Y/n POV:

Last night sure was emotional. I don't know what had gotten into Laurence for him to be that,, upset. And the fact that I lied to his face so easily, it made me feel sick to my stomach. I promise.

I promise?

Promise you're gonna hate me, maybe even more than I hate myself at the moment. God, why does this have to be so complicated?

Oisín had been put in the biggest of all time outs possible,

A golden lasso.

It had been a long while since I even used one of those, and this boy brought it upon himself for the ultimate grounding. Katelyn and Aaron where the only ones actually listening to me telling them not to leave either. Aphmau snuck away to who knows where, and Laurence had been testing my patience for the last 5 minutes. Stepping a foot right outside the settlement before jerking it back in, like the little prick he was.

We're more childish than the kids sometime.

   Dmitri had been in his feelings since yesterday, after finding out his dad wasn't dead but was living here in Phoenix Drop. Aka: Dante. I chose to stay out of this one unless specifically asked to do something. I wondered in search of the previously mentioned Lord. Oisín had been trying to tattletale on something said about her being mistaken as his mother or something.

The fact that I found that amusing says a lot.

The fact that Aphmau literally just snuck out of the settlement also says a lot. If anything I had assumed she would listen-- wait no, never mind. Don't actually expect any more from her personally. I gave Dante a look from across the plaza, knowing he was behind this. He in return pretended to be interested in a wall. "Little prick, not telling me things that clearly are my concern as well."

"Mom what's a prick?"

"I'll prick you in the eye if you say that again." Followed behind her at a safe distance, Aphmau went to the docks in Phoenix Drop. She got in a boat(those small ones) and started heading towards Brightport. I huffed knowing if I followed while I could still see her, she would see me. The cost was clear after a couple of minutes.

"Let's go spying, Oisín."

First things first,

That chick can run.

   I haven't seen her yet but everyone I talked to said she was there mere minutes before me. It was a hassle. Little John was now the Lord of Brightport and delivered some worrisome news. Aphmau had asked of Levin's whereabouts along with Malachi and Zoey. They had left yesterday but we have not seen them since. That got me worried, the only stop they were to make was to Brightport and then back. Where would they have gone?

   Aph was no where in the village, and her boat was still here. She must have gone towards the Wolf  Tribe Ruins. They hadn't been over to Brightport yet to see what had happened there. Those wars had escalated, bringing the down fall of the Wolf village, but not its people. They moved but I can't remember where.

It was quiet under the crunch of dead grass. Any wildlife seemed to respect what once was, leaving the village in its silence. There wasn't anyone here. If Aphmau came by, she was gone by now. 'Mom. Where's Ms Aphmau?' I almost forgot Oisín was here, he was like a voice in your head. "Don't know yet. We'll find her."

   A glance to the left, the cave to this area's Nether Portal was decrepit. Covered in vines, the cobblestone was crumbling. Even with my distance, there was a faint glow of purple coming from the inside. It didn't sit too well with me. With a closer inspection, the glow was much more prominent. I turned the corner, staring horrified. Obsidian pushing out in all directions like a virus. Breaking through the roof and ground. A poof of purple muck, warping within the monstrous mess. Dark particles swarming, filling the damp air. I was mesmerized but oh so terrified.

The Nether Portal was active.

I hadn't noticed I had walked much closer. There was a forward pull on my limbs that felt hard to ignore. Drawn to walk through, compelled to find the source. A noise, mumbled voice that might have been directed to me, but it didn't matter. My hand reached out, I wanted to at least touch it. Cold, thick like a Jelly while pricking at my nerves.

Cool.

It was up to my elbow now, like reaching into a bottomless sack. Something stopped my from moving and I blinked. What the hell? "MOM!" Oisín was behind me. Feet digging into the soul sand, grip on my free wrist. He had willed himself out of the lasso, a scared look on his face. "What are you doing?!" What am I doing?

"I,, don't know. Thank you, let's get outta here Skipper." I went to take my arm out, a new found hold not letting me. "Uhh—" My arm was yanked, almost falling face first through the portal. "S-SOMETHING'S GOT ME!!" Holding onto the edge, I felt like an anchor to a boat(the boat was my bloody hand). Whatever seated my wrist was strong, it felt like my shoulder wound pop out of socket if this went on for any longer. A scream rang, when that did in fact happen.

From me?

Oisín?

Both?

Two sets of footsteps came barreling in from behind. Snapping back to see who it was was a bad idea. Actually it was a terrible idea. I was distracted and dragged through. My torso at least. It was weird,, suddenly dizzy and a tingle all over. The purple pudding melted into deep reds, that burnt my skin and lungs.

Not cool.

Some thing floated in a dead black mist. Slow and wavering. Two red lights, almost pulsating, stared through my soul. I was making that dumb face when you hear your parent start yelling downstairs at your sibling for something you probably did.

"...Sup?"

It growled menacingly in response.

   My waist was yanked once more(what am I a rag doll?) back to the portal. It was trippy again before I landed on my ass back in the crumbling cave. My heart drummed in my ears, like someone was holding it next to my head. The movement of my misplaced shoulder blade has me hissing in pain.

Aphmau stood, holding Oisín close, away from the Nether Portal. A certain green eyed fucko had a pointed gaze. A silent 'I told you so'. "What in Irene's name were you thinking?" The complete calmness in his voice really didn't match up with the current situation. "Thought I'd go for a nice swim in some lava. No biggie. What business do you even have being here?"

"Watching over the gateway that some people—" He looked at both me and Aphmau "—think they can use and play with as freely as they want." I nodded with a look of indifference, motioning towards my currently useless arm. The edgy brunette huffed before popping it back into place, WITHOUT A WARNING MIND YOU!

"I told you before and I'll tell you again. Stay away from the Nether!" I returned his warning glare from the sudden extra burst of pain before he stormed off like a baby. I rolled my eyes from the slight humiliation, picking myself up and going towards the cave entrance with Oisín and Aphmau. "Uhh," she started,

"What happened with you and Garroth's brother?"

I sighed, regretting come look for her in the first place.

"Vylad and I aren't the best of friends at the moment. A mutual blackmail."

1294 words.