Thanks for the review. I fixed everything as best I could so that it would suit you people who reads this. Anyway, have fun reading this next chapter. And I really appreciate the reviews that you give.
CHAPTER II

Earthquake

The next morning, the three friends were off in a rush on their mountain bikes and were on their way to school.

"I thought we will never wake up in time," said Jenny, her hair was still a mess even though she has already tied it in a ponytail like she always do. "We almost over slept."

"I didn't think we'll be in school at all," said Jason, his eyes shows signs of sleeplessness. "Our school work and our job don't mix. I wonder how Lana Lang does it in Smallville?"

"Let me remind you, Jase." Jenny came near him to pat his back and said, "Smallville is only a TV program. This is real life."

"Don't worry you guys." Charles smiled at the both of them, his six-one frame towered both his friends as he went in between them, and added, "we'll get the hang of it. And furthermore, it's your idea, not mine."

Jenny and Jason gave him an annoying look while the three of them carried their skateboards and walked inside Sta. Monica High's school hall, which made Charles laughed.

Sta. Monica High is much like any public high school in every state in the U.S. Students from different levels and different personalities were seen in the hallways chatting amongst friends waiting for the homeroom bell to ring.

Charles, Jason, and Jenny passed by the school hall going to their locker. Everyone greeted them as they walked by. They have a good reputation in school. All three were members of the varsity team for soccer and were the best the school could offer. As they passed by they chatted with some of their fellow students and soccer team.

Just then the bell rang. Before the three went to their homeroom, Jenny remarked with a sarcastic grin, her gray eyes teasing, "furthermore? That's kind of a very difficult word for you isn't it, Charles? How ever did you manage to add that in your vocabulary?"

"That's a very late reaction, Jennifer," Charles replied with a devious smile as they separated. "I'll see you at the oak tree after class."

Students scattered from every place, coming in the rooms for their first class. All went well until the last period.

**********

Integrated earth science. One of the classes Jenny was fairly good at. It didn't help her that the class was in the after noon session. It made it worse by getting the most boring teacher in the science department as well.

"Okay, class," started Ms. Middleton as she passed around some sort of diagram of seismic activity to the whole class. She was a slender woman in her late twenties. A beautiful woman but she always hides it beneath hairnets and wire-rimmed glasses. "Today we are going to talk about earthquakes."

Audible groans came from each student in the classroom. Earthquakes were one of Ms. Middleton's favorite topics of discussion. She ignored the groans and droned on the topics of earthquakes. Jenny was only half- listening at that time. She already did an advance reading on the subject and was hoping that what she'd read would help her during mid-term exam. She was presently writing poem to keep her awake and pass the time.

Caught up in her own world, Jenny suddenly brought back to the real world when the ground began to shake and a real earthquake trembled to life. Everybody went under his or her desk to find safety.

The earthquake lasted for only about five minutes and then it stopped abruptly as it started. After the tremor, the principal's voice was heard from the speakers.

"Classes are suspended in all levels," she announced. "I repeat, classes are suspended in all level."

All students came running out of the school. They never thought of anything else but to get out of school and fast.

Once they were outside, Jenny, Charles, and Jason went to meet at their usual meeting place, the old oak tree. It was the only oak tree standing in front of the schoolyard. The three of them usually stay there during lunch period. No one else uses the old oak tree except for the three friends.

"Are you alright, guys?" Charles asked as Jenny and Jason arrived both panting. "That earthquake scared everybody in our class."

"Your class wasn't the only one," answered Jenny. "We were about to discuss about earthquakes when it happened."

"That wasn't made of nature." Jason started to say. "It was man made. I mean, someone deliberately set that earthquake."

"We must find out more about this matter," said Charles. "We're not due until three-thirty, and it's only one thirty. We still have an hour and a half before checking in on the Powell store. Let's go to the manhole and check things out."

The manhole under the beach house where the three of them lived has the latest computer technology they could afford. It also connects them all over the town.

"Roger," said the other two.

They quickly went back inside the school and retrieved their skateboards then hurriedly went home to their manhole. ********************

"Activate all system, Jen," ordered Charles when they reached the manhole.

Jason and Jenny went to their proper posts as they began to turn on systems and the monitors that were connected to some cameras located at specific points in Sta. Monica. The manhole was small. It looks like a small room, well ventilated and lighted though there are no windows. Different computer gadgets and equipment were properly situated for easy access of the system. All three have their own "posts" to watch and monitor.

"All systems activated, Charles." Jenny answered.

"Scanning Sta. Monica for strange activity," checked Jason. "All clear in SECTION 1, Charles."

"All clear in SECTION 7," reported Charles.

"All clear." Jenny started but suddenly double-checked her section. "Wait a minute. There's some disturbance in SECTION 9."

"What is it, Jen?" Charles asked as he went closer.

"There's something strange in Sta. Monica Forest," she answered. "Get the camera closer for a clearer view."

"Got it, Jenny."

When the screen was cleared, there was a lot of smoke in a particular section of Sta. Monica forest.

"That part of the forest isn't suppose to be in a fog-like state," said Charles.

"We'd better check this out, guys," said Jenny. "I checked that place out myself when you let me put the balloon above the forest."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Jason asked.

"What's the matter, Jason?" teased Charles. "Are you scared?"

"Not at all," Jason answered boldly. "I'm just worried on what we're going to say to Mr. Powell if we're late for the first time. You know that he doesn't like late employees."

"I guess you're right."

"I don't think that the store would be open after that quake." Jenny doubted.

"We'll just check it out, Jen," said Charles. "The quake only lasted five minutes, and Sta. Monica rarely has experiences earthquakes, if not at all. And besides, what if Jason's right? We'll be out of a job if we don't see him this afternoon."

"I'm still convinced that you're wrong," Jenny replied. "That quake was like an intensity five. But since you're my friends and all, and the vote is out two to one, I'll follow you guys."

So they rode their motorcycles and checked out the Powell Store first. Jenny gave Jason an I-told-you-so look when the store was closed but Jason said nothing.

They rode to the forest where the location of the fog took place. The Sta. Monica forest was one of the last virgin forests left in the United States. The government has tried to preserve its beauty by not permitting anybody to enter the place.

They parked their motorcycles at the edge of the forest. Being careful not to be seen by people or rangers that guard the forest, they also took their flashlights and went inside. Since there was no path that very visible for them to follow, they carefully trekked the area. As they go deeper into the forest, the fog started to thicken. They carefully search the area while they huddled together to keep from being separated. They stopped at a clearing where the fog was most dense. They kept on looking around, training the flashlight for something that would give them the answer for the fog.

"There must have been some mistake," thought Jenny aloud in disgust. "There isn't anything here by fog, fog and frogs!"

"What was that last word you'd just said earlier, Jen?" Charles asked, eyeing her with a quizzical look.

"FROGS!" Jenny repeated in disgust. "Their all over the place."

"Guys," said Jason. He was not really listening to his two friends' conversation. "Let's split up. We'll cover more grounds that way. But don't lose sight of each other. It would be easy to get lost in this condition."

They split up, and looked for any unparticular objects in the forest. They started to go much farther until Jenny led out a big and loud yelp.

"EUREKA!"

"What is it, Jenny?"

"I found something, guys!"

"Where are you?"

"Over here."

Both boys hurried to the place where Jenny was kneeling and pointing with her flashlight. There, below her was a door with a very strange inscription carved on it.

"Jase," said Charles recovering from the shock. "What language is this?"

"It's somewhat - ancient," he answered.

"Ancient what?" Jenny asked excitedly.

"Ancient China," he answered with uncertainty on his voice and face. "Or maybe Japan. I really don't know until I've translated it."

"Well, Jase," said Charles. "You better start translating. Jenny and I will look for more clues."

Charles and Jenny left Jason, while he started doing his translation "homework" on the carved inscription on the door. He pulled out his laptop - which he always brings on every case like this one - from his bag and started working.

He started pushing some buttons and began translating.

The three of them didn't notice that someone was watching them from afar. He was sent out by Senjuko to observe the other dimension that they had escaped to. He spotted the three friends as they entered the forest. He was known to the empire as "Shadowman", a metaphysical being created by Senjuko's magic.

In the alternate dimension there was a man named Kiro who was a great samurai with skills that no other members of the empire can be compared to. But a major battle in the alternate dimension made him lose his body. With the help of Senjuko's magic, he still lives but was now cursed as a half-human half-shadow. He can blend in the shadows and can transport himself to any part of the vicinity by just uniting with the shadow, a talent he rarely use and was now reluctant to use while he was watching the three friends at a great distance. He was out of earshot and he didn't hear any of their conversation.

Master, he reported in thought-speak, a gift that all the members of the empire has that no matter how far you are, you will be heard by any member of th Empire. These three teenagers are doing something. But I do not know what they are saying.

Can you go any closer, Shadowman? Subpoena asked, also in thought-speak that only Shadowman can hear.

No, Master, he answered, which was a lie. He can move closer but he fears that they will notice him if he did. There are not enough shadows for me to get near.

Go back, Shadowman, commanded Subpoena. They are just insignificant beings. No need to meddle with these inferiors.