43 Trouble in the Mountains

Against Vanessa's wishes, Logan made frequent trips to grab ice pops. The terror was still tearing him down. However, he was never the one to let something keep him down.

Andres on the other hand was a bit more focused on Dani. She never seemed to take the game seriously. Especially when involving emotional tasks. Yet he noticed she was not in terror. It wasn't important. He stumbled his way over to Mina and Leira for a small chat.

Jaivva felt as though her blood missing, "You know, you're going to be a great mother and wife someday".

Vanessa felt the excitement rush into her so fast that she jumped, "Thanks. I wish... I did not love tsunderes so much".

"Oh God," said Jaivva, "That's never good. Find one that spoils you. By the way, I don't think we should put this whole us going through terror on our Instagram page. Ya know"?

Vanessa's eyes shot up, "I already had it posted".

"Did you put up images of me or somebody else?" asked Jaivva.

Vanessa said, "I posted everybody with me as a big sister".

"When?" asked Jaivva with an embarrassed smile, "I am gonna fight you. I can't believe you exposed me. Besides, when have you been a big sister? You're more like a little sister".

Vanessa giggled, "Nii-chan? Where is onii-chan"?

"Ugh, he's probably eating another ice-pop," said Jaivva, "But at least he's finally calming his scrawny self down. Like seriously, he needs the terror just to be normal".

Vanessa laughed knowing she was right about him when the train stopped. Everybody began worrying except Dani and Logan who didn't seem to care.

Mina's crying caused Andres to stand and falsely tell everybody that the antidote is near.

"Well I ain't going out there," said Jaivva.

"And neither am I," said Andres causing a short burst of laughs from everybody.

Jeff walked into the cargo, "So what're we going to do"?

"You," said Andres, "Will go out and find the antidote".

Jeff leaned back with his hand on his chest, "What am I suppose to do"?

Andres answered in a deep mocking voice, "Lead your minions of barbarous guilt out into the snow. Search far and wide through the deep crystallines of slush. And find the damn antidote".

"Bruh," said Jeff as he looked away, "That makes no sense".

"Find the antidote Jeff!" yelled Andres, "I'm not Dani nor Logan. I'm not gonna do everything for you. You're a big boy. So find the damn antidote"!

Andres looked around as Jeff stormed away, "Shoot, somebody had to tell him".

Hakim chased after him, "Hey listen, buddy. It's cool alright. You, me, and Vanessa will take a few gingerbread men and find the antidote. It's that easy alright"?

Jeff barred his teeth, avoiding eye contact, as Hakim asked, "What would Gerard Butler do"?

With a grin on Jeff's face, Hakim continued, "We'll leave Dani here with a few gingerbread men to look after everyone. It should be safe at the train station".

Hearing her name, Dani glared at the two boys.

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It was nothing else but a crappy wasteland of snow. Jeff kept the gingerbread men in a diamond formation around them while Hakim navigated their way to the mountains. It was miserable getting to this town. At least for Jeff, it was. Hakim and Vanessa actually enjoyed their little hike.

A harsh wind ended their joy. Vanessa and Hakim knew something was there whereas Jeff wanted to keep pushing. The three kept a lookout for what was coming while the gingerbread men stood idly waiting.

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Dani whispered across to Logan, "Did you see her again"?

"I did," he whispered, "I don't know what she has to do with me. But somehow me and Vanessa are connected

Dani's eyes were filled with tears, "We'll make it. We can beat this. We can't let it end for us".

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Vanessa kept her hand on her katana. Her skin was paled to match the snow. Hakim managed to keep warm by using a body temperature spell. Nothing was coming. Yet they knew something was there.

The wind blew Vanessa's green hair around. It was the only indicator they had for how strong it was. Jeff ordered his sugary troops to take a knee. They all looked out into the snow. Still nothing.

After a moment, Vanessa realized just that. She looked up, catching Hakim's attention. They then looked down into the snow near and far. The figure nor size was clear. Like a shark, there was something swimming not too far out in the snow.

Hakim shot fireballs at it. None did any damage.

He clapped his hands to form a flame barrier that melted the snow around them.

The lump of snow moving with the beast came to a stop. The wind picked up swirling on top of the lump. Snow from below rose into the air. A ribcage with a little blue flame inside was formed.

"It's an Ice boned T-Rex," yelled Hakim.

Jeff ordered his troops to cast fire at it. The spines still formed through their fire. Its tail slammed into the snow, causing a mist to form.

A blue frost shot at them like a flamethrower. Hakim countered with his own fire magic in a battle for dominance.

Vanessa got close to strike its knee with her flame enchanted katana.

The red flames got the best of the T-rex and struck its head. With its head knocked, the T-rex spun its tail at Vanessa.

She jumped over, slicing it at the same time with a firestrike.

"Shoot the heart!" yelled Jeff, "The bright blue thingy"!

The T-rex bit at her. Nearly chomped, she dodged to the side and sliced its head. Mere bone chippings would fall, but no real damage.

Hakim ran up, setting off a fire attack to gain its attention. The T-rex began chomping away at him.

He was barely able to dodge the bites. Luckily Vanessa slid under and released her Venus Flower onto its heart.

The swirling flames pierced right into its rib cage and tore through the blue flame it had for a heart. its entire body was being melted. Ice bones were cracking and falling next to Vanessa.

She felt the bulk of the heat sizzling her arms. Even the snow under her boiled blisters into her skin. None of it was enough until finally, that light blue flame was out.

Regardless of the flames and the falling bones, Hakim ran in to pull out Vanessa's motionless body. He dragged her a few feet away before she could regain any bodily functions.

Jeff ran up, "Y'all good"?

"Yeah," panted Hakim as he pulled out the map, "We should be pretty close to the cave before reaching town".

Jeff kneeled next to Vanessa. She nodded her head. He held his fingers in front of her head and played jokes until she laughed.

"Alright," said Jeff, "We'll rest a few minutes, then we'll get to town".

Hakim looked back at the T-rex still burning. He noticed that the way it evaporated looked more like a summon than an actual encounter.