Outbreak

Development

Day 4̶͓̦̍̿̾7̶̩̀͝

Sabre's P.O.V.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We should go and find Blue and Indigo Leader."  Green Leader says softly.  It's the first time anyone has spoken since Thera ranted about me entering the portal.  Most of them can't stop glancing at my new injuries: at the scorched red skin and jagged claw marks.  They've never seen what a Demon Steve can do before this, and I can tell by Light's expression that he's reevaluating their threat level.

"Yeah."  Thera agrees.  "Especially since we know there's a portal nearby.  We don't want them to be targets out there."

The steves start to climb up to the surface, and I hoist myself to my feet, grimacing as my new bandages tug at the injuries.  Still, I'm not worried about them.  With my regeneration, they'll be nothing but scars by next week.  What I am worried about is why the sky is suddenly blood red.

None of the others seem to notice it as they ascend, but I can't tear my eyes away.  It reminds me- well, it reminds me of the World Below.  There wasn't any sky at all down there, just a dark red ceiling, but it gave similar vibes.  A chill runs down my spine.  It can't be a coincidence that I ran into the World Below, and now things have changed in the Overworld.

"Sabre?"  A hand lands on my shoulder, and I jump, whirling around to face the Orange Leader.  "Hey, calm down.  Are you alright?"

I don't respond.  Now that he's taken my attention off of the sky, the leader has alerted me to a much more pressing matter.

Standing in front of the Yellow Portal is a Demon Steve.

My hand reaches for my sword as I glare at the creature, only to realize I left my sword in the World Below.  Thankfully, it hardly notices me at all, just watches my group with an eerie interest.  It's head is tilted slightly, like its listening in.  Slowly, it crouches down, creeping closer.

"Hey, Sabre?  Sabre?"

The demon's lava-colored eyes pivot to watch me, and a gargling noise sounds in its throat, sounding almost questioning.  It sidles to the side, and I turn my head to watch its progress.

Finally, it realizes that I'm staring at it.  I slowly crouch down into a fighting stance, and it growls.  I just keep glaring.  If it thinks it can attack my friends-

"Sabre, you're freaking us out, man.  What are you looking at?"

Can't they see it?  It's right there!  The Demon Steve's eyes are starting to glow, its growl growing deeper.  My heart starts to thud in my chest, the throbbing injuries reminding me how vicious these things are.  It moves quickly, and I flinch back, only to realize it's been distracted.

"Sabre?"  I, too, look to the side, and see Blue and Indigo Leader emerging from the forest.  Indigo finally seems to have calmed down, although I can see the tear streaks on his face.  Now that I'm not looking at the Demon Steve, I feel almost dizzy.  My senses rush back all at once, and I'm aware of how heavily I'm breathing, of the worried looks my friends are giving me.

"Hey, Indigo."  I say softly, trying to come back to my senses.  Clearly, my friends can't see the creature I was trying to face down.  I can still see the demon from my peripheral vision, but now that I'm not watching it directly, it seems to lose interest, wandering over to a spot on the pavement and settling down to watch us.  Farther behind Indigo, there are a few more reddish spots hidden in the forest.  More demons, watching our movements.