At this point I'm really done apologizing and pretending I'm actually going to be able to follow a schedule. So I guess that goal is dead.

K bye.

• • •

~ Cole ~

"Dude, there's a horse in here!"

My breath hitched when I heard the voice. It didn't sound familiar, but that still wasn't good news.

"It's all saddled up and everything!" Another person said.

"It must be those two GATU people that fell into the ravine." Lily said softly.

I motioned for Lily to stay where she was. I took out my sword, and was about to walk up the stairs.

"Wait," she whispered, "the mask."

I remembered we had stolen the masks and hoodies. "Good idea." I removed my armor, reluctantly took off my jacket, and put on the green hoodie. It felt weird, and when I put on the creeper mask, I felt uncomfortable. I peered through the tinted slits, and pulled up the hood. "Stay here."

It was difficult to see, but I managed to walk up the stairs. When I reached the top, I saw that it was in fact the two GATU people. I was glad it wasn't just a pair of regular adventurers. That would've been awkward. One of them was petting Shoelace, which made me angry.

"Bro!" The one who was petting Shoelace saw me. "Kenny, is that you? Or Ralph?"

I blinked. I had no idea who's voice was most similar to mine. "Who do you think?" I snapped.

"Chill, Kenny." The other guy raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Jeff didn't mean anything by it. What happened, man?"

I made up a story. "We got ambushed. I was separated from Ernie and Ralph. Found refuge here."

"We ran into that one girl. She caught us by surprise." Jeff growled. "I should've seen it coming. She got lucky."

Not-Jeff explained, "We fell into a ravine. Jeff was crying like a baby, but I managed to get us out of there."

"That's a bunch of spider crap! The exact opposite happened!" Jeff shouted at Not-Jeff.

As the two argued, I tried to think of what I could do. They didn't have any weapons out, so they most likely lost them. I could overpower them both easily. But first, I needed to know if they had information.

"This job is harder than I thought." I said.

"You're telling me." Jeff grunted. "I don't know why Ernie didn't want to go after the other people."

"Other people." I repeated. "Right. The other people. Who are they again?"

"Were you fooling around when Ernie explained? The other two that were a part of the project. We don't know their names, only Ernie does. And we don't need their names since Ernie chose that one guy's file. Cole, I think. Remember?"

I swallowed. "Yeah. Yeah, sorry. Must've zoned out."

"All I know is that when we find Ernie, I'm gonna talk to him about this whole thing. Give him a piece of my mind about this job." Not-Jeff crossed his arms.

Jeff snorted, and said, "You're going to give him a piece of your mind?"

"Yes. I am."

"You wouldn't even call out Ralph when he took your apple out of your hand as you were about to take a bite."

"He looked hungry."

"Sure. That's your excuse." Jeff chuckled.

"I'm a nice person!"

"Or maybe you're just too scared to stand up for yourself!" Jeff yelled in his face.

They started to argue again. I rolled my eyes.

I really wanted to think Ernie was lying when he didn't give out that information about a project. However, I didn't exactly give him a chance to continue talking. That was a mistake on my part. I was angry about my home being gone, and that clouded my mind.

"I'm saying that you can't just let people walk all over you!" Jeff continued. "Dude, you're better than that. You deserve better than that."

Not-Jeff was about to shout something back, but he registered what Jeff said. "Do you... do you really think so?"

"Yeah, man. You need to take charge of your life. Don't let people push you around."

He looked at the ground. "Maybe you're right."

"Of course I'm right. Look, I'm sorry for yelling at you." Jeff said.

Not-Jeff shook his head. "Nah, bro. I needed it. Thanks."

"Anytime, bro." Jeff went in for a hug, and Not-Jeff returned it.

I stared at the bromance scene. They started to hug for an uncomfortably long period of time. I sighed, and took out my sword. I walked over.

"You two are adorable." I said to them. They let go of each other, and I took the opportunity to smash Not-Jeff on the head with my sword hilt.

"Gus!" Jeff exclaimed as his friend collapsed.

"So that's his name." I muttered. I shrugged, then hit Jeff. He fell down as well.

I watched them for a few seconds to make sure they weren't getting up. "You can come up now!" I said loudly so Lily could hear me.

When she came up the stairs, I was starting to explain what happened. However, she shut me down. "I heard it all from down there." She looked at the two on the floor. "It's hard to think that they're bad people."

"What?" I frowned as I took off the mask. I pulled off the hoodie.

Lily handed me my jacket. "I mean, they sounded so innocent. Like they were just kinda dragged into this."

I couldn't believe what she was saying. "They're GATU. They are the villains."

"I know, but-"

"They are hunting us. They burnt down my house. They killed Harold."

For a split second, I saw hurt in her eyes. Then, she nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry."

I glanced down, and fixed my jacket sleeve. "We need to go. We've already wasted enough time here."

"Okay... I still hope that Gus sticks up for himself."

• • •

~ Sky ~

Opening the chests was a risky plan. If we weren't quiet enough, the guards would hear. They already glanced at us continuously, so the time slot was very short. Another problem is that the chest behind me could be empty. However, we had to do something.

"Shift a little to the left so they can't see me open it." I whispered to Amber. She nodded, then moved.

"Okay." I took a deep breath. One of the guards looked at me for a second, but turned back to his partner. Then, I opened the chest.

Nothing.

I cursed, and slowly shut the lid.

"Nothing?" Amber asked.

I shook my head. "We gotta try the next one."

We slowly moved down the line to the next double chest without being noticed. When Amber was in place again, I started to open the next chest.

"Hey!"

I slammed the lid shut as if that was going to help. However, the two guards noticed us. They both took out their batons, and walked over.

"Go... go!" I shoved Amber to her feet and climbed to mine. We both ran down the line.

A couple chests away, I grabbed a hold of a random one and opened it. Nothing again!

I felt a hand grasp my shoulder and whip me around. One of the guards was about to hit me, when I heard a voice.

"Duck!"

I didn't need to be told twice. I crouched down just as a regular wooden stick was swung above my head and smacked the man in the forehead.

I turned and saw Amber wielding the stick. She took my hand and pulled me to my feet.

"Pick one!" She exclaimed.

I opened another chest. Before I could look inside, the other guard charged. I reached my hand inside for some kind of weapon.

"Aha!" I grabbed something, and brandished it at the guy.

A fish.

"What?" I stared at the limp, slimy fish in my hand. "Who brings a single fish onto a train?"

I didn't have time to admire the big catch, so I swung it at the approaching, well-dressed enemy. It collided with his cheek, and he stumbled back.

"Dude. Seriously?" He rubbed his face.

I grunted. "Sorry." I threw my fearsome weapon at the two guards, and it hit both their stomachs. They both fell back.

"Come on." I ran alongside Amber.

When we reached the end of the car, I tried another chest. Inside was a stone sword, and some food.

I clasped my hand around the hilt just as Amber exclaimed, "Sky!"

Twirling around, I saw her in a duel with the man she had hit. His forehead was now bleeding, and he looked angry.

The other guy went for me, not realizing I had my hand around a sword in the chest. He held up his baton and was about to hit me. However, I swung the sword before he could. The stone blade cut through the baton, leaving the guy only with a stub.

He flashed an apologetic smile. I smiled back, and punched him square in the face. Somehow, the single blow made him collapse.

I rushed over to Amber. The guy had her backed up against a chest. I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, and his eyes widened just before I punched him in the jaw. He pivoted into the right position for Amber to hit him again with her stick. Her weapon broke on impact, and the guy crumbled to the ground.

We both stood there, breathing heavily for a second.

"Two down," Amber finally spoke, "who knows how many more to go."

• • •

"What's the game plan?" Amber set another iron helmet on the ground.

I glanced toward the door. It was barricaded with chests and random blocks we found, so we would get a little bit of time if they tried to break through. However, that wouldn't stop Pierce from hurting people on the other side.

"Um..."

"I can distract them." She shrugged. "You can break the TNT."

"Assuming it is TNT and not some powerful new bomb." I shook my head. "it's too risky. We have to get that remote out of his hands. We also have to make sure no one gets hurt in the crossfire, and not get ourselves killed."

"We can lead them in here. I can wait by the side of the door and grab it as he comes in."

"And where does that leave you? You'd have multiple guns pointed at you. Even if you threaten them with pressing the button, they clearly don't seem fazed by the thought of dying."

She frowned at the ground in thought. "What if it's just a bluff? Pierce is a psychopath, but I don't think he'd risk his life or his henchmen's lives."

"How can we tell, though?"

Suddenly, we both got the same idea. We both looked at the floor.

"I'm an idiot." Amber sighed. She got out the pickaxe she got from a chest. She mined through the floor. As soon as the floor broke, the block was swept under. The wind shrieked along with the train. Tracks were visible.

"Hang on." Before I could think, Amber grabbed both sides of the block and ducked down.

I grumbled, "I should probably be telling you that." I walked over to her in case I needed to support her if she slipped.

After a few seconds, Amber lifted her head up. "I don't see anything."

I exhaled. "Right. So they're bluffing."

"Now we just need to think about the guns and the civilians." Amber said. "They don't want to kill us, so we can use that."

"What about those innocent people? Also, how do we even plan on getting them to surrender or get off the train?"

She looked at the hole in the ground. After a few moments, she said, "I think I have a plan."

"Is it stupid, dangerous, and most likely not going to work?"

"Yes."

"So nothing new from us." I sighed.

• • •

Cole and Lily are learning some new information about why they're wanted. What is this project? Why can't they remember it? Will Cole's anger continue to affect what choices they make?

Sky and Amber are fighting back. What is their plan? Will they actually succeed?

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