MCSM: The Forest Temple

Part 9 (Jess and Petra)

Petra held her golden sword under the mysterious man's chin. His brown eyes widened and he looked pretty harmless aside from the knife strapped to his thigh. "Who are you?" She asked. She sighed when she saw Lukas and Jesse and lowered her sword to approach them, though as she walked to them she kept watch on the hooded man. "I'm so glad to see you guys!" She exclaimed and they exchanged hugs. Jess came around the corner, missing the stranger completely, "You found them!" He joined in on the hugs.

 Jesse grinned, "You have no idea how happy we are to see you!" She asked, "What happened?"

Jess and Petra exchanged a glance and Jess spoke first, "We were with Axel and Olivia when a wall came between us. It nearly smashed Petra, but I pulled her out of the way." Lukas raised his eyebrows, "Wow, that must've been a little freaky." Jess nodded.

Petra ignored what Lukas said and gave Jesse a confused glance, "Wait, why are you standing? I thought you broke your ankle." Jesse nodded, "I did, but Carson gave me a healing potion." Carson approached at his name, "Sorry, I didn't want to interrupt the reuniting." He held his hand out to Jess, "Who are you?" Jess took his hand, "Jess. Jesse is my twin, it can get a little bit confusing, right?" Jesse nodded in agreement. Carson smiled, "Okay, I'll call her princess so that it's less confusing." Jesse awkwardly shifted, and the others glared at him, but he didn't notice.

Carson took Petra's hand, "And who are you madam?" She watched in disgust as he kissed her hand, "Petra." When he released her hand she wiped it on her shorts under her armor. He continued, "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance." Jesse turned to Lukas and whispered, "I just met this guy and I already don't like him." The two boys crossed their arms and Lukas nodded in agreement, "Glad I'm not the only one." Carson continued to talk to the two girls and Jess spoke, "Let's get moving. I want to get out of here." They all began to trek into the unknown.

(Time skip. They had been walking for a few hours.)

Out of the corner of his eye, Jess spotted a skeleton pointing an arrow strait at Petra. He dove forwards and tackled her down to the ground, it missed their heads by a hair. The others turned to see the source of the arrow and saw multiple skeletons heading in their direction. 

"Thanks," Petra sighed. He nodded and got off of her to help her stand up. Everybody wielded their weapons and Petra said, "There's three of them. Separate into two groups and the larger group will take two. They did as they were told. Petra and Lukas partnered up and Jess, Carson and Jesse partnered up. They fought them and Jesse asked, "Didn't you say that no monsters show up until we are near the end?" She slashed a skeleton with her enchanted diamond sword. Carson nodded, he had his knife in his hand and swiped the skeleton, "If this temple follows its own rules, then yes."

Jess sighed, "Thank goodness. We've been stuck here for a long time. I want to get out of this maze ASAP." Jesse nodded in agreement, "Jack and Nerm had a way easier time than we have been. Then again, they didn't end up falling into the maze section of the temple." 

Jess finished off one of the skeletons and collected the bones and the  bow and arrows. Soon after that, the other two skeletons were defeated as well. They continued down the tunnel and saw a light at the end of it and sprinted to it. Can this really be the end? I'm ready to be done with this temple! I don't like the separation we've been going through. Other than that, it's been a pretty fun adventure. Jess thought. However, once they got to the opening, they were disappointed to find that it was not an exit.

"Lava?" Jesse gaped, "Seriously? I thought we were done!" They looked down over a cliff to see a lava fall below it. Lukas sighed, "We'll get out of here. I know it. It may take some time, but we will, I promise." Petra sighed, "It would've been nice of Jack and Nerm to give us a map of this place." The others nodded in agreement. 

They turned to go back into the hall when a chunk of the cave flooring cracked, and the floor gave way. "Get back!" Lukas yelled and pushed Jesse off of it onto solid ground. Lukas fell with along with the stone.

"NO!" Everyone screamed. Jesse reached out her hand to try to catch him, but he was already out of reach. As Lukas plummeted downward, his gaze softened and he nodded at them reassuringly as if to say, Don't worry about me. What matters is that you all get out of here.

They could no longer see him, for a rock came between them and Lukas. They heard a splash and sizzle. Jesse burst into tears, "No no no no no no. This isn't happening, right?" She laughed nervously. She turned to her brother, hoping he would laugh and say, "This was all just a big joke!" But the words never came. Instead, he stared at the pool of lava disbelievingly and ran a hand through his brown hair, "What just happened.." 

Petra dropped to her knees, "No, Lukas." She shook her head.

Jesse felt like she was trapped in a nightmare and her head began to spin, No, this is fake. There's no way he just.. just... "Jesse. You need to breathe!" Carson said calmly, yet his eyes told another story, "You're going to pass out." Jesse didn't hear him, This is all just a nightmare, right? I just want to wake up already.

She lost balance and Carson caught her before as blacked out.