Jedediah POV

Chapter 34: A clear memory

I woke up again, but this time everything felt different. The gate was open, just like last two nights, but this time it felt like something was wrong. I made sure my boys were ready and we left our box to explore. I followed my instincts and I ended in a big room where a lot other creatures of the museum were.

"Where are we?" a familiar voice said behind me. I didn't know who it was, but I knew I had heard that voice before.

"Marcus," Jacob said a little bit too excited if you ask me. "Jedediah, the Romans are here too." I turned around and looked straight at Octavius.

"Good," William said who stood beside me. "We didn't have a chance to finish our fight last night." William already aimed his gun at the Romans and Agrippa took his sword as an answer. They didn't left us a choose whether we wanted to fight or not. And there was another big battle between the Romans and the cowboys before I even realised it. I tried to keep Jacob close to me, while I also attacked the Romans.

"Quiet!" sounded suddenly long and hard through the entire room. "My DumDum wants to speak."

We all stopped fighting and I finally noticed the same night guard as the last two nights stood high above me. Beside him stood another man, who Larry introduced as King Ahkmenrah, and we all came to life at night because of his tablet? Kinda disappointing. But it didn't surprise me to hear that the three old night guards stole the tablet.

And of course I wanted to fight against those three idiots, but Larry went a little bit too far by what he suggested: "Jed and Octavius, their van is parked out back. Go take care of it." I felt a little panic rise when I realised what Larry said. He wanted me and Octavius to work together again.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! No!" I yelled immediately. "No sir, I am not working with toga boy."

"Romans work alone," Octavius said beside me and his calm voice annoyed me.

Why did he act like nothing was going on? Did all those times working together mean nothing to him? I stabbed with my rifle on Octavius's foot, blinded by my rage.

"Au!" Octavius shouted and grabbed his foot.

"That didn't hurt, don't be a baby," I said still angry and irritated.

"Yes, it did," Octavius said also angry. Fortunately he didn't sound so calm anymore.

"Come on," I said, but I felt the anger flow away. But then Octavius hit me hard with his sword on my back.

"Ah, that was much harder!" I shouted, but I surprised myself that I wasn't that angry anymore. In a reflect I held my rifle tight, ready to fight again. But I actually didn't feel like fighting Octavius anymore.

"Guys, come on." It was Larry and for the first time I was glad he interrupted our fight.

"Jed, Octavius," Larry continued. "Take away the fact that you were born 2000 years apart you guys aren't that different."

I looked at the ground and I didn't know what I should think about this. Somehow I knew that for so many years already.

"You're both great leaders," Larry continued. "You just want what's best for your people, right?"

"Yeah," I whispered and I still looked the other way.

"Yeah," I also heard Octavius softly saying beside me. Larry had his attention on another group already, while I turned my head to look at Octavius. And suddenly I realised that he did care. Maybe the ending of the alliance was just as difficult for him as it was for me.

"Look," Larry said and spoke to everybody again. "Without that tablet, all of this... This whole coming-to-life-at-night thing, it all goes away. Now, I don't wanna let that happen, but I need your help." I was shocked to hear the news and slowly I understood what I had to do.

"We can get this done," Larry continued. "But we gotta do it together. So who's with me?"

"Yeah," I said soft, not totally convinced yet.

"Who's with me?" Larry shouted hard and encouraging.

"Yeah," I yelled back this time, together with the cowboys, the Romans and all the other creatures in the room. But I went silent again when my eyes met Octavius.

"So we have to work together to attack a van," Octavius said to me. "Is there a chance that you know what a van is?" It was weird how I didn't ask myself the same question yet.

"No," I said a little disappointed in myself. "But I think it wouldn't hurt to take some boys with us." Octavius nodded one time and already looked back over his shoulder.

"Agrippa, Quintus. You're coming with me."

"And I'm going with Jedediah," William said who suddenly stood beside me, but I already knew who I wanted with me. He silently watched the conversation, but he had more courage in his heart then everybody I knew.

"I need you to lead the other boys back to the box," I said to William. "And I will take Jacob with me." Jacob looked amazed at me, but then he nodded after a little moment.

"Now we only have to figure out what a van is," Octavius said already thinking.

"Maybe I can be of help with that," the familiar moustachioed horseman said, who just stood there before us.

"I don't need your help," I said angry to him. "The last time you helped us during a snowstorm you turned your back on us." It was still a clear memory for me.

"I understand why you are still angry," he answered me. "You are right to be. But that's why I try to make it up to you."

"What are you talking about?" Octavius interrupted the conversation.

"You don't know, you were unconscious," I said without thinking first. Octavius looked at me like he tried to read my mind and I knew I have said too much. Octavius still didn't know I saved him during that freezing night.

"But," Octavius said and I could read fear on his face. "It is snowing outside."

I remember so clearly how Octavius went purple and even fainted because of the cold that same night. I wanted to tell him there was no need to worry, because I would save him again if it was necessary. But we were still surrounded by our boys and Octavius was probably still mad at me. But I wasn't angry anymore. Because I also remember how I finally realized Octavius and I were friends when I held him tight so he wouldn't freeze to death. And maybe we were still friends. Maybe...

"Octavi..." I bit my tongue too late. But Octavius's facial expression changed and instead of fear he looked confident. First I thought he hit me, but he just laid his hand on my shoulder.

"The snow won't stop us. We're going to defeat that van," Octavius said exactly how I knew him for so long: calm, confident and loyal.

Chapter 34...?

Wow, this really starts to get a small book. Seriously thank you for everybody who read this story so far. I can't tell you enough how grateful I am to all of you. Thank you for being here and thank you for reading my story.

I hope you all still enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoy writing the story.