MCSM One Shots (2018-2019)

Game of Life

Prompt requested by MCSMLove
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Just a little longer.

It's what Jesse's been telling herself at the end of every single day, when it starts feeling like she wouldn't make it the last stretch. When her body physically starts feeling so tired, she becomes afraid of collapsing at any second.

Every day she came to that point, Jesse would began telling herself that it was almost over. That she made it every other day, and would make it again. That soon she'd be able to lay down and rest.

Trying her hardest not to think about the fact that the next day she would start again. Push herself to her limits again, fight to keep her tired body going until the day finally loomed to an end.

It would never end, it was an endless cycle that was going to be repeating itself over and over again for the rest of eternity. And whenever Jesse thought about the fact that this was her life, she could feel herself moving one step closer to just giving up.

Just a little longer.

It was the only thought that kept her going.

It's almost over.

The lies she told herself was the one reason she was still alive.

Just keep holding on.

Jesse reached up, wiping sweat from her forehead. She let out slow breath, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. No matter how fit she has gotten over the months, she was still overexerted every day. It was just too much for her.

Ignoring the heavy aching in her back, Jesse lifted up the heavy iron pickaxe again, slamming it down on the rock. Watching as the scarlet stones splintered off, small clouds of red dust rising into the air.

Ignoring the heavy throbs in her muscles, Jesse raised her pickaxe again and slammed it down on the netherrack a second time. Reaching down, she took the piece of quartz with her hand and wiggled it out of its spot, before tossing it into her bag.

Jesse rested with her hands on her knees for a few seconds, breathing out slowly. The hot air stung her dry throat, making her long for just a sip of water.

"Pick up the pace." A voice ordered, followed by a shove against Jesse's shoulder.

Unable to keep her balance, Jesse stumbled forward into the dust. She heard the gladiators laughing, gritting her teeth. They tended to find more pleasure in her suffering, than any other workers there...

Reaching up a hand, Jesse took a hold of a piece of netherrack, hauling herself back up to her feet. Trying once more to tell herself that it was almost over, the day had almost come to an end. Soon she could have a few pitiful hours of rest.

Jesse raised her pickaxe again, her tired eyes scanning the area for more veins of quartz. Seeing some quartz shining on a high ledge, Jesse began to slowly trudge over.

Silently ignoring her body's stiff aches and throbs as she tried to reach for the ledge. Once more, her short height was a major disadvantage.

"Shift's over!"

Jesse let out a long sigh of relief, immediately turning away from the high vein of quartz. Her boots dragged along the Netherrack as she followed the other miners and gladiators out of the mines, through the purple haze of the portal.

Jesse slowly inhaled the icy winter air outside, feeling the bitter cold settling over her sweaty body. She didn't care how bad the sudden heat to cold transition was for her health, at that moment she was simply relishing in it.