The next morning I woke up I walked to the bathroom to wash my gross face. Crying can make my face look pretty ugly and crusty. I got out a clean towel and began washing it.
I heard Tom gasp from the door way.
I turned in his direction and made a face.

"What? I can't wash my face?"

"You're-you're standing. I didn't have to help you."

Oh my god. I had walked without Toms help.

"I CAN WALK AGAIN!" I yelled with my fist pumped in the air.

"YEAHHHH!" Tom yelled too.

I was so happy. I didn't need a wheelchair anymore! I could go on adventures again!
Tom pulled me out of the bathroom and ran to our room. He tossed my gear to me.

"We're going to the nether! I know it's kinda soon but who cares? I know you're dying to get out of here too."

"Yes I am. Let's go!"

We ran to the nether portal, not even bothering to eat breakfast.
When we got there, Tom turned on his communicator.

"Hey everybody! Sparklez can walk! Were in the nether celebrating if you wanna come!"
I heard a bunch of shouts and congrats. Today was gonna be awesome.
~
After about 3 hours of being in the nether, I told everyone I need to go back and take a break for awhile. They had all shown up and were trying to find ghast tears and wither skeletons. Tom said he'd stay and meet back up with me later. I went back through the portal and began to head towards the tree. I was kinda hungry, but I didn't want any apples or fish. I kinda wanted some chicken or something. So I headed to the mainland to look for chickens.
I went past Tucker's dojo and heard someone call my name.
Who would that be? Everyone I was friends with were in the nether.

"Jordan!"

I turned to see who it was. I was completely shocked.

Andor. He was running towards me with a smile on his face.

He hugged me and I hugged him back.

"What are you doing here?! How did you leave the inertia?!"

"Farmer Steve helped me escape! Sadly, he was trapped after. I tried to help him but he just told me to run. I couldn't fly here because they had clipped my wings."

I looked behind him and saw no wings. It was true they had clipped them.
"How long did it take you to get here?!" I asked amazed.

"About three days. It was a very long journey."
We talked about the prison he was in and how Steve got caught.
Then I noticed something completely out of order.

His communicator.

He wasn't here when we gave out communicators.

Dec said he only had 10 of them, he gave three to the king, Al, and the Herald just because he had too. He gave the seven of us the rest. But we all had separate talking systems so they wouldn't hear us.
Dec only had 10. No more than 10. He couldn't have given Andor one.
This wasn't Andor.
It was someone else pretending to be him.

"Is something wrong Jordan?" He asked confused.
I had to play this off cool.

"Yeah I was just thinking of something I needed to ask you, do you have any more of those books you gave me the other day?"

"Ianites creed? I have one here."
He pulled the book out of his bag and handed it to me.
Well. He had the books. I guess it was him. I still found it weird that he had a communicator.
A skeleton shot an arrow at him but missed and it hit the ground beside him.

"Pesky skeleton." He mumbled to himself.

I began to put the book back in my bag when I noticed something.

I nearly peed my self when I saw it.

Andor had Lieutenant Al's rapier in his hand.

It took all my might to not freak out and run as far away as I could.
The images of the blood soaked rapier from my dream came back.

Don't freak don't freak out don't freak out.

I calmed myself and put a normal expression on my face. If he finds out that I know it's not him, he'll definitely kill me or arrest me.

"I hate mobs. Don't you? I also really hate that taint problem we have now. We should all work together and get rid of it. That would be super awesome."

Super awesome? Nice try Al, Andor doesn't talk like that.

"Yeah mobs and taint are some serious problems. I was nearly killed by a creeper the other day. Well, I guess I better get going, I have a lot of stuff to do today. I guess we'll try and go after Steve tomorrow."

"I suppose so. Goodbye Jordan!"

"Bye Andor."

I walked away from him as normal as I could. After I passed Tucker's house and couldn't see him anymore, I bolted to the tree.

I realized why he was pretending to be Andor. He was trying to trick me into getting rid of the taint.

I arrived at the tree and bent over to catch my breath. My ribs still hurt and my legs weren't holding up too good either.
I heard the portal open and out walked Tom. He saw my terrified expression and came running over.

"What happened?! Did you fall or something?"

"I went to the main land to get some chicken from Tucker's farm and I saw Andor but-"

"What?! Was Steve with him?! Where are they?!" He began to walk towards the mainland and I stopped him.

"It wasn't actually him! It was Al impersonating him! I didn't realize until he killed a skeleton with his rapier. Andor never had any weapons beside his boomerang, it wasn't him."

Toms eyes widened, "Did he say anything about Steve? Did he try to kill you? Did he know you knew it was him?"

"He said Steve got trapped trying to 'save him'. What if Al trapped him too? He didn't try to kill me, he didn't know that I knew. I just said I had to go and I ran away."

"Well...I'm glad your okay, I really wish you would've told me you were going to the main land. I would've came with you."

"Yeah I guess. We need to go after them, maybe Dec knows where this place is."
Tom scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"Maybe...we should wait a little while longer."

"What? Don't you want to save them?"

"I do I really do...it's just...I really don't want you to go right now."

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Sparklez you just started walking again today. I don't want you to get killed. We can wait a little while, I'm sure they'll be fine for another week."

"Tom what if they don't have another week?! Andor's been there for 5 weeks! What if he's dead?! I dont want Steve to die too!"

"Hey ladies, will you stop arguing for a second?" I heard Sonja say behind Tom.

"You guys fight like an old married couple. It's cute but weird." Tucker shook his head.

"I agree. They do show certain similarities of an elderly couple." Wag stated.

"I'm not the one arguing! I just want to wait another week before going on a rescue mission, that's all." Tom crossed his arms.

"And I just wanna save my friends! We can't save them if they're dead Tom!"

"Woah woah woah. Let's all talk about this. What made you decide tomorrow is a good day for a rescue mission?" Tucker asked me.

"Al decided to morph into Andor and trick me into thinking it was him. He said Steve was captured while trying to 'save him'. I think Al trapped him or something, that means both of them are in the inertia and Andor's been there for 5 weeks. I'm afraid he's dead and Steve will be too if we don't do something soon."

"Okay so now I've heard your argument. Tom tell me yours."

"I just wanna wait another week before he risks his life again. He's still recovering for the last time he risked his life and he can barely walk anyway. I feel like he'd die as soon as he got there."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm tired of being the freaking damsel in distress." I muttered to myself.

"He's kind of got a point Tom. You need to trust him a little more." Wag pointed out.

Tom scoffed. "Maybe I would trust him more if he wasn't almost dying every few minutes. He's like the most needy person ever. I'm tired of saving him, it gets old pretty fast."

The words felt like knives in my chest. That really hurt.

I got up and pulled my specter key out. It was the only place I could go for privacy.

"Fine then, I'll just leave you alone."

I wanted to scream insults at his face and tell him it was always his fault I got hurt at every turn.
But I didn't. I just left.

I teleported into the dimension and looked around. It was quiet and calm. It was just what I needed.
I sat on the clear floor and pulled my knees up to my chest.

Don't cry, I told myself. I needed to stop crying and being emotional.

I didn't use to be so emotional. I used to be tough as nails.
I guess all this losing people is getting to me.
I heard my communicator beep and I raised up to see who was calling me.
It was Wag. Why was he calling me?

"Hey Wag. What's going on?"

"If you would be so kind as to look behind you, that would be excellent."
I turned around and saw Wag waving at me.
How was that even possible?

"How are you here? I thought I could only go to this place."

"You can only access your room in this dimension. Not the whole dimension. I have a key too and I can access my room. But onto the topic I wanted to speak with you about, Tom feels very guilty about what he said to you. He wants to apologize."

I shook my head and sighed. "I'm tired of being helpless Wag. I know I've been really needy lately, he didn't need to point it out. Now I feel like I'm just a bother to him. It's not even my fault anyway. I don't think I can forgive him that quickly."

I saw Wag nod his head. "It's understandable if you don't want to talk to him for awhile. Your welcome to stay at my place anytime you like. I just have a little advice for you, you can take it or leave it, it doesn't matter matter to me. Wait maybe 4 more days until you go on a rescue mission? I know you don't want to, but at least wait until your ribs have healed up a bit more?"

I pondered on it for a moment. I guess I could wait a few more days.
"I guess I could do that. And you don't mind if I stay at your place?"

"Not at all Mr. Sparklez. Although I would not suggest drinking while your there," he laughed.

I groaned. "Never again. That was the worst hangover I've ever had."

"Indeed. Well I better return and tell Tom the new information. Are you still going to be residing at my residence?"

"Yeah I guess so. Bye Wags."

"Bye Jordan."

The magic particles began to engulf him until he was completely gone.
I was alone again.
~
I packed up my spell books, food, and swords. I already had my armor equipped and my angel ring on. I was ready to leave and go to wags place.
I walked out the door and sent a message out to Wag that I was on my way over.

I began to walk off when I saw Tom.

He was sitting at the stream I always sat at. He had his head down and he was staring at his phone.
He was looking at pictures again. That's when you know he's in a crappy mood.
He hadn't said a single word since I came back from the specter dimension. Wag told me Tom had agreed in the terms, but didn't say anything on how he reacted.

I wonder how he did.

I should tell him good bye. I won't see him for a couple of days.

"Bye Tom, be ready for the mission in a few days!"

He didn't move or say anything. He just kept looking down.
"Tom?" I asked. Was he okay?

He still didn't do anything.
I walked over to him and tapped his shoulder.

"Dude are you okay?"

"Why? How could you do this to me..."

His head jerked around to look at me.

My heart stopped.

His eyes were gone. Bloody empty holes were all that was left. The dark crimson liquid was pouring down his face and onto his suit. His light blue hair was covering part of his left eye and it was drenched in blood as well.

I staggered backwards and fell. I was gasping for breath.

What was wrong with him?!
I heard dark chuckles behind me.
I turns my head to see the lieutenant and his bloody rapier in his hand.

"Wh-what did you do to him?!"

"All your fault..." He whispered as he edged closer to me.

I looked back to Tom. He was standing in front of me shaking his head.

"All your fault. Everything is your fault." He whispered.

I felt a hand grab my arm. The lieutenants rapier coming down to meet my face. I screamed and shielded myself with my arms.

I don't wanna die.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I need to talk with you guys about something that needs to be said, and it's boring and negative.

Which sucks.

If you don't have any positive criticism (spelling, grammar, phrasing, etc) or anything nice to say in the comments, then don't say anything at all. (That includes hating on anything that I've put in the story that you think is stupid or different from the streams. If I have, then that means I'm trying to make things more interesting to read, in case you couldn't figure that out yourself. *insert sassy snap and turn here*)
I will delete and flag it if you do any of that crap.

Also keep in mind that this stuff in this book is what's happening in the minecraft world.
Not in real life.
If the characters are a little different from the real life people, once again, it's because I want things to be more interesting to read.

I'm here to write stories and make someone's day a little better, not to fight over stupid little comments that have nothing to do with improving my writing.

It's not all of you guys I swear, I would never blatantly blame you all, I strongly dislike people who do that. It's just a few people I've noticed and it's really been bugging me.

So I've decided to delete and flag them all together.

But those of you who actually do give me constructive criticism and positive comments, I LOVE YOU, YOU BEAUTIFUL DEARIES!
You are my Syndisparklez children!!!!
Sorry that's a bit of a weird thing to call you, but I really do love you guys. You're the reason I keep writing every day. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! Leave a favorite if you did, thanks! - Lee