Tess gasped, holding her hands over her wide open mouth. The hand around Jak's collar loosened a bit.
"What do you mean…you can't see?" the blondeelf tried hesitating and swallowed. Torn's face changed into a frustrated expression and tightened the grip.
"I can't see damnit! What part didn't you understand?!" he closed his eyes as he felt himself shaking and Tess' heavy breathing didn't help at all. For once, Daxter was absolutely quiet.
"Wait…", the blonde girl started. "I know something that could help…", she glared nervously at the others before continuing. "Yesterday when I was working for Krew, I was sorting different kinds of bottles… I read the note on one of them, it was something about blindness…something that could make you get the sight back…" this time she turned to Torn, who looked like if it was the end of the world. "If we could just get that bloodsucking freak to give us the recipe.."
"But didn't you say you saw one of those bottles?" the ottsel folded his tiny arms, glaring up at the girl.
"It was empty…" Tess sighed. No one spoke for a while as all three of them were staring at the blind elf. It was then Jak came to a decision.
"Daxter and I'll go and get the serum…", not really sure why he would like to do such a thing, he scratched the back of his head and stood up. Tess nodded silently and watched as her two friends were about to leave.
"See you soon sugarplum", Daxter winked at her in his charming, yet annoying way. She giggled at the little animal.
"Jak!" Torn reached his arms out as if trying to catch something. "I'm coming with you…" why the hell did he say that for? He could just lie here, being taken care of by Tess and well, wait for that serum they had recently discussed.
"This should be fun…", Daxter grinned as they approached the bed. Jak sat down beside the dark haired elf, placing his right hand on the other man's shoulder.
"I…I don't think that would be such a good idea", he said calmly, but before anyone of them could do anything else, Torn pushed him away and got up, swinging a bit where he stood. He grabbed the wall to get better balance.
"You should stay here Torn….It's the best thing to do…", Jak's voice sounded so calm and gentle, he couldn't help but listen to it. But he needed to go, it would be a nightmare to just lie here, staring…or….no, not even staring at the ceiling above, and what if that thing came back. No, he needed to go with Jak, whatever happened.
"You can't stop me", he breathed heavily, feeling the others staring at him. "Let's just go…" at first he didn't think they would let him, but then he felt the blonde's strong arm around his own and a more gentle one on his left side.
"Ok, Dax, go and get the hell cat outside…", he could hear it was Tess who'd said that, and both of them started helping him forward and outside.
"Anything for you Tess baby!" the little ottsel's steps echoed in the hall as he ran outside to start the zoomer.
15 min. later outside the Hip Hog Saloon
Tess had parked their vehicle by the entrance and was now to get around it to help Jak getting Torn out without any accidents. This time, Daxter jumped up onto her shoulder, grinning at the sight of the other two elves.
"Ok…a little bit closer, just one more step…", the blonde elf was giving orders to the other one, where to step and to NOT step. "Wait, stop…no" a loud thud and a crashing sound followed as Torn stumbled and fell down right onto Jak.
"Are you guys okay?!" Tess' terrified voice called over Daxter's laugh. The little ottsel fell off her shoulder, laughing so hard he couldn't get himself up from the ground. Jak lay there, not knowing what to do or what to say…Torn seemed just as shocked as him, and crawled away in a try to stand up. The girl gave him a hand to stand.
"I…I'm okay…", the blonde could hear his stuttering voice and as he looked at his hands, they were shaking. "Let's just get inside…okay? And Dax, stop laughing!" grabbing the ottsel by his throat, all of them approached the door to the saloon.
Well, where the hell was Krew? As they looked around they caught sight of Sig. The tall elf was sitting at one of the tables, polishing his peacemaker. To Jak's fear, Erol was sitting at the table next to him, fixing his hair in the most feminine way. He, Tess and Daxter swallowed, trying to get rid of the unpleasant sight.
"Hello there cherries!" the man greeted them, putting the weapon down currently. "What brings you here?" no one of the four got a chance to answer as he started speaking again. "If you're looking for Krew, he's out now…won't be back in a time though", he smiled at them, not wanting to be impolite by asking why they were holding Torn like if he was a bag of hay, ready to collapse any second.
"Hey there Sig!" Daxter shouted, taking the liberty to walk into the room. "And question number two! How did that elephant get through that little door?" he gestured towards the entrance. The elf just laughed and Erol snorted where he sat, watching them talk. Jak started to think this wouldn't get them anywhere so he spoke, not gladly in front of Erol, but oh well…
"Well, ah… the reason why we came here…uhm…", he looked at Tess for support.
"The reason is that I can't see! Now where's the recipe…?" Torn questioned angrily, clenching his fists.
"You must be Torn…I've heard about you, you work for the underground right?" Sig asked, picking his peacemaker up to go on with the polishing, while doing so, Daxter stole the drink beside him and hid under the table.
"What if I am?" Torn snarled aggressively, not really sure where the person he was talking to was.
"He sure is…", Erol chuckled from the corner, getting up to approach the three. Tess started to back away, but Jak walked up to the older elf.
"Mind your own business Erol!" he told the other one, feeling the anger build up inside him. the redhead chuckled again.
"Jak…Jak…Jak….I'm not after you….you've got nothing to worry about", with that said, he walked pass the blonde, bumping his arm on the way. "So…Torn…how is it like, being helpless…oh, what a stupid question…", he laughed. "You're always helpless, you're worthless, you and your silly underground force won't be able to stop the Baron, how could you ever think such a thing?" he kept laughing.
"YOU!" Tess had to hold the dark haired elf back as he tried to hit the red haired one.
"Leave him alone!" Jak got between the two, feeling hurt and angry about what Erol had just said.
"Oh…or else what?" he chuckled again, then his face changed to a serious one. "I can kill you just like this if I want to…", he snapped his fingers in the blonde's face. "It would be even easier to kill that worthless.." he wasn't able to say anymore before he received a blow in the face. Jak leaned over the other elf who now sat on the floor, grabbing his bleeding nose.
"You leave him alone, did you hear me?" he could feel the dark eco running in his blood, he was about to give Erol another strike when the peacemaker was put between them.
"That's enough Jak", Sig told him with a calm voice, as if this happened all the time. "And Erol, just mind your own business, will you?"
"Yes mother…", the redhead spitted and got up from the floor. Jak and Tess watched as their enemy got seated again.
"Look…I think I know what you're looking for and I will help you find the recipe and the serum…if you just get out of here", the tall man said, glancing back at Erol. "He already knows too much, we shouldn't talk about this while he's nearby…okay?" Jak nodded, so did Tess.
"Dax?!" the blonde called, they all heard a slurping sound from under one of the tables and a drunk little ottsel came out from behind the tablecloth swinging while approaching to them. Tess giggled.
"Man…that was the way best drink I've had in a looooong time", he then burped and fell to the floor. The other four rolled their eyes.
sorry if the chapter was too long, but I had to get all of this into one chapter, I had so much ideas of how to write, so… what waits next is how they're going to find the serum, will it be easy with that thing running around and having Erol sneaking up on them all the time, read next chapter to find out.