Kendra could feel it. Her heart was beating furiously. She wanted to help Kiro, to save him, the little helpless boy in the scene. But she could not. She was completely powerless. No! She screamed inside her mind. How could I be so stupid? How could I have ever helped the very creatures who did this to poor Kiro? Never again . . .
Hatred began to cloud her heart. She could feel it course through her body, unimpeded, like ink spilled in water.
“Goooood,” the door chortled, as if he was watching her with voracious eyes.
Kendra felt her whole body beginning to transform into something ugly and wretched. She looked down at her hands and saw they were becoming deformed, like the claws of an Unger. She was becoming one of them. Yet, as this happened, the memory in her mind sped forward; like a rock rolling down a hill, it could not be stopped. The memory had to play out.
So, even as she changed into an Unger, Kendra continued to see poor Kiro in her memory, waiting for the Ungers to snatch him. As an infant in the vision, Kendra could feel Kiro’s hands shake as he held her. Then, at last, he placed her tiny body into a crack in the rocks, trying to hide her from the approaching beasts.
“Quiet now,” he whispered bravely. “Not a peep! Okay, Little Star?”
But it was too late. The Ungers were there. With their rough claws they tore him away, forever. She squeezed her eyes shut and wailed. Then she felt the Ungers lifting her out of the crack. They tore open her blanket and glared at her with triumphant eyes. Then suddenly their expressions changed to confusion, then to fear. They had noticed something. She could see the terror on their craggy faces. It was her palm. They had seen the mark of the star.
“The forbidden onezum!” they screamed.
They dropped her to the ground and, just like that, they were gone. She was left all alone amidst the wilderness, a baby on a ledge of rock, and there she would lie until Uncle Griffinskitch would discover her hours later. But now Kendra left the vision behind and returned to her eleven-year-old self. Her mind was reeling with the last words her brother had ever said to her: “Little Star.”
This struck her. Kiro was not the only one to have called me that, she thought.
“Don’t worry about it!” the door snapped, sensing her struggle. “It was your brother! That’s what he used to call you.”
No, Kendra thought. Someone else.
“Who else?” the door demanded. “Who else other than your brother would call you that?”
“Youzum right,” Kendra declared, shocked at the sound of her voice, now changed into that of an Unger. “Only brotherzum.”
“Yes . . . the last thing he said before they took him,” the door snarled. “Those monsters. Those Ungers.”
The Ungers, Kendra thought. That’s right. Kiro IS the only one to ever call me that.
And then, in one moment of clarity, everything suddenly made sense.
Trooogul.
He was Kiro.
Kiro was Trooogul.
He was her brother.
He had been transformed into an Unger, all those years ago—just like she was turning into one at this very moment. There were no monsters in this maze at all. Uncle Griffinskitch, Oki, herself—all of them—they were the monsters. They had all transformed into the very things they loathed.
And now, something else happened. She was changing again. It was like she was coming to the surface of the water, as if she had been drowning and now suddenly had been thrust to the top, finally able to breathe again.
Kendra rubbed her eyes. She looked down at her hands. They were Een hands again. The transformation had stopped. She was still herself.
She looked about and found herself in a new room in the maze, one she had not yet been to. She wasn’t sure how she had come to this place, but it was lighter and warmer here. Then she noticed that in the middle of this room, there was a low dais, and on the dais were the shattered remains of a cauldron. She could not be sure what had caused the destruction of the cauldron; but she did know whatever accident had befallen it had happened long ago, for its many fragments were old and rusted. Now the shattered remains of the cauldron seemed to glow, and rising forth from them was an apparition, cold and white and translucent.
“Who are you?” Kendra asked in bewilderment.
“I am the first Elder of Een,” the ghost replied solemnly.
TO KENDRA, the ghost’s face looked just like the Door to Unger. It was his voice that was different, for it was no longer angry or threatening. If anything, Kendra felt that it was a hollow voice, sad and forlorn.
“Where am I?” Kendra asked.
“You have arrived at the center of the maze,” the ghost replied. “Here the heart is darkest. Few have made it this deep—and then, only to succumb to their own hatred. But no longer will this be the case. Now there will be light, now that you have come.”
“What are you talking about?” Kendra asked. “I don’t understand. Why are you here?”
“This is my place,” the ghost responded with a sweeping gesture of his hand, though there was not the slightest hint of pride in his voice. “This is the map of my dark heart. For of all Eens, I am the one who first felt hatred. Long ago, in the Days of Een, all were one, all were kind, and there was goodness in the land. And there were seven original Elders of Een, and I was the very first of all of them. We were not only seven Elders, we were seven brothers. And we watched over the Eens, with goodness in our hearts and in our minds. But there came a time when one Elder hungered for power over all others.”
“It was you,” Kendra declared. “The Wizard Greeve.”
“Aye,” the ghost said. “And my heart grew dark and twisted and poisoned, and I told myself that the other Elders, my brothers, would take the power if I didn’t. So I decided to have it for myself.”
“But they discovered your plot and banished you.”
“You know the tale, I see,” the ghost of Greeve murmured.
Kendra nodded. She wanted to be angry with him, but somehow she could not. Whatever anger she had felt, only a few moments before, had now evaporated—and it wasn’t as if the wizard was real. He was just a ghost now, sad and pitiful.
“Then you know what happened next,” the ghost continued. “After I was banished by my brothers, I traveled into the wilderness, my heart still seething with anger. And when I came here I built this temple with its dark door, so that it might corrupt all who enter it. I became this place, you know. I locked my soul and spirit into the wall, the very rock, so that I might live forever. Still, in this haven, I was able to trick my foolish brothers. They came here in hopes to make peace with me, but once I had them within the depths of my maze I cursed them, my brethren. Alas, one escaped my curse, my brother Longbraids. He fled back to Een, hiding himself and his people from my wicked ways. But the others, they have been cursed every since.”
“How can that be?” Kendra asked. “What do you mean? Aren’t your brothers all dead and gone now?”
“The curse lives on, generation after generation,” the great white ghost explained. “It has lived in this place, years untold. The Unger Keepers, they know the truth of the door. That is why they gather the beasts here each year, to honor the anniversary of that first curse and to cast any they have captured through the door. They thought they might conquer the Eens, one by one . . . so that one day your race would be made extinct.”
“They would transform all of us into . . . into monsters,” Kendra said.
“Aye,” the ghost of Greeve said solemnly. “But you, my child, were able to break the curse.”
“Because of Trooogul,” Kendra said. “Because I discovered he is my brother.”
“Not exactly,” the ghost said. “You forged a friendship with Trooogul long before you learned his true identity—and that’s what gave you the ability to destroy the curse. You felt fellowship, kindness and faith towards Trooogul when others of your kind could only fumble with emotions of mistrust and hate. Your belief in friendship with Trooogul allowed you to d
iscover that he is your brother—but more importantly, it allowed you to break through the dark shroud of my heart.”
“What happens next?” Kendra asked.
“The darkness lifts,” the wizard replied solemnly. “The maze—my black heart—is shattered. Now, you must go . . . leave the maze, and return to your world.”
“What will become of you?” Kendra asked, giving her braids a nervous tug.
“My dear, I am already dead,” the ghost explained. “I bound myself to this maze long ago, so that the treachery of my heart could live on in this cold place. But you have destroyed my domain, and now my spirit will finally be released.”
“But wait!” Kendra called. “How do I break the curse?”
“It shall not be undone,” the ghost said gravely. “The curse is forgotten.”
“There has to be a way,” Kendra urged. “Tell me more! Tell about your brothers, the other Elders.”
“There is no time,” the ghost of Greeve declared, raising a white translucent finger. “Look, a light is shining; the temple is shattered.”
Kendra turned around slowly, and now she noticed a ray of light beaming into the room from one of the passageways—but only one.
“The light will show you the path to the maze’s exit,” the ghost explained. “Now, step into the light! Return to your true selves!”
At first Kendra didn’t understand what the ghost meant, for she had already turned back to her true self. Then she realized that she was no longer alone in the center of the maze with the apparition; six hideous creatures had entered and were now standing behind her. It was almost as if they had been beckoned. Some of the creatures Kendra recognized: the Orrid and Unger who had chased her and the Izzard who she thought had devoured Oki. But now that she knew the truth, she was no longer afraid of them. She watched with anticipation as the six beasts stepped into the light, and instantly their monstrous forms melted away—and there her companions stood.
“Kendra!” Oki exclaimed and she felt her heart leap with relief and joy. The little mouse rushed forward and Kendra hugged him so hard that he squeaked.
She would have embraced them all—but there was suddenly no time. The ghost was fading away and the entire maze began to tremble. The floor beneath them began to rupture and suddenly plants and trees began to spring forth, ripping up the stones with their roots and leaves. In other areas, water bubbled up through the rock, creating rivers across the floor of the maze.
“Time to leave!” Jinx declared.
“Whatever you do, stay in the light while we’re in this maze,” Kendra told them. “Otherwise you’ll be transformed back into the creatures you were!”
Everyone stepped in line behind Jinx, save for Effryn, who seemed to be lingering by the broken remains of the cauldron.
“Hurry now!” Jinx commanded.
“Don’t get your wings in a knot,” the plump Faun replied. “I’m coming.”
As soon as he had joined the group, Jinx hopped forward, following the path of light through the maze. As they left the hub of the maze, Kendra looked over her shoulder, but the ghost of Greeve was gone and a jungle of life was sprouting up from where the remains of the cauldron had rested. Many of the trees had already ripped through the roof of the chamber, and now brilliant sunshine was flooding the place. The dark temple of the Wizard Greeve would soon be no more.
Quickly Jinx led them down the passageway, into the glaring ray of light. There were still many turns and twists in the maze, but the light showed them the way. Then, they turned a corner and standing before them was a young Een man, basking in the light. He wasn’t wearing any clothes, save for a ragged pair of trousers. Even his feet were bare. Jinx came to an abrupt halt.
“Where did you come from?” she demanded.
The Een looked upon the small, bewildered party and flashed a white smile. He seemed about seventeen years old, tall and strong and handsome. But it was his eyes that Kendra noticed, for somehow she knew them.
“I’ll be shorn!” Effryn piped up, for it seemed he had recognized those eyes too. “It’s Trooogul, isn’t it?”
“Not exactly,” Kendra said. “It’s—,”
“Kiro!” Uncle Griffinskitch exclaimed. “My boy!”
The old wizard hobbled forward, Kendra right on his heels, and together they were swept up in the young Een’s arms. Kendra felt as if her heart would burst with joy. Her brother! At last she had found him, the real him; and, if she had found him, that meant she could find her parents too. Anything and everything seemed possible in that moment. Kendra was hungry, beaten, and exhausted—but she had never felt so exhilarated.
“My word!” Professor Bumblebean gasped. “Whatever is going on here?”
“There’s no time to explain,” Kendra said as Kiro finally released her from his embrace. “We better get out of here before there’s nothing left of this place.”
Jinx nodded, and bounded ahead, taking the lead. The rest followed again, and this time Kendra, Kiro, and Uncle Griffinskitch took up the rear, all holding hands.
“How did you find us?” Kendra asked her brother as they scrambled through the crumbling wreckage of the maze.
“I heard you scream, Little Star,” Kiro answered. “All the way from out there. Once the maze started to fall apart, I found a way in. It so happened I stepped into this light and, well—here I am!”
“It makes sense now,” Kendra beamed. “All of it.”
“Yes,” Kiro said. “That old Unger Oroook was right all along. The Door to Unger showed us the truth.”
“What about our parents?” Kendra said. “Do you know where they are?”
Kiro shook his head grimly. “I don’t know what became of them, Kendra. Maybe they went through the door, just like me. Maybe not. I just can’t remember.”
Kendra felt her Uncle’s hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find them yet,” the old Een declared.
They now had to focus all of their concentration on escaping the maze, for the way was becoming increasingly perilous. Stones were tumbling down from the high walls and ceiling in greater frequency, and this made the shaft of light more and more difficult to follow. Not only did they have to dodge the raining rocks, but many of the stones had fallen onto the path to impede their way.
“We’re almost there!” Jinx hollered in encouragement as she hopped to the top of one such obstacle. “I can see the end.”
With new vigor, the tiny grasshopper bounded ahead, the rest of the party close behind her. A gateway appeared before them and through it Kendra could see the Greeven Wastes stretch into the horizon—and yet, it was a wasteland no longer. The stadium had vanished, the monsters scattered, and the jumble of rocks was no more; for now it was replaced by lush forest and fields of wild flowers.
Kendra had never seen such a pleasant sight!
“We’ve made it,” she murmured.
Jinx hopped through the door, and the others followed. Kendra, Kiro, and Uncle Griffinskitch were only a few paces away from the exit when suddenly a dark shadow loomed in the door, blocking their way. Kendra felt her heart skip. It was a cluster of creatures: a Goojun, a Krake, and one very ornery Unger.
“Creeegun!” Kendra gasped.
KENDRA SHOOK HER HEAD in confusion. “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why hasn’t the light transformed them?”
“They can’t change,” Kiro murmured in reply. “They were born as Ungers and such. The light can’t reverse that.”
Kendra clung tightly to Kiro and Uncle Griffinskitch, and wished more than ever that the old wizard had not lost his staff. Without it, they had no way to get past Creeegun and his cohorts.
Where’s Jinx anyway? she asked herself angrily, but she realized that it was probably impossible to return to the maze after exiting it. So she stood there, alongside her brother and uncle, momentarily frozen in fear.
The temple continued to fall down around them. Now entire sections of the walls around the door gave way and collapsed to the ground. Before long
, they no longer felt as if they were standing in a passageway, but rather just in the shaft of light that had guided them through the maze. On either side of them was a flat expanse of churning rock and jungle. Because of this, there were many directions to run—but Kendra could see that all avenues of escape would lead them out of the light—and that meant transforming back into monsters.
As for Creeegun, he did not seem the least bit perplexed by the tumbling stones or the quaking floor. He paced before the three Eens, his eyes wide and cruel. Behind him, the Goojun and Krake hovered, drooling.
“Wherezum Trooogul!?” Creeegun demanded.
“I’m Trooogul,” Kiro announced, stepping in front of Kendra and Uncle Griffinskitch and letting go of their hands.
“Wherezum Trooogul!?” Creeegun repeated. “Seezum Trooogul enter mazeum—but nozum come outzum.”
“I AM Trooogul!” Kiro uttered. “The maze changed me into an Een—my true self!”
This seemed too much for Creeegun and the other creatures to comprehend. They stared at Kiro with baffled expressions. As far as they were concerned, Kiro might as well have just announced that he was moving to the moon.
“We’re not so different, you and I,” Kiro told Creeegun. “Eens and Ungers, that is.”
“LIAR!” Creeegun roared. “Trooogul betray Ungers, friendzum of Eeneez. But youzum! Youzum still killzum Trooogul.”
“That’s not true!” Kendra cried. “We didn’t hurt him! He’s right here!”
But now Creeegun had no interest in talking. “Killz them!” he spat, and he leapt forward with his fellows at his side.
Kendra shrieked. The Goojun was coming straight towards her, but at the last moment one of the falling rocks struck the reptilian creature and he crashed to the floor, unconscious at her feet. Creeegun plowed towards Kiro, but the young Een ducked beneath the Unger, escaping the rake of his claws. Uncle Griffinskitch was not so lucky; the Krake hit him with full force, bowling him to the ground and sinking its sharp fangs into his shoulder. The old wizard screamed in pain, and in the next instant Kiro was at his side, hurling a large rock at the Krake to knock him away.
Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger Page 16