Read Festival of Shadows Online
Authors: Michael La Ronn
Festival of Shadows (42 page)
Theo slashed Braindon. A bar on his power panel disappeared, leaving one remaining.
Braindon drew a card with a ball of light on it. “A Summon Card!” he cried.
The sky darkened, and the clouds parted, and a huge mother ship appeared. A hole opened in the bottom of the ship, and a searing column of selerium energy zapped the entire board, covering it in waves of fire. The waves engulfed Theo and he screamed as they burned him.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the mother ship disappeared, the clouds closed, and the fire subsided, leaving Theo on the ground, gasping.
Theo (1 HP)
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo drew a card with a ball of light on it.
“A Summon Card!” Braindon cried. “You weren’t supposed to draw that.”
The Whatsamadoozle glowed so brightly that it filled the area with light. In an instant, Theo saw the faces of all the toys in the Stratusphere who had ever died, and they smiled at him before turning into more white energy that flowed across the area in white tendrils.
“That light—” Braindon said, shielding his eyes.
Theo pointed the Whatsamadoozle at Braindon, and the light surged into the saucer. There was an explosion that knocked Braindon out of the air. Then the light disappeared.
Theo slashed Braindon, and the saucer powered down. The alien groaned as the board game powered down, too.
“Now let me out of here,” Theo said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon, and the saucer powered down. The alien groaned as he crashed to the ground.
“Now let me out of here,” Theo said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon, but he didn’t cause any damage.
“You better get ready, because apocalypse is imminent,” Braindon said, grinning. He fired a laser at Theo, knocking him back.
What did he mean by apocalypse? He’s up to something.
They switched squares.
Theo (3 HP)
SORRY!
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Theo drew a Shield Card. A force field rose around him.
“You idiot bear!” Braindon yelled. “You were supposed to die!”
Braindon drew a card with a ball of light on it. “A Summon Card!” he cried.
The sky darkened, and the clouds parted, and a huge mother ship appeared. A hole opened in the bottom of the ship, and a searing column of selerium energy zapped the entire board, covering it in waves of fire. The force field protected Theo and the fire couldn’t touch him.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the mother ship disappeared, the clouds closed, and the fire subsided.
“Now that you have witnessed my true power,” Braindon said. “You must die.”
Theo (3 HP)
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo drew a Summon Card. The Whatsamadoozle glowed so brightly that it filled the area with light. In an instant, Theo saw the faces of all the toys in the Stratusphere who had ever died, and they smiled at him before turning into more white energy that flowed across the area in white tendrils.
“That light—” Braindon said, shielding his eyes.
Theo pointed the Whatsamadoozle at Braindon, and the light surged into the saucer. There was an explosion that knocked Braindon out of the air. Then the light disappeared.
Theo slashed Braindon, and the saucer powered down. The alien groaned as the board game powered down, too.
“Now let me out of here,” Theo said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon. A bar on his power panel disappeared, leaving one remaining.
Braindon drew a Tissue Card.
“It’s time to end this,” Theo said. He slashed Braindon, and the saucer powered down. The alien groaned as he crashed to the ground.
“Now let me out of here,” Theo said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon. A bar on his power panel disappeared, leaving one remaining.
Braindon drew a card with a ball of light on it. “A Summon Card!” he cried.
The sky darkened, and the clouds parted, and a huge mother ship appeared. A hole opened in the bottom of the ship, and a searing column of selerium energy zapped the entire board, covering it in waves of fire. The waves engulfed Theo and he screamed as they burned him.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the mother ship disappeared, the clouds closed, and the fire subsided, leaving Theo on the ground, gasping.
The board game powered down, and Theo fell to his knees.
“You lose,” Braindon said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon. A bar on his power panel disappeared, leaving three bars.
“I prefer not to draw,” Braindon said. He fired a laser at Theo.
They switched squares.
Theo (4 HP)
SORRY!
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Theo drew a card with a shadow cloud on it. He froze in place as dark energy swirled around him and squeezed him.
“How did you like that Shadow Card?” Braindon said, laughing. He fired a laser at Theo.
They switched spaces.
Theo (2 HP)
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Theo drew a Tissue Card.
Crap.
Braindon fired a laser at Theo again. “Nice knowing you.”
They switched spaces.
Theo (1 HP)
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo drew a card with a ball of light on it.
“A Summon Card!” Braindon cried. “You weren’t supposed to draw that.”
The Whatsamadoozle glowed so brightly that it filled the area with light. In an instant, Theo saw the faces of all the toys in the Stratusphere who had ever died, and they smiled at him before turning into more white energy that flowed across the area in white tendrils.
“That light—” Braindon said, shielding his eyes.
Theo pointed the Whatsamadoozle at Braindon, and the light surged into the saucer. There was an explosion that knocked Braindon out of the air. Then the light disappeared.
Theo slashed Braindon, and the saucer powered down. The alien groaned as the board game powered down, too.
“Now let me out of here,” Theo said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon, reducing the power panel to two bars.
Braindon drew a card with a flask of green potion on it. “Ahh, the restorative powers of a Potion Card . . .” White light flowed around him, restoring him.
You have to be kidding me.
Braindon fired a laser at Theo. The board game powered down, and Theo fell to his knees.
“You lose,” Braindon said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon, reducing his power panel to two bars.
Braindon drew a card with a ball of light on it. “A Summon Card!” he cried.
The sky darkened, and the clouds parted, and a huge mother ship appeared. A hole opened in the bottom of the ship, and a searing column of selerium energy zapped the entire board, covering it in waves of fire. The waves engulfed Theo and he screamed as they burned him.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the mother ship disappeared, the clouds closed, and the fire subsided, leaving Theo on the ground, gasping.
The board game powered down, and Theo fell to his knees.
“You lose,” Braindon said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon, reducing his power panel to two bars.
Braindon drew a card with a clock on it. He moved at twice his normal speed, and he fired two lasers at Theo, knocking him back.
“Quick Cards are my favorite card,” the alien said.
They switched spaces.
Theo (2 HP)
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo drew a card with a shadow cloud on it. He froze in place as dark energy swirled around him and squeezed him.
“I love Shadow Cards,” Braindon said. He fired a laser at Theo, knocking him back.
The board game powered down, and Theo fell to his knees.
“You lose,” Braindon said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo slashed Braindon, reducing his power panel to two bars.
Braindon drew a Shield Card. A force field rose around him.
Theo slashed at him again, but the force field absorbed the blow. Braindon fired a laser at Theo, knocking him back.
The board game powered down, and Theo fell to his knees.
“You lose,” Braindon said.
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo looked ahead; there was a circle with alternating black and white squares, with two card decks in the middle—one white, one black.
Braindon hovered over a black square. “Now we battle,” the alien said. An LCD screen on the front of the saucer lit up with five red bars.
Against his will, Theo slid onto a white square. He activated the Whatsamadoozle and turned it into a sword. “You’re finally speaking a language I can understand.”
THE FINAL CHALLENGE
~ Theo and Braindon will circle the board. They will land on Light Squares or Dark Squares. Each color has its own associated deck of cards.
~ Light Square cards may be helpful, such as restoring damage or deflecting Braindon’s attacks. They may also do nothing.
~ Dark Square cards may be harmful, such as sucking health from Theo. But the dark energy may also be useful.
~ Each turn, Theo can attack or draw a card. Braindon will do the same. The battle ends when any one player’s Health Points (HP) are reduced to zero.
~ Braindon has superior knowledge of the decks, and his strategy will change based on Theo’s actions.
I should draw to see what happens, first.
The Light Square shimmered at Theo’s feet, and he drew a card with a metal shield on it.
“A Shield Card,” Braindon said.
A force field of selerium energy rose around Theo, preventing damage from the next attack.
“Give up now,” Theo said.
Braindon snickered. “I knew you’d do that. But you shouldn’t doubt the darkness. Well . . . nah. I don’t think I’ll draw.”
ZEER
! Braindon fired a laser at Theo, but the force field protected him and then disappeared.
“Next round!”
Braindon hovered over a Light Square, and Theo ran onto a Dark Square.
Theo (5 HP)
SORRY!
You didn’t make a selection. Go back to the previous page. Otherwise, you may get lost.
Theo drew a card with a box of tissues on it. He waited for something to happen, but nothing did.
Braindon laughed. “A Tissue Card? Not good.” He fired a laser at Theo, knocking him back.
Theo stood and screwed his eyes at Braindon. “Why haven’t you drawn yet?”
Braindon harrumphed, and they switched squares again.
Theo (4 HP)
