The Ogre

Stepping in, they took in a deep breath of frankincense. The walls were lined with stone angels. A closer look saw they were the ones singing soft melodies.

Despite being their first day and hella creeped out, neither of the girls ran out. Something else caught their eye. A giant shiny treasure chest on stage. It was just like a video game where it was begging to be opened.

Mina's eyes grew big as she crawled up onto the stage. Leira was a bit scared given that it was in a church and not theirs. Yet she hopped on anyways to stand by Mina.

Opening the chest revealed a heap of gold for their taking. Mina placed her hands in the gold-filled chest. It began racking up over 10,000 points for the two. Likewise, that sweet melody dimmed away.

Stomping shook the stage from an unknown distance. It appeared to be coming from near the entrance. The girls ran back stage to hide from the creature.

Large copper bells dangled above. The orchestra was that of a dark melancholy that visioned death for the two. Mina was practically crying her way up the stairs. Leira was dripping in sweat running ahead.

Angel statues watched from along the walls as the girls ran between the bells. The giant was surely more than enough to kill these girls for their sins.

The stomping came, kicking the door open. A 10-foot giant stomped his way up the stairs. He could smell the girls. His presence caused the girls to whimper.

They tried to run. Their heads knocked before a step was taken. It seemed as though they were walking in circles while being manipulated in a daze.

The ogre slammed his fists towards Mina. Andres swooped in time to block that attack and grab her out the way.

Five playing cards fly by, each hitting a different bell.

The bells' tune changed allowing Leira and the ferret to catch their footing and run alongside Andres.

The ogre spun around to face his opponent approaching from the rear.

Vanessa's bright green hair came right to his front. She landed a heavy strike into the ogre's gut. unbeknownst to the ogre, that was her second strike on it.

Its skin was thick enough to ignore the injury on its hip and gut. The ogre swung heavily with its fist.

With each parry with her sword, Vanessa stepped back. No matter how hard it tried, the ogre couldn't keep up.

A card struck the ogre's back, paralyzing it. Vanessa jumped down to a lower level as Dani shot the ogre with a blast of lightning.

Now immobilized, the ogre had fallen to a lower level.

Andres ran out with the two girls. He ordered Hakim and Jaivva to hold security on them as they ran to the train.

Vanessa, Logan, and Dani ran down the stairwell. The statues on the wall began rumbling throughout the church.

The statues burst out the walls with spears in hand. Some flew to the ogre while others attacked the trio.

Vanessa, Dani, and Logan had sliced and shot their way through the attacking angels while running out of the church.

Oaka insisted on departing when Andres got his group on the train. Jeff insisted no. Their teammates were clearly running in the forest.

Vanessa was running ahead. Logan was only a few feet behind her casting a number of spells to hold off the angels. Dani appeared to only be running in the far back.

Dani and Logan saw a magical enhancement in their abilities. The cause was unknown given there were no buffers in the team.

Regardless, the two took advantage. Logan spat out a series of fireballs whereas Dani shot out a giant ice explosion that froze most of the angels.

This little maneuver bought them enough time to make it to the trains safely.

Oaka got the doors closed and the train moving. Unfortunately, the statues had only continued to fly after the train.

Andres spoke up, "Well, only Dani has a gun and only Hakim and Logan are good enough with long-range magic".

Logan shook his head as Dani and Hakim ran to the rear and Andres sat guarding the girls. Even Vanessa and Jaivva patrolled the train, stabbing at all angels that came to the window.

"Logan!" called Jeff, staring out the window, "Help Dani and Hakim outside"!

Logan's sights were set on the two girls, "What did ya'll do anyway"?

Leira shook her head. He tilted his head towards Mina who was holding her breath with her eyes wide.

Mina answered with frequent sobs, "We opened a chest and got a bunch of player points".

Ignoring Jeff, Logan called a reality check. He took the points from Mina and Leira to level up the gingerbread men's magic.

"Take them out back!" yelled Logan.

"Bruh, why are you like this?" asked Jeff before sending the gingerbread men out back.

The gingerbread men marched from the front to the rear of the train.

"I want one," said the two girls.

They came to Dani's aid firing fireballs from their gumdrop-sweetened hands. The angels fell victim to the sweetened madness.

Hakim Head inside whereas Dani latched on to one, creating anime sparkles around her.

Mina and Leira attempted to walk towards the back with the gingerbread men only to be blocked by Logan. The girls whimpered until he asked Dani to come in. Vanessa made fun of him for being so stuck up. He bickered back while Dani spoke to the girls about their adventures.

Leira and Mina were still a bit confused about how things worked. They were saddened when Dani revealed that the game always changed into a different crazy theme that required them to figure it out.

They recalled being visited by an angel in the form of a giant cat and told to go to the top of the mountain to save Christmas.

"This could be a failed perception," said Logan.

But Dani noted how their journey is leading them to the top of the mountain. Therefore, it is likely either that the angel was genuine or that there is a trap.

"Alright then," said Jeff, "We will head to the top of the mountain and save what we hope is an angel".

With her eyes wide of innocence, Mina looked up at Jeff, "Can I hug a gingerbread man"?

Leira grinned, "Please"?

Jeff denied apologizing that they are needed to watch over The Santa Maria.

"The what," asked Mina.

Leira translated the name to "Saint Maria" and stated that it was the name of the train.

Jeff confirmed, "It was the name of my mom. It's a beautiful name. She has now left to sit up in heaven to watch over me and Dani and everything we do. Can't say I am anything less than blessed to have her as a mother and Jose as a father".

The two girls were saddened until they heard Dani say, "Override".

The gingerbread men rushed over to give the girls hugs. Mina screamed while her ferret jumped up on her shoulders and gave a few kisses.

Logan grinned, "If either of you needs to get something done, don't be scared to ask Dani. She is second in command and can override almost anything Jeff says".

Jeff got more pissed when Dani announced, "Logan is third in charge. Or like an admin and handles boring crap. So bombard him with all of the questions! Not me. Not Dani. Dani needs a break in life".

Mina and Leira paid little mind to what everyone was saying. They instead rested their heads to sleep.

Jeff was agitated from the ruckus and the bickering. It was Andres who calmed him down. Their job was only to escort the girls. As long as they were out of harm's way, they were fine.

Logan nodded towards Mina. Her outfit brought him a little joy. Jeff placed his remaining gingerbread men around the train, hoping they can beat anything that comes their way.