Chapter 3: Broken.

Footsteps. A rustling in the bushes. That was all guide had to hear to know that he wasn't safe.

He leapt behind a log with surprising agility, and peered over it. Nothing in sight.

He sighed. He'd been living like this for nearly two weeks now, hiding at every sign of danger. If the danger turned out to be real, he'd occasionally take a couple of pot- shots at the threat with a makeshift bow before jumping back behind cover. He'd nearly killed Jeremy a few times using this method.

Jeremy and guide had become close friends, and cooperated well together. Besides the occasional coordination error, the two worked flawlessly.

But this world was not kind, and friendship was hard to focus on when flying eyeballs dive bombed you every night, and zombies prowled mindlessly around your cramped hiding place, an inch away from finding you.

Guide shuddered, and leaned against the log. The sun was falling fast, and he hadn't found a hiding place for the night, which was never good.

Suddenly, he heard a sound which nearly stunned him- footsteps. Not the lumbering, disorderly footsteps of a zombie, or eerily well paced steps of the cave skeletons, but the measured, slow footsteps of a fellow human.

Immediately, Jeremy began to move forward, seeming drawn by the footsteps.

"Jeremy! Get back!" Guide said in Jeremy's mind.

As Jeremy began to form a response, there was a painful splattering noise, and the hissing of Burnt flesh. Guide whimpered as he felt a sharp pain in the back of his mind, and then, a horrible emptiness. He heard something slick sliding off a metal blade.

Tears began to form in his eyes. What had just happened? What was that noise?

And suddenly, almost involuntarily, Guide leapt from cover.

And there, he saw a tall, muscular, redheaded man with a small beard holding a long, copper sword. He had a painful looking scar seared across his cheek. In front of him lay a lump of blue goo, which quivered painfully.

And here, the Player was, Just like he had waited for. But it was broken. All broken. He was killing Jeremy.

The player raised his sword, and pointed it at the lump of Jeremy. But Jeremy was poising to strike, and was aiming at the Player's throat.

Guide had a choice to make. He knew what he had to do. He raised his bow, and put the arrow in place. And, with a sigh of sadness, he fired.