It has been at least four hours since Howard and Theresa has started their journey again and so far they had no attacks from any weird shadow people, and it has been absolutely boring.

"Theresa!" Howard wined for the hundredth time that hour, "I can't feel my feet! Please stop."

By that point Theresa was itching to stab him with her knife. It was taking her full willpower not to.

"Not now, Howard! We need to keep going. I can tell we are entering the haziest zone in this world." Theresa replied quietly, you never know who is near!

"How can you tell?" Howard asked in confusion. "Everything looks the same to me." And he was sort of right with that statement. Everything was the same; the world around them was still hazy and full of shadows that were making it really difficult to see five feet in front of them. But it was growing a lot hazier around them, not much, but a little. There were still moans and groans in the air around them from passing shadow people that were nearby, but other than that, it was quiet.

Every step the duo took, the hazier their surroundings become. They continued forwards for what seems like in Howard's case, years. But it only was an hour. And soon they left the shadow city behind and was coming across the country side of the world, well, that's what they think.

Their eyes soon processed rolling hills that were black instead of green and tall hazy trees that look as if they were swaying in the breeze of a nonexistent wind. A field of greyish corn stalk traveled to their right and on to the distance.

The shadows in this part of the world were lighter than other parts, as if the blazing sun was high overhead and was able to penetrate the dark world. The smell of freshly grown wheat was in the air with a hint of honey and the shadow birds were singing in the hazy trees, making this place almost peaceful.

Finally, to Howard's excitement, they sat down by a tree that smelt of fresh fruit and honey. Taking their packs off their back and laying up against the tree, they rested their aching muscle and drunk a bottle or two of sparkle water that refreshed their minds feed the desert in their mouths.

After a moment of quiet, Theresa broken it, "This is peaceful, but would have been better in our world don't you think, Howard?"

"Yeah, whatever. Can you pass me a bag of chips? I'm starved!" Howard replied with a groan to prove the point of his hunger.

"Sure, but we're sharing the bag. We have to save the food supply or we go hungry. I brought five bags but you ate a whole one yesterday, so that makes four. I and you will share a whole one today, so that will make three for the rest of our trip." Theresa explained. The food supplies was low and with Howard's contain hunger, they could have a problem later on.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down! Are you telling me that we are only going to eat half a bag a chips per day?" Howard full out shrieked from disbelief. There was no way he was going to walk for miles in creepy world with only half a bag of chips in his stomach. No way. Nope. Noda!

"Come on Howard! Don't be a baby. You will live as long as we save, so, what flavor? We have regular, salt & vinegar, salt and pepper, and sour cream." Theresa asked. She pulled out each bag to show the flavor of each bag to Howard.

"Don't care! I just want to eat." Howard groaned, placing a hand on his stomach while it growled in anger.

With that, Theresa place all the bags except for the regular back into her bag and slid closer to Howard to share the bag. While snacking, Theresa couldn't help but to take in the beauty of the shadow country.

The grass under her bottom was silky black and the little life she saw was buzzing with energy and light. It was like the world around didn't exist, the corn field that was a few meters away was tall and refreshing, in a way. The sky was greyish blue color that seemed pretty in darkness kind of way. And the only thing that Theresa thought was, Julian would love this place!

It was so peaceful, so quiet compared to the city that it made her feel uneasy. Like the feeling you get when you think someone is watching you. Like you think that at any moment their claw like hand will reach forward and grab your life without a moment hesitation.

That when Theresa knew why she felt that way, it was quiet; no shadow bird was singing, no moan from nearby shadow people, and no nonexistent wind blowing the trees. Just nothing!

It was the kind of quiet that happens right before an attack from something or someone!

So without thinking anymore, Theresa stood up, grabbed the now empty bag, stuffed it in her backpack, and demanded Howard to get up. And that whole process was so fast and unexpected that it nearly gave Theresa a head rush and Howard a heart attack.

"What? Why?" Howard asked after a short breathing exercise. And you'd think that having a ninja as a friend would have you used to this stuff! "We just got here, like, ten minutes ago!"

"I know and I'm sorry, but we got to go! Something bad will happen if we are here any longer! So come on!" Theresa panicked, grabbing Howard by the wrist and lifting him to his feet and pushed him to move.

"Alright, alright! I can move on my own." Howard yelled. They walked back to the original path they were walking and started on their way again. However, they only made it 20 yards before they were stopped by a greenish- purple ball of flame like smoke being tossed over their heads and landing with a loud crack as it made contact with the ground.

When they turned around to see who throw the ball, they were met with another shadow person, but not a shadow person you would expect. No, this one was a lady with very dark blue hair that was messy and cut uneven with the rest of the hair strands that ran a foot past her shoulders. She wore a purple cloak that had fur like hair in the middle of the cloak, and she would have been a tall figure if she wasn't hunched over in the back. Her skin was an ashy green and had long arm that could drag across the floor if she rested them.

She would have been a pretty lady if it wasn't for the hideous changes to her body. Her face was the worse, her face was covered in wrinkles that could made the sea look flat, her eyes was a startling yellow that seemed to burn into your soul, and her mouth was covered in light pink lip stick and when she smiled, her teeth were all brown and crooked. So, all in all, she was terrifying.

"Why, hello, dears. I couldn't help but wonder that you are from Earth? If so, be so kindly to answer why?" The visitor asked. Her voice was sweet, but bitter at the same time. She extended her arms out to the sky and laughed an evil laugh. "Why, I'm being so rude! I should introduce myself, I am The Sorceress and who might you be?"

The only thing that was said by the duo was, "Oh no."