Shocking

Shocker:

With the larger and paler serpecdysis lunging at me, I jump to the side and watch as it shoots past me. I barely land on my feet when the serpecdysis turns around and lunges at me again.

This time, I don't have time to jump out of the way. All I can do is cross my arms before the serpecdysis charges right into me. It hits and knocks me to the ground. Skidding against the stone ground, the serpecdysis wastes no time and grabs one of my feet with its mouth.

It throws me into the air before jumping up and wrapping itself around me. With my arms pinned to my sides, I can't do anything as the serpecdysis squeezes the air out of me.

Clementine Mira:

No matter where I jump, I still can't lose the smaller serpecdysis. It's chasing me, always one move away from swallowing me whole.

Running toward a wall, I jump up and back. I hope the serpecdysis would run into the wall but it stops before it does and turns around. It shows me its sharp, shining teeth before chasing after me again.

I don't even have time to catch my breath as I run.

"I have to time this right," I tell myself. "I have to time this just right or else."

I look behind as the serpecdysis is quickly catching up with me. Waiting until it's only a few inches behind me, I jump into the air and use my gift.

As expected, the serpecdysis chases after me. It sees me and opens its mouth. Even before I could do anything, it had me in its open mouth. The serpecdysis closes its mouth with a snap before swallowing me whole.

"Hey," I scream after landing a few feet away from the serpecdysis. I turn around and flip the switch on my weapon. The buzzsaw on my sword handle pops out and falls to the ground. Now, the only thing that connects the saw to my handle is a thick black cable. "Wrong me."

The serpecdysis sees me after swallowing me. It seems confused at first but doesn't give it much thought. It lunges at me again. This time, however, I don't run. I swing my saw at the serpecdysis.

Chadd Owen:

"Which one should we take," I ask, looking at all the different game pieces. I stop and examine one of them. The one I choose is a light purple-colored game piece, with a bunch of diamonds overlaying each other.

"Who knows," Honey answers, picking one up. The one she picked up is green and with a triangle inside of a cube. "The Headmaster said choose carefully. These weird symbols must mean something."

About to examine another game piece, I stop when I hear a slithering sound coming from behind. I turn and see both Shocker and the girl struggling against the serpecdysises.

"Wait, what? There are two?"

I slap myself on the head when I realize what happened.

"Honey," I say, grabbing and turning Honey around. I show her the two serpecdysises.

"Wait," Honey says, "How are there two? We only saw one!"

"It's because serpecdysis have the unique ability to split into two," I answer. "One serpecdysis can turn into two by coughing itself out and separating from its skin. When the skin serpecdysis catches its prey, the other one will eat it before crawling back into its skin."

"Hmm," Honey utters while nodding her head. "You're making me really regret not taking a class on animal study."

"Sorry," I say. I look back toward the purple gamepiece with the diamond. Walking up to it, I grab it and throw it in my pocket. I then grab the one right next to it. A blue game piece with circles on it. "I got one piece for me and one piece for Shocker. Did you get one?"

"Yeah," Honey says. She throws a pink game piece into her vest pocket and pats it. "Time to fight?"

I nod.

"Time to fight!"

With our game pieces safely in our pockets, we run toward the serpecdysis. Honey and I split up. While she runs to help the girl, I help Shocker.

About to launch a wire, I stop when I see a bright light shining through the cracks in the serpecdysis. I watch as it suddenly screams and lights up before falling to the ground.

"What," I say, watching as Shocker climbs out from underneath the serpecdysis. As he climbs out, I notice electric currents travel along his metal arm.

"Your gift?"

Shocker nods his head.

"Here," I say, reaching into my pocket and offering him the blue game piece. "I got you this."

Once more, Shocker nods his head as he takes the piece and puts it away. As Shocker tucks his game pieces safely away, the serpecdysis he shocked slowly awakens.

"Behind you," I say, Shocker quickly turning around. As the serpecdysis rises, it looks at Shocker and me.

"What's the plan," I ask, wires shooting out from my belts. I'm about to shoot the wires at the serpecdysis but Shocker grabs my hand. He stops me and shakes his head.

"What?"

Shocker starts pointing.

Honey Aatish:

Using my gift, I go invisible as I run toward the serpecdysis and girl. The two not seeing me, I have the element of surprise on my hand.

"Head up," I yell as I run right up the front of the serpecdysis. The girl screams and jumps when I turn off my invisibility. "Sorry about that! Hey, do yourself a favor. Take a few steps back!"

"What?"

I smile as I aim my weapon at the serpecdysis.

"Bombs away," I shout as I fire multiple bombs at the serpecdysis. My bombs not only explode and unleash sparking pink smoke but also force the serpecdysis to pull back. It pulls its head back at first but then lunges at me.

"Nope," I say, flipping my gun over. Waiting until the right moment, when the serpecdysis is breathing down my face, I blast it and knock it back. As the serpecydsis is knocked back, I bring the barrel of my weapon to my face and blow the smoke away. "Boom! Yeah!"

"Hey," the girl says, grabbing my attention. "Your friend's coming."

I turn my head and see a wire hitting the ground. The wire is followed by Chadd who falls from the sky.

"Honey," Chadd says, looking at me and then at the girl. "And you. What's your name?"

"Clementine," Clementine answers. "My name is Clementine."

"Hello, Clementine. My name is Chadd. That's Honey, and the guy over there is named Shocker."

"Shocker?"

"It's a nickname," I answer.

"Listen you two," Chadd says, "Shocker had an idea but he's going to need all of our help. Clementine, you're with me. Honey, can you get the two together?"

"Aye-aye," I say, slapping my hand against my forehead. I switch to the explosive side of my Boomstick and start shooting at both of the serpecydsises. "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"

A large pink cloud forms in the ruined temple as I shoot. It rains glitter as the two serpecydsises try to attack me. However, as soon as one of them even tries to attack, I fire a bomb and their mouths catch on fire.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey Chadd! I forgot to ask but what's Shocker's plan!"

"This," Chadd yells. I see Chadd, Clementine, and Shocker are all standing behind the two serpecydsises. Chadd fires one of his wires while Clementine uses her weapons, some kind of sword and wire, exactly like Chadd. Both of their weapons wrapped the serpecydsises.

"All yours," Chadd says, he and Clementine handing Shocker their weapons. With both wires in Shocker's hand, I watch as he starts to glow. Lightings pour out of him, forcing both Chadd and Clementine back. The lightings pour out from Shocker and onto his metal arms. It travels from his arms onto the wires, and into the serpecydsises.

"Shocking," I say as I watch both serpecydsises light up and shake. They hiss as they fry before falling to the ground. Smoking when they do, I look over at the three.

No more lighting is pouring out from Shocker so he can give Chadd and Clementine their weapon back. As he gives them back, he nods.

"Hey, I want a nod too."