It was over… it was all finally over. This was the longest mission they had ever done. Well, the first of many. And it was supposed to be a cakewalk. What was supposed to be a simple mission turned into a disaster?

Isaac was greeted by Claire and Jace who checked to see if he was okay. Upon analyzing his wounds Claire frowned.

“It doesn’t look too bad. No arteries were struck. But you still need these wounds cleaned and bandaged.”

“I’m just thankful to still be alive. Zain is an amazing fighter. He also had more experience than me. It was humbling.”

While they were taking care of Isaac, Callista and Estelle were making sure that their brother was properly detained by the guards. He remained silent through the process not wanting to say another word towards anybody.

“Brother why… why did you feel the need to do something like this…?” Callista spoke with tears forming in her eyes.

“...”

“You should have told us how you felt. We’re family, right? I can’t believe that you would do something this awful. What’s the real reason?”

“If I told you how I felt nothing would change. Lamont is the favored son to rule, if I didn’t go this far then I would never get what I wanted.” He sighed.

“It doesn’t make sense… in the short-term it seems like something you gain from, but in the long-term… would you have kept us locked down there forever?”

“No, I couldn’t do that to my dear family. Once I made Ingrann a better place and gotten rid of the humans then I would have released you and taken my punishment. The satisfaction of knowing father was wrong was enough to motivate me.” He said with a devious smirk.

“Enough… take him away.” Callista lowered her head.

“It’s painful seeing our brother throw away his future for something like that. I wonder how this will look to the rest of the citizens.” Estelle questioned.

“I don’t want to think about that, sis..”

Jace could be seen walking over to the girls as he sighed. “It’s good to see things taken care of. We’ll need to get Isaac some medical attention.”

“I’m on it. Isaac is in good hands.”

Claire looked relieved, but there was still the topic of Yadon to be discussed. But, now wasn’t the time, the Captain didn’t want Isaac to hear him speak that name right now.

Isaac was escorted to the medical room upstairs by the guards who took the time to clean his wounds and bandage him up. There was still some tension between the guards, but with Bram back in power, they would have to earn his trust again.

Jace, Keianna, Claire, and Noel were back upstairs in the guestroom having a private conversation to get them back to speed on everything that was going down. There was no better place to explain but the beginning starting with them heading to the cave.

Everything was going smoothly for them until they ran into trouble. While they were fighting, Zain ended up betraying them and Yadon went after him. Though that would be his fatal mistake as he was turned into stone soon after.

“The big guy is a statue? That’s what you’re saying, Cap?” Keianna said. She was seen leaning against a wall with her hands in her pockets.

“Yadon’s gone…? This confirms it. I need to get the HELL out of HERE!” Noel cried as he hid underneath the sheets of the bed.

“There’s no cure or any way to reverse the effects…? Oh, man… Quin is going to flip when she hears this. I feel so bad.” Claire sighed. She was seen standing next to Jace as the two were by the door.

“What do we do about him? Can we even take him with us in that state? He must weigh a ton.” Keianna wondered.

“It’d be safer for him to stay here. If we moved him and a piece of him broke… you get the picture.” The Captain sighed.

“All we can do is stay positive. We’ll think of something.” Claire tried to reassure everyone that their friend wasn’t dead…

Because he wasn’t… right?

. . .

Down below the castle in the dungeons, Zain was housed in a cell all by his lonesome. He wasn’t expecting any visitors, but his father came to greet him. He wanted closure, but the former prince was tired of repeating himself.

“Did you come to gloat? Or are you trying to understand how I could do something so devious?”

“Son… I know why you did all of this. It’s because I failed you as a father. I wasn’t there for you since the beginning, and I deeply regret that.”

“Regretting something that you couldn’t have changed isn’t like you. I was raised well by my mother. Then she died and a bomb was dropped on me.”

“I don’t want to see you down here, but you aren’t coming back up until I know you can change. Everything you did you put on yourself. You have to pay for the consequences.”

“I have nothing else to say to you. You can leave. I’ll listen to you when you decide to bring me my crown.”

Hearing this caused Bram to sigh as he merely shook his head and soon left the dungeon. His wife was there to give him a hug and a kiss. She urged him to go upstairs and rest and that she wanted to have a word alone with him.

“What do I owe the pleasure, wicked stepmother of the west?”

“Your father still seems to be attached to you. Given all that you have done that just shows why he’s the better man.”

Zain remained silent as he closed his eyes and leaned back against the cold dungeon wall. His stepmother, however, wasn’t satisfied with making small talk with him.

“Me on the other hand. I’ll never forgive you for harming our family. You and your mother were better off dying together.”

“Don’t talk about my mother!” His eyes opened up with fury as he approached the black bars.

“Your time is coming to an end, Zain. You’re going to die in that cell and that’s a promise. Have a good night.” With this, she proceeded to walk off.

Zain watched her leave with a worried expression on his face. What was this woman planning? There wasn’t much he could do now in this state and being trapped down here. He was just a sitting duck.

To ensure their safety they all agreed to leave the following morning. They didn’t want to travel back home in a state of panic and worry. Bram wouldn’t even allow their guests who have done so much for them to leave without a graceful exit.

The next morning.

As promised they would receive the geo-spheres they were rightfully owed and even a bonus. He also promised that he would keep Yadon safe and heavily guarded. But, even they didn’t know much about a cure for petrification. Such a thing rarely happened and for those that did they often gave up hope.

Once everyone collected the spheres and loaded them into the vehicle they all decided to give Yadon one last greeting. It was sad to see their comrade stuck in a state like this, but for now, there was nothing that they could do.

“Don’t worry, Yadon. We’re going to find a way to cure you. Please, don’t stop fighting.” Isaac mentioned before placing a hand on him.

“Stay strong. You can’t let a girl worry about you, you know? It’s not manly.” Claire mentioned before touching him one last time.

“It’s my fault that you’re like this. I’ll make things right.” Jace mentioned before giving Yadon a fist.

“You going to let Zain cripple you like this? You’re better than that, right?” Keianna questioned before shaking her head.

“Can we go home now…? I’m honestly sick of this place.” Noel rolled his eyes.

“There’s nothing you want to say to Yadon before we go? We might not see him for a while.” Isaac informed.

“Yadon. Get well soon, buddy.” He said before departing the cave.

“Come on, let’s head home. Back to Terra.” Jace said before everyone followed behind him.

We’ll save you, Yadon. So, for now, rest.