Review Replies:
LostSoul508: Thank you!
kookie1234: Haha, yeah. I'd like a Snickers.
nightmare: Thanks! Here's your update!
Cassie: Yeah, I'm putting in all the episodes. Have you heard that they're making a season two? I'm so excited for it! I might even put those into Movie Mode, but we'll see. Depends on how good it is and what happens, I suppose.
TheLion: Heh, it's fine. I wasn't originally planning on putting any in this chapter, I've put in some Magnugaard fluff for you! Since I like you so much ::D And yeah, Aiden's... a bit lost, at the moment. As for Ivor, well... let's just say there's a lot more to it.
Gamerwhogames: Yup. No one's liking Aiden at the moment. Reggie'll get his say during the next round of Release.
ChoyofBonk: Thanks! Yeah, I try not to promise updates either, hence why I told people not to hold on to that. Aiden's diffidently unnerved, to say the least. He and Jesse will have their talk at some point.
TheAmberShadow: Ha, yeah, you're right. And no, I don't think it's mean of you to feel bad for Aiden. Watching himself on that screen... he's really starting to see what a terrible person he is.
Ariza Luca: Haha, glad you liked it so much!
RapidSammi: What? What person? Where? I see no person!... oh, wait, are you talking about the person hugging Jesse?... maybe?... I dunno, that's all I can think about. It was Lukas, if I was right... if not... WHAT PERSON WHERE WHO THE FUCKS STALKING ME
MidnightStarHunter: Exactly. I think it was Lukas flashing to Reuben that really sent him over the edge. He doesn't want to lose any more friends. Aiden's jaw's not broken, but it got cracked, although it doesn't say this in the chapter. It'll me mentioned eventually. Probably. As for older brother Lukas and older sister Petra, I love the idea, but it won't be showing up yet. I think I'm going to try and put it in during the next round of Release.
the indecisive bird: Yeah. Jesse's going to be punching a lot of people during the next episodes.
Movie Mode
Episode Five: Order Up!
Part Thirty-Eight: It's Raining Monsters
Even after nearly half an hour, Lukas hadn't let go of Jesse. Olivia found this fact to be quite cute, but that didn't stop her from gnawing worryingly at her lip. She couldn't get the image out of her head. Her friends falling to their deaths.
Well, that wasn't exactly correct, she supposed. There would be no ground to end their suffering. They'd starve, slowly and most likely painfully, and their dead bodies would fall forever.
She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. The thought made her feel terribly sick, and for a moment she was near certain she was going to vomit. Her stomach was a churning mess of flops and messy summersaults, and there was the disgusting burn of bile at the back of her throat. Her eyes felt puffy from crying, but her eyes had long since dried.
Everyone had left the living room now. Some had lingered- the Order, Maya, Nell, Stampy and Dan, Gill and even Hadrian- but they too eventually left. Olivia wondered, briefly, what was going through their minds, but then decided she didn't care. Because she was feeling sick, the scene replaying through her brain again and again, and while she had never liked Aiden, never before had she despised him like she did in that moment.
They were seated among the blankets and pillows, forming an almost-circle around Lukas and Jesse. Reuben had crawled into their laps, and Jesse was clutching them both as though afraid they'd disappear. He was sitting half on and half off Lukas's lap, but the blond didn't seem to mind at all, and was holding onto him just as tightly.
Olivia wondered how this had happened. It had all been so fast. Her brain had been reduced to mush trying to keep up, and now all she could do was sit there and watch as the two people she'd come to think as some of her closest friends clung to each other, a potential death looming over their heads.
Aiden had left the room with a bloody face, but Olivia didn't know the extent of the damage, nor did she care to go find out. She wondered, at the back of her mind, if Ivor or even someone else was going to patch him up. She shook her head and told herself she didn't care.
Lukas raised his head from where it had been buried in Jesse's hair for the past half hour, immediately directing their attention to him. He seemed slightly surprised to discover they were the only ones left in the living room, but he didn't mention it.
"I think he's asleep," the blond whispered.
Sure enough, Jesse was out cold. But even in sleep, he seemed reluctant to release both Reuben and Lukas, and they were reluctant to move him because of it. In the end, they helped Lukas shift into a more comfortable position, lying down in a small pillow fort. Olivia grabbed a bit of blanket and pulled it over them, before settling down on Lukas's other side and resting her forehead against Jesse's shoulder.
She could hear his breathing, and it comforted her greatly. Reuben shifted a little, spreading out on Lukas's chest. After a moment, Axel and Petra joined them, Axel wrapped an arm around Olivia and placing his hand on the small of Jesse's back, Petra on their other side, and arm propping her head up, her other hand buried in Lukas's hair. He seemed to like that, and it reminded Olivia of a cat being petted. She grinned at the thought.
They lay there for a long moment. Olivia was almost asleep herself when Petra spoke.
"How are we gonna fix this?"
Lukas sighed, "I don't know."
"But we will," Axel's voice was surprisingly firm, a determination she'd heard every summer, when they would prepare for the Endercon Building Competitions.
Ah, yes, said an evil little voice at the back of her brain, You mean the competitions you'd always lose anyway?
She gritted her teeth, shoving that stupid little voice to the dark depths of her mind, locking it in a tiny cage suspended above a pit of bubbling, boiling lava and throwing the key into it. Because while they had always lost either way, it didn't change the fact that, even though Axel would feel like crap afterwards, by the time the next competition would roll around, that determined glint in his eye would be back, that assuring smirk would be on his face, and out of anything it was one of the things that would always convince Olivia to keep participating.
Because even when they're knocked down, even when she feels like just giving up, Axel will always get back up. Sometimes it will take longer than before, and Olivia wonders if he would still be able to without Jesse doing it first, but no matter what he gets back up.
And she loves them for that.
"Yeah," she said, "We will."
Magnus wasn't sure if he'd somehow unconsciously set out to find Ellegaard or if they'd just stumbled upon each other on accident, but for whatever reason, he was more than happy to stay.
They were in the second living room, which was mostly bare apart from a jukebox and a few other ornaments, like a vase and portraits. Magnus wasn't sure what had brought Ellegaard here- what had brought him here. But neither of them moved to leave.
He'd forgotten, if only a little. He was almost certain she had as well. Or at least she'd ignored it. They'd both convinced themselves that it hadn't happened, that it wasn't going to happen, that neither of them had a chance of possibly dying in the future.
His fingers were trembling, he realised. He curled his hands into fists to try and get them to stop. It didn't work.
She hadn't noticed he was there. She was staring at one of the portraits- a big one, with two karate men fighting each other or something- with her arms crossed over her stomach. Her eyes (a beautiful brown) had a far away look to them.
Magnus wasn't sure how long he stood there, watching her. Hating the way his stomach was fluttering and twisting just by looking at her. He didn't want to look away, though.
Finally, he stepped forward. Ellegaard still didn't notice him, and soon he was standing right behind her, so close he would just have to tilt his head forwards to touch her. He raised his hand, hesitated, then placed it on her shoulder.
Ellegaard jumped with a startled gasp, spinning around so fast her hair hit him in the face. Her eyes locked with his and, once she'd realised it was only him, her shoulders lost their tension and she gave him a deadpan look.
"Really?" she said. Magnus's lips twitched.
"I didn't mean to scare you."
"You didn't scare me!"
He snorted, rolling his eyes, "Yeah, sure." Ellegaard glared at him, but it was halfhearted, and her eyes had soon drifted away from him. His brow furrowed.
"Hey," he didn't continue, not until she was looking at him again, "What's wrong?"
She blinked, "Nothing."
"You're lying," She didn't respond. He inched closer. "What is it?"
Instead of answering, Ellegaard shrugged. Magnus's frown deepened.
"Is it about you..." the words caught in his throat. Magnus swallowed. "Y'know?"
Again, she didn't speak. He was just starting to consider kidnapping when she did.
"I'm trying not to think about it."
"But you are," he said, without missing a beat. Ellegaard sighed, averting her eyes to the floor.
"Yeah, just... Magnus, there's a very high chance we won't be able to change anything," she raised her head. Her eyes were glistening, and they were wide. They caused his heart to twist and turn painfully. "And if that happens... I just want you to know-"
"It won't happen," Magnus cut her off. He reached forwards without thinking, taking her hands in his, "It won't."
"But it could," she said. Her hands were trembling just as bad as his, although it could have just been him, "Magnus, it could."
He shook his head, jaw setting with determination, "I won't let it."
She laughed, a dull, humourless laugh. Her eyes were even shinier than before, tears pooling at the corners, but she didn't let the fall. "That's sweet. But you won't remember promising that."
Magnus shook his head, slowly. His own eyes felt oddly wet. "I'll feel it," he raised her hand, placing it on his chest, right above his heart, "I'll always feel it."
Ellegaard stared at her hand for a moment. Then she leant forwards, resting her forehead on his shoulder. He pulled her close, taking in the sweet scent of her hair. She smelt like redstone dust and oil.
"It won't happen, Ellie," he promised, "I won't let it happen."
"At what cost?" she asked, "Your life? The worlds?"
"If that's what it takes."
"You can't do that, Magnus," her voice was almost a groan, but not quite, "You can't."
He let go of her hand, tilting her chin so she was forced to look at him. "Watch me."
She blinked at him, and a small tear escaped her eye, slipping down her cheek like a raindrop. He whipped it away with his thumb. Ellegaard leant into his touch, a small laugh passing her lips.
"You always were stubborn."
Magnus grinned, "Damn straight."
He pulled her into a kiss.
When Jesse woke up, he found himself uncomfortably hot. It was as though five comforters had been draped all around him in the middle of summer.
He shifted, cracking open his eyes, and was startled to realise the thing his face was pressed against was a chest. Jesse groaned, closing his eyes again and burying his face into the chest. He may be hot, but he had no desire to get up.
There was a brief exchange of whispers, but he didn't bother to listen to them. Then someone poked him in the side of the head. He made an annoyed noise in the back of his throat, shifting away from the where the poke had come from and curling into a tighter ball.
However, the poking persisted, and Jesse cracked open his eyes again to glare at whoever decided to wake him. It was Petra, who simply smiled at him, although he noticed it didn't reach her eyes.
"Lunch is ready," she said, "And Lukas has to pee."
Jesse blinked at her slowly, then sighed and got up. Reuben uncurled from where he'd been resting beneath his arm, blinking blearily, nose twitching cutely. Jesse picked him up, cradling him in his arms. Lukas smiled at him, climbing to his feet and quickly making his way out of the living room in search of a toilet. Jesse felt his face heat up. He'd fallen asleep on top of him.
"Hey, Jesse," he raised his head, looking at his other three friends, who were watching him expectantly by the door. Axel had spoken. "You coming?"
He blinked, then nodded, pushing himself to his feet with Reuben still in his arms. Silently, he followed them into the hall and towards the kitchen.
Maya, Gill and Stacy had been the ones to make lunch, despite it not being any of their turns to cook. But no one mentioned it, so Jesse fetched Reuben a carrot and sat him on the floor by his own seat, before sitting down. He noticed that Aiden wasn't anywhere in sight, but didn't point it out.
He looked about at the food- chicken, pork, bread and a cake that was already half eaten- but didn't reach for anything. He wasn't hungry.
Eyes bore into the side of his skull, and he glanced to the side. Hadrian was staring at him, lounge in his chair as though it were a throne, munching on a large piece of pork. Jesse's gaze became distasteful, and he quickly averted his eyes.
The table was mostly silent, apart from a few murmured conversations, and people kept glancing Jesse's way. He ignored them.
"Jess?" Olivia said. He had to lean forwards to see her, because she was on the other side of Petra. "Why aren't you eating?"
He glanced about at the food laid before him, then shrugged, absentmindedly fiddling with the buckle of his dungarees, "Just not hungry."
This earned him quite a few frowns.
"At least eat something small," said Petra, "Like..." she looked about the table and then, after a moment of consideration, grabbed a bit of bread, "Like some bread."
Jesse blinked at the offered loaf, but took it in hand, "Uh... okay."
"Are we going to be playing the next round of Release?" asked Em, directing attention to her. Slab, who was struggling to eat a sandwich without eyes and trying to not bite his own fingers off, snorted.
"Do I look like I'm ready for the next round? 'Sides, three people in this room could die in the potential future. I don't think anyone's up for any games right about now."
"Four," corrected Nell. They sent her confused looks. "The sheep fell too."
Jesse blinked at her, then smiled, although it fell quickly. Lukas returned not a moment later, seating himself next to Axel, who was sitting on Jesse's left. Gabriel took a bite out of his beef, swallowing.
"I suggest we watch some more of the episode," he said, "Before we do anything else."
This earned some nods, but a few people still looked hesitant. Jesse knew why. Watching the rest would confirm their deaths.
He sat the bread on his plate, standing up, "I'm going to the bathroom."
"Hurry back," said Lukas. Jesse nodded at him, stepping over Reuben and making his way out into the hall. The pig watched him leave, considered following, then returned to his carrot.
Jesse wasn't sure where he was going, but it wasn't the bathroom. There was one right down the hall from the kitchen. However, he walked in the opposite direction, passed the door leading to the 'Boom Room' and the armoury, making a half circle to the stairs.
He climbed them, in no hurry but not taking his time either. He reached the second floor and, for a moment, just stood there, looking left and right and wondering where he should go now.
Jesse decided to go left, turning an immediate corner, The hall narrowed a little down here, but not enough to feel claustrophobic. He came to the library door and raised his hand to open in, only to come to a stop when he heard voices.
Wondering who it could be, he wracked his brain for those that hadn't been at dinner. There was Aiden, of course, but there was more than one voice. Lizzie had been there, so had Clutch and Facemeat, as well as Magnus and Ellegaard. Hadrian, Mevia, Stacy, Sparklez, Otto, Soren... they'd all been there.
There was the low meow of a cat.
Ah. Cassie hadn't been there. He felt a little guilty for not noticing; the girl hardly talked.
Deciding not to intrude on whatever they were talking about (he doubted Aiden wanted to see him right now; hell, he didn't really want to see the other boy either), Jesse stepped away from the door, hand falling to his side. He shook his head, glaring at the floor.
What was he even doing up here? Avoiding eating? Avoiding his friends? Did he just want to be by himself? Why didn't he know? it was his brain.
Something cold brushed the back of his neck. Jesse jumped, but before he could spin around to see what it was, the cold thing had covered his mouth. He tried to scream, but couldn't, and suddenly his back was pressed against the wall. Cold fingers were digging into his clothes, chilling him to the bone, holding him in place.
Jesse struggled, heart hammering in his throat, trying to scream for help but unable to even open his mouth. He looked down, blood running cold. The cold fingers were black, wispy hands sticking out of the wall, clawing and clutching at him, as though trying to drag him through.
Panicking, he thrashed, but the hands held firm. He was so cold, his limbs and mouth were becoming numb, goosebumps darting up every bit of skin, hairs standing on end. It was a chill settling deep in his bones, turning his blood to ice, freezing his heart and leaving him unable to breathe-
-Then the hands were gone and Jesse was falling to the floor, gasping for breath, lips blue and shivering violently, frost on his clothes and crawling up his skin, face stark white and lungs struggling to inhale.
He lay there for a long time. He might have even fallen unconscious at some point. Eventually, he forced himself to his feet, arms and legs shaking like leaves in the wind.
He stayed away from the walls.
"There you are!" said Olivia, spotting him coming down the stairs, "Where have you been? I thought you were just going to the bathroom."
"Oh, uh..." Jesse scratched at his neck, glancing nervously up the stairs, "I couldn't find the one down here, so I went upstairs."
"Did you find it?" she asked. Then she frowned. "Are you alright? You look kinda pale."
Don't tell her, said the walls, You don't want to tell her. It never happened.
"I..." he shook his head, more to himself than Olivia, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Olivia asked, looking genuinely concerned, "You're lips look kinda blue..."
"It's nothing," he insisted. Hesitantly, he gestured down the hall. "We watching the rest of the episode?"
Olivia stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Yeah," she said, "Yeah, let's go."
They walked back to the living room together, where most of the others were watching. His friends smiled at them as they sat down, and Lukas immediately moved to sit next to Jesse as Reuben crawled into his lap.
"Where did you go?" Lukas asked, "You were away for ages."
Don't tell them. It didn't happen.
"I got lost," Jesse lied, "I couldn't find the bathroom down here so I went upstairs to look."
"Oh," said Lukas. He seemed to contemplate something for a moment, then shrugged, "I'll go with you next time."
Jesse smiled, absentmindedly rubbing at the goosebumps still on his arms, "I'd appreciate it."
Soon, everyone else trickled into the living room. Jesse wasn't sure when, but at some point Olivia, Axel and Petra had formed a small half-circle thing around him and Lukas. Olivia was on Jesse' s left, Lukas on his right, then Petra was next to Lukas and Axel was sitting behind them. He was almost sure one of them would be sitting in front of them, had there not been a coffee table.
He spotted Aiden sitting in his usual seat by himself. Any blood that had been on his face was gone, but there was a nasty bruise on his jaw and one of his teeth had cracked. Experimentally, Jesse flexed his fingers, realising with a start that they were aching.
There was a tension in the room, and despite everyone being there and seated, no one made to get the remote. No one wanted to be the one to switch it back on.
After a long moment of awkwardly avoiding eye contact, there was an irritated huff and Hadrian got to his feet, snatching the remote off the coffee table and scowling at the closest person to him, who just so happened to be Petra.
"I'll do it myself," the man grumbled, jabbing the remote at the screen and pressing some random buttons, ignoring Petra's glare. The volume shot down, then he accidentally switched to the middle of episode three, where Soren is shown dancing about his lab, and then switched it to the bit where Jesse is being lifted into the air while trying to make the Formidi-Bomb, before the screen went off entirely.
Hadrian stood there for a moment, remote still pointed at the screen. Then his scowl returned and he threw the remote into Petra's hands, before storming off back to his seat. Petra glared after him, shaking her head, before beginning to fiddle with the remote.
She was able to get it back to where they were and, sharing a steadying look with Olivia, she pressed play.
For a moment, the screen remained dark. Then they heard the screaming, and Jesse and Isa appeared, falling through the endless sky. They continued to scream for a moment, then Jesse just trailed off and Isa's become less terrified and more 'oh... okay...'
"What do you think's worse?" asked Soren, not looking away, "Falling forever or eventually hitting the ground?"
"Falling forever would get boring," said Lizzie, off-handedly.
"Depends who you're falling with," muttered Magnus. He glanced at Ellegaard.
Isa glared at Jesse, "This is all your fault!"
Petra rolled her eyes, "Of course."
"Thanks to you," she continued, "We get to see what really happens when you fall off the islands!"
"Where's Lukas?!" asked Jesse, ignoring her, looking bellow him in search of the blond, "Do you see him anywhere bellow us? He should be down there!"
"Oh, why, yes," said the Founder, tongue dripping sarcasm, "The first thing I did after we both got kicked over the edge was to look to see where your friend was."
"Okay, she's mean," Axel muttered. Maya nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I mean, he's just been thrown off the edge of the world with someone that hates him," at their looks, she shrugged, cheeks tinting red, "I mean, if it had been me... I would have been looking for my friend too."
Isa sighed, stroking Benedict, "Yes... yes, I know."
The sky around them was beginning to lighten to a dull pink. Isa hummed. "I can't decide whether I want our deaths to be painless for my sake," Jesse was looking down at the clouds, and his eyes widened, as though he had spotted something. Isa, however, continued. "Or excruciating for yours."
"Why are you being so mean to him?" asked Dan, "He was trying to help you."
"Now, now," said Soren, "Think about this. She's just been betrayed by someone she thought she could trust, and now she's falling to her death because of it. If I were in her situation, I'd be bitter as well."
Aiden looked down at his lap. He closed his eyes.
On screen, Jesse and Isa fell through a cloud- and then there was land, a giant lake directly beneath them, Ivor's twin lavafalls falling from the sky directly into it.
A chorus of gasps was executed by the audience. Isa, Milo and Reginald shared a wide, open-mouthed look of shock.
"Land!" exclaimed Lukas.
"Land!" exclaimed Jesse, grinning. Isa's eyes had grown to the size of dinner plates.
"Impossible," she breathed. She looked to Jesse. "That's impossible!"
"Nothing's impossible," said Soren, grinning like a fool, "Only improbable."
Nell gazed at him with wide eyes, "Brah, that was, like, so wise."
"Jesse?" she was looking at him now, eyes still wide, completely lost as to what to do. Jesse pointed- as best he could, anyway- to the lake.
"There!"
"Can we get to it in time?"
"It's gonna be close!"
"Oooooh, please, please, please make it," Olivia groaned.
Jesse and Isa began to adjust and flay their limbs, doing anything they could to move closer to the lake. The lavafall loomed dangerously close, very nearly setting Jesse's armour on fire, and then with a scream, they both fell into the water.
"Oh my god!" Stacy gasped, "They made it!"
"What about Lukas?" asked Jesse, a concerned frown on his brow, "Did he make it?"
Gasping, Jesse and Isa resurfaced. The spawn-sheep bobbed in the water a little ways away.
Nell gasped, "The sheepy!"
Taking in his surroundings, Jesse gave a single laugh, grinning so wide his face looked in danger of splitting. He and Isa began to swim to shore, and Lukas came into view, hugging himself and dripping wet.
"Jesse?"
"There he is!" Gill cheered.
"Holy crap, you're down here too?"
"Lukas!" Jesse exclaimed, clearly relieved, "You made it!"
"Oh, yeah," Lukas grunted, helping Jesse out of the water, "Only slightly worse for wear." He immediately went back to hugging himself, shoulders hunched and expression a grimace of pain. Despite this, there was a small smile on his lips.
"Wow," said Ellegaard, "He looks pretty banged up."
"Broken ribs?" suggested Gabriel.
"Gotta say," said Lukas, "Aiden's tougher than I remember," he made a pained noise in the back of his throat, "He got me pretty good."
The glare that Maya, Petra, Olivia and Axel sent Aiden left him trying to vanish into his seat. Lukas didn't glare, just looked down at his lap, blinking rapidly to keep the wetness out of his eyes.
Aiden had made his choice a long time ago. No point in crying over it.
"Lukas, I'm really sorry I didn't try to help you there," said Jesse, "I only had a few seconds, everything was happening so fast..."
Lukas shook his head, smiling, "Nah, don't worry about it. Aiden was, ah..." he winced, rubbing at a tender spot on his arm, "Stronger than I was expecting. It was good of you to try and save the Founder."
"Yeah, Jesse," said Axel, ruffling his smaller friends hair, "It's not your fault for wanting to save someone from falling to their death."
Jesse swatted at his hand, scowling playfully, "Don't ruffle my hair!"
"Um... speaking of whom..." Lukas turned, directing their attention to Isa, who was taking in her surroundings with an oddly blank expression, "Is she okay? She's just sort of... staring."
"She's in shock," Gabriel said, sympathetically.
"Erm... lemme ask," said Jesse. He turned to look at Isa, awkwardly clearing his throat. "Founder?" Then, well aware of ridiculous it sounded, "Miss Founder?"
Real-Isa couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her, still struggling to wrap her head around what was happening.
"I, uh... I hope she's not in shock or something," said Lukas. Isa walked up to a tree, slowly, reaching out and touching it, as though to confirm that she hadn't gone completely mad.
"Are you, uh, doing okay over there?" Jesse asked.
"I just... I can't believe it," said Isa, still sounding a little breathless. She took another look around, then, at the approach of a cow, went over and hesitantly touched it, much like she'd done with the tree. "This has been down here the whole time?"
"All that land..." whispered Milo, "All those... materials. Right bellow us this entire time." He shook his head, astonished.
"I forbade anyone to look for land bellow us," Isa continued, "It was too dangerous. A-A lost cause..."
"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself," said Stacy gently. Isa didn't look at her.
"Well," said Jesse, when it became clear she wasn't going to continue, "'Land' is going to be a pretty big game-changer for you guys. I mean," he shrugged, "It's going to changed everything."
Isa turned around, eyes remaining as wide as ever, "Yes..."
Lukas glanced around them, letting out an impressed whistle, "Look at this place," the screen spanned, showing off the desert, hills and trees surrounding them, a jungle in the distance, "Totally untouched biomes, all around us."
"Yes..." Isa repeated, "It's all a little overwhelming."
"This is unsurprising," said Gabriel, "Just take your time to take it in."
"What... what do I do now?" Isa asked.
"Well," said Lukas, "How about you start with a few deep breaths?"
"Yes," Gabriel said, smiling and jabbing a finger at the screen, "Do that."
"Seeing all this after you've been crammed up on that tiny island... that wold be overwhelming for anybody."
Jesse nodded, "You can bring all your people down here! Th-They won't have to... to petition for resources or any of that stuff anymore!"
"Yes!" cheered Milo, throwing his hands in the air. Isa rolled her eyes at him, although Reginald's lips twitched in a smile. That sounded... quite fantastic.
"I... I suppose your right," said Isa, as though realising this for the first time. Jesse gave another nod.
"Yes, we have to get back up and tell them!"
"Getting back up. My word, you're right," she walked forwards, moving to stand at the edge of the lake, looking up at the sky were, way, way above them, out of sight, was Sky City, "I... I hadn't even thought that far ahead yet."
She looked over her shoulder at Jesse, most likely for advice on what to do next. But before the boy could say anything, a blazing zombie fell from the sky, slamming into the ground where Isa had been standing not moments before and puffing into a cloud of smoke.
"Notch!" gasped Magnus.
Startled, Jesse and Isa jumped back, then looked back up at the sky. It was raining monsters, all encased in a ball of flame, groaning and moaning and screaming monstrous screams as they fell and burned, the smell of rotting flesh thick in the air.
"Look out!" exclaimed Jesse, grabbing Isa by the hand and pulling out back towards Lukas, just as another zombie fell where they'd been standing.
"Dear Lord," breathed Milo, "Where are they all coming from?"
Petra groaned, "It's those blasted eggs! The Blaze Rods must be unleashing them on Sky City!"
Jesse, Lukas and Isa stood beneath the relative safety of the trees, more and more monsters falling from the sky. Slowly, it began to lessen.
"What's- What's going on up there?" asked Isa, as though either of the two had an answer.
"Oh..." Lukas winced, "That's not a good sign."
"You know things are going to hell when it's raining monsters," muttered Axel. Jesse nodded in agreement.
"Aiden's made some big mistakes," said Jesse, matter of factly, "He's probably completely over his head by now."
Maya sighed, "You don't say."
Lukas's eyes narrowed, and he looked down at the ground, "I can't believe Aiden could be so... so stupid."
Aiden flinched, hunching in on himself. Cassie stared at him for a moment. She was the only one that noticed.
"I can't leave my subjects in whatever trouble they're in," Isa declared, turning to Jesse, "Jesse, will you please help me get back to Sky City? Stop Aiden? Help me protect my people?"
"We did kinda start this mess," Lukas pointed out.
"Of course I'll help you," said Jesse, "You're the Founder."
Milo didn't seem all that pleased with his wording, but thankfully said nothing.
On screen, Isa smiled in obvious relief, "Thank you, Jesse." she hesitated, then seemed to come to a decision, "But please, call me Isa."
Jesse returned the smile, the place a hand to his mouth, brow furrowing in thought, "Okay, getting back up... getting back up..." he moved to stand at the edge of the lake, looking about, "Let's see what we've got to work with..."
He spotted a high mound of dirt a little ways away. A random, blazing skeleton smashed into the ground next to it. Jesse grinned. "Hm. That'll work."
Real-Lukas blinked, then grinned as well, "Oh, I see!"
"What?" asked Milo, "What are they doing?"
Isa gave Jesse an odd look, "What is it?"
"Oh," said Lukas, having quickly caught on, "I see what you're getting at. Nice."
"Well, would someone care to explain to me, please?" asked Isa, slightly irritated.
Still grinning, Jesse turned to face them, "Get ready to build the tallest thing you've ever built."
"Excuse me?" said real-Isa.
On screen, Isa's eyes widened, "What?"
Jesse began to run towards the hill, Isa and Lukas quickly following, "We're going to build a tower of dirt all the way back up to Sky City."
"Oh," said Reginald. Then, eyes widening, "Oh! That is brilliance!"
Jesse skidded to a stop at the hill, turning to face Lukas and Isa again as they ran up to him, Lukas lagging behind a little. "Grab as much dirt as you can carry!"
With that, the screen sped up, with Jesse and Isa digging while Lukas watched, once more hugging himself. The ground began to disappear the further they moved, the sky lightening and the monster rain coming to a stop.
"Lukas must be pretty banged up if he's not doing anything," said Petra, a little concerned.
It cut to Jesse digging up a single block of dirt, then putting it in his pocket, letting out a relieved sigh, "Okay... that should do it."
"Jesse," said Isa, from where she stood with Lukas halfway up a hill of stone and gravel, pointing to something out of sight, "What is that?"
Jesse followed her hand- and his eyes landed on an unlit portal.
Olivia gasped, "It's another portal!"
"Alright!" cheered Sparklez, clapping, "You guys, they can get home now!"
Hadrian, Mevia and Otto looked at each other with raised eyebrows. They said nothing.
Jesse walked towards the portal slowly, eyes widening upon realising what it was. Lukas and Isa hopped down from the hill, the two boys obviously shocked at the sight of the golden gateway.
"What?" huffed Isa, "What is it?"
"Just... wow," Lukas shook his head, "What are the odds?"
Jesse turned to look at Isa, grinning, "It's the other half of the portal that brought us here."
"Man, what a relief," said Lukas, "We just need to get that flint and steel back. It should be a straight shot home now."
"Thankfully," Petra sighed, "This will all be over soon."
Jesse began to make his way up the hill, Lukas and Isa following. It had begun raining monsters again, but thankfully they seemed to be mostly falling closer to the lake, leaving their spot clear.
"Well, guys..." said Jesse, turning to face them, "Ready?"
Lukas grimaced, hunching in on himself. Isa nodded, almost absentmindedly.
"Yes, I think so."
"I, uh..." Lukas winced, "Think I've actually got to sit this one out, Jesse."
Soren sighed, "Good. You would only make yourself worse off by going with them."
"Aiden got me pretty good," the blond admitted, "Just not sure if I'm up for towering all the way back up there."
Frowning, Jesse began to walk towards him. Lukas rubbed at his arm again, "I'm really sorry. I... I probably wouldn't be able to keep up anyway."
"What? But it's dangerous alone," Jesse pointed out, gesturing to the monsters falling monsters, "Monsters, nightfall..."
"I'll get some food," Lukas assured, "Put together a shelter if it gets dark." His eyes hardened, although not at Jesse, "It's not my first rodeo."
"I'll be fine, Jess," said Lukas, to on screen Jesse or real life Jesse, none of them were sure, "A lot safer down there than up there, anyway."
Jesse still didn't seem to like the idea, but didn't protest. He helped Lukas sit down beneath a tree, out of the way of the falling monsters, "There you go, buddy."
"Thank you for trying to help," said Isa, "It was very noble."
Lukas gave them a weak smile, "Hey, what's with the 'last goodbye' tone? I'll see you guys when you get back."
"Hopefully," Jesse muttered. Petra squeezed his knee.
"Oh," abruptly, Lukas's eyes were hard with a terrible hatred, leaving the audience leaning back in surprise, "And give Aiden another punch for me."
Aiden grimaced, sinking further into his seat.
Nodding, Jesse stood up from where he'd been kneeling, "Will do."
He turned, gesturing for Isa to follow, "Come on, we've got an epic climb ahead of us."
The two ran towards the tallest point of the hill, starting to climb it. Near the top, Jesse came to a stop, turning to look down at Isa, "We've got a city to save. Ready?"
Isa turned to him, a determined glint in her eyes, "I believe so. And when I get up there I'm going to tear those Blaze Rods limb from limb."
In almost perfect unison, Aiden, Maya and Gill shrunk away from her, as though fearful she would hold up on her on screen selves promise. Isa's lips twitched at that.
Jesse blinked at her, then grinned. It was starting to rain, although thankfully it was proper rain and not monsters, and it was only in short dribbles that vanished and then reappeared.
Isa glanced to the side, then back up at Jesse, "Oh... and Jesse? I appreciate what you did up there," she fiddled with her hair, "Trying to save me, I mean."
Instead of answering, Jesse simply smiled. They climbed the rest of the hill, then Jesse jumped, placing a dirt block directly under him. Isa copied, and soon the screen was speeding up and they shooting towards the sky, passed the rain of flaming monsters and water droplets, the sky darkening with the setting of the moon.
Then they vanished into the clouds, and the screen darkened.
"Alright!" cheered Axel, "Let's save this city!"
"It is a relief," said Soren, smiling, "To know that there have thus far been little deaths."
"Yeah," Jesse muttered, hugging Reuben closer.
Hadrian watched the boy with a curious glint in his eyes, lounged across his seat like the king he knew he was. His glasses glinted almost menacingly in the light of the living room.
"Impressive," he muttered, Mevia and Otto glancing at him, but they were the only ones that heard. His lips lifted in a smirk.
"Very impressive."
When Isa asked what she was to do now, what did you say to her? Bring everyone down here, first we kick Aiden's butt or take a minute to yourself? Let me know in the reviews!
Okay, so I completely forgot to put this in the last chapter, but I'll be on a cruise next week so updates are incredibly unlikely. I'm also going to have to get up at half four tomorrow morning to drive to the airport and catch my flight to Spain. Which is just terrible, I can hardly get out of bed at seven.
So I won't be updating for the next week.
Also, wow! Chapter thirty-eight! We're almost in the forties! This will be my first story to ever get up to forty chapters! And look at how long these chapters are! ::D
Anyway, the next two chapters will be the last round of Release, with Team B as the Seekers and Team A as the Hiders. Who do you think will win? And do you think Ivor and Jesse will tell someone about the black hands? Do they want to but just... can't?
Things are getting complicated.
And a hell of a lot more scary.