Musty, cool, damp air hung in the dripping passageway. Aside from the light that filtered in through the hole, the halls were dark, the Bandicoots were all but blind within them. Crunch looked around, his eyes straining to see something of use in the dark. At this point, only one thing stood out: a stick with ancient rags leaned up against the wall. The burgundy Bandicoot strode towards the primitive torch, only to find it dripping wet with moisture. In a mixture of oil and water, the torch seemed completely inflammable. Yet, to the both the boys' surprise, it was Coco who provided the solution. She fished through her emergency backpack and then ran over to her muscular brother. "Give me the stick. There's nothing that this flamethrower prototype I've created can't light ablaze." Crunch's eyebrows lifted with surprise.
"You brought a flamethrower? I appreciate the enthusiasm, but was it really necessary? I wonder-" Crunch was interrupted by a sharp elbow to the side by his younger brother. "What I was saying was that I am happy nevertheless," Crunch recovered with a wounded look. Crash smiled with a cheerful thumbs up.
"Back up, idiots. You have enough fur to become flaming fools," Coco said before putting on some sunglasses. She retrieved the gadget - a small metal cannister that fit in her palm- from her pocket. She then pointed it at the stick. After a small click, a torrent of flames was unleashed from the minuscule cannister, completely bathing the stick, and the wall behind it in blazing light and roaring flames. The stick was set ablaze, as was the vegetation on the wall. The male Bandicoots stood stunned by the light and the flames a few feet behind Coco.
Twirling the cannister in her palm, and then blowing the smoke away from it, Coco looked at her brothers. "Your sister is more capable at doing things then chatting. Surprising? I know. Prepared to be surprised more and more this journey!" she said with a smug chuckle. After briefly glancing at each other, the boys nodded in awe. "Shall we get moving then? The less time we spend in these forsaken halls, the better," Coco commented.
The trio slowly picked their way through the decrepit walls and sagging ceiling that formed the hallway of this ancient ruin. Multiple spear traps lay sprung in the hallway, giant blades jammed by fallen rocks, and pits filled in by water. At some point in time, the traps must have been daunting, but now the compromising condition of the walls and ceilings proved to be more ominous. After hearing a few rumblings echo through the tunnel, it was clear that the passage could collapse at any given moment. Which is why the trio was so happy to see the claustrophobic hallway open up into a large room. In the room the sound of cascading liquid could heard, but no liquid could be seen.
Coco approached the room and brandished the torch. The hallway ended in stairs that led up to a raised part of floor in the middle of the room. On the walls were the paintings of primitive humans missing limbs, heads, and other parts of their bodies. Half of the room lay collapsed opposite of where the siblings stood. It was a grim sight, but it was also clear that there was something important in the middle of the room on the raised section of the floor. Crash tip-toed over to a painting on the wall and inclined his head in curiosity. He then turned around and smiled. Crunch was puzzled at this, for missing limbs do not usually make one smile. He walked over to his happy brother.
Crash was looking at a figure with no head. Surrounding the figure were people laughing, and more importantly, there was no sign of blood. Crunch raised his eyebrows in epitome. He turned to where his sister had been standing, "Coco, this room contains whatever turns people invisible. We need to find this. An artifact? Or maybe a-" Coco was no where to be seen. Terror shot up the older male's spine. "Coco? Where are you?'
"I'm up here by this brazier with liquid air. Its cool!"
"Unless I'm blind, you are nowhere up there! And liquid air? What do you mean unless..." Crunch took off at a run up the stairs. The water sound got louder, and an ancient brazier stood at the top of the stairs.
"Put your hand in it!" Coco's voice rung from right behind him. Crunch just about jumped out of his hide, and was filled with anger at Coco's taunting giggles. With a grunt, he walked over to the brazier and plunged his hand in, expecting to feel nothing but the cold, rusting metal. Yet what he saw, or rather did not see, was remarkable. His hand vanished as he felt the sensation of what seemed like water. He lifted up his arm, and was instantly grateful he had put his metal arm in the water. He could see all the circuits and wires inside the robotic arm. It was as if some one had sliced it clean off. He waved at Crash, who in return laughed. Crunch, too was happy. He felt a new sensation that had had left his hollowed heart long ago.
Crunch was glad to welcome hope back into his life.