War Between Minecraft and Fortnite: Book 1

Chapter 1

The sun rose over the city of Barrie, casting a soft glow on the streets still wet from last night's rain. It was a crisp morning, but Jen, a habitual late sleeper, found no joy in the early hours. Her 6:00 a.m. alarm blared, and with a groan, she slapped the snooze button, burying herself deeper into her blankets. But the reprieve was short-lived as the alarm went off again. "Curse the day alarms were invented," she thought, resisting the urge to hurl her phone across the room. Reluctantly, she dragged herself out of bed and rummaged through her drawers, pulling out her favorite purple tennis skirt and crop top. After grabbing a quick breakfast, she packed her bag, mentally ticking off the essentials—books, laptop, charger, and snacks for later. She had her Java class at 9 a.m., and the city bus was due at 6:50 a.m., so she hurried through her morning routine.

Jen didn't drive and had never bothered to finish getting her license, so the bus was her lifeline. With her long dirty blonde hair still in need of fresh purple highlights, she opted for two petite pigtails to add some volume instead of her usual ponytail. As she grabbed her bus pass from her dresser, threw her lanyard around her neck, and rushed out the door, she couldn't help but feel the morning's usual haze lifting.

When she hopped on the bus, Jen greeted William Afton, the familiar driver of the northbound route. He had become a comforting presence during her daily rides, their conversations a highlight of her mornings. After flashing her pass, she settled into the seat closest to him, chatting easily as the bus trundled through the waking city. But mid-conversation, her phone kept buzzing with notifications. She glanced at it, sighed in frustration, and shoved it back into her pocket. William gave her a sympathetic look as if understanding her silent battle, and they continued their conversation as the bus carried her toward another long day.

--

Tyson was already awake, though he wished he wasn't. Living with roommates had its downsides, especially on mornings like this, when their loud voices echoed through the apartment. They were in the kitchen, laughing and recounting the wild party they'd gone to the night before. Tyson, however, wasn't in the mood to join them. He lived close to school, so rushing wasn't a concern, but he longed for a few extra minutes of sleep. He glanced at his phone and figured Jen, his girlfriend, was probably on the bus by now. As he lay back in bed, he checked his group chat, where his two friends, Katie and Johnny, were already online. Jen wasn't, though he wasn't surprised—she didn't message much these days. He still loved her deeply, but he noticed her growing silence more and more lately.

Tyson absentmindedly fluffed the red puff in his black hair, then typed out a message to the group.

Squad

Tyson: who is ready for the assignment today?

Katie: I guess, I mean, it's been mentioned every day.

Johnny: Oh, I was born ready.

Tyson: After the assignment, we must go to lunch at Hooters.

Katie: I'm down!

Johnny: Me too. What about Jen? Is she aware of the assignment?

Tyson: I don't know.

Just as he sent the last message, he noticed Jen's bitmoji pop up briefly in the chat, indicating that she had at least seen the messages, but she didn't respond. Tyson sighed, feeling a pang of concern, but brushed it off for the time being. At least she was online, even if she didn't feel like talking.

--

The bus Jen was on pulled up to another stop, and an unsettling figure boarded—a disheveled old man with wild grey hair, strange Einstein-like glasses, and a small child cradled in his arms. He sneered at the passengers, ignoring the fare, and made his way to the back of the bus. William, the driver, barely acknowledged it and kept driving, though Jen's scowl didn't go unnoticed. William frowned to himself. He saw that look of unhappiness on her face almost every day, and he wished there was more he could do. Their conversations on the bus were always friendly, but he knew her boyfriend disapproved of her talking to anyone, leaving her too scared to speak up. William could sense her sadness, and though they only interacted during her rides, he made it his mission to lift her spirits whenever he could.

As they continued their conversation, William did his best to get Jen to laugh, finding small successes when her pretty smile broke through the clouds of whatever weighed her down. She was a kind soul, sweet yet strong beneath the surface, and William admired that quiet resilience in her. He wished he could protect her, but for now, all he could do was make her bus rides a little brighter.

Their chat was abruptly interrupted by a commotion from the back of the bus. At first, it was just loud talking, but soon, the argument escalated to shouting, the kind that made everyone uncomfortable. Bus rules were clear about safety, and louder, more aggressive incidents required intervention. Suddenly, the sounds of punches and slams echoed through the bus, and William slammed on the brakes, activating his hazard lights as he jumped up. Racing to the back, he found the disheveled man brutally assaulting another passenger, a middle-aged man who was now defenseless against the onslaught. Without hesitation, William grabbed the crazed man and hauled him off the beaten passenger.

Meanwhile, Jen had quickly stepped in to help the terrified little boy. She gently took him off the bus, sitting him down outside and speaking softly to calm him. As she soothed the child, she dialed the police, her voice steady despite the chaos. Within minutes, officers arrived on the scene. Jen stayed with the boy, ensuring he felt safe, and then led two of the officers onto the bus to handle the situation.

William stood firm as he addressed the crazed man. "Leave the bus willingly, or I'll call the police," he warned. The man sneered but refused to move. Before William could make another move, the police rushed in, thanks to Jen's quick actions. She gave William a nod and a playful wink, signaling she had already called for help. The officers quickly handcuffed the man, who shot a malicious grin at Jen as they escorted him off the bus. She rolled her eyes, visibly annoyed but calm. Moments later, an ambulance pulled up to tend to the injured man, while the bus finally returned to an eerie calm after the intense ordeal.