Minecraft: The Last Few Standing

Chapter 9: Buried in the Ashes

Back at the remains of the base, everyone had started re-collecting supplies and building back up the walls of their home.

"Since Missy is gone I say I should be leader" Austin says as he swings his stone axe into a tree, chopping in down with ease.

A few mumbles of agreement spread across the group. Declan gripes to himself while replanting crops, "I should be leader, at least I'm smarter then Skelly-Face over there."

"Good idea Austin, I'm sure you'll be an even better leader then Missy!" Thalia says cheerfully.

Austin winces at the mention of Missy, but nods his head and flashes a grin. "Alright! Ok now back to work everyone!" He returns to his work chopping trees.

Inside the remains of base Emma and Grace search for any supplies that weren't destroyed in the fire. Grace was searching through the storage room while Emma stayed in the kitchen area. She sighed, depressed seeing all of the destruction of the fire. She ran her hand over the furnaces covered in ash. Luckily since they were made of cobble they handn't been destroyed in the fire. Suddenly while running her hand across the surface of one furnace she felt something.

Emma stopped short with her finger still on the spot where she felt something different from the normal smooth surface of the furnaces. She pulled her sleeve up over her hand and began rubbing away the ash.

"Wha-" Emma, surprised by what she sees leans closer to this odd furnace to get a better look at what she uncovered. Sure enough, on the top of the furnace was engraved "Property of Missy."

"The furnace that burnt down our base..." Emma whispers to herself. She slowly opens the door of the furnace revealing the inside.

"Hey Emma, whatcha looking at?" Grace walks up behind her peering over her shoulder at the furnace.

"This doesn't make any sense..." Emma says examining the inside of the furnace closer.

"What doesn't make sense?" Grace asks confused.

"This Missy's furnace... but the inside is barely even damaged! There's only a burnt potato, if she put lava in here then the inside should be completely melted!" Emma says exasperated.

Grace, just as confused as Emma walks along the row of furnaces opening each one until she came across one that was completely destroyed on the inside, just like Emma explained.

"Missy always uses her furnace... she never lets anyone touch it." Grace starts to put together the peices of evidence.

"Then that means..." Emma continues

"It was Thalia!" They say in unison.

Meanwhile, deep within the woods lay an old log that had crashed to the ground after being struck by lightning. On that log sat Missy, firing off arrows into a nearby tree until she ran out. She then dropped her bow to the ground and laid flat on the log.

The fight she had not long ago replayed in her mind. Austin slapping her, then accusing her of the fire. She reached up and put her hand on her cheek.

"It's almost like I can feel an imprint of his hand on my cheek." Missy sighed, she still felt the sting of the slap. Not on her cheek but in her heart.

Missy let loose another heavy sigh as new, warm tears rolled down her face. She slowly got up to retrieve her arrows when something catches her eye.

"Hello?" Missy calls out. It couldn't have been someone from her group, they would've been called her if it was them.

Off to the left she sees a glint of white... two glints of white. Missy blinks rubbing her eyes. "I must be seeing things." she tries to reassure herself.

Then, before Missy can react, she is grabbed from behind. Her hands held together with a strong grip.

It all happens so fast... Missy stuggles to break free from her kidnapper, or at least see who it was. Using the last of her dwindling strength, she lunges forward, crashing to the ground onto her stomach. She spins her head, and there standing in front of her rubbing his wrists, was Herobrine.

Missy opens her mouth, letting loose an ear peircing shreik. "HELP!!!!" she wails out.

Herobrine looks up, and jumps her, covering her mouth with his hand, using his other to hold back her arms from hitting him. Still Missy struggles kicking and letting loose muffled screams. Finally having enough of the struggle, Herobrine knocks her unconcious. Then he hauls her limp body over his sholder, trudging through the brush of the forest, into the darkness...

Back at the camp, Emma and Grace begin walking toward Thalia. They knew it was her, and they were going to expose her.

Grace, now standing directly behind Thalia, grabs her arm, spinning her around to face them.

"You lied... you lied to everyone, you caused that fire!" Emma grits her teeth, staring Thalia in the face.

"What are you talking about?" Thalia says nerviously, shaking off Grace's grip on her, "Missy put a lava bucket in her furnace, I saw her!"

"Really?" Grace says crossing her arms, "Then why is her furnace completely intact while a different one is melted and destoyed?"

Thalia remains silent, eyes open wide with a look of concern spreading across her face.

"And Missy always uses her furnace and never lets anyone else use it." Emma joins in.

"Oh no, I've been caught." Thalia thinks to herself, trying hastily to come up with an alibi.

"HELP!!!!" A scream peirces the air, catching everyones attention.

"That's Missy!" Grace calls out, "She's in trouble!" Everyone but Austin and Thalia run and grab a weapon and head off toward the scream.

Declan stops and turns to look at Thalia and Austin. "Look I know you two don't exactly like Missy, but she is our friend and part of our group, so pick up a weapon and hurry up!" He then turns and runs off into the forest following Grace and Emma.

Austin stands still for a second, but then grabs his bow and follows suit.

Thalia left alone, keeps thinking in her head. "I can't let Emma and Grace tell Austin it was me..."

She grabs a sword, and runs off in the direction of the scream, realizing what she would have to do to save her reputation...