(A/N:) From now on, chapters will be in POV format unless the chapter is all one character's POV. Also holy shit, I'm back.

The Exchanging of the Vows

Jerome POV

I ran through the woods, branches scraping my face. Breathing heavily, I raced away from a looming threat. Just ahead of me was Mitch, who was fighting off a few enemies such as Enderman and creepers. I felt a blast of warmth behind me, and suddenly I was in the air. The burns singed my skin and almost set my fur alight had it not been for the wind racing past from being flung through the air. I landed a good twenty feet from the site of explosion, letting out a yelp as my arm popped out of place.

Mitch turned towards me, and was subsequently shot in the back by a skeleton. Despite my dislocated arm, I scrabbled across the ground towards my axe and raced towards Mitch to fend off the creatures until he could get back onto his feet.

I killed an advancing Enderman as he groaned and pushed himself up.

"Fuck, I can't hold them off any longer. Mitch, we have to go!" I yelled as he stood. I wrapped my okay right arm around his shoulders, while he did the same with his left. We sprinted away, dodging any attacking enemies as we ran back towards town. Eventually, after almost dying several more times, we made it back to the town.

The two of us slowed down as we walked towards our friend Seto's place. He could heal us up, especially since the hospitals were currently packed from the battles that have waged every day since Ty changed. We approached his house and he opened the door to usher us inside.

"Quickly, into the basement, we haven't much time before the armies siege the town."

Aether and Sky landed back down at base, Enderlox greeting them. Aether released his grip on Jason and threw him down. Enderlox gave a fanged grin and walked forward, kneeling before Jason. He grabbed him by his jaw.

"Was he any trouble?"

"Our dear friend put up no fight." Sky responded.

"Good, he knows his place," said Enderlox coldly.

Jason flinched as his jaw was released. Aether pulled a vial from his belt and ripped Jason's helmet off. He grabbed him by his hair and poured the liquid down his throat. He released him, and Jason hit the ground. He began convulsing as he was changed as well. Aether felt a sudden surge of fear and sadness as he watched the thick, black lines spread across Jason's skin. Just as suddenly, the neutrality returned and he fell to his knees gasping.

Enderlox and Sky gave him a curious glance.

"You all right?" Sky quizzed.

Between gasps, Aether managed to get out an "I'm fine."

The other two returned their gazes to Jason, occasionally glancing back at Aether warily.

Seto shut the basement door and led Jerome and Mitch further into the depths of his home. After a short walk through a winding hallway, they emerged into what was obviously a bunker. Behind them, Seto shut and sealed a large iron door. Then he proceeded to heal them, carefully putting Jerome's arm back into place and removing the arrow from Mitch's back then healing the wound.

"There's more activity in this area than there usually is." Jerome said after a bit.

"Ty seems to be recruiting his friends, so it would only make sense for him to attack here to get us as well," responded Seto.

"So, are you saying that this town is going to be ashes by morning?" Mitch questioned.

"Essentially, but it may not even take that long. His army grows stronger with every passing minute."

Mitch sat down next to Jerome with a loud sigh, a faint smile touching his lips as Jerome rests his head against him. He watched as Seto stared at the door handle to the room, face blanching as he realized that it was jiggling. Someone wanted in. And he had no idea whether he should fear whoever was behind the door. He and Jerome stood, both with their weapons in hand.

"It would appear that his army is here to claim us now." Seto said coolly, a faint purple glow emitting from his hands, ready for whoever should come through the door.

The jiggling of the doorknob became bangs, and Mitch's grip on the handle of his sword tightened. "Seto, please tell me there's another exit to this room."

Seto gave him a sad look and sighed. "No, we'll have to fight our way out."

Then with a loud bang, the door flew off its hinges. It slammed into Seto, sending him into the wall and knocking him unconscious. Mitch took Jerome's hand tenderly, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I promise we'll make it through this."

As Mitch and Jerome readied their weapons to fight, all hell descended upon them and the town above.

(A/N:) So, there you guys go, Chapter 4! Probably the shortest update so far, but I didn't have too many ideas this time 'round. Was originally going to kill off Seto right there, but I should probably wait another chapter or two before I kill off someone since Dawn was already killed. Anyway, I'm going to try and update soon, maybe work out a regular chapter-posting schedule but don't expect it because I may become disinterested again. Also Merome :D