3rd Person P.O.V
The heat was intense, the lava far below them bubbling. Hot enough for their clothes and hair to stick to them as they panted, hearts thumping.
Olivia wasn't sure what was worse. The heat of the hellish landscape of the Nether, or- her heart stuttered- not knowing what was happening on the other side of that portal.
Axel coughed from where he stood, the hot air making his tired form worse. Lukas was wringing his hands together nervously. He had been the last person to come through.
It had happened so fast. One moment everyone- her, Axel, Lukas, Petra, Jessie, Gabriel, dozens of people she didn't know- were ready to go through the portal, only for the monster's tentacles to smash through the ceiling and walls.
They had destroyed the rest of the room swiftly, grabbing people or swatting them into its tractor beam.
When they saw that happen- it... well she wasn't sure what happened exactly.
All she remembered was being pushed into the Nether portal, and a loud screech from the three headed Wither.
Though she swore Jessie didn't have that prismarine glove on before.
Lukas gave a nervous sound, something between a laugh and a wheeze, "They're... they're taking their time, aren't they?"
He continued staring at the portal. Hopeful.
And then the purple darkened, swirling, and then-
"WATCH OUT!" Petra yelled, falling to the ground, Gabriel following a little after. Right after Gabriel flew out of the portal, Jessie jumped out, skidding to a stop. Arm raised, gauntlet clad hand holding a sword, small cuts scattered on his arms and face.
"Jessie!""Jessie, you're okay!" Jessie grimaced slightly, Axel and Olivia wrapping their arms around him. Oh, and Reuben was sniffing at their feet.
Gabriel hissed, standing up. His skin was scratched open on his arm, the red of blood mixing with torn skin, dust and something purple.
Petra groaned, shakily standing up.
She had a limp, favouring her left leg. It felt sore and bruised from where the Wither- Wither-thing, grabbed her.
She was just lucky her leg wasn't pulled off.
Lukas quickly moved to Petra, the only person he was really familiar with. He threw her arm around his neck, placing his around her waist.
"Thanks, Lukas," she said, gritting her teeth slightly. Bruises were a pain.
Lukas was about to respond when, from the corner of his eye, he saw the purple of the portal darken, a figure coming through.
"Uhh, guys-" he pointed, raised voice catching everyones attention.
They turned and looked. Jessie pulling his sword out, still wearing that odd, odd gauntlet, Gabriel grabbed his own, wincing. Petra made a move to grab hers, only to stop and wince. Everything hurt.
A second passed, and then a figure ran through the portal, and not a second too soon.
He ran like a horde of creepers was on his tail, long dark hair stuck to his pale (pale, so pale. He hadn't always been this pale, this unhealthy-) skin with sweat.
And just as he jumped through a long, black and purple vein covered tentacle burst through, swiping left and right, shooting upwards like it thought they had gone up, before wrapping itself around the portal.
Obsidian cracked, the portals purple, swirling light flickered (red, green, back to purple, then to grey, blue-) before it collapsed. The tentacle pulling itself back to its body on the other side.
They stared at the remains of the portal, hearts beats slowing. Then Jessie turned to stare at Ivor, an odd expression on his face. Sheathing his sword, the prismarine gauntlet (prismarine, there wasn't such a thing as prismarine armor-) catching the light from nearby glowstone, making it shine.
Jessie walked closer to the gasping man, who clutched at his chest. Ivor glared at him.
"..." Jessie closed his mouth with a click. Then he grabbed the front of Ivor's robes and lifted him into the air, ignoring the startled yells from him and everyone else.
"Do you know what you've just done?!" He shouted, letting Ivor go.
Ivor glared at him, at everyone; Gabriel glared back.
"What I've done? If you and your meddlesome friends hadn't stuck your noses into my business then this wouldn't have happened!" He yelled back.
Jessie blinked, an expression that he'd seen Romeo use once when he'd asked a particularly silly question taking form on his face.
"So, you're telling me you had it all under control? That you were going to make a wither and release it in a populated town, in a building full of people, with only the slightest chance that it would listen to your commands, with only a measly potion as backup to handle it if things went wrong?"
Ivor gulped. The tone the boy used was... frightening. It sounded, in a way, dead. Like he was so shocked that he couldn't express it properly.
Axel glanced at Olivia, who bit her lip, unsure. Jessie never talked like that before, the closest thing to that was whenever Aiden really pissed him off. And even that rarely happened.
Ivor swallowed, "Yes. I had it all worked out, and it would have worked if it wasn't for you." He said.
(He knew there was some blame on him, some truth to the boys words, but he wouldn't admit that, not here, not in front of him.)
Jessie nodded, taking a few steps back.
"Okay, if you say so," he nodded once more. The gauntlet gleamed.
Then Ivor flew back, landing on his back and groaning. Whether it was from the punch or the rough landing no one knew, only that it sounded pained.
Jessie turned to his friends.
"You guys ok? Any injuries or...?" He asked. Olivia smiled, "We're okay Jessie, but what about you? What was that? What's with the, uh, the gauntlet?"
Jessie glanced down at the gauntlet.
Ah.
How was he going to explain this?
"I- well..."He sighed. "Look, let's get out of here and I promise that when we're in a safe place I'll tell you guys, ok?" He explained, hopeful. Axel and Olivia glanced at each other, nodding.
"Okay Jessie, you tell us when you're ready, ok?" Olivia said. He nodded.
While this had been going on Gabriel had taken a few steps towards his-(friend? Order member? What did he call him anymore?) towards Ivor. The black haired man glared at him, stopping him from coming any closer.
Ivor stumbled to his feet, reaching into his robes to pull out a potion of invisibility.
"Well, as... interesting as this has been, I'll be off." He said, pulling their attention to him and the small vial of liquid in his hand.
Petra blinked, "What? And where are you going?"
He pulled the cork off, "Far away. From you, from that- that Witherstorm. As far as I can get. Good bye," and with that he threw his head back, swallowing the contents of the small glass vial and disappeared.
Gabriel shouted, cursing as his- as Ivor ran from the problem he created.
Lukas looked around nervously.
"Hey, guys... as, uh, as interesting as it is to, uh, to- to stand here out in the open, we're in the Nether surrounded by monsters. Now, I don't know about you guys but... I don't want to be here when the ghasts show up. So, uh, can- can we leave...?" He asked, hoping they'd leave soon. He'd never liked the Nether, it was why he'd asked Petra to get the Nether Star for him.
Axel opened his mouth to retort, only to close it when Olivia elbowed him; Gabriel let out a long sigh.
"You... you are right, the Nether is no place for children-"he ignored the collective "Hey!" from everyone "-or even an esteemed warrior like myself. We should leave." He turned, looking around for a few seconds before walking in a seemingly random direction.
"This way! Me and the other Order members built minecart tracks leading to our old temple. If I'm not mistaken them they are right this way." Sharing a glance they followed him. Though Lukas did mumble under his breath that it was "The other Order members and I", which Petra had to stop herself from laughing at. Her sides hurt.
Jessie picked Reuben up, not wanting to chance it. If they got attacked then Reuben could get hurt, which he couldn't let happen.
Even hurt Gabriel walked like they weren't in the Nether running from a horrendous monster. Jessie could respect that. Lying about his greatest achievement however...
-LINE BREAK-
They walked for what seemed like forever, the hot air irritating their tired forms.
The journey was spent in silence.
Ivor had called it the Witherstorm, which was what they thought on.
It had destroyed so much in so little time... so many people...
Axel hadn't realised until now, hadn't really thought about it, but...
His family -his aunt, uncle, cousins- they lived only a few miles out of town...
What if they didn't see it coming? What if- if they didn't run or e-escape in time? What if they didn't make it?
(He paled drastically at that thought, skin clammy. His breathing had increased until he was near hyperventilating.
Jessie and Olivia had rushed to his side but he couldn't hear them- couldn't focus on anything besides the fact that oh god what if they're gone- oh god oh god no no no nononononon-)
Petra averted her eyes. Lukas following her lead.
Gabriel didn't even glance back.
(This was their fault)
They all stopped for a rest, the tracks further than expected yet Gabriel knew they were going in the right direction.
Lukas watched as Jessie and his friends moved further away, partially hidden by a wall (which looked like it had been hit by TNT).
Even from where he sat he could hear the sobs and gasps.
("What if they're dead!?" "They're not-" "Axel you don't have to worry I'm sure-" "You don't know- but what if- pleasseee-" "Axel just take deep breaths, c'mon buddy deep breaths-" "No no no pleasseee-")
It was uncomfortable. Sitting so close, being so close. He could hear everything. Every sob, gasp, cry. The slight hitch of the young griefer's breath, the muffled sound as (or at least he thought) Jessie or Olivia hugged him, muffling his cries.
Then he realised something.
All this time, the entire time of being apart from them, he hadn't thought about Aiden or Gill or Maya.
He hadn't thought about how they'd been separated, running in different directions. He hadn't thought about what if they got caught in those tractor beams, what if the monster threw them and they went flying only to slam into something and break their backs or their necks and then he'd never know and- oh god he left them he left them to die-
Lukas felt Petra wrap her arms around him. He felt her rub his back and his arms and sides. Her whispering encouragingly (as best as she could, at least) that "they were fine, they'd be fine, everything would be fine-"
But Lukas wasn't listening to her. Quiet sobs escaped him, his eyes stung from the sulfur (or maybe his tears were irritating him, that happened right?), he shook as he thought about his friends and how he'd left them to die.
(Aiden could be an a-hole but he always was there for him)
He gasped, his chest hurt so so bad-
(Maya loved reading with him. If Aiden was to busy or not in the mood she'd spend time with him doing what he liked)
His chest felt like it was on fire, his lungs ached, he wanted to breath deeply like he could hear Jessie and Olivia telling Axel to do but it hurt to breath-
(Gill loved making him laugh. He loved making them all laugh. His days were always better thanks to him)
Lukas couldn't breath.
-LINE BREAK-
Gabriel's P.O.V
Gabriel didn't look back. He couldn't look back.
If he did he didn't think he could stop himself. From what, even he didn't know.
Rage? Curse? Cry? Or perhaps he'd admit what they had done all those years ago.
They were children, young and inexperienced. They shouldn't have to be forced into this, they should have chose to go on an adventure, to battle and win glory.
Not watch as their entire life was uprooted, wondering if their loved ones were dead or alive.
(He remembered holding her as she sobbed, as she screamed and raged that it wasn't fair.)
Children shouldn't be forced into such a role, shouldn't be forced to go through such.
(He'd loved them- both of them equally- yet he hadn't talked to them in years.)
The children reminded him of himself and his friends. The ginger- Petra, he believed- was just like him when he was younger, carefree and ready to take on the world.
(Magnus had reacted as he usually did when he was upset or angry. )
But his mind went back to the girl- Olivia? Yes, that was her name, Olivia looked and acted much like Ellegaard did when she was younger, why if... if it wasn't for-
(They thought they would stick by each other)
Gabriel felt his heart skip a beat, his stomach felt heavy.
(But after everything -the lying, the secrets, Ivor then Soren gone-)
Ellegaard had worn her hair like that once, when they were much, much younger. When they were only neighbours in a small village to the south.
(With so much going wrong, with so much going on- they just couldn't spend as much time together-)
He could still hear the large boy crying. It actually reminded him of- No.
He could make up whatever fantasy he wanted-
(Ellegaard had spent so much time in Redstonia- so much time away from them-)
-but it wouldn't change anything.
(Magnus was angry. He didn't mean it.)
No matter how much he wished it, no matter how much the girl looked like her-
(He stood by and let him accuse her of cheating-)
-she wasn't.
(They had shouted so loud that it put the dragon to shame-)
The blonde let out another sob.
(They didn't argue anymore- they agreed to be more open, to talk-)
Gabriel really wished he was anywhere else.
(But they didn't-
And-
And then-)
Gabriel listened as both boys cried. The background noise of sizzling lava and ghasts and pigmen something he could only hear.
(Gabriel had always wanted a family.)
He hated listening to children cry.
(He'd been an only child. He'd wanted a big family, something he'd gotten in the form of his friends.)
He breathed in deeply through his nose.
(Gabriel wanted kids of his own. They'd agreed, why wouldn't they?)
He exhaled.
(But then the doctor told them it would be life threatening for her.)
He got up, thankful, so so thankful that the crying had stopped.
(Gabriel hoped he was imagining things. Building another fantasy in his mind to run away from the cruel world.)
He turned smiling (fake fake fake) at the children.
(Ellegaard was a genius. She could do anything she put her mind too.)
His eyes lingered for a second longer on Olivia and the large boy besides her.
(He hoped it both was and wasn't)
They boy's red rimmed dark brown eyes (so dark they seemed black) looked tired. Then again he'd been crying for awhile now.
(God, how wrong were they? He hadn't said so but Magnus' words made sense-)
"Well, we best be off, we're close and we should make it before sunrise." He said, turning and hearing them follow.
(Gabriel was used to lying. They'd lied to the entire world.)
He saw the tracks up ahead.
He sped up.
(But soon he'd be forced to see them again.)
They each got into a minecart, Jessie holding his pig in lap.
(He wasn't sure he could keep the thought, nay, the hope that they were.)
Gabriel sucked in a breath.
And then they were off.
-LINE BREAK-
3rd Person P.O.V
The sound of crickets and rushing water filled Jessie's ears as he went through the portal. His gauntlet clad hand dripped with water from when he had rinsed it in the water. Zombie guts plus prismarine gauntlet equaled a rusty, blood covered hand.
Soon he heard Gabriel follow. The only reason it was Jessie that came out first and not him was because Jessie went through with no warning.
Everyone stumbled out from the Nether portal, wading through the cool water. They stumbled out of the water and muddy earth, following Gabriel who took the lead.
Axel shook his legs, holding onto a tree for support while he did so.
"The temple is further up, we can either go now or in the morning, the choice is yours," Gabriel said, noticing the tired looks they gave each other.
Gabriel started to punch the tree next him, he doubted they'd move much further.
After a bit of gathering they made a good sized hut, Jessie pulling out his flint and steel to light some sticks up and start a fire.
The flickering light was calming, the soft crackle of wood burning a better sound than that of screams or cries. Reuben snuffled softly, rubbing against Jessie for more warmth.
Jessie looked around. He noticed that Lukas clutched his stomach, he too felt hungry, not having eaten much.
He moved his gauntlet clad hand behind him and focused on calling Romeo.
The gauntlet heated up, warm and comforting. Jessie hoped this worked.
Carefully, behind his back and out of view, Jessie used his index finger to write a word on the warm ground. He just hoped it would work.
Then he felt a weight in his hand, which disappeared into his inventory. He waited as more was given, until he felt a small, barely there pat on his back. He assumed that meant Romeo was done.
Jessie smiled, pulling out warm loafs of bread (plus a carrot for Reuben). He handed them out to everyone, smiling at their thanks.
(Axel was glad Jessie had food on him, because while he had food... it was mostly sweets and pastries.)
Stomach full Lukas leaned back, "So... what's the plan?" He asked quietly, not wanting to break the serene silence.
Gabriel hummed.
"We will go to the old temple in the morning, then we will find the others, from there... well, we'll figure that out when we get there.
They agreed, to tired to argue or move or do anything really.
Soon the soft sound of rain hitting the roof began, lulling them to sleep.
Gabriel watched for a little longer, listening to the light snores of the children. The little pig moved closer to its owner.
His eyes wandered to Olivia again, and to Axel as well.
Maybe.
Maybe maybe...
Maybe not, there was a chance (a big chance) he was imagining things, seeing things that simply weren't there or didn't exist.
But he could hope.
And in the small hut, with a fire crackling and rain pattering, Gabriel thought on what could have been.