We've Got Training To Do

13: Violence is (Almost) Never the Answer

A/N: I published this on Jade's birthday, lmao

Previously on WGTTD:

Jade and Cole entered a talent competition and totally wrecked everyone's faces, but Pythor and the rest of the Serpentine were there and stole the Fang Blade that was in the trophy Jade and Cole won. There was also some of Jade's backstory, and naturally I had to make it tragic. And also #Redlight broke up because Jade found out Kai was cheating on her, and #Blacklight became canon. On with the story!

~0~0~0~

I pore over the map of the five Fang Blades, trying to make sense of the thin, curly writing. However, to my frustration, it yields nothing.

"Argh!" I flip the table in anger. "This is pointless!"

"Whoa, Jade," says Cole. "Calm–"

"Don't you even think about telling me to calm down, Cole Brookstone!" I flop down on a stool. "The amount of good the damn thing does us, we might as well not have a map at all!"

It's been an entire month since the talent competition, and I'm just so sick of looking at this fucking map.

"Okay, so the map doesn't give us as much of an advantage as we originally thought," says Jay, putting the table back. "That's not your fault, Jade. It's like you said: we're not snakes."

"You seem to be working yourself too hard," Zane observes. "Perhaps you ought to take a break."

"How can I?" I demand. "Every day that Sammy and Lloyd are in the hands of the Serpentine is a chance they're killed! If you could see some of the dreams I've been having lately—"

"Dreams?" asks Jay. "What sort of dreams?"

"We all know by now that your dreams are far from normal, Jade," says Zane. "But I believe, in this case, that that is all they are."

I draw my knees up under my chin. "They just seem so real," I say quietly. I feel Cole's hand on my shoulder, but I just stare at the tips of my boots.

"Nightmares are a common symptom of stress," says Zane. "I assure you, nothing will happen to Sammy or Lloyd as long as we are around."

"And if anything does, we'll be right there to give those snakes hell," says Cole.

I look back up at them. "Thanks, guys," I say.

"But what Zane said is true," says Jay. "You have been working yourself too hard. We all have. Maybe a day off is what we all really need."

I sigh. Back on the day off thing. "You guys aren't going to stop begging me about this until I agree, huh?"

"Nope," says Jay cheerfully.

"Then I'll let you guys handle planning it," I say, standing up. "I'm going to bed."

"Before dinner?" says Zane in surprise.

"I'm not hungry," I mumble, and exit the bridge.

~0~0~0~

I have another dream about Lloyd and Sammy that night. Lloyd is unconscious with a black eye, and Sam a bruise on his arm. My dream-self balls her fists. No way am I going to let them treat my brother like this. I will myself forward. "Sam?" I call. My voice is echoey and distant. "Can you hear me?"

My brother looks up. "Jadie?" he says softly. "Is that really you?"

I smile. "In a sense, I suppose. Where are you?"

"I don't know," Sam says. "But I heard a Hypnobrai mention the Floating Ruins, so we must be near there."

"Floating Ruins?" My brows furrow. "That must be where the next Fang Blade is."