The Cursed Blessing: Chapter 5

 

The Cursed Blessing 

Chapter 5

  " How do you know if this, this guardians, are even real?" asked Sirena as he closed the door. 

   " Well Sirena, your mother did disappear without a trace, so, what they said has a chance to be true." he said grinning. 

"But, but, why me?" Sirena moaned. Chris became serious again. He held her shoulders and steered her to the door. 

" Sirena, I believe in you, and I have faith that all this will end. But it can only end if we try to fix it. I promise I will help you too." he tried to convince her.

"Alright." Sirena sighed and went out of the room. 

" Will you help us when we save the world from the zombie apocalypse?" Chris asked the guardians.

"Yes, of course." answered Jerold, immediately, not really hearing what Chris said.

" But there isn't a zombie apocalypse here is there? " added Sally drily. Sirena smiled as Jerold and Chris looked down at their feet awkwardly.  

     " I'll open the portal tomorrow. Now you should get rest, and the supplies. " Sally continued. 

     The next day, after gathering the necessary supplies, Chris and Sirena met the guardians in the deserted hall. Since Lord James and Lady Ella were away, the servants were taking a break. 

    "OK, let's go. Where to first? " asked Chris.

" The desert first, as you are not dressed in warm clothes. Sirena wore a short sleeved shirt, with her black boots. Chris wore a shirt and his sneakers. Both of them wore jeans.

    " Stand back," warned Jerold as Sally took out her wand. She waved it in the air, and said a few words under her breath. A portal opened up, leading to the desert. Chris was amazed.

    " Before you go, here are some things to guide you in your journey. We won't always be there, you know, " Sally said as she handed Chris a map and Sirena two vials of liquid. " This map will lead you to the necklace parts. Just follow the map until you reach the blackheart sign there." she pointed to a black heart on the map. 

     " The blue vial is your potions. Drink them when you are hurt and need energy. The green vial is for Sirena ONLY " she emphasized. "Give it to her when she is suffering. "she told Chris. " And lastly, this chain is the third part of the necklace. When you find the first part, put it on the chain. It will stop it from working evil." she added. 

     " Go on. Be careful. Take care of each other. " said Jerold. " And here's our last words of wisdom, NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS, remember that. I hope you make it back in one piece. Peace. " said Jerold as the guardians faded away with a golden flash.

     Sirena and Chris looked at each other. They took a deep breath and stepped into the Desert of Illusion. The portal disappeared behind them. They didn't know it yet, but they would be tested, in terms of friendship, bravery and courage. 

Sirena and Chris

                                                                         The map

                                                                         The blue vial

                                                                            The green vial

The chain

                                          I haven't done this in a long time...I can do it. I can do it.
                                                            ( Sally opening the portal)

      Sirena carefully put the vials in her backpack, along with the chain. Chris looked at the map, and started ahead while Sirena followed from behind, taking in the dry surroundings. ' Luckily, we have enough food and water to last us some days,' she thought.

      

      After a few hours of walking and seeing sand, sand, sand and more more more sand, Sirena grew tired. Not to mention hungry and thirsty. " Chris, can we please rest?" Chris agreed, and they flopped down on the sand. They ate sandwiches that Sirena had packed, and drank lots of water. They ate in silence.

      "Click. CLICK. ClIcK." Suddenly a mechanical sound was heard. Finishing the last of his sandwich, Chris brushed off the crumbs from his jeans and stood up, alarmed. He looked around for the source of the sound. Sirena spotted something and was shocked. She called him.

      "Chris. Look. At. That." she pointed to some bricks being stacked over each other. Sirena and Chris looked on, shocked. Seconds later, it formed a building. A sign hung from the door, saying,

NIWIS

             The dry and deserted scenery around them changed rapidly. Around them, many red brick houses appeared, with people jogging, walking, cycling and playing. It all looked similar except for the tall building. It was like a children's puzzle, pick the odd one out. 

      But as Sirena looked carefully, she spotted a bizarre occurrence.  Everyone looked like paper dolls. It looked like they stepped into a 2D drawing!

          And when they talked, speaking bubbles popped out of their mouth. The same was said for their thoughts. THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE IN A COMIC BOOK!

      While Sirena gaped at this, Chris was frowning at the NIWIS sign. He thought back to what the guardians had said. " Nothing is what it seems" echoed in his head. Suddenly, it all clicked together. 

     " I've got it! NIWIS stands for Nothing Is What It Seems!" he exclaimed.

      Before Sirena could answer, a 2D policeman wearing a police uniform and had slicked hair came to her and asked, " Hey you! Why aren't you like us?" 

      Again, Sirena didn't even answer before he continued on, " Come with me!" He slapped handcuffs on her hands, and pulled her away. Sirena yelled, and Chris turned. Sirena fell on the road and begged the policeman to let her go. She called Chris, but he just stood blinking. 

      Chris finally got back his senses, and started running after her. They reached a black cube building.

       Dreary 2D faces poked out of bars watched them enter. Chris rushed in to find Sirena seated on a 2D chair, waiting fearfully for someone. Sirena started to say something, then stopped, and pointed behind him. 

      Chris slowly turned behind, and found himself face-to-face with a not 2D Doctor Sharp. Doctor Sharp with his mean face, the one who did nothing to help Sirena earlier, the one who hated Sirena, was here. How did he follow them here? Nobody had the time to think about it though, he quickly seized Chris by his elbows and forced him into a prison cell.

      

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