A Portal To Truths...

Run Jetra Run!

Shit. This founder sure was business.
Trying to keep as neutral as possible, I faced downward but my eyes stayed up. Guards started spreading out as the citizens began panicking crazily. We all huddled near enough in a circle as Ivor stood in front of me.
"We NEED to get to that Eversource thing and our flint and steel at whatever cost! It must be useful if the Blaze Rods want it so we need to get it and it's looking like getting arrested is our fastest way into the castle!!"
That was true.
But I didn't wanna give into her. I was sick and tired of people always getting the better of me. We were the Order Of The Stone for christ sake, we were better than this.
"She's not getting arrested!!" Petra cried out in a loud whisper. The guards were scattering out further as Milo turned to us "Wait! Don't be fooled by her lies.. I can get you in there to that Aiden fellow, but just be discrete now and-"
"I built the bridge!!" Ivor yelled out, jumping up and down like an idiot. No!!
The citizens turned toward us in shock and the guards noticed. Petra stepped quickly toward Milo. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just let Ivor get arrested alone, but I couldn't let the Blaze Rods win.
"Jesse come on?! Does it look like she's gonna help us?!"
"Helloooo? Over here!! I'm the one who built the bridge"
....
I wanted to help, but I couldn't. Not after he plunged in so foolishly like that. "Sorry Ivor. It's a bad plan"
With a grunt, I chased after Petra and Milo. As we ran down a narrow alleyway, behind me I heard Aiden's obnoxious voice squeal "They're getting away after them!!"
I turned behind to look. Lukas stood in the enterance of the alleyway. I stopped briefly "Lukas what are you doing?!"
"Go, I'll be fi-" He couldn't finish his sentence as he was attacked by a guard. Swiftly, I continued my chase with another two guards following behind me. Twisting fast round corners, I eventually managed to make the guards fall into eachother and fall to the ground.
"Yes!" I grinned to myself. However, from around the corner appeared another two fierce looking guards ready to attack me. Between them stood Petra, watching worriedly.
But I didn't need her or anyone to be worried about me. With a twinge of self glory inside me, I slid to the floor casually between them, sliding epically past, making them fall over. As I rose to my feet, I noticed Petra was gone.
Had she seriously just left me?
I was panting, running was never my strong suit. Fighting like a badass was though.
Not giving up, I sprinted before getting pulled back into a building by the back of my armour and a hand cupped tight around my mouth as I yelled out"
Crap.
They'd caught me.
Looks like I'd be joining Ivor.
....
Wait. I was just standing there?
From this security, I would've expected to have been tackled to the floor. My eyes lowered toward the hand that was holding me.
Wait. I knew that tatoo from anywhere.
I remember seeing it for the first time.

It was a month after the defeat of the Witherstorm, and the town were celebrating the new glamorous rebuild of their homes. Beacons were lit up, folk were having fun in the street, music was playing - it was literally like what Endercon should've been that day.
I was sat alone though - by the centeral water fountain in the town square - once escaping the noise of the fans. My head was screaming for me to go join in with the fun but my heart was just aching. He should've been here. Reuben always loved a good party, even just the lowkey ones we held for the 4 of us in the treehouse. I almost shed tears but then Petra arrived beside me. The first thing she did was show me her hand. She'd gotten an exact small replica of the Amulet tatooed onto her hand with our names on it. I looked at her confused as she said "Well I was thinking about what you said in that speech about you not being able to do this without any of us. That you had your friends and Reuben with you, so I decided to get this"
"That's.. really sentimental of you Petra. But why?"
"Because I, have been on crazy crazy journeys but this? This is the craziest so far but almost the best. I mean, Jesse we've been through things no other friends have experienced. It's been good, bad and ugly but it made us all not only heroes but really good people. And I wanna remember that forever. Don't you?"
I smiled properly, for the first time in a long time. I did.

But that was then, and this, this is now. I turned my head to see Petra stood there. She was holding onto me tightly. I was unsure why she still was but it felt safe. Milo, realising my confusion, put his finger over his mouth signalling for us to be quiet. I nodded.
Petra removed her hand away and stood back from me.
After a few intense moments, Milo whispered "I think they're gone". Still breathless, I sighed "Lukas and Ivor were both taken"
Petra scoffed "I wouldn't say Ivor was taken, he just handed himself in. Like an idiot!" She groaned "This is why we shouldn't trust him Jesse"
I sighed again. I couldn't be bothered to debate over this right now.
Milo, ignoring us, stepped outside and peeked around. He signalled for us to follow and we did.
Huh, what did you know. We ran straight back to the Inn, where we met him first.