Stone Cold Revenge, Hugs.And.Kisses [bill gates books recommendations TXT] 📗

through the crowd who began chanting, "Corpse Bride! Corpse Bride! Corpse Bride!"

"Oh that old story, well it is one of my best songs!" The skeleton announced to the crowd, "A story of romance, passion, and a murder most foul. Hit it boys."

The band started playing again and the skeleton began to tell one of the best stories Shock's ever heard. From the guy's silence she could tell they liked it too. She even picked up a slight sob from Kevin at one part. There was no way she will ever let him forget that one. What really interested her was when Elder Gutknecht was mentioned; apparently most of the corpses here knew him. When the skeleton didn't mention where he was, Shock planned to talk to him after the show. Finally the song ended, the crowd cheered and began to leave. Shock told the others to hang back and pushed her way to the stage where the skeleton was sitting.

"Excuse me, sir?" Shock asked, the picture of innocence, "My friends and I where looking for Elder Gutknecht. Do you know where we can find him?"

"Ah, new arrivals huh?" the skeleton said, "The name's Bonejangles, head musician around these parts. And you guys?" They introduced themselves. "So young, all of you. Well we all got our stories. Care to share?"

They answered, "Fire." "Hypothermia." "Hit by a car." "Murdered." "Woof!"

"'Woof' huh? Haven't heard that one before," Bonejangles laughed, "You said you where looking for Elder? Well he lives in that old tower across the way, it's the biggest thing around, you can't miss it."

Shock thanked him and they left the pub along with a few other corpses and headed back to the square. Now that it was inhabited it looked livelier, in a manner of speaking. Things where louder now and they didn't have to whisper. Just over the line of rotten houses the top of a tower could be seen. Heading roughly in that direction, they started out. It was hard going, the streets were crisscrossed and crooked and the old dented street signs only go them lost. Hours passed before they finally they found they could see enough of the tower to be really close.

"Guys," Kevin spoke up, "I'm getting a bad feeling. Like something bad is about to happen."

"You're just tired," Lock said, "We're almost there."

They turned a corner and at the end of the street they where on they could see the base of the tower. "Finally!" Barrel yelled, dashing off in that direction with Klondike running alongside.

Suddenly an ear-splitting creak filled the air, followed by a sickening snap. Barrel stopped running long enough to see a whole section of wall coming down on him. He was frozen in place, but Klondike wasn't. The dog gave one quick yank of his leash and pulled Barrel away. Saving him from being crushed by the stone wall by inches. Panic followed along with a huge dust cloud. When the dust settled Shock, Lock, and Kevin found Barrel in a daze; sitting down in front of the pile of stone that would have killed him, again. He petted Klondike on the head absently. Klondike on the other hand looked very pleased with himself, smiling that doggy smile and wagging his tail like a boat propeller.

"Would now be a good time for 'I told you so' or should I wait?" Kevin asked. He received a punch to each shoulder.

They helped Barrel up and each of them patted Klondike on the head. When Barrel ensured them that he was ok they continued slowly. They had all come to the same conclusion; someone was out to get them. Reaper had said that if the answer was here then there would be danger. Shock didn't know what to say. She was getting so close to her sister's cure, but at what cost? Whoever the monster was meant business. Maybe it was safer if she had come alone; no one else needed to risk their lives.

There was no door in front of the staircase that lead up the strange square tower. After the long climb up the quartet found themselves in a dusty, disorganized library. Spider webs covered stacks of book. On the exposed beams supporting the roof, crows roosted, apprehensively eyeing the intruders. A large pedestal dominated the room. Sitting on the top of it was an old frail skeleton writing in a book with an old fashioned quill. At the group's arrival Elder Gutknecht looked up from his work, glancing at them through his ancient half moon spectacles.

"It seems you've made it here alive, good I'm too old to go out running around the town looking for you," he grunted as he got down from the pedestal, "Any trouble on the way here? This town can be dangerous to the likes of you."

"You know we're only half dead?" Barrel asked. Shock punched his arm for just admitting it.

Elder chuckled, "Yes dear boy. I had anticipated your arrival. But the details are still a bit foggy. Could you clarify them for me after you introduce yourselves?"

After introductions were made Shock told Elder what happened. From when she found her sister to when the wall had almost killed Barrel. Elder took the liberty of writing the whole story down while she spoke, not letting her forget one detail. When she was done Elder put aside the story and sighed.

"I know only one case where this has happened before. And I'm not at liberty to discuss it with you, but I know someone who can help you. For now though you should get some rest. When you wake up prepare to leave. My friend will be here by then."

Shock sighed in relief, at last they where getting somewhere. But then she remembered what almost happened to Barrel, someone knew they where here. "Are we safe here? If someone's out there's not much stopping them from getting us here."

"Oh contraire, I don't keep these crows around just for company," Elder said.

He had written something on a small piece of paper and tied it to a crow's leg. The crow took off out a big hole in the wall. As it flew Shock could see it get bigger and bigger, its wings thundered as it flew faster over the dead houses, becoming invisible against the black underground sky. That convinced her.

Elder had a few cots on a lower level of his tower so they finally had some time to sleep. With the cots being so close together, Shock couldn't help but remember the night before they where separated. Though it had happened two years ago she still saw that day in her nightmares. That night when all hope seemed lost, that she would never see her family again. Dread crept its way into her heart as she tried to sleep. What if something happened down here and one of them didn't come back. Could she ever live with herself if that happened? She listened to the comforting sound of the even breath of her family around her. Soon her waking dread slipped into sleeping nightmares.

"Who's this friend of yours anyway?" Barrel asked Elder Gutknecht.

It was morning, or at least that's what it felt like. No one really knew what time it was because there wasn't any sun to go by and no one really needed to know what time it was anyway. The gang had woken up a while a go and where hanging around the library. Elder had single-handedly collected every piece of information that the underworld had to offer. Most of the books where tattered Mortal World books, others Elder had written himself with every little piece of wisdom that the Realm of the Dead had to offer.

"Oh, you'll know her when you see her," Elder responded, "In fact I think that's her coming up the stairs."

No sooner than the words where out of his mouth did the gang hear someone coming up the stairs too. They gathered around in curiosity at the new visitor. She didn't look much older than they where, eighteen at best. Her skin was pale, her eyes were green, and she was wearing a black silk scarf, a very flattering short, red dress, and black heels. But her most prominent feature was what should have been her hair; which was a mass of hissing, slithering snakes.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce my friend and current Land of the Dead prison warden, Medusa."

Shock looked sidelong at the boys. Barrel was blushing, Lock's eye twitched, Kevin's jaw was so fat down that Shock had to close it for him. Even Klondike seemed very interested in the new snake-smelling woman.

"Hello again Elder. It's good to see you," Medusa said serenely, she turned to the quartet, "Are you the ones seeking my help?"

"That depends," Shock started, since the guys where too stunned to talk, "Can you reverse someone who's been turned to stone?"

"Of course I can, but from Elder's letter this isn't any ordinary stone case. Maybe you should tell me the whole story first." Shock did. Medusa kept a straight face through most of it, but that face fell when Shock described how serious her sister's condition was. After the story was over Medusa said, "I don't understand how this happened. There is only one case where this happened before, and it took him a hundred years to reach that state. Your sister was somehow inflicted overnight."

"Can you do something to cure her?" Lock asked.

Medusa sighed, "I don't know. That one case I talked about was never cured. But your sister isn't like him. I can let you try some of the potions we're cooking up at the prison. They might work but it can be risky."

"We'll take whatever we can get," Shock said.

"Then we should go," Medusa turned to the stairs but stopped and said, "But it's best if you stay here Shock. There's a hex around the prison and anyone who uses magic besides me can't enter."

"You mean I'm supposed to stay here and wait for you guys?" Shock incredulously.

"You can't stay outside the prison," Medusa continued, "The security gargoyles would chase you away. It's safer just to wait here."

Shock pouted, but agreed. Medusa continued down the stairs. Shock decided that she didn't like her much. While she was sulking the boys had managed to find their voices.

"I call leader!" Lock said to Kevin.

"Why are you in charge? I want to be in charge," Kevin complained.

"Fat chance, everyone knows I'm in charge,"

Kevin and Lock started going at it again. Shock groaned and went for their necks. Once she had slammed the boys' heads into the floor she stated loud and clear, "And that's why the dog is in charge." Klondike's ears perked up at that. Shock released the guys and went to pet Klondike, "Don't let them do anything stupid o.k.?" Klondike barked once, "Good, lead."

Klondike followed Medusa down the stairs. Barrel smiled at the looks on Lock and Kevin's faces and followed his dog. Kevin looked at Shock disdainfully and followed his brother, Lock just shrugged and followed in suit. Shock watched them go. This wasn't good, it was never good when they where apart. Things happened when they where apart.