Hacked - A Minecraft Story

Chapter 8

"I have to ask," I voiced. Xephos glanced back as we walked, recognising my question. "Why and how did you all build this city?"

He laughed shortly before stopping in front of a wooden door. 

"You know, that's the first question everyone asks." He leaned against the wall next to the door, his hands behind his back. I fully took in his appearance now, noticing his tired features. A piece of his hair had gone white and hung loosely in front of his face. Bags hung beneath his eyes, and he looked like if he were offered he would sleep for an eternity. He looked up at me.

"We - a group of people together for survival - found the village where we found you. It seemed safe, safer than the forest, at least, and gave us a steady supply of food. Not to mention the sense of home the town brought." He looked past me, down the tunnel as he remembered.

"It lasted about two weeks. Then, monsters began to appear more often.

"Some of us had started mining before, and had discovered this ravine. They had dug it out and started building the city you now stand in. It was a good thing they had, because a general had been notified of a minecraftian presence in the village," he sighed. "We moved everyone down here, and a few people would go up to farm every day until we got enough glowstone to start one underground.

"A general came not to long ago, and destroyed the village. Luckily, they didn't find the ravine. We've lived here ever since."

His words hung in the air and a sense of shame washed over me. These people had banded together and built an amazing underground city. They created a community while I sat on my bum in a tree trying to save myself. I had waited for someone else to do all the work. I felt selfish.

Xephos opened the door after a moment and ushered me into the lamp lit room. The room consisted of stone flooring and spruce wood walls, with a large table in center. Oak wood stairs were set as chairs, and I smiled as I remembered doing the same when I made a house.

"Take a seat," he said, taking one himself. I sat silently and ran my hand along the edge of the table. It let out a small click and moved down slightly. A pressure plate, thin enough to be used as a tabletop.

"I'm sorry about our friend CreeperSniper taking you down," he said, folding his hands on the table. "You don't know who you can trust." 

I flinched at the name, and nodded numbly. It sounded so familiar, but why?

The conversation died instantly, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Talking to others had never really been my thing. I usually relied on others to keep a conversation going, and tried to avoid talking about myself. A thought struck me, though, and before I could silence myself I blurted it out.

"Was a man named Lucas part of your group?" I mentally smacked myself for the outburst.

"Yes," Xephos answered hesitantly. "Do you know him?"

"I met him in a snow biome, and he was leading me here," I paused, thinking back to his kidnapping. "But he, uh, disappeared one night," I stammered. I didn't know if Xephos would believe me if I told him about how Lucas had 'disappeared.'

Xephos narrowed his eyes slightly, and leaned back. "Well, he didn't come back here," his gaze was a bit harsher. "We can hope he'll turn up."

I panicked slightly. My mind began to race and I attempted to keep my face unemotional, but there was that one part of me that was screaming.

"I didn't kill him, if that's what you're thinking," This time I winced as the words left my lips.

Xephos' eyebrows shot up. "I didn't say that," he seemed to search for the right words, "But you never -"

"Know who you can trust," I finished. "I get it."

The suddenly awkward conversation was broken by someone bursting through the door. I stood and pulled out my swords, prepared for the worst. A man in a white lab coat smeared with soot and gunpowder ran into the room. He had green goggles over his eyes, one lens had been cracked. His blond hair was a mess about his face, and he was breathing heavy.

"Xephos," he panted. "An army," he coughed, hands on his knees. I sheathed my swords and stared at the scientist. Xephos went up to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down, Lalna," He said softly. "What's going on?"

"An army is approaching the village!" he exclaimed. "And it seems that Israphel himself is leading it!"

I looked to Xephos, who had gone pale. 

"What do we do?" he asked, his breathing having slowed.

Xephos ran a hand through his hair. "Tell everyone to evacuate to the lower caves, only take what is needed," he paused, staring at the wall. "And... gather a small group of our finest."

Lalna nodded before taking off down the winding tunnels.

"Will you join us?" I flinched and looked to him. There was no fear in his eyes, just determination. I looked down at my feet, and nodded silently. He left without another word, and I followed him back through the tunnels - to battle.