Of Lights from Within: Part Four

Also by blubblub317

Maddi frowned, gawking at this so-called fortress. It was no wonder that it was undisclosed; even if somebody knew where it was, it looked so old and abandoned that nobody in his or her right mind would approach it.

      "I said that we're here!" Hubrid barked impatiently when Maddi did not move.

      The Kougra nodded quickly, and slid off of the Pteri's back himself. Hubrid instantly grabbed his paw and tugged him towards the fortress. Maddi had expected Nagria to follow the duo, but instead, she stood on the muddy ground, her beady black eyes glazed over like a doughnut of some sort.

      Hubrid and Maddi reached the little shelter after only a few moments of walking. The villain hauled the tiny Kougra inside.

      Maddi struggled to get out of his sweaty grip, but the Chia kept a strong hold on him.

      "Kylan!" Hubrid growled. "Please come and guard the entrance so our visitor cannot exit without my permission!"

      Immediately, a cloaked-creature, which highly resembled the ones from the Bed and Breakfast, limped forward and planted its feet firmly in front of the entryway. "Alright, sir," it whispered hoarsely.

      Hubrid nodded, satisfied, and then let go of Maddi. The Kougra took a deep, nervous breath, and scanned the fortress for any sign of Nora or Alli. All he found were a few unattractive chairs, a scratched-up coffee table, a mattress of hay, and a fair amount of the cloaked-creatures standing in random places. His sister and owner weren't there.

      "What have you done with them?" he demanded.

      Hubrid pursed his lips. "Done what with who?" he inquired mockingly.

      "You know who! What have you done with Nora and Alli!?" Maddi yelled. "Tell me!"

      The Chia patted Maddi on the head, as if he were a Puppyblew or Doglefox. "You know," he stated matter-of-factly, "you honestly should've checked the WHOLE house before going off with me. Then you would've discovered the two sitting locked up in the bathroom. I was just preparing to leave; I hadn't actually taken them yet. Frankly, that would've been a mistake if they had come with me, though. You, my dear, are the one who posses the gift. Remember the blast of light?"

      Maddi shuddered, and slowly backed away from Hubrid. "You fiend," he hissed through clenched teeth. "You conniving, cruel fiend!"

      Hubrid let a sly smile form on his lips and cackled, "That's what you get for being a naïve child, you fool!"

      Tears hastily formed in Maddi's eyes and he cried, "Don't call me a fool, you… MONSTER!"

      The evil overlord flashed his pointed teeth and briskly strode out of the "fortress", and into the gloomy exterior of the eerie Haunted Woods.

      A small sob escaped Maddi's maw and traveled throughout the room. One of the guards turned to him and glared for a few seconds. Maddi knew that he had to be noiseless for the rest of his time here. So with nothing else to do, Maddi silently paced to his deprived looking bed and plopped down onto it, tears swiftly sliding down his cheeks. Too weary to think of anything at the moment, Maddi closed his eyes and drifted off into a fretful slumber.

      His snooze lasted for a mere thirty minutes. That was when somebody loudly stomped into the fortress. Maddi groaned, squinting open his eyes. At first, he was disoriented, and didn't have a clue where he was, but soon memories washed back into his mind.

      Gulping, Maddi sat up and stared at the doorway. Standing there was Nagria, the black Pteri from earlier. She had a frown spreading across her face. Beside her stood Kylan, the creature guarding the entry from earlier, whimpering in fright.

      "Hubrid wants to see you, Maddi," Nagria said calmly.

      "No," the Kougra murmured fearfully. "I'm not seeing that evil beast."

      Nagria smiled down at the child in pity. "I'm sorry, but it's not optional."

      Maddi balled his paw into a fist. "I'm not going," he replied through gritted teeth.

      Nagria heaved a sigh. "Believe me, you do not want to experience, or even think about the things that Hubrid Nox will do to you if you do not come." The Pteri's tone was deathly serious.

      Maddi gazed at her solemn expression for a moment and then silently nodded. "Fine," he mumbled, "I'll come. But that moron better treat me with respect."

      Kylan instantly snorted in what seemed like laughter. When Maddi and Nagria exchanged glances and stared at him, he let out a weak smile and then peered down at the ground. The trio stepped out of the fortress and into the desolate night air.

      Maddi had never experienced something like this before, and he did not enjoy one second of it. Many spooky petpets native to the Haunted Woods zoomed around the air, frightening Maddi to the bone, and lightning struck down from the overcast sky, its burst of lights widening the Kougra's eyes to inches.

      At last, after what seemed like eternity, the three halted in front of a small hut. It was made out of flimsy wood, and the roof looked like it was going to tear itself off any second now from all the gusty wind that was blowing across it.

      "I will leave you here," Nagria proclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears. She was obviously frightened. "Remember, do not disobey him, or else."

      Maddi nodded with a stern expression and hastily rushed inside the hut. He closed the door behind him and began surveying the small room that he was standing in.

      "Welcome," a familiar voice suddenly announced.

      Maddi's eyes shot to the far right corner, where he was presented with a faint outline of Hubrid Nox. "Hi," the Kougra whispered edgily.

      A shimmering white smile appeared from within the darkness of the hut. It sent chills down Maddi's spine, and the Kougra started shivering intensely. He slowly hugged himself for both warmth and comfort.

      "I'm glad you made it," Hubrid said.

      "I didn't want to come," Maddi slithered. "Nagria made me."

      "Ah, my trustful transportation device, as well as servant."

      "She hates you, Hubrid," Maddi replied. He then quickly realized that perhaps he shouldn't have said that, because it could somehow get Nagria in trouble. But he had already spoken the words, and that was that.

      "Oh my, you are even more foolish than I thought. Trying to deceive a genius! I've never heard anything more ridiculous than that!" Hubrid sneered.

      Maddi didn't respond, but merely gaped at Hubrid, frozen stiff. He wasn't just physically still either; his mind was had stopped thinking as well. And then, without any warning, Maddi collapsed back onto the wooden floor of the hut.

      His head began whirling, pulsating colours dancing around inside of it, and trapping his mind in its own prison. He moaned in agony and gripped onto his forehead, his body shaking violently. Hubrid Nox slowly stood up from the chair had had been sitting in and laid his eyes on the Kougra.

      "No one deceives an overlord," he hissed, his eyes glowing a dark shade of ruby. He lifted up his arm and bellowed, "SHOW ME YOUR POWER!!!"

      Maddi instantly flew up in the air, a result of the Chia's dark and terrible magic. Maddi groaned and weakly said, "I'll never show you."

      Hubrid Nox glared and swung his arm to his left side. Maddi flew to his right and was slammed against the wooden wall.

      "Show me now!"

      Maddi gasped for air. His muscles ached so badly that he felt as if they were going to fall off. Violet and black bruises enclosed his body and they throbbed painfully.

      What am I going to do? Maddi urgently asked himself.

      This was answered when the hut door slowly creaked open, and in stepped Kylan. He was drenched from the storm outside, and was shivering. Maddi hadn't a clue why he had suddenly come inside, but that didn't stop the Kougra from being relieved.

      "Thank you," Maddi wanted to whisper. "Thank you for saving me." But he didn't, because before he could, Hubrid spoke.

      "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" The Chia boomed wrathfully.

      "Nagria sent me in," Kylan replied, his voice quivering.

      "Why'd she do that?" Hubrid demanded.

      "T-to get Maddi." Maddi sensed Kylan's expression tensing beneath the safety of his costume.

      "Oh, well tell Nagria that Maddi is staying here until I release him. Now GO!" Through the darkness, Hubrid thrust his paw towards the door.

      Maddi closed his eyes, pleading with all of his heart that Kylan wouldn't leave him alone again with the beast.

      But alas, he did and Maddi was left all alone with the Chia once more. However, the strangest thing happened right after the guard rushed out of the hut. A mix of deep and powerful emotions began flooding the Kougra's mind. He remembered Nora, Alli, his friends, all of the happiness that he had had before all these unbelievable events had occurred. And these thoughts gave Maddi an urge of hope. Hope that he was going to see his family again. Hope that this would all be over soon.

      And then, the familiar grand beam of light swiftly shot out of Maddi's chest. It flew across the small room and landed directly on Hubrid Nox's stomach. The evil mastermind immediately flew back and then collapsed on the ground, his mouth letting out deep and painful groans.

      Maddi instantly plopped down on the ground, his mind wiped away from the dark and evil curse that Hubrid Nox had placed upon him.

      This is my chance!the pet screamed to himself

      Quickly rushing up to his paws, the Kougra kicked the door open and ran out, his heart pounding furiously and his breath shortening with every step.

      However, Maddi did not get far, as something soon grabbed onto his back paw, stopping him dead in his tracks. The Kougra yelped in pain, and tumbled to the muddy ground. He was too nervous to glance at who had captured him, so Maddi stared ahead into the inky blackness of the night.

      To Be Continued…