And I'm back with yet another chapter. It saddens me to announce that, after this chapter, there will probably be just two or three chapters, and an epilogue, and then they'll be done. And this chapter is rather short, yet don't mind that. And before we get to the story, here's my response to the review:

SGJBMCfan98: I believe everyone has a reason to bully, even when that reason is stupid. And thanks for the review!

Enjoy!

-Writer207

"Where are we going again?" Lanny asked as he walked behind Teagan somewhere around in Mt. Spew. Just five minutes ago he had freed the bully and now they were on their way to Karell, Vic and Rean. Teagan had immediately walked away and Lanny, who absolutely didn't know his way around, had seen no other way but to follow him. He hoped to get out of there, but it seemed that after a while, Teagan wasn't leading them out at all, but somewhere else. That's when Lanny had asked the question, even though the bully had already said there were boys that needed to be saved.

Teagan looked behind him, a certain determination in his eyes. "Hey, the others need our help! I don't know what you're thinking, but they're my friends and I won't let them down." Lanny rolled his eyes, hoping he could get out of here soon.

"Why do you even want to rescue them? They can save themselves!" the prince said, and Teagan turned his head to him.

"They are the only friends I have. I will rescue them, I won't let them down," he repeated, and started to walk again. They hadn't talked during whatever rested of their journey. Eventually, Lanny told himself that they probably were the only friends his bully has ever had, and thus kept his mouth shut and followed the Elder's grandson in silence.

Eventually, they didn't need to walk anymore and just stood still in front of the entrance of something that seemed to be just another big space like the one that madman had taken them to. There wasn't a lot to see when they peaked around the edge. A lot of torches lighted up the room, and they saw just a few boxes and some other materials they couldn't identify that moment. They didn't notice, for their eyes were fixed on the Calpaño brothers lying on the ground, seemingly unconscious, but Teagan was already fearing the worst. In a far away corner, they saw the silhouettes of Rean and Kermen, who were not really paying attention.

Lanny was content to stay where he was, but Teagan acted in an impossible way: he was now quietly walking towards the two boys on the ground. Lanny tried to keep Teagan from going (why was he even doing that?) and eventually ended up following, thinking this is the worst day of my life. He sighed as they reached the boys. The prince rather looked around to see if Rean and Kermen would hear it when Teagan spent more time to figure out what has happened to Karell and Vic.

"…if I don't want to?" Lanny heard the familiar voice of Rean say, just loud enough for him to hear it. Kermen's despicable voice answered the question as to what would happen if he didn't want to do whatever he was supposed to do.

"I've already demonstrated how persuasive I can be. And if you don't, you know what'll happen with those two."

"Teagan will come! He'll stop you!" Rean shouted, and Lanny turned his head to the Elder's grandson, who now looked up and nodded at the prince, telling him they're still alive, just unconscious. Lanny nodded back, and his focus returned to the conversation between Rean and

"That guy will never get out, and neither will his friend! They can't warn Timothy in time, even if they escape. There's no other option, son – take the weapon and do what you need to do." Without any warning, Rean and Kermen walked to them and were a lot closer than Teagan and Lanny had presumed, for they had only take the five steps until father and son appeared in their view. Rean's eyes widened while the smirk on Kermen's face grew as both saw Teagan and Lanny had somehow gotten free.

"Well," Kermen began, "this is an unexpected turns of events. I don't know how you escaped, but you are just in time for the show. Rean, my boy, you know what to do." Rean, of whom they now noticed was holding a machete, felt uneasy for a few seconds and after that wait, he didn't hesitate anymore and attacked the prince.

He had already tensed this would come, since Rean was used to hurt Lanny, so he immediately ducked away, but somehow made no attempt to run away and just leave this place. He somehow just couldn't. For the first time in his life, he was the one in the middle of the plan to take over (sort of). For one moment, Kermen had become the cousin and Lanny and Teagan were the 'kings'.

Which meant they probably would have some luck on their side to get away safely and unharmed.

And yet, Lanny still could feel how the metal hit him. He had luck Rean had decided not to cut Lanny but just to knock him unconscious. He'd gotten beatings before, but this was much worse. After the third hit, he fell on the ground (on his stomach) and decided to stay down and stay still. I there was one thing he'd learned over the years, it was that staying still meant the bullies deemed it enough beating for the day. And indeed, Rean decided to just leave Lanny be and go after Teagan. He heard the sound of the fight between Rean and Teagan, and slowly opened one eye, to see if there was anyone watching him.

And there was, for he stared straight in Kermen's eyes. Lanny quickly tried to get away, but he could do nothing as Kermen pulled him up by his collar. It certainly didn't help the madman was taller and he was still a small kid, so he was helpless as the madman held him up. Through the corner of his eye, he could see how Teagan tried to defend himself from Rean, who clearly wasn't doing this for fun. When he turned his focus back to Kermen, the madman was laughing.

"My, you're a sneaky one! If I hadn't been so suspicious, you'd be gone. But I don't really like anyone to leave this party. I had hoped you'd stay a little longer on the ground, but as you aren't…" With his other hand, Kermen had taken a taser out of his pocket. Lanny gulped – if the taser hit him, he'd be unconscious and he guessed the same fate would be brought upon Teagan, too. His first reaction was to wait and let it be, but his second was to kick him as hard as possible. And he kicked straight into his knee.

Kermen let go of the prince in an impulse, and he grabbed the taser, throwing it at Teagan after shouting his name. Teagan looked up right on time to grab the small device and hit Rean with it. Lanny could have sworn Teagan said something about being sorry to do it, but the two boys soon had to make a decision.

"Hey, where are you going?" Teagan shouted as Lanny bolted towards the entrance. He stopped and turned his head.

"I kicked the madman, he's distracted, we can leave!"

"I won't leave without them!"

"Come on, Teagan!" Lanny shouted to the bully, "Wake up! It's them or us! Now, come with me or don't!" He gave his former bully exactly one second to decide what he would do, for the next moment he ran away from the space with the madman. I couldn't care less, he kept telling himself, in that room were the madman and my bullies. I have no regrets.

No, another part of his mind responded, I should have no regrets. What would Herald want you to do?

Screw them! He screamed through his mind and kept on running until he eventually ran out of the tunnels, feeling welcome in the fresh air under the bright sky filled with stars. As he stopped running, he let himself fall down on the grass, glad to be out of the volcano. And yet, that feeling of guilt wouldn't leave him alone. I'm not guilty, he told himself, Teagan wanted to stay and I wanted to leave. I didn't do anything wrong.

Then, why that feeling stay with him the entire time?