Walking into the greasy, iridescent black chamber. Eary recoiled at the oppressive energy that lay thick like a fog.

A foreboding feeling washed over him. Feelings of tension and anxiety began to fill his heart.

"Does anyone feel that?" He asked as the crushing sensation dominated his senses.

"Feels like sadness." Mei replied as she took hold of Calvin's arm.

Decan shuffled closer to Eary. He placed his arm around him in a reassuring manner.

"I feel it too." He said, pulling Eary close.

Alice walked boldly to the front of the crowd.

"It's the memories of the people here." She blurted out.

Luke inspected his surroundings. With a snarky tone, he replied,

"This place is a ruin. Unless they're hiding, I doubt anyone is down here."

"Their spirits, dumb ass!" Alice sharply replied.

Alice and Luke began to bicker passionately. The teens all watched in confusion as the heated exchange turned into a full-blown argument.

Professor Maxwell interjected between the squabbling pair.

"Mr. Olson, Ms. Winters. I believe there is a more appropriate time for this. We have pressing matters..."

The sound of a distant metallic grew near. The team flashed each other, knowing glances as they quickly huddled into their defensive position.

The unmistakable sound of metal smashing into the floor l filled the chamber.

Each student readied their powers. Eary brandished his scythe. Anticipation arrested his breath as a large, dark, metallic construct menacingly emerged.

Black, sleek metal covered the large device. It walked upon eight thick legs, resembling that of a spiders. A tall tower of metal and lights lay in its center.

A purple wall of light scanned the group. The machine let out a mix of sounds and clanks. It then stood up as tall as it could and relayed some message.

"What do we do?" Ben asked, moving closer to Luke for protection.

"Stay here." Luke said as he moved closer to the automaton.

Eary watched in trepidation and perplexity. The robot made him uneasy. But why was Ben seemingly so important to Luke? He thought to himself as Luke moved in for a closer examination.

The machine slammed its leg down hard. The walls of the structure began to occilate colors between black and red. As a large siren sound filled the chamber.

"Well, that's great, Luke. Piss it off, why dont ya!" Mote exclaimed.

Mei and Calvin wasted no time in erupting into the air. The two encircled the bot with the beginnings of a flame tornado. But just as the fires began to swirl beneath the contraption. Two portals, looking the same as the one that summoned Beelzebub, appeared. Two large metallic arms reached out and grabbed the young couple. Pulling them in and disappearing.

Eary's mouth dropped in horror as Sakile screamed, "Calvin!"

The panicked brother split into four. Brandishing his batons, the small force of Sakile's rushed the towering menace.

Sakile bravely charged forward. Only to be apprehended by the same portals and metallic arms as Calvin and Mei.

"Fuck! Luke cried out as he watched his lifelong friend disappear as well.

Luke quickly zipped up to Spider Bot. Using his incredible speed, he dodged and parlayed the advancing arms.

"Alice, a hand." He cried out.

A purple mist enveloped the orange blur. Lifting him above the robots legs. Luke waisted no time in removing a large sheet of metal armor.

Swiftly working, Luke wasted no time messing with its insides. the sirens and flashing red lights died down. The situation subsided.

"Shut the fuck up!" Luke gruffed.

The team breathed a sigh of relief. Until the sirens started again and a multitude of portals opened. With metallic arms snatching each of the group members.

Eary defended himself and Decan with his force fields. But watched helplessly as his brother and friends were all pulled into the portals.

Mote flew with great speed and agility. Dodging the arms that emerged from the portal. Mote had almost reached Eary and Decan.

"Open up!" He cried out as he swooped in towards Eary and Decan's protective enclosure.

Eary opened a small part and waived the little moteling in. But it was too late. The arms had become too numerous.

Grabbing Mote by the hind leg. Eary watched helplessly as he too was pulled away.

"We're going to have to fight." Decan cried out over the deafening grinding of metal and gears.

Eary stared at him in the eyes and nodded. With a deep breath, he lowered the fields and let loose a great storm of lightning from the end of his scythe.

Decan caught a few bolts with vale. With each swing of the legendary sword, large electrical surges flew in every direction.

The two pushed back hard against the alarm, sounding sentinel. With each concussive blast of lightning, it seemed to be wearing down.

The two looked to have victory at hand. When suddenly the floor beneath them collapsed and sent them both hurdeling into the cold blackness that lay beneath.

Eary reached for Decan as the two fell. However, a strange tube engulfed the young man. He was gone.

Eary pushed back hard against the descent and began to fly out of the whole.

His hopes were dashed as the trap door leading out slammed shut. Trapping him in the darkness, alone.

He hovered, a blue light in a sea of darkness. Extending one hand downwards, he shot off a blast of white light. If only to get his brings.

Eary's heart sank. The illuminating blast revealed the structures size. It seemed to stretch on and on with no visible sign of an ending.

"I need to find everybody." He thought to himself as he slowly descended the large tunnel.

He found what appeared to be a pair of sliding doors. They were resistant to most of his powers. His shields, however, cut right though. Allowing Eary access.

He gently hovered into long hallway. The interior here was much more illuminated and most, if not all, the devices seemed to be operational.

He began to walk down the long, technology ladden path. The feeling of dread and anxiety filled him. I hope no one was hurt, he thought to himself.

The faint sound of a blood curddling scream came echoing from a distant chamber.

'That sounds like Mote!' Eary thought as he ran in the direction of the disturbance.

The cries of agony could be heard getting louder and louder.

"Oh God, Mote! What sick, evil things are they doing to you?" He said to himself as he closed the gap on the screams.

An archway leading to another chamber lay before him. Mote's continued shreiks of agony enraged the boy. But a tactical approach was necessary. He ducked beside the door and peeked his head in.

There prowling ominously in front of the tiny, bound, Mote. Was the giant, skinless demon from before.

It peered down at Eary's defenseless pal. With a giant malevolent grin, it peered menacingly at Mote.

"Mmmmmm!" Beelzebub groaned in a dippy ethereal hiss.

"Stop it, ya evil prick! I can't take it anymore!" Mote whined as he broke into uncontrollable sobbing.

Eary's rage grew inside of his. His face twisted. His legs grew light. He was about to dash to the moteling's aide when Beelzebub spoke again.

"These are delicious!" The demon exclaimed, pulling an item from a small box it was holding.

"My candy bars!" Mote shrieked in distress.

Eary's face dropped from anger to annoyance.

"You've got to be kidding me." He thought to himself as he shrugged.

Beelzebub laughed maniacally to the moteling's tears. He swiftly claimed another bar from the box. Much to Mote's extreme displeasure.

Eary shook his head. He quickly examined the room for the rest of his friends.

"Empty." He thought to himself as he crept in deeper.

He ducked behind a large boulder. He summoned his scythe and prepared for combat.

*Kaboom!*

The ground around Eary shook at the loud explosion. He peered his head up above the rock. A large jet of fire was just smacking Beelzebub in the face.
An orange blur zipped around his legs. Causing the creature to fall.
Sakile smashed the demon with his club. Filling the cave in a dazzling blue light that sent Beelzebub flying. While a green tornado spun him in mid-air. Two enormous boulders, one shining purple, crushed the head of the demon.

It collapsed in a deep dark smoke that quickly dissipated.

Eary watched as his friends arrived. Released Mote. Then they began to discuss amongst themselves. He quickly made his way to regroup with his friends.

"Eary!" Mei announced excitedly as he emerged from the darkness.

"What happened?" He asked in confusion.

Mote swiftly crashed into the boy. He nuzzeled his small head into Eary's chest.

"It was terrible, it tells ya!" Mote cried, looking up at the boy. "I was bein' tortured." He wept.

"I know, I saw." Eary replied flatly. "What happened to yo..."

"Hold on a damn second!" Mote angrily exclaimed as he flew to Eary's eye level. "Yous mean ta tell me that you just sat there? What the fuck you little prick!"

Eary rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"Mote, it was candy." He explained bluntly.

Mote's face recoiled in shock.

"Just candy?" He asked in disbelief. "I'll have ya know this is more than 'just candy'."

He zipped across the room to retrieve the half empty box.

"This ain't no average shit." He stated as he brandished a bar. "This is made from the finest celestial coco plants."

Eary looked at Mote skeptically.

"What's so special about that?" He asked.

"Here, try it." Mote said as he broke off a small piece and gave it to Eary.

He held the piece and scoffed. "Do I have to?"

"Stop bitchin' and put it in ya mouth. Sheesh!" Mote complained as he gestured for his friend to eat.

Rolling his eyes once more, Eary ingested the chocolate.

Intense chocolate flavor spread through Eary's tongue. The milky splendor cascaded throughout his body. He collapsed as the feelings of God and love filled his being.

"Oh my god! That's so good!" Eary gasped, trying to catch his breath.

"See! It ain't just candy, ya asshole!" Mote snapped.

Eary recollected himself as Decan helped him to his feet.

"You okay?" He asked concerned.

"Decan, it's amazing." Eary exclaimed as he stared desperately into his boyfriend's eyes.

"What's wrong with him, Mote?" Decan asked in suspended agitation.

"Wha...? Oh, that." Mote flew up and examined the boy. "He's got a world-class addiction to the stuff now." He explained coyly.

"Decan, I need it." Eary whispered as he pawed in desperation at Decan.

"Why would you do this?" He asked, annoyed.

"It'll serve 'im right for bein' so insensitive." Mote replied with a smirk.

He smugly took a candy bar from his box and began to eat it in front of Eary.

"And I ain't sharin' either!" He mumbled through bites.

Eary lunged at the moteling. "Mine!" He shrieked as a panicked sting filled his blood.

"Uh-oh!" Mote exclaimed as he zipped away from his crazed pursuer.

Decan sighed as he watched as Eary and Mote flew around the room.

Trails of blue light crisscrossed the room. Until Alice grabbed Eary from midair and pulled him close.

She set him in front of her and placed her hands on his head.

Eary felt a wave of relief fill him. He stood back up and faced the little moteling.

"What... is.. wrong... with... you...?" Eary asked, recovering from the ordeal.

"Enough." Maxwell announced, derailing the fight.

"We need to return to the higher levels." He explained.

The group examined the dark hole that lay above them. Darkness was all they could see.

Mei shot a large jet of fire up to the top. Revealing the sealed ceiling.

"Can't go that way." She groaned.

"Indeed." Maxwell replied. "Then we will have to press forward. There must be a way."

With little choice left. The group and Professor Maxwell wandered deeper into the subterranean cave.