothing looked familiar to him. And it was frustrating. The others were following close behind him. He knew they were counting on him to find the way out. Well maybe not Skrawl. He was only following him because he didn't have much of a choice.
When they came around another corner, everyone froze. Rudy widened his eyes. They all realized they had gone in a big circle. They were back where they were a short time ago. Rudy didn't know how it happened. He had made sure to take different routes as they traveled through. How did they all end up back here? Had Mr. Cosmo designed this place like some giant maze? Maybe if they had a map or something...
"Oh brillian plan, Rudy Tabootie!" Skrawl shouted. He walked up to Rudy and pressed a chalky finger against the boy's chest. "You've been leading us around and around! Are you sure you're trying to get us out of this dump, or are you trying to get us caught again?"
Rudy glared at Skrawl and took a step back. "Hey, don't blame me for this, Skrawl! I'm doing the best I can!"
Skrawl wasn't backing down that easily. "Why don't you draw one of your fancy gizmo things? Or are you afraid that they will not work? Just...like...Craniac..." He said in a low growl.
"I can't draw things in the real world, Skrawl!" Rudy paused. "Well I can, but they don't come to life here. Magic chalk's powers only work in ChalkZone! You should know that!"
Skrawl blinked a few times. He looked flustered, like he realized Rudy was right. But Rudy didn't expect him to admit it. Skrawl was not the type to admit when he was in the wrong, even when pointed right out to him. This situation would be no different.
"I...well...I knew that!" Skrawl managed to say with a stutter. His brief falter didn't last very long. He spoke angrily to Rudy, "That is no excuse! If you have no idea where you were going then you shouldn't have..."
Rudy interrupted him, "Oh and we should let you lead?"
"My brilliant plan, whatever one I come up with, would work like a charm!" Skrawl said. The level of arrogance was, though not on the same level as Cosmo's, amazing, especially given what had just happened to the jellybean recently. "I could have led you creators out of here a while ago!"
"You don't know this place either! You know about as much as I do!" Rudy was getting steamed. He couldn't believe how Skrawl was acting. They were running for their lives, and he still had the gaul to blame Rudy for their troubles and debate with him on who was a better leader. "If you were leading, we would be in the same situation! Or perhaps you would have us straight into a trap! At least I've been trying to be careful of where I step. But you...you would just rush down a hallway without a second thought!"
Skrawl raised a hand. He stopped when he clearly realized that hitting Rudy would hurt him too. He resorted to a roar of anger and frustration. He stomped on the ground near Rudy, causing the boy to jump back.
"No I would not! I..." Skrawl paused. "Okay fine I haven't always made the best choices. But what makes you so much better, Master Tabootie? We wouldn't be lost if you knew where you were going!"
Rudy shouted, "We wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't tried capturing the beast!"
Rudy felt himself get angrier by the second at Skrawl. As he said that last line, which came out more aggressively than he had planned, made him realize that a lot of this was Skrawl's fault. If he hadn't tried capturing Draow, if he had left the beast alone, they might not have ended up like this. Snap wouldn't have been captured. He and Penny would not have ended up here. He and Skrawl would not have been connected.
The more he thought about it, he more he realized just how much Skrawl played a part in all this. Although he understood that none of this Skrawl had foreseen or intended, his anger continued to grow strong. If it weren't for this stupid jellybean, Snap would be okay. He wouldn't have been turned into a puppet for Cosmo to toy with. Things may have taken a better turn if Skrawl hadn't been so stupid and...
"That's enough, you two!" Penny shouted, interrupting Rudy's thoughts. She placed herself between the two, forcing them to separate. "This isn't the time for your petty arguments! We need to get out of here, and we never will if we stand around and bicker to each other!"
Rudy felt his anger melt away. Penny was right. They couldn't argue. They would only be wasting time. And even if Skrawl had been a major cause in what transpired, he knew that constantly blaming him would not solve anything. It would only slow them down. He needed to worry about how to get out of here, not point fingers at anyone, not even someone like Skrawl.
"I'm sorry, Penny..." Rudy said, letting out a sigh. "I don't know what got into me..."
"I understand you are upset. I don't blame you." Penny said in an understanding tone. "But right now, you need to focus on solving the problem, not creating a new one..."
"Yeah I know." Rudy said softly.
He looked over at Snap. He was still asleep, resting the side of his head on Penny's shoulder. Despite all that had happened to him recently, he looked peaceful as he slept. Rudy would have smiled if he didn't know the dire situation that Snap, and all of them, were in. They didn't know how long Snap would be freed of the mind control. If they could just get into ChalkZone and get to a hospital...
...that was it. Rudy realized what he had been doing wrong. He shouldn't be trying to find an exit in the form of a door. He should be finding one in the form of a chalkboard. That would make their search a little easier. If they checked all the rooms, then maybe they could escape into ChalkZone. He did have a small piece of magic chalk with him. It should be more than enough.
He peered down the hallway they had been in before. It kinda curved a little before straightening out ahead. Before, they had gone left down this hallway. He decided to go right this time. Gesturing for the others to follow, they head down. Rudy still walked with caution on his mind, but now he was looking not for another hallway, but instead rooms.
The rooms in this building had windows on them, just like the one he and Penny came in from. This would make finding the right one easier. He was afraid of just opening up any door. There could be someone hiding behind these doors. Or traps awaiting. He'd rather risk springing just one trap rather than multiple traps. One trap was much easier to deal with.
"Look in each room." Rudy said. "Look for a chalkboard. It will be much faster getting out that way."
The group split up, but kept in the same hallway so they could get back to each other quickly. They checked the rooms in the hallway. One by one, the rooms on the left side and right side were checked. The hallway was long. Rudy was certain that at least one of them would have a means of escape. Mr. Cosmo surely had more than one chalkboard. With all that he managed to do...
But the more they looked, the more dejected they became. None of the rooms had any chalkboards in them. There were things in those rooms, things they would rather not think about or see again. But nothing in regards to a chalkboard.
Rudy wasn't about to give up. There were other hallways they could check. And they had made good distance from Mr. Cosmo. Even if he figured out where they were, it would still take some time to get to them. There was still time.
Suddenly, a horrible laughter sounded out. The group paused and looked around for the source. It seemed to be coming from everywhere. They didn't move from their spots. The laughter just continued. It was sick and disturbing. It sounded like Mr. Cosmo, but his voice never sounded this twisted and disturbing before.
"Do you really think I'm stupid?"
Rudy shuddered at the sound of this voice. "Mr. Cosmo...where are you?!" He looked around the hallways, trying to find which one the madman was hiding in.
"I am in the security room. I can see exactly where you are." Mr. Cosmo announced, still chuckling as he spoke.
Skrawl growled and raised a fist. "Why don't you come here and face me? Nobody messes with Skrawl and gets away with it! Let's see how tough you are if you face me head on!"
"Oh on the contrary, Skrawl..." Mr. Cosmo droned. "I have a better idea. But first let's get rid of some...unwanted weight..."
Snap let out a scream as the sparkling returned. Rudy watched in horror as he realized what this meant. Cosmo had regained control of his friend. Penny cried out when Snap's grip on her tightened. He forced her onto the ground and began to drag her over somewhere.
"Wh-what are you..." Snap whimpered as he struggled to release Penny. It was no use.
"Stop this!" Rudy yelled. "Let Penny and Snap go!"
But he knew that Cosmo would not listen. He rushed over as fast as he could. Snap punched him back with his injured hand. Rudy touched his face, seeing the chalky blood sticking to the skin. He glanced back and realized, with horror, that the cuts were bleeding more heavily now. The cuts were getting much worse. He could see Snap shed a tear due to the pain, and the fear of what was happening.
Rudy tried again. But he was too late. A large grap door opened up. Despite all efforts to stop himself, Snap picked up the struggling Penny and tossed her down. Mr. Cosmo did not stop there. Another trap door opened. Snap walked robotically over to it. Rudy grabbed onto Snap's uninjured hand and tried to pull him back.
"No..I'm not losing Snap again..no!"
"Oh no...I won't be having that." Mr. Cosmo said.
As soon as he said this, Snap yanked his hand away, jerking Rudy forward and into the ground. Snap's pace quickened into a run. Rudy ran over, holding out his hand, calling out Snap's name. Likewise, Snap cried out desperately for Rudy to help him. But it was all in vain. Snap jumped down the hole, and it closed up as Rudy reached it.
Rudy couldn't believe it. This couldn't be happening. No...he just got Snap back. He couldn't be gone again. "No..."
Tears began to stream down his face. His body trembled. He slammed the ground right here the door had closed. "No!"
Rudy felt his spirits getting crushed. They had Snap back. A part of him knew that, eventually, Cosmo would snatch him away. But he had tried to deny it. He didn't want to believe that, after all their efforts, Snap would be taken away just like that. And that is what had happened. Cosmo regained control and now he took away not only Snap, but Penny too. What had he done with her? Did he just boot her out of the building like his parents, or did he do something horrible to her?
Although Skrawl was in the room with him, that was of no comfort. The monsterous jellybean could not fathom what he was feeling. He only cared about himself. He didn't understand why Rudy was so upset. Of all the people Rudy had to get stuck with, Skrawl was the last person he wanted. Although the jellybean didn't talk, Rudy can just imagine all the insults and mockery that went on inside his mind.
Rudy was so distraught that he did not notice when Skrawl walked up towards him. When he finally took notice, Skrawl had walked out in front of him a little. He was pressing his foot against the door that had opened up. He seemed to be testing it.
"What are you doing?" Rudy asked as he wiped away his tears. If he was going to be stuck with Skrawl, he might as well make the best of it. "We need to..."
"I am checking to see how it feels." Skrawl said, cutting off Rudy. "If I can judge how normal ground feels, and this, I could get us around the trap doors."
"That's...a good idea." Rudy said. He was surprised he said that. He never thought he would call any of Skrawl's plans 'good'.
Skrawl smirked at him. "Of course it is! My plans are always so brilliant!"
It was too soon to celebrate. The two of them realized that too late. Skrawl had not gotten the time to familiarize himself with normal vs trap door ground. If he had, he would have gotten Rudy and himself out of the way before the ground below them opened up. It happened so fast, neither of them had time to give even a simple reaction.
The two of them ended up in what Rudy guessed was a winding tunnel. He felt them jerk left and right. It felt very much like a water slide, only without water and not so pleasant. They screamed in fear as the tunnel twisted and turned almost violently. Sometimes it would slow down, other times it would pick up without warning.
Then they finally saw light down below them. They fell through the opening and landed hard on the ground. They coughed and picked themselves off the ground. They looked around. They were in a relatively large room. In many places, they could see pillars of stone rise up, forming square shapes.
And Rudy realized they were in one such square.
"Hurry, we need to get out of here!" Rudy called out to Skrawl. "I don't know what he plans on doing, but..."
"Stop!" Skrawl shouted in a voice so uncharacteristically frightened.
Rudy snatched his hand away when he saw what had scared Skrawl. Just seconds after they had arrived, something activated in the pillars. Water swooshed all around them, forming liquid bars. That was bad enough, at least for Skrawl as he was chalk based. But something else was added to ensure that Rudy himself could not escape. He saw waves of yellow electricity merge with the water. The electricity crackled and danced among the water. It spread across quickly, leaving no water bar untouched.
Rudy felt his heart pounding. The realization of what happened sunk in. A terrified expression plastered across his face. He glanced at Skrawl. Though the jellybean tried to hide it, he could tell he was afraid as well. Rudy felt a pang as he heard Cosmo's voice again.
"As you can see, I am fully prepared...Now you two rest there. I will be down soon to...negotiate with you, Rudy Tabootie. Maybe you will be more willing to listen to me if I gave you a...bigger incentive..."
Rudy shuddered as he wondered what Mr. Cosmo had in mind this time.