Dystopia (BoD Book Three); A Camp Minecraft AU

Chapter Ten; Gold

The forest was nice.

Gold watched the water flow over the smooth rocks and the tree leaves rustle overhead. Occasionally, a leaf would shake free and tumble into the water, and then get dragged away by the current.

"Gold!" A cheerful voice called, soon followed by boots clattering on the wooden bridge.

Gold turned to see Karan trotting over, waving and smiling brightly. Gold forced a smile, "Hey Karan."

Karan reached his friend and sat beside him, crossing his legs and grabbing Gold's arm, "Guess what."

"Hm?"

"I have superpowers."

Gold raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Watch," Karan turned to the river and held his hand over the water. For a moment, nothing happened. Karan narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. The water rippled and bubbled. Gold cocked his head in curiosity as the water started to rise. An orb broke off from the river and floated up to Karan's outstretched hand.

"Woah," Gold breathed, "How did you do that?"

"Death," Karan smiled nervously, "She gave me this power."

Gold's eyes hardened, "Death?"

"Yes, Death," A voice snarked, "Aw come on, don't look so disappointed."

Gold slowly turned around. The black draconian was leaning against a tree at the base of the bridge, examining her claws. She glanced over at Gold, smiling slyly.

"I can see it in your eyes, Gold. You want some power too," Death chuckled, "But you didn't like it last time."

"I don't want anything you offer," Gold snarled, standing up. "Where have you been, anyway?"

"Well too bad," Death purred, "That headache of yours is only going to get worse."

Gold stepped back, trying to hide his burst of panic. Death's smile brightened. She turned, flicking her tail and snapping her wings open, and launched into the dark forest, refusing to answer Gold's question.

"Are you okay?" Karan asked, eyebrows knitted together in worry.

Gold stared at the spot Death once stood. Quietly, with his voice breaking, he murmured, "I'm fine."

Karan tilted his head, "You don't seem fine."

"I'm just a little tired," Gold shrugged.

Karan raised an eyebrow, showing that Karan didn't believe Gold in the slightest. Karan didn't push further, though. "What was Death talking about? What headache?"

"My head still hurts from what happened when we were alive," Gold replied dismissively.

"Why did she say it would get worse?" Karan asked.

"That part I'm not sure about."

The two sat in silence for a few minutes. Suddenly, Karan declared, "I'm going back to town, and you should come with me."

Gold's head snapped up, "Oh- um- no thanks, Karan."

"Nope, you need social interaction," Karan said, springing to his feet and grabbing Gold's hands to pull him to stand.

"I'm fine, Karan," Gold protested, but Gold underestimated how strong Karan actually was. He yelped as Karan pulled him through the forest and back into town.

Gold shrank as he followed Karan, eyes flicking around nervously. Zud spotted them and trotted over, waving.

"Hey Karan! Hey Gold! Haven't seen you in a while," Zud commented, glancing at Gold.

Gold quietly hummed an agreement.

"Well, I'm glad you came to town because we have made a bit of a new discovery. The Darkness has found a way through walls, so we are digging basements to hide in instead."

"Basements?" Gold echoed. He had to fight back the memories that started to sprout to the surface. It was really annoying to have trauma correlating to most everything. He couldn't focus on the past. Not now. Not ever.

Zud nodded, "Yeah. They still can't pick up stuff though, at least from what I've heard."

"Wait," Gold snapped his eyes from the grass to meet Zud, "How did you figure this out? Did someone get hurt?"

"No! No, It's okay. One just wandered inside and looked around, then it hit midnight." Zud assured, waving his hands. Gold relaxed.

"You know, we should probably stay here tonight," Karan said, shooting a glance at Gold who widened his eyes and lightly shook his head.

"That would be great! You can stay with Wilbur and I." Zud smiled. Gold cringed.

"Alright! We will see you tonight, then." Karan smiled back, then turned to Gold while Zud turned away.

"You don't have to babysit me," Gold grumbled.

"You have been in town like- twice since we've gotten here." Karan snapped back, putting his hands on his hips. Gold pulled the drawstrings on his hood and grumbled protests.

Karan took Gold's hands in his own, "Look, Gold, you can't hide in the forest forever. You know that. You have to come home every once in a while."

Gold's gaze dropped to the floor.

Karan sighed, "Just for a little while, please?"

"Alright." Gold murmured.

"Thank you," Karan smiled softly, "Let's go have fun, okay?"