Joy stands up. She looks around. Her eyes are darting in all directions. She looks calm, but she’s clearly shaken up. I think this adventure was too much for her, as well. Being shot at with guns by a dreamer and some children her age?
I find that I’m breathing hard. This was scary for me. I try to sort myself out. Everyone is.
We’re all here in this small tunnel, where Justin, Master Mind and I can’t even stand up straight. Madelyn keeps touching Joy’s shoulders to see that she is fine.
Charlie jumps up and down, and occasionally laughs to himself. I think he completely panicked.
Justin exhales. All he’s worried about is that Joy got out safely.
Joy recovers the fastest. She goes to the edge of the tunnel and looks down. “What was happening there? Why were there all those kids with--”
Then, out of nowhere, the adult dreamer appears from the outside, below the tunnel’s exit, his arms grab Joy inside the tunnel, and scoop her towards him. His guns disappear when he’s in the tunnel, but return as soon as he’s out. Joy’s hand accidentally touches one of the guns and it glows a faint blue. Justin, Madelyn, and Charlie all shout at once, but none of their powers work in the tunnel.
As the man goes back down and out of view, he fires into the tunnel. The bullets do go into the tunnel. I’m hit in the shoulder, scream, and fall down. I hear Justin and Madelyn shout as well: Are they hit?
I’m on the slimy ground and pain is exploding in my shoulder. I’m not dead, though. I haven’t turned to dust.
I open my eyes, realizing they were closed since I was hit. I see the tunnel exit. Joy is gone! Joy is gone!
(To be continued…)
—Told by Grampa Walt