Virus (A Minecraft Story)

Chapter 16

Amber's POV

I sat sprawled in the field behind my village with Gale, watching the centaur test out his new skills. After he'd ran out with the green-robed villagers, I'd wanted to help Roran with the wards, but Gale had convinced me to come and watch. The centaur galloped around the field, jumping clean over the unmoving villagers. Every time ge ran by us, the wind blew my hair back and made the grass wave madly. Gale cheered each time he cleared a villager like it was a simple hurdle. I rolled my eyes. "This is pretty good, but I want to see Virus kicked out of our village. If he's here." Gale turned to me, our feet touching. "Don't worry, he won't be here. Even if he is, he'll be out in no time." I sighed. "I wish I could be as sure as you, Gale." He smiled. "It's an act, I guess. I've read about Virus, and the stories thst have been told about him..." He shuddered. I feigned surprise and awe, putting my hands to my cheeks. "You can actually read? I'm shocked." Gale laughed, and my heart sped up as we looked at each other. He hesitated, then reached over and took my hand. I was too stunned to move. He turned to watch the centaur raise his bow and fire as he ran. As a born horse rider, his aim was flawless as he galloped, hitting the bullseye every time on each target. I watched the sun start to set, tinging the blue sky orange. Gale still hadn't let go of my hand, and I didn't either. For a few minutes, there was peace; something very rare since the Change. But then my eyes began to burn, and I blinked rapidly, unsure what was going on. The burning continued, becoming more painful. I took my hand away from Gale and clutched my face. "Amber? Amber, what's up? Amber!" Gale sounded panicked. As the pain subsided suddenly, I took my hands away from my face, expecting to see the field, maybe Gale's concerned face. Instead, I was in the Nether, in a shallow cave in a netherrack cliff. Outside the cliff, their backs turned, were Ana, Tash and Loca. They were assembling food into sandwiches to eat. I looked around for Lyta, wondering where she was, only to realise she was sitting next to me. I jumped backwards. "Jeez! Don't do that!" Lyta's blue eyes were serious, the ends of her long blonde hair singed. "I'm sorry, but I have to talk to you. It's urgent, and it's to do with Virus." "Isn't everything Virus-related nowadays?" I grumbled, but I was alert. Lyta picked at her bow. "You know that thing that happens to me sometimes?" A cold feeling washed over me. "What about it?" "It happened again. I'm seeing things again, and this one's even worse." I shook my head slowly. "That's really bad. What was it?" She glanced over at the others. "I can't say yet. They don't know about my gift, and I don't want to scare them." "They'll be fine. They might be jealous, but it should be o.k." Lyta shook her head. "They won't be jealous. Check it out." She pointed to Tash, who was staring at the ground. "Isn't that normal?" I askrd, but Lyta shushed me. Tash pressed her hands to the netherrack, took them away, then clicked her fingers. Fire, a different orange than any other fire, sprang to life. I looked at Lyta, uncomprehending. "Did she just..." Lyta nodded. "Loca can control air, and me water. Ana hasn't gotten hers yet, but I have a funny feeling its going to be earth." She looked at me sadly, and I understood. I felt like the ground had been ripped from underneath my feet, and that I was falling. "You guys?" I whispered, terrified. Lyta lowered her head. "I don't want to believe it, because I don't see how it would be us; we have no strange dreams or visions, except for me." Lyta looked on the verge of tears, so I put my arm around her. "Who knows? Maybe this is Virus mocking you, changing you like this." Lyta looked up again, alert. "That reminds me; we're going to have to get out eventually, so I'll need someone on the other end." I frowned. "You guys have made trips into the Nether before, why do you need someone now?" Lyta looked exasperated. "Because everything's a hundred times more dangerous now, and it's highly likely we'll have something on our tails. Also, we might have a new addition to bring along." I raised an eyebrow. "I don't see him." "That's because we haven't rescued him yet." Lyta grumbled. "Tash saw him in a vision, an-" "Tash saw this guy in her dreams?" I said, then started singing, "Tasha and whats-his-name, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-" Lyta rolled her eyes. "But seriously, can you do this for us?" I fidgeted uncomfortably. "I don't know where you'd turn up." Lyta shrugged. "Somewhere around your village, I'm sure. Do you still have that watchtower?" I nodded. "I'll keep an eye out for you." Lyta looked grateful. "Sorry I had to pull you out of your little one-on-one with Gale, though. It looked like you were enjoying yourself." "What? You saw that?!" I yelled, outraged. Lyta smirked. "See you soon, Amber. Tell Gale I say hi." She waved her hand, and I was back in the field, looking at Gale, the villagers and the centaur, who had knelt so he could see me properly. I shook my head. "Sorry, guys. Just having a chat with a friend. I need to get to the watchtower, though. Like, right now." I got to my feet, a little dizzy, with Gale supporting me. The centaur stayed kneeling. "I can give you a ride back." He offered, and I accepted. "Thanks." I told him as I got on, and he smiled as he stood, flexing his legs. He bounded off without a warning, forcing me to grab his torso. Or the horse's torso. Not sure. He galloped towards the village, and I kept my sights on the watchtower. Then there was a scream, and the sound of breaking glass. "Not again." I snarled, and pulled out my axes. I waited until we were close, then launched myself off the centaur, shooting through the air like an arrow. I landed safely on my feet and ran towards the noise. My feet pounded against the gravel path as I rounded the corner - and came face to face with a large group of spiders and skeletons. We stood frozen, looking at each other, waiting for the first move. Then the skeletons moved as one, drawing back their bows and notching arrows. I ran for my life as arrows rained down; only my many years of combat training saved me. I ducked, leapt and weaved, trying to save myself, but darkness had finally fallen. I needed time for my eyes to adjust, and time was the one thing I didn't have. An arrow struck me in the arm and I gritted my teeth as blood began to seep into my top. I looked up, but all I could see was arrows and darkness. Then it hit me. Darkness. Night. "Morph!" I screamed, hoping that the green-robed villagers were nearby, that they would hear me and understand. "Morph!" Another arrow hit me in the leg, and I went down. A skeleton advanced, a grin plastered across its skull. I struggled as it held me down and I almost threw it off, but it struck me across the face, and I fell backwards, stunned. It drew its bow, aiming the arrow for my face. At point-blank range, it wouldn't miss. I was too dazed to get up. I don't want to die, but I don't have a choice, I thought grimly. It laughed at my despair, tightened the string - and a green blur slammed into it from the side. I flinched, shocked, then realised what had just happened. I scrambled to my feet in time to see the skeleton literally ripped apart by my saviour. The zombie turned, black eyes falling upon me. It looked like an average zombie, but it had huge muscles and sharp teeth. It was wearing a green T-shirt and pants, and a sword was strapped to its belt. "Thanks!" I shouted over the carnage, dodging an arrow. The zombie grinned, a friendly smile. "You're welcome! I haven't felt this good since I Morphed!" The villager, who had changed into a zombie, spun around as a spider leapt for him. He swung his fist, and the spider flew backwards, its  body crushed and mangled. He charged off, and I ran for the watchtower, knowing the zombie villagers could take care of themselves and the other villagers. As I kicked open the wooden door and took the atone stairs three at a time, I caught a glimpse of the centaur trampling mobs and shooting his bow. I thundered up the rest of the stairs, reached the top, out of breath, only to skid to a stop, surprised. Roran had his iron sword out, waving it through the air. He only had that sword for magical incantations. The blade caught the star's light, before he jammed it into the floor, and a shockwave passed through the village from this point, making me stumble. I ran to Roran, who wiped sweat from his brow. "Roran, what the Nether was that?" He looked over at me. "The barrier is up. Virus cannot pass through. What are you doing here?" "Ana and the others will turn up soon, and they asked me to be on the other side when they come through. I'm going to keep an eye out for them." I looked down at the village and noticed the mobs were all gone, the villagers sticking their heads out of their doors cautiously. Roran raised an eyebrow, bringing my attention back to him. "If it's a Nether Portal, then they'll turn up there." He pointed to the east. "Many villagers, Realmers and Users have gone through a Nether Portal, and they've all come out there." I frowned. "How do you know that?" His eyes twinkled. "I've lived here a long time; I know a few things." "Thanks," I said, squinting to see the spot in the darkness. "Now, how's the quickest way to get there?" Roran took my arm. "I could get you there quickly, if you wanted to." I nodded. "Sure. How?" He lead me to the edge of the tower, which was up extremely high. "Like this." He told me, and before I knew what was happening, he pitched me through the window, towards the ground far, far below.