A Final Stand

Chapter 9: Discovery

~Lukas's POV~

The ride through the Nether is much easier and faster than last time, and we don't get separated. In no time, we're outside the prison and staring up at the walls.

"It looks like those people are all wearing black," Ruby says, shading her eyes to look up. "We're not fitting in any more."

"We'll just make up a reason," I say as we step out from behind the trees. "And hope it's convincing."

But we never get the chance. One of the guards shouts, "Finally! Our replacements!"

"How many are there?" Another voice calls.

"Three!" I reply, glad for the excuse.

"You'll take over inner prison duty," the second voice says. Several groans from the guards on top, but no one complains. "We'll send out the three who were earlier. They're taking care of the Chief right now."

"The Chief?" I ask quietly, looking at Ruby.

"The leader of the Hunters. He wears a bearskin cloak," she answers. "That's the symbol of his status."

So that's what Jesse was talking about, when she told me about the bear from the Hunter's thoughts. But it didn't explain the snake.

"What happened to him?" I shout.

"Prisoner nearly killed him," the second voice answers. "The Medics and the three Sentries will come out now."

The iron bars rise and an obsidian bridge extends. Three black-wearing and several white-wearing people come out, carrying a man in a furry brown cloak. I stifle a gasp. It's Aiden, bleeding and coughing. But his eyes are blurry, and he passes without incident.

We come inside. "Oh, Hunters. You'll have to switch to the spare Sentry armor," the owner of the second voice says as he shuts the entrance with a pull of a lever. He's a great, hulking man I don't want to cross. "It's over there." He points to a side passage.

"Yes, sir," Ruby says, pounding a fist to her chest. Magnus and I mirror her, and we go by.

"What was that?" I ask as we round a bend.

"Salute," she replies. "Let's change and get into the jails."

We hurry, but I still feel like we're losing too much time.

The first cells are big enough for at least five people each. Most of them are empty, and the farther back we go, the smaller they get.

We're almost to the two-person cells when a voice calls, "Wait."

(Jess's POV)

These guards don't look familiar, and don't act like it, either. The last Sentries watched us like their lives depended on it, and always walked alone. But these three are together, quietly discussing something.

"Back here. Behind you," I say. "In the cell."

The blonde-haired one turns to look at us first. His eyes widen, then he frowns as the other two, a golden-brown-haired girl and a black-haired boy, follow his lead.

"You look like Jesse," Blondie says. "And you..."

"Kai?" The girl gasps.

Kai looks over at her. "Ruby? You're here?"

"We've been looking for you! Me and Sammy and William," the girl - presumably Ruby - says. "Then these guys are looking for someone, too. A girl named Jesse. Have you seen her?"

Kai and I share a look. "She was here just yesterday," I say. "Or the day before. Something. Don't really know."

"Where is she? Is she all right?" Blondie asks. There's clearly worry and fear in his voice and written all over his face.