No More

Chapter 31: Twilight Part 4

"Lukas." Said Jess in a cold voice... coming from right behind him. Startling everyone. "How would you like to join me in my task?"

That was a question nobody expected. Silence spread throughout the Twilight Forest as the only thing that can be heard is the natural underground gas igniting, spewing a column of fire up to the surface.

"Uh... what?" said Lukas, confused as he is surprised.

Jess rolled her eyes and let out a huff of annoyance. "I said, do you want to join me on my task?"

"Me?" he asked skeptically. "Why?"

"You're wasting your time, Jess." said Aiden. "Lukas wouldn't consider going with a loser like you! Right Lukas?"

"Oh really?" said Jess, raising an eyebrow. "I can be very persuasive."

"Threatening us won't do any good for you Jess." Said Gill. "We can take you on."

"Who said anything about fighting?" said Jess. "I'm simply giving Lukas an offer."

Aiden just scoffed. "Yeah right, Lukas is sticking with us Jess."

"Doesn't he get a choice in the matter?" asked Jess.

"He doesn't need to." Said Maya, breathing a little heavy. "We know he'll stay with us, and away from you."

"Then why is he still not declining my offer?" said Jess, pointing to Lukas who had a look of concentration on his face.

"Is this a temporary job?" he asked. "Or a permanent position?"

"Lukas, you can't be seriously thinking about going with her?!" protested Maya, still being assisted to stand by her boyfriend.

"Of course this will be temporary, a one time thing actually." Clarified Jess. "Once it's done, you can go back doing whatever stupid things you like to do with your gang."

"But still, why me?" said Lukas. "Why are you giving me this offer and not someone else?"

"Don't think that this is something special Lukas." Said Jess. "You simply have to do something for me later on."

"What do I have to do?" asked Lukas, worried and thinking about the horrible possibilities.

"I promise that it's nothing complicated, or immoral." She replied. "But still, since you're going to get a hefty reward for your efforts, I think I'm being generous."

"What exactly am I doing for this job?" he asked.

"Simply help me kill a few monsters here in the Twilight Forest." She explained. "And I'll give you twenty percent of all of the loot."

The Ocelots eyes widened. Twenty percent is still a lot since Jess could get tons of monster drops from enemies, even the rare ones! But still...

"That doesn't make sense." Said Lukas, shaking his head. "You can clearly handle yourself, you killed a hydra for crying out loud! Why would you need someone who's weaker at your side?"

"Like I said before, Lukas." Said Jess. "I bring you along for this fortunate journey, and in exchange, you'll do something for me. And to be honest, you're the only person I think who's not stupid enough to screw up the task I have for you later on."

He should be thinking this through, but Jess just seemed so convincing. Almost as if she has a power to sway people with words...

"Lukas, aren't you tired of being dragged into your friends problems?" Jess asked. "When was the last time someone listened to you, you're the leader after all, and yet your friends somehow makes it more difficult for you."