Chapter 37: Into the Hornets' Nest
We rejoin the gang in the midst of some very uncouth surroundings. Luckily they managed to blend in with the witches and stuck to the status quo. After noticing the large amount of witches that were beginning to gather around them Ruby ushered them all into a dark alley.
"Okay guys, I think us all being in one big group together is gonna attract some unwanted attention. I say we split up into two groups and look for clues then once we found anything we get the other group and all go together." Skull Boy stated.
"I don't know, wouldn't that just be twice as dangerous and take more time?" said Frank skeptically.
"Besides even if we do find Zaí how do we know we're not walking into a trap?" Iris added.
"Ooh! Ooh!" Len exclaimed waving his arm.
"Len, you've got an idea?"
"Yeah, what if instead of all of us splitting up small groups of us go out there at different times while the rest of us remain hidden away?" he explained whilst everyone looked somewhat shocked.
"Why Len that is a truly capital idea." Poe said enthusiastically.
"Thanks, I think."
"Ok how about me, Iris and Scaredy go first, then Frank, Len and Poe and finally Ruby and Doom." Skull Boy suggested to the group.
"If going first means that the danger is over quicker, I am reluctantly on board." said Scaredy.
"That's the spirit Scaredy!" exclaimed Ruby.
With that being said Skull Boy, Scaredy and Iris left their hiding place to search for any clues towards the indications of where Zaí was being kept.
The town itself was rather bleak to say the least. The sky was overcast and cloudy just like Gloomsville but the buildings were all grey and lacked any form of joy. The odd witch or two passed them by taking no notice of their disguises. I was correct about them not being traditional pointy hat and broomstick witches, they all looked darker with macabre makeup and long dresses, cloaks with fancy boots and stockings since the weather wasn't really too warm.
"Perhaps we shou venture someplace less crowded?" Scaredy suggested.
"Good thinking." Skull Boy replied as they searched around an entire neighborhood of the town, but found no indication that Zaí was anywhere in there. Iris spied a map of the town at a kiosk and managed to swipe it inconspicuously. After double checking they returned to the alley to share their knowledge, as soon as they returned they divided the map into three quadrants.
"We looked all the way from here to here" Iris pointed at the map "but no sign of where they're keeping Zaí." Iris said.
"Well it's not like they're not gonna disguise it, since they're not expecting anyone to come here in the first place." Frank stated.
"Is it already time for Plan B?" Len asked.
"Not yet, we've only searched one quadrant of the town. If we look through the other two and then maybe we'll get a clue." Ruby reassured her friends.
"Whose turn is it now?" Len asked again. "Ours and Poe" his brother informed him.
"I suggest we mosey, you never know how we may turn heads or just how suspicious these witches may be." Poe encouraged the boys.
Frank, Len and Poe then headed away from the area that Skull Boy, Scaredy and Iris had already searched for another quadrant.
They searched high and low for any sign of the prison but although the section of the map was detailed it wasn't enough to lead them to my rescue, especially since Poe's aerial options were null and void due to the high pressure situation.
After they returned to the gang empty-handed, the rest of the plan continued with Ruby and Doom venturing into the crowded streets to search the remaining area.
Since Ruby was dressed like a witch and black cats are the ideal pet for witches they blended right in, although most other witches weren't accompanied by cats.
"Keep an eye out for anything suspicious looking Doom, and stick close ok?" Ruby told her pet.
Doom simply nodded, her loyalty to Ruby was unbreakable. To Doom, Ruby was more than just her caretaker, she loved her like a mother.
"We've gotta keep a low profile, cuz if we're busted I have a bad feeling that Zaí might not be the only one who's on their way to disaster." Ruby stated almost dreading what could befall them.
Just then Doom saw something and used her musical voice to get her owners attention.
"What's up Doom?" she followed where her paw pointed and let out a gentle gasp "Could it really be?"
Doom pointed towards a building that stood out like a sore thumb, it was made of iron with security guards everywhere. The windows had bars on them and there was smoke billowing from the chimney.
"If that's not where Zaí is being held prisoner then I don't know what is. I don't know how we're going to get in there but we're not leaving without her come on we've got to let everyone know."
They made their way back through the streets to inform their friends of their discovery.
"We're getting close now Doom, I can feel it, Zaí will be free in no time."
Back in the alley Skull Boy couldn't help but worry.
"Ruby, please be safe." Skull Boy said to himself.
"What was that Skull Boy?" asked Len from nearby while Poe was sharing what they saw with Iris and Scaredy.
"Um, nothing." he said nervously.
"No offence, but it didn't really sound like nothing to me."
"I was just worrying about Ruby out there by herself."
"She's not by herself, Doom's with her."
"Well yeah, but most often it's Ruby protecting Doom, not the other way around.
"Is there a reason why you're worried?" Len asked in a probing way.
"I just really hope she'll be back soon."
"Is it because you like her?" Frank asked joining the conversation since he was paying attention to both.
"Of course I like her."
"Yeah, but I meant like, like like her. As in a more than a friend kind of way?"
Skull Boy was lost for words, should he be honest? because he could deny it all he wanted but it wouldn't change anything. Decided.
"Ok yes, Ruby's always been special but I guess whenever I'm with her I feel like maybe I'm special too, like I know where I belong. I might never figure out my lineage or who I was related too, but maybe instead of looking at the past I should maybe try to think about how the future looks, You get what I'm saying?"
"Wow, that was pretty enthralling." said Frank half in awe.
"Hey Frank you think we should tell him?" Len asked his brother.
"Tell me what?" Skull Boy asked.
"Well, we might as well now, since you're probably not going to stop asking about it." He cleared his throat but made sure Skull Boy was the only one in ear shot.
"Ruby likes you in a loving way too."
Skull Boy was shocked at first but curious.
"Is that true? How did you find out?"
"It was that time Ruby suggested that we get into the hands of the people we were trying to write a song about for Quadrogloomia." Frank explains.
We ended up going into the heads of Misery, Iris, Doom and Ruby, all the girls really. Well except for Zaí but we didn't know her yet." Len added on.
"When we were in Ruby's head we saw a bunch of hearts when she was looking at you, we could piece together what it was."
"Wow, that's really real, you're not kidding, Ruby likes me." Skull Boy then looked determined and fastened the brim on his fedora.
"I'm not gonna deny it anymore guys, I'll tell her the next chance I get. Preferably once Zaí is free."
"Smart." Frank answered.
"Guys, guys." Ruby said returning to the gang. "We did it, Doom found where Zaí is being kept."
"Great job Doom" said Iris petting the proud feline.
"We'll need to stay inconspicuous but if we move fast we can get there in no time." Ruby explained.
"I suppose we come up with a plan to get in after we arrive?" Poe asked.
"You've got it Poe, come on let's get moving."
"Hooray, more sneaking around in a place we are unwelcome." Scaredy added in a scared but sarcastic sort of way.
With that they left the alley behind and set off to come and save me.
Unbeknownst to the gang, Misery and my mom were closer than I had anticipated.
They were nearing the end of the passageway and had now approached a light shining from above that led to the surface.
"Is that what I think it is?" Misery asked my mom.
"Indeed my child. We have reached the Lake of Zombies." she said wistfully.
"Umm, so do we have a game plan going in? If not I could easily improvise, I've gotten better at it."
"Entering the forbidden city isn't going to be easy, but if we do so inconspicuously I believe we can find my daughter."
"It's our only chance now." Misery said digging into her bag and pulling out her disguise cloak and throwing it on over her head. "Please tell me you packed some kind of disguise." She asked worried. Zerelda then brought out a black hooded cloak similar to hers.
"Let's go." We're the only words to escape from Misery's lips before she began her ascent up the ladder prepared to enter the belly of the beast.
Luckily the manhole they came through wasn't in a populated area so they easily managed to climb out and disappear into an alley leaving no evidence by returning the cover over the hole. After that they took off towards the heart of the town.
Looking for a zombie in a city overrun by witches would be like finding a needle in a haystack, which I think would be pretty dangerous, if you don't know where the needle is how do you know you won't get pricked by it?
Either way both of these destinies would intertwine soon, and unbeknownst to everyone, the unthinkable was about to happen.
(Dun dun dun! This'll probably be the final chapter of travel before all hell breaks loose, in the next chapter paths will cross, keep going readers, there's a light at the end of this tunnel!)