Young Writers Society

Vendetta rubbed their shoulders. "Guy is over here threatening to kidnap us and leave us stranded in a probably fake ancient temple."

José smiled. "Oh, Guy! When did you get here?"

"Shut your ugly face up, José."

José frowned. "Okay."

"And now you're just being plain mean." Valeri frowned. "How do you expect us to actually want to go on your quest after that?"

"Hah! True heroes don't go on quests because they want to." Guy puffed his chest. "They go because they have to."

"So why do we 'have' to go on your probably made-up quest?"

“Because if you don’t, then you’re just a bunch of stupid losers.” Guy nodded. “So you have go on my quest!”

Vendetta shook their head. “That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.”

“You wouldn’t know, quest noob!”

Valeri noticed Wormy suddenly gain an intimidating aura. The worm-covered figure faced Guy and made a motion as if to lift her veil, and Guy froze.

José nodded at Wormy and said, "Guy, Josephinzo wouldn't approve of this. I'll give you one minute to politely list any other reasons why we should go on your quest, but then you have to leave."

"Hah! Like you could do anything. You don't even have magic," Guy sneered.

José looked like he'd been wounded. Otto said, "Raf oot gniog s'taht."

Guy scoffed at them, then eyed Wormy with wariness as she stepped incrementally closer. After a moment, he grumbled and said, "You're missing an ingredient, aren't you? Well, rumor has it that this temple can manifest anything you desire."

Vendetta scoffed. “Yeah? So can Dragozon Prime.”

Guy growled and grabbed a portal from his pocket. “You are going on this quest.”

José waved his hands. “Wait! You can’t just force us.”

Guy raised an eyebrow and tossed the midnight blue portal into the air. "It'll be good for you all in the end. Think of it as a favor."

He glanced around at the bakery customers who were grumbling at the blue portal in the middle of the shop and said, "I'd suggest stepping through the portal before someone calls the police for unauthorized indoor portal use. And if you don't, well... I'd hate to have to tell Josephinzo to kick you out of the WANNABES."

Vendetta shook their head. “You’re the one that opened the dang thing!”

Guy growled and practically tossed Vendetta through the portal, clenching his fists in fury. “Who’s next?”

Dusk growled right back at him. “How dare you?”

"Vendetta!" Valeri ran through the portal, and Carter followed. But Valeri didn't notice who stepped through next, because she was in the jungle and it was dark and so green and what the heck did they just step on-

Valeri's hamster familiar squeaked sharply in her ear, and Valeri got a grip on themself. She took a deep breath and waited for her eyes to adjust to the low light setting, then called out, "Vendetta? Are you alright?"

Vendetta groaned. They sat up from the jungle floor, pulling a twig out of their hair. “I tripped over a vine.”

Dusk rushed through the portal. “Vendetta! Are you alright?”

Vendetta nodded. “I’m fine. I think-“ They winced. “I think I twisted my ankle.”

Guy marched out of the portal. “Get up! We have a quest to do.”

"Ugh, can't you see that they're hurt?" Valeri glared at Guy, then carefully knelt next to their sibling. "Dawn, Dusk... can you heal Vendetta in some way?"

"Pshh, no need to waste time. I once walked for three days on a broken ankle!"

"That... that doesn't sound true." José frowned at Guy, then turned to Wormy and Otto. "Anyone think to bring a healing potion or something?"

"I have duct tape..." Valeri peeked in her purse. "And, uh, pepper spray."

Dusk growled. “Use the pepper spray on Guy.”

Vendetta sighed and slowly brought themself to their feet. “I’m fine. Let’s get this over with so Guy will let us leave.”

Dusk vibrated. “Vendetta, you should probably sit down.”

They shook their head. “I’m fine.”

"Vendetta..." Valeri glared daggers at Guy, who was tapping his foot impatiently. "If you insist on walking, at least lean on me." Valeri offered her arm as support.

"Wait, Wormy's trying to communicate something!" Carter pointed at the mysterious WANNABE.

Wormy gently reached a hand under her veil and brought out a small handful of worms and dirt. She gestured towards Vendetta's ankle.

"I think Wormy's saying to put the dirt on your ankle? And the worms too...?" José shrugged. "None of us really know what Wormy's powers are, but they could be healing."

Vendetta shrugged, leaning against a tree. “Alright. Go ahead.”

Wormy kneeled beside Vendetta’s ankle, gently coating it with mud.

Guy snapped a tree branch. “We’re wasting time!” He growled. “Stop with this nonsense and let’s go.”

"One more word and I spray you," Valeri threatened, holding up the pepper spray.

"Oh, aren't you the person who complained about 'touching people without permission'? And now you're gonna attack--"

Valeri groaned and pulled out the duct tape. She ripped a piece off and said, "Be glad for this mercy." Before Guy could register what they were doing, they'd slapped the tape over his mouth. That piece was quickly followed by a longer strip of tape around his wrists.

"Mmmh! Mm-mm!" Guy was furious.

"I wish it didn't have to come to this, but we told you multiple times to stop your harassment. And yet you continued to be a no-good piece of rotten cabbage. I have a feeling it's better for everyone if you're gagged and handcuffed." Valeri brushed off her hands and turned to Vendetta. "How's your ankle feeling?"

“It feels fine. In fact-“ Vendetta jumped. “It feels good.” They smiled. “Thank you, Wormy.”

Wormy flashed a thumbs-off before walking deeper into the jungle.

Dusk sighed. “I’m glad you’re alright, Vendetta. I guess we’re stuck on this quest now.”