Silence falls; the only sound that can be heard is rushing water. "I'm sorry; can you repeat that?" Lahar asks in shock.

"Sure. I need your help in getting Arena's heart," Void says as his flames burn brighter.

She swallows, and then she says, "Like metaphorically?"

"No, literally. The thing pumping blood in his chest. I want that. I don't think that should be any trouble at all."

Arena reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of gum. He unwraps it and starts to chew. "Well, this was eye-opening," he says. He turns to Lahar as he slowly gets up. "I think it's time for us to leave, though. Let's go, Lahar," he says as he starts to walk away. Before he can take two steps, his chair changes its shape into an enormous hand.

The hand grabs Arena before he can react, trapping him. The sand condenses until it forms stone. Before Pie can react, a dome of white encases him. Though the dome is thick and sealed tight, they all can still hear his bellowing barks. The arms of Lahar's chair morph around her wrists and turn to stone, trapping her in a less theatrical way.

Arena stares daggers at Void as Lahar takes a deep breath to remain calm. Her heart feels as if it will burst out of her chest and land in the cold white sand as she speaks. "So you are trapping us now. I will admit, you play the monster role better than you do the good witch."

"Don't call me that. I am not the monster here," Void says, disgusted.

"Really? From our point of view, it seems that you fit the bill," Arena says as he stares at Void.

"Of course you would think that. You both only see the world in a simple fashion." Void begins to pace around the island as he speaks, making a spectacle of himself. "I implore you to look at this from different angles, see it in different lights. In some light, I may look like a monster. But in the true light, you will see me for what I truly am—the hero," Void says proudly.

"No hero kidnaps people," Lahar says.

"It is for the greater good that you are here. I stand by my decision. If you just help, it won't have to be this way. You will have safe passage home, enriched by this experience."

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"Instead, we are trapped here. You can try to put yourself in a better light, but all that will do is expose more of the true you," Arena says.

"That's what I hope will happen. This way there is a chance for you to see why I do what I do," Void says as his fingers softly run down a crystal on the rim of the island.

"The crystal itself is contorted, yet it shines as beautifully as the others," he says to them. Void turns and looks over his shoulder so he can see Arena. "Your eyes burn brighter than mine. Are you planning something?"

"I want to make sure you can say everything you want to say. I am giving you a shot to convince me."

"Well, you're cocky," Void says as he walks around the island.

"I do have a few tricks. If you want to know what I have planned, it will be best if I show you," Arena says with a grin on his face.

Arena's body passes through the stone as if it weren't there. As soon as his feet touch the ground, he grabs Lahar's arm and pulls. Just like him, her arms pass through the restraints. The ground shakes as the freezing air starts to warm. In one loud howl, the dome around Pie turns to glass and shatters. Thanks to Arena, the glass simply passes through Lahar and him. What's standing there isn't the dog Lahar recognizes.

The blond fur has turned to raging golden flames with blue tips. The fire is intense like a sun, with the sand surrounding Pie turning to glass. "Looks like you made him mad. That wasn't a good idea," Arena says.

Void chuckles as he raises his hand. "You are not the only one who has a pet."

With a snap of his fingers, the rushing water stops. The sound of cracking stone fills the cavern. Lahar looks up to see a small number of the shark heads fidgeting. Their jaws open and close as the stone wall around them cracks. "If you were to use the water gun, now would be the time," Arena tells Lahar.

Her hand trembles as she reaches for the grip. "You sure? They are stuck in the wall." As she says that, the stone sharks torpedo out of the wall and onto the island. The heads are attached to long, thick, snakelike bodies.

She pulls the water gun out of the holster. Her heart beats as she raises the barrel.

"Do you have any experience firing a gun?" Arena asks Lahar.

"Well, there was this game at the arcade I played a lot. You grab a plastic gun and play as a cop in this mad scientist's house and shoot—"

"Don't finish that sentence. It's making me nervous. Just aim, and don't hit Pie or me."

"We're staying to fight?"

"Not even close. We're going to make a break for it. We just need to knock him back so we have enough time to safely get on Pie's back. Once that happens, we're home free."

"Then let's go now, before he—" Before she can finish her sentence, a shark lunges at her with its jaw open.

Golden beads of sweat seep from Arena's pores on his left arm. The drops connect and take the shape of a thin golden gauntlet that stretches to his elbow. Grains of sand fly up into the air as Arena slams the shark's head on the ground with his palm.