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Zoe yelped as Shadow took flight. At once, they soared through the sky, riding the current of wind like a speedway. She gasped as they hurtled forwards at breath-taking speed, racing along the landscape until the motel disappeared in the distance. With every twist and turn, her stomach churned, while her mind begged her to return to the earth. But one glance at the determination in Shadow’s eyes told her that forfeiting the match wouldn’t be an option.
The wind tunnel veered sharply to the right, taking them into a nearby cactus field. Zoe drew a startled breath as the course became littered with needle-filled obstacles, and steeled herself for impact. But Shadow nimbly wove between the cacti with masterful precision, riding the winds like a slalom skier on the slopes, until they began to catch up with the other racers.
“Look out!”
Zoe watched as two of the Phantom Fiestadores sped into each other with a mighty crash. With a hearty cry, they tumbled headfirst into the cactus patch, until an explosion of needles filled the air. Zoe braced herself as she was showered with a splatter of cactus pulp, while the sombrero-wearing spirits furiously dueled each other with their instruments. But Shadow wasted no time and sped ahead, until the tempestuous toots of the trumpet and the chagrined chattering of the castanets faded into the distance.
“Well, I, for one, am glad to be clear of a needle-filled obstacle course.” Zoe sighed with relief as they approached a vast black lake, its still waters reflecting the silvery moonlight. But as a deep rumbling filled her ears, she drew an uneasy breath, and turned to Shadow. “Please tell me that was Cerberus’ stomach.”
“I’m afraid not. Hold on, Zoe, we’re about to hit the Bubbling Bog!”
Zoe yelped as the lake exploded into a plume of bubbling liquid. Despite her fear, Shadow’s grip remained strong, until he wove between the torrents of water with ease, gaining ground by the second.
“Not so fast, fleshie!” Zoe turned to see Spooks appear nearby in a puff of smoke, a slingshot clutched in his hands. “I think it’s time to make things a little more interesting.”
With a cackle, Spooks loaded the slingshot, and aimed it in their direction. As the twang of the weapon filled the air, a vast cobweb sailed towards them, its silky netting expanding to ensnare them in its grasp.
“Shadow, look out!”
Shadow dived through the air, narrowly avoiding the grasp of the spiderweb, until they sped along the surface of the water. Zoe’s heart pounded in her chest as Spooks pursued them, sending a maelstrom of cobwebs their way with a gleeful cackle. She watched as the poltergeist’s missiles struck one of the Phantom Fiestadores, wrapping him in silvery bindings, until he plummeted into the depths of the lake.
“We have to do something!”
“I have an idea.” Shadow watched the center of the lake as it started rumbling, like a volcano ready to blow. “But something tells me you’re not going to like it.”
Zoe’s eyes widened as realization dawned on her. “No, Shadow!”
“It’s the only way.” Shadow turned to her, golden sparks shimmering in the darkness of his eyes. “Do you trust me, Zoe?”
Zoe’s stomach churned as they sped towards the center of the lake. But she drew a breath to steel herself, before she nodded.
“I trust you.”
Shadow raced ahead, speeding past their competitors, until they approached the bubbling water. His muscles strained in exertion as he pressed onwards, speeding across the choppy lake as it prepared to blow. But one glance at the turbulent waters told Zoe they had mere seconds before they would be caught within the explosion.
“Hold on!”
Torrents of water erupted before them, forcing Shadow to weave between the vast plumes. With a final cry, he burst through a veil of water, until they reached the shores of the lake. Zoe glanced behind to see a gigantic explosion reach the heavens, blocking the path for their competitors, until Spooks’ cries of annoyance filled the air.
“You did it!”
“It’ll take more than Spooks’ cheap tricks to stop us.” Despite the danger, Shadow couldn’t help but break into a grin. “There’s just one more section of the course to go. Although I daresay you’re already familiar with the area.”
Zoe’s eyes widened as they flew from the cliff edge, and into a deep canyon. She shivered as the darkness below stirred, while mournful cries of the dead were carried to her ears.
“Tartarus.”
“The one and only.” Shadow pointed to a powerful tunnel of wind that shimmered with stardust. “We can ride those winds safely above the canyon, and loop back to the motel. Which means it should be smooth sailing from now–”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, master!”
Zoe gasped as a spiderweb sailed through the air. It struck Shadow, knocking him off balance, until they veered from the track and tumbled towards the chasm below. Shadow swore under his breath as he pulled the silky strands from his body, while Spooks’ cackles echoed across the canyon.
“Looks like this race will be mine after all!” Spooks giggled as he fired a maelstrom of missiles towards them, forcing Shadow to weave further from the track. “Finally, we’ll have jelly parties with the Titans!”
“The Titans are only interested in world domination, not jelly!” Shadow shouted in fury as he dodged the poltergeist’s projectiles. “And you are a cheat!”
Shadow soared through the valley, while Zoe studied the tunnels of wind, searching for a path that they could take. As their surroundings opened into a wider chasm, she spotted a vast vacuum of wind that tore through the valley, and led out into the horizon beyond.
