Minecraft: The Last Few Standing

Chapter 8: A Little White Lie

A figure emerged from the shadows standing above Missy, slowly lifting her up and carrying her out of the flames in the house. The two collapse outside it a coughing fit and Missy wakes up from blacking out. The figure standing above her was... Declan.

"Are you ok?" Declan asks brushing some ash off of his hoodie.

"I could be better, but I would've been dead if it weren't for you. Thanks." Missy says smiling. She then stands up and dusts herself off as well.

Suddenly Austin bursts out of the forest, screaming his head off "Thalia! Miss-" he sees Missy and Declan standing together staring at him like he was insane.

"How did you get here before me?!" Austin huffs and walks over to the two of them.

"I took the short-cut, I knew that you wouldn't make it in time going that way so I ran ahead. Clearly that was a good idea." Declan replies gesturing towards Missy, whose skin was clearly burned and her clothing covered in ash.

"Oh right here Missy, catch" Declan tosses a pink potion at her. "It's a regeneration potion, last one too." Missy eagerly gulps down the potion, her skin immediately changing from a charred red to the normal peachy color it always was, her clothing even returned to normal.

"Wow, I feel so much better. Thanks!" Missy flashes a smile to Declan tossing the bottle to him.

"Wait, where's Thalia?!" Austin looks around frantically.

"Relax, she's back near the garden, she's perfectly fine." Missy says, her tone immediately starting to show her annoyance by his concern.

He dashes around the remains of the base towards the garden where he finds a safe, yet pouty Thalia sitting on the ground, twirling a yellow flower through her fingers.

"Thalia! Are you ok?" Austin says, crouching down besides her.

She looks up, startled by his sudden appearance. "Y-yah I'm fine, i got out before it got too bad."

"How did all of this happen?" He asks, his face still showing a deep concern.

Images of herself shoving the bucket of lava in the furnace flashed through her mind. She couldn't tell Austin it was her fault and especially not why she rushed cooking the potatoes, he'd never like her then!

Suddenly, Thalia bursts out, "It was Missy! She was being lazy and didn't want to cook she said she wanted to go out in the forest and practice shooting her bow so she put a lava bucket in so they'd cook faster then she left the room. I was busy cooking mine slowly and carefully and I didn't notice the fire until it was too late." Thalia finishes sniffling pretending to cry.

Austin stands, his expression full of anger and his hands balled into fists pressed tightly against his side. He heads back to where Missy and Declan were to find Grace and Emma had finally arrived with the horses.

He walks right up to Missy and hits her across the face, and starts screaming at her.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?! Putting a lava bucket into your furnace just so you could finish faster and practice shooting! You've destroyed our base, nearly killed Thalia and yourself, and we lost half our food stock!" Austin explodes his face a burning red, his eyes filled with rage.

"W-w-what are you talking abo-" Missy stutters rubbing her cheek, her eyes starting to glisten with tears.

"Save it!!! Thalia told me the whole story!" Austin says crossing his arms, glaring at Missy.

"LISTEN TO ME!! She's lying! It was her who caused the fire, not me!!!" Missy says pleading him to believe her. Tears collecting in the corner of her eyes.

"I'm going to believe Thalia, she wouldn't lie to me." Austin say turning away from her.

"I'm telling you the truth!!" Missy shouts back at him, a steady stream of warm, salty tears rolling down her face.

Austin doesn't answer. He stands still, arms crossed with his back toward Missy.

"FINE!!! Believe her! I don't even care!!" Missy turns away. She picks up her bow and runs off into the forest.

"Missy! Wait!" Grace calls after her. Emma, Declan, and herself were in shock at what just happened.

Thalia emerges around the corner after watching Missy and Austin fight. She plasters a look of concern on her face when really she was jumping for joy inside. "What a drama queen. She should've just admitted it and we could've avoided this all. "

Grace glances over at her. Something about this whole thing seemed fishy, she sighs then looks back at the forest which Missy disappeared into only minutes ago. "She better be ok..." Grace mutters under her breath.