I have no idea why, but this was one of the hardest chapters for me to write. Most of this chapter I'm not proud of, and it's actually my least favorite chapter. A part of me is tempted to put the story on hiatus, but I don't want to do that to you guys. Hopefully next chapter will easier and get released faster. I hate making you guys wait so long but for some reason having short chapters really bother me. :(
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Grayson's point of view-

My eyes stared blankly at the fleet of airships hovering in the vast partially cloudy sky; beginning to burn from remaining unblinking for what felt like an eternity. The air in my lungs felt like it had been stripped away from my lungs, leaving my chest in ache as I yearned for a new breath of fresh oxygen. My body was trembling and my heart raced, pounding inside of my ribcage as if trying to break free. I was filled with an immense dread, my body standing there completely frozen from shock.
So that sick b*****d decided to follow us; to finally do something on his own? I knew that he was a persistent man, but I never expected him to get off of his a** and come all the way up here to get us himself. I didn't know if this was a new high or a new low for him, but I was well aware that the emperor would do anything to get what he wants. Anything.
I inhaled deeply as I was snapped out of my trancelike thoughts, once again becoming aware of my surroundings. I looked at the others to my left, then to the right where Drake stood. He was looking up at the airships, his hood blocking most of his face, but I could see him gritting his teeth as if annoyed and angered. His fists were clutching tightly, and would have dug into his flesh if not for the gloves. I could only imagine the thoughts going through his head, probably remembering the torture he went through...

  "Grayson..." My head turned to gaze at Luke. His orange and blue eyes were wide with shock and a hint of fear behind his orbs. "What do we do?"

He's asking me for what we're supposed to do? Well, I was a commander after all so I suppose it's understandable. I chocked as I tried to answer calmly but when my words finally came out, it was anything but calm. I spun around on my heels, and pointed to the cave as sweat rolled down my face. We have to get out of here and get going before it's too late.

"Everyone, get your supplies and put out the fire! We have to go, now!" I demanded.

As everyone else ran to get their things, Xavier picked up Jane since he didn't really have any supplies to go retrieve. The young girl wrapped her arms around her fathers neck, still looking up into the sky filled with flying ships. It must have been a sight for sore eyes to her, but to us it was anything but mesmerizing. In a good way at least.
Luke still stood by my side, his backpack already firmly on his shoulders. He still had his sword on his back, with his dagger and a few kunai knifes in his belt. He still had his bow, a bit damaged but still operable. He seemed to have everything checked out.
My gaze shifted to Drake once more, who continued to stare as if in a daze. My body turned and head tilted as my brow lowered. I could hear him growing and hissing faintly, seeing his breath rise in the cold air. His lips were slightly moving as if he was mumbling to himself, which bothered me. With his illness and fatigue and low life force, I was afraid that something horrible was going to happen to him. I had to stay by his side all the way through this.

Finally I decided to speak up. "Drake, are you alright?" I asked, despite knowing that after what happened, he probably wasn't.

He turned his head, his baggy eyes looking at me with tears still streaming down his face. Every time I looked at him, I was still surprised by how pale his human skin had grown with his cheek a purplish blue color. Even the dark circles around his eyes I had still not grown used to. He sniffed as he looked at me, tears still glistening in his purple and white eyes.

  "I..." He kept choking until he eventually decided not to speak and hummed instead.

I let out a deep breath, my shaking hand grabbing the right strap to my backpack. "Go get your things. Please." I spoke sternly.

"I'm sorry... I-I didn't m-mean to h-hurt..."

I looked down at the injury on my shoulder, the stinging pain still present. It seeped dark red blood, dripping and going down my arm underneath my sleeve. It wasn't severe or too deep of a cut, but it still was painful. I wasn't going to let Drake know. He didn't mean to hurt me, right? Yeah, I know that he wouldn't do that on purpose...at least the sane side of his mind wouldn't.
I didn't say anything. What else was there to say that he wouldn't flip around in his mind? I didn't know what to do or to say anymore, and the guilt that I was clueless was eating away at me from the inside out. I didn't know how to make him stop blaming himself or to help him stop hurting anymore... My eyes teared up, feeling powerless to help him. Still, I'm not giving up. I refuse to let Herobrine rip him apart any further.

I looked away from him, not wanting him to see the tears forming in my eyes. "It's okay, Drake. After everything you've been through...do you really think that I would be mad at you? If anything, I'm happy, no...more than happy that you're even still alive..."

I looked back up at him, my tears threatening to slip out from under my eyelids, but they stayed put. He wiped his nose as he looked at the ground, sniffing as he did so. I saw him smile for only a split second before he stared coughing into the pit of his elbow.  He pulled back, small splatters of blood and saliva on his lips and arm. He gasped for breath, his face once again becoming red and his eyes tearing up from momentarily losing his breath. He wiped his lips before putting his hands back into his pockets.

  "Thank you, Grayson... I... It means a lot." His weak smile returned.

I smiled too, glad to see him happy again even if it couldn't last very long. I placed my hand on his shoulder. "No problem man. Now go get ready. We're running out of time."

With my hand that was on his shoulder, I gently pushed him in the direction of the cave. He stumbled on his feet, but quickly grew steady in his slow stride. The others were already finished with gathering their belongings, waiting for us to head off.
Before Drake entered the cavern, I watched as Lalea handed him his backpack and the flower crown. He smiled, taking them and even put the flower crown on his head for a moment to cheer the others up. It seemed to work, since they all laughed and smiled. I smiled too, proud of him for trying to make us happy no matter how horrible he felt.
Once again I felt my anxiety wash over me. Usually Drake is the one to get that. I turned around and took of my backpack, opening it to pull out the map to the Drago hatchery. Only then did I realize just how bad my body was trembling. I could barely focus on what was on the paper as it rapidly shook in my grasp.
The Drago hatchery was still a ways away, with the ocean between us and our destination. Strangely enough, it seemed that ice covered the cost, lining the beaches with ice and snow. I was surprised that it snowed there, yet rained here the previous night despite how frigid the temperature was. Well, it was cold and the weather in this country was often bipolar.
I started pacing back and forth on the frost covered grass, the frost slowly melting underneath my boots. My foggy breath rose into the air, and I felt like it was blinding my eyes. I couldn't focus, my worries running wildly within my head. The last time I felt this panicked was either when Drake ran off or when the emperor threatened to kill him if I didn't give up that d**b key. I wiped the old tears from my eyes, clearing my vision but I could still barely read the map.
I shook my head, putting away my map inside of my satchel, that was a bit torn and burned after the crash. I closed my eyes, nerves rising in me and making me feel as if I was going to puke. It's my duty to protect my friends, and I know that getting into a massive fight won't allow me to protect all of them. I don't want to face the emperor, and I don't want anyone else to get injured.
I looked up, seeing Luke still standing by my side. He looked at me with shining, worry filled eyes. He was obviously aware of my fear and anxiety, thinking about what to do to help. I just could not find myself able to calm down.

  "Grayson, relax. As long as we follow your orders and get there before they do, I'm sure we'll be fine." He tried to assure to calm me down.

I began pacing back and forth again. "What if there aren't any abandoned airships out there that we can get? We'll be out there searching for nothing and that army is out to get us!" My voice rose the more I spoke, turning in shouting.

I stopped and let out a sigh as I looked at the ground. "I'm worried that the emperor will catch us, and I'm worried about everything that's going on with Drake."

His hand rose up, making me flinch when he placed his palm on my shoulder. I looked up at him again. With his mask down, I could see a smile spread on his pale cheeks and small dimples form on the edges of his lips.

  "Hey, everything is going to be okay. We've made it this far so... I know we'll make it! And Drake... I know he will be okay. He has a strong will. Trust me Grayson. Besides, we are smarter than the empire. We'll make it through this, I promise."

I couldn't help but smile at his unusual optimistic attitude. Xavier must have rubbed off on him a bit. I gently took his hand on my shoulder and pushed it off as I chuckled. At least I was feeling slightly more calm, for now at least. It was still a bit strange looking at him and not wanting to kill him, but I guess it alright. He's helped us, and myself a lot. As much as I hate to admit, I'm glad he is around.

  "Thank you, Luke."

He laughed. "No need to thank me."

I took in a deep breath and sighed out before turning to look at the others. Some were looking at me and waiting for instructions while the others continued to gape at the airships in the sky. Endy looked at me with a frown, her violet and blind eyes looking at me with worry and eagerness.

"What are we going to do now? Continue to head north?" She asked.

I shook my head. "According to the map, the ocean is a few more miles north, but there seem to be icebergs and ice covering the edges of the water."

Mia spoke up, looking over my shoulder at the map. "What about it?"

I looked over my shoulder at her. "It means that going north by foot isn't a choice we have. The water has too large of a distance and is too cold for us to swim. This map is magic, so it shows the airships landing but it's not showing any boats on the water that we could use."

Nathan put his hands in his pockets, lowering a brow. "So then what are we supposed to do now?"

I quickly replied. "We resume with our previous objective. Find an airship that wasn't destroyed last night and take it. It's our only option, but we can't really tell if getting into a battle will be avoidable or not. As long as we don't have to face the emperor, we should be fine, hopefully."

I shivered from the frigid air, rubbing my arm to try to warm it up. I shook my head, pulling my compass from my pocket. My quivering hand didn't allow the hand to rest on one specific spot, but it was trying to point close to the north. I slipped it back into my pocket, adjusting the left strap of my backpack on my shoulder.

"We need to head out, now. We can't afford to let the army get an advantage and reach us or any abandoned airships that we could use."

I looked at Endy as she let out a growl. "Why would they send so many just to get you guys?"

I replied. "I assume that it is because of what happened with Drake last night. They probably sent what they believed would be enough men to take him down. They don't know that he was possessed and for all they know, he is still as powerful as he was last night."

I could tell that Drake was uncomfortable with me talking about the events that took place last night. Xavier seemed uncomfortable with it as well, and it was completely understandable. I swallowed a lump in my throat, trying not to let more tears slip from my sore eyes. I still couldn't believe what happened. I should have known not to leave the family by themselves.

I shook my head, and looked back up at my comrades. "Alright. Are you guys ready?"

The females cheered, Xavier and Drake nodded and Luke only smiled and chuckled with closed eyes before saying that he was more ready than ever. I smiled, pulling my cape to cover the bleeding wound on my shoulder. I didn't care about tending to it, not now at least.

"Good. Let's go."
...

Nathan's point of view-

We all walked down the dirt path that I wasn't familiar with, but the others seemed to be. Grayson held his map and compass, taking us down a new path that he discovered and claimed it to be a shortcut. I caught a glimpse of the map, assuming that we were now on a path that seemed to be heading to a wide frozen over lake. It didn't really seem like much of a shortcut to me, but at least it kept us away from the path with bodies scattered about.
I saw a few dead bodies before we turned onto a different, more narrow path. They were burned and some even cut in half with their eyes open and staring at nothing in their state of death. The trees were cut down and large craters were scattered across the ground. All the area was, was a place of chaos, death and destruction. The only thing I could think of that could cause this was Herobrine. He must have done it this last night before he ran into me and my squad.
I tried to repress the bile that rose in my throat, my stomach twisting in a knot and what little contents was in my stomach, threatening to leave my body. I looked away before the trees and bushes finally blocked my sight of the massacre. I've never been too good with the sight of gore.
Drake didn't seem too fond of the sight either, but it didn't seem to be of disgust, but more of guilt or just the fact that Herobrine controlled him. He pulled his hood down even more, as if he was trying to shield his eyes from the mangled corpses. His face had guilt plastered over it. If Herobrine was the cause of this massacre, which was the most probable explanation, then I understood why he seemed so disturbed. He didn't kill them intentionally and if I remember correctly, he feels guilty for every life that he took. Friend and enemy, intentional or unintentional. Although I know that he won't hesitate to kill again if our lives are in danger.
My heart was pounding fast, fearing what was going on with those airships and still a bit shaken from Drake's breakdown earlier. I looked over to him, as he walked with his hood casting an ominous shadow over his eyes. On occasion, I would see him twitch his neck or fingers as a possible result of the trauma he has been through.
Grayson stood to Drake's left, with myself to his right. Luke was on the other side of Grayson and the females were in the middle of the group. Xavier trailed behind, his concussion making him slower, but yet I couldn't help but think that he was trying to stay away from Drake.
I wanted to have a conversation, so I trying to think of something to talk about that wouldn't possibly mess with Drake's broken mental state. I didn't realize how bad things were until he talked about killing himself earlier. He's not in good physical or mental condition, and I still felt guilty knowing that I could have possibly saved some of his lost sanity if I had only helped him back at the palace...
Then I remembered something I had wanted to hear from his own mouth for awhile now. I wanted him to tell me his past, and about Armen and Herobrine and everything. Would that be too much? I remembered Grayson telling me that's Armen's death took a big toll on Drake, and I was worried that asking the hybrid about his dead best friend would harm his mental state even more.
I swallowed a lump in my throat, deciding to ask but I braced myself to be yelled at and to not get any reply.

  "Hey, Drake? Can you...tell me more about your past and about Armen? I... I just want to know."

His eyes grew wide and mouth opened for a second, before his mouth closed and his purple and white eyes looked away from me. Should I not have asked? The look in his eyes seemed dead, and as if he was in deep thought. He still looked broken down and in a bad state of mind.
The blonde ex-commander looked up from the map in his hands, his emerald eyes glaring at me with anger. I knew that Grayson was probably giving me that look for asking Drake about such a subject; knowing that it would hurt his current emotional stability. I started to regret asking, but it was too late to rethink. I couldn't take back what I had said now.
The edges of his eyes were red, no longer able to shed tears. He let out a deep breath and he swallowed a lump in his throat. My heart sunk when I thought he wasn't going to answer, but I supposed that it would be better if he didn't. He stood there, then looked over his shoulder to look down at me. He gave a halfhearted chuckle and looked at me with a weak smile.

  "Armen was there for me for my entire life, literally. I was created with the sole purpose of protecting him... I...failed with that."

I was confused. Grayson never told me anything about creation, and it all sounded way too bizarre for me. Then again, everything these past few days have been nothing but bizarre craziness. My brow lowered, as I felt the want for him to explain in deeper detail.

  "What do you mean 'created'?" I asked.

He lifted up his hand, looking down as his fingers trembled. His other hand took hold of them, as if trying to stop them from shaking. He sniffed, mucus leaking from his nose from his illness. His arm moved up, covering his face as he coughed and hacked, then gasped for air. Before I could ask if he was okay, he pulled his arm away and continued on with his tale.

  "Armen had a brother named Collin... He was starting to slowly get possessed by the same demon that is trying to control me... Collin ejected his humanity into the closest living thing; an Enderman. So, I was created, but I had no memory and always thought that Armen and I bought that house together..."

He started mumbling. "My whole life is a lie..."

I looked down at the muddy ground, putting my hands into my pockets. I kicked the ground, processing everything in my mind. So he was artificially created by magic? Strange but interesting! I wanted to ask him what Armen was like, but even with his hood blocking most of his face, I just had a bad feeling that he was on the verge of tears just by remembering him. The words left my mouth anyways.

  "What was Armen like, exactly? I can tell that he meant a lot to you, other than just being your...technical brother, I suppose."

Drake let out a deep breath, putting his hands into the pockets of his slightly torn and bloodstained jeans. The tiny Ender particles around his body faded as he stared blankly at the stone ground. His foggy breath rose steadily in the air, but his breathing sounded forced, as if it was difficult for him to get air into and out of his lungs. His body was still shivering from being sick, and my own body was tense from feeling like I was going to have to lunge at him at any moment to keep him from collapsing.

He finally replied. "Yeah, Armen did mean a lot to me. He...tried to stay positive no matter how bad things got. He was so childish and optimistic." He chuckled. "He always seemed to try to make us happy even in the worst situation."

  "Sometimes he was a bit cowardly but...he was brave when it came to our safety. That's how he got possessed and...killed... He was so kind and helpful. Honestly, in a way you kinda reminded me of him when we first met."

What could possibly make me remind him of Armen? From what I hear, I don't think we're anything alike. I'm none of those things that Drake describes him as being. Cowardly, sure, but at least Armen faced his fears to protect others. All I do is sit idly by and watch the massacre, and freeze up when trouble comes wayward. I could only wish that I was brave like him, and Drake, and Grayson, and everyone who has taken me in.

I asked. "What about me could possibly remind you of him? I'm no where as good as he sounds like he was."

He shrugged. "Well, when we first met, you were helpful and kind to me. You even have a light voice similar to his. You seemed shy then. What happened to that?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "I don't know. I've changed a bit these past few days."

He let out a weak laugh. "Yeah...so have I."

We both became silent, his words making me feel a bit sick to my stomach, my guilt returning. I jumped when he started coughing into his arm, gasping for breath. I lifted up my arm, wanting to help but I didn't know what to do.
He finally stopped, saliva and blood covering his arm, chin and lips. My eyes grew wide with shock and a bit of disgust as I saw his nose start to bleed from his left nostril, rolling down his skin until it reached his upper lip. I tried not to gag and look away. Come on Nathan, don't freak out!

  "Um, y-your nose is...bleeding." I finally told him.

He actually seemed aware of it, but just didn't care. He wiped away the blood from his face and on his arm, seeing that it was bothering me. He let out a sigh, pulling the sides of his cape closer to his body. Despite it being freezing out, his body was sweating. I couldn't tell if he was cold or burning up from his fever.

  "It's nothing. Don't worry about it." He was obviously used to it.

Grayson's worried voice rung out. "Drake, are you okay? Do you need anything?"

The hybrid looked at him, his breath staggering from his body shaking too violently. Somehow I could tell that his muscles were aching from his body trembling so much. He forced a smile on his face, and told Grayson that he was fine, and his nose was just bleeding. Grayson seemed even more worried, until Drake told him once more that it was fine. Drake forced out a weak chuckle.

  "You should be used to it by now. I'm fine, Grayson." He assured, putting another forced smile of his pale and black face.

It took a few seconds for Grayson to look away and let the matter go. I could tell that he was very protective, especially over Drake with the condition he was in. Even after he looked away, I could tell that he was deeply bothered.
After what happened earlier with Drake's emotional breakdown, I have noticed that Drake has been trying to smile more. I didn't know if it was to put us in a false security that he was getting better or to try to force himself to be happy. Maybe he was getting better and just maybe he was starting to let his joy resurface... As I much as I wanted to believe that... I knew he was anything but better.
...

Third person point of view-

The ship lowered, and came to a rest of the damp soil and grass covered in dewdrops from melting frost. The clouds overhead grew darker and thicker, eventually letting small white flakes of ice drift from their hold, and delicately fall to the cold earth below. The birds flew away from the trees, startled by the massive foreign object that disturbed natures peace.
They ran all over the deck, preparing their men and artillery. Commands were being shouted from across the deck, the men determined to fulfill what their king had ordered them to do. The emperor walked up from the lower deck, squinting as the minimal sunlight from the cloudy sky. His hazel eyes watched the snow flakes descend in the cold air, and lifted up his hand slightly to let the flakes melt in his palms which were wrapped in bandages so he wouldn't blister his hands when he was going to use the two swords equipped on his back. It had honestly been a long time since he had been in the snow.
He wore his armor, with his golden crown still over his brunette hair, having not brung his iron helmet. His two trusty swords that he hadn't used in years were in the scabbards crossed on his back. He had on a different cape, now a ruby red color that buttoned up below his right shoulder but still allowed him to get his blades behind himself, since they rested above his cape. His left arm had a small shield strapped to it to better protect himself when engaged in battle.
The emperor watched his men run around, and stood as a few mercenaries lowered a large wooden plank to act as a ramp for them to walk down. He looked up, watching as the other airships were landing, only one hitting the soil in close proximity to the royal airship. Unlike their own airship, it opened up from the lower deck, letting men pull tall broad horses out. It was a cargo airship, but was only one of the few they had brought along in preparation to catch the criminals they were searching for.

The brunette turned his head, looking at his scattering men. "Get ready and head out! Head north where Grayson and the others were last seen! If you cross the destruction and corpses, move along! We have no time to identify the dead."

With that, he walked down the ramp until his feet stepped upon the damp soil, his feet pressing down the green and slightly brown grass. Snow flakes were slowly beginning to stick to the blades of grass, the white mixing into the color scheme. The cold wind brushed against his skin, the cold making his ears and nose pink as they froze. His foggy breath rose in front of his eyes as he glanced at the other airship before he started to approach the men.

"Is everything in order and ready?" He asked, putting his arms behind his back as he looked down at the men.

One of the men looked up at him and nodded, his dark and greasy brown hair falling slightly over his face. "Yes, your majesty. The horses and my squad are ready and waiting for your orders."

The emperor nodded, looking around at the towering trees casting dark shadows upon them and the ground. He looked over his shoulder as his two loyal bodyguards walked next to him with one on each side. The empire ruler turned sharply on his heels, and started to slowly walk away from the mercenaries.

  "Go north with the others. I'll follow suit...I just have a few things to take care of."

They nodded, obeying the tyrants orders. The two inferior men jumped onto their steeds, and pulled on the reins. One after the other, the mares sped off into the forest to search for the wanted outlaws. They knew their objectives; find and kill the criminals and recapture the hybrid if possible. The snow got into their eyes and their bodies grew cold but they remained loyal and determined to follow through with their given task even if it meant death. They were trained to be prepared to die at any given moment, so death was no issue.
...

Drake's point of view-

The light snow and the occasional dead leaf crunched beneath our feet. Despite it being cloudy, I could see light flickering through the treetop branches and shine down onto the earth. Every slight sound, echoing constantly in my ears made me feel on edge. I felt jumpy and anxious and scared.
I was constantly shifting my gaze into the darkness being cast from the trees, seeing pitch black masses of black darkness out of the corner of my eyes. Maybe I'm seeing things, as usual, or maybe I'm just being paranoid, as usual. I don't know and it doesn't really matter anymore. Either way, it isn't normal. I had blurred vision and a crick in my neck from twitching, as well as pain in my fingers also caused by my fidgeting. It was also affecting my eyes and my right arm. It's getting worse... It's f***ing getting worse!
I took in a deep breath, trying to resist the urge to bite into my fist to attempt to reduce my violent body movements. At least I wasn't feeling that undesirable need to hurt someone anymore. I'd rather be hallucinating and hearing taunting voices in my head than feel that dreadful impulse.

That can be arranged. Do you really believe that they won't abandon you? They're lying, using you. They're just waiting for you to finally die!

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Get out of my head! My neck and eye twitched again, and I had hardly noticed that I was mumbling my thoughts out loud to myself. I had so many emotions and feelings swarming around within me. Happiness, anger, guilt, depression, anxiety; and I tried so desperately to make only the happiness last. I don't know how much I'd be able to do so, and I am sure that I had already failed.
I pulled the sides of my cape closer to my chest, my body burning yet freezing at the same time. I sniffed as mucus tried to leak from my nose, or at least I hoped it was mucus and not blood. There was still a small pressure in my head and ringing in my ears but it wasn't as bad as before.

"-ake? Drake!" Luke's voice was the one to grip me away from my thoughts.

I looked up into his orange and blue eyes, trying not to growl at the look of worry in his gaze. I'm so sick of that look... Yet I still know that I shouldn't let it bother me, and I absolutely hate that it does. I tilted my head and let out a hum. This seems a bit familiar, but it's probably just my head messing with me again.

Kill him now, pawn. After all, he's the reason you're all in this situation in the first place.

I clutched my fists, trying to ignore the voices as best I could. They're right. It's his fault we are all in this mess! He's the reason I lost part of my ear, the reason Grayson nearly died in my arms, the reason I'm closer to being a vessel than before this entire mess! I could just wrap my hands around his throat to suffocate him, or cut his frail neck open. I could make him and all the others suffer!
I shook my head to be rid of the thoughts. Sure, he's had a major part in this but rather he was involved or not, I'd still be on the brink of losing my mind and my body to Herobrine. This whole disaster had started long before I had encountered him the second time in the woods.

I put my hand on my throbbing head. "Oh. Sorry. I didn't notice that you were talking to me. I zoned out."

He looked away and gazed ahead of himself on the path. "It's alright. Anyway, I just noticed that you seemed...out of it, so I wanted to talk to you. You know, if you want to."

I chuckled. "Sure. If it's alright with Grayson."

We both looked at Grayson who held the map in his hands. The snow fell past us with some of the flakes falling and melting onto the map. He nodded, telling us that it was alright that we spoke. It was strange to need permission but usually when we spoke, Grayson would lash out at him in distrust.

Luke turned back to me with a smile. "Well, anyways, um..."

His cheeks grew pink, not knowing what to talk about. I laughed, pulling my hood down. At least he had good intentions... But not all good intentions have good outcomes. I shook my head. Quite thinking like that, Drake!

His back straightened as his eyes lit up. "How about I tell you about this one time at the palace with Grayson and I? I think you'll enjoy it."

He continued. "So, one morning Grayson and I were just walking down the halls of the palace after a meeting. Grayson told me that he woke up late and didn't get to eat that morning so when we walked by the pantry full of food that the emperor had stored, Grayson of course feels the need to take something."

I could hear Grayson speak, knowing what Luke was talking about. "Oh no. Please don't."

Luke continued on anyway. "So we both snuck into the pantry and Grayson spots a jar of cookies on a high shelf, so he jumps on top of me, stands on my shoulders and reaches up to get the stupid cookies."

I laughed, imagining Luke struggling to stay standing as Grayson stood on top of him. Luke laughed too, and I could see Grayson's cheeks turn a dark red. The girls were laughing too, including Jane who now walked beside Xavier with her hand in his. Xavier was smiling, but looked down and frowned when he saw I was looking at him. I do not blame him for hating me.

  "He grabbed the jar, then I slipped and we both fell over, right when somebody walked into the room. The hilarious part was when we were bought to the emperor to be punished for it, Grayson still had the cookie jar. The emperor was scolding us, and out of nowhere we started hearing crunching. We look up and see Grayson eating one of the cookies while we're being yelled at for stealing them!"

Mia laughed. "Grayson, you and your cookies!"

Luke finished. "On our day off, we had to clean the bathrooms in the palace. The emperor does not take kindly to taking his cookies."

I stopped in my tracks and watch Grayson wrap one arm around Luke's neck, pull off his hat and gave him a noogie. Luke struggled and growled as he tried to pull away from Grayson's hold. He finally pulled away, snatching his penguin hat and put it back on his head. They laughed, but Luke rubbed his head with a halfhearted smile and obvious pain on his head left behind from Grayson's knuckles.
I smiled, happy that they weren't fighting or anything. I know that Grayson is still troubled by his family's murder, but it was almost as if he had completely forgotten that Luke was involved in that. Oh well, it is none of my concern and even if he was involved in that, I liked Luke. Even with what he had done to Grayson and I...

  "Wow...uh...is that a frozen lake up ahead?" I heard Xavier say.

I looked up, seeing that there was indeed a lake frozen over by ice. It was hard to tell if the ice was thin or thick, but it seemed that we would have to cross it inevitably. It was rather narrow for a lake, but I could already tell somehow that the body of water was quite deep. Once we were close enough, I could see that the lake seemed to stretch out as far as the eye could see.

Grayson answered as we approached it. "Yeah. We're going to have to cross in order to get to the airships. This lake goes all the way out to the ocean! It's like a very big river, really."

I looked across the ice, swearing that I saw a tall black figure with a gaping mouth and no legs. The apparition was followed by nausea and a splitting headache. I hissed and grabbed my head as I closed my eyes tight. I opened them again, only to see a sight even more disturbing. It was Armen with his mangled, torn up and bloody body.
His head tilted as he stared at me with his one remaining eye. His blood dripped onto the grass and snow, staining the ground. There was a crooked smile on his face as blood suddenly spilled out of his mouth and loud screeching sound hit my ears. I covered them, trying not to scream as tears of pain dripped from my eyes and I gritted my teeth to hold back my screams of anguish.
Everything finally settled, my nausea easing but the loud buzzing in my ears was still present. I let my arms fall down to my side, and I heard distant voices as the ringing in my ears slowly faded. My eyes slowly opened, seeing that Armen's body was now gone. The ringing in my ears turned into the sound of my rapidly beating heart. I took in a few deep breaths and closed my eyes as I started counting down from ten, just to be safe.
I stopped at the number seven when a hand was placed on my shoulder. I looked over, seeing Mia looking up at me with her concerned lime green eyes.

"Drake, are you okay? Do you have a headache or something?" She asked.

I shook my head. "A little, but...my ears are really what's bothering me right now. They're ringing and it feels like...their bleeding. Are they bleeding?"

She took her hand off of my shoulder and started messing with her fingers. "No, they're not bleeding, thankfully."

I let out a sigh of relief, my hearing going back to normal. I sniffed as I looked down at my hand, my fingers trembling. Even with my hands in gloves and bloody bandages, they were freezing. My heart rate was becoming steady again, but I was still a bit startled. The whispers and undistinguishable dark voices were starting to return to my head; their tone sounding like Herobrine's and my own at the same time.

"Do you even know how long it's going to take us to reach an airship? Do any abandoned ships come up on your map?" Xavier asked Grayson.

Grayson looked down at his map again, taking out his compass and looked down at it. He let out a deep breath before putting it away, then putting the map into his satchel. He bent his knees, examining the ice to see if it could support our weight, then stood up straight and turned to face the spy.

"Yeah. There should be one not too far from here, but I don't know if it will still be operable. It could have been destroyed in the attack last night, but there is also a possibility that it's still in good shape."

Suddenly, I fell to my knees as a pressure filled my stomach and chest, rising up my throat. My eyes filled with tears, before I started to vomit blood onto the ground; some of it dripping down onto the frost covered ice. I gasped for breath as Mia kneeled beside me and began rubbing my back. Lalea kneeled down next to my other side, with wide teary eyes.

  "Drake, are you alright?!" She asked with a fast pace and getting choked up.

I tried to answer, but I only choked and wheezed. My dizziness returned and caused my head to start spinning. I fell over onto my side, nearly making Lalea topple over when I actually hit her in my fall. My vision was blurring and I was starting to breathe heavily with a shortness of breath.

Grayson reached into his satchel and pulled out a bottle half way full of glistening pink liquid. "That's it. You're drinking this rather you want to or not."

"I never said that I didn't." I gasped out as he walked over and handed the health potion to me, then I took it from his gloved hand as I sat back up.

I opened the bottle, spitting out blood and saliva before I began to chug what little there was down. The substance washed down the blood that had collected in my mouth, leaving a different bitter taste on my tongue. It was refreshing and helped a bit with my nauseous feeling, but my stomach was still aching as if I was going to throw up again.
I handed the bottle back to him, getting back up on my wobbling legs. I starred at the ground as I wiped my lips and chin, feeling the fabric and the bandages run against my skin. Once again I had to wait for the world to settle before I dared to even move. After everything seemed to go back to normal, I straightened my back and looked down at Grayson.

"Thanks. Now, is the ice thick enough for us to cross?"

He put the bottle into his satchel, then put one foot onto the ice and put some weight onto it. There was an unsettling creaking noise as if it was going to break, but no cracks formed on it's surface. He then took another step, applying his full weight on top of the ice. The frozen water was covered with light frost and snow, but reflections were still visible on the nearly transparent surface.

"It seems to be okay. I suggest only one or two going on at a time. Drake, with your height, you probably weigh the most, so you should go last."

I shrugged, willing to be the last to get across. Grayson kept slipping as he slowly walked over the ice, but didn't fall despite showing that he was having difficulty. I would have found amusement in it if were not for the condescending voices rambling on in my head. Luke went when Grayson was halfway across, having even more difficulty than even Grayson was having. Grayson kept an eye out for us, making sure that everything was going smoothly.
After they both made it across, Mia began to stumble and slip her way to the other side. Laughing and cheering optimistically as she tried to stay on her feet. I chuckled halfheartedly, before the voices started to get to me again.

Make them fall in. Let them die, just like you let Armen die.

I saw images of myself using my magic to destroy the ice as they walked upon it. I saw the ice shatter and my friends falling in. They rest that had yet to step foot on the ice, I slaughtered with my dull diamond blade. They blood straying all over me and screams echoing in the snow filled air.
I shook my head, trying not to listen to the temptation. I would never do that to them! I will not hurt them! I refuse to hurt them ever again...but I know I can't stay true to my own words. I can't let myself give in, and I certainly will not listen to anything that involves myself bringing harm to the ones I love.
My eyes looked up again, finding that everyone had already crossed, except for Xavier who was slowly leading Jane by the hand. I was lost in thought for that long? I squinted and hissed as a aching pain grew in my head and made my eyes water in pain. I could barely hear the others calling for me once the spy and child finally got to the stable soil.

Why do you insist on continuing on? I will control you again. I will kill everyone you love, and I know that you will just let it happen!

I slowly took one step onto the ice, feeling like I was going to collapse again. My vision was growing white and the voices started rising in pitch, screaming loudly in my ears. My feet were moving so slowly, my right eye twitching and breath rising steadily in front of my face. Even more visions beginning to play before my eyes, familiar and haunting.
I was running through the blizzard, snow getting into my eyes and my skin covered in goosebumps as I painfully froze in the snow. In the darkness, Armen ran by my side as he explored the Arctic base and tried to see what we were up against, still trying to find it in ourselves to trust Grayson after we met.
I remembered his black hair as it filled with snow, and his bright cyan eyes looking at me with curiosity of our surroundings. Even then, he was still so positive on our situation and so open minded. I miss how happy, and how curious he was. He was so much braver and stronger minded than me...
I remembered the blood at the rig, and the panic when we thought Grayson was hurt. I saw the moment when I looked up after Grayson told me saw a person, only for my eyes to rest on that God forsaken demon starting down at us with those...piercing eyes and sickening smile! The memories of Grayson firing his gun rapidly into the air once again made my ears feel like thick blood was leaking out of them.
I remembered that strange room, with strange advanced technology and that bomb that nearly killed all of us! The explosion and the pain that filled my body in the aftermath. The memories just kept flashing before my eyes; beginning to forget what even going on. I just forgot about everything, only remembering what I was seeing. I saw us running through the ruins in a panic, before we entered the portal in fear of our lives as Herobrine hunted us down.

You were always destined to be my slave. Every ignorant mortal will fear us! The only use you will ever serve is being my vessel. Otherwise, you are useless.

I could feel myself breathing heavily, remembering Armen's sacrifice, then his death when I destroyed the diamond. The nightmares and visions of myself murdering my friends ran through my mind, and my friends deaths were all I could remember. For a moment, in my own mind, I was nothing but a murderer and blood on my hands was the only memories I had.
My eyes opened, everything being a blur besides the demon that stood in front of me. He blocked most my friends from my sight, but I could see everything being altered, blood suddenly appearing on my friends bodies and their eyes becoming nothing but dark and bleeding sockets. I could feel my heart racing, with edges of my vision being surrounded in a blood red. The sky became darker than it already was, almost pitch black.
Herobrine took Armen's form, with one white eye and the other with a constricted pupil. His body was covered in blood, with a sick smile that showed it's blood stained white teeth. I'm hallucinating, or did I pass out and this is just a nightmare? I don't know!

You're just a heartless killer. You don't care that they're suffering because of you! You and I...we're the same! Just heartless monsters...

He circled around me, letting me see the rest of my comrades, my vision becoming less blurry. I gasped and froze, seeing blood beginning to pool out of their mouth, puddling around their feet. I gagged, but I couldn't move. The whispering in my ears grew louder and louder, and I could distinguish their voices. Calling me a failure...a monster...a filthy murderer.
They all started to approach me like zombies, limping on twisted ankles, mumbling and telling me of all the pain that I had caused them. My eyes filled with tears, and I wanted to claw and dig my fingers into my scalp, but I felt so stiff. Then I felt my arms begin to move, lifting up slightly but they felt numb.
I felt my chest start to ache, and I was sure that my nose was bleeding and blood was dripping from my mouth. I could just feel the warm liquid rolling down my face, and the warmth against my cold skin.
Out of the corners of my eyes I could see purple light shining brightly, and the tips of magic crystals that were forming around me. I was getting another panic attack, and had barely realized that I was using my magic. I'm going to get myself killed... It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter anymore! No more nightmares! No more pain! No more being reminded of what I am!
One by one the crystal shards fired, impaling the bodies of my friends, that I knew were just fake parts of my mind that he was using to toy with me. They all fell limp to the ground, blood surrounding them, pooling down onto the ice.
My smile of triumph vanished when everything seemed to revert to...normal. I'm not dead? How? My eyes shot open wide, and once again I froze. My heart was beating so fast that I felt it would shatter my ribs. The sky lightened up, my vision became normal, and my now lifeless companions were no longer monstrous. Yet, they remained...dead. Did I just...kill them?
I took a step back, my hand covering my mouth and my head slowly shaking. My breathing was erratic and my head painfully throbbed. The ringing in my ears and voices in my head suddenly became silent, leaving me with only my tormenting thoughts. No. No. This isn't real, right? I-It can't be! It's just a nightmare, right? Right?!
Herobrine held my shoulders as he stood behind me, his fingers digging painfully into my skin. The touch and the scene before me caused me to twitch uncontrollably before I screamed into the air filled with falling flakes of snow. Herobrine leaned in and whispered into my damaged Enderman ear, his low and deep, dark voice sending a chill down my spine.

We're both just monsters. One of the same.
...

Lalea's point of view-

We watched with concern as Drake stopped abruptly in the middle of the frozen lake, his blank eyes locked onto the ice beneath him. I could feel that something in his mind was once again consuming him. He was mumbling with his body never growing still as his fever forced his body to tremble. That troubled feeling in his mind was getting worse by the second, and even worse, I felt his magic surfacing.
What was he doing? He knows better than to use his magic; he'll kill himself! He arms were slowly stretching out, blue, purple and white magic energy glowing dimly around his fingers. I looked into his eyes, dilated and wide. Was he having visions or a a panic attack, or perhaps even flashbacks? My eyes widened and I let out a gasp, noticing the small cracks on the ice forming underneath himself. He was breathing heavily, seemingly unaware of anything that was going on in reality.

"Drake!" Grayson called out, but the hybrid didn't move a muscle.

His breathing was loud and unsteady, his body frozen. Blood started to roll down from his nostrils, then he started choking until blood rolled down from the corners of his pale lips. For a second I saw a small sadistic grin on his face, before his hands started glowing brightly and crystal sharps formed in a half circle formation above his head. The shards were a bright purple with blue glimmer on its surface and Ender particles floating around them. They all aimed in front of him, which happened to be where Grayson stood. His right eye and fingers twitched.
Grayson gasped, starting at his best friend as he realized what was going on.

"Drake, whatever you're seeing, it isn't real! Please, stop!" He shouted at the top of lungs, voice cracking and tears forming in his eyes.

The cracks in the ice grew, and I could hear the ice beginning to break underneath his feet. I need to snap him out of it before he uses that spell and kills himself, even if we both falling into the cold, numbing water below. I clutched my fists, and took in a deep breath before I ran out onto the ice to stop him. I won't let him die before I tell him the truth...
My feet slipped on the slippery surface, but I only fell over once I reached Drake. My body slammed into his, and I could hear him gasp as he was knocked out of whatever it was he was in. Whatever he was seeing hopefully faded this sight and mind. The magic crystal shards shattered and faded like dust before he got to fire them. He coughed with blood spraying from his mouth and getting onto my shoulder. Before I could say anything, there was a loud shattering sound, and the next thing I knew, we both were falling into the freezing cold, murky water below.

Third person point of view-

All the hybrid could see was darkness, but he preferred the pure blackness than the images of his best friends mangled, lifeless bodies. Slowly, his eyes opened, instantly becoming irritated as they were surrounded by fresh, dirt filled water. The edges of his vision were pitch black, but he could faintly see light above him. He tried to take in a breath, only to inhale water and his chest to scream at him in agony as his lungs begged for oxygen.
Even in the darkness, Drake could see a shadowy figure floating next to himself , stiff and barely moving. He saw light and bark blue and the pale color of skin. After a few dazed seconds, he finally realized that it was Lalea with her body freezing up in the painfully cold water. Bubbles floated out of her mouth, her blue eyes closed but she was not unconscious.
He tried to reach for her but his fingers just seemed to lock up as the cold took hold of him; frostbite already beginning to affect the muscles and send pain throughout his body and mainly his aching joints. The water was freezing yet boiling against the male Mage's skin, sending a feeling of pure agony throughout his entire being. He flexed his fingers, adrenaline rushing in his body and he swam as fast as he could to get her, no matter how much his aching body seemed to scream in aching, sore anguish.
His hand wrapped around her limp arm, pulling her body close to his own and wrapped his arm around her form. He kicked his abnormally long legs, swimming to the surface with a desperate need to bring Lalea above the water so she could breath. He didn't care if he would pass out from lack of oxygen and drown, just as long as the girl in his arms made it out of here alive and okay.
Once he was close enough to the surface, he pushed Lalea up until her head breached the water. He saw a familiar green gloved hand reach out and grab her, pulling her body completely out of the water and dragging her to the snow covered soil. As he breached the water, a hand roughly grabbed his shoulder and pulled his body, dragging him across the ice until he was safely on solid ground.
Drake and Lalea both coughed, water being released from their lungs. Drake rolled over, coughing water and blood before he began to throw up once more. Tears dripped from his sore eyes, feeling them burn from the fresh water still covering his white and purple orbs.

He gasped out. "I-I'm..sorry...I don't kn-know..." He went into coughing fit before he could finish his sentence.

Once he regained his breath, he asked "Lalea...are you okay?"

The blue haired Mage turned her head. "I'm fine. How about you? You seemed like you having a flashback or something. You almost used your magic, so I was...scared."

Drake's eyes widened. "I-I did? I don't remember that." It was partially a lie.

Lalea tilted her head. So he really couldn't recall using his magic? Even when it most likely caused him intense pain and caused him to bleed, he was still unconscious of the fact that he was using a spell. Either his unstable magic was acting up in a strange way or his visions were bringing him to his breaking point.
Endy kneeled beside Lalea, patting her back as she once again started coughing. Drake looked at her, tears forming in his eyes. He could have made her drown... He could have gotten her killed! He felt guilty and sick to his stomach at the thought of what had happened. If she did love him, then why? Why fall for someone who causes nothing but trouble?
He let in and out a few more deep breaths, lifting up his hands and unbuttoned the small button on his cape. He looked down at the wet cloth in his hands, wishing that he could use magic to dry it off, but of course he couldn't use his magic. Besides, last time he did preform that spell, he ended up getting scolded by boiling water and that certainly was not a fun experience.
He twisted the cape, trying to get as much water out of it as he could. He sniffed, mucus leaking from his nose, but when he wiped it away he only saw blood. Drake shook his head, before handing the old gray cape to Lalea. She didn't take it from his hands, so he stood up and put it around her shoulders for her.

"Hopefully that will keep you a bit warmer. It's my fault you fell in there, so it's the least I could do." He forced on a smile and held out his hand for her to take.

Lalea smiled up at him with a blush on her cheeks. Her shaking hand rose up, her fingers wrapping around his cold yet soft hand. Drake pulled her up to her feet, looking over her to make sure that she was okay. She looked at him with her bright eyes, happy that he was okay now.

  "Do you guys think you can still walk? You're not getting hyperthermia, right?" Grayson started freaking out.

Lalea replied, pulling Drake's cape close to her body with red cheeks. "Grayson, relax. I have a spell that will be able to dry us off, but we might have to take a small break to warm up. Do you think we'll have enough time?"

Grayson looked back and forth between the two, before letting out a sigh. "Only for a few minutes. We don't have much time to waste."

Drake smiled down at her again, shivering with cheeks just a flushed as her own. They were both just glad that they were both alright. Xavier turned around, and started walking through the vegetation once again, and gently pulling Jane by the hand. The rest began to follow, and only Luke noticed the strange behavior that Xavier was seeming to have. Usually he wasn't this quiet.
...

Luke's point of view-

A few minutes passed by, and we all had to stop and light a fire for Drake and Lalea. Lalea seemed a lot better, but the hybrid's fever and other symptoms had worsened after their fall into the lake. He was sneezing and coughing more often and stuttering as well. His high temperature was returning and he was starting to become more fatigued.
The fire we had light was melting the snow around it, with snow that fell from the dark sky melting as it came remotely closed to the flames. It was a relief to have some warmth, I suppose. Xavier, Jane and I sat on a fallen log with Xavier to my left and Jane sitting next to him on his left side. Across from us the others sat on a different log that they had moved. Drake sat in the center, with Grayson to his left and Mia to his right. Lalea sat next to Mia and Nathan and Endy voluntarily sat on the snow covered ground. We weren't going to be for long anyway.
I sat on a fallen tree trunk next to Xavier, who wasn't smiling like usual. He's been off ever since we left the cave, and it was really starting to bother me.
I looked at him, as he kept his gaze locked on the ground in front of himself. It was strange seeing him look so upset. I might have been overthinking it, and the concussion probably had something to do with it, but it was still strange when he didn't have that optimistic attitude I had grown used too.

  "Hey, are you alright buddy?" I asked.

He looked over at me, his arms resting on his legs with his back slouched. It took him awhile to answer. "I don't know...I'm just scared and honestly a part of me..." His bit his tongue to keep quiet.

I tilted my head. "A part of you what?"

He let out a deep breath and looked away from me. "Don't take this the wrong way. You're my best friend and all, but... there's a piece of me that wishes I wasn't there at the palace when I helped you."

My eyes widened and a silent gasp left my throat. It kind of hurt hearing him say that, after all the good times we spent together theses past few days we've known each other. But the bad times have definitely driven him to a bad state of mind and emotional pain. I guess I kind of understand why he feels that way. Sylvia would still be alive if he wasn't there that day, yet all of us would possibly be dead as a result.

I sighed then choked as I tried to reply. "I know that this is a tough time, but you saved us! You're...like a hero! Grayson or Drake could have been killed if you didn't show up."

He chuckled. "I'm no hero. I couldn't even save my own wife!"

I looked down at the ground, putting my arms on my lap and put my hands together and wrapped my fingers around my fists. "Well, I think you're a hero when you don't think so, and you think I'm a good person when I don't think so."

He looked up and looked back to me. I continued after a few seconds of smile between us. "You know... In reality there is no such thing as good and evil. Only the paths that we choose."

"What about demons? Like...Him?"

I don't know why, but I chuckled. "The devil was once an angel, was he not?"

Our conversation was cut short by Drake's sudden erratic coughing. We looked up at him as he got onto his knees and started coughing blood onto the dirt. He gasped before sitting back up, Endy patting his back to help him breathe. He wiped his lips, then looked into the bright orange embers that flicked in front of him. The fire glowed brightly, reflecting well in his white and purple eyes.
Mia grabbed his shoulders and had to pull him to make him sit down again, with Endy retracting her hand. I could tell that he was feeling so weak that he could barely move. I guess that it's a good thing that we stopped to rest, but we're taking a big risk doing this. We have to head out soon, no exceptions.

  "Relax Drake. Just breathe." Mia rubbed his back.

Drake started breathing in and out, and I knew that he was mumbling under his breath. He actually looked to be counting from one to ten over and over again. I looked up into the sky, letting out a long sigh before I stood up. My knees popped and I stretched my arms.

  "I think we should get going. What do you guys think?" I asked, looking around at everyone in the group.

Grayson opened his mouth, but Nathan spoke before he could. "If Drake and Lalea are feeling better."

We looked at Drake and Lalea, waiting for them to give us a reply. Drake shrugged and looked over to the Mage with her lapis blue hair covered in her dark blue silk hood. Drake's grey cape was still on her shoulders, that she kept close and clung to. She looked at the hybrid, the flames reflecting in her wide blue eyes. I smiled as the two gazed at each other, amused by the blush on the girls pale cheeks. Young love is an amusing thing! I wonder when or if she will ever tell him. Mainly I wonder if Drake feels the same.

Drake spoke. "I-I'm good. What about you, L-Lalea?"

Lalea nodded. "I'm a lot better, but are you that your okay? You're getting sick again, I can tell."

He stood up on his wobbly legs, swaying slightly from side to side. The fire made it easy to sweat drenched on his face and mucus that came from his nose and the saliva that stained his chin. The lighting also made it easier to see the stains on his skin left behind from tears that he had shed so much of.

  "I'm f-fine. See?" He said with a raspy voice and tears forming in his eyes. "I just have a little h-headache. It's nothing too much, bes-sides if we stay here for any longer than it c-could be too late to get to a working abandoned a-airship before any of the emperor's s-soldiers do."

Grayson let out a sigh, moving the cuffs of his sleeves to scratch bandages that were wrapped around his wrists. They were covered in old blood that had turned brown and they had a tint of black to them from old metal shackles being put around them. The blonde stood, adjusting his backpack. His emerald green eyes looked to Drake, letting out a heavy breath that fogged up in the cold air.

"Right. Let's put out the fire and go. We have to move fast especially we lost so much time." He said, pulling his cape closer to his chest.

Endy stood, holding out her arms that swarmed with purple light. "I'll put out the fire."

A ball of pure glistening water formed in midair, the sphere transparent and waving like gelatin. She made a pushing movement with her arm, firing the ball of water at the small fire. The flames extinguished, sizzling as it died and left ash and suffocating smoke behind. The smell of charcoal was still strongly present in the cold moist air.

Lalea stood, taking off the cape and handed it to Drake. "Here. Put it back on."

Drake nodded, gently taking it from her hands and swung it around so it went over his shoulders and covered his back. He buttoned it firmly around his neck, and pulled up his hood. He's been wearing his hood more often, and I've noticed that he mainly does that when he's not completely happy or not feeling good. Well, he's obviously feeling very sick at the moment but just doesn't want to admit.

He smiled with flush cheeks. "Thank you."

I looked over to Xavier as he stood, bending down and smiling before reaching out a hand to take Jane's. Oddly enough, she didn't take it and looked at Drake with a look of uneasiness yet of concern. Lately she only looked at him with fear, so it kind of surprised me when she stepped away from her father and approached Drake.
Drake turned his head, gasping as he looked down at the little girl with wide and shock filled eyes. She didn't seem scared, at least not as much as before. Now she was actually looking him in the eyes, with her shivering knees slightly bent and her hands on top of her chest, seemingly cold. I could tell that Drake was shocked that the child wasn't panicking at the sight of him after she had witnessed him killing her own mother.

"You... you d-didn't m-mean it, right?" She asked with her light childish voice.

I could see Drake's eyes tearing up, his body froze, the question unexpected. It took awhile for him to say anything. "I-I...didn't...I never w-wanted to...k-kill her... I'm so s-sorry!"

Xavier suddenly stepped forward, pushing Jane back as he stared up at Drake, a look almost like hatred behind his dull green eyes. Tension filled the area as the two stared each other down, one gaze glazed with alertness and anger, while the other was glazed with shock and confusion. They both were breathing heavily, the only sound that could be heard other than birds chirping far off in the distance of the vast forest.

  "I'm sorry, Drake. I have no ill will towards you but... I don't trust you around my daughter, or trust you in general."

Drake took a step back, his stuttering going away. "No ill will? Well you look like you something against me, and I understand why... I don't blame you. I can barely even trust myself, honestly."

Xavier took in a deep breath, looking like he was struggling to continue looking Drake in the eyes. He was scared. "If I'm going to be honest lad, I think you're a hazard. After what you did to Grayson earlier... to my wife... I just can't find it in myself to trust you anymore."

Out of nowhere, Drake just seemed to snap. "Don't you think that I know how dangerous I am?! That's why I got captured in the first place, and that's why I've been wanting you guys to leave me! Why do you f***ing think I've been begging to die?!"

Silence fell between everyone, the strong negative tension still lingering in the air. Grayson stepped between them, looking back and forth between the two with a stoic expression. He took in a deep breath and let it out loudly. First, he turned to Drake to deal with him, while I went to stand by Xavier.

I let Grayson speak. "Drake, calm down. Both of you need to. The last thing we need is to be fighting against each other. We have enough bullsh*t problems to deal with. Drake, just count like I taught you."

The quiet atmosphere returned. Drake mumbled under his breath before hissing in pain and placing his hand on his forehead. His fingers grabbed and pulled his hair, and I could see him gritting his teeth together. He started mumbling numbers and counting to help himself relax. Grayson stepped back, his expression turning to one of worry. I knew that Grayson was used to Drake acting this way, but it was definitely strange when Xavier acted up.
Finally Drake hissed an apology through his teeth. His hand fell back down to his side for a moment, then he began clawing at the fabric of his cape.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted and... I definitely shouldn't have sworn in front of a child." He swallowed a lump in his throat, his hand falling back down to his side and tears starting to run down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry... You have every right to say those things. I am just a hazard... a stupid mistake." He said, his knees giving out and making him fall onto them.

He was hiccuping and letting out shallow, staggering breaths. Suddenly, Jane ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him, her face digging into his shoulder. Drake gasped at the sudden feeling or arms wrapped around his neck and pulling him in for a hug. Drake started blankly ahead of himself, just as shocked, if not more than everyone else.

"It's okay. It isn't your fault if you didn't mean it." Jane said with a quiet, soft voice.

Drake seemed to freeze up in her grasp, with wide eyes full of shock. Truthfully, I could hardly believe what I was seeing. With the way she acted earlier today around him, fearful and full of resentment just by the sight of him, it was was almost like this was impossible. She watched his possessed body kill her mother... and now she held him close like the painful tragedy never happened. For such a young child, perhaps she was more mature than we had anticipated. It's sad when someone as young as her has to grow up after losing someone so close.
The hybrid choked and gasped as tears dripped from his eyes and fell from his cheeks. Slowly his trembling arms rose up and wrapped around the child to return the hug. He started to hiccup, holding her tightly but trying not to cause her pain. His eyes closed and chin rested on her shoulder, but I could tell that he wasn't putting much weight on her.

"Thank y-you...You're a good kid. Your parents raised you right." He said with a raspy voice.

I saw Drake open his eyes and look up at Xavier. He smiled at him like he was trying to show respect despite their recent feud. Finally Drake released her and gently pushed Jane back, breaking their embrace. Drake chuckled as he wiped his eyes and nose, a grin on his face as he tried to get his breathing steady again.
Xavier walked up, picking Jane up in his arms. He then held out his hand, waiting for Drake to take it so he could help him up. Drake only looked up at him, wiping his eyes more before putting his arms down and sniffing yet another time.

"I should apologize too. That was...immature of me. I usually don't blurt out my thoughts like that."

Drake took his hand, and used it to help pull himself up. He actually chuckled before wiping his right eye again. "I know how that feels."

Xavier laughed, the two letting go of the others hand. Drake dusted himself off, adjusting the straps of his backpack. I let out a sigh or relief that they weren't fighting anymore. That was an incredibly uncomfortable situation. They spoke a bit more, scratching the back of their necks as they still tried to ease the tension. I smiled whenever they shared a laugh together, happy to see two friends getting along again.

Grayson spoke, still staying close to Drake. "Okay. Now that...that's over with. We should go."

My ears perked up as I hear a noise coming down the path that we had gotten off of to rest. Trees and bushes blocked most of my sight of the path, but I knew that galloping sound from anywhere. The mercenaries.

  "Do you guys hear that?" Nathan said with a quiet voice.

I walked over to the vegetation, moving some leaves to bushes aside. The next thing I knew, two mares ran past at a fast speed, leaving dust behind them in their stride. I coughed as I accidentally inhaled the dust, turning around to face the others. I gasped until I could breathe, but an awful taste of dirt was left in my mouth.

I wiped saliva from my chin. "M-mercenaries... We have to go before they come back and find us."

Luckily we all had been ready to leave for awhile, everyone except for Lalea as she frantically got her belongings together. She put her sword in belt, a bit dangerous but she didn't have a good sheath to put the blade in. I knew that I should have grabbed one off a corpse before we started off back to the cave, but the thought had left my mind. Hopefully it won't cut her.
Grayson took out his map and walked up to me with taking his eyes off of the paper. He nearly bumped into me, but avoided any collision. He then went in front of me, pushing the bushes and leaves aside, cautiously looking up and down the path to ensure that no other mercenaries were around.
He turned his head and looked at us with his bright green eyes. He nodded, before stepping onto the narrow dirt path. His pale hand dusted off his left shoulder before he grabbed the edge of the map again and started walking south.

"Follow me. Keep your guards up."

We all followed him, at first jogging until he started to speed up. I was used to the running and was ahead of the group in my stride. Grayson must have really been panicking if he was going this fast. Eventually he slowed down, looking back at us to ensure that we were alright. As always, I could tell that most of his focus rested solely on Drake and his wellbeing. I looked behind myself stopping when I saw Drake collapse.

"Drake!" Grayson and I both called out, followed by the panicked yells of the girls and Nathan, while Xavier looked down at him with great concern.

The ex-commander and I ran to the hybrid's aid, getting to him when Lalea and Mia already pulled him back up to his feet. He stirred and let out a groan before regaining consciousness. He coughed until he threw up blood onto the ground, gasping for breath and covered in sweat. He stood up tall, his legs shaking like he was only standing on twigs.

He wiped his mouth and spoke with his lips still covered. "S-sorry I...blacked out for a second. I'm n-not feeling too g-good."

Grayson stepped forward, turning and putting Drake's arm over his shoulder to support him in walking. "It's fine, buddy. I'll help you out." Drake smiled and chuckled in response.

Grayson slowly walked ahead of me as he lead the hybrid, who still shivered on his weak legs. A small halfhearted grin formed on my face. Grayson was always there to help Drake. If only I was there for him like he is for Drake, then I wonder how things would have turned out. I shook my head, trying not to focus on the past and possibilities, and tried to only focus on what was currently going on.
We continued on, having to go slower than we had hoped but with Drake's illness and Xavier's concussion slowing them down, we didn't have too much of a choice. I was starting to feel nervous, but I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind trying to keep my confidence. Now isn't a good time to let anything waver, especially when we might have to engage in battle at any given moment.

"Look, up a head!" Nathan called out.

I looked up, seeing a lack of trees up in front of us on the path where a clearing seemed to be present. Light shined through an opening in the clouds, reflecting brightly off of the white, beautiful snow. There were horse shoe tracks from mercenary steeds that ruined the perfection of the snow blanketing the ground. If those mercenaries came from this direction, then were there possibly any more in that clearing?

I stopped in my tracks, everyone but Xavier and Jane ended up jogging past me. "Guys, wait! We should take cover in the trees and bushes, just incase there are any mercenaries up there."

Grayson nodded. "Alright." He lifted up his hand and pointed at the bushes and trees. "Everyone, take cover in the trees and follow me. At least until we know what we're up against."

Without any second thought, I ran at a tree at my full speed. Of course being an assassin with my fair set of agility, I was easily able to run and climb up the tree. It would be a piece of cake to just jump from branch to branch. I'm glad my ankle isn't hurting like it was the other week after Drake and I fought in the forest. I wondered how his injured ankle still felt.
I looked down, seeing Xavier smile as he prepared to follow me. He took one step, before he remembered that Jane was with us. He looked at his daughter, letting out a sigh as his smile faded. I knew that he liked going up into trees, but unfortunately he didn't seem to want to bring her up with him. He just looked back up at me and nodded, which I nodded in return.
They all scampered into the forest, each staying close to each other but trying not to stay in visible sight range. Grayson still tried to help Drake walk, but I saw Drake pull away. I took in a deep breath as I looked at the tree branches lined up before me, leading to the clearing. I began to leap from tree to tree, once again my military training paying off.
...

We reached the clearing, and without even stepping one foot onto the ground, there was a familiar, putrid stench in the moist air. I could immediately tell that it was the sickening aroma of decay and blood, with a slight mixture of ash. Even after years of a job with the purpose of killing and being near dead bodies, I never particularly got used to the stomach twisting oder.
An airship sat on the snow covered ground, with the snow falling gracefully onto the old wood. It looked to be in good shape from what I could see, and it looked like it was still in operable condition. Unfortunately, the thing was swarming with mercenaries. I looked at the ground where the others stood, peering from behind tree trunks and thick bushes.

  "There's a few of them. Do we engage in attack?" I asked, grabbing the hilt of the blade resting on my back.

Grayson nodded, telling me to fire an arrow before we revealed ourselves to the enemy. Xavier told Jane to stay, and to not come out until he came back to tell her that everything was okay. She nodded and hummed, telling him that she understood. I could see that she was scared, with tears hidden within her eyes.
I complied to Grayson's orders, taking out my bow and and an arrow, placing the feathered end on the string and pulled it back. I took in a deep breath and aimed at a random man with his back to us, before firing the arrow off. It pierced the man in his back, making him let out a cry before blood sprayed from his mouth and he collapsed to the ground.
I drew my blade, listening to the sound of the iron grinding against the leather of its sheath. The others drew their blades, with Xavier drawing a kunai in each of his hands. Hopefully we can get him a proper sword once this is done and over with. Grayson was the first to dash out from his cover, crying out as he charged at the men who were now aware of our presence.
His blade swung at the closest man he could get too, and swung his blade across the mercenary's torso. As the body fell over, another soldier with his blade drawn ran to Grayson to avenge his comrade. The blonde lunged his sword into the man's chest, killing him within a span of seconds.
The rest of us charged out with weapons ready. I screamed as I ran, trying to stab one of our opponents, but he only blocked my attack. I growled, jumping back and lunged my blade into his heart once I found the opportunity. He died almost instantly, and I abandoned his corpse on what we had now turned into a bloody battlefield.
I charged at the next, listening to the sound of swords clashing together and screams ringing out as my friends fought their death matches. I swung my blade a few time, my attacks ineffective as he blocked each one. His blade swung, cutting into my arm and a small part of my chest above my chestplate. I hissed at the stinging pain, feeling my own blood drizzle down my body.
I drew my dagger in a slight desperation, swinging another attack with my sword to avert his attention. With his eyes locked onto my iron sword, I thrusted my dagger into the side of his neck. His arms fell limp and he coughed blood into my face with his last painfully drawn breaths. I pulled out the dagger, blood spraying everywhere before he collapsed.
My eyes looked up, seeing every other mercenary already engaged in a battle. Deciding to help out, I ran to Grayson's aid as he held back his attacker. He cut into the man's hand that held the hilt of his sword, causing him to let go of his weapon. Before Grayson could deliver the final blow with his crimson covered blade, I charged and stabbed the man through his side. He screamed as I pulled out my blade and we both let him bleed out.
I looked up at Grayson, gasping for breath. He looked at me and nodded, silently thanking me for my assistance. My eyes then moved to look at the others. Xavier was doing fine, staying close to where Jane was, but not too close as to give her away. Lalea was close to Drake, Endy, and Mia, and was less efficient with her newly acquired sword, but Drake stayed close to her and tried to take on everyone that dared to attack her.
Drake was fairly skilled at dodging, although I could see new injuries on his arms, chest and one new bleeding scar on his chin. I watching him slash a mercenary across his neck, with an unsettling smile on his face as blood sprayed out and the man painfully choked until he finally suffocated from his slit throat.
All of the mercenaries were now lying dead on the ground, ourselves once again triumphant against the odds.
After the dust settled, I smiled as I finally felt that we had won. My gaze looked at the airship, filled with joy that now we were finally able to get to the place to hatch that dragon egg. My heart was thumbing with excitement,eager to get this whole nightmarish struggle over with.

  "Yes! We found one! Let's get out of here!" I cheered.

  "Wow. I didn't think finding this would be so easy!" Grayson said, sheathing his blade.

I agreed and started circling around the vessel counterclockwise. "This is awso... F**k!" My joy was replaced with anger.

Drake walked around. "What's wr...ooohhh."

Most of the other side of the ship was destroyed, with wood scattered everywhere and a large hole in the wreckage. There were dead bodies covered with charred wood and ash, and some of the corpses had major burns covering their skin and clothing. That explains that aroma of decay I've been smelling. It looks like Herobrine got to this last night. Well, now we unfortunately know not to get our hopes up like that again.
The others came around and basked in the destruction. Mia fell to her knees and her mouth hung open as she let out a long, strange noise that she was making with her throat. It was a weird way or showing that she was upset and it for some reason made me feel a bit unsettled.

Grayson let out sigh of disappointment, looking down at his compass. "I...guess we'll have to find another one... Son of a..." He didn't finish his swear.

My eyes widened and once again my ears perked at the strange sounds I was hearing. It was a familiar dark and chaotic chuckling. My head turned in the direction it was coming from, only for my eyes to rest on Drake. He was softly laughing, with his hand covering his left eye. His other arm held his wrist and was practically strangling his own hand.

"They're here... they're here. They're here. They're here! They're here! They're here! They're here!" He kept screaming at the tops of his lungs, drawing his sword.

  "Who?" Mia asked.

Drake looked at her, fear in his eyes that had constricted pupils, the one in his white eye looking almost silver, that made him look out of his mind. He took a step closer to her, before his head turned and he looked at the forest. His eyes kept darting around, as if his anxiety was consuming him. His head then turned to face Lalea, and he spoke hastily.

  "You can feel that too, right?! The life forces?!"

Lalea nodded, holding her blade tightly. Her blue eyes stared at the forest, snowfall covering her silk cloak as she stood still, the cold making her nose and cheeks red. She was still gasping from the battle, her breath rising in the cold air and her arms trembling.

She finally replied. "Yeah. Don't worry, I can sense them too."

We looked at the trees as we heard the leaves moving, our hands reaching for our weapons. My heart was still pounding, and my ears slightly ringing. I was tired, but I could take on so many more enemies before I collapse. I'll keep fighting until I pass out or die. I'm definitely not giving up, especially now that I have a new life worth fighting for.
I gasped as I saw around five men emerge from the trees. My brows lowered as a growl rose in the back of my throat. Of course it had to be him. It had to be that lazy, drunken b*****d. The familiar captain that once tried to bribe me, emerged from the forest, his new squad following behind him. I could tell that they were new,  since I hadn't seen their faces the last time we had seen face to face, with the exception of the night he made Xavier betray me.
I heard another growl and the unsettling, rather frightening sound of an angry Enderman. My gaze shifted to rest on Drake as his trembling arms held his sword out in front of himself. I wasn't a Mage who could sense other people's emotions, but I could see the hatred burning like a wild blaze within his different colored eyes.

  "It's his fault... H-he was there. He's was there when I was captured... He beat me on that airship 'till I nearly passed out." Drake said, hissing through his teeth as he clutched his fists.

I let out a silent gasp,looking back at my 'old friend'. So he brought Drake more pain than I had expected? My teeth gritted against each other, my hatred for the man only rising and burning in my heart. My hand gripped the hilt of my blade tightly, feeling like my palms were blistering even from underneath my gloves. I honestly never thought that I would hate him more than I do now, but it seems like my hatred had only now boiled beyond the pot that held my loathing passions.

He spoke with a hand on his hip, his usual repugnant smug on his red cheeks. "Look who we have here! Two of my old pals, three little female trophies for the emperor, a delusional father, a monstrous abomination, and... a treacherous, sorry excuse for a mercenary."

Nathan looked at him with wide eyes full of fear, before he shook his head and growled. His hand slipped over the wooded hilt of his sword, his quivering hand making the blade rattle within it's sheath. Did he use to be a part of Henry's squad? I don't remember him ever being around, unless he was there that night...

The boy spoke with a shaking voice. "Sh-shut up, Henry. I'm not on the wrong side a-anymore... I don't want to hurt you."

Henry only laughed, then pulled out his sword and looked at his reflection in the bright, glimmering iron surface. "You know, I was actually worried about you Nathan. I thought that beast killed you, when really you joined him instead. I honestly didn't see that coming!"

I heard Drake let out a deep growl, the sound only slightly deeper than the other sound that the infamous Enderman were known for making when enraged. It was the only noise that did not allow silence to overcome us and our standoff.

The captain turned his attention to Grayson and I. "I also never thought you two would ever work together again. There's just so many surprises I'm finding out! Unfortunately all of these surprises are rather...unpleasant."

He took a few steps forward, his arms falling to his sides and swaying with each short step he took. His brown eyes scanned the bodies that scattered the ground. "Once again, all you guys do is leave death in your wake. At least I kill with reason, and what about you? It's senseless."

Grayson blurted out. "You have no idea what you're talking about! We have our reasons, and they're more expectable than killing for money like you do! Even when I was a mercenary, I only killed when I had a reason to, and you know that."

His words made a pressure rise in my chest and me feel sick. Killing for money...that's familiar, isn't it Luke? I shook my head and put my focus back on Henry and his new squad. Quite frankly, they actually seemed more muscular and a little more intimidating than his old team, which made me a bit worried. Not too much, though.

The cheeky mercenary captain spoke again, a cunning tone. "I still can't believe that I took orders from you. You're all just traitors who need to be dealt with."

He held up his sword, the tip of the blade pointing directly at us. The light shining from the opening in the clouds reflected off of the iron and the snow, making looking his way nearly blinding. His sick grin never left his face, but fire burned in the back of his eyes. He quietly laughed, his head tilting slightly as he stared at us. As his coat swayed in the snow filled wind, I saw a strange object in a hidden pocket, and it didn't look like any blade.

"Attack!" He shouted, and with that, his men charged.