In the hallways, James and Stella are running, panting heavily. Their footsteps echoing on the marble floor. Stella holds her headphones, panting heavily, ‘’Alright, James. Do you know where the Root Burners’s hideout is?’’

‘’Nope, not even a clue.’’ James says nonchalantly, sweating. Stella turns to him, pulling out a gps from her pocket, ‘’You’re useless.’’ James turns to her, ‘’Whatever. You are just jealous.’’

‘’Of, what?’’ She flips it open. ‘’Catalina.’’ James says, proud of himself. ‘’Who’s Catalina, anyway? One of your three girlfriends you make out with? What about Willow? You dumped her.’’

‘’We don’t talk about Willow.’’ James stops in his tracks, panting heavily. Stella catches on to him, ‘’Wait, why have you stopped?’’ She checks her GPS, ‘’We’re nowhere near close to the hideout. In fact, the GPS is having a hard time trying to figure out where it is. I wonder how the shadow girl found out about it.’’

‘’Stay back.’’ James steps in front of Stella, in a protective stance. Stella is shocked, ‘’Wait, what?’’

‘’There are multiple monsters coming. I’ll find them. You’ll take care of Vesper.’’ James says, determined. Stella is stunned, ‘’Wait…’’ She stares at him, conflicted, ‘’James.’’ She says softly. James turns to her.

‘’I’ll handle the monsters. You will take care of Vesper.’’ Stella changes the plan, James looks at him, lips quivering, ‘’I can’t. I’m scared.’’

‘’Scared of what?’’ Stella asks.

‘’Of my little brother. Of seeing him again, every time I see him, it feels like a swarm of guilt hits my body, rendering me frozen. I can’t do it, Stella, I just can’t. I don’t have a plan or whatsoever. My teammates helped me realize what I did wrong, but even if I understand, I’m unable to go close to him.’’ James clenches his fists. ‘’I know it seems like I’m regressing and that’s frustrating, but I just can’t do it. Every time I see those eyes, every time I hear his name, it takes me back to hard times.’’

Stella looks at him, ‘’Hey.’’ She says softly as she touches his hand, ‘’Everything will be alright. I know you feel bad, but it mustn’t prevent you from taking an action. He’s your little brother, not a stranger.’’

James sniffs, ‘’It sometimes doesn’t feel that way.’’

Stella stops and looks at him, ‘’You know. When I was 13 years old, I had a younger brother who I had to take care of. And when I told him I’m going to Aureole, he was sad, he wanted me again. And then 2 years pass, and he’s already a criminal at 12 years old. I was shocked when I heard the news. Until I discovered something, I didn’t communicate nicely with him, I abandoned him on my self-righteous path for a prestigious education. I was selfish, but.’’ She clutches his hand, ‘’That doesn’t mean you should stop. The Alex you know is still deep down in your heart. Just remember who he is, and then maybe you can show up. I’m not bad at giving these emotional things but no matter what, even when things are tough.’’ She looks at him, warmth in her eyes, ‘’You have to keep going.’’

James is shocked by her advice, ‘’Keep going.’’ He thinks to himself, and remembers something Alex told him when he was young when he failed his fist exam, ‘’’Big Bro. I know it’s tough, I know you think you failed a part of yourself. But even when things are tough, you gottta keep going.’’ He remembers Charlie’s words, ‘’ So, cry and blame yourself, headmaster. But keep going, because life isn’t gonna wait for you!’’

James’s eyes sparkle with understanding. He stops being in his protective stance and stands, determined, ‘’Stella.’’ He turns around, ‘’Thank you.’’ He hugs her, tightly, Stella is shocked, but smiles, ‘’You’re welcome.’’

They are both hugging, an aura of orange light shining on them. They are both in the moment. However, the ground rumbles and the wall smash open, they both snap their heads around and finds a gigantic dog with red eyes, which slams on the floor, roaring.

‘’I’ll take care of it.’’ Stella tells him, ‘’Are you sure?’’ James asks him; however, the gigantic dog is already behind him, roaring. James turns around, slowly, shocked, ‘’I can’t grab it in the close-range, what do I do?!’’ He thinks to himself.

However, the dog bounces to the ceiling, smashing it. James is confused. He turns around and sees Stella’s hair shaped like a cloud, ‘’Leave, James.’’

Multiple dogs run at Stella, as she forms 3 cloud shields, making them fly away and hit the wall. James starts running, panting heavily. He then sees another gigantic dog jump at him, but it then bounces away, hitting the other dogs which are jumping, breaking a large part of the wall. James continues running, he slides on the downstairs room, and starts running. Multiple dogs leap at him, but he sees a cloud form, and they all hit the ground, bouncing away, the speed making them smash multiple blocks.

James slides and finds himself in a dark block. It’s like entering a theatre but darker, he walks slowly, confused. ‘’My scanning can’t be wrong, Alex is in here, right?’’ He thinks. A gigantic dog then roars and leaps at James, James then using his hands to hold the dog’s large paws, sweating.

‘’Not…a…good…dog…. ey’’ He says as he tries pushing it, sweating heavily. Running out of breath, ‘’Get….out…. of…the…way’’

The dog opens its mouth, a large beam forming, ‘’Oh, no. Not good.’’ James thinks, ‘’Should I use my power?’’

He clutches the paws about to throw the dog but Stella flies in, forming multiple clouds, that bounces the dog away. She then lands, smoothly.

‘’Save your power for later, James.’’ Stella dusts her hands. ‘’Keep, running. You’re almost there!’’

James nods, ‘’Right!’’ He starts running in the dark room, multiple dogs leaping and then bouncing away. He starts gliding on the rails, and vaulting multiple dogs. He continues running, the dogs leaping and then bouncing into the wall at the same time.

‘’Stella, how far?’’ James says, sliding. Stella floats in the air, ‘’Well. You’ve arrived. Start digging underground.’’ James looks at her, confused. ‘’What?’’

‘’I said what I said.’’ Multiple dogs leap at her and she uses her clouds to bounce them away. ‘’I’m heading out to the hallways; I hear these I things are infiltrating the area. I think they are clones of I, designed to wear you out. Be careful of them. Remember the real one is ginormor— ‘’

Suddenly a tale is around her waist, it’s about to swing her away but James is already holding it, ‘’Let her go.’’ He spins the tale and smashes it on the ground, making the whole gigantic dog scream in pain. James then spins and smashes its head on the ground, shockwaves rippling. ‘’Stella.’’ He pants heavily, ‘’Are you alright?’’ He turns around, she is on the ground safely, like she is on a bed. ‘’I used my clouds to reduce damage. Pretty cool, right?’’

James sighs in relief, ‘’Thank god. Don’t die on me, you know that?’’ Stella is already floating in the air, ‘’That goes for you as well. It will be a nightmare for me to see you dead. But anyways, I’m heading it out now. Take care!’’ She starts bouncing away.

A dog leaps to James, he clutches its head and smashes It on the ground, making it crack. ‘’Underground, huh?’’ He thinks. A dog is behind James, and he panics, ‘’Oh, no. Not close-range!’’ He turns around, holding the dog’s paws. The force causes the both of them to fly away, however James turns the dog around and smashes it on the same spot he used to crack the floor. Making a loud smash, shockwaves ripple throughout, as the floor finally cracks. Sending them both flying underground in the mist, James flips and is already on the dog’s back, like a camel. ‘’Alex! You can’t hide anymore!’’ He shouts, determined.

‘’Oh…. you’ve arrived? Long time, no see. Older Brother.’’