When You Realise It's Real

Chapter 8

Oh God.

No.

No.

No.

But...but there can still be time...

I struggled to my feet.The air was warmer.Lava bubbled.The Nether.

Jesse and Lukas fell through the portal.Like the game,you know?They didn't bump into anything.

"Jesse?Where's Petra?"Axel asked.

My stomach flipped again.That was my job,wasn't it?I failed Petra and Rory.I could have at least saved one of them!

Jesse's gaze slid to me.

"Aza..."She tilted her head slightly.But none of her crew had really said my name,let alone in that way."You should know that,right?"

Then all eyes were on me.

Attention.

No...

This was worse that doing a speech at school.

"I..."I had the breathe in deep to get any more out."I...ehum...Rory..."

"What are you saying?"Olivia's eyes were wide.

"Rory.He got caught in the beams,and..."I looked down.There was only the red ground."I didn't know what to do..."

"You didn't know what to do?"Axel repeated,getting closer to me.

So instead of him letting Lukas have a bad time,he was going to give me one.

"In the end,I couldn't do...anything. I got hit by a tentacle."I tried to explain.

But Axel seemed deaf to reason.

"You couldn't help one of 'em?"He growled."Not even your friend?"

He paused.

"I guess that makes you a failure."Axel decided.

Failure.

Failure.

Failure.

Failure.

Horror took over every one of my senses.

"TAKE IT BACK!"I screamed."TAKE BACK WHAT YOU SAID!"

"Can't.Wouldn't."

"BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!WHAT WOULD YOU DO?!"

"By the sounds of it,you were trusted to help Petra.Key word,trust ed.I wouldn't trust you anymore,becuase you failed."

My vision was so blurry I could hardly see.What I could see was Lukas nearing.

"But I didn't...I did fail...I..."Tears were ready to flow.

Would they be little blue squares here?

"Axel,if you were in her situation,what would you choose?A person you've just met,or your best friend?"Lukas defended me.

Axel blinked at him,outfoxed.

"Besides,they can make it."Olivia added."Gabriel,Petra...and Rory."

Chin up.Don't let Axel think he's hurt you anymore than he thinks he has. I coached myself.

"Hey,here they are!"Jesse exclaimed.

The purple stuff of the portal was swirling,but I knew better than you hope.

Ivor fell out.

"You!"Jesse shouted."You created that thing!

"No thanks to you!It's your fault I didn't have my elixer with me!"Ivor growled.