Wither Sickness Book 5: Legends Remembered

A Grievance

Jesse pov:

The walk back home was rather treacherous and all of us were in agony. Petra was limping, my neck and back was hurting.

Although, I couldn't help but worry.

What happened to Lukas? Was he safe? Was he even alive?

All these questions ran rampantly through my mind.

Was leaving Elaine and Axel to find Olivia the right move?

"Hey.. Jesse you alright?"

I glanced up at Petra.

" ....I..I don't know," I said, softly, "It's not me you should be concerned about though."

"Alas Jesse is correct, some friends of ours are missing mind you. And Sylvia... the poor thing's lost her whole family in less than a day."

Petra nodded steadily, "It's..," She sighs heavily, "I didn't need the lecture."

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest.

As I look up, I gasp sharply.

My eyes widened as I gazed at my town in the distance in absolute horror.

Actually... I don't think I can call it a town... now.

"What the-"

"The town...," Ivor mumbled faintly.

Petra threw her hands up in the air.

"Ugh! We just can't catch a break can we!?" She exclaimed as she grasped her slightly dirty bandanna, yanked it off her head swiftly and threw it furiously at the ground.

"Was that really necessary?" Ivor inquired, "Doing that gained us absolutely nothing."

Petra glared at Ivor and she looked like she really wanted to sock him.

"What now Jesse?" Ivor asks, stopping in his tracks and turning to face me.

"I...I...," I stammered, "Ivor, I... I don't know."

I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared at my once beautiful town.

It was in ruins, a small amount of smoke was billowing.

Petra was pacing back and forth now, her hand underneath her chin as she limped.

As I regained my composure, I said quietly.

"We should check on the citizens..," I trailed off, honestly I wasn't sure if any people were there, but deep down I already knew what happened to them I just didn't want to admit it to myself.

Ivor nodded and then we began walking towards my once beautiful town.

---

I picked up a piece of rubble and tossed it into the small fire.

I sighed heavily, heavy-hearted because of what happened to my town.

Well... at least we're alive..

"Jesse?"

A glanced to my right, the voice unfamiliar.

Although when I caught sight of the person in front of me I recognized them instantly.

"Nick, what're you doing here?" I asked, faintly as he adjusted his cracked spectacles.

"Waiting for you all to return," He says, "More specifically waiting for you."

"For me?" I inquired, questioningly.

He nodded and rubbed the back of his neck, just like Lukas tends to do.

"...Urm... I not sure if you know this or not," He says uneasily then takes a deep breath.

"I found Lukas," He trails off, his gaze falling to the ground.

My heart uplifted.

"But... I-I found him dead."

My eyes widened and my heart dropped in my chest - no infact it shattered the moment I heard those words.

"No no no no," I muttered softly as I shook my head frantically.

My Lukas.... Dead.

I was with him earlier.

"Where'd you get that information from?" I asked warily, hoping that the information was false. That it was just a rumour.

"I found him... He was deceased by the time I did though," He said then shudders as he uneasily wraps his arms around himself, "I can't get the image of him out of my mind especially when I found him."

"Oh Nick," Petra said, quickly walking over to us, "What brings you here?"

She crosses her arms over her chest while I try to keep my cool.

"Jesse, what's wrong?" Petra asks.

"..Nothing, I'm fine."

"Don't give me that crap Jesse, it's written all over your face that somethings up!" Petra exclaims blaringly.

Nick glances at me and then Petra. He sighs heavily as tears start streaming down my face. I struggle to compose myself and quickly I find myself wiping my tears away.

"Lukas is dead," Nick says, glancing down sullenly.

Petra stiffened immediately and she was tense.

She nodded briefly and waved her hand in dismissal.

"Give me a moment," She said as she walked away, most likely to calm herself down too.

"I'm sorry for your loss Jesse," Nick says sympathetically before surprisingly, pulling me into a gentle embrace.

---

I was sitting by the order hall or what remains of it at least, while pondering deeply.

My heart ached greatly.

Without Lukas, I had no comfort. And without Sylvie here either... I know Sylvia is devastated along side me.

Reuben's presence attempted to reassure me, to comfort me, but it wasn't enough. My mood was way to low.

Something inside of me was starting to break, snapping slowly. This had been going on ever since the green necklace's had broke, but now I felt completely destroyed internally.

Without Lukas.... Well I just don't know what to do anymore.

I sigh quietly.

We've lost too many people.

But at least... the battle is over now.

At least Lukas and Sylvie's death are not in vain.