Howard's Point of view:

I woke to the shadowy world being a little lighter than usual. A tired Theresa was pacing like she always did when she got impatient. We were still in color, unlike the rest of the world of shadows, which was good in a way. We can see each other and the enemy can too, which is bad.

My head and body was still sore from last night's attack. It scared me so much that I thought I lost it. Until I woke up to everything looking the same as last time and Theresa was standing over me with the first aid kit.

Sitting up to view the alley that we were in better, I saw what remained from the fight. Surprising it wasn't very much. All there were was a few broken items here and there, a few drop of blood that was from me, and dust from the shadow freaks.

A loud growl escaped my stomach, telling me it was time to eat. The growl was so loud that Theresa turned to look at me from 15 feet away. Either that or she has good hearing.

"So, you're finally awake?" She asks as she comes near me. I had to fight the urge to back away, ever since she started going wacko on this trip, she has been giving me the willies every time she looks at me or even talks!

"Uhh... Yes, I guess." I answered, "And hungry!" I crossed my arms to imitate a little kid wanting something and would not move without it.

"I know you are, I heard your stomach over there." She says while pointing in the direction she came from. "Besides, we need to get a move on before we sit and eat. So stop your pouting and let's go! We have a flower to find!" She then turned and walked out the alley, leaving me alone.

"All man, this is going to be a long day!" I muttered as I stood to run after her.

Randy's Point of view:

The pain was unbearable. I feel like someone has taken a 4 by 4 truck and drove it on top of me about five times before driving off. It was so painful, I was welcoming death.

I didn't tell the others how I felt though. I didn't want them to worry. It worries me that my best friend and my crush is going on an impossible mission to help save me. Why won't they let it be? The Nomicon never told me this would happen, never, not even a little riddle!

Bash has called to spend the night over at my house, for what? To make sure I don't die? I have no clue. I almost begged Flute Girl to stay when she had to leave. I didn't want to be left alone with Bash, but I didn't want to sound weird or hurt his feelings. So I sucked it up a welcomed him.

"So what do you want to do?" I asked to break the silent between us, "Other than beat people up."

It took him a minute to think about the question and the answer. I don't blame him. Having an I.Q as low as his, you're bowed to have problems thinking about simple questions.

"Bash likes games were you hit stuff!" Bash answered after what felt like forever. That lightened me up a bit.

"You like GravePunchers?" I asked him. He ended up smiling at me and said, "Yah! Randy likes game too?" He asked.

"Yes..." Was all I got out before he jumped from his chair, grabbed me out of my chair with a surprisingly soft grip that still hurts, and ran up to my room with me screaming, half in pain and half with fear.

Theresa's Point of view:

We were walking for some times before Howard collapsed with hunger and exhaustion. I didn't blame him. I was pretty tried too for not eaten anything since breakfast yesterday and haven't any sleep last night.

I sat with Howard too on what looked like a field of grass. The hazy world made everything hard to see. The black and white didn't help much either, thank goodness me and Howard are in color!

"Need... food... now!" Howard pants from the walking. If I had to guess, we walked about 15 miles in about a few hours. Not bad in my mind. I take my bag off my back and pulls out two bags of chips, one was Salt and Vinegar and the other was plain.

I ate the plain while Howard choked down the other, finishing the bag In a few bites and let loose a burp so loud that it echoed through the wavy trees.

When I was done with my chips and asked Howard for a bottle of water, I had a strange urge to open the NinjaNomicon. There was a tingling sensation going through out my body, like something was controlling me, "Hey Howard? If I open the Nomicon, what would happen?" I hear myself ask.

"Oh, nothing much. Just that your soul would get sucked in for a few, no biggie. Why?" He said, but I wasn't listening, I pulled out the book and within an instant, I was sucked in.

I was falling through a world of doodles. Ninjas, warriors, and even what looked to be a dragon was all in doodles.

I landed softly on a floor in a dojo temple from want looked like centuries ago. When all of a sudden, word appeared in front of me, but they weren't in riddles like Howard told me about on our walk. It was in regular sentences like how I talk. It said,

The Shadow Flower is hidden in the haziest place.

It would be hard, but you will know when you are there.

But time will run out if you don't hurry!

In four days' time will catch up with the ninja.

After that time has come,

He would be no more!

And with that I was tossed back out of the book and into my body. Back to the shadow world and back to a mad looking Howard.

"How dare you? And while I was talking! How. Dare. You!" He shouted. Which made me smile I little since he thought this was the time to be mad at me.

"I know and I'm sorry but right now is not the time. I just found out where to fine the flower." I said. I silent told myself to never tell Howard about the time limit until it gets to the point where he can't take it no more.

"Really? Where and how?" He said, get excited now. I told him what the Nomicon said, but not about Randy. Not yet.

He thought about it for a second before standing up on his stubby short legs and through his bag over his shoulders. "Okay then let's go fine the haziest part of the world, shall we?" He said as he started to walk away.

It made me smile at how much he wants to save Randy. So that's why I can't bear to tell him about the four day thing. Not yet anyways! As I stood up and began to follow, I thought, 'And I hope it would be never!'