Two women were on their way, via a boat, as they were sitting together. One had long black hair, and another had auburn hair. A woman in black hair and glasses was on the front of the boat, holding up a microphone.

"Thank you for your patronage, as we – under certain restrictions – allow only two at a time."

The girl in black said, "Isn't that romantic? We get to go on a lovely tour together."

The other girl said, "Yes, but don't forget why we're going here."

The tour guide said, "In just a few minutes, we're ready to land on the island. Thank you for choosing Angelic Tours, your one-way getaway tour. We'd advise that you stay in the boat, until we arrive in dry land."

The two girls held hands and giggled.

(Heather): Meet Emma & Anri, a loving couple wanting to get away from it all. However, there's more to their personal business.

They saw a view of a huge island, covered in green, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They were in awe, as the tour guide said, "Welcome to The Island of Fortune."

Emma was in glee, "It's beautiful." Anri added, "Yes, but… It's not how we pictured it in the brochure."

Emma stated, "Maybe the flora and fauna have rapidly grown in time."

The tour guide said, "If you are wondering why it doesn't look like our promotional pictures, that's because this was taken, over 40 years ago. The island you see here remains standing, and it's brimmed to the shore of wildlife, nature, and civilization. This island is considered as the oldest island in the 20th century, discovered by a Welsh Explorer, in hopes of searching for treasure."

Anri was amazed, "Well, now I see everything."

Emma cuddled to her and said, "Well, wait until we arrive, sweetie."

The tour guide asked, "Excuse me… Are you two a happy couple?"

Emma said, "Oh, she's my girlfriend, after all."

The guide responded, "Okay… Just asking. When we arrive, we hope you enjoy your stay."

They nodded, as they were closer to the island.

(Heather): "Experience a vacation like no other. For Emma & Anri…"

Heather appeared at the island, near a tree, "It's a vacation for two, and what could be their last. You see, this is no ordinary island. And in just a moment, you're about to experience Emma & Anri's real purpose here. For our beautiful and sweet lovebirds, they are about to enter… the "Tales of the Bizarre"." She walked off, as the story began.

Tales of the Bizarre #77:
The Ghost Orb

The boat arrived at shore, as the tour guide cried, "SHORE LEAVE!" She said, "I've always wanted to say that. Now…" She pulled out a small wooden plank, and she called, "We have arrived at our destination."

Emma & Anri walked out of the boat, as the tour guide responded, "Be careful on your way through The Island of Fortune. I shall return in a couple days for pickup. Thank you for choosing Angelic Tours, your one-way getaway tour. Please remember, if you choose any other tour than us… … …what the hell were you thinking?" She sailed off, as Emma waved goodbye. She said, "Well, time to relax."

Anri said, "NOT SO FAST!" She grabbed her collar and responded, "You know why we're here."

"Oh, right. This island…"

Anri held up a slip of paper and said, "Now here… I got a message from our superior."

She read the note.
"Dear young travelers,
I have an important task for you. I want you to help me retrieve an orb from the island on this map. This map will guide you to the area of where you can get it. If you can bring it back, I will reward you proudly."

It had no signature, as Emma replied, "Hmm… So, we are off to find and retrieve the orb."

They had a look at the orb, from a picture (which came with the note and map). It was a round dark orb. Emma was in glee, "Ooooooh… Beautiful… I don't suppose we can start right away to find it."

"Well, we can study this map." Anri replied, "It's going to be a tough job."

They looked at the map, as it was a very huge island. They read the map for about 40 seconds, and then Emma pointed at the bottom-left corner. "Okay… This is us… And the orb is all the way over here." The orb was in the center of the map.

Anri stated, "We cannot jet ahead, straightaway. We don't want to run into any traps. Let's see what the safe direction is. Left or right… Hmm…"

Anri led the way, as Emma followed her. Anri replied, "We'll start here." She pointed at the wooden post, and said, "This will be Point A." She marked it on the map, and added, "Now… Safest way is to take a left… Then we turn right. If we take the second left, there'd be water."

Emma shrieked, as she saw the sign. She trembled, as Anri gasped, "What is it?"

The wooden post had blood, and Emma shivered, "Look…"

They looked at the sign, as it was bloodied and scratched. Anri whispered, "This is shocking. Say, what does that sign say?"

Emma tried to read it, but the letters were faded, blending into the wood, and most was covered in moss. She sighed, "I can't read it."

"Then, we'll make this Point A." They walked together, leaving behind the sign. Anri confirms that someone came here before, but was killed, before they could start.

Walking down the long pathway, Anri and Emma walked through the tree leaves and branches, looking for the safest pathway to the orb. They continued walking, until they heard a sound.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yeah… Did you bring your weapon?"

"I did…"

Anri said, as Emma was behind her, "Brace yourself."

Emerging from the bushes, a skeleton appeared, wearing tattered leather and with a huge blade in his hand. Emma shrieked, as Anri armed herself with a shotgun. She blasted the thing with a huge shot. But the body suddenly put itself back together.

"Holy…" Emma was shocked.

Anri fried back at the warrior, but the skeleton was unaffected by mere shotgun shells. They ran off, as Anri cried, "RUN THIS WAY!" She pointed west, and they headed off. The skeleton chased after them, as Emma screamed, "He's gaining on us!"

Anri reloaded and said, "Step back!"

"But it won't work! You can't kill it!"

"Exactly!"

She fired, producing a huge smokescreen. Anri & Emma ran off, heading to the pathway, and they stopped. They panted heavily, as Emma sobbed, "We have to find a place to hide…"

Anri looked at the map and said, "Let's head that way… Hopefully, we avoid that demon's sight."

They started running, until they spotted a small shack. Anri signaled to her, "In here."

They went inside, as the skeletal warrior emerged from the cloud of dust, and started chasing after the girls. It went past the shack, and disappeared into the mist. They sighed in relief and they sat down.

"Jeez…" Emma said, "What kind of island is this?"

"I don't know…" Anri replied, as she looked around, "We should arm ourselves… in case we run into this thing again." She looked at a couple blades on the wall, and she said, "Hmm… These will do."

She pulled out a machete and said, "Yeah. Perfect." She replied, "We may use these for hacking through the brush of leaves." Emma grabbed her own blade, and she said, "I detest these blades… but to use them to defend myself, I rather use my fists."

"What choice do you have?" Anri stated, as she put on a sunhat, "We can get the orb, and survive. Whoever we give the orb to, we should get a decent reward."

They snuck out of the shack, as Anri whispered, "He's gone."

They continued their search, as Anri looked at the map. She stated, "So… if we avoid the skeleton monsters, we should reach the orb, through here… By the map, the way across the other side is through this bridge."

They saw a rope bridge, which was rickety and loose, with a few wooden boards missing. Emma shivered, "Uhhhhhh… Let's try another route."

"Swim for it?" She pointed at the bridge, which was over a huge rapid river.

Emma sniffled, as she said, "Fine… But if I die, I blame the person who sent us here." She slowly walked across the swinging bridge. Anri joined in, and they made it halfway to the bridge. Emma was shaken, as she shut her eyes, and slowly walked across. She slipped, but she hung onto the ropes. She placed her feet back on the bridge, and she barely made it across. Anri called to her not to jump around.

"I wish I could jump… but these planks… They're decrepit and old."

"Just don't look down."

Emma nodded, shutting her eyes, and crossed the bridge. She made it across, and she smiled, "I did it…"

Anri crossed the bridge, joining her friend. She added, "Good work. Now, let's hope we don't run into any more trouble." She opened the map and said, "Well… Now that we cross the bridge, we travel to the Northeast… Through the woods."

"The woods?"

"Yeah. We got our weapons… and my shotgun's useless. Plus, I'm low on ammo."

"Well, that can be a last resort. Now…"

They traveled on, as red glowing eyes surrounded the dark forest, staring into the girls. Emma asked, "Do you feel like you're being watched?"

Anri whispered, "Shush! Follow me…"

Through the dark forest, teeming with dark eyes, Anri & Emma continued to walk through the forest. They heard a noise, and were spooked by a group of blackbirds, flying past them. Emma was shaking by the unexpected fright. Anri held her and said, "Let's keep going."

As they continued down the path, through the dark forest, Emma had a clear thought, "Is this truly the way to get to the orb? What if it's all a wild goose chase?"

Anri responded, "I'm sure it's nothing… But the note said that it's here."

Emma looked around, as she was shaken, "Look at me… Shaken like a coward. I'm supposed to be brave and courageous, and instead I'm quivering like a jellyfish."

"Relax. You still have me."

She saw a light at the end of the path, and Anri cried, "LOOK! An exit!"

She ran off, heading to the light. Suddenly, the ground collapsed, and Anri fell.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Anri landed hard, down below, as Emma cried, "You okay?"

Anri groaned, "Ow… Dammit… What is this place?" She slowly got up and said, "Well, apparently, there's always traps set."

"You don't think those ghouls did this, did they?"

"I don't think so…" She climbed up, and saw a skeleton in the dirt. She shrieked, and collapsed to the ground. The skeleton was already dead. Emma cried, "IT'S HIM! THAT SKELETON THING!"

Anri shivered, "No, it's just a skeleton… Well, a dead body, to be exact…"

"You need help?"

"No, I'm fine!" Anri called, "It's not that deep." The hole she fell in was exactly six feet deep. She climbed up and made it to the top. Anri groaned, brushing herself off, and Emma held her, seeing if there were any bruises. "This island drives me nuts… But I think we're almost there…"

Emma replied, "Yes… Suppose we find another part of the island."

Anri looked at the map, as they walked to the exit, "Okay… So, this is where we are, at the edge of the forest… so, our next step is…"

Emma took the map and growled, "Screw the map! We gotta head straight!"

"But we need it, in case of any danger!"

"Look at it, stupid! Do you see any warnings on this map?"

"No…"

Emma held the map and said, "I'm taking the map… You follow my lead."

"Alright… but the moment we arrive at the treasure, I'm going in first."

"And if any ghouls that try to–." She gasped, seeing a decay female body lying on a wooden sign. She fainted, and Anri caught her. Anri whimpered, "Someone came here before us?"

She examined the sign and read the faint markings: "Keep away – Do not take the orb. Death and doom awaits for those who cross the Ruins"

Anri examined the dead body and said, "Hmmm… No markings or cuts. And this one was already dead in months."

Emma came to and wept, "I wanna go home…" Anri replied, "We're not leaving without the orb."

"Yeah, but… The skeletal warrior, the rope bridge, the dark forest, and that thing… I've had all my fill. I'm too terrified to continue."

"You're not the only one… but look at me, I'm calm and collected. Now, let's travel onwards. And don't worry."

Anri and Emma continued to travel along the pathway, to their next destination. Anri checked the map, after she took it back from Emma. She said, looking at it, "Hmm… We're at a crossroads. There's two paths."

They stumbled onto the worst thing a treasure hunter can ever encounter – The Fork in the Road.

Emma asked, "So, which way? Left or right?"

"That's odd… Either way leads us to our destination… except…"

Emma said, "Screw that! Let's just split up! And we'll be at the end, before you–!"

Emma was yanked back, as Anri cried, "Just a moment! If I let you die, it'll be my own fault… We go together."

"Okay, fine… But which way? They all look the same. Shouldn't we take a third route?"

"There's no third route. Listen, Emma… Whatever happens, we know that we had a lot of excitement… only…"

"Only what?"

"God knows what the orb can do… For the life of me, I cannot dare ask what it is, since the note said that it's here. But I don't know if we can take it…"

"You mean like taking the Holy Grail? I don't find it funny."

Anri said, "Okay, so… … … Which way should you go? The pathways look the same, but I'm curious to know what dangers it has."

Emma looked at each path and said, "I think… we should…" She pointed in the direction. "This way." She pointed right. Anri said, "Alright…" She armed herself with the machete and said, "Stay behind me."

As they walked down the path, a transparent figure was lurking behind them. Emma whispered, "Do you hear that?"

Anri said, "It's nothing…"

A voice called, "You're doomed… You're doomed… doooooooooooomed…"

Anri quivered, "E-E-Emma?" Emma sniffled, "Yeah… I did…"

The ghost haunted them, telling them they're doomed, as they walked faster. Emma whimpered, "I knew we should've went the left way…"

Anri sobbed, as she was running faster, hearing the howls, "This is your fault! Why did you go the rig–, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

She fell into a pit, and Emma cried, "ANRI!" She dropped down below, as Emma cried, "AAAGH! Anri, someone save me!"

She dashed off, leaving Anri behind somewhere, as she bawled, "I don't want the orb anymore! I want a nice soft cushy bed, at home!" She fell into a pit, too, and she screamed, falling into the darkness.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Their screams vanished, and the ghostly visages disappeared.

Emma was on the ground, badly hurt. She was deep within the ground, and she moaned, "Where am I?" She looked around and sobbed, "Oh, no… Please, nonono…" She screamed, "ANRI!"

"I'm over here!" She was calling from a few yards away. Emma ran to Anri, and she said, "You're alive! Now, can we go home?"

Anri moaned, "Ow… Not with–. Ungh… without the orb… Emma…"

"Huh?"

"Go on without me…" She held her left leg and sobbed, "I… I can't move…"

Emma said, "No, I'm not leaving you behind. But… first things first…" She helped her up and said, "We'll get you nursed up, and then we'll leave this dank tunnel." She repaired her left leg, making a cast, using leaves and bark. She then helped her up and said, "Can you walk?"

"Barely…" Anri sobbed, "Come on." She looked at the map and said, "I don't know where we are, but we're close to the orb."

Emma was pissed, and she grabbed the map, "Just forget the goddamn map! Every time we follow the damn thing, something always happens! I say we trash the map, and find the orb ourselves! We don't need a guide!"

Anri barked, "What do YOU care? You just wanted the orb, and go home! We need the map–!"

"WE! DON'T NEED! A MAP!" Her screams echoed, as small noises were made. The ground started to cave in, as Anri cried, "RUN!"

Emma carried Anri away, and they found a small exit. They escaped, as the caves closed up. Emma panted, as Anri sobbed, "Great… Now we have NO map… and no idea where we are… and we're going to die!"

Emma bawled, "Good! Because I wanna go home!" She yelled, "HEY! KEEP YOUR DAMN ORB! WE DON'T WANT IT!"

Anri cried, "EMMA, YOU IDIOT!" She silenced her, "Quiet! You want to make things worse?"

"How can things get any worse? We're leaving!"

She walked off, as Anri said, "Emma…" She called out, "Alright, fine! But the boat's not coming back for another week. You wanna quit, be my guest…"

Emma stopped and sniffled, "It's been one after another, Anri… I just want this done, so I can go home… I'm just trembling in fear, over what has happened. Skeletons, ghosts, monsters, bats, blood and gore… My god… It's nothing to me, but when it goes up to 11, then I have reached my limit!"

Anri replied, "I'm sorry to hear that. You still want in? I can't share the reward, without you…"

Emma bowed her head and sniffled, "Yeah… How's your leg?"

"I'm still hurt."

Emma decided to give it more bracing, and she was able to stabilize her leg. Anri said, "Now what? The map's lost inside, and we have no idea where we are. And we're not sure how far are we to the orb…"

Emma said, "I'm sure we're… uh…" She replied, "We're… We're lost. And we're all… alooooooooone…" Her voice echoed, as the camera pans out, showing the entire island. They were in the middle of the island, somewhere within.

Anri whispered, "Why did you do that?" Emma sobbed, "I don't know… Where the hell are we now? We should've packed provisions… but NO! We're stuck here! NO food, NO water, NO tent, NO NOTHING!"

Anri stopped her and said, "OH! Look over there!"

They saw a huge ruins, nearby the edge of the forest, and she said, "Maybe this is the way… It could be–."

"It could be a trap…"

"OR… it could…"

They gasped, "It's in there?" Anri said, "I think we found it! The orb! It's in here! Oh, if only I had the map… then we'd know where we are."

Emma looked around and said, "Well, let's not waste any time. We have to go in! COME ON! LET'S GO!"

Anri cried, "HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET IN, STUPID?"

Emma paused, and looked around the huge stone ruins. She replied in disdain, "No entrance… It's sealed away, and we have NO tools… That's another thing that we want to add to the list, next time we go treasure hunting."

Anri stated, "Fine… Next time we go for a hunt, we prepare ourselves… but the tour guide said that we're not allowed to bring tools. And the letter said that we can travel alone, without any use of tools or weapons."

"We still got these."

"That's not important."

Emma hacked off a leaf and said, "Well? It's surrounded by wayward greenery."

"Maybe…" Anri & Emma started to move the roughage out, trying to find an entrance. Emma was brushing the leaves away, until she pushed forward a stone brick. A huge door slowly opened, revealing a secret passageway heading downstairs. They were astonished, as Anri replied, "No way… Emma, do you know what that is?"

"The orb's in here!"

They slowly walked down the secret passage, and went into the dark hallways. Anri grabbed a torch and gave it to Emma. She said, "It's best you hold it. I'm still in pain…"

"Hop onto my shoulder, Anri." Anri held onto Emma, and Emma led the way. She responded, "So… I bet it's a straight ahead pathway, or a labyrinthian death trap… I'm going with the latter."

"Just shut up and keep walking."

Emma slowly crept through the halls, and shrieked a bit, seeing spiders, crawling down the walls and stone floor. Emma sighed, "Just a bug…"

They kept going, as they reached a doorway. Emma replied, "Fingers crossed…" She pushed the door open, but then put the torch away, giving it to Anri. Emma used her strength to open the stone door. Inside, they saw a huge auditorium-sized room, with many treasures and gold items. Anri was blushed, "No way… It's here… This must be the treasure room…" She looked around, "But where's the orb?"

Emma pointed at the orb and said, "Over there!"

They saw the orb, lying on a small pedestal, in the middle of the room. The same round and dark orb from the picture. Anri said, "Amazing… So, this is the orb?"

Emma looked at the orb, closely, and she was insulted. She said to her, "That's it? This is the orb? It looks like a dark-painted grapefruit. I thought the orb would be like the size of a basketball, not a regulation softball." Emma pouted, "We were gypped!"

Anri shook her head, "Maybe not… Remember what we came here for. Can you believe, after all the calamity we had, we're about to uncover a hidden treasure, deep within the Pacific."

"We're lucky we didn't have to uncover it in the Southern Ocean."

"Well… Shall we take it?"

Emma nodded, as she reached for the orb. She grabbed it, and she said, "Come on. Let's get out of here." She held Anri and took the orb with her. They walked together, exiting the ruins.

XXXXX

Emma and Anri found a spot in the forest to rest, and Emma held the orb. "Thank goodness…"

Anri said, "So, that's the orb, huh?"

"Kinda small, but… hey, we did it. Now… How do we get out of here?"

"I thought you knew…"

"Same… Ohhhh, right…"

Anri suggested, "We'll stay here until the boat returns, possibly tomorrow. In the meantime, you better lemme hold onto this."

"Uh, I think it's best to hold onto this with safer hands. Plus, your leg's broken."

"It's sprained. You didn't have to wrap it up in thick bandages… or makeshift substitutes."

"I know. But I should hold onto the orb…" Emma suggested the idea, but Anri was disagreeing with her.

"Emma, lemme hold onto the orb. I was the one that knew this island (well, before we lost the map)."

"But I found the secret passage!"

"But I was guiding us to the treasure!"

"More like killing us!"

"Emma, don't be ridiculous!"

Emma clutched the orb into her hands, and Anri cried, "EMMA!"

"It's mine!"

"No! It's mine!"

The orb suddenly emitted a dark power, and they had no idea what happened. Emma's eyes went dark with shadows under her eyes, likewise Anri's.

"It's mine! ALL MINE!" She raced off, as Anri chased after her, "EMMA! GIVE ME BACK MY ORB!"

"NO! IT'S MINE!" They ran through the forest, through the thick leaves and vines, and crossed the dirt path. Emma was running faster than Anri, since Anri's leg was still hurt. Emma hid from plain sight, and Emma cackled, "MWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! I had to share the wealth… but now… It's all mine."

Anri armed herself with her machete and cried, "Emma… Where are you? You have something that belongs to me…"

Emma whispered, "She's not that far… I better hide."

She hid in a tree, up on the green leaves, and Anri was walking past the trees. She called out, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

Anri walked past her. Emma waited, until she was gone. Emma climbed down, orb in her arm, and trotted off. She giggled, as she took the orb with her. Anri cried, "A-HA!" She popped up from out of nowhere.

Emma shrieked, and she was being chased by Anri. She tackled her down, and took the orb. She barked, "Mine!" She dashed off, as Emma yelled, "MINE!"

She grabbed her and threw her into a rock. Anri was knocked out, and Emma laughed, "It's mine… Mine…" She grabbed a small rock and smashed it onto Anri's face. All it did was land bruises, bumps, and cuts onto her head. Anri was unconscious, and Emma cackled, "Hahahahahahahahahaha! You fool! It's all mine!"

She ran away, as Anri was out like a light. She was moaning in constant pain, "Emmmmmma…"

Emma was running through the forest, and suddenly found the dock. She smiled, "Yes! I did it! The orb's mine! All mine!" She paused and said, "Only… How am I going to go home now?"

Emma pouted, clutching the orb in her chest, and sat down near the shore of the island, from the spot where she and Anri first arrived.

As she waited, she saw a boat sail away. She gasped, as she ran to the edge, orb in hand, and waving to the boat. "HEYYYYYYYY! HELLO! We need a ride! HELP ME!"

She was waving for help, as the tour guide was helping two women on their tour. She, unfortunately, did not hear Emma's cries for help.

A brown haired girl in a ponytail asked, "Did you hear that, Momoka?" The pink-haired girl said, "She's part of the tour. It's all so real. Lilia, take a picture!"

Lilia snapped a picture on her phone, and the tour guide said, "Please… No flash photography. It's still daylight, and perfect for your camera to take photos…"

As she talked, the boat sailed off, as Emma yelled, "HEY! COME BACK! Come back, you idiots! I am trapped all alone on this island! HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" She dropped to her knees, exhausted from screaming. She sighed, "Come on…"

Lilia asked, "Say… Any idea what that was?"

Momoka said, "Must be one of the natives on the island."

Emma was grumbling, as she was pacing near the ocean. She growled, "Stupid tour boats… They said a couple days, but… Dammit! I wanna go home! I want the orb for myself! This isn't fair!" She turned to the forest, and she whispered, "I know Anri's mad at me… but who cares? I'm not going to let her share the wealth. None of that Share the Wealth crap for me. But how am I going to get home? I wanted to show off my find… and get more money out of it. The note said that if I returned it, I would be rewarded handsomely. However… if I show up for just myself, and have people witness my discovery, I'd make a fortune, even bigger than that guy's measly reward. Maybe twice as much, ten times, twenty… I could be a billionaire!" She cackled, as she was being greedy, "Just imagine… I'm gonna be rich… and I don't need Anri!" She paused and sobbed, "Only… … … How on earth am I going to go home?"

Meanwhile, Anri was coming to, with her face badly bruised. She limped away, looking to find Emma. She groaned, "Emma… Where are you… Emma?"

She was tired and ragged, after Emma beat her up.

Emma decided to find refuge, until someone comes back for her. She walked through the dark forest, clutching the orb into her chest, and the wailing ghost girl started to haunt her. "You're dooooooooooomed… Dooooooooooomed…"

Emma shut her eyes, wincing in fear, "Please… Get me out of here… I wanna go home…"

Anri was on the other side of the island, while Emma was walking through the forest. Anri grumbled, "When I get my hands on Emma… Ow, my head…" She was freed from the orb's influence, at least for now. The orb was still under control of Emma.

They suddenly met in the middle of the island, and Anri was stunned, "EMMA!"

Emma slinked back, "IMPOSSIBLE! You're still alive?"

"Yeah!"

SOCK!
She socked her her face, dropping the orb. Emma fell hard, and Anri roared, strangling her, "I'LL TEACH YOU TO LEAVE ME TO DIE!"

"WAIT, IT'S ME!" Emma pleaded, as Anri stopped. "What are you doing?"

"I don't know… Last thing I remembered, I saw the orb… and we suddenly had a change of–."

"THE ORB!" Emma cried, "WHERE IS IT?"

The orb was rolling away into the fields, and Anri yelled, "HURRY! GRAB THAT ORB!"

Emma cried, "MINE!" Anri yelled, "No, mine! I mean… JUST GET THE DAMN THING!"

They ran after it, and the orb suddenly fell into a small pit. Emma shivered in fear, as she moaned, "Oh, boy… Now we're gonna get it. Where the hell are we, this time?"

"Damned if I know!" She struggled to stand, "Emma… You have to get the orb. I don't know what is going on here, but…"

"You're telling me. My mind went blank, and everything I remembered was gone… and when my eyes opened, I saw you… about to kill me."

"Because you tried to kill me, first!"

"I did?"

"Wait…" Anri was concerned, "You don't think… that this orb… The orb is cursed? It's controlling us?"

Emma said, "I don't know… but…"

Just then, a skeletal warrior appeared, as Emma cried, "Oh, crap! That thing, again!"

It picked up the orb, and then slowly walked away. Emma cried, "NO!"

Anri roared, "AFTER IT!" She armed herself with the machete, and Emma sobbed, "I… I dropped mine…"

Anri sighed, as she called, "Hey, bonehead!" The undead skeleton stopped, as Anri cried, "Give it back! It's ours!"

The skeleton hissed, "Yoooooou… cannnnnnot… have iiiiiiiit…"

Anri yelled, "We were ordered to get the orb back, and we're not leaving without it!"

Emma called, "Yeah! Give it back, you novelty decoration phony!"

The skeleton put the orb away and unleashed its sword. Anri and the skeleton fought, clashing blade to blade. Emma was scared, retreating to behind a rock. She cheered on, as Anri was slashing at the ribcage of the warrior. She kicked down the warrior, splitting into pieces. But suddenly, it rebuilt itself back whole. Anri was annoyed, "No way…"

Emma cried, "It's like a dead turtle! …uh, skeleton thing…" She waved, "ANRI! GET THE ORB!"

Anri and the skeleton clashed again, as Emma snuck off, heading to the orb. She grabbed it, without looking, and wrapped it with her blouse. She sighed, as she called, "Anri! Hurry!"

Anri swiped down, but the skeleton pushed her back and roared. It headed towards Emma. Anri shouted, "EMMA!"

Emma ran, but she tripped down, spraining her ankle. Anri shrieked, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The warrior lunged hard, and Anri shoved Emma out of the way.

STAB!
Anri was stabbed in the chest, and she gagged, "URGH! Agh!"

Emma shouted, "ANRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" She put the orb down, and grabbed the shotgun. She fired at the skeleton, blowing its head off. But the bullets were of no effect. The skeleton cackled and lunged at her, but Emma swung the shotgun at the skull, knocking it off completely, in a huge hit. The skull went flying, and the warrior's headless bone body was reduced to bones. Emma sobbed, as she dropped the shotgun. Anri was lying on the ground, bleeding… and Emma went to her. Emma whimpered, "Anri…"

Anri smiled, and she held her hand. She whispered, "Emma… I'm… glad y-you… saa…" She drew one final gasp for air, and then died from the wound. Emma sobbed, and she held Anri's dead body, crying. Emma whimpered, "No… Don't leave me… I love you… Nooooo… Anriiiiiiiiiii… No… Nooooo!"

All she could do was cry, knowing that she lost Anri, after she saved her life, and that she fought back to get the orb in protection. She picked up the blade and put it over her back. She then proceeded to dig up a grave for her.

Minutes later, Anri was buried with a makeshift wooden cross on top. Emma sniffled, as she picked up the orb and said, "I'm sorry, Anri… I'll make it up to you. I'll find a way out of here… and we'll be together again, someday…"

Emma wept, as she clutched the orb in her arms. After that, she traveled around the island, looking for the dock, where she and Anri arrived. Sadly, she was so hung up over Anri's death that she forgot where it was.

Night fell, and Emma was tiring out, holding onto the orb, and feeling exhausted. "I don't… know how… much of this… I can take…" She moaned, about to wear herself out. She suddenly saw a light. She gasped, as she saw a flame on a torch.

"A person!" The flame was moving a bit, and she cried, moaning and limping, "Hey! Heyyyy! Wait…"

She dashed off, heading to the light. She saw a figure in the darkness, and she was crying out for help. She then said to the figure, "Wait! W-Wait… Please… Help me!"

The figure turned around, and Emma was shocked. She saw a woman, as she said, "The orb… Do you have it?"

Emma was shaken, as she said, "Who are you?"

The woman was in the shadows, as she said, "You have what I wanted… Give me the orb."

Emma was stunned, "You… You? You're the woman that–? The note… I'm sorry… but… This orb, it's–."

"I have been searching for that orb for years… many years… and I couldn't find it. I was ready to give up, until I learned that no one came for my rescue. But at least I had to survive… until the day of my death…"

Emma sobbed, "You can't have it… It's mine. I wanna know… The note… the message, bringing us here… and Anri… She… I tried to help, but… she saved my life… I can't give it to you." She asked her, "Was it you that sent us here?"

The woman nodded, "Yes…"

"What?"

"Like I said, if you give me the orb, I will reward you proudly. Just do as I tell you… and I will help you leave this island…"

The woman went closer, and Emma clutched it tightly. She wept, "No…" She ran off, screaming, "NO!"

She ran into the forest, as the woman said, "YOU'LL BE BACK! YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE THIS ISLAND, ALIVE!"

Emma ran. She was scared, as she was holding onto the orb in her arms. She wept, as she was lying near a tree, "She's trying to kill me… That's what! That orb… What does she want with it? Does she want all the credit?" She opened the wrapping and viewed the orb. She sniffled, "Mine… It's mine… She can't have it… She can't." She covered it, and went off to find a secure hiding place. She looked around and said, "She's not chasing me. That's a relief. But… I fear what may happen."

Something was amiss. Emma looked behind her and said that the lady should've chased after her. But she didn't.

"But… what would she want with the orb?" She walked off, as she held the orb tightly, "Anri's dead… and I'm all alone… and no one's coming to save us." She was puzzled, as she saw another boat with the same tour guide, with a boy relaxing with another girl. "That tour guide's no help. I'd offer to call her, but she's too busy…"

The boat sailed away, and she was too exhausted to try and call for help. She walked down the forest, and she sniffled, "Anri…"

"You're doooooomed…" The ghostly voice called.

Emma walked off in a fast manner, as she was clutching on tightly, "No… No more…" She kept hearing the voices, as she cried, "Please stop…"

She ran off, and headed back to where Anri was. Emma kneeled down and sniffled, "I can't do it… I don't want the orb anymore… not after what happened. But why would she want the orb, in the first place? She never explained. Anri… Please help me…"

She placed the orb down onto her grave and whispered, "Give me a sign…"

The orb started to shine, as Emma gasped. "What the–? What's going on?"

A hand stuck out of the dirt, as Anri slowly dug out of the grave. Emma winced, as she sobbed in delight, "A-A-Anri?"

Anri emerged from her dirt tomb, but suddenly, voices were heard. Skeletal people appeared from the woods, as they were hollering in a demonic cry. Emma sobbed, "What the–? Wait! Anri… The orb… It's… It's bringing her back! Please, spare us! Anri's alive! This orb… I get it now! It can revive the dead!"

They were closer, as Emma went to Anri, who was pale and cold. Emma pleaded, "Anri… We have to go! We have to escape!"

"Nooooooo esssscaaaape…" A ghost murmured. Another cried, "Yoooooou… are dooooooooooooomed…" And another called, "Yoooooooou're deaaaad…"

She was surrounded. Emma sobbed, "I don't understand… The orb, it can bring people back to life! Anri's alive! Please… don't hurt us!"

Anri grabbed her shoulder and said, as her eyes were red and dry, "You don't get it… Emma…" She hissed, as her skin was deteriorating, "The orb.. … …You shouldn't have… touched it…"

"Anri? No… Snap out of it! You're back to life! You're alive!"

"No… You killed me…" Anri hissed, as she went to her, "Yoooooou killlllllllled meeeeeeeee…"

Emma sobbed, as she dropped down. The skeletons grabbed her arms, and Anri hissed and gagged, moaning in a demonic tone. Emma wept, "No… Not you, too… Please! Let me go!" She struggled to break free, but she couldn't. "Please don't…" She wept tears from her eyes and pleaded, "I love you…"

Anri smiled, "I know…"

She lunged at her, and Emma shrieked, being devoured by the undead zombie of her former lover.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The next morning, everything on the island was quiet. The woman from before picked up the orb, where Emma & Anri were, and held it in her arms.

"They never learn… And here I thought you'd be honest enough to take the orb away. But instead, you went greedy… You both shall rest…" She left with the orb in her hands, and disappeared into the mist. The orb, on the other hand, returned back to its rightful spot, inside the ruins, in the middle of the island.

This orb, as you see here, was used by the undead forces, a main treasure to this island. It was their sole duty to protect the orb from falling into the wrong hands. If the orb ever leaves the island, the ghouls and creatures would be gone, as does the island, which will be lost in darkness. However, in its long history, no one was able to bring the orb out of the island. All those that sailed to discover the mysterious orb… perished. No one survived, and no one returned.
Even so, those that touched the orb cannot dare leave the island, as they are drawn to its power.

A boat arrived at the dock, as two women appeared from the boat. The same tour guide, from before, called out, "SHORE LEAVE!" She giggled, "Sorry. I always wanted to say that."

One girl with blonde hair huffed, "Not funny."

A girl with brown hair said, "Manami, focus. We have a lot of work to do."

Reina and Manami stepped out, as the tour guide called, "Watch your step." She prepared, "Be careful on your way through The Island of Fortune. I shall return in a couple days for pickup. Thank you for choosing Angelic Tours, your one-way getaway tour. Please remember, if you choose any other tour than us… … …what the hell were you thinking?" She sailed off, as Reina said, "Welp, let's get started. I got the map and note of where we can locate the lost treasure."

Manami snickered, "Cool! Let's do this."

As Reina and Manami head off to find the orb, just as how Emma & Anri did, the tour guide that was sailing away let out a devious smirk. Her glasses shone in a gleam, revealing undead demonic eyes. The tour guide was a zombie, as well. And the island welcomed two new victims for their "treasure hunt". Heather appeared from the dock, as she said to the audience. "This is The Island of Fortune… a vast area full of supernatural waves and beings. Population: zero. It is teeming with the all-known entity known as "The Undead". And if you ever pay for a unique tour group known as "Angelic Tours", then tread at your own safety. Angelic Tours is indeed a one-way getaway tour, traveling the greatest vacation of your life… hence the word "One-Way"."

Inside the dark forest, two zombies were limping around the forest, making guttural noises. It was Emma and Anri. They were moaning, as they were limping through the darkness.
"Yoooooooooooo're… doooooooooomed…"
"Dooooooooooooooooooomed…"

(Heather): For any daring adventurers out there, if you ever want to discover this island… Please remember this…

Emma lunged at the 4th wall, howling demonically, about to bite at their victims.

(Heather): What the hell were you thinking?

Special thanks to IcebatofValikinRRBZ8 for the help with the story idea!

NO dateable girls from Genius Bishoujo were harmed in the filming of this Tale of the Bizarre

Good night… wherever you are…