Stuck In The Game

The Villagers... Are Alive?

My head snapped up and I sat up, breathing hard. I blinked away the darkness and my senses rushed back to me. Bright light of an open tunnel filled my vision and the sound of a minecart on the rails filled my ears, causing me to wince. The minecart slammed on the breaks and I flew out of the small form of transport and painfully smashed into a stone wall.

Ow.

Someone grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to my feet. I moaned and held my throbbing head and heard some snickering behind me. I turned around to find a group of blocky people staring at me, some of them with snide smiles on their faces.

I blinked. Blocky. People. Tommy... I was still in Minecraft I swallowed any emotion and waved to the people around me, who all looked very intimidating in battle armor.

"Hi?" I said, my voice cracking embarrassingly, causing more laughs and snickers to erupt around me. My dream I had only moments before rushed back to me and I fell silent, staring at the floor.

"Umm, Gameknight? Would you like to, erm, introduce us to your friend?" A young child asked, I looked up to find him wearing the same, unnatural designed robes as the old guy from the other village. I faintly wonder if there is a connection, but find the stares in my direction to intimidating to ask.

"Uh, sure. This is... A girl from my school, who... accidentally came through the digitizer with me. We're not like, friends, or anything, just... Crafter, can I talk to you? Privately, please?" Tommy asked the young fellow.

Crafter nodded enthusiastically and they quickly walked into the other room, leaving me alone in a small room full of strangers. I turned and walked down a tunnel, despite to get away from them, I managed to walk into a wall. I turned around and found them all trying not to laugh and I felt my face redden.

"Can someone point me to the door?" I asked. Half the room brusted out laughing and I thankfully spotted a ladder similar to the one Tommy- um, Gameknight and I had taken earlier at the other village and I sprinted toward it, desperate to get away. The sound of laughter flooded my ears well after I climbed after hearing range as I climbed swiftly to the surface.

Was there no where I could fit in anymore? I eventually made it to the top and ran through the village, only to knock over someone's water bucket and destroy half of a field of crops.

"Hey! Watch it!" Someone yelled, running over to stop the running water. The commotion caused unwanted attention.

"Who are you anyway?" The man yelled. I stumbled back as more people glanced over. In could feel panic rushing through me bits of the past flew across my mind.

Who is that?

Why is she crying?

What's wrong with her?

Cheater! Cheater! Cheater!

Look at little Alex, crying in the corner! What's wrong? You miss your Daddy?

Baby! Baby! Baby! She's a whiny baaaabbbbbbyyyyy!

I stumbled back and fell in the water, causing laughter to arise from a few people. I shot up and splashed threw the water, before jumping onto the gravel pathway and sprinting through the village.

That's right little Alex! Run, run! Run home to your Mommy 'cause your crying for your dead, dead Daddy!

Baby, baby, baby!

I gasped and hid behind a building and threw my helmet to the ground, taking deep breaths. I hadn't had memory flashes like that in weeks, I thought I was done with them. I guess I was wrong.

My jagged breaths shot pain through my chest and I tried a slow my breaths, only to chock on air. I shook my head and wiped my arm across my wet face. I need to calm down. I thought. I can't keep letting the past get to me- don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Remember what Dad said.

I took one last deep breath and forced myself to smile. I can do this, just gotta put on a happy face and play it cool. Play it cool...

"The user's are coming! Everyone: GET READY!" Someone one screamed. My head snapped up and I saw Gameknight and a few of what I'm guessing were his friends sprinting towards the wall, a mixture of feelings showing on his blocky face. My eyes narrowed and I ran for the nearest wall to see all of the commotion. I saw six beams of light shooting into the sky and followed them to the the course and... I gasped.

It was the six users from the dream. Realization smashed into me and I stumbled back in surprise and fear was replaced with anger.

The hackers were back.