The wood of the trapdoor shattered, splintering away from the iron frame, as Petra pried at it with Jesse's diamond sword. Using all her strength, she leaned on the sword, using it as a crowbar. The trapdoor let out a sickening creak, before the wood snapped, and bright light shone through the door.

Petra used the blade to scrape away the sharp bits of wood that still stood out dangerously from the frame. Then she slipped Jesse's sword back into her belt, and heaved herself through the small opening.

Once she was free, she pulled out the sword once more, bringing it's gleaming blade down hard on the lock.

The spell that sealed it shut, was broken away, and the lock crumbled into nothing more than a pile of iron shavings.

"It's open!" Petra announced, heaving open what was left of the heavy door.

Lukas clambered through the gap, squinting his eyes slightly as the bright light shone into them. Once he was through, he reached back in, taking Olivia's hand firmly, and helping her through the opening. Axel climbed through short after him, with Radar right on his heals.

Everybody tried to ignore the obvious stains of fresh blood, that was streaked across the wooden floor.

"Where do we go from here?" Axel asked, exchanging anxious glances with the others.

"We need to find Jesse." Petra said firmly, holding up the diamond sword.

Lukas nodded in agreement. "Yes. Petra, Axel and I will comb this fortress until we find her." He turned to Radar. "You need to stick to Jesse's order, and take Olivia home. OK?"

Radar nodded firmly.

"I can't just leave you guys." Olivia said, her voice sickeningly weak.

"You must." Petra said, reaching out to take Olivia's hand, before adding. "And you've got nothing to worry about. I won't let him hurt Jesse."

Olivia blinked hard, before wiping her eyes on the sleeve of Axel's jacket and nodding.

She leaned heavily against Radar, as the five of them headed out of the room. It looked a bit odd, considering Olivia was slightly taller than Radar. Every now and then, she would cough heavily, her legs threatening to give way beneath her.

"I'm never going to be able to get her all the way back to our horses on my own." Radar said anxiously, as Olivia stumbled slightly, nearly taking him down with her.

Lukas, Petra and Axel exchanged glances, realizing one of them would have to help Radar.

"I'll go." Axel finally said. "Will you two be OK, without me?"

"We'll be good." Petra reassured him.
"Thank you Axel." Lukas said.

"Just promise me you'll protect Jesse for me?" Axel asked, as he kneeled beside Olivia, scooping her up in his arms.

"We promise." Petra said, setting a firm face.

"We'll do everything we can." Lukas agreed.

Axel nodded in appreciation, adjusting Olivia's weak form in his arms as she rested her head on his chest. The groups looked longingly at each other one last time, before Axel turned to leave down the hall with Olivia in his arms, and Radar by his side. Petra and Lukas left in the other direction, disappearing deeper into the ruins.

--------------

"Jesse. You can wake up now."

Jesse groaned slightly, her eyes fluttering open. The last thing she could remember, was one of the men grabbing her, completely lifting her off her feet and carrying her away, despite all her struggling.

She looked around her, blinking hard to adjust her eyes to the sudden bright light. What happened? How did she get here? Where was she?

"Jesse. Focus."

Jesse jolted her head up, eyes darting around anxiously for the owner of the familiar voice.

"It's about time."

Soren said, when she locked gazes with him. He stood a few metres away from her, his hood thrown back from his head to reveal his face for once. He looked almost exactly the same as all those years ago. In fact, the only thing different about him was the clear, shimmering rage in his eyes. The hatefulness in his voice. The gleaming sword, dangling from his belt.

Jesse tried standing up, to find her hands were tied firmly to a pole behind her. She panicked slightly, although she refused to let it show.

"Don't fret now." Soren said, his voice heavy with hate. "My workers just had to make sure you stayed exactly where you were."

With that, he raised his hand, waving it slightly at Jesse, before folding it back behind him again. Jesse felt the ropes around her wrists loosen.

She was on her feet in a second, drawing Petra's golden sword. She held it out in front of her defensively.

"Somebody's eager to fight, hmm?" Soren asked, his voice sounding almost sarcastic.

"You tried to murder me three times." Jesse hissed, pointing the sword strait at him. "How could I not want to kill you on sight?"

"Point taken." Soren said, a maniac grin playing on his lips.

"Why are you doing this?" Jesse found herself asking in a desperate voice. She didn't even try to hide it now. She was afraid.

"You took everything from me." Soren hissed. "Jesse, Leader of the Order of the Stone, doesn't have a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"You're jealous because I took your place?" Jesse gasped, her eyes widening in surprise.

Soren chuckled, the sound sending a chill down Jesse's spine.

"Oh Jesse, but it is so much more than that." He taunted. "You see, I've always had another command block."

Jesse's grip tightened around the helm of the sword.

"I've always had two command blocks. My whole life. They gave me.. power. The power to make others love me."

Jesse felt her hands starting to tremble at his insane words. She could see the sword slightly bob up and down.

"Where did you get the command blocks in the first place?" She heard herself ask.

"From the Admins of course!" Soren chuckled.

"You see, the command blocks were what allowed the Admins to obtain the power to alter the world as it is. But you know, since they already possessed the powers, they had no need for those powerful blocks. To this day, I don't think they ever noticed two of their valuable source blocks disappearing into thin air."

Jesse didn't like where the story was heading at all. Soren laughed again, seemingly taking pleasure in Jesse's horrified face.

"With those command blocks, I became stronger, better. With two fellow friends of mine, you might have heard of Otto and Mevia, we started building the portal network. Connecting different dimensions. I could have ruled every world there is... that was until..."

He clenched his fists slightly.

"Until they learned of my magnificent power. They didn't approve of how I wanted to use it, especially Otto. They pushed me away, like I was nothing. They replaced me with those other two, letting them take my place. They continued building the portal hallway without me. They didn't care that is was my power that made it possible in the first place, my power that created the thousands of enchanted flints and steels that allowed them to travel between dimensions..."

Soren looked back at Jesse, those hateful eyes staring straight at her.

"So I formed the Order instead. Together with Ivor, Gabriel, Magnus and Ellegaard. We were the perfect team... Builder, alchemist, warrior, griefer and engineer. I never shared my power with them, but it was my power that allowed us to succeed on each and every one of our expeditions. They just didn't know I was using the command block. Then, when we fought the Enderdragon..."

Soren stamped his foot on the floor, scaring the crap out of Jesse.

"I saved their lives." He hissed. "But they didn't approve of the use of power. They would've pushed me away if I hadn't lied. I didn't reveal my power; I claimed to have used the command block itself. Still, they resented the idea... just how I predicted they would.

So we split apart. Everybody decided the best way for my secret to stay buried, was to break up the Order. If only it wasn't for that snake, Ivor, who wanted revenge."

Soren stepped up so close to Jesse, she could easily just leap forward and stab him in the chest. But she stood frozen to the spot, her whole body trembling.

"I've retired myself to training Enderman. Even though I wanted to make a comeback one day, I took a break from it all. But then you, Jesse, stepped into my world. I saw my oppertunity. I knew I could save the world with my remaining command block. I could be a hero."

Soren took another dramatic pause.

"I could see that you were one of those pesky people, who thinks they're destined to save the world."

"I never thought that!" Jesse gasped, her eyes wide. But Soren barely seemed to hear her interruption.

"I was hoping to kill you with the Formidi bomb. It was obvious you were going to set it off, not one of your coward friends. And obviously the Order wasn't going to do it.

But no, you got out of that explosion with barely a few burns."

Jesse couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Formidi bomb was never meant to destroy the storm... it was made to kill her. Soren knew it would fail, yet he went along with the plan, hoping it would kill her. Instead Magnus had died.

"Then Ivor came along with his stupid enchanting book." Soren muttered.

"I went along with it. I was trying everything I could to scare you off, stop you from creating that weapon. But no, you were too damn determined to save your friends.

So I went behind your backs. I separated from you right before the final battle."

Jesse remembered clearly how Soren had ran off in fear, just before she and Reuben entered the Storm. To think, all that was nothing more than an act.

"It was my chance, to use the remaining command block. I was going to destroy the Wither Storm, save all of you. I was going to be a hero.

But then, before I could make my final move, the Storm came apart. You had destroyed the command block, shattered to it pieces. And the whole world saw you as a hero. Truth is all you had was luck. I had real power, but I didn't get any of the credit. All of it went to you and your four buddies."

Soren had stopped pacing, so he was only staring directly at Jesse.

"I've been plotting my revenge ever since. My most reliable method was the remaining Admin, Romeo. I left him some subtle hints about the great Jesse, the Wither Slayer – That she could make the perfect champion.

But look at what you did. You killed him, left him for dead in his own Terminal Dimension. You're impossible!

Then Ivor stepped into my life again, wanting to redeem himself. Blegh, nonsense!

That was it, I decided it was time I got my revenge. I threatened your puny assistant, I knew it would be the perfect bait to lure you back.

I had the perfect curse for you, I was going to make you suffer. But oh no, once again your buddies were in my way. That scrawny warrior-girl to be exact. She just can't learn a lesson, can she?"

Jesse gulped, sweat trickling down her temples. She didn't even realise her arm was starting to cramp from the fighting position she was frozen in.

"Casting the spell requires energy. The stronger the victim is, the more it drains the sorcerer who casts it." Soren explained. "So I guess you could say her actions on our first encounter... wasn't in vain. I had to make a comeback. Weakening you beforehand was my second idea, but she once again threw me off guard. Ripped apart the magical concentration, distracted me until it was too late to cast my curse."

He clenched his jaw, cramming his fingers into tight fists. "Luring you away was my third option. Of course, what did I expect? She was there again! I saw my chance, sabotage the bridge, end the two of you together. It would've been killing two birds with one stone, had she not decided to turn at that very moment.

Nonetheless, I got what I wanted. You were struck down in snow, suffering from hypothermia and slowly bleeding to death.

If anything, it was even more entertaining to watch than my curse would've ever been. Oh and I couldn't wait to watch your friends grieve. But alas, here we are – you're back on your feet, and your willpower is as strong as it's always been."

Soren stepped close up to Jesse, those hateful eyes burning into her soul.

"Now, finally, we'll have no interruptions. Finally we could settle this once and for all."

Ignoring the rapid beating of her heart, Jesse lifted the golden sword. She pointed it right at Soren.

"Then let's end this."

___

And there we have it, quite a few truths revealed... or should I say the secrets beneath the lies? 
Things are heating up, and in the next chapter the battle between Jesse and Soren will finally go down! But how will it end?

There are still some remaining questions in this story line, but I promise you they filled be filled in later! We're not quite at the end yet ;) 

Also, just a quick apology for this chapter coming out a day late - I have absolutely no excuses, I straight up forgot about it XD
The next chapter will be out in 4 days instead of five, to make up for it.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed and I will see you in 4 four days with another chapter!