Chapter 107: Chapter 107

The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground, and scorpions could be seen skittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.

The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain and earthy terrain.

“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”

After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless-looking archway of rock.

“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.

“Then I consider that person the luckiest man alive,” Prince Dakar replied.

“Are we ready? We can't waste time or one of these things is going to deposit their venom in us,” Camper stated as he dodged a gigantic bee headed for his forehead.

“Let's go. We can do it,” Avril encouraged and squared her shoulders. She gave an encouraging nod to her girls, which they returned. Slowly but swiftly, they dodged and swatted away the scorpions and bees as they made their way to the archway. When they reached it, Prince Dakar stepped up first.

“I'll go first and wait at the other side for you all. Camper go last and make sure everyone goes in safely.” While he said that, he glanced at Avril before giving Camper a coded look. His friend gave a small nod. Prince Dakar walked to Avril and held her face in his arms.

“I'll see you,” he said in a half whisper. There was fear in that voice, but also faith. He had faith in her, that she'll be able to come out.

“You owe me some good feast after this is all over,” she said and he smiled.

“Yes, and a lot more than that,” he replied then kissed her forehead. He then walked into the archway. Two steps into it and he disappeared. Avril held her breath.

“Who's next?” Camper asked.

“Me,” Chidi said and went forward. She calmly walked in and disappeared too. One minute later, Xiao Wéi walked into it, followed by the weird, quiet guy.

“Verona?” Camper called and gestured to the archway. Verona entered and disappeared. Now just Nana, Avril, and Camper were left.

“Who's going in?” Camper asked. Nana looked at Avril and gulped.

“Nana,” Avril called alarmingly and rushed to her friend.

“I can't,” she cried as Avril hugged her.

“I can't do it,” she broke down.

“Yes, baby, you can! You can do this, you can defeat it. That bastard is never going to find you again and you're the one who's going to get stronger, and live longer. Heck, he's probably already dead by a bullet to his penis!”

Nana laughed and wiped the tears away.

“Yeah, you are right. I'll get through it,” she replied and squeezed Avril's hand.

“I'll go in first and wait for you. Run into the first set of arms you see, they're mine waiting to embrace you.” Avril stared straight into Nana's eyes and nodded bravely to her friend. Nana exhaled deeply then nodded too. Avril let go and looked at Camper who suddenly had that dark look on his face again. He was staring at Nana with that look. Something fierce, terrifying, protective, and powerful accompanied that stare. Good, Nana was going to be in safe hands. Camper's hands.

“Camper,” Avril called and he shifted that dark look from Nana.

“Take care of her,” she spoke in a firm voice. Camper stared silently at her for long seconds. Then he nodded. He had gotten the message. Avril did not just mean the Porta Metus.

“I promise,” Camper responded. Avril gave him an appreciative look, a loving smile to Nana, and a hard frown to the place the Porta Metus stood. Then she approached it, stepped into it, and disappeared.

Nana gulped but almost yelped in fright when she felt something touching her hand. She looked sideways to see Camper just inches from her, then she looked down to see he was now holding her hand. Thankful it was not a scorpion or giant bee, she exhaled.

“Are you ready, babe?” he asked. That dark look had still not left his face.

“Yes,” Nana answered with resilience.

Camper stood in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her directly in front of him.

“I want you to know that I like you, Nana. No, this is not one of those lines thrown about flimsily to catch a girl or five. This is me telling you that I am falling for you. I'm falling for your smiles, falling for your jokes, falling for the way you walk, falling for the way you step into a room and instantly brighten it up.

“I'm falling for your body, how perfect it is and how it carries extra goodness that could last a man his lifetime. I want you, Nana. I want us. Please, would you do me the honor of loving you, protecting you, and holding you dear for the rest of my miserable clumsy life?”

Nana's jaw dropped as she stared at Camper who just spilled a lot out. He wasn't smiling, neither did he look like he was pranking her. Heck! Camper was serious. He wanted her for real.

“On two conditions,” she replied. Camper waited expectantly to hear it.

“One, you let me also love you, protect you, and hold you dear for the rest of my own miserable, clumsy life. Two, you only love me, protect me, and hold me dear for the rest of your miserable, clumsy life.”

Camper burst into a short life.

“Conditions accepted,” he said. Nana grinned at him. He took her in a hug and stroked her back gently. When they unlocked, he lifted up her chin with his index finger.

“Wait for me, all right?”

She nodded.

“Don't waste so much time,” she said.

“I won't,” he replied and stepped away from her path. Nana stared at the archway then walked into it. But she found herself in a skimpy outfit like she hadn't worn in months, in a room she hadn't been in months.

“You called for me, master,” she said with a smile as she looked sexily at him. Master Arturo turned around with a deathly frown while unbuckling his belt.

“Get on the bed. If only you knew what you were in for, you wouldn't be smiling,” he growled. Her smile faded.

**

Prince Dakar took two steps and found himself on the island, big bunches of bananas in his paws, and a basket at his feet. He looked around him and saw a white bunny hopping around, munching on a vegetable. The sun was coming up in the sky, and the air was fresh.

“Dakar! I'm freaking losing weight here!” he heard a light, yet cranky voice calling out from across the island.

Avril.

She was hungry. Shoot, she wanted banana cake for brunch. What was he doing just standing there and looking around?

Dakar grabbed the basket as he shoved the ripe bananas inside. He then took the handle in between his teeth.

“Come on, Dakavril,” he called to the rabbit and raced through the plantation to the mountain house. She was overlooking the place through an open window in the rock. She saw him coming and glared at him.

“Seriously?” she scoffed.

“I'm sorry. I lost myself for a moment,” he replied after bringing down the basket. She glared then disappeared from the window. He went in immediately to start cooking but immediately he laid eyes on her in the living room, his eyes turned red.

‘Watch me rip your princess to pieces!’ a high-pitched sound rocked through his head.

“Dakar, let me eat two bananas from that,” Avril said and began to walk towards him.

‘No! Go back! Run, Avril!’ he screamed but none of the words came out. His wolf body readied itself to pounce. He snarled viciously, and that was when Avril noticed.

“Dakar?” she called and took a step back. Dakar growled again, baring all his fangs.

‘No, Dojo! Please! Not her, not Avril!’ Dakar screamed but no one heard. He was voiceless in his own body. Then slowly, he felt himself merge with the demon. Become one with the thing. He too now wanted to destroy her, to taste her blood as it coated his fangs and lick it off his claws. To get rid of his only obstacle for good.

“Finally, I get to clear off the last hurdle!” he roared then pounced. A scream tore through the air, followed by the sound of blood being splashed across the wall.

Prince Dakar began to pant heavily as he stood. His vision was blurry but he could see the red. He blinked and saw that the red belonged to Avril. She was dressed in a beautiful red dress, her hair in a ponytail.

“Hey, my prince,” she called and walked towards him. He smiled but frowned immediately he saw his reflection in the mirror opposite him. His hair was completely red, his eyeballs the same color. He was no longer him.

“I miss you so much,” the grown-up, womanly Avril said as she continued to walk to him. Prince Dakar lifted his hand and in it was a dagger. He found himself grinning maliciously as he thrust it forward.

But no, he couldn't hurt Avril. He'll never hurt his Fiorella. Before the dagger could find its mark on her body, he maneuvered it back towards him and drove it deep into his heart instead. Better he died off than let the menace in him hurt Avril.

He gasped as air finally rushed into his lungs, as if he had been underwater for too long. He found himself crouched down on his knee, his hands supporting him on the ground. He looked back and realized he was out of the Porta Metus.