Chapter 8: Attack on the mine
Hi guys, before you begin to read this chapter. I want to tell you Something. I don't know if you ever went to my profile page where I put Mickaël backstory. The Truth is that I began to write this fanfiction before I even began to think deeply about Mickaël backstory, so some elements may be wrong. Well, without further ado. Enjoy
We were tranquilly eating our meal. While I was gone to the village, Ayumi went outside to search some meat. She killed a few cows and came back with enough food for a few days. At least, I wasn't going to climb those stairs again anytime soon. I looked at the group who was eating their meal...well at least for Ayumi and Cupa. However Vanessa was literally devouring her steak.
"Vanessa, eat more cleanly please. You are not alone !" Ayumi scolded.
"ImowblaIwanb !" Vanessa spoke with her mouth full.
"What ?"
Vanessa swallowed before saying :
"I do what I want !" She said, annoyed.
I laughed for a moment before I turned back to my meal. Cupa tried to start a conversation with Vanessa.
"So Vanessa, how it is to live in a cave ?"
Vanessa didn't hear her and continued devoring her meat, paying little to no attention to those around her. Seeing Cupa still waiting for an answer, Ayumi spoke :
"It is pretty nice. It's like a second home, we can do pretty much whatever we want. Obviously, there can be some problems with other mobs living in the cave but most of the time, it's nothing. The worst problem you can face are adventurers who come to the cave to steal all your ressources !"
While she said the last sentence, she looked at the floor with sad eyes. I was sure she was reffering to the murder of her parents. I quickly changed the subject.
"Hey Cupa !"
"Mmm ?"
"I wanted to know. How can you, creepers, survive your own explosion when you explode ?"
"Oh, it's quite simple actually. You see, we do not explode from the inside. Rather, we ignite the air around us to make a big explosion. When we prepare this explosion, our skin become white. It's a shield that protect us from our own explosion. But it take so much energy that we fall unconcious for a few minutes to a complete hour !" She explained.
"Oh ok !" I simply responded.
There was a minute of silence before Ayumi asked me :
"By the way Mickaël, what happened to the one who stole the pendant ?"
"I think he might be very mad at..."
"BOOM...CRASH"
"Did anyone hear that ?" I said
"Yes, it sounded like an explosion !" Cupa continued
"Mickaël, you don't think..."
"I KNOW YOU ARE HERE YOU PETTY MOBS. THIS TIME, YOU ARE ALL DEAD." A distant but very loud voice shout
"Oh crap"I thought. I should have known he would have come back to get his revenge on me...and Ayumi probably...but I think I was his priority number 1.
We saw at least 15 shadows coming from a nearby tunnel. We could hear their footsteps, they were close...really close.
"Ayumi, what are you suggesting ?" I asked
"We fight !"
"What ? Have you lost your mind ? We would be greatly outnumbered !"
"I don't care, this is our home. I must do what I need to do to protect it...and Vanessa !"
"Ayumi...Mike..." Vanessa spoke up. Neither Ayumi or I heard her, we were too focused on our quarrel.
"You won't be able to protect anything if you are dead. I don't like this either but we need to get away from here as fast as possible !"
"Hum hum..." Someone said by clearing his throat. I was already irritated by my argument with Ayumi, so I narrowed my eye and said to the source of the voice :
"Wha...ooh shit..." I front of us were at least twenty men with sword, axes and bows, theses one were aiming at us with their bows bent, ready to shoot at us. I pulled 'Exbarelyburn' from its sheath and Ayumi bent her bow. Cupa and Vanessa were hiding behind us. Then I saw David in the middle of his group, with a full iron armor, smirking at us.
"Mickaël, Mickaël, Mickaël...Did you really think that I would have let you go that easily ? You killed my best man, ruined a really expensive expedition that took MONTHS to prepare, injured me and to finish, you tried to break into my storage room which ended up being destroyed by YOUR FAULT !"
"Wow...How did I do that ?" I asked
"The chest you broke was full of restone torches and some others blocks. When they fell, they broke the chest underneath. Guess what was inside of it...It was full of TNT. When the torches made contact with them. It didn't take long for the TNT to be activated. The building exploded not much longer after you left... I must say, you really impress me, too bad you ended up on the wrong side !"
"Mickaël...Is that you ?" I heard a girl voice say. Then I saw two young woman coming out of the group. I recognized them instantly.
"Gaëa ? Krystal ? What the hell are you doing here ?" I asked in an aggressive way
"Krystal told me about the expedition. I needed to see it from my own eyes...Why Mickaël, why ?" Gaëa said
"What do you mean ?"
"Why did you betray us Mickaël ? Why did you protected theses mobs ? Behind you, I can even see the one that threatened our village !" She said while pointing at Cupa who flinched. It was my turn to get angry.
"If Krystal told you everything, then you know why I did that. Look at them, they are like you !"
"They are MOBS, they are just some filthy creatures who kill for fun. Man, woman, child...they make no exeption. They crush away your hopes, future...and family. I lost my husband because of them five years ago !"
"Right...like our kind doesn't do the same thing. Theses one lost their parents because of adventurers like him..." I said while pointing at David "...I am sorry about your loss, but theses girls have nothing to do with it. Go back home Gaëa !"
"I understand what you are trying to do but if we let them live, who knows who they will kill next !"
I sighed in defeat, then I turned to face Krystal.
"Did you come here to lecture me too ?" I asked to her
"No...While I don't approve what you did, I can see your point of view and I understand it." She said
Krystal returned to the group. She turned to face me one more time
"Farewell Mickaël, I hope you can get out of this situation so we can meet again. Good luck !"
She began to part away from the group before being interrupted by David.
"Where are you going girl ?"
"Home, I don't need to stay any longer !"
"You know you won't get paid if you quit now ?"
"Doesn't matter, I wasn't here for money anyway !"
Then, she disappeared in the same tunnel they came. David turned to us
"Well then, let our fun begin. Mickaël, it's time to face the consequences of your failure. I hope you remember this..." David said as he pulled Vanessa's pendant out of one of his armor pocket. Then he called one of his partner with a sign of his hand. To my horror, I saw his teammate walking toward him with a bucket full of lava.
"You wouldn't dare..." Ayumi said
"Really ? Then watch..." he continued.
I tried rushing toward him but five arrows were shot in the ground in front of me. If I tried to move one more, I would have ten sticks stuck in my chest. I could only watch in horror as David dropped the pendant into the lava.
"NOOOOO" I turned toward Vanessa to see her rushing past me to try to take David on her own. She began to punch his armor in pure rage while David was laughing loudly until..."Gnap", Vanessa found a weak spot in his armor and was bitting through his clothes. "Karma is a bitch, you just learned that the hard way !" I thought
"ARRRG" screamed David. He tried to shake Vanessa of his leg but no avail. She was gripping furiously at his right leg, not wanting to let it go. Eventually, David used a more radical and painful way. He punched Vanessa, making her losing her grip. She fell on the cold stone floor, holding her right cheek. After that, he kicked her in the chest sending her toward us. I picked her up and asked
"Are you alright ?"
"Y..Yes" She answered
"You pitfuls mobs really need to learn your place. Especially you little one. We should have killed you two in the first pl..."
He was interrupted as an arrow was shot in his shoulder. David didn't screamed in pain or even winced in pain, so I guessed his iron armor didn't allowed the arrow to go far enough to pierce his skin. He looked the one who shot. It was Ayumi who was looking at him with pure rage in her eyes. Without breaking eye contact with Ayumi, he broke the arrow in his shoulder. Then he prononced a single word
"Fire !"
I didn't had time to think. I picked Vanessa in my arms and rushed toward Cupa. I managed to flatten her and we three fell on the floor as fifteen arrows flew right above us. As for Ayumi, she took cover behind a wall. While still holding Vanessa, I helped Cupa to get on her feet. After that, we took cover with Ayumi as another load of arrows were fired at us
"Ayumi, we need to get out of here, NOW !" I said to her
"Not until that guy is dead !" She responded without looking at me. Ayumi bent her bow and shot an arrow toward our ennemies. A cry was heard, meaning she injured or maybe killed someone
"Ayumi...please, listen to him !" Vanessa pleaded "You are everything I have left. I don't want you to die !"
Ayumi looked at Vanessa to that she was looking at her with sad eyes. She sighed
"Alright, let's get out of here. I know a secret passage. Follow me !"
We began to run toward the passage. Behind us, we heard someone shouting
"They are here, get them !"
"Damn it, we need to lose them or they will chase us non-stop !" I said
"We could hide in one of the rooms !" Cupa proposed
"It's not a bad idea !" Ayumi agreed
We entered the first room we saw and we closed the door
"Alright, stay down, close to a wall and don't make any noise !"
We saw some shadows passing next to the door.
"Where are they ?"
"I don't know, I think we lost them !"
"Then don't stay here doing nothing. Spread out and shoot on sight !"
That being said, they began to run in a nearby tunnel. As the sound of their footsteps were dying, I turned to Ayumi.
"I need to retreive my bag, I left it where we had our little match. My handgun is inside and I don't want to know what they will do if they find it !"
"Ok, I'll go with you." Then, she faced Vanessa and Cupa "You two, stay here and, remember, don't make a sound !"
The two of them nodded. While she was explaining, I opened the door. The corridor was clear, there were no sign of enemy.
"Ayumi, if we want to go, it's now or never !"
"I am coming !"
Ayumi and I exited to room and we began to run quietly toward the archery room. I were lucky as we didn't encounter someone on the way. We arrived at the door to hear some voices inside. I slightly opened the door. I saw two men searching something in my backpack, their back was turned to us. "This is too easy !" I thought. I made a sign with my index and my middle finger to tell her we had two ennemies in front of us. She nodded and pulled out from her quiver two arrow, she handed one to me. I was lucky I took my bow with me when I left the room to eat.
We quietly opened the door and we both bent our bow, our arrow ready to be shot.
"Did you found anything interesting ?"
"Well, there is that...thing. I don't know what is it. I can read F..N...H USA. Do you know what that..."
He was interrupted as a arrow was shot in his head by Ayumi. As for me, my arrow hit him in his shoulder.
"AAAARG...WHAT TH..." Ayumi shot another arrow which silenced him forever
"Nice shot !" I complimented her
"Thanks but now, we need to hurry. His scream probably alerted his comrades !"
"You're right !" I said as I picked up my backpack. I quickly looked in my bag but as soon as I saw my pistol, I closed it and began to scamper toward the door. Ayumi was the first to exit the room.
Suddenly, someone collided into her. They both fell on the floor but, thanks to her agility, Ayumi did a backroll and got right on her feet. I can't say the same for the other one. He was holding his forehead...or was he a 'she' ?
"Gaëa ?" I asked
"Ouch..." Was all she answered
Ayumi was already bending her bow again, ready to shoot.
"Ayumi stop ! Don't shoot !"
"Why ? She wants to kill us, right ?"
"She is just blinded by her hatred of mobs. Futhermore, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. She is not a bad human. Spare her, please !" I said
Ayumi sighed before saying
"Alright, if you really want me to...But, if she attack, I won't show mercy !"
"Thank you ! Now we need to get back to the other to finally escape this place !"
Ayumi turned around and we began to run. I just had the time to heard an arrow being shot, then Ayumi's scream as she fell on the floor. An arrow was stuck in her right hip and it was bleeding. Blood were running down her leg. Behind her were three bowmen.
"SHIT, AYUMI !"
"Hey look guys, I got one !" The shooter said.
I kneeled in front of Ayumi.
"Are you alright ? Can you walk ?" I asked
"I...I don't know !"
I tried to get her on her feet but it was useless, she couldn't stand up with this kind of injury. She saw the three bowmen walking toward us. She looked at me and said with sad eyes.
"M..Mickaël..We don't h..have much time. I won't be able to escape with this leg. Please, take Vanessa. I made a promise to her sister that I would protect her and now I am passing this burden to you. I will be able to buy you some time, I can still shoot. Now, leave me and go. Vanessa will be able to show you the passage !"
"What the fuck, Ayumi ?" I thought. I looked at her then at the three men pulling out their axes. With a leg like this, she won't stand a chance. "Sorry to disappoint you Ayumi but that won't happen !"
"GO !" She shouted at me.
"Like hell I will. You are coming with, no matter you like it or not !"
I put her body on my back, her legs against my hips and her arms around my neck. I began to run like crazy, arrows passing right next to my face. I really hoped that whoever was shooting was not a marksman.
"Get them, the boss want them dead or alive !" One said
"WE FOUND THEM !" Another one shouted
"Idiot...you should have said that minutes ago !"
We continued to run like this for a minute until we arrived close to the room where we left the other two
"VANESSA, CUPA. IT'S US, GET OUT AND RUN !" I shouted
I saw two little heads popping out of the room, even I saw her eyes grew wide as they looked behind us. It's true that while we were running from the three bowmen, we got slightly...no totally spotted by the other who called their teammates. Now the whole group was on our asses. Thanks to me.
The two girl began to run in front of me. As we runned away, we rapidly came upon a junction.
"Ayumi, which way ?" I asked
She groaned in pain but she managed to say :
"G...Go right, you will find a lever. Pull it and the passage will open !"
"Ok, don't worry, we will be out there soon !"
I saw her head giving a little nod before I heard the footsteps of our pursuers getting closer. We started to run again. In the end of the Right tunnel was a dead-end.
"Look for that lever, quick !" I said
"Look on the ceiling !" I heard Ayumi say
She was right, the lever was hanging on the ceiling of the cave, two meters above our heads. I tried to reach it but I couldn't. I was too small. You know that kind of feeling when you want to be 7'' tall...I was feeling it right now.
"Hey Mickaël, do you think you can carry me so I can pull that lever ?"
I tought about it for a second.
"Cupa. You're a genius !"
"I know I am, silly !" She said while giggling
I turned to Ayumi :
"Ok, I am gonna drop you. Vanessa, try to do something about her leg !"
"What happened to her ?"
"That's not the time, I'll tell if we all get out of here alive. Just do it !"
I gently put Ayumi on the floor. Blood had stopped flowing out of her wound, it was a good thing but she was still in pain and unable to stand up or walk on her own.
"Alright Cupa, let's do this !" I said to her
I crouched so that she could climb on my back. I tried my best to stay steady as she sit on my shoulders. Then I got up.
"Can you reach it ?"
"Almost there, wait a moment !"
"In case you didn't noticed, we can't afford to wait !"
She surprised me when she began to put her feet on my shoulders. She nearly fell off but I manage to catch her by her waist.
"Wow...warn me next time !" I said
"Got it !" She said as she pulled the lever
The stone in front of us began to move, clearing the path. Behind the stone was a hidden door leading to a small wooden bridge hanging above a big crevasse. Without a warning, an arrow was shot in the wall next to me. I turned around and saw our pursuers coming for us.
"Everyone, to the other side ! NOW !" I said
I picked up Ayumi and I run past the door. When I arrived in the middle of the bridge, I remarqued the system wasn't closing by itself and the door was still open. I called Cupa
"Cupa, take her to the other side of the bridge, I'll close the door. If they go past that point, we would have runned for nothing. Find something to destroy this bridge"
I gave Ayumi to Cupa. Then I rushed toward the door and I closed it. I could feel some punches coming from the other side. I had to push with all my strength to keep it from getting opened.
"Leave it to me !" I heard someone say from the other side.
Suddenly, the blade of an axe went through the upper half of the door, making a big cut. "Damn it, that thing nearly took my head off" I though
"Mickaël, come back here. We are ready to leave !"
I turned around and saw Cupa holding a piece of TNT in her hand. She placed it on the wooden bridge. Without any second thought, I runned toward her. As soon as I ran past her, she activated her TNT. On the other side of the bridge, the door was destroyed and David's group was rushing toward us. When they saw the activated bomb, they stopped, some even walked back. Those who didn't saw the TNT...or simply didn't care at all continued their run.
There was a loud explosion. By reflex, I throwed myself on the ground, my hands against my ears. We could hear screams of pain. I think that the ones who were still on the bridge were either completely blown to piece or simply fell to their doom. When I looked at the bridge, there wasn't anything left. On the other side, the group was cursing at us, throwing us all kind of insults before retreating.
I turned toward my friends
"Are you alright, you all ? It has been an intense run, I won't blame you if you are exhausted !" I said to them
"We are fine, but I sure could use a little sleep !" Cupa answered
"Ayumi, are you ok ?" I asked her
"Y...Yes, but the sooner I got this arrow out of my hip, the better I will be !"
"We can't stay here. We need to go to the surface, in the forest !"
"What ? But Mickaël, Ayumi skin can't handle the sun !"
"Don't worry, the leaves of the forest will protect her !"
"Are you sure about this ?" Vanessa asked me
"Yes, if we don't leave this cave then they will come back again and again !"
"Don't worry about me Vanessa, I'll be fine !" Ayumi said
"Then let's go, where does this tunnel lead by the way ?" I asked as I picked her up
"To the surface, it was an emergency tunnel in case of invasion like this one !" Ayumi answered
We walked for about an hour before we saw a hint of light coming from the end of the tunnel. We were finally at the surface. It was...I don't know, guessing by the high of the sun, maybe 6 or 7PM. Whatever, let's just say it was dusk, the best time we could have. We were in a forest but something was odd. I recognized this place "Hey, this is the place where I spawned ! That means two things : One, My ex-shelter is close. Two, the village is close too !"
"Alright..." I said to everyone "I know this place, follow me !"
"How do you know this forest ?" Vanessa asked
"I built a shelter here and I even slept one night inside of it before it was blown up by a certain creeper !"
"HEY ! I said I was sorry !"
We all laughed at her reaction. A few minutes later, we arrived at my ex-shelter. It really took some serious damage. We needed to repair it at soon as possible if we wanted to sleep inside. Maybe we could even build a real house here. I proposed the idea to the other
"Hey girls, what do you think if we live here ?"
"What do you mean ?" Vanessa asked
"I mean living here, on the surface not in a random cavern. It's safe and well hidden !"
"But what about Ayumi ?"
"The leaves are thick enough to allow her to move without fearing the sunlight. What do you say ?"
"We could try !"
"Why not ?"
"YAY !"
"Very well, if everybody is alright with it, then we need to build this house as fast as possible. I would be a shame to sleep outside. Cupa and I will get the wood, you two stay here. Vanessa, can you take care of Ayumi injury while I am cutting some wood ?"
"Don't worry. I can do that with both eyes closed !"
"I hope you won't try !" I said while grinning "Anyway, let's go Cupa !"
"Right behind you !"
Present time, Mickaël's ex-shelter, Vanessa POV
I was currently treating Ayumi's wound while Mike and Cupa were cutting some wood. I made some silk that used to create some bandages. I started by wiping the blood that dripped down her leg. Then, I needed to pull the Arrow out of her hip.
"This will hurt a lot Ayumi, are you ready ?" I asked her
"Yes, go ahead !" She answered
Even with the little force I had, I still managed to pull out the arrow. Ayumi let out a muffled scream of pain. Immediatly after that, I applied pressure on the wound with a bandage.
"Are you ok ?" I asked
"I am fine, you did very well !" Ayumi said with a pained smile on her face
"When did you get hurt ?"
"I got shot when we were running away. I wanted Mickaël to leave me and make sure you were safe but he choose otherwise !"
"That's Mike !" I said
"I did noticed you were a lot more friendly with him since two days ago !"
"I...He nearly died because of me...He nearly died because he wanted to see me smile. I felt like crap. I treated him like garbage but he still wanted to help me...But that doesn't matter anymore...It's gone...forever " I said with a sad voice as I was fighting the tears away
"Come here" Ayumi said while opening her arm wildly, offering a hug.
I didn't hesitate as I went into her arms.
Present time, Near the shelter, Mickaël POV
Cupa and I did a fantastic work. I had at least 32 blocks of pure wood in my bag. It was more than enough to build a small house for the night. We could always go search for more wood the next day. As I approached the ruins of my ex-shelter, I saw something warming my heart. Ayumi and Vanessa were asleep inside of it, hugging one another like a child with her mother...well big sister in this case. I guess the previous days really worned them out. Ayumi's hip was bandaged and the arrow was lying next to them. "Nice work Vanessa !"
"Look at them, they are so cute !" Cupa whispered
"I have to agree on this one. Well, it's almost dark. We need to build this house now !"
"Alright !"
And thus, we began to build our house next to my ex-shelter. It took nearly two hours but we were happy with the result. It was a little house with a kitchen, a living room with a library...which is empty for the moment, a crafting table and a double chest. Next to the living room were some stairs to go to the second floor where the bedroom were. There were four little bedroom for the moment with one bed in each one that I crafted with Vanessa's string reserve I had in my bag.
"Cupa, can you picked Vanessa up without waking her. I'll take care of Ayumi !"
"Yes sir !" She said while grinning
We walked toward them. They still hasn't moved an inch, they were still in the same position. Cupa kneeled next to Vanessa and put her arms around her her neck and legs. She began to pull, probably thinking that, since Ayumi was asleep, she would let her hold on Vanessa. She was wrong as Ayumi strengthened her embrace. Cupa pulled with all her might but she couldn't take Vanessa.
"Huh ?" A sleepy voice asked
"Oh, sorry we woke you up Ayumi. We just finished the house and we though we could carry you inside instead of letting you sleeping outside. Cupa tried to take Vanessa but you wouldn't let her go !" I explained
"Oh...hum, sorry..." She said as she yawned
Ayumi released Vanessa from her hold but when Cupa took her, Vanessa catch Ayumi arm and gripped it. Cupa tried to force a little. Suddenly, we all heard a sniffing coming from Vanessa and it was at this moment that we saw, she was crying.
"What's up with her ?" Cupa asked
"I think it's because she know she lost her pendant forever so she need a comforting figure. Someone or an object she know well." Ayumi said while passing her hand on Vanessa's head. To my surprise, she stopped crying and a smile was forming on her face. "I think she won't let me go tonight. She need me !" She tried to get up but failed.
"Here, let me help you !"
"Thanks !"
After that, I brought Ayumi and Vanessa in the same bed. I was exausted and I knew I wouldn't last long like this. I opened one of the bedroom and fell on one of the bed. It didn't took more than five second for me to fall into a deep sleep
Unknow time, Unknow place, Unknow POV
"So, this is him ?" A man around 40 years old asked to himself. He was a brown-haired man with a brown beard. he was sitting in a chair "That little human is Notch protégé ?" The man got up from his chair and turned around. If you can only remember one thing about this man. It is his purely white eyes with no pupils inside. "We will see how long he will last...Brother !"
TO BE CONTINUED...DUM DUM DUM. Who is this new foe that threaten the life of our hero...or is he even a ennemy ? So as always PM or review to tell me what you think of the story : good or bad. See you next time ;-)
