The Player

Chapter 6

He's alive, even after I killed him with his own sword. How is he alive, and how did he find us?

We are greeted by a humid atmosphere. We've never been in the Nether, so we'll have to get used to our surroundings. Lava pillars surround the area, and glow stone patch up some areas with a soothing light. Fire is everywhere on the ground, so we will have to step carefully because there is no water. I look behind the portal and see a beacon, meaning the players have been here. All I need to do is find them, and then I can go home to Lord Enderdragon and tell him everything. The thought of the End increases my spirits and determination, and I look to Jerry who clearly has nothing more than terror. I help him up from the ground, but he can't seem to stand. "Jerry, we don't know how much time is passing in here, because there isn't night, so we have to go. We only have so much time." I say hastily. Jerry looks up at me worriedly. "What's the rush?" He asks. I remember I forgot to tell him about that man's deal. I decide to tell him. "Jerry, that man that followed us and did those horrible things to you, he made me a deal," I take a breath, "he told me we have three days with our will before he takes us and makes us his minions instead of Lord Enderdragon's."

Jerry sits there quietly, thinking about what I just said. He then stands up and looks to a lava rock. There, jumping on the rocks, are players. He looks back to me, "If that's the case, we can't waste a second." I nod and begin climbing down the rocks, avoiding any fires and lava spots. Jerry begins climbing too, and eventually we land on a rock full of Zombie Pigmen. I tell Jerry to get down, for I don't know what they'll do. Hearing a noise, they begin searching around the rock, until I feel one touch my shoulder. I slowly turn around and see I am held at sword tip by a Zombie Pigman. "State your business on this here rock." He hisses. I hesitate and point the sword away from me. "Whoa, hold it. I'm here to look for some players that went down in this area."

The Zombie Pigmen all laugh in unison. I feel my cheeks get warm in embarrassment. "Where are you from, Zombie?" They ask harshly.

I growl at them and stand up. "The End. Lord Enderdragon sent me." The Zombie Pigmen look at each other with confusion, then anger. They then glance back at me and I'm held at sword tip once again. "The Enderdragon..."they say menacingly, "is the one who banished us here."

"Whoa, what?" I chuckle, "Heh, what an odd coincidence! Maybe I'll just get off of your rock and..."

One of the Zombie Pigmen grabs my shirt collar. I wince and allow them to drag me back to my place. Jerry looks worried as I stand up.

"The Zombie Pigmen surround this area. They even swim in the lava lakes. What makes you so sure you, a minion of the Enderdragon, are going to get through alive?"

I kind of brush it off and look at Jerry, the living bomb. I jab a finger in his direction.

"Because I have a Creeper." I say smoothly.

The Zombie Pigmen freeze and look at Jerry. Now feeling strong, he steps up onto the rock and starts to detonate. The Zombie Pigmen go diving for the lava lake in fear, and then, we are alone.

"I wish I could scare people like that," I huff. Jerry stifles a laugh. "No you don't, Zombie. I don't have very many friends because of it."

We continue down the long path of rocks, trying to avoid as much lava as possible. Jerry kept saying he saw the Players, but I never saw anything. We were determined though, and eventually we approached a rock bigger than the rest, and it seemed to have an off feeling. We found them. Climbing over rocks and dodging torches, even though they don't appear to burn us, we eventually find ourselves right behind them. I try to contain my excitement as I touch the brown haired player's shirt.

He turns back in such a quick fashion I almost mistook him for me. The Player gasps and pulls out his sword. I wince and dodge as he attempts to slash, but then it hits him that I'm not attacking him. Jerry stands reluctantly behind me. Then, the players speak.

"Steve, are you sure this isn't another one of those glitches? The monsters...aren't attacking us." The one in green says.

"No, I'm sure. As far as I'm concerned, the monsters aren't even on the world." The one in blue says.

"Yet."

"Yet?"

"Yeah, I mean, look at them. They seem harmless." She says.

Well, they're right about one thing. I slowly start to stand up straight, making sure not to freak them out again. The girl in green comes closer to me and looks me in the eyes, and I do the same. Jerry makes a noise in disgust behind me and I kick him without her noticing. He hisses in pain and she stares at him, stifling a chuckle.

"Hello there, "she says, "My name is Alex."

I nod, since it's the only form of universal language she'll understand. She nods back.

The one in blue scoffs. "Oh Alex, give me a break. They can't understand you."

Alex shoots him a dirty look, and then looks back to me. "Excuse his attitude. He hates nature," she smiles.

"Do not!" He shouts, "I just don't like freaks of nature."

I growl at him and continue looking at Alex. "That's Steve," she says, "he's...not the nicest, but we're partners."

"You...can understand me, right?" she asks.

I nod.

"Ha! See, Steve? He can understand me!" She taunts.

"Don't get cocky," he spits, "Can we go now?"

She nods, then back to me.

"Maybe we'll meet elsewhere, alright?" She asks.

In my daze, I nod. She chuckles and stands up. Suddenly I look up, and Steve is holding an iron sword over my head.

"I've had enough of this," he spits.

I gasp and quickly move as the sword comes down on the rock. Alex is yelling and trying to hold him back, but he's too focused on destroying me. Suddenly Jerry comes over and starts detonating again. Both players yell and start running until they're out of sight, but even then, I can get Alex's image out of my head. The first player and she's the nicest person I've ever met.