Wayne slowly opened his eyes, the dim light of the elevator car blinding him for a moment. The smell of must and grime filled his nostrils as he took in his surroundings. The elevator car was beaten and battered, the doors wide open, allowing the wind to howl through the small space. He turned his head and saw Sawyer lying nearby, her body curled up in pain. The hand rail on the wall of the elevator car was his only support as he pulled himself up, his body aching with every move. But he had to reach her. He had to make sure she was okay.

As he stood by her side, he could see the tears streaming down her face. She was sad, but also scared. He could see it in her eyes. She needed his help, and he was determined to give it to her. With a gentle hand, he helped her to her feet, her body trembling with pain. But together, they made their way to the open elevator doors, and looked out at the strange world beyond.

The ground was unlike anything they had ever seen before. An odd, golden road stretched out before them, disappearing into the horizon. It looked like it had traveled for miles, through unknown lands and unimaginable obstacles. But Wayne couldn't help but feel drawn to it, to the unknown adventure that awaited them. Sawyer's hand tightened around his as she looked at him, her eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"Should we go out there?" she asked, her voice trembling. She was scared, and Wayne could see it. He wanted to reassure her, to tell her that everything would be okay. But he couldn't. Not when he was just as scared and confused as she was.

"I think we should," he said finally, taking a step towards the golden road. But before he could take another step, he felt Sawyer's grip tighten around his arm. He turned to her, ready to comfort her, but his words died in his throat as he saw the look on her face.

She was scared, yes. But it wasn't just fear that he saw. There was something else there, something that she was struggling to hide. Something about the baby.

"Is the baby okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Wayne's heart clenched at the question, and he tried to hide the panic that threatened to overwhelm him. He didn't know. He hadn't even thought about it until now. But he couldn't let Sawyer see his uncertainty. He had to be strong for her.

"I'm sure the baby is fine," he said, his voice steady. "There must be a hospital or something nearby. We'll find help, I promise."

Sawyer nodded, but Wayne could see the doubt in her eyes. He wanted to tell her everything would be okay, but he couldn't. Not when he didn't even know where they were or how they got there. He had to focus on finding help, on getting them out of this strange place.

He took another step towards the golden road, but before he could step out, he heard a voice behind him. A voice that was unlike any he had ever heard before.

"My name is Harley," the voice said, and Wayne turned to see a dog standing in front of the elevator car. But this was no ordinary dog. He stood on his hind legs, and in his paw, he held a blunt. Wayne couldn't believe his eyes. Was this some sort of hallucination?

"Welcome to Hiroxson," the dog said with a grin, taking a puff from his blunt. "It's a land of magic and dreams. All the cool magical creatures come here."

Wayne and Sawyer just stood there, stunned. This was all too much to take in. Wayne couldn't even begin to process everything that was happening. But before he could say anything, the dog continued.

"But what do I know," he said with a shrug. "I'm just a dog, high as a kite."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Wayne and Sawyer speechless. They looked at each other, not sure what to make of this strange encounter. But one thing was for sure, they were not in Kansas anymore.

Sawyer bravely stepped out of the elevator car. The sleek metal doors slid shut behind her, leaving her standing on the plush carpeted floor of the lobby. Wayne, her loyal companion, followed her movements with keen interest and joined her outside of the elevator car. They stood on the golden brick road, its polished surface shimmering under the bright lights. As they looked down the road, they saw rows of majestic trees stretching out in front of them. The gold brick road cut straight through the thick forest, beckoning them to follow its path.

Sawyer's heart raced with anticipation and fear as she took a hesitant step towards the trees. She couldn't shake off the feeling that these trees were more than just ordinary plant life. But she couldn't resist the allure of the golden road, leading her deeper into the unknown. Wayne, ever the faithful companion, followed closely behind her, his senses on high alert.

As Sawyer approached the first tree, it suddenly came to life, its gnarled branches reaching out towards her like curious fingers. "Would you like an apple, my beautiful Princess?" the tree spoke, its voice deep and raspy.

Sawyer's eyes widened in surprise as she took the offered apple from the tree's stick-like hand. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if the fruit was safe to eat. But her curiosity got the better of her and she took a bite. The apple was delicious, its sweetness filling her mouth with a burst of flavor. And she was relieved to find that she didn't fall victim to any dark magic.

The tree then turned to Wayne and offered him an apple as well. But Wayne shook his head, an unspoken fear keeping him from accepting the gift. The tree's voice grew more insistent as it tried to persuade Wayne to take the apple. But Wayne stood his ground, his mistrust of the tree evident in his unwavering stance.

"Why did you call her Princess?" Wayne finally spoke, his confusion giving way to curiosity.

The tree's branches drooped slightly, as if in defeat. "Because she is a true princess, in both heart and spirit," it replied, its voice now tinged with sadness. "And you, my dear friend, are a loyal protector, always keeping her safe from harm."

Sawyer and Wayne exchanged a knowing look, touched by the tree's words. They continued on their journey, with a newfound respect for the trees that guarded their path. And as the golden road led them deeper into the forest, their senses were filled with the sights, sounds, and tastes of this magical world they had stumbled upon.

The fruit tree boomed in his deep, thunderous voice, causing the ground to tremble beneath them. Wayne's eyes widened in wonder and confusion as he looked at the talking tree. How could this be possible? He had never encountered anything like it before.

Sawyer, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the tree's ability to speak. She even appeared to be comfortable in its presence. Wayne couldn't understand how she could be so calm. After all, they were in a strange land filled with talking trees and magical creatures.

As they continued down the gold brick road, Sawyer couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of the land. The sky above them was a brilliant blue, with only a few fluffy clouds scattered here and there. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the sound of chirping birds.

But her thoughts were interrupted by the booming voice of the fruit tree, introducing himself as Luscious. Sawyer couldn't help but be intrigued by this complex character. She wondered how long he had been alive and what secrets he held within his branches.

Wayne, however, was still struggling to process everything. He couldn't shake off the feeling of anger and frustration at being stuck in this strange land. He wondered if he would ever get used to it or if he would always feel like an outsider.

As they walked, Luscious pointed them towards the Chromium Palace, the most magnificent and bright building in all the land. Sawyer couldn't wait to see it up close and discover what other wonders this land held.

But as they continued on their journey, Wayne couldn't help but feel a sense of fear and apprehension. He didn't know what dangers lay ahead or if they would ever be able to return home.

But for now, they had each other and the adventure that awaited them. And as they walked hand in hand down the gold brick road, Sawyer and Wayne couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder for what lay ahead.

"The sky is breathtaking!" Sawyer exclaimed to Wayne, her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed at the vibrant colors painted across the horizon. He joined her in admiring the beauty above, but a strange feeling crept over him. It was as if their presence here was a sign of impending doom, but he couldn't pinpoint why. The sensation was unsettling, and it made him feel on edge.

But as they continued down the golden brick road, Wayne couldn't help but feel drawn to Sawyer. There was something enigmatic about her, something that both intrigued and scared him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew it had something to do with her ultimate fate.

"Yes, it's beyond beautiful," he replied, his voice laced with a hint of awe. But deep down, he wondered if he was just saying it to please her, to make her think he was in agreement with her.

They walked for what seemed like hours, until their exhaustion could no longer be ignored. As they searched for a place to rest, Wayne's eyes fell upon a dark cave just off the golden road.

"Look, there's a cave. Maybe we can spend the night there," he suggested to Sawyer, pointing to the dirt path leading to the opening.

Without hesitation, Sawyer agreed and they made their way towards the cave. But as they settled into a nook in the rocky wall, Wayne couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Was this the person Sawyer was becoming? The person he feared?

As they drifted off to sleep, Wayne couldn't have predicted what would happen next. His eyes snapped open as he heard a faint whisper calling out to him from deep within the cave. He watched in shock as Sawyer stirred and rose to her feet, drawn to the voice like a moth to a flame.

She moved with purpose, her steps growing faster and more urgent. And before he knew it, she was swallowed up by the darkness, leaving behind a changed and twisted version of herself. A dark energy surrounded her, and her once pure soul had become corrupted.

As Wayne woke up in a strange room with medieval decor, he couldn't help but feel guilty for not being able to protect Sawyer from whatever dark force had taken hold of her. He sat up, taking in his surroundings, but his thoughts were consumed by the loss of the girl he once knew.

"Oh, goodie you're awake," a woman's voice echoed through the room, jolting Wayne out of his slumber. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, hoping to wipe away the disturbing scene that had unfolded before him. But as he looked around, he realized that it was all too real.

"Where am I?" he asked, his voice trembling as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

"You are at the Chromium Palace," the woman replied, her voice laced with mystery. "The place where you will soon be changed forever."

Wayne's heart raced as he tried to process her words. He had never heard of such a place, but there was something about the woman's demeanor that made him believe her. He couldn't help but wonder who she was and how she knew about him.

"I saw you in my crystal ball," the woman continued, snapping Wayne out of his thoughts. She started unloading a cart she had brought in with her, and Wayne couldn't help but notice the intricate designs on the fabric of her clothing.

"Can you see other things in your crystal ball?" Wayne asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.

"Such as?" the woman replied, placing a tray of food in front of him.

"Such as...where people are?" Wayne said, taking a bite of the burger on the plate. He watched as the woman sat down in front of him, her eyes fixed on him.

"Why, of course I can," she said, almost amused by his question. She suddenly pulled out a crystal ball from thin air and placed it on the bedside table.

"Who is it that you wish to find?" she asked, starting to rub the crystal ball.

"Where is Clay Sapp?" Wayne blurted out, surprising even himself. He had thought he would ask about Sawyer, but for some reason, Clay's name had slipped out.

The woman looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. It was as if she expected him to ask about Sawyer, but he had surprised her. She then seemed to remember something and her expression changed.

"The Town!" she exclaimed, her hand still rubbing the crystal ball. Wayne's heart skipped a beat. The town? What was she talking about?

He wanted to ask her more, but he didn't know where to begin. He just laid back down on the bed, letting his mind wander about this mysterious town and what it could possibly have to do with him.

The woman's words had sparked something inside him, a sense of intrigue and urgency. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was so much more to this place, and to the woman sitting in front of him, than met the eye.