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Chapter 4

"Okay, that's it. I can't take the hunger anymore." Johnny said, settling down on a rock.

"Neither can I. I need some fuel to get this body in working shape." Jaden replied.

"Has any learnt yet how to summon fruits, the way that lady did?"Jake asked.

"Of course not." Aruda snorted.

"Well, let's learn it then." Johnny said.

The four boys tried to perform the magic while the girls remained standing. Minda was trying to pay no attention to them while Susan was too shy to speak or participate.

"Abracadabra," Johnny said to the ground.

Jake stomped at the ground while constantly saying, "Give us the fruit, you damn ground."

"Nice team we have got here, huh?" Jaden smiled at Aruda. "The two girls are lost in their own world. And then there are these two doofuses who think magic works like that."

"How do you think we can summon the fruits?" Aruda asked.

"Maybe we should use the gem." Jaden suggested.

"I think you're right. Let me try it."

Aruda slammed the gem to the ground so that the tip of it was inside the ground. He then thought about the fruit, concentrating on its round shape and black colour.

Suddenly, a black fruit erupted from the ground.

"We did it Jaden!" Aruda cried in excitement.

"Unbelievable!" Jaden exclaimed.

"But do we have to eat the same fruit every day?" Jake asked.

"You can always go on a hunger strike." Aruda suggested, munching on his fruit.

"Shut up." Jake muttered.

Aruda and Jaden taught others how to summon too. The fruits were so heavy that just two fruits were enough to extinguish their hunger.

"I know this fruit was supposed to provide us with energy but I feel sleepy after eating. Plus, our sleep is still pending. Can we have rest?" Johnny requested.

"In the middle of a jungle full of deadly beasts? Of course, what could go wrong?" Minda muttered.

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"We can take turns doing guard." Aruda said.

"Yeah, you want me to leave my life in the hands of strangers I had just met." Minda snorted.

"You can do the guard job for the whole night then. A monster may not kill you then but exhaustion surely will." Jaden laughed.

"I hate boys so much." Minda muttered to herself.

"We need to build a bonfire too. It's awfully chilly here." Aruda said.

"Since Minda is absolutely useless, Aruda go and get two stones and Susan, fetch me a few branches." Jaden eyed Minda.

"Okay, what's the problem with all of you?" Minda shouted once Aruda and Susan had disappeared.

"The problem is you, not us. If you want to survive, you have to start trusting us and participate in the activities." Jake said.

"I don't trust any boys." Minda said.

"Then why are you with us?" Jaden asked.

"I can do things alone as well." Minda said.

"Then fine, go alone." Jake said.

"Alright," Minda said, venturing deeper all alone.

"Whoa! Is nobody going to stop her?" Johnny asked.

"Let her go. She's so full of herself." Jaden replied.

When Aruda and Susan arrived, they both seemed pretty shocked on Minda's disappearance.

"Where is she?" Susan asked.

"Minda thought she could survive all alone." Jake replied.

"And you didn't stop her?" Aruda shouted.

"What good is she to us anyway?" Jake said, "All she'll do will be to drive us mad and keep muttering how we all are jerks under her breath."

"But still—"

"There was nothing that could be done, Aruda. She made the decision herself." Jaden said.

"We'll find her after waking up." Aruda declared.

"I don't really care but if you insist then okay." Jaden said. "Let's get some sleep first. Hand over the stones and branches."

Aruda tossed him the stones while Susan shyly walked to him carrying the branches.

"Thanks." Jaden smiled.

"Uh....okay." Susan said.

Jaden rubbed the stones to set the wooden branches on fire. All others sat around it in awkward silence.

"Does nobody ever feel as if suddenly you will wake and find yourselves back home?" Aruda broke the silence.

"Let's hope that something like this happens." Jaden said.

"What are your interests, Aruda?" Johnny asked.

"Reading those stupid books all the time." Jake answered.

"Hey, they are not stupid." Aruda protested.

"What are your hobbies, Johnny?" Aruda asked.

"Playing Video games. My parents, however, don't approve it. They don't even understand that somebody can get rich by playing games too." Johnny said.

"I want to be a YouTuber too. But my mom doesn't approve this. She always likes to see me behind my books." Jake said.

"Same here. Even staring at a wall becomes interesting when I am studying." Johnny stated.

"You guys don't have much of a social life, do you?" Jaden asked.

"I'm always alone." Jake said.

"Same here." Aruda replied.

"They make fun of me for being too fat." Johnny said, "But I am sure you have lots of friends, right?"

"Yep, I apparently do. As for my hobby, I think it's pretty clear - playing sports and going to the gym."

"Hey wait, we forgot about Susan. She's here too." Aruda turned to Susan who had been silently listening to the conversation.

"Why don't you speak much?" Jaden politely asked.

"Um... well... I thought you guys already figured it out. I'm just a bit shy...." She said.

"Well, there's your test to open up. Tell us a bit about you." Jaden said.

"Fine... okay... Uh... I am just your average nerd girl who spends most of her time studying. Other than that, I love painting." She said.

"So, do you have a boyfriend?" Johnny asked.

"Why are you asking her that?" Jaden asked.

"Is that what I think it is?" Jake asked.

"OMG! He likes her." Aruda laughed.

"What? No! Not at all." Johnny shouted.

"You don't have to deny it any more." Jake laughed.

Johnny turned to Susan who wished she could disappear.

"I think we really need to sleep." Johnny suggested, eager to change the topic.

"Well, that loverboy is right. We really need some sleep. Who should take the first shift?" Aruda asked.

"Let's hand it to Johnny." Jaden suggested.

"What? Why me?" Johnny protested.

"Think about it. You get to stay awake and protect Susan from the unknown dangers. How romantic!" Jake laughed.

"Fine, I'll do it. But not because of 'that'" Johnny said.

"Whatever" Jaden muttered.

All four laid down around the fire. Despite the ground being hard, they were so tired that they easily fell asleep. Johnny, however, remained awake, focusing on different thoughts to prevent himself from sleeping. He even treated himself to another fruit so that he could remain awake.

When Johnny could no longer tolerate the urge to sleep, he decided to wake up Jake. However, before he could, he heard footsteps.

Suddenly, Johnny forgot all about his sleep. Every part of him woke up as he looked around for any approaching threats.

The footsteps grew louder and louder and then finally, a figure appeared in front of Johnny. In the darkness, he could make out the outline of a lady wearing a gown. She carried something that looked like an axe with her.

"All of you will fail miserably. As soon as you step inside my world, the horrors that await you will drive you mad. Otherwise, my followers will tear you into pieces. You all will suffer a bloodbath!" The figure shrieked.

As soon as the figure disappeared, the ground in front of Johnny caught fire. Ahead of him, he could see dark outlines moving and breathing fire.