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Chapter 33: Beetle Juices.  

Chapter 33: Beetle Juices.

“You better start explaining yourself right now, kid. This isn’t my idea of a joke.”

“I assure you I’m not joking Mrs. Fle...

  Chapter 32: Looking for Group.  

Chapter 32: Looking for Group.

30 minutes.

I spent 30 minutes in that spot, fighting myself. Losing against my nightmares. Pushing them downwards with e...

Chapter 31: Dusty and Slab.

Chapter 31: Dusty and Slab.

A deluge of teeth and tongues shot towards us. Towards both of me.

“YoU! wIlL! nOt! DO! tHiSS! TO! ME!” It roared from a dozen ...

Chapter 30: Monique.

Chapter 30: Monique.

“Wah! I didn’t do that! I didn’t enjoy that! I didn’t kill anyone! I’m a good person! I’m a good person! Happy thoughts Solomon! Pos...

Chapter 29: Charlie.

Chapter 29: Charlie.

Sarcophagus Solomon was a stranger to me.

His demeanor was that of a petty socialite, constantly annoyed at how his surroundings defied hi...

Chapter 28: Distant Storms Foretold.

Chapter 28: Distant Storms Foretold.

I see beauty and horror walking side by side.

Images of people, friends, enemies, battles, struggles, traps, food, communi...

Chapter 27: Envy.  

Chapter 27: Envy.

“I’m so happy to see you again, Bunny Man.” I said with exaggerated glee.

In truth, I would’ve been happy to have just about anyone j...

Chapter 26: Penitent Crusade.

Chapter 26: Penitent Crusade.

I re-entered the labyrinth feeling better than I had in weeks. My heart swelled with self-acceptance. Knowing full well that I was on t...

Chapter 25: Gaslighting.

Chapter 25: Gaslighting.

The system lies. Of course, it does. Why wouldn’t it?

It was created by whomever had thrown a thousand people here to die. Like they...

Chapter 24: Granny’s Tea Party.  

Chapter 24: Granny’s Tea Party.

I came out of the tunnels and into a large open space. It was similar in size to the clearing where Pete and Walder made their camp...

Chapter 23: Hunted.

Chapter 23: Hunted.

If someone more naïve asked me what the most heroic thing I’d ever done was, they might be surprised to find out that gutting a gnome like a f...

Chapter 22: The Power of Friendship.

Chapter 22: The Power of Friendship.

My new world was one big toilet. Turbulent waters shearing down fanged plants, armored snails, hidden pumas, treacherous penguin...

Chapter 21: Thalassophobia.

Chapter 21: Thalassophobia.

The end of the second week marked the end of our journey upwards. Not because we were finally free and I was running to the nearest phone...

Intermission: Not My Fault.

Intermission: Not My Fault.

It was taking too long.

Getting it back was taking too damn long!

This stupid, (Gnome)ing System wasn't giving me back my...

Intermission: Keep it Together.

Intermission: Keep it Together.

Do not lose your temper. Do not lose your temper. Do not lose...

"Hey! Are you listening to me!? We've got to turn back now...

Chapter 20: No Bargaining.

Chapter 20: No Bargaining.

Taking the pelt proved to be the right choice soon thereafter. Displeased as Buddy was, it had become clear that extra warmth was necessar...

Chapter 19: Creeping Cold.

Chapter 19: Creeping Cold.

The small drones hovered overhead. Using some manner of anti-gravity system to keep themselves aloft. Their laser pointers cutting through...

Chapter 18: Dear Diary.

Chapter 18: Dear Diary.

“You know Buddy, I don’t think I show you enough gratitude. Thank you for being here to feed and clothe me. I really do think I would’v...

Chapter 17: A Chance Encounter.

Chapter 17: A Chance Encounter.

I turned a few corners and follow along some straight passages while keeping a lookout for more centipedes or eels or moles or whatev...

Chapter 16: Meditations.

Chapter 16: Meditations.

Hunting for the rest of the day yielded no more levels. Not that I expected any.

[Meditation] allowed me to sense Psy...

Chapter 15: Best Friends Forever.

Chapter 15: Best Friends Forever.

Luigi was laughing. A loud, raucous sound that threatened to bring down the bowling alley. Henry and Vince were laughing too, thoug...

Chapter 14: Hunger.

Chapter 14: Hunger.

So, good news and bad news.

On the upside, I wasn’t currently dead.

Always a positive.

Furthermore, I hadn’t sustained any ...

Chapter 13: Acrophobia.

Chapter 13: Acrophobia.

‘Stupid. How are you this stupid. Of course it was a trap. What did you expect? A hug and a kiss? Promises of brotherhood? Do you think...