Forging A Path

Chapter 9: End in Sight

    "Ugh," I groaned as I slowly opened my eyes.

    It seemed the snow had started to fall again, but it seemed different this time. Snow was piled around us, the remnants of the tower scattered. I moaned in sore pain, as I slowly sat up. My eyes scanned the white enclosed landscape, noticing the ice cave was now blocked up, and the boys were slowly coming to as well.

    I was closest to Grayson, and I pulled myself to my feet, moving over to him. I helped him up, now realizing what had taken place.

    "The base is gone. How to we get out of here?" Drake questioned groggily.

    Armen looked at me to make sure I was okay, and then pointed behind where Grayson and I stood.

    "There is a path."

    Suddenly, an arrow landed at my feet. "Uh guys? Let's get moving," I urged. The boys looked at the arrow and took off, Drake grabbing my hand and pulling me behind him.

    Despite the dire situation, a small smile met my face at the younger man pulling me along.

    Through the minor maze-like feel of the path, we all could tell it was old and man made, buildings littering the sides of our course. We stopped only a few times, scattered conversation of our observations filling the tense air. Grayson found a spear he immediately gave to Armen, and gunshot occasionally filled the air as he tried to fire at our attacker, who I knew to be Herobrine.

    After a bit more rushed wandering, we came across a tower of stones, resembling that of the nether, in a miniature town square. The odd substance seemed to bring Drake's mood down, as he pulled me along. He mentioned pressure in his head as we neared it, which I also felt, and as soon as we passed it he seemed relieved.

     We pushed on to a small tower, and made our way down to a small room, Grayson covering our backs once we got inside. We all noticed a book, floating inside of a crystal chest.

    "This must be important, right?" I questioned quietly, looking to the boys.

    Armen stepped forward to grab it, with a nod, and I turned to pull Grayson inside, where we had a bit of cover. I saw a floating weapon, a bow, which is not normal, and pulled him inside hastily, taking an arrow to the arm as I turned back in.

    "Ah! Ah," I cringed in pain, stepping into the corner next to Drake.

    "Are you okay?" Drake's concerned eyes latched onto my wound.

    "Mhm," I tried to smile reassuringly, which probably looked more like a grimace, and turned to Armen. "Go ahead and read it."

    He read the simple number that was printed in the book, then looked up at us with a confused gaze, "Thats it."

    "We should head back up and look for a way out, away from Him," Drake suggested, leading the way out and back to the ladder.

    As we got to the ladder, Armen and Drake went up first. I followed gingerly, after Grayson's reassurance that he'd catch me upon a slip up. Finally reaching the top after a seemingly long assent, Drake pulled me up to my feet, keeping me from exerting my arm too much.

    Once we all gathered on the set path again, the boys scrambled for a way out of the small village like place, while I watched, not knowing what to do. Finally, I suggested a bit of a back track to an open room, and once there, we took cover. As we settled for the small walls of the room, we noticed an odd structure inside. It had remnants of the same odd element in the square, but looked much different.

    "It looks like a shrine of some sort," Grayson commented.

    Every now and again, I'd catch his concerned gaze drift to me, checking my wellness.

    "There is a slot over here," I pointed to a piece of the structure that had a large slot facing outwards.

    "Maybe the book fits in there," Drake voiced my thoughts.

    Armen darted over to try and fit the book in, unsuccessfully. As he gave up, Grayson offered to try. He did so, and the book fit seemlessly.

    Seconds later, the structure lit up, like the northern light. It was obviously a portal.

    As an arrow landed at my feet, urgency filled my voice, "who wants to go through first?"

    "Um.. I don't know but we better make it fast," Drake glances outside, then to the portal.

    "I'll go," Grayson said firmly. His eyes met mine briefly and then he was gone, through the teleportation device.

    I looked to my best friends, "let's go."

    I took Armen's hand, and we all ran through, away from immediate danger.