Tainted and Warped

THREE

Gameknight was taken out of his (paranoid delusions) watch by the rising of the sun. The bright, orange light seeped into the village, and he let out a shaky breath as he painfully unclasped his hands. But he still felt tense.

I should really go find Digger, he thought, stretching and favoring his right leg. He yawned, throwing on the spare clothes that were just his size that Hunter had for some reason. I could strangle myself. Shut up, stop it.

He paused before he left to mess up the spare bed a little bit, just to (lie to his friends) make it seem like he slept. Then he crept out of the house, slipping through the door before anyone else was up.

I could run away right now. They would never find me.

He shook his head, focusing on his steps to the mine, where he knew Digger would be heading soon. He wanted to catch up with him before he began working.

One step, two steps, three, four, five, six... turn corner seven, eight, nine... don't deviate from the path or something bad will happen ten, eleven, twelve...

One hundred and fifty four steps got Gameknight to the mine. There was no one else there. I can't be alone right now.

"Gameknight?" Right there, like he was summoned, was Digger, walking up from behind him. He seemed surprised. "What are you doing here?"

I killed your wife and you had to watch her die. "Just... wanted to catch up real quick before work, see if I can help with anything, that sort of thing."

Digger smiled lightly. How can you look at me like that?

"Thanks, Gameknight, but we're all set here, I think. Crafter'll be your best bet if you want something to do."

"O-okay." Gameknight nodded. He had meant to say How are you? Or How are the kids? but the words died in his throat. Just like Filler died. I wonder what would happen if I killed her in this timeline.

He jolted, disgusted at himself. I don't want that. What the fuck?

"Well, I'll see you later, Gameknight," Digger nodded as he headed into the mine. Gameknight waved lightly. Neither of them noticed the bloody pinpricks staining Gameknight's hands.

He was left out in the sun, clear skies, nice weather. It was nice out when the world got ripped apart.

I should find Crafter.

After asking around, Gameknight eventually managed to find Crafter in Castle Gameknight. I hate that name. It was odd that he was there instead of the crafting chamber, but if you asked Gameknight, he'd rather be in a building above ground than under it. There could be a cave-in.

"Crafter!" Gameknight nodded at his friend as he entered, but stopped short. "What's all this?"

There were papers scattered around a table. Crafter looked beyond stressed, which was concerning for the usually mentally tough man. Does he know?

"Oh, Gameknight." Crafter seemed relieved. I can't help you. I'll just mess it up. "I hate to involve you in another one of our problems, but..."

"But what?" Gameknight asked, eyeing the papers as he got closer. He couldn't read them, couldn't figure out if they were about timelines.

"For the past month or so, strange creatures have been appearing out of thin air, mostly centralized around the forest near the Northern Desert, but sightings have been steadily approaching this village in a near-straight line." Crafter brushed aside some tables and proffered Gameknight a map. The last time I held a map was after I watched a village burn and then become stone. "Not all the creatures are hostile, but it is concerning. Where did they come from? They're nothing like we've ever seen before."

**It clicked for Gameknight. He was right all along. Something was wrong.

He wanted to puke.

*"What do you suggest we do?" Gameknight asked.

Crafter didn't respond for a bit. He looked out the window of Gameknight's castle to his village beyond. These were the people he cared about.

These were the people I let die. And now, the monsters are back. Manticores and eldritch guardians and fallen knights... He was standing at the front of the army when a massive tainticle picked him up by the feet and whipped him around, cracking his spine into chunks until his bones were crushed. Then, powerless and dying, the tainticle reached for Herder, screaming, crying...

"...Gameknight?" There was a tug at his sleeve.

"Sorry, what's up?"

"Are you alright?" Crafter asked, his blue eyes filled with, as depressingly usual, concern for the User-that-is-not-a-user. "You drifted off."

"Ahhh... yeah, sorry," Gameknight stuttered, firmly sweeping everything in his mind back into the corners he ignored. "The end of the school year was just tough and I'm still kinda fried, that's all."

If Crafter noticed his lie, made obvious by the same tells he had since he was 12, he didn't mention it. Gameknight noted that in his mind. Crafter used to push harder than that. Either he was mellowed out because Gameknight's mental state no longer determined the fate of Minecraft, or Gameknight himself was getting better at lying. He wasn't sure which option was worse.

"Well, we should send a party out, just to investigate these creatures. If any of the non-hostile ones are sentient, we should try to communicate." Gameknight felt dread seep into his shoes as he realized he would have to go. "But I don't want everyone to know about this– I don't want to cause any undue concern."

Gameknight nodded. I know all about that. "That seems like a good idea. What size are you thinking?"

"Small. We're not trying to fight, just watch. I'm thinking four or five, with eight or ten wolves."

"Okay," Gameknight paused for a second, feeling the tension within him. He knew what was expected of him. "Can I go?"

"Do you want to?" Crafter asked.

Gameknight wasn't expecting that. He usually didn't get a choice.

Of course I don't want to. I'm terrified every waking moment because of the things that have happened to me here, and no one even remembers it. "Yeah, I'd love to. For old times sake, right?"

Crafter smiled warmly. "Of course. Who do you want with you? I need to stay, and so does Digger."

"Myself, Hunter..." he hesitated. I don't want to take kids. I don't want them to become like me. "Blacky, and..."

Butch, Fletcher, Carver, Stonecutter, Woodcutter... a list ran through his mind of everyone he knew enough to take. They were all dead and it was his fault.

"How about Stonecutter?" Crafter gently suggested.

Gameknight didn't know who that was. The only Stonecutters I know died protecting me. Surely, this one will die, too. Accepting this is the same as killing him. "Sure."

I'm a killer.

"Great." Crafter smiled a tired smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm sorry to bring you into this again, but it's very helpful to have you here."

Gameknight smiled back the same. "Thanks. I'm always glad to be here to help."

No I'm not.