Puffing like crazy I tried desperately to catch up to Charlie and Tim. Squirrel and Nick had already reached the huge iron gates of the Braden estate and were trying to open them and I was scared stiff that I was going to be left behind.
I looked over my shoulder terrified the heinous apparition that had spooked us in the passageway would appear at any moment.
I couldn't wait to get out of here my body was still shaking from those demons poking me. My body felt strange had they really changed me into an alien? I looked down at my quivering legs, was I about to morph into one of those creatures? I despaired.
I called out to Charlie and Tim to wait however my voice was lost in the now howling wind whipping through the trees swaying dangerously all around me. I tried to run faster but my legs buckled beneath me and I fell painfully onto the stone cobblestones of the ancient carriageway.
Suddenly Cessiro emerged out of the darkness and I struggled to my feet hoping to escape.
Imperiously he commanded the hordes of 'Bone Crushers' pushing their way through the bushes to capture us.
We had no hope and within seconds we were dragged unmercifully before Cessiro.
I trembled as the piercing eyes of the older gang members by his side glowed red, their faces contorting with delight as I shriveled under the intensity of their gaze
Anxiously I looked among them for Hunk however he was nowhere to be seen.
I felt the pangs of betrayal. Had my best friend led me here tonight knowing what was to happen?
Cessiro's mocking laugh rang out as he looked directly at me...did he know what I was thinking?
"You, fat one, follow me!" Cessiro ordered as with a wave of his hand the massive gates grated open.
Fearfully I fell in behind Cessiro and my friends dutifully followed us through the gates.
I could hear the protesting cries of those kids from school as the older gang members forced them to walk behind us. Scared I exchanged glances with Charlie and Tim as I dragged my unwilling feet up the steep dirt road that led to the ruins of the ancient city.
The pelting rain had made a mud bath of the old dirt road and I struggled to keep up the grinding pace Cessiro set us. Miserable and afraid I listened to Squirrel and Nick whispering about being aliens and how our parents must belong to the 'Secret Society of Crines'. Soon Charlie and Tim were agreeing with them making me angry, I didn't want to believe that I was an alien.
Everything was happening too fast it was like a bad dream.
Nick flicked his knife in amusement at Pudge's anger. Unlike Pudge he was unperturbed at having alien genes. He thought it kind of cool for his macho image and was eager to learn more. Funny though, he thought, this Awakening thing hadn't made him feel any different than before. Shrugging his shoulders he walked past Pudge and fell in beside Cessiro determined that he would notice him.
Puffing from the effort to keep up with Cessiro I had little breath left and said nothing as I watched Nick walk past and sidle up to Cessiro. It was all I could do not to scream at Squirrel walking beside me his clicking tongue was driving me crazy.
Squirrels excitement at being an alien was nuts! Charlie and Tim were no better they seemed no longer afraid of what was going to happen to us. .
I saw Cessiro look over his shoulder with a smug expression on his face he seemed to be enjoying my confusion. His steely gaze however told me in no uncertain terms that I was to accept my destiny.
I averted my eyes and shuddered. Oh, great! Now I am not just a fat kid.... but a fat alien! I moaned despairingly
I walked on in silence thankful that the wind and rain had stopped and moonlight now lit the way ahead. The road was getting steeper and my boots were heavy with mud making my legs ache and I wished I were anywhere but here.
Just ahead I could see the ghostly outline of the ancient city silhouetted against the moonlit sky. I shivered with fear, why was Cessiro taking us there?
The sound of howling dingoes' close-by gave me the heebie-jeebies and I slowed to a crawl I didn't want to go any further. Legend had it that if they crossed your path you were damned to a life of hell.
Tim nudged me forward and grudgingly I walked on listening to him raving on about flying saucers taking us away, and changing us into monsters with two heads that ate humans.
"Hey Pudge, do you reckon Cessiro is taking us to greet the flying saucer that is waiting to zap us to another planet?" Tim asked me eagerly.
I couldn't believe that he was serious.
"Shut up Tim!" demanded Charlie; "You're beginning to piss me off. Put a sock in it you idiot!"
Bloody Tim, now he'd started it. Charlie thought angrily. Idiot! Couldn't he see that his crazy talk had gotten Squirrel all excited again? He groaned with exasperation as he saw Squirrel's nose beginning to twitch. Bloody hell, you'd think by now Tim knew not to carry on in front of Squirrel. Grumbling he waited for that horrible clicking sound. Sure enough Squirrel's tongue began clicking so loudly that he wanted to strangle him.
"You know guys I always thought that I was an alien!" declared Squirrel, his tongue clicking madly as he strutted pompously in front of us.
"Yeah, that explains why you look like a squirrel!" replied Charlie sarcastically pushing him out of the way.
I sighed listening to them squabbling again. I was sick of all their bullshit! I just want to be me! I lamented.
Suddenly out of nowhere three enormous dingoes appeared snarling menacingly at Cessiro. Without a word he vanished into thin air leaving Nick to face them alone.
My insides flipped and I gasped as the larger of the dingoes paused at Nick's feet. The huge furry beast let out a ground-shaking howl of recognition before turning its head toward a shadowy figure silhouetted by the moonlight nearby.
With what looked like a stern nod from the ghostly specter, the other two dingoes sniffed at Nick and encircled him. Howling in unison they then disappeared into the night.
Shaking, the five of us ran ignoring the gang's cries behind us to stop.
My friends reached the large wooden gates of the ancient city before me. Mysteriously they began to open and they disappeared from sight. Anxiously I ran after them into the ruins of the ancient city.
My heart raced as I felt the hollowed eyes of strange beastlike statues lining the entryway watching me. I shuddered and ducked for cover inside the strange crumbling walls of the building beside me.
Suddenly an eerie glow illuminated an archway embellished with crystallized twisted snakes ablaze from a mysterious light. A soft humming sound emanated through it rendering me helpless to resist its call. No longer did I have a will of my own as the sound carried me forward through the blazing archway to a courtyard encircled by the same mysterious beastlike statues.
Mesmerized I stared at the enormous glasslike moon centered in the marbled floor as it pulsated to the rhythm of the mysterious hum.
The lagging gang member's footsteps snapped me out of my stupor and I watched them silently file past me. Their heads bowed in reverence they circled the glass like moon three times before walking on to the edge of the cliff beyond.
I felt an arm slip around my shoulders. it was Hunk!
I gasped and Hunk signaled me to be quiet. Firmly he took my arm and led me to the cliffs edge where our friends stood beside Cessiro watching the hordes of gang members lay prone at his feet.
Alarmed I felt the ground beneath me shudder violently as the large moon imbedded in the floor of the courtyard turned crimson and parted. Rays of dazzling light streamed forth as a shimmering crystal obelisk rose through the parted moon from deep within the bowels of Apogee Mountain.
Cessiro stepped forward, his arms outstretched to the heavens above as an energy force emanated from the obelisk sending rays of blinding light far into the outer limits of the Universe.
Amidst the blinding light Swasie appeared a glowing crystal
rod in his hand and with a blood-curdling cry, plunged it deep into the abyss from whence the obelisk came.
Immediately Swasie's eyes glazed over as the force of energy penetrated his body transforming him into a state of absolute nullification. His body, now an empty vessel, awaited the creature that had been imprisoned for centuries to infiltrate his human form.
Swasie's body began to rise and encircle the monolith, slowly rotating until it hovered over the 39th degree of the blood red moon's axis. His body shuddered violently as it morphed into the beastly creature Tuloosa. Hissing fiercely his forked tongue spat forth the juices of devilment. Their minds now as one Tuloosa acknowledged his acceptance of the Scribe of Unity.
The peace treaty with the hierarchy of the Crines was now completed. The forces of evil would be united at the Time of the 'Holy Universal Mathematical Equation of Thirty Nine', 'Moon Harvest.'
Cessiro stepped forward commanding Tuloosa to abandon Swasie's body. The heavens exploded in fury, sending thunderbolts that split the dark sky, unleashing the evil spirit of Tuloosa, who was now set free to forever walk upon the earth.
The spell that had imprisoned Tuloosa for centuries was now broken and he stood tall by Swasie's side acknowledging to him their secret alliance before vanishing into the night.
Swasie stood before us reveling in the success of his mission as the crystal Obelisk slowly descended into its secret chamber deep within the bowels of Apogee Mountain.
Cessiro observing the unspoken pact between Tuloosa and Swasie let known his supremacy. Proclaiming his allegiance to a higher power, he called upon the spirits of his ancestors.
Instantly black demon-like creatures flew around his head and incarnating into human form stood by his side.
Defiantly Cessiro faced Swasie, challenging him. The battle between them had begun.
Wild dingoes began to howl and a mysterious figure watched in the distance. I ran, too afraid to look back.