The Final Fight : the Haunted

Ch.28-advantages and set backs

Grayson's POV

Drake had been silent most of the trip. We decided to head to a area of the badlands that the empire doesn't explore very often. We had gotten there and made a makeshift camp. It would have to do for now. I noticed Mia looking at maps and she had a book with her. The book looked somewhat old and worn out. The words the great empires rise were sketched out in gold letters on the red book. 'The library' she must of gotten it from there.

"Whacha doin'?" I asked. She looked at me.

"Trying to figure out if there is any information about the empire that we might not know. You know the history of it. What if there is something in here that could help us take down, ya know, him." She hesitated the last few words.

"Good point" I look at the book. It gave the history of the empire. I already learnt most of this in my time at the empire. The dragon egg was mentioned several times.

Time skip

After reading the book cover to cover I didn't find much. The maps didn't show anything either. I felt like I was missing a piece to the puzzle because. Mia did make a good point. I became frustrated and increasingly desperate to find a way to take down the empire and him. Two birds with one stone? I knew that herobrine and the empire had some sort of connection but I couldn't put it together. I know herobrine hates the empire as well. I was still trying to figure out why he helped us that day also. He said we would find out soon. Why would he help us? Besides he's tried to kill us several times in different ways. I slumped down against the tree. Confused and giving up I folded the maps back up and put them away. I was stumped. I looked over to see Armen with Drake Turing to get him to talk I guess. Drake just kept a almost blank expression and wouldn't look him in the eyes. Something was wrong with him. Not about what happened earlier but I think he's not telling us other things. We were losing him. He looks like he just gave up. I could see it in his eyes.

It was dark out and the fire was flickering bright. The fire was the only thing keeping away the silence. No one said anything. It wasn't like us to be like this. I couldn't take it.

"Is anyone going to say anything? We usually aren't this quiet. It's bugging me. " I broke the silence. Mia looked up like she was going to say something. She had no words.

"When are you going to tell us what the plan is? I saw you with Mia looking at maps and the book. You have a plan right??" Armen seemed hopeful.

"Well I tried. I didn't find much. Just stuff about how to empire rose to power and enslaved many people like elves and mages. They basically took over as much as they could." I said in a semi position time trying not to bring Armen down. He had just been a living hell for about five years and now that he's finally back he wants to help fix the destruction he caused when he has no control. I noticed when it came to things like this he tried to do everything he can to help. I felt bad.

"Shut up or I won't say anything..." Drake mumbled something to himself. I turned to see him looking at the fire mumbling something I couldn't hear.

"What?" I looked at him confused.

"Nothing..." He looked away.

"Drake you haven't said anything all night. Tell me what you said." I said in a serious tone trying to let him know that I knew he was lying.

"Grayson don't worry about it ok it's..." He was cut off when he suddenly grabbed his head and groaned. "Oh my god stop! Fine just stop it will you. Why the heck are you telling me this anyways." He looked pissed off now. Was he talking to us? Or him.....

"The empire has been struggling lately to keep event revolts against them in control. I don't know how he knows this. So don't ask questions. Apparently word got out that something happened to the emperor and he has been struggling with health problems the last eight years and he's getting weaker and sick. He's vulnerable." He looked back into the fire and cursed something under his breath. He looked pissed off for a second as it quickly faded back to a more annoyed one.

"What? Wait so the emperor is sick? Well doesn't this mean that he can be easier to take down?!" Mia perked up some. "Yes I think it does!" I perked up as well. Armen seemed excited but it disappeared being replaced by worry. "Grayson how would we get into the empire with our being captured and probably executed immediately." He made a good point. "Well we'll figure it out." I now had hope about our current situation. I could see Mia nodding off. She laid down and said goodnight. I got into my sleeping bag as well and drifted off to sleep.

Later that night

I was awoken by a sudden scream and yelling. "Drake what are you doing! Put the sword down! Don't do it please!" I could hear Armens frantic screams and Mia's cries. "Drake please! It's not the solution!" Mia pleaded.

To my horror I saw Drake standing with the fiery sword to his chest. Pain and sadness written across his face. Tears were streaming down his face. He backed up from Mia and Armen. His grip tightened on the sword.