Chapter 16: The Grinder

[Jesse's POV]

Jesse: "This one is mine!"

(I dash past Petra to target the second creeper that had also tried to approach from that direction.)

(I pause for a moment to wait for the right time to strike.)

(As the creeper came closer, it started igniting.)

(That's when I swung my sword, knocking back the creeper all the way to the wall of the open space.)

(The creeper explodes on impact.)

(I could feel the shockwave very clearly, too clearly in fact.)

(I was a little bit closer to that one than I anticipated, and it made me fall down.)

(But that wasn't the worst thing that happened at that moment.)

(On the other side of the wall, there was supposedly a spider pipeline!)

(And they were now crawling out of the hole I created!)

Jesse: "You've got to be kidding me..."

(Before the spider could get to me while I was still getting on my feet.)

(Petra had already intervened and was now fighting them herself, along with the rest of the group following behind.)

Olivia: "There's the amulet! We can get closer if we hop from that tube to that walkway thing!"

(There was some kind of suspended platform spanning across a part of this place.)

(I'm guessing that's how Soren manages to reach this place without going directly into contact with mobs.)

(It led closer to the pipe where the amulet is, so it was our best shot.)

Axel: "Sounds like a plan!"

(We start hopping down and land on this walkway.)

Lukas: "Oh god..."

Jesse: "What?"

(Lukas points up, above me.)

(The tube that Petra's creeper destroyed was now leaking out zombies in the wrong direction.)

(causing them to flood out right into our walkway!)

Axel: "Ahh!"

(A zombie lands on Axel's back, causing both of them to fall to the ground.)

Jesse: "I'm coming!"

(I leap towards them and slash the undead off the walkway, into the grinder.)

Axel: "Jesse! Get down!"

Jesse: "What?"

(Axel barely got up and had already changed from being scared to 'Let's kill these weirdos!'.)

(He proceeds to lift the nearest one and throws it in my direction.)

Jesse: "Woah!"

(I duck under it and watch it fly down into the abyss.)

Axel: "WHO WANTS MORE?"

Jesse: "You're asking for more?!"

Olivia: "C'mon guys! Get moving!"

(Olivia yells from the other side of the skyway.)

(Suddenly, an arrow misses Olivia and lands on the wall.)

Olivia: "Quickly!"

(Great, even skeletons now?!)

Petra: "Hey, ugly!"

(Petra addresses the skeleton shooting at Olivia.)

(It was standing on a nearby tunnel.)

(The skeleton turns around to attack Petra instead.)

(She ducks under it, but while she does so, she lets out a quiet, anguished scream as she grabs onto her infected arm.)

(Oh no...)

Olivia: "Hey, bonehead! Yeah, I'm talking to you! I've got a BONE to pick with YOU!"

(Reuben facepalms, but it did the trick, and the skeleton redirects its priority to Olivia again.)

Olivia: "Anytime now!"

(Olivia narrowly dodges the arrow again.)

Axel: "Petra! Get to safety! I'll handle it!"

(Petra ignores Axel and, even with her increasingly worse infection.)

(jumps forward and slides towards the skeleton while it's still busy with Olivia.)

(She kicks it off the pipe, effectively killing it.)

Axel: "Woah! I wanted to save her..."

Olivia: "Petra! Is everything alright???"

(It seemed Olivia is starting to notice it too.)

Petra: "Less talking and more moving forward!"

Olivia: "But-"

Petra: "You said to get moving, didn't you?"

(She encourages Olivia to ignore it.)

(*sigh* When will Petra say it?)

(While they were busy, I noticed that Lukas was absent.)

(I immediately spotted him fighting on another platform against the spiders from earlier.)

Jesse: "Hey, you 8-legged abomination!"

(The spider whips around aggressively and leaps towards me.)

Jesse: "AH!"

(I throw myself towards the ground to dodge it.)

(Anything but something that disgusting and scary on my face! The spider flies past me and into the grinder.)

(That was rather easy to make a spider bite the dust?)

Lukas: "Uh, J-Jesse?"

Jesse: "What?"

(Lukas gestures for me to turn around.)

(Oh god, there are so many on that wall.)

(I ran away from there to Lukas.)

Jesse: "What will we do?!?"

Lukas: "Look out! There's water coming down!"

(This place must not be well maintained, there are water leaks everywhere, one of which is flowing down directly at us!)

Jesse: "Hold on!"

Lukas: "Woah!"

(We're forced down to the edge, holding onto the end of the platform while the water washes the spiders over our heads.)

(I'm forced to hold on with one hand due to my sword that I still have.)

(Dang it! If the water continues to flow down, I might lose my grip.)

(Fortunately, the leak stops and no more water or spiders come down.)

(Huff. I breathe a sigh of relief until I realize I need to climb back up again. Great. This is just great.)

(How am I supposed to do that? I try to lift myself up, but the weight is too much for me. I can't get up...)

Lukas: "Easy, easy, easy."

(He grabs my hand.)

Lukas: "I gotcha."

(I look at him as he pulls me up.)

(He really is there when I need him.)

(I don't want to overthink about certain things.)

(I tend to do that, but I really liked that.)

(Damn it! I hope Olivia wasn't looking, or she'd have all sorts of ideas.)

(And I don't want to admit it, but I do feel something around him.)

(I can't describe it.)

(It feels different to anything I've felt before.)

Lukas: "Are you good?"

(I snap out of my daze.)

Jesse: "Oh? Yeah, I'm fine. I guess."

(I feel slightly embarrassed about that, being the one in danger like that.)

(But I've got to remember what situation we're in.)

(At that point, we hear Reuben squealing as he runs away from a pack of zombies.)

Jesse: "Reuben, wait up!"

(We sprint after him.)

(Reuben runs down to another tube, where Petra and Axel are fighting some

creepers.)

(One was approaching Petra while she wasn't looking.)

Axel: "Look out! Behind you!"

Petra: "Huh?"

(In this state, Petra was unable to turn around in time.)

(Crap! I won't make it in time!)

Axel: "Take this!"

(Axel charges and pushes the creeper into another one, causing both to fall to their deaths.)

Axel: "And that's how you knock them off!"

Petra: "Wow, I'm impressed."

(Axel blushes a little.)

Petra: "Now it's my turn!"

(Petra charges and knocks off the remaining creepers away towards Axel's

direction.)

Axel: "Woah!"

(The creeper lands beside him, so he's forced to run away from the explosion.)

Petra: "Dang it! didn't fully push them off..."

(We, along with Reuben, regroup.)

Jesse: "Everyone still okay?"

Petra: "A creeper is falling down!"

(The reunion is short-lived as a creeper falling down blows us apart again.)

Jesse: "AHHHHH."

(Me and Lukas are sent away to land on another nearby walkway, even further below.)

(This ends up with me accidentally landing on top of him, before bouncing to hit the ground beside him.)

Lukas: "Oooooof!"

Jesse: "Ow... that hurt... Sorry."

Lukas: "The amulet! It's over there!"

(Lukas points to that location, just a bit farther down.)

(Some water flows down, causing the amulet to move closer to the edge of that pipe, prompting us to hurry.)

(Meanwhile, Axel and Reuben land on the pipe just beside it.)

(However, the water, along with more mobs, comes crashing down just in front of them.)

Jesse: "Reuben! I'm coming!"

Lukas: "What about the amulet?!"

Jesse: "You get it!"

Lukas: "Got it."

(We separate as I head over to kill the zombies coming to attack Reuben.)

Jesse: "GET AWAY FROM MY PIG!"

(I slash my sword at two zombies, causing the first one to die, and the second one to die with a final stab.)

Jesse: "You okay, buddy?"

(Reuben ignores me and charges at another zombie, knocking it down.)

Jesse: "Whoa, why did I come for you if you were able to do that all along?!"

Axel: "Look out! There's another one!"

(Suddenly, an arrow comes flying and pierces the zombie in its neck.)

Olivia: "You guys need help?"

(Olivia is standing above us with arrows she grabbed from that skeleton from earlier.)

Lukas: "Got it!"

(Lukas notifies us, waving the amulet in the air.)

Jesse: "Good. Now we should get out of-"

(Suddenly, more water comes crashing down, along with another creeper, causing all of us to slip down.)

(It was too sudden, and I couldn't find anything to grab onto, causing me to fall down...)

Jesse: "AHHHHHHHH."

(And just when I tried so hard to not fall, down!)

(I don't know if anyone else is too.)

(The only thing I could see falling beside me was that creeper.)

(And it was going to explode! At that moment, an idea came to my mind.)

(I would die anyway if I didn't try it, so I went for it.)

(I grabbed the falling creeper... and pushed it down!)

(The creeper fell down faster than me... and when it hit the grinder...)

(the already ignited creeper exploded! and destroyed the piston mechanism with it!)

(With the grinder destroyed, I, along with anything else falling down, was able to safely pass through it and land in a water pool below it.)

Jesse: "Well this sucks..."

(Looking above me, I see the others falling down into the water as well.)

(Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones, as one spider managed to fall down as well.)

(and it's trying to attack me! The spider pushes me underwater while I try to get it off.)

(After wrestling for some time, I was finally able to push it away, towards some kind of underwater tunnel?)

(I was prepared for it to come after me again, until it suddenly gets sucked into that tunnel.)

(Looking around the pool, there were a lot of these tubes sticking out, and the bottom was filled with them!)

(And if they suck things in... then that means we'll get too!!!)

(The worst part is, I couldn't say anything because we were underwater, and I don't know sign language!)

(I frantically tried to wave with my hands, but the movement was so slow, the others might just think I was trying to swim! It was too late.)

(Reuben got too close to one and was sucked in... followed by Petra... Olivia... Lukas... Axel... and lastly... Me... who couldn't manage to escape the suction.)

(Everything turns dark as I'm dragged into the tube.)

(Light expands, as I make it out of the tunnel and fall out into a lighted, monster-free room along with the water.)

Jesse: "Oww!!!"

(I landed on the puddle that the water flowing down with me created.)

(Since there wasn't a lot of water, it didn't fully break my fall.)

(Just as I wanted to stand up, Reuben suddenly comes tumbling down and lands on my body.)

Jesse: "Urrggh."

(Why Reuben...)

(The water starts to run out and the puddle where I was disappears.)

(I guess those tunnels close after dumping their load.)

(Looking around to see where I was, there were a lot of smaller, transparent tubes on the walls of this place.)

(They looked like they would transport items like the ones back at Ellegaard's

place.)

(And seeing a few confirmed that.)

(Unlike that wide open space, there were a lot of lamps and sea lanterns lighting up this place.)

(On the walls were some double chests, and above me were minecart tracks with minecarts holding chests.)

(It looked like the 'loot room' Axel was talking about, and it really was under the Grinder.)

(Suddenly, another gush of water comes down raining, forcing Reuben and I to back away.)

(Coming down were Lukas, Petra, and Olivia.)

(All of them questioning what they just landed into.)

Jesse: "Uhh... Is everyone good?"

Lukas: "Ugh, I thought water was supposed to break a fall."

Jesse: "It could've been worse... I guess."

Olivia: "Umm, has anyone seen Axel? I could've sworn he was right behind me up there..."

Axel: "Ahhh--!"

(A distant voice is heard.)

Petra: "Do you hear that?"

(Suddenly, yet another gush of water comes down, along with Axel... who lands on Lukas.)

Lukas: "Oof."

Axel: "No, no. Don't worry. I'm totally fine."

(Axel reassures everyone, not immediately knowing what lies beneath him.)

Lukas: "Uuurrrgh... why..."

Axel: "Oh, crap. I'm sorry."

(Axel gets up and tries to give him a hand, but that goes terribly wrong when Lukas slips and falls back onto the wet ground.)

Axel: "Whoops!"

Jesse: "Are you okay?"

(I help Axel get Lukas back up on his feet.)

Lukas: "I don't think I broke any bones? But I'm not too sure..."

Axel: "Don't worry, I'm not that heavy!"

(Lukas doubts it.)

(After that exchange, Axel turns to me.)

Axel: "I knew you'd come for us. I just knew it. Reuben had his doubts."

Jesse: "Y-You were doubting me?!"

(Reuben looks away.)

Axel: "I owe you. And if there ever comes a time when I can pay you back for that..."

Jesse: "No you don't have to, really. You would've done the same if our positions were reversed. I'm just glad you're okay."

(Reuben looks at me.)

Jesse: "Both of you."

(Reuben stops the glance.)

Axel: "Thanks, Jesse. Wait. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on!"

Jesse: "Huh? What???"

(I'm confused for a moment, until he points through the glass floor.)

(where you can see items flowing down some sort of very small water canal.)

Axel: "This is where all the loot gets sorted, right?"

Olivia: "That's exactly what it is."

Axel: "See that? Things are starting to turn around!"

(He pushed me away to look more closely at the loot.)

(Excited much?)

Petra: "It was cool what you did up there. We stick together, and we'll be fine."

Jesse: "That's just what I'm trying to do. And are you ready to tell them."

Petra: "J-Just a little more time, okay?"

Jesse: " *sigh* But you can't keep this hidden forever, okay?"

Petra: "I've already said why."

(I sigh once more.)

Petra: "Everyone's looking at you to lead, Jesse."

Jesse: "Yeah... I noticed. Well, now that I'm here, I might as well do this job."

Lukas: "Hey, it looks like it's still working."

(We turn our attention to the amulet.)

Lukas: "I'll just be real careful with it this time."

Jesse: "Any sign of Soren on there?"

Lukas: "Wait... hang on a minute..."

(Lukas points the amulet in different directions.)

(When it points at that hallway that leads to another room, it starts to glow brighter than any other place.)

Lukas: "He's close... Soren's close by! He's gotta be this way! Look how bright it is!"

(Suddenly, the bright white light flickers before abruptly turning off.)

Lukas: "Huh?!"

(Lukas tries to shake the amulet several times, but nothing works.)

(While we're busy, we start hearing machinery from above.)

Olivia: "Sounds like the grinder is backed up."

Axel: "With loot?"

(Another waterfall comes raining down, but not with loot like we hoped, but with mobs!)

(Since we destroyed the grinder, that would mean all the monsters raining down to get crushed by the grinder are now falling into this room!!!)

Jesse: "Go go go go go go!"

(I try to push everyone away from the water, but everything happens too fast, and I get separated from everyone.)

(as the water pushes us away from each other and down to the ground.)

(When everyone gets back up again, we're met with a crowd of mobs.)

(I pull out my stone sword as a skeleton wants to target me.)

Jesse: "Woah!"

(The arrow flies past me on the right, so I use the opportunity to dash towards it while using my sword as a shield.)

(The skeleton doesn't reload in time and

stabs it until it dies.)

Jesse: "Everyone keep moving!"

(Another zombie tries to eat me, so I dodge its grip by dashing to its left and effectively slicing its throat when it was looking the other way.)

(I look over to see how the others are doing.)

(Lukas was ready with his bow.)

(Olivia was using one of her arrows as a weapon.)

(Reuben had already made it to the other room.)

(and Petra, despite her condition, was still fighting.)

(Axel, meanwhile, was fighting a skeleton and was in the process of smashing it into a wall.)

Jesse: "Axel, look out!"

(There was a spider ready to jump on him when he wasn't paying attention.)

(The creature leaps forward.)

(but unfortunately for the spider, Axel manages to kick it away before it can latch onto him.)

Axel: "Take that, ugly!"

(Suddenly, another spider jumps on his back.)

Axel: "Oh? You want some, too?"

Jesse: "I'll get it off!"

(I sprint to him and knock it to the ground.)

Jesse: "I think I'm starting to have enough of these mobs today!"

(My sword penetrates and finishes it off.)

Axel: "In your face, spider!"

(Axel stomps on the other one he kicked away earlier.)

Jesse: "The path is open; head out of this room!"

(We and the others make a run for it.)

Axel: "If there's two things I hate, it's running and monsters!"

(Making it to the other room, we find another one connected to it, and heading over there, we realize it wasn't just a normal room, it was an End Portal room!)

Olivia: "Holy crap, an End Portal???"

Lukas: "So this fortress is built on top of a Stronghold? Who knew..."

Jesse: "Wait, that could be the reason why the amulet went off before. Soren went in here!"

Axel: "Soren was so close to us before??? That's insane!"

Jesse: "Well, that's our exit and our way to Soren. Let's head in!"

Lukas: "Wait...what...look!"

(Looking back, we see Petra still fighting with the mobs!)

Jesse: "Oh no."

Axel: "Petra!"

(Axel and I run over there to kill the mobs.)

Jesse: "Get away from them!"

(I pull out my stone sword once more and slash at the two zombies while Axel kills the skeleton.)

(The first one falls, so I head over to deliver the final blow to the second one as well.)

(However, when I stab its skull with my stone sword, it suddenly breaks... Great... just when it lasted this long...)

(Axel had already helped Petra get up.)

Axel: "Let's get to that portal!"

(We once again make a run for it and reach the End portal again.)

(An arrow comes flying at us and narrowly misses us, landing on the stairs.)

Jesse: "Jump!"

(This was my first time going into such a portal, but I didn't hesitate.)

(I hope the others followed me in.)

(When I jumped in, the world turned black.)

[To be continued...]