Maya charged towards Aiden, raising her sword with both her hands, ready to strike. There was a resonating clang as she brought it down, her blade meeting Aiden's.

Aiden didn't want to hurt Maya. He knew she was a bad fighter.

Maya, gnashing her teeth, thrusted her sword at Aiden wildly, clearly aiming to penetrate flesh.

Aiden dodged her sword, hitting her head with the flat of his blade, which slowed her down for a moment. He took advantage of the fact that her guard was down, and punched her in the stomach, causing her to double up.

Jesse, who was now clad in her armor, swooped down at the scene, and assaulted Maya's head with the hilt of her sword, causing her to collapse and black out.

Aiden bent down. Well, that was easy.

Shocked, the guards in the room lifted their bows, aiming at Jesse and Aiden.

"We should take her back," Jesse whispered.

"How?"

Something seemed to have clicked in Jesse's head, because she grabbed Maya's unconscious form, and pressed her blade to her throat.

"Let us go," she hissed at the guards. "Or she gets it,"

Jesse carried Maya's unconscious form through the city, with her sword pressed to Maya's throat, and Aiden right at her heels, looking like a scared puppy.

Startled, and scared, the guards let them out through the main entrance, where the book once used to be.

It was a herculean task dragging Maya through the jungle, so Aiden offered to carry her.

Jesse was wondering where Maya would stay when she heard Aiden's voice.

"Lukas?" He said.

Jesse snapped out of her thoughts and looked up to see Lukas, Petra and Maya, their faces pale, and puzzled.

"What the HELL DID YOU DO!?" Petra cried, eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

"Calm down, Petra," Aiden said, softly.

"You killed her?" Lukas demanded, lip quivering.

"No!" Jesse exclaimed. "We didn't kill her, Lukas! She's just unconscious!"

"Oh," Lukas sighed, looking relieved. "You kidnapped her?"

"Kinda," Aiden said, shrugging. "Jesse knocked her out and threatened to kill her so we could get out,"

"Impressive," Myra said, cocking an eyebrow.

Jesse sighed. "Let's just go back,"

Maya woke up to the blurry sight of iron bars. Her head was throbbing.

As her vision grew more refined, she observed she was in one of Terra City's cabins, nearly identical to the one she was assigned after Sky City's mob apocalypse. Except, the cabin now had an extended portion, separated by iron bars.

One that seemed to serve as a makeshift jail cell that held Maya.

The last thing Maya remembered was fighting Aiden.

Speaking of which, he had just entered the cabin.

"Let me out," Maya spat, glaring at Aiden.

"I can't, Maya," he said, offering her a sad smile. "I'm sorry,"

"You coward. Let me out if you have the guts!" She demanded, savagely rattling the iron bars.

"Maya, calm down. You're not in danger or anything. We just want you to tell us where the book is."

"Over my dead body,"

Aiden sighed. Just then, an unfamiliar brunette entered the cabin. "Wow. This cabin has way too many people in it," she commented, before biting into a cookie.

"Do you want a cookie?" She asked, holding out a fresh one for Maya, her arm reaching in through the bars.

Maya was starving.

Yet, she said, "No,"

"Have it your way," she said, and tossed the cookie to Aiden.

Aiden stared at the cookie for a moment. He got up, and extended his arm from between the bars, cookie in hand. "Have it," he said.

Maya looked at Aiden for a long moment before plucking the cookie out of his hands, hungrily wolfing it down.

She looked around, examining her cell. She was seated on a blue bed. The floor was clad in carpet, and torches lined the walls, illuminating her cell.

Kinda nice.

The door of the cabin opened once more, and the three Order members walked in. Maya's heart lurched with resentment.

"Let me out!" Maya yelled once more. "You're all cowards, treating me like a caged animal!"

"Caged animal?" Jesse gasped. "Well, you may be right about the caged part, but we're not treating you like an animal,"

"Yeah, have you seen where you're staying?" Petra deadpanned.

Myra only grunted in response.

"Isa's calling us," Lukas said, and gestured to Aiden for the keys to Maya's cell. He took her hand, and led her out of the cabin.

"Please, Maya. It is essential for you to tell us where the book is," Isa said, in an imploring tone.

Aiden looked at Maya, who was dressed in the same clothes she wore since they were children. The red shirt with an E on it, and the jeans. The only thing missing was the leather jacket.

She wore neither the Ocelot jacket, or the Blaze Rod one.

Lukas was holding her hand, so tight, that his knuckles had turned white.

Maya was refusing to speak.

"Please, Maya," Isa said again.

At last, Maya spoke up. "Do you not understand!? If I tell you where the book is, my citizens will slaughter me! Besides, I'd rather not to anything to help these assholes,"

Aiden had to admit that stung a bit.

"Forget it," Milo said. "We'll deal with her in the morning,"

Lukas escorted Maya back into her cell, and returned the keys to Aiden.

That night was yet another sleepless one for Aiden.

And, coincidentally, for Jesse.

"You awake again, Aiden?"

"You know it," he said.

"Wanna go to the docks?"

"Sure,"

Jesse and Aiden sat side by side, looking at the lake, and marvelling at how it reflected the night sky, the stars twinkling as the moon beamed down at them.

"What'll you do when we get home?" Jesse asked him.

"I-uh," Aiden stuttered. "I don't know, Jesse,"

"You told me you wanted to be a writer," Jesse said, remembering the time he'd apologised to her.

"I did?"

"Mhm,"

"Well, yeah. But I don't write very well," he said. His cheeks leaked a bright shade of red.

"I'm sure your writing is great," Jesse said, hoping to encourage him. "Maybe you can let me read some of your work when we get home?"

"Um, sure," he said, the faintest trace of a smile playing on his lips.

Jesse had an overwhelming urge to grab his hand. She satisfied it, squeezing his hand.

They looked up at the stars.

"We're so far from home, Aiden," Jesse said, unshed tears stinging her eyes.

"Yet so close," Aiden said, moving closer to Jesse.

New chapter!

Not much to say here, but I hope you liked it!

See ya next chapter,

~a conflicted burger.