Author's Note: Read and review please.
Chapter 43: Doors and Swamps
Micky walked along the dead field with Piper close to him, Davy a little ways ahead and Peter and Mike alongside each other behind him. They had been walking for what felt like nearly an hour already and Micky was starting to feel worn out. It wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold either. The sky above them was covered with flat gray clouds and every once in a while off in the distance, Micky could see lightning spark through them. They were alone in this area, but Micky couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched. He wondered how long they'd have to walk to get to their first test, or if this even was the first test. After a while, however, they could start to make out a large wall in the distance.
Once they got closer to the wall, they all stopped, alarmed by what they saw. There were two creatures standing in front of two doors holding shields, one red and one blue. It almost appeared as though there were two men with the heads of dogs hiding behind one shield; one head upside down coming out below it and another out of the top of the shield. The hands holding the shields only had three fingers and looked very beastly. Each creature was standing on two feet, but Micky could distinctly see a third foot hiding behind the top of the red one's shield making him think these creatures were in fact just two creatures: one upside down and one right side up hiding behind a shield. But he couldn't be sure. It was almost as though the creatures were standing guard in front of the doors.
"Uh…" Davy started nervously. "Hello?"
"Hello," one of the creatures responded in a slight Scottish accent.
"We're…uh…we're trying to get through," Mike said. "We're looking for someone."
"To get through, you have to go through one of these doors," the other creature said.
"Ok," Mike answered walking closer to them.
"Be careful!" the bottom head of one of the creatures exclaimed startling them all.
"One of these doors will take you where you want to go," said the fourth head.
"Where does the other one lead?" Peter asked.
"Certain death," all four heads answered in unison.
"Ok, which door leads to certain death?" Micky asked though he had a feeling it wouldn't be that easy.
"We can't tell you that," said head number 3.
"Why not?" Davy asked a little angrily.
"We don't know," said head 4. "But they do." Heads 3 and 4 looked up (or would it have been down?) at heads 1 and 2.
"Ok, why don't you tell us which door to go through?" Mike asked.
"You can only ask one of us," head 1 said.
"What?!" Davy exclaimed getting frustrated.
"Those are the rules!" Head 2 said. "One of us always tells the truth, and one of us always lies. He's the liar."
"I am not!" scoffed head 1. "You're the liar!"
"What a terrible lie!" exclaimed head 2.
"You must be joking!" Davy said.
"This is one of those tests we have to face, isn't it?" Mike said walking up to the first creature. The heads looked at each other in confusion. "Never mind. Would he tell me that your door leads to where we want to go?" The creature paused and thought about it for a moment.
"Yes," the creature finally answered.
"Ok, so that's the door we go through," Mike said.
"But what if he's lying?" Davy asked.
"It's simple, really," Mike explained. "If he were telling the truth, the first one would be the liar. So since he told me that the second one would say yes, the answer is no. And if the first one is telling the truth, the second one would be lying by saying yes. So either way, the answer is no."
"Oh, I get it," Micky laughed.
"Really?" Davy asked. "Cause I don't."
"No, I lied," Micky laughed.
"I do," Peter said. "And I think Mike is right. We go through door number 2."
"Well, I may not get it, but I trust Mike," Micky said.
"So through door number 2," Davy agreed.
"Are you sure?" asked creature 2.
"Positive," Mike answered moving toward the door. The creature stepped aside and Mike opened the door cautiously. Micky didn't understand the riddle here, but he had every ounce of faith in Mike and if he seemed certain about his choice, Micky would follow him. Mike took the first step through the door and nothing happened. No giant rock balls coming down to crush him; no monsters jumping from the shadows to kill him; no trap doors opening to swallow him; nothing happened. Micky and the others followed Mike through the door and they all continued down the path that opened before them now.
The grass here was green and alive, but the sky was still dark and gray. The air around them was a little cooler and it seemed a little easier to walk. Behind them, the doors disappeared and all they saw was more field; alive and lush. In front of them was a valley surrounded by large mountains. The easiest way through was through the valley, so they walked toward it. When they reached it, the air around them grew gloomier. Micky still couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched the entire time they walked. They finally reached a wider part of the valley and on their left the start of a large forest, which seemed like an odd thing to have in the Underworld. Micky stopped when he heard something growling amidst the tree line.
"What was that?" Micky asked.
"What was what?" Davy asked.
"I thought I heard something," Micky said shaking it off. They kept walking and soon realized that they'd have to go through the forest; the path they were on lead directly into it. Micky tentatively followed them through it. As they walked, the forest became murkier and the branches of the trees covered the sky making it darker. The limbs of the trees were covered in slimy, clinging vines and the ground was covered in slimy, muddy, moss. The air also grew thicker with fog.
They had walked for about half an hour when they all heard a very strange sound and stopped. It was like a spurting, popping sound that sounded as though it were coming closer to them. After a couple of seconds, a pop resounded and a jet of fire erupted next to Peter. All the boys jumped away from the fire, but part of Peter's shirt had caught fire. Piper immediately threw up her hands and the fire froze in time. Mike and Micky rushed forward and knocked Peter down to try and smother the flames against the ground. Within a few seconds, the fire had been put out.
"You ok, Peter?" Mike asked helping Peter up a little.
"I…I think so," Peter said looking at the scorched hole in his shirt.
"Doesn't appear to be that bad," Micky said looking at it. "Just a big red spot."
"I brought some burn cream just in case," Piper said pulling a bottle out of her bag. "Lift up your shirt and hold still. This might be a little cold."
"I can take it," Peter said as he lifted his shirt enough for Piper to apply the cream to his burn. While she did, Micky heard the growling noise again.
"Ok, I know I heard it that time," Micky said spinning around and scanning the trees for something.
"I heard it too," Mike agreed.
"I didn't hear anything," Davy said.
"Peter?" Piper asked. "You're the one with the enhanced hearing right now. Did you hear anything?"
"I wasn't really paying attention," Peter said.
"Focus," Piper said. "Try to listen to everything around us." Peter closed his eyes and everyone was silent for a moment.
"Something is moving," Peter said. "I definitely hear something moving."
"Can you tell where?" Piper asked.
"Behind those trees," Peter said opening his eyes and pointing towards the path ahead of them. "It's big. Like a big warthog or something."
"Warthogs don't growl," Micky said.
"I didn't hear anything growling," Davy said.
"Well, there's only one way to find out what it is," Mike said walking toward the area Peter pointed out.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Davy asked. Micky wasn't sure it was a good idea for Mike to be going there alone either, so Micky followed him quickly. Mike pulled his sword out of its holster around his waist and inched forward through the trees.
"I don't see anything," Mike said.
"Mike, it moved," Peter said. "It's to your left." Mike turned to his left and peered through the trees. Micky was only inches away from him when he heard the growl again, this time louder. Then a large brown beast leapt through the trees and pounced on Mike, knocking him to the ground.
"Mike!" Davy and Peter exclaimed and rushed over to try and help. The creature was huge and growling angrily. Almost by instinct, Micky pulled the stiletto out of his bag and lunged forward just as the creature was about to bite Mike on the shoulder. The creature roared in pain as the knife penetrated and Mike threw the creature off him. The creature got up and ran away slowly enough for Mike to grab his sword and swing with both hands. The sword made contact with the beast and killed it.
"Mike, you ok?" Micky said helping Mike off the ground now.
"Yeah, just a little bruised," Mike answered. "What the heck is that thing?" Micky stared at the now dead creature on the ground. It looked like a rat, but it was the size of a small bear.
"It looks like a rat," Davy answered.
"That is way too big to be a rat," Peter argued.
"Yeah, I know that, but it still looks like a rat," Davy shot back. "But it's the size of a small bear."
"We're in the Underworld," Piper said. "It's just a monster."
"I'm calling it a 'rat-bear'," Davy said.
"Think we can expect more of these, rat-bears?" Mike asked. As he said this, they heard the three loud banging sounds again and all jumped away from the noise to avoid the fire plume that shot up inches from where Mike had just been standing.
"Well, since there are more of these fire things, chances are there are more rat-bears," Micky said staring at the fire.
"I'll keep listen for them," Peter said.
"Great," Mike said hefting his sword again. "Let's just keep moving then so we can get out of here."
"No arguments here," Micky said throwing another disgusted glance at the thing Davy dubbed the rat-bear. They all started walking a little farther into the forest, but this time a little faster. Davy had taken up the lead again with Micky and Mike close behind him. After another few minutes of walking, however, Davy stepped on a patch of sand and disappeared.
"Davy!" the boys exclaimed as rushed forward and tried to dig through the sand.
"Move!" Piper yelled at them.
"We have to get him out!" Mike argued.
"That's not going to work!" Piper snapped back. "It's quick sand! Move out of the way and I'll get him out! Before he suffocates!" All three boys didn't hesitate and moved away from the sand patch. Piper waved her hands a few times and suddenly they saw Davy's arms rise from the sand. Mike, Micky and Peter each grabbed his arms and pulled as hard as they could while Piper continued moving him out of the hole with her powers. When Davy was finally pulled free, his eyes were closed and he was limp.
"Davy, wake up!" Peter pled.
"He's not breathing," Mike said feeling his chest.
"Move," Piper ordered again and the three of them once again backed away. Piper quickly kneeled down and gave Davy CPR. Micky, Mike and Peter all held their breaths waiting for Davy to respond. After about a minute, Davy finally started coughing up sand and rolled over.
"Oh thank God," Mike breathed with relief.
"Suddenly you've become even more beautiful," Davy choked out smiling at Piper.
"Hey!" Micky laughed knowing Davy was only joking. "Hands off!"
"Seriously though," Davy said between more coughs. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Piper laughed.
"Ok, so we have to watch out for fire spouts, quick sand and rat-bears," Mike said. "Do you need to rest a little, Davy?"
"No," Davy said pushing himself up. "I'm fine."
"Ok, but if you need to stop, just let us know," Micky said as Davy moved to start walking forward. He made sure to keep an eye on Davy the whole rest of the way just in case something happened. As they made their way through the forest, they encountered only 2 more rat-bears that were easily slain by Mike's sword. They avoided 5 more quick sand traps and jumped out of the way of a dozen fire spouts. They moved a little slower as three of them were a little injured, but they were still able to make it out within a few hours.