Chapter 13: Getting Help PT. 2

Summary:

The group learns some unfortunate news.

The rebuilding was going okay. Some of the bricks refused to place, even after smothered in a thick, glue-like substance.

Though the houses were small, and the bricks jagged like puzzle pieces, they were quite annoying to fix together.

Amity sighed with annoyance, using abomination arms to quite literally smash the bricks together. Nothing else seemed to be working for her.

In a sickly sweet kind of way, she was reminded of her first week in this place. She hadn't thought about it, but now that she did…

Is there any way to really get back home ?

The blocks hit each other with a loud click , and then she set them aside to pick up new ones.

Amity really hoped she wouldn't be stuck in this place for much longer. Bugs got under her skin, almost everything wanted to eat her, and they were way more vicious than-

Click .

-the deadly things from the Boiling Isles.

The Boiling Isles' creatures were just… their resemblance and eating habits, it was so unlike the things here.

Click.

The rythmic clicking was comforting to her, reminding her she had something to occupy her hands with while also letting her mind wander. But, the last time she'd done that with abomination goop, Marcy had lost a leg.

Click.

It wasn't even quite her fault, if she thought about it… right?

Click .

But if it wasn't her fault, why did she feel bad? Why did her stomach clench with pity and embarrassment every time she spotted Marcy's prosthetic? Did she even know? Yes , a voice in the back of her head whispered, It's my fault.

Click.

She had driven herself to the edge of life and death with pure exhaustion alone. Mistakes would happen.

Click.

Thunk.

"What the-" Amity cut herself off, staring as the bricks she'd just clicked together broke in half and a strange hard material was visible. It looked like obsidian.

"That's strange."

"HSHEVHEUDHUEH-!" Amity exclaimed, jolting with fear when a goblin man suddenly appeared beside her.

"Oh, my bad. I didn't know the bricks could break like this." He looked older than a lot of the others, a cane in one hand. "Doc told me to gather you up. He has news." As the old guy turned to leave when Amity stopped him.

"Wait. Is it good news?"

He hesitated before saying "You should hear for yourself."

Amity's heart jumped with anxiety. She followed the man to a place where Sasha sat on the ground beside a goblin-man wearing a white cloak.

Luz hugged Amity's arm as she got closer, standing beside Willow and Hunter. Gus, Anne, and Marcy stood closer to Sasha.

They all looked the same level of scared.

The doctor turned to address the group, clearing his throat and putting his two-fingered hands into his pockets.

"Your friend here has been bitten by a dangerous bug," He began, "I've seen this injury countless times. Rarely does it react to the body in a good way."

Marcy looked extremely anxious, her foot tapping subconsciously against the earth.

"The bug has infected her with a venom that spreads quickly. It manipulates the mind and body, forcing it to change and become a beast. We could cut the bite off, but…" He sighed, "We've already wasted too much time. The venom has spread to the bloodstream already."

"What?! What does that mean?" Sasha hissed.

"You have three days."

"Three days until what?" Amity asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Doc hesitated. "Three days until your friend here loses control of her own mind and body." Sasha went pale.

"But- we- we can stop it, right?" Marcy urged desperately. Doc shook his head.

"She'll grow and shift into a creature of pure evil, and then go on a rampage until killed."

Sasha looked down at her feet, shuffling them with pure disbelief on her face.

"So there's… no way to change her back?" Gus wondered aloud.

Doc hesitated again. "Well…"

Amity felt a small glimmer of hope.

"It's only been done once or twice, but there's two ways. Some history books from the library talk of a power that, once obtained, can cure any sickness and kill any enemies. But that power was sealed a long time ago, I don't know if you have the strength to open it again."

Doc gave Sasha's knee a little pat.

"We've experimented with the bug before, and we think that, while there is no cure, the thing infected can still hear and see everything happening before them. So if you try there is a slimchance that she will regain parts of control over her body again. But it's very, very slim."

"So we just… wait..?" Sasha seemed empty, hopeless, her skin white as paper with the venom sticking out sorely.

"Not in the village. I suggest you go far from this place. But thank you so much for helping our town." Doc offered a smile.

Oum stood beside Camila and Bee, wearing a suit of armor and a type of weapon she had no name for on her wrist. They together were in front of a machine that, hopefully, would create a portal strong enough to get them through.

"You know what you're there for," Mr. X started, "And we have both trackers and an emergency button on your suits. The button gives us an alarm to tell us when to bring you back."

Oum nodded, anticipation rising in her gut as she locked hands with Bee and Camila.

"There's also communication systems, but they may not work with the world switch so be careful."

Mr. X stepped aside. "Besides that, I think you're ready. On the count of three. When I say three, run to the portal."

Terri put on their sunglasses and hit a button that turned the machine on.

"ONE!" Everybody but the three parents and the Collector stepped aside.

"TWO!" The Collector used his powers, strengthening the portal with all his might.

"THREE!"

Oum, Bee, and Camila took off, hands locked together, and ran head-first into the portal.

Oum couldn't see anything but a bright, blinding white light for a solid minute, it felt like her stomach was doing cartwheels.

Finally, she fell on some soft, sweet-smelling grass, landing on her belly and taking a second to breathe. Bee fell beside her, and Camila in front of her, landing with a grunt.

Oum could hear the portal shiver and shut down behind them. She sighed with relief and looked up.

She was on a cliff, overlooking a massive city surrounded by water.

Camila rolled over on her stomach and stood, backing up from the edge of the cliff.

"Where are we?" She gasped, bewildered.

Oum stood as well and helped Bee to his feet.

"I think we're in Amphibi-land." He said, wobbling for a second before standing straight.

"But where are all the frog-people?" Oum turned around and saw a grassy field. Further away were some tents, injured soldiers within and what seemed to be doctors pacing around. Closer to them was what seemed to be a house on wheels, a huge purple snail attached to the reins.

The door of the wagon house slammed open and out ran three frogs. One bright pink, one smaller and a duller pink, and the third an orange frog following them slower.

"Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy?!" Sprig called, taking the leap and crashing into Oum with a hug. "What are you doing here?!"

Polly tackled Bee to the ground, headbutting him affectionately.

"Is Anne with you?!" Sprig let go of Oum and beamed up at her, looking around hastily. By now Hop-pop and some of the other surrounding amphibians had started to gather around.

"She's not here?" Oum asked, blinking down at the boy.

"She's not with you?" Sprig asked a moment later, not missing a beat.

"She hasn't been since she left to settle things here. We thought she got stuck." Anne's mother felt worried.

Hop-pop's eyes rounded as he walked in on the conversation.

"Well," He tried, "I'm sure she's alright. She's stubborn and skilled, whatever comes her way will be sure to back off."

Oum sighed. She really hoped that was true.