Wake the fuckkk upppp!






Hysteria slaps the three men awake from their slumber on the beach. The groggily sat up and looked around taking in the surroundings with confusion on their faces. Directly in front of them was the crystal blue water with waves crashing up on the beach in slow methodical pacing. They turn around to see nothing but sand until it reaches the treeline. There it’s almost impossible to see past the tree line into the dark thicket of the forest behind it. They settle back into their seat and don’t move.

Boyssssss! We have to go! We have to get off the beach!

The three look up at Hysteria who seems frantic and irate. It’s then that they notice he’s not wearing his jacket or shirt. He’s just wearing the mask over his face and his pants. Something odd is the star tattoo on Hysteria’s left shoulder.

Hey boss, when’d you get that?

What? Oh this? I lossst a fucking bet. Now shut the hell up and let’s get moving! Those planes that took us down had to have seen where we landed!

Hysteria leaps on top of each of them and slaps them hard across the face before taking off for the tree line. Getting the response he wanted, the three men charged after Hysteria as he entered the forest. There, the four stop and watch carefully. After a few moments pass of nothing to note, they begin their trek through the trees. Large roots come out of the ground to seemingly make it impossible to move too quickly through the forest without tripping. The group begins staggering forward when they come to an opening. Hysteria stops them with a hand motion and they halt behind him.

It’s too quiet. Too serene.

Hysteria snickers and begins to laugh hesitantly under his breath. Standing at the edge of the forest, Hysteria slowly begins to scan the other side of the clearing, looking for any signs of life. Across to the right side, he spots what seems to b-

Boss, what the fuck are we doing? We nee-





Shut the FUCK up. Can’t you see I’m surveying the scene? We’re creatures of the dark, we avoid the light. Do you know why, newbie? Not because it burns or because we’re nocturnal. We travel by darkness to conceal ourselves. We are not creatures of common place. We watch, we survey, and then we strike. Whether it’s against our foes or when trying to bring a new person into the family. We study our prey before striking. Understand?

The young man Shawn rubs his face while nodding profusely as he steps away.

Forgive me, Hysteria.

Hysteria looks as if he’s been slapped. He turns and Corey smacks him over the back of his head. The young man falls to his knees and begins pleading.

Oh forgive me O mighty Prophet! I didn’t mean anything by that! I spoke out of line. I am so sorry.

Hysteria doesn’t even look down at him but just grunts.

It’s not the time and place. Fall in line and shut your mouth until spoken to, got it?

The embarrassed and hurting young fellow slowly slinks up and moves to the other side of Joe. Joe’s gaze is still staring through the opening in front of them.

Anything you’d like to add Joe?

No sir and I apologize for my fellow’s misspeak.

Attaboy! Now Shawn, that’s how you treat a superior in The Asylum. But that’s okay, we’re learning here.

Hysteria stares out ahead. He places his hand on his chin as he begins laughing sinisterly beneath his breath. Cory shoos the other two away for a few seconds as he walks up to stand beside Hysteria. Hysteria looks up at him before looking out across the plain.

Something just doesn’t feel right. I feel as if… we’re walking into an ambush. Earlier I thought I ssssaw a bow drawn back, but that can’t be true. Those army fellows wouldn’t be armed with a bow and arrow. Most of them probably wouldn’t even know how to properly use one. No… this felt different. Felt almost… I can’t quite place my finger on it. What do you think big guy?

Corey looks at him and begins shaking his head slowly. Hysteria nods and rubs his temples.

What a mess. Well, we’ve got to get to the other side of this clearing. Have any ideas, Corey?

Corey meets his gaze, but doesn’t say anything.

Very good Mr. Scarecrow. Perhaps I should walk out and have you guys back here waiting and watching. Or we could make one of the new guys do it!

Hysteria says that last bit a little louder to ensure that the two boys heard it. They look over and look out at the open field with a little bit of hesitation, but they eventually nod. Hysteria laughs wildly before meeting the gaze of Corey.

Yeah, right. I’ll go out first and you three will watch over me. I’m tired of sitting in this spot. Let’s go.

His most loyal subject nods and brings the boys behind a large turned over tree. Hysteria gives them the thumbs up before exiting the one true friend he had, the darkness. As he stepped out into the grass, he began surveying it left and right. This cleared off passage seemed to have no use whatsoever, but Hysteria begins to move slowly towards the other side of the clearing. He watches his step which seems to not be extremely important until he reaches the half-way point. It’s there that he detects several large metallic disks barely hidden by the layer of grass grown over it. Without doing much more examining, Hysteria growls.

Landmines.

Hysteria turns around briefly, brings two fingers to his eyes before pointing at his shoe. Hopefully that’s enough of a message for Cory to understand that he means to watch your steps. Hysteria continues forward being hesitant with his steps and being sure not to land on one of these nasty traps. One step on there and it’s adios Hysteria. The Masked Prophet continues to watch his feet, but he can’t help but to look at the now-empty hole in the tree line where that bowman had been.

No evidence of anyone there.

Hysteria moves on and finally gets to the other side of the passage. He steps into the darkness and instantly feels reprieved. He watches the shadows and the shapes in the darkness ensuring that there is nothing abnormal in the woods surrounding him. He steps back out into the clearing for a second before motioning for his three followers to join him. They all come together and slowly make it across the field unscathed.

Once they get into the shadows of the forest on their side, he looks them up and down and begins to laugh sincerely.

I am sooo glad you guys made it across safe. I wasn’t sure how you’d handle the landmines but you all did admirably! Take that as a great first passed test! Corey you did a great job getting them over. Fantastic all around the board.

The three nod and laugh as they celebrate their first real test. Suddenly Joe has a weird look on his face, then he falls forward to the ground! The three others look at him in shock before they see it. A huge blowdart is shown hanging out of the kid’s neck. It’s only then that Hysteria becomes aware of the ruffling in the leaves from all sides!

Asylum! Fall back! We’re surrounded! Cory! Grab Joe. No Asylum mate gets left behind.

The three standing men begin taking off down the hill being sure to avoid all of the landmines. Hysteria makes the mistake of looking over his shoulder. It’s there that he sees over 20 island natives (he assumed) all running dead for them. Hysteria begins picking up his pace as does Corey and Shawn. It’s then that the real fun begins.



KABOOOOOOOOOOM!




The landmines begin going off like fucking chain fireworks! One went off and then it only picked up intensity with each and every landmine detonating.

Hysteria stops at the treeline and sees broken bodies of the natives scattered everywhere. That didn’t stop them though. The second way came running down the hill as Hysteria urged his men to try to move their fastest through the forest.

Running completely on fumes, Hysteria spots a small cavern to his right and whistles for Corey to follow him. Still carrying Joe, Corey changes his direction and Shawn follows suit. Hysteria bursts through the cavern which is extremely small and his three followers follow him into it.

Shit! Those people are savage and crazy! Just running through landmines like that and blowing themselves up. What the hell is wrong with them?

That is probably why they hadn’t crossed over onto this side. They were afraid of the landmines.

Well they sure are over here now.

Indeeeeeeeed?

Midway through the word, Hysteria’s speech trailed off as he began staring at the glowing crystals in the cavern. At the very end is an enormous emerald crystal jutting out of the wall. Something is very alluring about it. It seems to draw Hysteria closer and closer to it with its auspicious glow. Cory, Shawn, and even the unconscious Joe seem to be drawn to its shimmering as well. Instinctively with no hesitation, the four men reach out and touch the crystal.


AGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!


The four men scream out in unison at the sudden and immediate pain they are enduring! The longer they hold on, the more the crystal begins to melt to a smaller size. After a few moments, the crystal’s glow disappears and the boys all drop their hand hold on the crystal. They look at each other for a few seconds before Shawn and Joe hit the ground. Hysteria looks at Cory who clutches at his chest before collapsing as well. Hysteria begins to move to help him up when a tightening pain builds in his stomach! Hysteria begins moving away from them all, and clutches at his stomach in agony. He feels the building in his throat and pulls up his mask just over his nose. Just in time too. His next few moments are vomiting up a foul and disgusting looking boiling hot, literally, red liquid. Hysteria tries to get to his feet, but staggers forward a few more feet. He begins to crawl with the very last of his strength.

The next sound he hears is the sound of footsteps. He looks up and is met with the face of a stern looking island native. Hysteria doesn’t know what to do or say and doesn’t have to deliberate on it long as a huge, barefoot stomps his face sending him into a deep sleep where he doesn’t have to question it anymore.

Fade Into Darkness...