Chapter 7: Chase Through The Nether

[Jesse's POV]

(After that long tunnel, the hollowed out cave opens up to a sea of lava.)

(With the track on a small bridge that's going over it.)

Lukas: "Wow. The Nether."

Olivia: "Yeah, that's a lot of lava. and fire. and other things that could burn you to death."

(Reuben squeals as he hides in the minecart.)

(Great, what's coming now?)

Lukas: "Oh, that's a drop. That is very, very much a drop!"

(The rail tracks further ahead go down quite steeply.)

Axel: "What are you talking about, new guy? What drrrrr- Oh crap! You weren't kidding."

Jesse: "Just hold on tight."

(The carts start heading down as everyone has a different reaction.)

(Axel was enjoying it, even waving his hands in the air.)

(Lukas was profusely sweating.)

(Reuben was hiding in the minecart, and Olivia was just covering her eyes the whole time.)

(The carts plow forward as they hit the bottom of the drop.)

(The drop caused us to go faster than before.)

(The tracks enter a cave once again.)

Jesse: "Oh, no."

(There was a wall hanging down above the tracks! We're forced to duck under it.)

(Once I poke my head out, I look back to see if everyone was alright.)

Olivia: "Watch it!"

(There was another low wall.)

(I barely react in time to successfully duck under it.)

Axel: "Okay, so I'm not the only one seeing that we're running out of track, right?"

(As the cave passes, the track continues on open lava as it starts to reach a lava wall.)

Lukas: "No!"

Axel: "Good!"

(Just before the lavafall was a lone lever sitting beside the track.)

(I'm guessing the only way to get out of this situation is to hit that lever to prevent ourselves from getting burned.)

Olivia: "Jesse! That switch! Now! Do it!"

Jesse: "Arms don't fail me now..."

(I lean out of my cart and position myself.)

(The lever comes up, and I flick it over as we pass by it.)

(That was less intense than I thought it would be.)

(Just before the first cart comes into contact with the lava, all of the tracks suddenly come to a halt.)

(The track starts to move down as we hear piston sounds coming from under us.)

Jesse: "Heh, I thought something bad was going to happen there, but, heh, I guess everything's going to be..."

(Maybe I shouldn't have said that.)

(As we descend to another track, the carts suddenly launch forward.)

(The problem was, the junction ahead of us was leading our carts to different tracks as it constantly switched!)

Jesse: "Woah!"

Olivia: "Jesse!" Axel: "No!"

Reuben: "squeal""

Lukas: "Woah!"

(Everyone's minecarts separated as they all went in different directions in this really weird contraption.)

(My track went behind a wall of netherrack, now I couldn't even see the others!)

Jesse: "Uhhhhhh, Axel? Olivia? Reuben? Lukas? Anybody!?"

(I was alone in my cart along with an empty one following behind me, but that didn't help.)

(After a while with nothing but the sound of the minecart and the hot temperature of the nether, I finally hear someone, Reubens' distant cry.)

(The netherwall on my right opens up and parallel to my track, comes another railtrack with 2 minecarts, one with Reuben and the other with a skeleton riding inside it?)

(I'm not even going to question how the skeleton ended up there; I had to help Reuben.)

(The tracks moved closer the farther we travelled along them, so I was able to get close enough to reach the skeleton.)

Jesse: "Hang on, Reuben!"

(It was trying to shoot Reuben, who was taking cover in his cart.)

(With one quick attack with my sword, I push the skeleton off the cart, sending it to the lava below to burn to death.)

Jesse: "Reuben!"

(Reuben jumps over to the minecart behind me, just barely.)

(His black eye seemed to have healed over time, but now he had another injury.)

(Fortunately, the skeletons' aim was trash, so Reuben only got hit by one arrow on the foot, but it still looked bad.)

(A little bit of blood was leaking out too.)

Jesse: "Crap. I'm sorry, I don't have any potions left, so the best I can do is stop the bleeding."

(Reuben had mixed feelings, but I'm sure he understood the situation.)

Jesse: "Pulling out the arrow now may make things worse, so just hold on, okay?"

(Reuben quietly nods.)

Jesse: "Okay, Reuben, remember when I said everything was going to be just fine before? I know I was wrong THEN but I have a very good feeling about this time-"

(A ghast appears and ruins the moment.)

Jesse: "Woah!"

(Two more fly towards us.)

(I jinxed it. And now we have 3 Ghasts on our tail.)

Jesse: "Duck!"

(The first one fires its fireball towards us.)

(It misses and hits the track parallel to us, causing those carts to fall into the lava sea.)

(The only minecarts left were the ones we were in.)

(The next hit could kill us! The second fires and we duck into our carts.)

(My sword, which I still had out, was too big to fit into the cart, so it was sticking out.)

(To my surprise, the sword deflects the fireball and hits the Ghast straight in the head, killing it.)

(Oh crap! How could I forget that swords can deflect stuff back? Maybe it was because of all the things I already went through today.)

(Did all of this really happen in one single day? Anyway, now that I know I can fight back, I stood up and went back into fighting position.)

(Two Ghasts were left.)

(The third one hadn't had the chance to fire one yet, so it quickly took the chance.)

(I carefully waited until the fireball was right before me, then swung my sword and deflected it back, killing the Ghast.)

(One left. It was the same attack as the last two, so I was quickly able to kill that one as well.)

(With the Ghast dealt with, I put away my sword as we could finally enjoy this dreadful ride.)

Jesse: "Well. Ghast are OFFICIALLY crossed off my to-see list. Done with the Ghast. Never need to see them --"

(Yet another Ghast appears from afar as the track exits into a more wide open area.)

(Do things only spawn when I mention it? Before I can even get my sword.)

(it fires and hits the cart behind me, causing Reuben to jump into my cart.)

(Now we're both stuck in the same cart! And worse yet, the track is climbing upwards, going nearer to the Ghast!)

Jesse: "This-is-bad, this-is-bad, this-is-bad!"

(After a very fast and short climb, the track ends and our minecart is propelled into the air.)

(My eyes flash before me as we fly dangerously close past the Ghast.)

(You could almost feel time slowing down.)

(After what felt like way longer than it should've been, the cart finally starts falling down and onto a track again.)

(The bump sends a small jolt through my body.)

(The cart starts speeding again, passing through multiple junctions before bumping into more carts in front of me.)

(Those carts were Lukas', Olivia's, and Axel's.)

(A startling reunion when they all look at me with terrified expressions.)

Jesse: "Is... ha... Is everyone okay?"

Axel: "I mean, I'm not dead. I guess that's pretty good."

Olivia: "Ditto. Ditto with the not dead."

Lukas: "I just can't believe that Petra comes down here all the time... This place is awful. Heh. Your throat's going to be sore later, Axel."

Axel: "Why?"

Lukas: "I mean... Wasn't that you doing all that screaming before? Sounded like you were really shredding your larynx."

Olivia: "Oh, yeah. I heard that, too. Really high-pitched? Kind of like a squeaky piston?"

Axel: "What?! No! Shut up!"

Jesse: "I'm just glad we made it through that death ride. What were they thinking when they built this?"

Axel: "Nothing is fun when you're not half scared to death. They had the right idea!"

Olivia: "Says the guy who was screaming like a-"

Axel: "Shut up!"

(The ride to the end continued silently, we eventually reach a large platform built on top of the lava sea.)

(We slowly throw ourselves off our minecarts.)

Lukas: "Feels good to finally be standing on non-moving ground again."

Jesse: "Can you throw up... like, inside your body?"

Olivia: "Uh-huh. I know because I just did, about five times."

Axel: "Wow! Look at this place!"

(Other tracks from other directions also lead to this place.)

(I guess it was some sort of hub to get to different places.)

Olivia: "All these tracks converge at this point. You could probably get anywhere in the world from here."

(On the top floor of this structure was a lone nether portal sitting in the middle, with a sign on top, telling us that it leads to the Temple of the Order of the Stone.)

Lukas: "That must be the portal Gabriel was talking about."

Axel: "That's our way out!"

(Axel approaches the portal.)

Olivia: "It must lead back to the surface,"

Lukas: "The surface is also where that creature is."

Jesse: "He's right. We have no idea what we're walking into. It could be dangerous."

Axel: "it's our best bet. We didn't come all this way for nothing."

(Axel wanted to quickly go through the portal and escape this hell as fast as possible, but now didn't know what to do anymore.)

Olivia: "I don't want to see that monstrosity, but I don't want to live in this hellhole forever."

(Axel sighs.)

Axel: "I'll go first. If I don't immediately run back in, then it's safe."

Lukas: "Thanks for being so brave, Axel."

Jesse: "Fine, just don't get killed."

Axel: "All right. I'm gonna go. I'm going. I'm going right now!"

(Axel turns his head back to us with an unsure expression.)

Axel: "L-Like, right right now!"

Olivia: "Axel?"

Axel: "I'm just making sure I have everything I need!"

Jesse: "C'mon, do you want to, or not?"

Axel: "Don't rush me. Okay, here I go!"

Jesse: "We're right behind you."

Olivia: "Be safe up there, Axel."

Axel: "Ready or not, h-here I come."

(Axel tenses all his muscles as he starts entering the portal.)

(After that, he completely disappears behind the purple- ish color.)

(We all look at each other, waiting for the results.)

Lukas: "He's not running back like a chicken. That's a good sign, right?"

Jesse: "Well, there's only one way to find out."

(I brace myself before walking into the portal as well.)

(I'm pretty sure everyone was following suit.)

(My vision turns purple.)

(The first thing I heard after walking out of the portal was Axel's voice, or scream, I guess.)

(I walk off to a small puddle with Axel in front of me wrestling with a zombie.)

Axel: "Ow! Get off of me!"

(I pull out my stone sword and quickly stab the zombie in the head, killing it with one blow.)

(Axel frantically gets up and hides behind a nearby rock.)

Axel: "I'm never going first again."

(Olivia, Reuben, and lastly, Lukas hop through the portal.)

Olivia: "Did something happen?"

Jesse: "Just a stupid zombie, that's all."

Lukas: "Well, let's keep going."

(We make our way out of the small puddle to find ourselves in a forest in the middle of nowhere.)

(It was also night time, which doesn't help the situation turn any better.)

Olivia: "Where are we?"

Jesse: "The sign said to lead to the Temple, but I can't see it anywhere."

Olivia: "We're looking for a giant building. It should be pretty obvious."

Lukas: "Ivor said-"

Axel: "Ohhh. 'Ivor said.' Well, then maybe this is the temple."

Olivia: "Axel, come on."

Axel: "He called me stupid."

Lukas: "No, I didn't!"

Axel: "But you wanted to."

Lukas: "No, I didn't."

Axel: "Huh? Did you say something?"

Jesse: "Take it easy, Axel. We're all exhausted."

Lukas: "Maybe we should bed down for the night. It's dangerous to be out when it's this dark."

Olivia: "I say we build a treehouse."

Axel: "That'll take forever. And we'll be exposed while we do it. We just need a quick and dirty hut."

Lukas: "Look, whatever it is? We gotta do it fast."

Olivia: "In a hut, we won't know what's coming until it's knocking on our door."

Axel: "A treehouse is going to be spider town, and I hate spiders."

Jesse: "Just build a treehouse; we can't waste time arguing any longer!"

Olivia: "It's functional. It'll keep us out of danger."

Lukas: "It's not a bad idea."

Axel: "All right. Fine."

Jesse: "Let's get started then."

(We all split up for resources, mainly wood.)

Axel: "I've picked up some netherrack from the nether. Maybe we could use it for a small fire."

Jesse: "Right, just make sure you build the floor around it with non- flammable material."

Olivia: "I've got some dirt. Here."

(Olivia hands me some dirt.)

Jesse: "Thanks."

Lukas: "So, you guys been building together long? You've got good chemistry."

Axel: "You jealous?"

Lukas: "I'm just saying, I think it's cool you have a team that works so well together."

Axel: "You're totally jealous."

Jesse: "Stay focused."

(We start by building a ladder up to the trees.)

(We create a small shelter there with a small roof and one netherrack block in the middle surrounded by dirt.)

(It's not the best house in the world, but it works.)

Lukas: "You're sure nothing's gonna go up in flames?"

Olivia: "I've checked the distance; it's safe."

Axel: "Well, the only thing missing is the fire."

(I light it with my flint and steel.)

Jesse: "Looks good, guys."

(I signal everyone to climb the treehouse.)

(I picked up Reuben and brought him up here.)

(He still had the arrow in his foot.)

(I grabbed some grass earlier, which I thought would be the best alternative for a bandage.)

Jesse: "This might hurt for a moment. I'm sorry, just bite the pain."

(I slowly pull out the arrow and throw it to the side.)

(I bandage the wound before a lot of blood starts leaking out.)

(I hold Reuben in my arms.)

(The pain didn't go away completely, but at least it went down a little.)

Jesse: "It'll be alright, Reuben."

Lukas: "Is he okay?"

Jesse: "Yeah, it'll be okay, you don't have to worry."

(I place Reuben down beside me, before collapsing onto the floor myself.)

(It was a long day. I'm so exhausted, I just wanted to lie down and close my eyes.)

(At least we finally have a break.)

(Reuben lies beside me, almost cuddling me.)

(I almost fell asleep before waking up for a second.)

(I looked around at my surroundings to see how everyone else was doing.)

(Olivia had made herself comfortable beside the fire.)

(Axel was staring off into the distance, and Lukas... was sitting on the wall at the corner of the room.)

(He felt distant and lonely.)

(I don't know why, but I felt bad for him.)

Axel: "Oh, man!"

Olivia: "What?"

Axel: "I'm going to tell you something. You have to promise not to freak out."

Jesse: "What is it?"

(Axel proudly turns around to show off what he has in his hand.)

Axel: "I have cookies! Turns out I still had some left over from EnderCon."

(He starts counting the chocolate cookies.)

Axel: "One for me, one for Olivia..."

(He hands her one of the cookies.)

Axel: "One for Jesse."

(He walks up to me to give one.)

Jesse: "Thanks, Axel."

Axel: "And one for Reuben."

(Axel places the last cookie in front of Reuben.)

(Fun fact: Unlike dogs and cats, pigs can actually digest chocolate safely.)

(I was just about to take a bite of my cookie when I noticed Lukas in the corner, still empty handed.)

Axel: "Sorry, Lukas, I only have four."

Lukas: "Oh, no, it's -- It's all right. I'm not that hungry anyway. I'll just grab something in the morning or something."

(I've heard that before. I'm not really a sympathetic person except when it comes to my friends.)

(but something about this man in this miserable state made me really feel bad for him.)

(I couldn't help it. I stood up and walked over to him.)

Jesse: "Take it, Lukas."

(I hand over my cookie to him.)

(Lukas is surprised and looks away for a second.)

Lukas: "No, no, I-I can't do that."

(I reach out and place the cookie in his hand myself.)

Jesse: "I insist."

(Lukas seemed flustered.)

(I couldn't help it either.)

Lukas: "T-Thank you, Jesse."

(I give back a smile, like back in Ivor's Basement.)

(I really do help him out a lot, but isn't that a normal thing to do?)

(It made me feel complicated, so I tried not to think about it too much.)

(I walked back over to Reuben and Olivia, who seemed to have already eaten their cookies.)

(I look back to Lukas, who is already munching on the cookie.)

(He really was hungry. A cookie might not help get rid of hunger that much, but at least it helped a little.)

Axel: "That was for you, Jesse, not him."

(I don't respond.)

(Maybe it's because I didn't want to or because I just realized that I had burned all of my energy.)

(Now I am the hungry one.)

(Axel still looked displeased, but I ignored it.)

(Olivia was looking at us. She realized how tense the atmosphere had become, so she wanted to lighten it up a little.)

Olivia: "If you had to, which would you rather fight, a hundred chicken-sized zombies or ten zombie-sized chickens?"

(She questioned Lukas.)

Jesse: "Choose wisely."

(Lukas chuckles a little from that question.)

Lukas: "Heh, uh. That's a good one. Let me think."

Axel: "How can you guys joke at a time like this? Petra is still out there."

Jesse: "Petra wouldn't mind at all. She'd want us to keep our spirits up."

Axel: "If I were her, I'd-- I don't know. It feels wrong."

(Axel looks away with a sad face.)

Lukas: "Fine. Then, uh, we should get some rest. We gotta start looking for this temple as early as we can. Now my guess is if we start at the portal and kind of split up--"

Axel: "Whoa whoa whoa! What are you doing?"

Jesse: "He's just trying to help."

Lukas: "See?"

Axel: "I'm sorry, Jesse. I'm not gonna sit here and listen to this guy telling us what's what!"

(Oh great, here we go again.)

[To be continued...]