Book 1: The Mob Invasion
Chapter 7: Blue Fire

Days Since the Mob Invasion: 747

Rinoa stared at the witch sitting across the room from her. Behind the small wooden table, the cloaked figure patiently waited with a crooked smirk on her face. The walls were adorned with dozens of candles, each burning a dim blue flame. Zoe was behind her, still pleading with her to come with her and leave the witch's hut. Rinoa could not hear her pleas through a light ringing in her head.

"Sofie..." Rinoa spoke softly. "You said... Sofie. You knew Sofie?" Rinoa asked the witch.

"Please, Rinoa Carr. Sit down." Yet again the witch politely requested Rinoa to sit across from her at the table. Rinoa originally didn't want to and yet, after hearing the witch mention Sofie's name, she felt compelled to. She walked toward the chair adjacent to the witch's, but was stopped by something grabbing her sleeve.

"Rin, wait!" Zoe asked as she grabbed her friend's sleeve to stop her. "Let's just leave, okay? We can just go!" Zoe had a terrible feeling about this. She had heard legends growing up about the power and the evils that were the witches and warlocks of the Minecraftia swamps. If the woman in front of them truly was a witch, which Zoe was sure that she was, their best bet was to turn tail and run as fast as they could out the door and not to look back.

Rinoa only stopped briefly to hear Zoe's proposal before shaking her wrist from Zoe's grip. "You can leave, but I'm going to stay... I have to." She said, finally making her way over to the chair and sitting down.

"Rin..." Zoe's heart sank. The witch smiled at this, showing off the few teeth left attached to her gums. Zoe debated whether or not to turn out the door and leave, but decided against it.

She wasn't going to leave Rinoa alone.

"So," Rinoa started, now that she was sitting just feet away from the witch. "How do you know Sofie, and how do you know my name? I want answers," she demanded. The witch cackled at this madly, before the cackling transformed into a series of coughs. The elderly woman did not seem to be in the best of health. Finally after she recomposed herself, she sat up straight and smiled.

"So determined, Ms. Rinoa Carr. I've been watching your progress these past few days, you know. Thrown out of Hunter's Watch. Expelled. Banished. All for getting revenge for your beloved sister, Sofie. It's quite tragic, really. And yet, even still, you press on!" the witch exclaimed before leaning in close. Rinoa could see the wrinkles from old-age under her hood as well as the witch's unnaturally purple eyes. They seemed to glow in the darkness rather than reflect light. Rinoa couldn't help but feel uneasy looking at them. "You are like an ocelot, young Rinoa, about to pounce on her prey," the witch smiled.

"Rin," Zoe spoke up after hearing the witch. "W-what is she talking about?" she asked. Rinoa had told her earlier that day that she had been separated from her friends from Hunter's Watch on a supply run, not that she had been banished. Rinoa didn't respond, or even acknowledge Zoe.

"Hahaha! What? She didn't tell you?" the witch asked in between laughs. "Child, you really should be more careful of who you choose to travel with, especially in times such as these."

SLAM!

"Enough bullshit!" Rinoa abruptly stood up as her fists slammed against the table. "Tell me what you know about my sister or I will make you regret it!"

The witch frowned at this, unimpressed.

"Sit down, child. Don't mistake impulsiveness for bravery," she scolded. Rinoa stared at her for a few seconds, trying to gauge her expression. The witch was hard to read, she was a clearly frail woman, and yet she looked as if she had all the odds in her favor, like she couldn't possibly lose. And those eyes... those purple eyes... Finally, Rinoa eased up and sat back down, breaking eye contact with the witch as she turned her gaze. "Good," the witch smiled.

"Just tell me what you want," Rinoa said, quieter this time.

"I'm glad you ask, Ms. Carr. You're on your way to Hunter's Watch, correct? No doubt you want revenge for your exile."

"And for covering up Sofie's death," Rinoa replied staring up again. The witch raised her eyebrow.

"Oh? And what makes you think that William was truly responsible for your sister's death, hmm?" The witch sounded like she was feigning curiosity, as if she already knew the answer. Rinoa shifted uneasily in her seat.

"Her-... her neck was broken. William was the only one on gate duty that night, he had to have killed her then. I don't buy that bullshit story that he spun about how she went out for alchemy supplies," Rinoa explained. "Sofie always told me when she'd head out... always..."

"Haha, child! And why would William do that?" the witch humored her. Rinoa looked flustered.

"I... I don't know. I've asked myself the same thing but... I don't know," she admitted.

"And did you not consider that perhaps Sofie simply snuck out without William's knowing, hmm? That perhaps her breaking her neck was a result from a fall as she gathered alchemy ingredients in the meadow?" the witch asked. Rinoa looked up, shocked. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was open.

"Are you telling me... William didn't kill my sister? That I-... that I killed him for no reason?" Rinoa had never really considered what the witch was telling her as a possibility. She was so blinded by rage after her sister's death that it had to be William's fault. It just had to.

The witch stared at Rinoa for what felt like eternity before she burst into laughter.

"Bahaha! No, of course he killed her! Still, it's funny that you never even considered any other possibilities," the witch cackled, clearly pleased with the mind games she was playing. "You could have just as easily been wrong, you know. It's only by sheer coincidence you were right."

"Rin," once again Zoe spoke up from behind Rinoa trying to get her attention.

"Not now, Zoe," Rinoa responded obviously annoyed, though her annoyance was more due to the witch than Zoe. "So, William killed my sister? I already knew that, that's why I killed him. Is there anything else you wanted to add, old hag, or should I just start walking?"

"'Old hag'?" The witch repeated, feigning insult. "Why, I think I look good for my age! But before you go, I should tell you: William wasn't the only one responsible for your sister's murder. There was somebody else pulling the strings."

Rinoa recoiled slightly at this. Somebody else?

"But... who?" Rinoa's heartbeat hastened.

"Ah, see, this is the part where you do me a favor and I do you a favor. You want to know who else was responsible for your sister's death? Then make it worth my while. Sound simple enough?" the witch asked as she leaned in close, her purple eyes not breaking eye contact with Rinoa.

"What do you need?" Rinoa asked without hesitation. Whatever the witch's price, it was worth it to know who else killed Sofie that night. This seemed to please the witch.

"Your path is already set, young ocelot. Continue on your way to Hunter's Watch. Once you get there, you will find the directions you seek. Look for the man with the familiar face whose name you do not remember. He shall guide you... And you shall get the revenge you seek as well!" the witch once again let out a series of laughs. Rinoa squinted in confusion.

"What does that even mean? Just tell me what you want! Tell me who else is responsible for my sister's murder!" Rinoa demanded with authority.

Woosh!

Suddenly the blue torches that had been lighting up the room were extinguished, as if a strong breeze had blown them all out at the same time. Zoe let out a scream at the sudden darkness, and even Rinoa jumped in shock.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," the witch clicked her tongue. "It looks like we're out of time for now." Her purple eyes glowed in the pitch black room.

"Wait!" Rinoa called out. "How do you know all this!? Who are you?" Rinoa asked, standing up from the table. Even though she couldn't tell, she was sure the witch was cracking another toothless smile from behind the darkness at her questioning.

"Who am I?" the witch chuckled. She too stood up, and walked around the table until her purple eyes were staring into Rinoa's just inches away. "I'm just the harbinger for something greater. Greater than humanity, greater than the mob invasion. Something you couldn't possibly fathom, my dear," She was so close, Rinoa could feel her breath hit her face. It was unnaturally cold and damp.

"For what?" Rinoa asked as she felt fearful for the first time. Her entire body was paralyzed as she felt her skin crawl with a cold sweat. This wasn't just a normal witch that lived in solitude and brewed potions. There was something wrong here. Unnaturally, honestly wrong. Evil doesn't begin to describe the feeling that hung in the room. Evil could be human. There was no humanity here. The witch leaned in close until her lips were right beside Rinoa's ears.

"The End..."

Snap!

With a snap of the witch's fingers, Rinoa and Zoe were both lying face down on the cold, wooden floor of the hut. Zoe was the first to open her eyes as she looked around the room, trying to get a feel for her bearings.

"Where- where did she go?" Zoe asked, unwilling to believe that the witch had just disappeared into thin air. Rinoa rose to her feet holding her head.

"What the hell was that? Who was she?" Rinoa was equally as confused. She looked around the empty hut with no clear sign of the witch.

"Wait, Rinoa... Look," Zoe pointed up at the ceiling as rays of light were trickling through the cracks. Rinoa's eyes widened.

"No fucking way..." Rinoa gasped. She quickly ran to the door that led outside and burst through it.

Morning.

Days Since the Mob Invasion: 748

The morning sun was shining through the trees and moss of the swamp. Their horse was still tied up where they left it, seemingly unharmed. There was a distant sound of a bird chirping in the air as nature began its morning chores.

"But... but how?!" Zoe was able to ask after about a minute of taking it all in. "It was night just a few minutes ago, I don't even remember falling asleep."

"It must have been something the witch did to us," Rinoa concluded. She had never seen anything like this. One snap of the witches fingers, and suddenly it's morning? Rinoa shuddered. "C'mon," she beckoned. "Let's get the hell out of here." She walked over to the horse and untied it from the tree. She looked back to help Zoe saddle up, only to see she wasn't moving. "What's wrong? Let's go, hurry." Still, Zoe didn't budge.

"What the witch said... just awhile ago," Zoe started, looking intently into Rinoa's eyes. "Was it true?" she asked. Rinoa froze as her mind scrambled on what she should say. Her eyes met Zoe's, but she was unable to maintain contact. She turned away.

"Yeah. It was true," she replied. Zoe stood there a few seconds, clearly confused.

"Why? Why lie to me about this? You told me you were separated from your friends, not that you had been banished for murder! I believed you..." Zoe had tears of anger start to well up in her eyes. She couldn't believe Rinoa had lied to her.

"Look," Rinoa rubbed her brow, "it's not that simple, alright? It's complicated. The less you know about it, the better." Rinoa turned her back to Zoe as she checked the horse's saddle.

"'It's complicated?'" Zoe scoffed. "Is that really all the explanation you're going to give me? Rin, if we're going to travel like this, I need to trust you! If you'd just tell me what happened, I can-"

"Enough!" Rinoa spun around back towards Zoe. "Our deal was that you would come along with me until I find you someplace safe to drop you off, and in return you'd use your bow to take care of any creepers along the way, right?!" Rinoa practically yelled.

"But-"

"No!" Rinoa interrupted yet again. "All you need to know is what you know. You don't need to know my history, you don't need to know my story, you don't need to know whatever the hell my favorite colour is or any of that shit, because I don't want to talk about it, alright?! Now, you can either stay here and wait for the witch to come back, or you can come with me until we find some gods-forsaken community to plop you at." Rinoa hoisted herself up onto the horse's saddle. "Either way, I'm taking the damn horse, but the decision is yours."

Zoe stared at Rinoa for a long time. She felt angry, hurt, but most of all betrayed. Realizing she'd be dead on her own, especially in the middle of nowhere without a horse, she finally conceded. She sighed and hoisted herself onto the horse's saddle behind Rinoa.

"The witch was right," she stated as she loosely grabbed Rinoa's waist from behind. "I should have been more careful with who I chose to travel with."

Rinoa simply ignored Zoe's remark as she gave a small kick to the horse's side. Compass in hand, Rinoa steered the horse in the direction of the red needle.

Won't be too much longer now, Rinoa thought to herself. The meeting with the witch confirmed what she already knew in her gut: William killed Sofie. But it also gave her something that she had never considered before, something that slowly began to eat away at her as she tried to find the answer.

Somebody else from Hunter's Watch was involved in Sofie's murder. And Rinoa intended to find out.

Meanwhile

As the morning sun rose over Hunter's Watch, Daren sat on top of the gate, ever watchful of the treeline. The leaves were starting to change their colours and fall from the branches, a clear sign that winter was fast upon them. The makeshift greenhouse that they had made to grow crops would hopefully last them another winter. Even though they were in the South, they were still close to the Iron Mountains, and the elevation usually resulted in a much cooler climate than the rest of Southern Minecraftia. Daren shivered in the cold, his fur blanket barely enough to protect from the wind.

Out of nowhere, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs to where he was sitting. Odd, he thought to himself. Zeke isn't supposed to relieve my shift for another hour. He turned to see who it was and, much to his surprise, it was Alan.

"Hey, Daren," the man greeted him with a wave and a smile. His dark brown hair was bedraggled and his clothing was wrinkled. Must have had a rough morning.

"Good morning, Alan," Daren nodded back at him. "What brings you up here?" he asked. Alan smiled and reached into a satchel that he had slung over his shoulder. He pulled out a flask of something filled with a blueish liquid. Daren raised his brow. "What's that?"

"It's something I've been working on. It's supposed to be a potion of cold resistance. I figured, since it's gonna start getting a lot colder now, I could make you some while you're on gate duty. That way you don't have to worry about, you know, freezing to death." He extended the potion out towards Daren. "Here, try it."

Daren was surprised. He hadn't had many opportunities to talk to Alan the past few days, so the act of generosity was unexpected. "I... Thank you, Alan." He took the flask and popped the top off. He gave it a quick sniff, then downed the potion in one shot. "Whew!" Daren coughed back a bit. "It isn't gonna be known for its taste, Alan. It tastes like bottled fire. Are you sure this isn't just alcohol?" Daren chuckled before handing the empty flask back to Alan.

"No, it's not alcohol. Though Hunter probably wishes that it were," Alan joked. "So, how do you feel? Any warmer?"

"I feel... good. Really good," Daren admitted. "It feels like my skin is finally starting to thaw. This is amazing, Alan." Daren took his glove off and held his hand against the wind. He could feel the wind flow through his fingers, but there was no chill. "Huh, I wish we had something like this during winter training with the spear legion."

"Hunter told me you were with the spear legion. He told me you had a nickname with them, even," Alan stated. Daren let out a small laugh.

"'The Impaler', right?" he asked. Alan nodded. "You know, you're probably one of the only people that I've met that hasn't heard about that nickname before," Daren smiled. Alan seemed shocked.

"Is, uh, is that bad?" he asked. Daren shook his head.

"No, not at all. I rather prefer it, actually. For awhile after the Edgelands Rebellion, people seemed to care more about 'The Impaler' than they did 'Daren.' It was hard living up to the stories," Daren confessed. "The only one that seemed to get me was my Lieutenant; my fiancé," he sighed.

"Fiancé? I thought fraternization wasn't allowed in Notch's military?"

"It wasn't. We were engaged in secret. Planned on getting married after the Edgelands Rebellion and leaving the military to live in the country side. We had everything planned out, too. Then about a week before our marriage..."

"The mob invasion..." Alan finished. Daren nodded.

"Yeah... Needless to say, things didn't work out," Daren stated bluntly, crossing his arms and surveying the tree-line.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Daren. Really, I am. I'm sure she was a great woman," Alan sympathized, placing his hand on Daren's shoulder for support. Daren closed his eyes and smiled.

"Yeah, he was a great guy," he corrected. Alan's eyes widened.

"Oh! I-I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"It's okay, Alan. I didn't expect you to know. No offense taken," Daren laughed. "We met during my training. He taught me everything that I know about combat. After my training, I was assigned as an officer with his unit. He led us to battles that looked like suicide missions during the Edgelands Rebellion. But we survived. And we won." Daren smiled, unable to stop himself from reminiscing.

"And the nickname 'Impaler'?" Alan asked. Daren thought in silence for a second before turning back toward Alan.

"I'll tell you... someday. As for right now, though, I need to stay focused on the treeline. Look for any mobs or griefers." He stood up and stretched his legs. He looked at Alan and smiled. "Thank you for the potion, Alan. And for the talk. Sometimes it gets a little lonely when you're nocturnal."

"No problem, Daren. Let me know if you need anything, alright?" Alan returned Daren's smile with his own and turned to leave.

"Will do, Alan. Thanks again."

Alan walked back towards his home as Daren watched him from the gate, slightly curiously. There was something different about Alan. Most people lost their generosity after the mob invasion... but not Alan. Daren thought for a split second, then shook his head. At any rate, it was nice that goodwill wasn't completely dead yet. He turned back to keep watch over the treeline and-

Thwunk!

An arrow zipped out from behind the trees, catching him in the middle of his right shoulder. He gasped at the shock of the impact as he fell backwards off the top of the gate, slamming into the ground below with a sickening thud. He felt the breath knocked out of him as he slowly lifted his head up to see the arrow sticking out of his shoulder.

Hunter's Watch was under attack.

Next Chapter: Jericho (Pt. 1)