Broken Wings

~4~

"Mini...?"

"Mini!!!"

Phoenix fell to his knees, burying his face in the fox's orange fur. Not caring how much blood soaked into his feathers. Not stopping even as footsteps came from behind, and his invisible tears of shock fell onto what was no more.

Mini lay lifeless on the ground, his back slashed and neck broken from behind. The hands of an enderman finally shook Phoe back into real time, and everything became quiet.

The bird's quiet sniffling was the only thing heard for a moment, and then he was gently pulled away. Looking up, he saw Haze staring at the ground in silent greif, while Keke and Jake were frozen to the spot. Big-B was trying to calm Star down farther down the tunnel, her panicked voice full of terror and grief.

Phoenix refused to move, realizing with horror that his friend, Mini whom he had spoken to moments ago, was now dead. One of his closest friends, gone. MCA tried to speak to him, asking him what happened, but every word seemed to float off into a warbled nothingness.

The warbling reminded him of the water, and how if only he had stayed with the fox, he could have saved him. If only he had stayed in the water...

~~~

Mini's body had been pulled out of the flooded map, and MCA, Big-B and Haze had started to dig a hole in the Close Encounters field. Phoenix had been taken to the barn, along with Star who reluctantly left Big-B's side. Phoe was seated on a hay bale, his head hidden in his wings. Star approached him carefully, pushing something soft and sweet-smelling up into his wing. Phoenix glanced up, and then looked at what he was holding.

He smiled a little at the fresh half-loaf of bread. Then, he looked up.

"Where did you find this?"

"Here, let me show you what Anthony and I found."

She turned, heading out of the barn into the Wheat field. She grabbed one of the stalks, and pulled. Suddenly, the square of soil was bare, and in its place lay a tied bundle of wheat. She did this twice more, and then picked them up.

"Follow me."

Heading back into the barn, Phoenix followed her up top and to a crafting bench in the corner. The angel then set them down atop the  table, and stepped back.

The ties vanished, the stalks curling up and beginning to weave together, forming a box-like shape. Slowly, they melted into one another, a brown layer forming around as soft white built up within. Within seconds, a steaming and delicious-smelling bread lay on the wood. Phoe's eyes widened as Star lifted it up.

"Apparently what or whoever put us in here didn't want us to starve. We also found cooked pork and beef in a couple of boxes, along with some other food."

"You mean, you think someone put us in here?"

"That's was Big-B was thinking, but I'm still not convinced this isn't just a twisted hallucination."

"Follow me."

"Huh?"

"Follow me, over here."

The Bird led her out onto the roof, walking over to the edge of the building. He sat down, feet dangling over the edge as he watched Big-B and MCA work. Star sat down beside him, staring off.

"Who do you think did it?"

"Wait what?"

Star stared wide-eyed at Phoenix.

"You think one of us killed him?"

"I know they did. This is a murder mystery map, and we're the only ones here. One of our friends killed Mini. It's the only thing I can think of!"

"Why would one of us kill another? Phoe, none of us would hurt each other!"

"Star, one of us killed Mini. I swear I'm going to catch the murderer if it's the last thing that I do! I'll kill them Star, I'm going to avenge Mini! They killed him and I... I..."

Phoenix began to sob, and he crumbled into his wings as he cried. He then felt her arm around him, pulling him into a hug.

"It's going to be okay Phoe, we're going to get out of this. I hope..."

Phoenix could feel her silent tears falling along with his...