Jesse's POV

Once again I'm sitting next to Petra in the minecarts as we go down the tracks.

Lukas and Olivia sit together behind us, with Ellegaurd behind them, and then Magnus.

In the very back is Axle and Reuben, talking excitedly about who know what.

Petra won't talk to me though, she just stares whenever I burst out into a fit of coughing.

Which was really uncomfortable.

"Okay, so where is his fortress anyway?" I pipe up, the only Josie being the clicking of the wheels below the carts.

Ellegaurd shrugs.

"No clue. We always used the carts to get there." She answers, making Magnus scowl.

"Yeah. You always used the carts." He growls, making me turn back around.

Jeeze, what the heck is with those guys?

Petra sighs lightly from beside me, making me look over.

"Hey, you okay?" I ask, trying to fight back another fit.

She shrugs, turning to look at me.

Though that simple movement makes us only inches apart, which makes my lungs tighten.

If I even have lungs in this world that is.

"Its just.... I've never really been here with a group like this. It feels weird. And with Ellegaurd and Magnus fighting constantly, its getting on my nerves." She states, facing forward.

I can breathe again once she does, facing back froward.

"I know what you mean in a way. Back where I came from... I didn't really have any friends." I confess, making her look confused.

"Why not? You're awesome." She states, making my mood slightly less depressing.

The sly compliments she throws into our normal conversations are odd, but oddly nice.

"Well, let's just say I wasn't really a people person, and it helped that I lived kinda far from everything." I answer, making Petra look a little overcast.

She is silent for a minuet before sighing.

"Well, forget them all. You're with us now, and I think they are starting to take a liking to you." She states making guilt rise in my chest.

And all I was thinking about was leaving.

Man, I'm a real jerk aren't I?

I sigh, leaning against the front if the cart.

"Yeah. I guess so." I mutter, trying to avoid looking at the red head.

I can tell she is suspisious, but I don't go to keep speaking, because I know if I do, I'll end up spilling my heart out to the girl.

And I'm not ready to do that.

After a few more moments of riding the rails, the carts stop t another station.

This one very......

Different from the others.

"Um.... Is this wool?" Axle asks as we step onto the squishy floor.

Reuben bounces from foot to on the ground with a weirded out look on his face.

I laugh at the look on his face, only to have another coughing fit come over me, making me stumble backwards.

My throat stings with the coughing, making my eyes droop and my wait sting.

The mark stings.

I lean heavily on the neatherrack wall, breathing heavily.

"Jesse, maybe we should rest." Petra whispers as the others stand back from me, looking scared.

I shake my head stubbornly, pushing myself upright.

"No. We don't have time to rest." She growls, making Petra's eyes narrow.

She nods, understanding.

Thank God.

I'm glad Petra understands that I can't just sit back and let everyone else fight this.

My main goal might be to get home, but it feels wrong not to help.

The others look skeptical as I walk towards the portal, but I ignore them, just focusing on getting through the portal.

Maybe when I find Soren he will be able to answer some of my own questions.

I take a deep breath and step through the portal, finding myself on the other side of a large room with the Order of The Stone symbol in the middle.

I've become accustomed to it, and it is now etched into my mind.

Man, this place is weird.

Before the others can get through the portal, I see an open secret door.

Should I wait for the others?

My gut tells me to go into the door, because if I wait, whatever is on the other side, or whoever, could leave.

So I trust my gut, walking forward, keeping my footsteps as quiet as possible against the andestite.

I only recognized the blocks from my constant playing of Minecraft.

But as I get to the stairs, I can hear someone from inside.

They are going through something, and grumbling something I can't hear.

I sneak into the secret room, not seeing a soul inside, but still hearing the noises from before.

Where is the person I heard?

"You again." The familiar gruff voice replies, making disgust rot through me.

I find the figure of Ivor, my eyes narrowing.

"You coward. Hiding out in here while we try to find a way to destroy your monster." I growl, hearing the strain in my own voice.

Ivor's eyes widen in amusement.

"My god. You have wither sickness. You could have just quit and gone home, but now your stuck." He growls, making me tilt my head slightly.

I pull my sword from my back, holding it threateningly.

"Look. I don't know how the hell you know I'm not from this world, or how you know about my stupid sickness, but I don't need you telling me that I'm stuck here. I will find my way back home." I hiss, making Ivor laugh like a maniac.

"Like hell you'll get back. You couldn't make it back to your home if you tried. Your just an insignificant person in this world that can't even protect her brother anymore." He insults, making me take a step back.

I find the words cutting me deep, they cut me deeper than anything I've ever experienced.

But I snap out of my daze and hold my ground.

"You know what Ivor? I don't need you to tell me what I can or can't do. And you know what? I will make it home. Even if it takes forever, I will make it back." I growl, making him draw his own sword.

His own eyes narrow.

"I hope you know that only one of us is getting out if here." He growls, making me snort.

"Yeah. And it won't be you."

.....

Lol that got intense.

I hope you all liked this chapter, and I will try and update soon. So yeah, see ya all later.

-ThePurpleWarrior