"Code red! Emergency!" One of the doctors shouted.
"We need to get him into the emergency room stat!" Another shouted.
A loud beeping sound, then a panicked doctor cried, "We're losing him!"
Rapsheeba's eyes widened in horror at that. Her mind flashed back to what happened a year and a half ago. She could see images of herself and Penny sitting in the waiting room, waiting for news on Snap. She could hear the drilling sounds in her head again. She could hear the flatline beep of the heart monitor. It all came flooding back to her.
And now she was in a similar situation. Only this time, she was with Terry, and Snap's condition was much worse. She watched as the doctors rushed him down the hallway. He had flatlined while he was being wheeled in, causing the doctors to panic and rush him over faster before it was too late.
While Snap didn't have some horrific device in him anymore, he was still not so much better off than a year and a half ago. His body had been ripped up, torn to shreds. Almost every inch of him was covered in his own blood. He lost so much of it that the doctors were whispering to each other if he would even make it. That brought a lump to Rapsheeba's throat. She didn't want it to be too late. She hoped there was still a chance to save him, somehow.
But the venom was going to complicate things. Snap had told her about Bardot's venomous bite and what it does to zoners. Her lower lip quivered as she realized that is what Snap was going through now. And that was the last thing the poor guy needed. He had fought so hard to save his friends. He deserved a happy ending. He deserved to survive this.
Rapsheeba held onto the hope that he was going to make it. Right now, it was all she could do. She couldn't do anything to help. She couldn't even go in there and comfort Snap. He wasn't even awake. He wasn't even responsive. He couldn't even breathe very well. She saw the wound on his chest. One of his lungs must have been damaged by Bardot. All she could do was hope and pray that he would be fine. There was still a marginal chance he'd make it. And so long as there was that, she'll hold onto her hope.
After about half an hour of waiting, she saw a doctor walking towards her and Terry. She recognized who it was. Dr. Urso, the same doctor who had helped save Snap's life before. She noticed his forelorn expression and knew it couldn't mean anything good. He had his head low and his hands clasped together.
When he stopped in front of the two, he looked like he didn't know what to say. Rapsheeba felt her heart race quicken. That was not a good sign. It meant something was very wrong with Snap. Even before the doctor said anything, she felt tears well up in her eyes. She hoped that, whatever the doctor was going to say, it would be temporary. Yeah...it had to be temporary... Snap was going to be okay.. He has to be...
"How is he, doctor?" Terry asked, breaking the silence.
"...not well." Dr. Urso said with hesitation. "He's lost most of his blood. I'd say he lost 4/5 of his blood from whatever had happened to him."
"He was ripped apart by Bardot." Terry explained. "I saw him slash him up with those claws."
"Ah yes that would do it..." Dr. Urso nodded sadly. He got out his clipboard and glanced at it. He shook his head sadly, his ears lowering. "We got him on some blood transfusions, but I can't say if that will help him or not. We also have IVs attached to him to get some fluid and nutrients into him. But we have more to worry about than just the blood loss. His injured lung is a great concern. It's been pretty badly torn. They're working on fixing that, but I can't confirm if the procedure will work or not. He might need a lung transplant."
Rapsheeba felt tears escape her eyes as he said that. Losing almost all of his blood... It was a miracle he was able to still stay awake for a short time when she and Terry found him. And the lung transplant..not exactly the best thing to hear after all that has happened. He wouldn't be able to handle the surgery with his condition.
She looked up at Terry. She hardly knew much about this woman, but considering her interactions with Snap before, she guessed that they knew each other to some extent. The only thing she knew was that Terry had tried exposing ChalkZone in the past.
Despite being a potential enemy if that were the case, Rapsheeba was happy that she came with her to the hospital. She was glad to be with someone. It's always easier handling tragedies with another person. And it was definitely nice that Terry seemed to care about Snap's well being. She looked just as worried about him as her, despite not being friends per say.
Dr. Urso continued to talk. "His arm is broken in four different places. We're working on getting it splinted and casted as soon as possible. That arm will take a long time to heal. I'd stay about four or five months at the very least. Then there is the concern about his head injuries..."
"Head injuries?" Rapsheeba asked, her eyes widened. "I-I didn't know that..he..."
Dr. Urso nodded his head solemnly. "We did an X-Ray on him and found that he head suffered some head trauma. His head had been struck several times with what I guess was a blunt object. Something hard. Most of it was on the side of his skull. The force was enough to crack the bone. There is some brain swelling and we are fearing permanent damage." He looked at Terry and Rapsheeba sadly as they gave a gasp of horror. "We have no idea how well this will heal, and it will definitely slow down the healing as it may keep him in a coma for a while. As for what might become of him, I'm afraid we will have to wait until he wakes up to find out. There's so much swelling we can't pinpoint what areas of his brain are mostly affected."
Rapsheeba tried to hold back her tears, but they just kept coming. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Brain damage? Snap might have...brain damage? No...he didn't deserve this. No...it couldn't be...no...
She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Terry glancing down at her sympathetically. The gesture didn't do much to cheer Rapsheeba up, but it was something.
Rapsheeba knew she would have to tell Blocky when he came. He hadn't arrived at the hospital yet. He did need his wounds treated as, out of her and him, he was the worst off. At the moment, he was aiding Skrawl, taking him to where the hideout was to apprehend Draow and Bardot. He would get to the hospital as soon as he could.
She...she was going to feel so bad when she told him just how bad off Snap really was. Blocky must be so hopeful right now Snap would make it. She would feel awful to have to tell him his chances of recovery appear to be slim. And that wasn't even getting into the venom yet, which she knew was what the doctor was going to address next.
"The venom...it's already done a lot of damage to the bones in the area of the bite." Dr. Urso said, furrowing his eyes in concern. "And it's spreading through his body rapidly. But if he was bitten by just one fang, that is some good news. It means this Bardot guy did not pump in nearly as much venom as he could, so the process is slower. It's no less painful, but it means we have a window of opportunity to save Snap from the venom. There's already two methods we are going to try as soon as possible."
"W-What did you have in mind?" Rapsheeba asked in a whisper.
"The first method is antivenom. At the other hospital where Barney is currently staying, King Mumbo Jumbo had fought against Bardot. He reported that Bardot had gnawed on his shell in an attempt to inject him with venom. Because of this, some small samples of venom remained on the king's shell and we were able to collect it. It's not a lot, but we have something that might work as an antivenom." Dr. Urso explained as he flipped through the paperwork. "The other method, in case that doesn't work, is the purple chalk. It seems to have a neutralizing effect on red chalk, and that venom is made up of red chalk. If the antivenom doesn't kick in, we will use the purple chalk Bouffant here has. We'll inject that and hope for the best."
That was some good news. Not a lot, but it still helped Rapsheeba feel a little better. Knowing that there was a way to stop the venom filled her with relief. Before, they had all thought that once bitten by Bardot and injected with his venom, there was no hope. Now that there might be not one, but two ways to stop the venom, that did help raise her spirits a little.
But she knew it was still up in the air whether or not he'll make it. So much could still go wrong. There were so many problems Snap was suffering through. She still couldn't shake the worry welling up in the back of her mind that something could go horribly wrong. Snap's condition was far more critical now than it was a year and a half ago...
Dr. Urso closed his clipboard and stared at Terry and Rapsheeba. His ears remained lowered. He let out a soft sigh. "I wish I could have given you better news.. We will do what we can for Snap and I will continue to give you updates. Rest assured we will do whatever we can to save him."
With that, the doctor walked back down the hallway. Rapsheeba stared after him. Her lower lip quivered. Her tears flooded down her face. As much as she wanted to stay hopeful for Snap's recovery, there was still the chance that he...that he won't make it...
As she started to cry, she felt a presence come around her. She looked up and saw that Terry had lowered herself to her level and pulled her into a hug. Rapsheeba, slowly, returned the hug, her body shaking with emotion.
"Rapsheeba?"
Terry and Rapsheeba pulled away and saw Blocky coming down to greet them. His wounds were already patched up. He stopped in front of them, a worried look on his face.
"How is Snap doing?" Blocky asked in a worried voice.
Rapsheeba shook her head once. "He's..not doing very well, Blocky."
Blocky's face paled. "W-What..?"
Rapsheeba wiped away her tears. She turned away from Terry and stared at Blocky. It wasn't going to be easy for her to tell him this. But she knew she had to. Blocky was one of Snap's closest friends. He deserved to know, no matter how bad the news was.
"You see..." Rapsheeba started to explain to Blocky everything the doctor had told them.
sss
Rudy let out a groan. He had never been in so much pain before. Almost everything hurt. The pain just kept shooting through his body. Even the morphine didn't do much to stop the agony he was feeling. It helped at least. He didn't want to know what the pain would be like without it.
When he had worken up, he was so confused at first. He didn't know where he was. He didn't recognize his surroundings. He didn't remember how he got here, or what had happened before. He was in pain almost right away and that frightened him. He didn't know what had happened to him that got him in that position in the first place. He was scared that he was so badly hurt yet didn't remember what happened.
He soon realized he was not the only one in the room. He felt his heart beat faster when he saw Penny on the other hospital bed, a few feet away from him. She was unconscious and had so many IVs and wires hooked up to her. Rudy realized he was the same way. And seeing Penny so badly hurt, eyeing her injuries, Rudy realized he had wounds of his own, explaining why he was in so much pain.
When he realized his leg was in a cast as well as his arm and hand, he suddenly remembered. It all came back to him, flash after flash like a lightning bolt. The so-called 'games'..being kidnapped by Draow, the torturing he and Penny had to suffer, Snap getting hurt... And as the memories came back, so did the horror. Rudy didn't know if Snap was okay or not. Where was he? What happened to him? He moved in his hospital bed a little, but immediately stopped from the pain he was feeling. As much as he wanted to jump out of this bed and find Snap, he came to realize that wasn't going to happen.
Rudy didn't know how long he had been a wake. Fifteen minutes perhaps, or twenty. Maybe even hours. He couldn't tell. There was no clock in this hospital room, so he had no idea how to tell how much time had passed. The tv mounted on the wall was turned off, so there was nothing to distract him from the pain, both physical and mental, that he had endured. All he could do was lay there, thinking about what had happened to him and Penny and Snap.
They had all gone through so much pain and agony. And for what? All because of this stupid 'game' Bardot had insisted on playing with them. Anger rose inside of Rudy as he thought about that forsaken zoner. He hoped he would never have to see his mug ever again.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the door open. He looked over and his eyes widened a little as he saw his parents walk in. They shut the door carefully and slowly made their way over to them.
He had never seen them look so sad before. They looked like they had been crying for hours, and he wouldn't doubt that for a second. Even now, they were both still crying, their lower lips quivering. They stood next to him, one on the right and one on the left. They looked down at him with sorrow and sympathy etched on clearly on their faces. Neither of them spoke for the next minute or so.
"R-Rudy..." Mr. Tabootie said, his voice choked up. "H-How are you, sport...?"
Rudy let out a soft groan. "I...I could be better..." Rudy was surprised at how weak and scratchy his voice sounded. "How long was I out..?"
"A couple hours." Mrs. Tabootie replied.
"A couple hours..." Rudy breathed. That wasn't as bad as he thought it was. But then, a couple hours could mean anything. Two hours isn't much, but five or six? That's a lot longer and more worrying than two hours. He turned his head and glanced over at Penny. She still hadn't woken up. "What about P-Penny...? Is she...?"
Mrs. Tabootie said, "The doctors believe she will wake up soon." She paused for a moment, and then added, "The doctors are hopeful you and her will survive. But...but only time will tell.. There's still a chance you..." She couldn't finish and she started to cry harder.
Rudy felt a pang in his heart as he watched his mother cry over him. The idea that he and Penny might still lose their lives, even after all this...it was heartbreaking to think about. Rudy didn't want to die... He didn't want to leave his friends and family behind. He wanted to be okay. He didn't want his loved ones to suffer. He didn't want them to be tormented by his death. He didn't want Penny's loved ones to go through the same thing either.
But at least, for now, they were alive. That was a good sign. And as long as he still had a heartbeat, he was going to remain hopeful that, eventually, everything would return to normal. It might take a long time, but he wanted to keep believing that, in a few months, this would all be just a distant, horrible memory.
"Everything will be okay, son... Everything will be fine..." Mr. Tabootie whispered to his son. He wiped away a tear. "You'll see..."
Rudy smiled weakly at his parents. He wanted to believe that. He held onto that belief. Yeah, as his father said, everything would be fine. It was going to be one heck of a rocky road to recovery, but it was all going to be just fine. And before he knew it, he, Penny, and Snap would be having fun in ChalkZone like they always had.
"And don't worry about Bardot, dear." Mrs. Tabootie said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "He has been apprehended, along with Draow. Their trial will take place soon."
That was comforting to know. Rudy felt happy that those two would get what they deserve. They would finally pay for all their wrong doings. They..
...wait a minute...
How...how did his parents know about Bardot and Draow...? How did they know their names? How did they know they were the ones responsible for all this...?
Rudy's blood ran cold. No, it couldn't be...they couldn't have...no...
Slowly, Rudy looked up at his parents, his expression changing slowly to that of shock. They stared down at him, and the looks they were giving him...he didn't like them. They were looking at him like they knew something...something that they should never have found out...
Mr. Tabootie nodded his head slowly. "Yes, Rudy." His voice was in a soft whisper. He leaned forward a little bit. "We know about ChalkZone."
Rudy felt his heart start to race. He heard the heart monitor he was attached to beep faster and faster. He couldn't believe it. He and Penny tried so hard to keep ChalkZone a secret. They tried to make sure their parens never found out, for they knew that horrible consequences would arise if just any human could walk around in ChalkZone. And now his parents...they know about it...
He didn't know how they could have found out. But that didn't matter now. They knew about ChalkZone. They knew...and now he and Penny would have to face the music. They would need to tell their parents everything. This was..awful...horrible... He and Penny had no idea how their parents would react to ChalkZone, and now that they found out under the worst circumstances... Dread and horror filled Rudy's mind as terrible scenarios played through his mind.
Rudy hoped this was just a bad dream. He hoped that, any minute now, he would wake up and everything would be fine. He hoped that this was nothing more than a nightmare he was experiencing where his parents find out about ChalkZone. He kept hoping and praying that he would wake up any second now and he would find that his parents didn't know about ChalkZone.
But the more he laid there, the more he stared at his parents, the more he realized this wasn't a dream. It was reality. He was awake. His parents knew about ChalkZone. And as he came to realize this and accept it as reality, the more fearful and terrified he became. Out of all he and Penny and Snap been through, the thought of being...permanently banned...or humans flooding ChalkZone...it would be horrible.
"P-Please...don't..." Rudy started to say. His mind was so scrambled up from fear that he wasn't able to speak in a coherent sentence. He looked at his two parents, his eyes wide with worry. "I-I...we..we can't.."
His parents looked down at him sympathetically. His mother reached down and placed her hand on his cheek, avoiding his injuries. She then gripped his uninjured hand and squeezed it gently.
His father spoke. "Calm down, Rudy. You can't afford getting too excited in your condition. Relax, take in deep breaths and breathe out."
Rudy did so. He breathed in and out slowly. He kept doing this and, slowly, he felt his heartbeat return to normal. He became a little more relaxed. But the horror of his parents finding out about ChalkZone was fresh on his mind. What did they have in mind? What were they going to do?
He had to know. He needed to know what they planned to do after this. As much as it frightened him, as much as it terrified him, he needed to know. Not knowing was going to kill him, drive him insane.
"W-What are you..." Rudy said, a little more understandable than before. "What are you..going to do..?"
Mr. and Mrs. Tabootie looked at each other for a moment. They looked down at Rudy. Their expressions...they looked uncertain and confused. There was also a hint of something else. Anger? That didn't surprise Rudy. He lied to them so much over the years...
"We...are still up in the air about that, son.." Mr. Tabootie said.
Mrs. Tabootie spoke next. "We decided it was best to..." She paused for a moment, rubbing her hands nervously together. "..that we wait until Draow and Bardot are taken care of..and you, Penny, and Snap get better from your injuries. We're willing to hold this off until you three are able to come home before we discuss any course of action."
Mr. Tabootie nodded his head. "We just hope that, whatever decision we make...you and Penny will understand...that it's for the best."
Rudy felt like his world stopped. He couldn't believe it. After all that...after all they had went through...it might still be over. He started to cry, shedding tears down his face. His parents tried to comfort him, but he barely paid attention to them. He wished this was just a dream, but sadly, it wasn't.
Now all he could do was wait. He could only wait and hope that, somehow, everything will be okay. He could only hope, by some miracle, his parents agreed to keep ChalkZone a secret. He hoped that they would come to understand why they kept the place a secret for so many years. He could only hope for the best...
...but in the end, only time will tell how things will go from here.
sss
Rapsheeba's mind went numb. Her world froze. She stood there, her body shaking. She couldn't think. She couldn't move. Tears flowed down her face. Her nose was getting stuffed up. But she made no attempt to wipe it.
No...it couldn't be...no...
She replayed the doctor's words in her head over and over again. She had only been standing here for a few seconds. But time had slowed down. Dr. Urso stared at her with a saddened expression, showing that he was not making some kind of cruel joke. It was real...and it shattered Rapsheeba's heart into pieces. She wished she had misheard. She wished it was a mistake...it had to be a mistake...
But no..it was no mistake. Dr. Urso would never lie to her or trick her about this. He would not mislead. He would not make up something like this. Rapsheeba's body trembled with emotion as she came to realize the truth.
"I-It can't be..you...it can't be..." Blocky said, his voice cracked as he tried to fight back his cries.
"Are you sure...?" Terry asked. She wasn't as broken up as Rapsheeba and Blocky since she wasn't a close friend of Snap's. But her voice still held concern for the little zoner. She was not happy with the news either. "Can't you try again?"
Dr. Urso shook his head. "I'm sorry... Snap..he's..." Dr. Urso's voice cracked with sadness. "He's gone..I'm sorry...we tried to save him, but his injuries were too much. I'm so sorry..."
Snap was dead... That phrase repeated itself in Rapsheeba's mind over and over agai. It couldn't be true. After all that, Snap couldn't be dead. He couldn't die..he just couldn't.. She dropped onto her knees and started to sob. This...this was the worst possible news she could have recieved.
Blocky started to cry. He went over to Rapsheeba and hugged her for comfort. She hugged him back. The two zoners mourned the loss of their friend. Coming to terms with Snap's death...it wasn't going to be easy.
"Try again." Terry's firm voice came, drawing attention from the crying zoners and the zoner doctor.
"We tried to jumpstart his heart, but all attempts failed..." Dr. Urso said. "I know this is hard for you to accept, but please..."
"Try again!" Terry was more forceful.
"But..." Dr. Urso tried to say.
Suddenly, Terry gripped the bear doctor by his shirt and yanked him forward. She put her face close to his. "Now you listen here! That zoner has been through hell trying to save his friends!" She pointed a finger towards Blocky and Rapsheeba. "He doesn't deserve to die like this! Not after what he went through to save his friends! So get back there and try again to revive him!"
Dr. Urso stared at Terry, looking shocked by her outburst. Rapsheeba and Blocky were shocked as well. After a few moments of silence, Dr. Urso spoke up again.
"I'm sorry. But I can't..." Dr. Urso said regretfully. "Every attempt ended up in failure..."
Terry narrowed her eyes. "Then I will try.."
"What?! But you don't know how to..." Dr. Urso said. He couldn't continue when Terry flung him to the side and stormed down the hallway, her hands clenched into fists. "Wait! Come back!" Rapsheeba and Blocky, though stunned by what had had happened, ran down to catch up to Terry. "You three aren't allowed back there!"
The three raced down the hallway, keeping their distance from Dr. Urso. Some of the other doctors tried to stop them, but they evaded them. They continued racing down the hall until they found the emergency room. They pushed the doors open and walked inside.
It was a huge risk coming in here. Infection and germs were a real threat. They might be making things worse. Rapsheeba had wanted to try to stop Terry. As much as she felt her actions were noble, she also felt they were rash and should have been thought through more. But with how fast the woman had been going, with how determined she was, she knew there was no stopping her.
Rapsheeba's heart clenched when she saw Snap laying on the operating table. He was completely still and lifeless. No movement to be detected. His chest was no longer rising and falling like it should have. The heart monitor he was attached do was at a flatline, the continuous beep filling the room with the reality of death.
Rapsheeba's lower lip quivered and Blocky couldn't hold back his cries. It was one thing being told their friend was dead, that he had passed away despite their best efforts to keep him alive. It was another to see that death for real, to see his pale, still corpse on the table. If it weren't for the various injuries adorning his body, they would think that he was just asleep.
The two of them didn't have long to think about that when Terry rushed in, pushing aside the doctors. She stared down at Snap's lifeless body, her expression relaxing, showing concern for him, then they narrowed in determination again as she grabbed the defibrillation device from the table. Then she pressed them against Snap and activated them, causing his body to convulse due to the reaction of the electricity being pumped into his body.
Again and again, Terry would shock Snap with the device and watch his heart monitor. Rapsheeba had no idea if Terry had any knowledge or inkling of what she was doing. But she and Blocky couldn't stop her. In fact, they didn't want to stop her. Maybe...just maybe..she might be able to do it. By some miracle, maybe she could succeed...
The doctors tried to stop her. They attempted to yank her away from the defibrillation device and away from Snap's body. But even when Dr. Urso came in with a large zoner doctor, Terry was still relentless. Even as she was being pulled away, she fought back. She pushed back against the doctors and continued trying to revive Snap. Again and again, she shocked him, and again and again he convulsed on the bed as his nerves were being triggered.
Finally, much to Rapsheeba's dismay, Terry was successfully pried away from Snap. The large zoner, a bird with arms, grabbed her and pulled her back. Dr. Urso looked at her with a displeased look. He glared at Terry, Rapsheeba, and Blocky and pointed towards the door as a couple of doctors grabbed the two mourning zoners.
"Get out of here. I'm sorry we couldn't save your friend, but do you realize the damage you could have caused?" Dr. Urso said in an angry voice. "You could have..."
Suddenly, there was a beep. A quick, soft one, but a beep nonetheless. Everyone in the room froze.
Then there was another beep, and another. Steady beeping, slowly increasing.
"We've..we've got a pulse!" One of the doctors cried as they stared at the heart monitor.
"What?" Dr. Urso asked, stunned, his previous anger forgotten. He went over to the heart monitor. "That's...impossible..."
But it was true. The heart monitor had come back to life. The beeps were slow, but they were still there. The heart rate increased slowly. The number was no longer at 0 as it was when they first came in. Slowly, the heartbeat rate increased a little.
"He's coming back!" Another doctor shouted, a delightful tone to their voice. "That...that crazy human did it!"
As if to confirm that, Snap's chest started to rise and fall again. Slowly, barely noticeable, but the fact was he was now breathing again. Some of the color came back and, if everything they saw wasn't enough to convince them, Snap's head moved a little. A tiny smidgen, but it still moved nonetheless.
Rapsheeba stood there, shocked. So did Blocky. More tears formed in their eyes. But this time, not of sadness, but of relief. They turned to each other and gave each other a hug. Elation swept through Rapsheeba's body. A miracle had just taken place. Snap was..he was alive now... He was coming back...
She hoped that things would continue to spiral upward from here.
sss
Penny looked around the hospital room. If it weren't for the calender that was placed between her and Rudy's beds, she would have no idea how long she had been here.
Three weeks...
It had been three weeks since they were rescued. They had been in the hospital for three weeks. But the long days at the hospital made time appear to move more slowly. It felt like they had been in there for years. It felt so much longer... How much longer would they be here? How much longer would they have to endure being trapped here, in this white room? She wanted to go home...
She also wanted to go back to ChalkZone. She wanted to see how Snap and the others were doing. Not knowing was upsetting her. She had to know how they were recovering. Snap must have been so badly hurt... and she turned out to be right.
Mr. Wilter had stopped by to visit her and Rudy. He informed the teenagers about Snap, Rapsheeba, and Blocky's conditions. He was happy to report that Rapsheeba and Blocky would be fine. But Snap was a different story. Penny could still feel the painful pang that she and Rudy felt in their stomachs as Mr. Wilter went on to explain just how badly hurt Snap really was, and how he had actually died in the hospital. It was a shock but also a relief that Terry had, somehow, been able to revive him.
But Snap wasn't out of the woods yet. He hadn't woken up until a week later. By then, his wounds had closed up, but the damage was still there. The poor guy could barely move. He constantly complained about pain. Morphine had even less of an effect on him than it did for Rudy. It was a miracle she and Rudy were able to be saved, but Snap was even worse off. The possibility of brain damage was still there, and he would have to be monitored for a while.
When Mr. Wilter came back five days ago to give them an update, she and Rudy feared the worst. While they were recovering just fine, slowly but surely, they didn't know how well Snap was doing. He had suffered so much more than them...he was trying to hard to save them, pushing himself to his absolute limit... and it might just cost him big.
However, much to their surprise and delight, Wilter brought back some good news. While it was still too early to tell, the doctors informed that Snap's health was improving steadily. His mind seemed to be functioning pretty well despite his brain being all banged up. They were hopeful that his brain would heal with little to no irriversable damage. They were also happy to report that the most swelling was in the front part of his brain, away from vital areas, which reduced the chance of him dying from the damage.
The other bit of news Mr. Wilter brought to them was that of Bardot and Draow. Hearing their names mentioned filled the two with dread and hatred. Rudy and Penny remembered all too well what had happened to them during their stay. They could still hear those monsters' taunting voices, their claws digging into them, the torture they put them through... They were happy to hear that the two would be put on trial, and were currently locked up in Skrawl's prison with none other than King Mumbo Jumbo to keep an eye on them.
Rudy asked Wilter why they hadn't been tried yet. The teacher informed them that the zoners in charge of the court case felt it was best for Rudy, Penny, Snap, their parents, Rapsheeba, Blocky, and Terry to be present for the trial. So they were holding it off until they were well enough to come to ChalkZone.
Although their parents still weren't sure what to think of ChalkZone, they didn't mind the idea of a trip back in there to watch Bardot and Draow get punished for all the pain and misery they had caused. Penny and Rudy were both worried about what their parents will do about ChalkZone, though. The thought haunted both of them in their sleep. But their parents kept telling them they would discuss it more in detail after the trial and after they came home.
Penny wished they could get the talk done and over with now. As painful as it might be, as bad as the outcome could turn out, she wanted to get it done and over with. She wanted them to talk about what to do about ChalkZone so she could have a definitive answer. All this waiting around...she didn't know if she could take it. Yet no matter what, she couldn't convince her mom or Rudy's parents to talk more. They were set on discussing this later. She had no choice but to wait.
She and Rudy also had another visitor, this one unexpected. None of them thought Terry, of all people, would come and visit them. She asked how they were doing and she looked pleased that they were doing pretty well, given all that had happened to them. Penny had a feeling she was there for more than just seeing how they were doing. And they were right.
Terry talked to them about ChalkZone. Before they could protest, she clarified that all she wanted to know was why they kept ChalkZone a secret and why they tried to stop her from exposing it. Rudy and Penny were confused by this as the woman had never tried getting their point of view on the issue before. Terry made it clear she wasn't going to leave until she got an honest answer, so the two teens explained to her the best they could.
They told her about how, a long time ago, creators were given more free reign in ChalkZone and how it all had ended up badly. They told her about the incident with Mr. Cosmo and how the creators had gotten aggressive and had to be forced out. They told her about how letting ChalkZone be exposed to the world would mean the exploitation of it and the zoners as well. They were worried about what damage could be caused to the place from this, how their homes could be destroyed, their lives taken or damaged, being turned into slaves like what Mr. Cosmo tried with them.
After they explained, Terry didn't reply. She looked at them thoughtfully for a few minutes. Then she thanked them for their time and left, wishing them to get well soon. Rudy and Penny weren't sure what to make of it. They could only hope that their words got through to her somehow.
"Do you think you'll be prepared..?"
Penny turned her head to Rudy. His face was turned towards hers. He stared at her like he was waiting for a reply.
"What?" Penny asked, confused.
"The trial. Do you think, when the time comes, you'll be prepared?" Rudy asked.
Penny paused for a moment. She sighed softly. "I don't know, Rudy." She turned her gaze up to towards the ceiling. "It feels all..strange you know?" She looked back at Rudy and saw that now, he was the one confused. "I mean, after all that has happened...after all we had been through, it feels strange that it's..almost over. Once those two are tried and given their proper punishments..it would almost be like nothing happened."
Rudy nodded his head. "Yeah..I get what you're saying. When we were trapped in ChalkZone, I wasn't sure, at times, if we would get out of it. But like you, I never gave up on Snap. I knew he could save us, and he did. But in the moment, as we were being tortured, it did feel like that..it would never end..."
"But we're safe now. That's what counts." Penny said, a small smile forming on her face. "And we will all get the closure we deserve. Bardot and Draow will finally be punished for all their wrong doings."
Rudy smiled as well. "Heh...it's almost like Mr. Cosmo is being punished." Penny stared at him. Rudy looked upwards towards the ceiling. "They are both his creations. They are both so much like him. Now they have been arrested and are awaiting trial. In a way...Mr. Cosmo has been captured. Maybe now...maybe now, at long last, Ms. Saffron can get some closure, too."
The mention of Ms. Saffron's name caused Penny's eyes to water. It often bothered her, hurt her, that after being so ruthlessly killed by Mr. Cosmo, that the man had 'gotten off easy' and died rather than facing trial and getting the punishment he deserved. She felt that it wasn't fair to Ms. Saffron. She didn't think it was a good enough closure to the woman who had risked everything to save her and her friends a year and a half ago.
Rudy's words did lift her spirits a little. Even though it wasn't Cosmo who was being tried, the fact that the two zoners were still created by Cosmo...the fact that they were like Cosmo in many ways, that they were a piece of Cosmo... It did bring a stronger sense of closer for Ms. Saffron than Cosmo just being killed off the way he had. While she would have preferred Cosmo himself being on trial, his creations being tried for their horrific crimes was the next best thing.
"Yeah... I agree..." Penny whispered softly. "I can't wait for all this...to be finally over..."
Rudy nodded his head. "Yeah...me too..."
sss
Four weeks later, the trial was now taking place. Rudy, Penny, and Snap were well enough now to attend. Their body slashes had mostly healed, leaving behind reddish marks, and they were fading as each day passed. Snap's injuries, including his stomach and chest, looked a lot better now. Rudy and Penny still had to get around with crutches and Snap still wore a cast on his arm, a cloth attached around it and over his neck to steady the arm. Rudy's arm was also in a similar cast, though this one covered his broken hand as well.
It was nice being reunited with Snap. Not being able to talk to him was hard on them. They had to rely on Mr. Wilter giving them updates. Now seeing him for the first time in over a month, almost two, it lifted up their spirits. It was nice to finally see Snap again. It was nice to see that he was doing a lot better and was making great progress in his recovery. He was happy to see them, too, and was grateful that his efforts to save them hadn't been in vain. He was happy that they were alive.
But as much as they wanted to keep talking to Snap, now wasn't the time for sentiment. Now wasn't the time to get caught up with each other and have a group hug. No, right now, it was time for the trial. It was about to begin.
The three of them sat next to each other. Their parents sat next to them. Terry wasn't far off. Rapsheeba and Blocky were there, too. Barney had showed up for the trial as well after it became known that he was also a victim of Bardot. He was joined by his friend, Mumbo Jumbo, who was eager to see Bardot get served some punishment for what he had done to his friend.
In front of them, they could see the judge, a giraffe-like zoner, staring down at the audience. Next to him, he had a mallet, much like a judge in the real world. This whole place, despite being in ChalkZone, felt like a courtroom Rudy would find in the real world. It didn't surprise him. Considering this place had jails, it didn't surprise him that courtrooms like this existed here. He had never been to one before until now. It was a new experience for him. He just wished it was under better circumstances.
Then the door opened up. Rudy and the others turned to see the Beanie Boys holding the door open. Walking into the room was Skrawl. In a single fist, he held the leashes that were attached to the two criminals, Draow and Bardot.
Chains were attached to their feet, securing their legs not far apart so they couldn't try to run away. A muzzle was placed on their heads so they weren't able to bite anyone, although they could still talk. The muzzles were made of what looked like thick mesh with some thicker bars, so their mouths could be seen. And on Bardot's face, there was a smile, while Draow's held a furious frown. Attached around Bardot was a purple collar, which sent thin pulses of purple energy over him, subduing his red chalk side and making him easier to control. Draow's wings were tied against his body with thick leather, preventing him from taking flight.
The two were brought forward in front of the judge. Skrawl stopped and gestured for them to stop as well. Though under normal circumstances, they would not, the two criminals knew they had no choice. They turned their heads up towards the judge and waited for him to speak.
"Draow. Bardot." The judge said. "You two are accused of the capture, the torture, and the killing of multiple citizens. How do you plead?"
Draow answered almost right away. "Not guilty."
Rudy narrowed his eyes at this. The others with him weren't pleased either. Of course the monster would try to plead not guilty. He was a coward, just like Mr. Cosmo.
Then it was time for Bardot to speak. At first, he remained quiet. He lowered his head a little. There was a soft growl coming from him. At first, Rudy thought he was getting angry again. He could hear Snap whimper a little. He couldn't blame him. The last time Bardot lost his temper, Snap had been ripped apart.
But then he soon realized it wasn't angry growling he was hearing, but some beastly form of chuckling. It became a little clearer as the seconds passed. A sneer spread cross Bardot's face, exposing his teeth in a hideous grin.
"Guilty."
Rudy was shocked by this. He looked over at Penny and Snap. They were just as surprised as he was. Bardot...was pleading guilty? Rudy didn't think he was going to do that. He thought that he was going to do whatever it took to get himself out of here. But the fact that he just...confessed like that... He couldn't think of why he would do such a thing.
Rudy was shocked by this. He looked over at Penny and Snap. They were just as surprised as he was. Bardot...was pleading guilty? Rudy didn't think he was going to do that. He thought that he was going to do whatever it took to get himself out of here. But the fact that he just...confessed like that... He couldn't think of why he would do such a thing.
Even Draow looked shocked by this. The bat wolf stared at Bardot with wide eyes, his ears pricked up straight. Bardot gave him a sideways glance. The smile never faded from his muzzle.
"Why would you..." Draow said. The tone of his voice suggested that he felt betrayed.
Bardot chuckled. "I cannot tell a lie, remember?" He said, raising his head up a little and tilting it to the side. Then he glanced up at the judge. "I will not lie. My partner and I are guilty. We did do a lot of horrible things...as the people in the audience there can attest.." With that, Bardot gave an eerie smile at Rudy and the others.
The parents huddled closer to their kids, glaring at the yellow and red monster. They were determined to protect their children in case he broke loose. Terry glared hatefully at him, forming a fist in her hand. Rudy, Penny, and Snap shivered in fright, but glared defiantly at the zoner. This just prompted a laughter from Bardot before he turned his head away.
The giraffe judge looked down at the two beast zoners. "Since you two cannot agree, we will have this trial. We will look at the evidence and then decide your fates." The judge slammed his mallet down. "Court is now in session!"
sss
It took almost two hours of explaining and going over the evidence, but now was the moment Rudy and the others were eagerly waiting for. He looked over at Barney. He was fidgeting. It had been hard for him to go up there and explain what happened. It was hard on all of them, but it was the worst for Barney, who was tortured for over a year. Out of them all, he had been Bardot's biggest victim.
But now it seemed it was all going to be over. The judge had called the jury to go over the evidence and make a decision. All they had to do was wait. Most certainly, they would find Bardot and Draow guilty and they would be imprisoned, or whatever was going to happen to them. Rudy wasn't sure what their fate was, but he was confident it would be something fitting for these two monsters.
The jury came back and they all returned to their seats. He, his friends, family, everyone watched with great interest, wondering what the verdict and subsequent sentencing was going to be.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" The giraffe judge asked.
"We have, yes. After much consideration, we find Bardot and Draow guilty." The head juror stated.
"What? No!" Draow growled. He started to struggle. The Beanie Boys hovering around him held on tightly. They started to drag him towards the door. "You can't do this to me!"
The Beanie Boys holding Bardot started to move. Unlike Draow, Bardot was more compliant and willingly followed them. "I had a feeling that would be the verdict." Bardot said simply.
The judge said, "You two will be banished to the Fire Zone, a secluded part of ChalkZone where every day will be a living hell for you. You can still survive, but it will take all your wits and cunning. You put these people through a survival course, so that shall be your punishment. A barrier will be in place so you can never get out. You two are never to leave the Fire Zone."
"No! You can't do that!" Draow snarled.
The bat wolf started to tug harder on his leash, making it hard for the Beanie Boys to hold in back. As he was being taken up the aisle, he pulled back and went towards where Rudy, Penny, Snap, and the others were sitting. He started to bark ferociously at them, baring his teeth viciously.
In reaction, the group huddled together, glaring angrily and fearfully at the beast. Rapsheeba and Blocky hugged each other. Rudy, Penny, and Snap held onto each other. Their parents moved in front of them, trying to block Draow's view. Barney, who was further back, was horrified by the sounds of barking. Terry narrowed her eyes at Draow.
Suddenly, Draow let out a loud yelp. He moved back away, his ears lowering. It didn't take long for Rudy to see what had happened. Bardot had come on behind him and drove his claws into Draow's leg, drawing a little blood.
"At ease, Draow." Bardot said in a calm voice. "Stand down."
Even though Bardot was subdued and had one fang left, his new one still not fully functional yet, Draow lowered his head in submission and backed off. The Beanie Boys continued to drag him up towards the door where he would most certainly be sent to the Fire Zone immediately.
As Bardot started walking again, he suddenly stopped. The Beanie Boys glared down at him and started to pull hard. But Bardot didn't move. Instead, he looked over at the individuals he had tormented the past few days. A satisfied smirk spread across his muzzle as he stared into their eyes, clearly enjoying the fear in them. Then his eyes locked onto Snap's. The blue zoner let out a small whimper, but still glared at him, gritting his teeth.
"Congratulations..." Bardot said in an eerie voice. "You won the game."
With that, Bardot started to follow the Beanie Boys. And in seconds, he was out the door. He was finally gone. Rudy and the others would never have to worry about him again.