Will made his way towards the dimmed light which he now recognized as firelight. This took him into a large room in the Earth. In the corner were two dangling objects. He slowly inched his way closer to them, his heart pounding hard in his chest.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he realized who one of the figures was.
"Anjelika? Anjelika! Oh my God." He rushed to her still body.
He hesitated only for a moment before taking out his knife and cutting away at the ropes that bound her to the ceiling.
She stirred, "Will?" Will stopped and looked at her. Her eyes barely opened, "mmm, I knew you'd come."
Will smiled, "for you, how could I not?"
Weakly, she looked around, "Jeager! Is he all right?" She motioned to the body hanging next to her.
Will moved to check the boy's pulse. "He's alive, he'll probably be fine. I just have to get you out of here."
Anjelika frowned, "Will where's Jake?"
Will's head sunk, he couldn't look at her. At the moment he really wasn't up for discussing his brother, it was too painful.
"Will, where is he? Is he…I mean he's not dead?"
Will clenched his fist, "Anjelika, Jake's very sick. I don't think he has a lot of time left," his tone was much harsher then he had intended.
Anjelika gaped at him. She couldn't believe it. Before she could say anything a shadow came up behind them, "Will watch out!"
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Jake raced through the forest his heart pounding. He knew that his sister was somehow buying him time he just didn't know how or how long.
Suddenly he plunged feet first into the same hole that had swallowed Will. Amazingly he landed on his feet.
He stood there tensed for a moment getting over his initial shock. Then he smiled, "wow nice perk Lotte, thanks."
He heard groaning and made out his brother's silhouette hanging from the ceiling.
"Will!" He prayed he wasn't too late as he rushed forward. He got right up to Will and shook him gently, "Will? Will?"
His older brother groaned, "Jake? How, you're all right?"
Jake looked for a way to cut him down, "There's not much time Will."
"Jakob, I have a knife use it to cut the ropes. Anjelika and that boy, Jeager."
Jake found the knife and cut all three of them down. Will grabbed Anjelika in his arms as she started to come around. The boy stirred but did not wake.
Jake knew they had to get out fast. "Jake!" Jake was caught completely off guard. As a large fist collided with his face. Jake fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
"No!" Anjelika tried to move but Will held her down as he frantically scanned the room trying to think of a plan.
He spotted the torches all around the room, the devil book that the warriors needed to raise their army with, all that wood. He crawled cautiously to the book, and began tearing the pages.
Jake was effortlessly being thrown to the ground and into the walls. He couldn't even see his attacker.
As Will was ripping the book to shreds something grabbed him and hurled him across the room. Jake managed to dodge being beaten once more and jumped on the back of the one that attacked his brother.
It struggled to get him off of its back.
Will sat up and shook his head, "Will grab the torch, grab it!"
Will reached for it and shoved it into the monster's face. It howled making an unholy and earth shattering sound.
Angelika, realizing what was happening, finished ripping at the book.
"Will set it on fire," cried Anjelika.
"Not yet there's no way out." Anjelika looked around and her gaze fell upon the ropes. Ducking away from the ongoing struggle between the brothers and the warriors she tied them all together then made her way to the opening.
She draped the rope around her neck and used the dangling roots to climb out.
Will noticed this. He threw the torch to the shredded pages and watched the blaze. "Jake get back to the hole.
Angelika had tied the rope around the nearest tree and lowered it in to the cave, "Hurry climb!"
Will grabbed Jeager and threw him over his shoulder.
"Jake you first." Jake grabbed the rope and climbed. It didn't take long for him to be out. "Will come on! Please!"
Smoke poured from the hole and Jake and Anjelika could no longer see into it.
Jake's heart was racing.
Finally Will, with the unconscious boy, made his way to the top of the hole.
Jake smiled and breathed relief. He backed off while Anjelika tended to Jeager. He heard Will mutter that he would be all right.
Jake spoke softly, "Thanks Lotte. He'll live now but we both know that I can't. I'm ready to go with you now."
Will turned and his heart leaped into his throat. Jake was lying on the ground unmoving.
"Jake! Jake!" He ran for him.
He carefully cradled his head in his lap. Jake blinked he was so pale.
"Jake I don't understand."
"Will it was Lotte. I told her that you needed me. She gave me strength to help you, to make up for her."
Will gasped, "Jake I'm so sorry. You have nothing to apologize for. You were so young. Mother and I shouldn't have sent you out; you didn't know any better. I'm sorry please don't leave me."
Jake smiled, finally getting the forgiveness he had so desperately been seeking since childhood. How could he make Will understand.
"Will I have to leave now. It's my time. I'll be with Lotte and we'll be watching over you until we're together again. You just have to be strong, like you've always been. Take care of Anjelika. I don't want you to be alone."
"I won't be if you're here." "No Will promise me please."
Will melted and unashamedly let tears flow onto Jake's cheek. "Oh God Jake I promise."
Jake smiled once more feeling his spirit slip away from his body, "I love you."
Will gripped his brother tightly, as if trying to keep him alive by holding on. "I love you too."
Then just like that Jake was gone. Anjelika could say nothing. The only sounds coming from the forest were Will' sobs, crying for the brother he'd fought so hard to protect his whole life.
"I'm sorry Jake."
Authors Note: I've still got to write the epilogue but that's basically it. Don't get mad I just get tired of fics where a character gets ill or hurt and is on the verge of death but the author doesn't kill them. Don't get me wrong they are still very well written and entertaining I just prefer the road less taken. Also I know that the "climax" probably wasn't written the best but it really wasn't the focus of the story. R&R Thanx.