I feel an intense, dry heat. Each breeze seems to burn my skin as it passes by. I open my eyes and am greeted with a great contrast of light and dark. To one side, cavernous cliffs of red stone cast shadow upon sharp rock piles. To the other side is a great, flat sea of shining, churning magma.

I have a strong conviction in my mind that this is the Nether I know from books. Yet, somehow, I feel as if I have been here many times before. There is a sense of solitude here, as if the rocks beneath my feet belong to me. And yet, I feel a growing fear building within me. And it's not the monsters.

Perhaps the magicians put me in another one of their experiments, to force me into a dangerous situation. Perhaps a situation which forces the Book to take control…

I look around me. The cliffs are so barren and red. There is nothing resembling life except the occasionally two-legged porcine corpse.

I feel a wall with my hands for a sturdy grip, hoping for a way out somewhere beyond it. But then, my arms twitch in surprise, tearing loose rock, as a familiar voice echoes just behind my head.

"There is no need to do that."

I turn around as fast as I can, and see the figure which I recognize as a manifestation of the Book. In spite of all the negative feelings I felt when I heard that voice, the moment I see the figure, I feel relieved.

I smirk knowingly. "It's good to see you again."

"Is it?" the figure replies with glee. "I was hoping you would say that."

The figure conjures a dagger and puts it in my palm.

"Ever since you crafted the enderman armor, I feel like we have established a special bond, one which transcends speech. I want you to prove it to me."

A cow appears before me. A sudden fear grows within me, begging me to stop, but nevertheless I plunge the dagger into its neck. The creature howls and turns to white smoke before I can process the motions, the memories so fleeting I feel as if I have done this hundreds of times before. The habit of obedience. The habit of trust. I hate it.

"Why did you kill the cow, Fristad?" says the Book, testing my motives.

"Because I thought that's what you wanted me to do."

"Do you understand what that implies?"

"It means I will do anything for you, even things you don't tell me to do," I say, "Do I really have to say it? Why must you put me through this? I've already endured so much suffering just to prove my loyalty to you. If you have any mercy at all, then please, don't make me kill people as senselessly as you made me kill that cow!"

"Do not worry, Fristad," says the Book. "If I really wanted you to kill people, I would forbid you from feeling remorse. However, there is something I wish to forbid. From now on, you are forbidden from protesting my desires. Do you have any objections, Fristad?"

Suddenly, I feel as if a piece of myself is torn from me and shoved into a bubble. The bubble seems to buzz with anger and fear, screaming repeatedly "no" and "resist" and "wake up." But in spite of the strong feelings this bubble feels, I can no longer act upon them. I can only respond to the Book with silence.

"Of course you cannot act upon those feelings. As much as you may still feel attached to those feelings, Fristad, you must understand that they do not matter. They are simply distractions!"

My fellow escapees from the tower appear in a circle around me, from the armored Steve and Jennifer, to the wary girl, to the mage which Kay considers a friend. All stand before me, awake yet still, as if stuck in a stupor. I fear for their safety, yet can only stand and watch.

"One of the people who stands before you will become under your control: a friend to you and I, just as we are to each other. You get to choose which one… but not now."

The people vanish.

"I will wait until tomorrow evening before requesting your decision. If you do not state a person, or for any reason protest or resist the decision, you will be forced to endure pain and terror far beyond anything you have experienced before."

I feel a hint of happiness and excitement from the Book, as if it looks forward to punishing my disobedience.

Then, the figure and fiery world around me vanish. I am still, suspended in darkness.

"You are no longer forbidden from protesting my desires. The consequences are yours."