Donbavand - Flame of the Dragon

When Luke Watson first began to transform into a werewolf, his whole world was turned upside down especially when his family was forcibly moved to a new home on Scream Street. This secure, magically locked location was one of several communities in which G.H.O.U.L. (Government Housing Of Unusual Life-forms) placed vampires, witches, zombies, and more.

Luke quickly made friends with the wannabe vampire next door, Resus Negative, and Cleo Farr, a plucky mummy from down the street but his parents were terrified. So with the help of his new friends, he set out to collect six relics left behind by the communitys founding fathers. Only with their combined power could he open a doorway back home, even though such portals are against the rules. However, by the time Luke had succeeded, his parents had seen how happy he was on Scream Street and decided to stay.

Meanwhile, doorways work in both directions, and it wasnt long before Scream Streets greedy landlord, Sir Otto Sneer, was charging normals from Lukes old world to visit what he called the worlds greatest freak show. Soon the street was swarming with tourists, making life a misery for the residents.

This set Luke, Resus, and Cleo off on a second quest: to track down the founding fathers and return their relics in an effort to close the doorway and save their friends and neighbors. Five relics in, all seemed to be going well until the illegal doorway was discovered and the trio was caught by Acrid Belcher, the disgusting swamp beast head of G.H.O.U.L....

Mr. and Mrs. Watson gripped the bars of the viewing area as they watched the Movers march Luke, Resus, and Cleo over to the trapdoor. Niles Farr and Resuss mom and dad were with them. The trip through the Hex Hatch to G.H.O.U.L. headquarters had been made in silence, apart from the occasional sob from Bella Negative.

The trio had their hands tied and they stood, staring miserably at their parents as Acrid Belcher approached, clutching a roll of parchment. Cleo began to shake. Resus fought back tears as he caught sight of his moms stricken face.

Defendants, the slime beast gurgled. You have been charged with opening a magical doorway out of a G.H.O.U.L. community, allowing thousands of normals to enter and disrupt the lives of its residents. Do you deny these charges?

You dont understand, protested Luke. I just wanted a way to take my mom and dad home....

Then you admit to collecting the six founding fathers relics and using their power to open a doorway back to your old world?

Yes, but

Enough! barked Belcher. You are guilty of the charges brought against you, and sentence will now be passed.

Luke gulped and didnt say any more.

Luke Watson, Resus Negative, Cleo Farr you will now be banished to the Underlands for the rest of your natural lives, however long that may be.

Acrid Belcher grasped the lever beside him and pulled it back hard. The trapdoor swung open with a barely audible creak, plunging Luke, Resus, and Cleo into the dark, swirling abyss beneath....

As Luke tumbled through the purple clouds, he found himself in the middle of a violent storm. He could just make out the desolate features below: black soil, twisted trees, and a raging river of churning, dark water.

Then he caught sight of Resus and Cleo, also midfall, being buffeted by the wind as the ground sped toward them. Luke felt consumed with guilt. This was all his fault. His friends hadnt been in any danger until he had involved them in his quest to find the founding fathers relics. IM SORRY! he bellowed.

Cleo managed to flash him a quick smile before a crackling bolt of purple lightning shot between them, sending her spiraling backward. Resus grabbed the mummys foot before she could disappear into the sheets of torrential rain, pulling her toward him so that Luke could catch her other hand.

HOLD ON! shouted the vampire, then he plunged his hand into his cape and pulled out a large golf umbrella, forcing it open against the howling wind. Instantly, the trios descent slowed as the umbrella acted like a parachute. They were still falling, but the ground wasnt rushing up to meet them quite so quickly. Maybe they could survive this fall after all....

YOURE A GENIUS! cried Luke.

FINALLY YOU REALIZE! Resus grinned. AFTER ALL

His words were cut off abruptly as another fork of fiery lightning arced toward them, slamming into the handle of the umbrella with the force of a charging bull. Both vampire and umbrella were flung away across the sky in a blaze of fizzing violet sparks.

RESUS! screamed Cleo.

Luke twisted around, trying to spot a flash of the blue lining of his friends cape among the pounding sheets of gray rain, but there was nothing. Resus was gone.

Then Luke plunged into the heaving waters of the river, and pain exploded in his knee as it smashed against a rock.

The freezing water bit at Luke. He opened his eyes but could see nothing in the inky blackness. The river spun him around and around, and he could feel his lungs burning. He needed to work out which way was up and get to the surface so he could breathe again but he had lost all sense of direction in the turbulent water.

The pain in his knee began to overwhelm him and he found himself thinking about his mom and dad. Hed started searching for Scream Streets hidden relics as a way to take his parents back to their old world. They hadnt asked to be moved it had all been because he had started transforming into his werewolf. Now he would never see them again. A veil of unconsciousness began to wash over him....

Then, suddenly, a hand plunged into the water, grabbed the collar of his T-shirt, and dragged him to the surface. Luke gulped down a lungful of freezing air.

Im not losing you, too! gasped Cleo as she pumped her legs to try to keep the two of them afloat. Lashing rain hammered down all around them like needles. Can you swim to the riverbank? she shouted.

Luke shook his head. I hit my leg, he replied weakly.

Gritting her teeth, Cleo wrapped her arm around Lukes chest and began to swim toward the bank. A deep red stain spread out behind them in the water as blood gushed from Lukes injured knee.

Finally, Cleo found she was able to stand. Her legs tired and shaking from the cold, she dragged Luke clear of the water, then slumped to the ground beside him. As the pair struggled to catch their breath, the charred remnant of the umbrella handle was whipped out of the sky and embedded itself in the mud next to them.