“I have a rather mischievous group that’s been ducking me for quite a while, deal with them,” Varek said.

“What are they?” Spike asked knowing at this point to expect anything.

“You’ll know them when you see them, I should remove one of your powers and give you another second power,” Varek said.

“Wait, remove a power?” Spike asked.

“Yeah, do you think a mere human is capable of holding more than two bits of a supernatural power like this in their body? No,” Varek said.

“Great…” Spike sighed “I’ll trade teleportation then,”

“Ok,” Varek swapped his powers with a glowing hand and Spike felt the new power entering him.

“Your new power is to sense demonic auras,” Varek said.

“Sense them?” Spike asked.

“Yes, detect the hidden monsters, it may prove invaluable here,” Varek clarified.

“Ok,” Spike nodded and he turned to leave.

“Good luck, you’ll need it,” Varek laughed as Spike ignored him and went into the portal.

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A grievous garden

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Spike exited the portal and found himself in a long tunnel and he looked ahead and saw what looked like a forest ahead.

“Oook, what could be waiting for me in there?” Spike asked as he walked hesitantly down the long tunnel, as he made his way out he saw something on both sides of the tunnel.

“Wait a minute… are those garden gnomes?” Spike asked as he saw the jolly four-foot tall pointy hat-wearing dwarfs staring out into the distance blankly but with happy expressions.

They were holding signs too, Spike decided to read them.

“Enter these forests if ye dare, not everything is as it seems… odd,” Spike said after reading it.

“Don’t tell me I’m honestly dealing with demon gnomes am I?” Spike chuckled wondering how this place could be so serene despite it literally being a part of hell.

“You’ll find they're deadlier than they look,” Verak said as Spike walked on.

“What are they gonna do? Kick me in the shin?” Spike asked as he entered the forests and made his way through without any major problems.

As he exited the forests he saw what looked like a garden entrance.

“Hard to believe this place is a part of hell,” Spike said.

“Just keep moving,” Varek said with a sigh and probably an eyeroll.

“Ok,” Spike made his way into the garden… ignoring any of the signs warning him not to enter.

As Spike made his way into the garden he heard a growl and he turned to see a shape dart behind a tree.

“Huh?” Spike said as he saw this, hesitantly he approached and peeked around the tree… and saw a fake gnome.

“Heh, alright,” Spike could see where this was going and so he made his way into the garden area, seeing flowers and statues.

“If I do end up in hell this particular place seems relaxing enough,” Spike said.

“You idiot… you should know…” Varek sighed.

“Know wha-” Spike suddenly grunted in pain as he felt something cut his leg and he saw a shape dart into the tall grass.

Looking at his leg he saw a minor wound on his leg that looked like it came from a knife.

“What the-” Spike grunted again as something struck him in the back and he turned to see it was a rock.

“Heeheeheehee,” The small voices cackled.

“Starting to regret my words,” Spike said as he felt many eyes on him, he hurried on to an area that had shards, but also many gnomes planted around the place.

“A-alright, no problem,” Spike began stepping around them carefully, collecting shards and watching for any of them moving around… but it was odd, none of them looked like living gnomes… wouldn’t they-

“AAAGH!” Spike yelled and he turned to see what looked like a pick ax lodged in his leg “W-what the-” Spike looked up and saw a gnome looking at him with a sickening grin full of ugly sharp teeth.

It immediately sprung off the ground and tackled him down and raised its pick to kill Spike but Spike caught it and threw the small man off.

“What the heck!?” Spike got up and saw the gomes around him were still inanimate but the one he tossed ran off.

“Still think this is a walk in the park?” Varek said smugly.

“Ok fine!” Spike began hobbling away, looking for a place to dress his wound when he heard more cackling and he looked to see more gnomes looking his way than before.

“Wha- ACK!” Spike cried out and looked down and saw a thrown pick had landed in his chest, he fell to his knees as the pain was too much.

Then he heard rustling behind him and saw several gnomes rushing out of the tall grass pickaxes and skinning knives raised.

“No…” Spike croaked as they tackled him down as a group and began stabbing him.

3 Lives left: “You should have paid more attention, fool,”

Spike got up at the garden entrance looking shocked and feeling his chest, seeing no stab wounds.

“You're welcome,” Varek said.

“...Thanks…” Spike said as he got up and made his way to the garden again.

He began to look like he was losing it a little… so much dying… the pain… how much more can he handle?

“I’d start using that aura sense,” Varek suggested.

“Right, you did say I had that,” Spike said wishing he remembered that sooner, doing what he did with the teleportation he focused on the sense and he saw multiple gnomes light up with a red aura.

Others didn’t.

“So they were hiding among fakes,” Spike said.

“Yep, keeps you guessing,” Varek said.

Spike made his way around and this time he made sure to use his sense power more.

As he made his way through the garden area, collecting shards he stepped around several gnomes that were not so subtly watching him.

“I didn’t even get a chance to ask if I could have their contract,” Spike said as he avoided getting too close to another one.

“Would they have been likely to listen?” Varek asked.

“Doubt it,” Spike said as he made his way onto a rocky path and he made his way down it collecting shards and making sure to walk around every gnome he saw on the road while keeping an eye on them..

“Heehee!” a voice laughed and Spike turned to see a couple of gnomes abandoned post and ran for him.

“Crap!” Spike ran for it as the two chased him down the rocky path.

Spike ran over another arching path and made his way onto a rocky bridge where he tripped.

Spike got up but turned and saw the gnomes gaining on him with their pickaxes raised.

“Tch!” Spike saw a chance and dodged a swing from one and he kicked him back.

The other jumped at Spike but he ducked it grabbed the other gnomes pickaxe and swung it into the head of the other gnome.

And his head shattered.

“Huh? Their not even flesh!” Spike said before turning and smashing the other gnome.

Spike stood back as he saw the pieces of the gnomes on the ground.

“Alright, two less to worry about,” Spike said.

“Not quite…” Varek said.

“What?” Spike said… before they gnomes rebuilt themselves “WHAT THE?” Spike exclaimed.

“Their demons, in hell, mortals cannot kill demons in hell, remember?” Varek said.

“Crap your right,” Spike dropped the pickaxe and fled as the gnomes angrily ran after him gibbering and growling.

Spike fled into a forested area where there were more gnomes and he continued running until he found a tree to hide behind.

He hid until he saw the gnomes run past.

“Whew…” Spike used his aura sense to see if there anymore live gnomes near him.

And there weren’t where he could see.

So he got ready to move-

Drip drip…

Spike froze when he felt saliva drip on him and he looked up, seeing at least five gnomes in the trees.

“Of course, they can climb…” Spike said before running for it.

Spike ran as fast as he could from his smaller foes but the chase through the forest led him towards the two that passed by earlier who turned and saw him.

“OH-” Spike didn’t get a chance to curse as another gnome leaped out of the bushes and tackled him knocking him down. They then ganged up on him and swung their pick axes into his body as a group.

2 lives left: “Oh come on, it can’t be that hard to outrun someone two and a half feet shorter than you!” Varek said.

Spike got up and sighed as he saw he was fine… physically at least…

“Spike, you may want to get moving, I think they’ve figured out where I deposited you,” Varek said.

“O-ok,” Spike said as he ran on, and he made his way around the multiple gnomes stashed all over the place and collecting more shards.

“I take it back, this place really is hell,” Spike said as he ran.

Suddenly three gnomes broke off from where they were standing and they chased him.

Spike fled into an area with a gazebo and he ran onto it and past it, as the three gnomes chased him into the next area, grabbing shards as he ran.

Spike fled into some treelines and hid again, this time using his sense to see if any gnomes were waiting to ambush him.

There weren’t.

Spike saw the gnomes had lost track of him and they left.

Spike made his way through the treeline, hiding occasionally, and keeping track of his environment and he saw more shards in a tall grass area.

He ran over and started collecting them. When he felt another scrape against his leg and he cried out before looking to see his bleeding leg and he looked around and saw the tall grass rustling in several areas, and movements closing in on him.

“Not good!” Spike said as he frantically ran for it from the shapes moving in the tall grass and he made it to the grassline before bolting away.

“Those shards were the last ones, I know where the safe is but your not going to like it,” Varek said.

“I don’t like anywhere here! Where?” Spike asked.

“Head back into the treeline you were in and head down it,” Varek said and Spike did so, upon making it to the area Spike ran into the treeline and past it, as he ran through the tree area he eventually came to a giant statue.

A huge statue of a giant gnome, surrounded by tall grass.

“Great, more tall grass, can this get any worse-” Spike said before the statue's eyes glowed and it looked down at him “....Those words are cursed…” Spike said as he took a step back as the giant statue raised his giant pickaxe and swung it down.

Spike yelled as he jumped out of the way and the pick rammed deep into the ground.

“The safe is at the base of the statue,” Verak confirmed.

Spike got up and hurriedly ran into the grass as the statue tried to grab him with its other hand and missed.

Spike ran on but heard movement around him and he saw several more gnomes darting in the grass and Spike knew he was being surrounded.

Spike ran up to the statue who raised a foot to step on him and Spike jumped out of the way as the massive foot smashed down and Spike ran up to the safe which Varek broke open and Spike claimed the contract.

BBBRRRROOOOOMMMM came a loud rumble from the statue as its eyes turned red and it swung its hand and struck Spike sending the man flying over the grass and into a wall.

“OW!” Spike grunted as he hit the ground, looking up he saw the gnomes exiting the grass with glowing red eyes, purplish hats and skin, and they were foaming at the mouth.

“I’m guessing I made them mad…” Spike said.

“Yeah,” Varek said as they swarmed after Spike who struggled to get up as they were closing in.

But he managed to stand and run away.

Meanwhile the statue broke away from its pedestal and began chasing him as well.

“COME ON!” Spike said as he ran back out into the garden, he saw what looked like an army of gnomes leaving their posts and running at him.

“Tch!” Spike ran to the left and went around the group as they chased him as a horde.

Meanwhile the statue swung its giant pickaxe down and missed Spike a few times.

Spike ran back up the entry pathway and saw the gnome from behind the tree run out and throw its pickaxe which landed in Spike’s shoulder.

“AAAAGH!” Spike grunted but he pressed on and ran back through the forest, the giant gnome chasing after him and tearing through the trees while a horde of smaller gnomes swarmed past the gate.

Spike limped on and made it to the tunnel, but when he thought he was home free the gnomes stationed at the tunnel entrance suddenly rushed at him.

Spike managed to dodge one but the other latched onto his back and wrapped its smaller arms around his neck and began squeezing.

“ACK! Agh!” Spike choked but he still pressed on even as the statue gnome plunged its pickaxe through the ceiling of the tunnel multiple times.

As Spike was starting to lose consciousness he was almost at the portal and a wall broke down as the statue broke open a hole in the ceiling and reached through to grab him.

Spike's sheer willpower helped him avoid it and at the moment he lost consciousness he fell forward into the portal.

YOU ESCAPED!

Spike woke up in the office area and sat up.

“Oh no! How long have I been out?!” Spike asked.

“A few hours,” Varek said.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME!?” Spike demanded.

“Do not take that tone with me, or else, I’m not your babysitter,” Varek warned.

“What about-” Spike heard gnawing noises and he turned to see the gnome he brought with him being gnawed on by Varek’s dogs.

“Well, you should get moving, time has passed,” Verak said.

“...Ok,” Spike growled a little, knowing that he had no choice and he approached Varek’s desk.

“Alright, next you're going to the zoo,” Varek said.

“What’s there?” Spike asked.

“Heheh, you're in for a treat this time,” Varek said.

Next time: Amidst a red background a tall and large shadowy figure was standing there, his form was hard to discern but he seemed to have tusks and flipper-like arms and legs and he was holding what looked like a large chainsaw.

And he was mumbling a song something over and over.

“Tralalala, make more animals make more friends…Heheheh…”

Author's Note

Warning, the next chapter is pretty dark.