Stay Strong

Chapter Two (Edited)

Ender's Game Quote #3 - "If you try and lose then it isn't your fault. But if you don't try and we lose, then its all your fault "

Bean, Petra and I step into the sunlight of the place I haven't been for ten years. Earth, home. I look up to the clouds I haven't seen in so long, I look to the blinding sun and I've never appreciated it so much after those seven horrid years on Eros. I grin like a maniac while feeling the hot tarmac through my shoes. Bean chuckles, "Excited?"

Even though Bean rarely shows emotion, he's showing it now, he's excited to see Nikolai, his brother for the first time in eight years. Petra seems less excited, her family doesn't want her back, she's a nineteen year old with a family who has no desire to have her back at their home.

I put aside thoughts of Petra grin at Bean with a gleeful feeling running through my veins, "Of course. We were on that ship for nearly a year." I remembered that ship and I knew I'd never forget it. Trapped on a ship with no one but Petra, Bean, Graff, and the pilot, a girl close in age to Petra who introduced herself as Cassiopeia, for a whole year.

Petra grins at me, "Me too, I've been on a ship too long with fifteen and sixteen year olds."

I snort in protest, "I'm seventeen now!"

Petra laughs, "Sure Ender."

I hear the drumming of feet against the ground. I turn around and once I see her, I run towards the dark haired older sister I haven't seen in at least seven years.

"Valentine!" I feel tears pricking my eyes as I bright smile crosses her face. Her blue eyes that match mine gleam with happiness.

Valentine pulls me into a warm and tight embrace, "I've missed you Ender." I pull away and I can see the tears in Valentine's eyes too as our blue eyes meet.

Once I get a little further behind Valentine I see the devil himself. The source of so many years of torture and nightmares. My smile fades into a frown. Leaning against the car about fifty feet away sits the blonde devil, Peter.

"Why is he here Valentine." I say frowning. A million thoughts run through my head, a million ways to kill Peter, a million ways to remove the threat before he can harm me again.

I feel a hand on my shoulder as a sense of betrayal starts to fill my veins. I turn my head slightly to see Bean standing next to me, still much shorter in his grey jumpsuit. He has a knowing look in his eyes, "Don't do it man, He's not worth it."

I turn to face the shorter boy, meeting his brown eyes, "Its okay Bean, I've got to deal with it sooner or later."

Bean nervously bites his lip and glances towards Valentine and Petra who stand a little in front of Bean waiting to see how I react. I've told Bean and Petra about Peter, all he's done to me and to others, "Alright, I'm here for you if you need me."

I nod my head at Bean and walk past Valentine and Petra towards Peter.

He grins devilishly, blue eyes that match the ones that Valentine and I share shine with hatred, "So the hero returns." He says mockingly. I'm doing my best holding back from hitting out a couple of his perfect white teeth.

I cross my arms across my chest, I'm taller than Peter now, only by about an inch though. He remains leaning against the car, sizing me up as if he's going to try to take me down.

"He's more of a hero than you'll ever be Peter." Valentine shoots back venomously from behind me. Peter shoots Valentine a hard glare.

Peter snicker, "You still need Valentine to stand up for you Andrew?"

I glare angrily at Peter, I ball up my fists in anger but take a deep breath and relax my hands, "My name is Ender. Andrew was weak, but I am strong."