Withered

Chapter 3

"Jesse," I groan as someone shakes me, heavy eyelids peeling open. "Come on Jesse, wake up."

I swat at the person, blinking awake and lifting my body up. Yawning, I rub my face. Sleep hanging on tight to me, refusing to let me wake up properly. Although if only I could fall asleep again. It felt like I was only asleep for a few seconds.

Reuben stretches beside me, oinking softly for me to get a move on. I hoist myself to my feet, the muscles in my legs stiff and bitter at me for using them again. I shouldn't be surprised that only a few hours of rest didn't fully recover them, but it's a bit disappointing. I just don't feel like I rested at all.

The others have already made their way out of the dirt hut, and it hits me. We're going to be looking for the temple, which we then somehow lead us to the Order. With that thing Gabriel gave me, which I haven't even properly looked at yet.

Yawning again, I walk out. Immediately hissing lightly as the sun pierces my eyes. I blink, squinting and raising my arm up to try and shield myself. I won't claim to be the greatest morning person there is, but the sun has never disturbed me this much.

"Hey look!" Olivia points to the side, where a stone path lays out. "That must lead to the temple."

Trying to wake myself up, we head to it. Whispers of last night's horrors shifting through my head. The Wither Storm, the forest on fire as buildings are uprooted, Gabriel in the tractor beam, the broken portal keeping Petra in that mess and us in the Nether, the hot sweltering Nether, last night's argument-

A light ping comes from my left arm, and of course, there's that with the cold dread of looming doom. How could I forget?

I shake my head, seeing myself falling behind. I pick up my pace, just in time to spot Axel glaring at Lukas and walking ahead of him. I sigh, especially when Lukas stops walking altogether, head hanging down.

"Hey, uh, you okay?" I turn to him properly, letting Axel and Olivia go up ahead.

He shrugs, not looking every okay at all. "It was a rough night."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that." I sheepishly scratch my neck as I attempt to apologize for Axel. "Axel lets his heart speak for him, and with everything that happened.... Honestly, I'm just glad you're okay."

Lukas smiles, lifting his head at me. "Thanks for being so cool about it, I really didn't want to spend all night in the rain."

"Rain?" I blink, confusion scrunching up my face. "When did it rain last night?"

He chuckles, beginning to walk again. "Man, you really were knocked out last night weren't you? It began to rain not even a minute after you kept me from leaving."

I smile too, trying not to let him see the weight that just pressed onto my shoulders. "Like you said, it was a rough night. I don't even-"

"Hey!" Olivia's shout interrupts me, and I see she's up on a small hill pointing forward. "The temple, it's right over there!"

"Well, what are we waiting for?" I head in that direction, loosening up my left shoulder. That limb in particular is having a hard time waking up. "Let's get a closer look."

Which turns out to be really helpful when a wall of vines stands before us. With only a brief sigh, I climb up it. For most of my muscles, it actually seems to work a few things out. For my left arm that's being a pain, the muscles stay tight and cramped.

Even that pain's forgotten though when I gaze up at the structure. It must've been a mighty temple when it was first built, but the walls have crumbled. Moss and cobwebs claiming it as their own. Is this really the place that'll bring the Order back together?