The Monster (Sequel to Evil Hero) [Discontinued]

Chapter 4: This Isn't Real

Sky's POV

"Oh, what was that?" I sigh in annoyance as someone screams.

Wait a second...

I dash out the front door and run through the dark forest outside, looking for the person. Darkness doesn't scare me anymore.

"Ow!" another person exclaims as I crash into them. "Watch where you're going!"

It's Seto, still looking tired, as usual. He's been staying up late to practice magic, and it's evident because of the dark circles under his eyes. Lately, he's been looking a lot older than he should be.

"You heard that scream, right?" Seto asks me.

I nod. "Sounded like it came from over here."

Seto gives me a grim smile, and motions for me to follow him.

Jason's laying on the ground, writhing and screaming his head off. Ty's standing over him with a worried expression. The ground around the two of them is completely black - probably Jason's doing.

"Jason! Jason!" I shout, shaking him violently. He doesn't respond to me at all; just continues screaming.

Seto runs up next to me, prying the helmet off. I cringe when I see his face. Normally, it's a pale white, but his chin and neck have turned black, like his hands. His eyes are closed, and he keeps twisting and turning.

Ty gasps, backing away and clapping a hand over his mouth. "The curse is progressing," he whispers.

Seto looks up, nodding. "When did he start the third stage?"

"Beginning of December," Ty whispers.

"The third stage lasted four months..." Seto murmurs. "The fourth stage can last anywhere from two weeks to a month. The final stage only lasts twenty-four hours."

"So... If we want to keep him alive, we need to find this cure. Soon," I say.

"He's good as dead if we don't find this cure," Seto sighs. "We need to get him back to the house."

"I'll carry him," Ty volunteers, slipping the helmet over Jason's head.

Seto and I begin the walk back to the house, and I look back at Ty and Jason worriedly.

I don't want to lose another one of my friends to some stupid curse.

I walk back into the house, which for the most part is quiet. A lot of the others are out doing things, or at the castle training recruits. Ian and Quentin, for example.

Ian's in charge of all new recruits; after a month of basic training, he sends them to a more specific branch to continue training. Quentin's head medic, which means he has to teach all of the new medics coming in. At least he's good at it. And once in a while, he joins Bodil's training sessions.

A laugh startles me so much that I jump backwards into Seto, who holds his arms out to catch me.

The laughter continues from the top of the stairs, and I have to smile.

"Okay, Bodil," I call up. "You can come out now."

Sure enough, he emerges, a huge grin on his face, sunglasses covering his eyes. His dark brown hair is always messed up, and his orange and yellow tie and black suit is somehow still not messed up. I don't know how he manages to keep his clothes so clean, but he does.

Especially since he works as a Captain in the Army. He was one of the best remaining soldiers after so many of them were killed by Herobrine.

"Hi, Sky!" he laughs.

I wave at him, and he bounces down the stairs to join me.

"So what's up?" I ask.

"The sky!" he replies, bursting into laughter. "Not really, though. I just wanted to say hi!"

"Okay, really?" I say, leaning against the staircase.

"Nah, just kidding," he replies, laughing again. "There's a bunch of new kids joining the Army, which is good. And there's been a bunch of activity in the woods, probably from runaways."

"Do you remember their names?" I ask.

He frowns. "No..."

I facepalm. "Bodil, that's why you have Sub to do this stuff for you! He's supposed to be the one telling me what's going on, right?"

Bodil nods. "Uh... I guess... But he doesn't even talk!"

"He's good at his job," I tell him. "And he's good at other stuff, like coding and animating."

"What does animating have to do with being in an army?" Bodil asks.

"Nothing," I sigh.

"But seriously, there's been quite a lot of hybrids and sorcerers that have joined," Bodil says. "It's like we're preparing for war or something."

Oh, Bodil, you don't know how right you are.

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. "Just stay safe, 'kay? I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Bodil nods, and a cheerful grin spreads across his face. "You bet I will!"

With that, he runs off, waving behind him.

"Man, he's always so cheerful," I mutter.

"You wish you could be like him too, huh?" Seto says from behind me. "Always so happy and carefree..."

I nod sadly. "We still have two weeks before Ty's birthday. We have time."

"That's what you'll keep telling yourself, Sky," Seto says. "Before long, the time will have come, and you won't be ready."

He shakes his head and runs up the stairs, probably going to check on Jason.

"Jeez, everyone's in a pessimistic mood today!" I yell at the house.

No one answers me.

Suddenly, two white eyes flash in my vision.

"S-Sky... I-I'm coming... for you."

I clench my fists. "Herobrine, I swear I'm going to kill you."

No answer.

I breathe a sigh of relief after a few minutes. My hands are still shaking, and my breath is uneven.

Calm down, Sky. Why are you still so freaked out by Herobrine?

He shouldn't be able to contact us! He's in another world, for crying out loud!

It was just a vision. It wasn't real. You just imagined it. Calm down.

I hold my hands out in front of me. They're shaking like crazy. My powerless, weak hands. I've been just another ordinary human for the past few months, ever since my powers were taken away.

"Sky?" a familiar voice says from the top of the stairs.

Ryan's leaning over the balcony. "Are you all right?"

"N-no," I stammer, running up the stairs, past him, and to my own room.

There's just way too much stress in life sometimes.

If Herobrine really does find a way back here - somehow - there's no way I'll ever be able to face him again.

__________________________

A/N: Sorry about the short chapter... I kinda rushed it.

Yeah... about that character contest... still haven't finished it yet. Don't worry, I'm almost done sorting through entries, I just have to pick a few people. It's really, really hard.

I'm really busy this weekend; even though I've got a four-and-a-half day weekend because of parent-teacher conferences, I'm going to Indiana for a soccer tournament and I have to finish a few papers for school. So I won't be on very often this weekend, just every once in a while to check up on things.

Yeah. So anyways, hope you enjoyed!

~Anna