Jessica's hands quivered violently, her chest heavily heaving in and out.
The ground was shaking violently, nearly knocking Jessica off of her feet.
Jesse glanced over his shoulder, his dark brown eyes glimmering with something Jessica couldn't quite decipher.
"Jess get out of here!" Jesse screamed, the chaos around them growing louder.
"Look out!" Jessica hollered, diving and pushing her twin brother out of the way.
Jessica yelped as an arrow pierced her leg. Blood instantly oozed down her wound and Jessica's brother scrambled towards her.
"Are you okay!?" He asked, carefully helping her up. Jessica's face scrunched up in pain for a moment, a groan escaping her parted lips.
"Do I look...," Jessica drifted off, suddenly feeling extremely dizzy as a loud inhuman roar erupted.
Jesse carefully led his sister to a dark alleyway and gently set her down against a brick industrial building.
Jesse flinched as a dark shadowy figure suddenly rushed by and he took a step backwards into the shadows.
He glanced anxiously at his sister, her trembling fingers touching the deep wound on her leg.
"Come on Jess," Jesse said hoisting his lightweight sister on his back.
Jessica would have retorted, but at that moment she felt too drained to.
Jesse dashed down the alleyway, his heavy feet swiftly pounding against the solid ground, a soft clacking sound bouncing off of the walls.
Jesse breathed heavily and Jessica's short arms were wrapped tenderly around his neck.
She rested her head on his shoulder, the arrow filled with several toxic poisons.
"Stay awake for me Jessica...please," Jesse begged, just about reaching a small chain link fence.
Jesse nudged her slightly and Jessica's weary eyes slowly fluttered back open.
"I'm gonna help you climb this OK Jess." Jesse stated firmly, carefully setting his twin down.
Jesse faintly nodded, her piercing hands clutching the cold chain link fence.
Jesse helped her up and Jessica nearly slipped, her hands shaking like crazy.
"Calm down Jess. Just uh stay...awake...," Jesse drifted off, biting his left cheek, his gaze falling to the ground for just a moment.
Jessica took a deep breath and cautiously heaved herself over the fence, with the help of Jesse of course.
With a quivering hand she reached her hand out to her brother who didn't hesitate to grab her wrist.
Jesse hoisted himself up with the help of his sister and leaped down over the fence.
He stumbled a bit, but he turned on his heel, cold sweat rolling down the back of his neck. Jessica leaped down as well, but as soon as she landed on the ground a sharp pain shot through her leg.
Jessica yelped and stumbled. Jesse caught his sister and her leg started to throb like crazy. Her leg was already starting to swell and black ants crawled up her hands.
Jessica glanced at her hands and smacked them, disgust gleaming in her eyes.
"Ew ew get them off!" Jessica exclaimed. "Get what off?" Jesse asked frantically, helping his panicking sister up.
A sudden piercing whoosh of air caught Jesse's attention and he quickly grabbed his sister's soft hand and began running, as fast as he could.
Jessica struggled to keep up and she watched in complete horror as Jesse's skin peeled, revealing the vibrant pink flesh that lay underneath.
Jessica wanted to gag and she felt queasy. Eyeballs grew on the back of Jesse's head and stared straight into her soul, creeping her out.
Indistinct voices echoed in Jessica's busy mind and the voices grew louder and louder.
Jessica's ears deafened, a shrill high pitch feminine voice making her ears ring.
A small figure flashed before Jessica's eyes and she gasped suddenly and suddenly stopped, using the hooves of her boots to skid to a stop.
Jesse was suddenly yanked backwards and he halfway turned to Jesse. "Come on Jess! What are you doing?" Jesse exclaimed, getting a better grip on his sister's small hand.
Jesse and Jessica jolted into the damp forest, the beaming sun scorching their backs. Jesse set Jessica down against a thick sturdy tree, her head leaning against the sturdy bark.
Jesse hastily glanced away from his sister, gritting his straight teeth.
"How's your leg?" Jesse asked, nervously waiting for a response.
Jesse gazed at his sister becoming anxious. Jesse gently shook her and she groaned.
"...Fine...just fine...," Jessica muttered, blinking drowsily. Jesse nodded, taking out a piece of dry leather.
It definitely wasn't the best, but it was all he had to work with.
Carefully, Jesse lifted her wounded leg and placed the leather underneath her swollen leg.
Jessica winced, her barely opened eyes glazed with agony. Blood spilled, oozing down her leg and she felt extremely dizzy.
Jesse lifted the flaps of the piece of leather and tied it with a piece of string he had found earlier.
"This might hurt a little," Jesse whispered, pulling on the string. Jessica winced, clenched her teeth and tried her best not to scream in anguish.
"I'm...really sorry Jess." Jesse began.
Jessica blinked slowly, her hallucinations slowly coming to an end. "...Don't...it's fine," Jessica mumbled through grit teeth.
"...But it's not Jess," Jesse retorted. "Look. Everything so far has been my fault...and..and," Jesse wiped his eyes with the back of his cold hand.
"...I'm...so sorry Jessica," His voice was full of sorrow, but somewhat edged with seriousness.
"Jesse. I said I'm fine," Jessica replied, taking a slow deep shaky breath afterwards.
Jesse glanced at his feet, slowly nodding, her words quickly sinking in.
Jesse anxiously fiddled with his fingers. He felt scared.
Scared of what was to come.
Chapter 2:
Jessica and Jesse slowly walked through the damp forest and Jessica suddenly threw a fit of harsh coughs.
Jesse turned on his heel and put an arm around his sister's shoulder.
"You alright?"
I'm..," She coughed, "F...Fine!"
Jesse nervously fiddled with his fingers and he resisted using his other bad nervous habit.
Jessica trudged alongside him, her gaze weary and earnest.
"Jesse...what exactly did you do?" Jessica asked, her eyebrows raising slightly.
"Uh...it's a long story," He said nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and averting eye contact with his weary sibling.
"Well...how about you start from the beginning," Jessica said, crossing her arms over her chest.
A sharp pain shot up Jessica's leg and she staggered, and grit her teeth.
Jesse's dark brown eyes glimmered with worry and Jessica whispered something inaudibly.
All of a sudden a thundering shriek caught the twins attention.
Jessica gasped and Jesse's eye's slowly widened.
Standing before them was a snarling dark brown grizzly bear, it's brown eyes glowing unnaturally. Jesse stood infront of an injured Jessica and unsheathed his iron sword.
"Stay behind me Jess," Jesse commanded, putting his arm protectively in front of her.
Jessica resisted the urge to roll her eye's at the statement.
The snarling grizzly bear suddenly lunged at Jesse, taking him by suprise.
Jesse was knocked backwards which knocked Jessica over in the process.
Jessica winced as her wounded leg was being crushed.
A loud groan erupted from Jesse's throat as the bear's sharp claws dug into his arm, which was shielding his face.
The sharp claws dug deep into his arm, revealing his light pink flesh. It was torn apart and blood oozed down his arm like an untamed waterfall.
Jesse breathed heavily as he rolled off of his sister who quickly Jessica sat up.
She swiftly grabbed her bow and reached for an arrow in her quiver.
She aimed carefully and before the ferocious beast could attack her brother again, she shot it.
The arrow pierced through it's left eye and through part of it's skull. The bear roared, his bared teeth showing.
The strong beast collasped within seconds, landing heavily on the dewy grass with a loud thud, blood seeping down it's eye.
Jessica breathed heavily, sickened by the now blood stained arrow.
She shook her head and rushed to her brothers side and swiftly pulled him up.
He winced, and a gust of bonechilling wind sent shivers down his spine.
"...T...Thanks Jess...," He muttered weakly, blood covering most of his arm.
"Don't mention it," Jessica said with a faint nod, putting away her bow and quickly ripping off part of her teal sleeve.
"Hold still," She demanded, earning a nod from her injured brother.
Carefully, Jessica wrapped the sleeve around his bloody arm and tied it into a knot.
"...That should do the trick," Jessica announced, resting her hand on her hip.
Jesse slowly nodded and winced. "Should we set up camp before nightfall?" He asked Jessica.
"Probably...," Jessica muttered, taking in all of their surroundings.
"We should make a small dirt hut. It's small and simple." Jesse said, wincing occasionally.
Jessica barely nodded and started to gather some dirt for the dirt hut.
After a while Jessica and Jesse had both managed to build a small dirt hut.
They both entered the dirt hut and leaned against the walls.
Jessica then started rubbing two long sticks together, trying to start a decent fire.
Jesse sighed rubbing his good arm with his wounded one.
"Jess...I...I...," Jesse drifted off, trying to find the right words. Jessica glanced up at her twin brother, her eyebrow lifted.
"Yeah...go on," Jessica said slowly, raising her eyebrow even more.
"This is all my fault! I...I caused all this!" Jesse exclaimed, huffing. He brought his legs to his chest and sighed.
"And now I'm wanted dead because of my own mistake...," Jesse stared down at his feet, ashamed, "I'm...such an idiot."
Jessica gazed at him with sympathy and scooted closer to him.
She slowly wrapped her arms around his back, her small head resting on his tense shoulder.
"Maybe, but we're gonna find a way to fix this. I promise," Jessica whispered softly in his ear.
Jesse bit his bottom lip, closed his heavily eyelids and gently wrapped his arms tenderly around his sister.
He bit his bottom lip more, tears pricking the corners of his eyes.
He resisted the heavy urge to say sorry.
"Jessica..."
"Hmm..."
"Promise me something."
"Sure."
"Move on in life."
"O...kay...?"
Jessica hesistantly pulled away from her brother, his words sinking in.
"I love you Jess," Jesse whispered, glancing up at her.
"Love you more," Jessica replied warmly, cocking her head to the side.
Jesse chuckled, gazed at his feet and mumbled, "I'm glad I have a twin like you."
"What?" Jessica asked, only hearing bits of what he said.
"Nothing." Jesse replied hastily, shifting slightly.
Jessica raised her eyebrow and pondered over her brothers words.
"Why does it sound like your saying goodbye?" Jessica asked after a while, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.
Jesse gazed up at his sister, his eyes glimmering like stars. "Maybe...because I am...," He muttered quietly, uneasily bringing his legs closer to his chest.
Jessica couldn't really hear him, but the parts that she did she let it sink in. Her eyebrows furrowed.
"But...why?"
No response.
Jesse's gaze was at his feet again and silence hung in the air once more.
"Jesse...," Jessica whispered, "You can tell me."
Jesse shifted, his foot anxouisly tapping against the dewy grass blades.
"I...know...," Jesse whispered, fiddling with his fingers.
"It's just...," Jesse sighed, his gaze falling, "Just forget it Jess..."
Jessica's curouisity was sky high now, but she grit her teeth as a sharp pain suddenly shot through her leg.
Jessica hissed, slowly bringing her hands to her injured knee. The leather that was wrapped tight around her leg was blood stained and Jessica's hands trembled like crazy.
She groaned, leaning her head back against the dirt. Soil got into her dark brown hair, but she was too worried about her leg to even notice.
"You alright Jess." Jesse said slowly.
"N...no...," Jessica muttered quietly, her hand gliding down her swollen leg.
The room suddenly fell quiet again and Jesse flinched as the ground suddenly rumbled underneath them.
Shakily getting up to his feet, Jesse quickly grabbed Jessica by the arm and hastily helped her up.
Jesse stumbled and Jessica nearly fell.
Regaining his balance, Jesse turned his head to see his sibling catouisly pushing her way towards the exit.
Jessica grit her teeth, reaching for the handle of the oak door.
Without warning, Jesse was violently thrown across the room, his remaining air knocked out of him.
Jessica held onto the handle of the door, her strong grip just about falling apart. Her fingers slipped one by one, but before she completely lost her grip, the shaking of the earth had suddenly stopped.
Jessica fell, the sudden stop making her lose her balance. Jessica landed right on her wounded leg and she cried out in agony, clutching her leg with one hand.
Jesse immediately jolted to his sister's side, his eyes wide. Blood oozed down Jessica's leg and she hissed in agony.
Her leg stung like crazy and an excruciating pain settled in her swollen left leg.
Jessica breathed heavily, taking deep trembling breaths.
Jesse nodded, carefully hoisting his sister on his back. "Jesse..."
"Shhh, it's fine." Jesse whispered, carefully heading out of their small dirt hut. He bit his lip, now that her wound was reopened she wouldn't be able to walk very far. Jessica wearily rested her head on his shoulder as he spoke softly.
"Let's get going shall we."
Chapter 3
Jesse and Jessica walked side by side now. Jessica limped and her brother only gazed at her sympathetically, biting his tender bottom lip.
"You know I'm sorry right?"
Jessica groaned then said faintly, "Yes...you only said it about I don't know one million times already."
Jesse glanced away, clutching his arm. He took a deep shuddery breath and faced Jessica.
"Jess...I'm gonna do everything I can to stop this."
Jessica rose her eyebrow, but then swiftly glanced away from her brother.
Her eyes were narrowed, the corners of her vision growing darker.
"What are we even running away from?" Jessica asked callously, her hardened gaze catouisly observing the dense trees.
"Uh...," Jesse awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm not even sure myself..."
Tense silence fell and Jessica's fist tightened.
"Why are you lying to me?" Jessica grit her teeth harshly, her head quickly whipping around to Jesse, who stayed silent.
Her glistening eyes were narrowed, her eyebrows lowered. "Why Jesse huh?"
Still no answer. "You always keep the important things away from me!" She exclaimed, "You lie right to me face! Do you know how frustrating that is!?"
"Bu-"
"No buts Jesse! I'm tired of all of your excuses!" Jessica snapped.
Jesse felt her words pierce his heart, but he knew that he deserved it.
Jessica averted her fiery gaze. She just wanted him to stop lying to her face.
Her clenched fists tightened, her gaze as fierce as the dancing flames in a large fire.
Everything felt tense, the air was toxic and Jessica's words hung in the air.
"...Jess...I sorta angered something..."
Her fierce gaze didn't budge, her eyes were glued in front of her. "Go on I'm listening," She said while limping.
"It's...w-was a shattered soul. I didn't mean to anger it OK!"
"-So now it's gonna come after one of us am I right?"
"It won't stop unless it kills one or both of us," Jesse replied, anxiously gazing at his sister.
"..Any other ways to stop it?" Jessica asked, casting a scarce glance at her sibling.
"I believe so, but from where we are we won't make it in time," Jesse explained.
"Where is it exactly?" Jessica asked, her arched eyebrow raised.
"Across the valley of the dead and across the river of Tallit."
Jessica thought for a moment and then said, "Seems like a risk we'll just have to take. How far is it?"
"A couple days from here at the least. We just have to keep walking in this direction."
"Someone could have taken the artifact already. You know how many traveler's have been searching for it lately," Jesse said.
"It can still be there." Jessica said, her tone still harsh and snappy.
"Even if we get pass the river we still won't know where it is," Jesse said while rubbing his wounded arm.
"We'll just have to search for it then!"
After her words, the twins fell silent. The small birds chirped and the leaves rustled gently.
Nothing was said between them for awhile and their footsteps engraved into the dark brown soil and the wind blew roughly.
Jessica suddenly tripped and landed right on her swollen leg.
Jesse, who was a little bit ahead, turned and quickly helped his whimpering sister up.
Her wound was even worse than before and she grit her teeth.
The world around her was rotating hastily and everything was blurry.
"Jess?" Jesse questioned.
The world around her was only spinning just a bit and Jessica swiftly recollected herself.
She lightly pushed herself out of Jesse's grip and mumbled, "I'm fine."
"No.. Jess your not," Jesse said, taking a step forward.
"I'm fine," Jessica repeated, but a little louder this time.
Jesse didn't say anything, but just watched as she staggered and swayed.
Jessica's hand glided across a damp tree and she breathed heavily.
Soil caked her overalls and also her chocolate colored boots.
Jessica's vision was zooming in and out, but she tried her best to ignore it.
Jesse's loud shriek made Jessica whip around.
She saw nothing and her eye's widned.
Instantly, she started sprinting.
"Jesse!" She shouted before stumbling.
"Jess!" A voice exclaimed.
She rushed through the large trees, stumbled a few times, before her eye's finally landed on her brother.
She reached for an arrow in her quiver, jolted towards him, and grabbed his wrist just as his hands slipped from the branch he was holding.
The branch broke in half, but Jessica dug her arrow deep into the tree.
"..Hang on..," Jessica muttered, her grip tightening around the wooden part of the arrow, her gaze filled with concentration.
Jesse was being yanked back by an invisible force and he could feel an unsettling presence.
He knew what it was. The shattered or lost soul.
"..Let me go Jess," Jesse said as Jessica's grip loosened.
"No!" Jessica exclaimed, "Your not dying today!"
Jessica's leg was ready to give up on her, but with all of her strength, she tightened her grip around the arrow and Jesse's wrist.
As the last rays of sunlight settled, it hit the lost soul and it instantly faded away.
Jesse was yanked backwards and his grip tore from Jessica's.
He landed on the ground with a loud thud and Jessica breathed heavily.
Jessica's weary gazed settled on her brother, who was now standing.
He was holding his arm as he approached Jessica.
"..It's...the light...whenever it hits it... the soul ..just disappears..," Jessica said breathlessly, crimson blood staining her overalls.
Despite all the agony she was feeling, she smiled weakly.
Jesse quickly hugged her and whispered softly, "Thank you Jess."
Jessica returned the embrace and said, "...Your welcome."
They seperated and very catouisly they headed to their next destination.
The valley of the dead.
Chapter 4
Jessica was leaning against Jesse, his arm wrapped firmly around his limping sister's shoulder.
The limping was worse than before and Jessica wasn't suprised to say the least.
"I'm sorry Jesse," Jessica whispered regretfully.
"For what?"
"For snapping at you earlier," Jessica said quietly, her gaze falling, "You didn't deserve that."
"No...no I did deserve it. You were right after all. I shouldn't lie to you even if it is just to keep you from worrying," Jesse said, gazing at his sister earnestly.
"..I know your only looking out for me..," Jessica mumbled.
"And you do the same," Jesse commented.
Jessica looked up at him wearily and said nothing.
"We need to stop and rest soon," Jesse said then sighed heavily.
"We should keep goin-," Jessica was cut off by her own yawn.
"We need to rest. Replenish our energy, eat, all that good stuff," Jesse said.
Jessica couldn't resist the thought of sleep even if it wasn't at home.
Her throbbing leg was also killing her at the moment.
Jesse gently set Jessica down by a tree.
Lucky for him, Jessica was too exhausted to retort at the moment.
Jesse had begun making a small dirt hut and occasionally Jessica would find herself dozing off.
By the time Jesse finished the dirt hut, his hands were covered with soil.
He turned around and smiled softly.
His sister was trying her best to stay up, but she wasn't much of a night owl, so she was having major difficulties.
Ever so gently, Jesse carefully picked up his light sister and gently set her down inside the dirt hut.
Her eye's had opened once more, but Jesse sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
She wearily leaned her head on his shoulder and eventually fell asleep.
Jesse watched her as she slept peacefully, but then he frowned.
This was his fault. He dragged her into this and he angered something she specifically told him not to.
He didn't mean to of course, but now there's no going back.
He really hoped Jessica would forgive him for what he was planning, but for some reason he doubted that she would.
Jesse breathed slowly and gazed at his sister, pity in his glistening eye's.
He gently kissed her forehead and whispered, "I'm so sorry Jess..."
After that, he laid awake, pondering and poking the small fire with a stick for a while.
Eventually, he leaned back and fell asleep as well.
At the crack of dawn, Jessica was already up and wandering around.
The sun's rays were silently peeking over the vast horizon and the mocking birds mimicked Jessica's loud whistling.
Jessica had a long damp stick, that was held firmly in her hands.
She was still limping, but she would still walk around, checking if the snares she had set caught anything.
She stayed close to the dirt hut and her lips were cracked and dry.
Old blood caked her beige overalls and the sun's orange rays shone brilliantly.
Jessica warily observed her surroundings and she walked over to a bush.
Vibrant red berries coated the lush bush and Jessica picked a handful of them off in only a couple of minutes.
She couldn't exactly remember if the berries were poisonous or not, but the scarlet-colored berries looked vaguely familiar.
"Jess..."
Jessica turned, smiled softly and warmly greeted her brother.
"Hey."
"Jessica!" Jesse suddenly exclaimed, knocking the red berries out of her hand.
"Do you know what type of berries those are!?" Jesse exclaimed, "Those are Daphne's! It'll kill you!"
"Oh..."
"You didn't eat any right?" Jesse asked.
Jessica shook her head, "No..no of course I didn't."
Jesse sighed and said, "Thank God you didn't."
"We should get going y'know. To that valley," Jessica suggested.
"Yes...alas we should," Jesse said, with a nod.
A very long day had passed before they reached the valley of the dead.
Small gravestones were everywhere and the sky was gloomy and gray.
Rain heavily poured and Jesse and Jessica were dashing past the cemetery's.
Sharp objects were hurtling towards them and they dodged each and every one of them.
Both twins faces were full of distress and Jessica struggled to keep up with her swift brother Jesse.
Arrows rained down from the sky and Jessica pushed her brother forward just as she fell.
She landed into a large puddle, but quickly rolled to the side.
All the arrows landed beside her, except for one.
She cried out in agony as the sharp arrow tore through her arm.
She quickly got up though, her scrunched up face filled with dripping water and mud.
Jesse quickly grabbed his sister by the arm and they started sprinting.
A raging soul caused them all this misery, but it wouldn't stop until it got what it wanted.
Both of the twins were soaked, their clothes drenched.
A ghostly figure appeared before Jesse and he felt his blood run cold.
Even with his heart racing, he dodged it and he skidded to an arubt stop as a knife landed near his feet.
Jessica bumped into him and that's when he came to his senses again.
He jolted and Jessica had trouble keeping up.
Blood was oozing down her drenched arm and she slowed down, her face extremely pale.
Jesse turned, dashed towards his sister, picked her up and sprinted once more.
He dodged countless arrows, daggers, and many other things.
As something popped out of the ground, the green vine wrapped around Jesse's leg, causing him to nearly stumble and drop Jessica.
As he quickly walked further, the tight grip around his leg weakned and he staggered as the thick vine around his leg was forced to retract back into the soil.
Jesse gasped and Jessica inahled sharply. As their gazes shot up both of their eyes widened at what stood before them.
"Run!" Jessica shouted.
Chapter 5
Jesse didn't hesitate to sprint in the opposite direction.
The abnormally large mutt chased after them, destroying the small graves in it's path.
It's narrowed eyes were fierce and it's ebony eye's glowed dangerously.
It's sharp bloody fangs showed and it sprinted after the twins.
"Hang on to me tight Jesse!" Jessica exclaimed.
Jesse tightened his grip around her and Jessica hastily grabbed her bow and reached for an arrow in her quiver.
As Jesse was running, fire suddenly shot up in front of him.
With wide eye's, he leaped over the blazing flames and Jessica focused.
Her bow was held out in front of her and the mutt advanced, wildly swinging it's large paws.
Jessica was forced to lean forward as the mutt swung at her.
It's sharp claws barely missed her.
Jesse had ran into the forest and he was suddenly yanked up as his foot was caught in a hunter's snare.
Jessica fell as Jesse's grip was torn from her.
She quickly scrambled to her feet, only for the large mutt to pull her back down and dig it's sharp fangs into her arm.
She cried out in pain and Jesse was hastily cutting the snare with his pocket knife.
Jessica's arrow wasn't too far from her and she reached for it and swiftly grabbed it.
Jesse fell as the last string of the snare broke.
He fell on top of the mutt and the gray hound turned towards him and growled loudly.
Jessica hastily grabbed her bow while Jesse had his silver knife firmly in his hand.
"Hey!" Jessica shouted, making the oversized hound turn to her.
Without any hesitation, she shot it.
It would've been a clean shot right through the eye, but before the arrow could hit it, the mutt teleported.
Jesse quickly got up to his feet, took his sister by the hand and ran until they were deeper into the forest.
The large mutt teleported back, jolted after them, and knocked down large tree's that nearly crushed Jesse.
The mutt stopped for a second and howled.
Jesse and Jessica dashed through the trees and Jessica was bleeding heavily.
Her heart was racing and her pace was slowing gradually.
"Jessica come on!" Jesse exclaimed, his voice shaking slightly.
"Jesse...just go on without me...," Jessica said which made Jesse panic.
"No...no," Jesse grabbed her firmly by the hand, "That's something I'd never do."
Jessica held on to him as they ran.
The mutt behind them continued to tear down things in it's path.
"The tree's!" Jesse exclaimed, running over to a large and sturdy tree.
"Jesse it's knocking them down!" Jessica exclaimed.
"It's not going to be able to knock down this one!" Jesse replied as he quickly gave Jessica a boost.
As soon as she reached the next branch, Jesse started climbing up as well.
The mutt however teleported closer to the twins and just as Jesse grabbed a branch, the mutt's teeth sunk into his shoe.
Jessica who was now leaning against a branch, took out her bow and arrow.
Quickly she shot the mutt and the sharp arrow quickly pierced through it's skull.
The mutt fell limp and it's teeth ripped out of Jesse's shoe.
Jesse sighed in relief before his gaze turned to his sister.
Her head was against the bark of the tree, her eye's closed and she was breathing heavily.
Teeth marks showed in her arm and blood swiftly oozed down.
Quickly, she pulled herself together and catouisly leaped down the tree.
She stumbled a bit, but she glanced up at Jesse just as he jumped down as well.
He landed beside her and she weakly glanced at him.
She straightened her posture and held her bleeding arm loosely.
"Here Jess," Jesse said, gently handing Jessica a spare white cloth.
"Thanks," She muttered, taking the cloth and pressing it against her wound.
Jessica glanced infront of her then looked back at her brother.
"Where next?" Jessica asked as they began walking through the large forest.
"The river of Tallit," Jesse said.
Jessica nodded and said, "We can make it there in time. Without a doubt."
Chapter 6
Jesse's feet lightly crunched the leaves and Jessica was limping by his side.
She held both of her arms and occasionally observed their surroundings.
"We're almost there," Jesse stated.
"What...does the thing we're looking for like again?" Jessica asked, gazing softly at her brother.
"It looks like a golden amulet," Jesse said.
"Okay let's just get this over with then," Jessica said.
Jesse nodded swiftly.
They walked through the valley of the dead in silence and for once they got to their destination in peace.
Jessica wiped sweat off her forehead and Jesse glanced at the wide river.
"Jesse," Jessica glanced at her brother, "I'm not going to be able to make it across," She said while fiddling with her fingers.
"Maybe we can build a raft," Jesse suggested.
Jessica observed all if their surroundings and sighed heavily.
"Do you have any wood on you?" She asked.
Jesse sighed and shook his head, "Sadly I don't," He said.
"Same here," Jessica said.
"Well guess we're going to have to find some then," Jesse said.
"There's no wood around here though. We'd have to go all the way back to that forest," Jessica said then mumbled, "You might as well just swim across and get the amulet."
"It's fine," Jesse said causally.
"No! It's not fine when your life is on the line here Jesse!" Jessica exclaimed.
"Ok ok...," Jesse sighed and asked, "Any other idea's then?"
"How about you swim across and I wait on this side," Jessica suggested.
Jesse glanced at the river and breathed heavily.
"Alright I'll do it," He declared.
Jesse walked closer to the rushing river and jumped in.
Water splashed all over Jessica and she shielded her auburn eye's with her arm.
Jessica's arm's were both wounded along with her leg and she knew if she even tried swimming across that it wouldn't end very well.
Jesse quickly swam across and gasped as he reached the other side.
His arm was stinging like crazy and the cloth that was around his wound was drenched to the core.
As soon as he was on the land, he began searching for the golden amulet.
He knew it was small and that no one had ever found it, but he knew why no one ever found it.
Jesse took out a large ancient book and held it firmly.
"The golden amulet," He said and the book opened and the pages flipped to a page that glowed radiantly.
A trail of golden footprints appeared infront of Jesse and he smiled in satisfaction.
"Woah," Jessica whispered, gazing at the beamning footprints in awe.
Jesse hastily followed the shiny footprints until he reached the golden amulet.
It was covered with soil, but as soon as Jesse approached it the soil uncovered the golden amulet.
Jesse reached down to grab it, but before he could grab it he was suddenly yanked backwards by a wolf.
Jessica didn't hesistate to pull out her bow and reach into her quiver for an arrow.
Jessica gasped as she realized that she didn't have any left arrows in her quiver.
Jesse was squirming in the wolf's grasp and Jessica quickly plunged into the river.
Jesse harshly elbowed the wolf that was dragging him and before he could do anything else the wolf lunged at him.
Jessica swam with all her might and the deep bruises along her arm and leg stung.
The wolf that was on top of Jesse slashed the back of his neck and Jessica coughed repeatedly as she reached land again.
Quickly she got up and threw her dagger at the growling wolf.
The small knife hit the wolf in it's side and it whimpered as it staggered backwards.
Jesse quickly got up turned on his heel and before the wolf could attack him again he kicked it.
The wolf swiftly scrambled away and blood stained it's silky fur coat.
Jesse quickly rushed to the golden amulet and swiftly picked it up.
Just as he picked it up, an arrow shot it out of his hand and the amulet flew out of his hand and landed into the rapid river.
"No!" Jesse and Jessica cried in unison.
Jesse turned and he saw the shattered soul, bow and arrow barely visible in it's somewhat apparent form.
Jesse gulped, but he turned to Jessica.
"Get out of here!" He shouted.
Jessica rushed to his side and exclaimed, "Are you crazy! I wouldn't dare do such thing!"
Jesse muttered something under his breath and then chain's from the ocean suddenly came up and wrapped tightly around Jessica's arm's and legs.
"Jesse!" Jessica cried as she was being pulled back.
"You'll thank me later," Jesse said, his voice quivering, tears forming in the corners of his dark brown eyes.
"No Jesse you can't do this to me!" Jessica begged, eyes wide and shining with newfound tears.
"Move on for me OK." Jesse said. With that he slowly started walking towards the shattered soul.
"Jesse! Stop!" Jessica cried, as she was being pulled further down into the ocean.
Jesse turned halfway, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"I love you Jess," He said.
Those were the last word's Jessica heard as she was forcefully plunged into the river.
The last thing Jessica ever saw of her twin brother was a blurry image of him accepting his unknown fate.
Jessica was fully submerged in the water when her chain's came loose.
Quickly she swam to the top of the river and her glossy eye's widened when she realized that her surroundings were different.
Everything around her was different.
Jessica tried swimming back down and coming back up, but when she came back up the surroundings were still the same.
Jessica quickly got out of the water and wrapped her trembling arms around herself.
Jessica sniffed, but swiftly broke down as she realized that she had lost her twin brother, the only person that actually cared for her.
Jessica wept, grieving over her loss.
She knew she couldn't get back because Jesse had her sent to a different dimension and once that was done there was no going back to the world that you were banished from.
As Jessica wept, someome heard it.
"Hey...," A soft voice said, "Whatever your crying about it's okay."
Jessica didn't say anything instead she rubbed her eye's with her hand and sniffed.
The woman comforted Jessica and after awhile she managed to get her to talk.
"So what's your name?" The woman asked.
"...Jesse," Jessica said, her eye's glistening with freshtears, "Just c-call me that."
"I'm Olivia," Olivia said as she helped her to her feet.
Jessica or Jesse nodded and Olivia said softly, "Come on. You can stay with me until your feeling better."
Jesse didn't respond and Olivia brought her to her treehouse.
As Olivia climbed the ladder, the brunnete gazed up at her, her eye's puffy and red.
"I'll try...to move on..., but no promises..," She whispered.
With those word's, Jesse silently climbed up the ladder and little did she know that an unpredictable future awaited her in the many year's to come.