42 We Push

Vanessa bought everybody hot chocolate with her player points. Everybody was trembling in their seats. Except Jeff who was pacing around the train.

The door flew open. Hakim fireman carried Jaivva while holding her blade in one hand. As he sat her down, Jaivva couldn't help but ask how Logan was trembling like everybody else.

He pointed to her hands, "The caster used a terror spell with their illusions to catch us off guard. That's why your hands are trembling".

Despite being safe and warm, Jaivva noticed her hands were shaking beyond normal. Vanessa better yet realized that only she, Hakim, and Jeff were immune to the terror. Go figure, they were the only three to actually beat their fears. Meaning Logan and Andres lied.

Hakim continued, "Once you weakened the caster, Logan was able to dispel the illusions permanently and break us free".

Logan growled, "It doesn't matter. We will beat this event even if we are in terror".

"Oki, Logan," said Vanessa handing him hot chocolate, "But first we need to relax and get better".

Hakim stepped towards the door, "I saw some frozen gingerbread men outside".

Jeff shouted, "Bro, it's too dangerous".

"It's always too dangerous," said Dani.

In the silence, Logan shot an ugly glare at Vanessa. She gripped her sword ignoring it. Both she and hakim headed out to retrieve the gingerbread men regardless of Jeff's feelings.

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Walking through the forest, Vanessa asked, "What was wrong with Logan".

"He's a real competitive player. You should know that," said Hakim.

She kept a close watch on their surroundings, "Right, buuuut... I noticed that he was staring at me like he wanted to hurt me. And I am just worried about him that maybe something happened".

Hakim thought for a moment, "Don't worry. The illusions probably showed or said something to him. You remember how the game can get into our heads, right"?

She nodded as he continued, "Well, these illusion casters can sometimes get into our heads and shows us things. I don't know what it was that it showed him. But it's safe to assume he was shown something bad that is getting to him right now".

Approaching a large ice boulder, Vanessa was forced to think past the dilemma. It's not like she could do anything. Besides, he'll get over it.

Shaking his shoulders, "You ready Vanessa"?

Venus Flower," she commanded after stabbing her katana into the ice boulder.

"You know you shouldn't do that. Your sword could quite possibly break or you can be frozen among other things," said Hakim.

Not only had her katana easily pierce through, but it was emitting a flame much hotter than his. The flames spiraled through the older, cracking the ice into small shards.

Her power increase amazed Hakim to wonder if she somehow surpassed Logan. While in thought, the boulder cracked apart. Gingerbread men wobbled aimlessly among each other. After seeing their leader wasn't there, they marched their way to the train.

Heartbroken by the lack of attention, Vanessa pouted following the trail of gingerbread men. The entire time Hakim made fun of her for her childlike behavior.

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The terror effects weren't wearing off. Some remain shivering in their seats. Others were on the floor. Not even the surge of cookie goodness brought smiles.

Logan pulled himself to his feet, "We need to get going".

Hakim and Vanessa stepped onto the train. They kept silent in the argument.

"We can't," said Jeff, "We're all sick. Like, we lost man".

Andres coughed, "No, there's just nothing here to heal us. We can go to the next stop to find a cure".

The train began moving. Oaka announced their departure. Jeff's eyes locked on Dani who was calmy drinking hot chocolate.

Wow, another gesture of ignorance. His rage blew over her. She didn't care what he said. It didn't matter that he ranted on about her stubbornness, selfishness, lack of cooperation, and never listening to him. His ranting got worse when he shouted his visions of her becoming stripper trash or a bum on the streets. Even went so far s to throw their parent's name against her.

Mina and Leira did their best to ignore the banter as did everybody else. Except for Logan. One of the gingerbread men held a ragged doll. Despite the stiff twitching in his neck and spine, he stormed over to snatch it away. The gingerbread man frowned when he threw it out the window.