Chapter 33
Game Over
Lukas collapsed against the wall, his lungs heaving, ears ringing. He struggled not to gasp, each sound he made would echo painfully loud in the abandoned mines. It vibrated down the hallowed halls, leaving little bread crumbs for the killer in the dark.
"M~arco…."
Lukas's breath hitched and he got off the wall, looking uneasily around the corner.
"Have you never played Marco Polo Lukas?"
There was a faint screech as Herobrine's sword dragged against the stone in some unknown hallway.
Lukas backed away from where he guessed the source was. It was nearly impossible to tell in the disorienting dark. Herobrine could be anywhere, and Lukas was sure the demigod had a better fix on Lukas's location that he had on Herobrine's.
An enderman shot out of the dark, and Lukas's strained nerves got the better of him. He cried out in a mixture of surprise, pain, and fear as the creature slammed him into the wall. The black skinned monster screeched at him, foam and salvia dripping from sharp and glinting teeth.
But just as suddenly as it appeared, the enderman back a step away. It whimpered, before vanishing off in a wisp of smoke. It left an endermite behind, that spawn too quickly vanished into a nearby stone.
They could sense him.
From somewhere around the bend his voice came again, teasing, almost singing,
"Marco~"
Mariah let out a scream and Ivor tried not to flinch as she gripped his hand tighter. "Ooooh Notch preserve me!"
"Just breath Mariah," Ivor soothed, even though inside he was very worried.
This pregnancy is going too fast.
"They're- they're getting more constant." The dark-haired female panted out, "Oh, it feels like my hips are going to snap!"
"That's normal, remember deep breaths, you need to keep- "
Mariah screamed in pain again, and Ivor felt the bones in his hand creak in protest.
From the other room, Matthew called out, "Ivor-"
"Stay with Jesse! I have this!"
"Where is Bach?" the woman asked.
Bach had gone outside a few moments ago, Aiden and Reggie were both struggling to keep the house safe. The spawns could hear the screaming and they could smell the blood. They wanted in, they wanted an easy kill.
"He's making sure you and your child are safe, now just keep breathing you're almost dilated enough."
"Reg look out!"
The guard captain yelped as a charged creeper lunged at him, he scrambled back, nearly falling onto his bum.
"Duck!" Aiden yelled.
Reginald ducked just as Aiden, jumped over him and spun, slashing the throat of the creature. The blood splattered everywhere as the monster went down. Droplets of it hit Aiden's skin, sending little shock waves across his already damaged form. He landed on the other side of his partner, boots squishing in the mud, soaked in spawn blood.
"Are you alright?" he asked, pulling Reg up.
Reggie straightened, "Yes, thanks." He let out a huff, "No time for victory though," he pointed grimly.
Aiden looked past the streets, towards the break in the far wall. Spawns were pouring over the cave in, eager to slay. "Look at it this way Reggie," he stated grimly, "It could be worse."
"How so?!"
Aiden adjusted his stance and raised his swords, difficult as it was with the growing fatigue. We could be Lukas and Petra right now, He thought grimly, Or Jesse….
The first spawn got within arm's reach, an armored zombie. It reached out with cracked and broken fingers, moaning for flesh. Aiden tightened his grip and went to stab.
Petra yelped, ducking as a spider lunged out from one of the side halls. She only kept her torch there long enough to look for any signs of blood before she continued her run.
Where was Lukas?!
Petra's fear levels were rising. There were so many doors, so many passages down these flight of stairs and Lukas could be down any one of them
What if she went the wrong way?
What if it was already too late?
Her heart pounded, she was terrified.
"Lukas where are you?!"
She stopped on a corner, one way was a door, one way was the stairs. A blood splatter stained the grey stone at her feet. She looked down the pitch-black stairs, then towards the halls.
Which way?
"LUKAS!"
She took a step towards the dark hallway.
"No."
Petra froze. That just then…..was that-
"No," the strange voice came again.
She stepped away from the door closer to the stairs. She recognized the voice, it felt so long ago now but she remembered it. She first heard it inside the Hallway…She moved closer to the stairs.
"Yes, this way, go this way!"
Petra ran down the stairs, her torch guiding over broken steps and cracked stone. She paused often, usually at every door, but the voice kept urging her.
"Keep going, keep going!"
So, Petra just started to run, no longer pausing at every break away passage. She put all her faith and trust in this voice, it was the only hope she had anymore. Petra ran deeper and deeper down, step after step, following the mysterious guide in the dark.
"Go down! This way!"
Lukas ran down yet another poorly lit tunnel. All around him diamonds embedded in stone glinted in the mushroom light. Some of them were even as big as his head. This mine was rich and plentiful. If it hadn't been for the disaster all those ages ago, Lukas partially wondered what this city would have been like.
Lukas rounded a corner and collapsed against a support beam, struggling hard to control his breathing.
"I know you're here," Herobrine hissed. There was the sound of a sword scrapping once again against the ground. The noise echoes through the abandoned mines, it was still impossible to discern the origin point.
Lukas held his breath and looked slowly around the corner. At the juncture about thirty feet away, Lukas could make out Herobrine's back. There was a faint glow of white near his head, it was his eyes glowing in the gloom.
Could he see in the dark? Lukas wondered. If he could-
Herobrine turned.
Breath hitching, Lukas quickly pulled himself back around his corner, plastering himself against the beam. He was pretty sure Herobrine hadn't seen him. But then again….
"I'll find you."
Lukas stifled his breathing with his hands. Herobrine's psychological attacks not helping ease his panic.
Somewhere in the dark -far away this time- there was an agonized scream of a spider. It was followed by the crunched of bones and liquids hitting the floor and Lukas struggled not to whimper in fear. The screams cut off suddenly and the mines once more went silent as stone.
Lukas loosened up slightly, sliding weakly down the board a bit. He was shaking as he let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. It seemed he had finally lost Herobrine.
The swish of a sword dashed his hopes.
Lukas ducked just as the sword came from around the corner. He rolled as sparks flew from where the blade met the wall.
"Found you!" Herobrine snarled, he reached out, a hand grabbing hold of Lukas's collar. But his tunic was in poor enough condition from previous tearing; so with a loud scream and a hard yank, Lukas tore away. The fabric ripped loudly as he broke free from the other's grip.
Herobrine cursed and swung his blade. It was a slower swing this time because Herobrine had to yank it free out of the wall. But even so Lukas barely got away.
The sword lightly sliced his back, right across the shoulder blades. It hardly cut his clothes much less his skin. Like his first injury from earlier it was a non-lethal cut. But like before it sent a wave of agony sweeping through his body. Almost as if he had been burned by fire. "AUGH!"
Herobrine's magic. All his hate went into his power, all of it was poison.
Lukas staggered slightly, crashing into a wall. He rolled along it as Herobrine swung once more. Then as the deity was pulling the blade free from the rock, Lukas launched off the stone. He had dropped his bow at the beginning of this cat and mouse chase. Then when he fell down the stairs he had lost most of his arrows.
But he still had one arrow left.
Lukas- gripping the shaft tight- stabbed low, and felt it make its mark somewhere along Herobrine's leg. He could hear the hiss of skin, and the burning smell that followed invaded his nostrils.
Herobrine roared in fury.
Lukas raced down the tunnel, no time to see if he had successfully slowed Herobrine down.
A large rock flew past him, smashing into the wall. Rock and diamond spewed everywhere. Lukas snatched up a diamond and hurled it back at his opponent. Herobrine caught it, snarling. His eyes flared, and with one firm squeeze the diamond shattered in his hand. He hurled the shards back at Lukas.
Some of them made their marks and Lukas stumbled down with a cry, tears of pain escaping the corner of his eyes. He looked back as Herobrine advanced, the arrow still bubbling in his leg.
"What good will this do you?!" the other demanded. "What good will this be for Jesse?"
Lukas cringed and struggled up, once more fleeing into the dark.
"You can't escape!"
Lukas just ran. He was on a strange sort of adrenaline high. The sweet lie that if he just kept moving, he'd live. He wouldn't die here if he just kept moving. Just keep running, just keep running.
Slimes were rather solid when they slammed into you. Aiden shouted in pain as the large gelatin creature smashed into him, crashing him into the building behind him.
"Aiden!"
"I'm fine!," Aiden struggled to shove the giant creature off and get his weapons at a good angle, "Reggie the house!"
Reggie turned around just as a creeper shambled up the blacksmith steps.
"Reg don't let it get in!"
The older male yanked it off the steps, both of them crashing to the ground. He rolled away as the creeper hissed, but it was still too close.
"REG!
Suddenly the slime shoving against Aiden backed away, and he took the moments to stab the creature. He whipped around, racing for the creeper-
An arrow head stabbed down on the creeper, and it disappeared in a poof of smoke. The wielder of the weapon was Alex. The woman straightened, chest heaving with each gasping breath.
Reggie got up, "Oh Gods, are you alright?!"
Across the clearing Bach gasped, "Alex!" he ran over as the ginger staggered slightly. He grabbed her arm, "Alex your leg- what-"
"W-where-"
"What?"
Alex mumbled something, a spat up blood, "Where is-"
Aiden grabbed her hand, "In Bach's house! Reg, Bach! Have you got the clearing?"
The two men nodded, Alex's arrival having temporarily scared off the spawns.
Aiden turned only to find Alex already entering Bach's house.
"Oh my God's Mariah!" the woman immediately spotted Ivor and Bach's wife through the open bedroom door.
"Alex! Oh thank Notch you're alright! But you need-"
"When did this start?" Alex asked Ivor.
"About an hour ago."
"How dilated-"
"Alex!" Mariah snapped.
The Immortal stiffened.
Mariah reached up, gently cupping Alex's chin, "I knew the risks when Bach and I decided to do this. But right now, you, can't be helping me."
"But-"
"Alex, stopped being the Healer, I know that's your role in the universe, but- I know where your heart needs to be." the woman gasped out, "Go be there for your baby."
Tears pooled in Alex's and she weakly nodded. She kissed Mariah on the forehead, "You're going to be okay,"
"We have her," Ivor assured.
Alex quickly departed to the other room the door closing behind her with a soft click.
"Damn woman, still putting others before herself," Mariah cringed.
"It's a trait I've noticed in most woman," Ivor said. He glanced at Aiden, "Are you alright?"
Aiden nodded, "Jesse has a chance now," He headed for the door, "Now there is just Lukas and Petra to bring home. I only hope Steve is handling that." He tightened his grip on his weapons, "But we'll keep fighting till then."
Lukas fell down to shaky knees, choking on fear and desperation.
"There is nothing you can do to stop this Lukas!" Herobrine called from the dark.
Just keep running… Get up Lukas get up.
"They're failing Lukas."
Lukas got up, but the statement made him pause.
"I know you can hear me. Let me inform you that your friends are failing."
He shook his head, don't listen! He raced forward, ducking behind a minecart.
"I can see through the eyes of the spawns. Do you know what I see? They're all dyingLukas. Aiden, Bach, Reginald, they all fight for their lives, trying to defend a quaint little house."
Aiden? Bach?! Reg-
"Their strength is depleting Lukas. Aiden will die too."
No!
"Inside that little house, Mariah is in labor…."
Lukas covered his ears, no, no, no, nonono!
"You know what I see Lukas?" Herobrine hissed, "I see a body with no soul. You were too late."
NO!
"Maybe I should let you live." The demigod taunted, "Imagine finally getting home Lukas, imagine finally being safe. Except now you have to explain to Axel and Olivia why Jesse isn't there. You are going to have to explain to them what happened to him. What will you tell them Lukas? Would you tell them how you let him go... alone?"
Lukas pressed tighter against his ears, he wasn't hearing this, he couldn't hear this.
"Will you tell them how he died, in pain and alone as you stayed behind?"
Lukas's heart froze as hand pulled his own free of his ear.
"Will you tell them how you weren't strong enough?"
He screamed, wrenching away as Herobrine's glowing orbs glared him down. He hurled a rock from the minecart at the man, not looking back as he other tilted his head to dodge the projectile.
"You're lying!"
Herobrine followed after, "Jesse's gone Lukas. And no amount of praying to my Father will bring him back."
"LIAR!"
He burst out onto a old wooden bridge, temporarily blinded by the glow of lava all around. His boots slapped against the metal rails. Lava flowed in a boiling river below. There was another tunnel on the other end of the bridge, and farther still beyond that was moonlight.
Outside!
He could make it to the woods, he-
With a roar a boulder flew over his head, smashing against the tunnel opening. Lukas skidded to a stop as the rocks crumbled down over the opening. Then much to his despair the bridge collapsed as well.
Lukas screamed as he plummeted, the drop was not long thankfully. He crashed onto another bridge below. Rock, wood, metal, everything showered down, shaking the second structure, but it held.
Lukas shakily stood, body wracked in pain. The new tunnel before him was blocked, but there was still one behind him that led back to the mines. Lukas started running.
"Play time is over."
Herobrine landed right next to him.
Lukas felt a sharp pain as Herobrine grabbed his arm and threw him back. Lukas crashed into a pile of debris. Just barely managing to stay on the bride. He slowly got up, chest heaving. He looked at the tunnel beyond Herobrine.
The other glanced at it as well, "Do you honestly think you can get past me?"
"I've gotten this far!" Lukas spat.
Herobrine snarled. "Game over!"
Lukas ran.
He was promptly grabbed by his hair and slammed against the ground. Before he could get up , Herobrine took an arrow- the same one Lukas had used on him- and stabbed it down into the teen's arm.
Lukas screamed in pain, feeling the head go all the way through.
"You're pathetic," Herobrine sneered, kneeling over him.
"I'm not the one who let a mortal get the best of me. I'm also not the one who left Alex and Steve to recover-"
Herobrine backhanded him, making Lukas cry out, "I will soon remedy that mistake. But first," He twisted his blade in his hand, "It seems your "friends" are going to be forever left wonder. What happened to you. What happened to Jesse."
Lukas didn't reply, he didn't beg. Herobrine wasn't going to get that satisfaction, through deep down he was terrified. He was going to die.
Herobrine lifted the blade.
Lukas closed his eyes.
"Gods they keep coming!"
"We have to keep fighting till we can move Jesse and Mariah!"
Reggie parried a witch, sending it to Bach who immediately sent the spawn to the ground in a splatter of blood. "I'm not sure how much longer I can last!"
Aiden was wheezing too, his lungs worn down and his arms felt heavier than the swords he carried. He grunted in pain as an enderman punched him in the shoulder, he turned spinning around to jab it in the jaw, "We're the only shot they have!"
Suddenly Bach froze, "Oh Notch save us."
Aiden looked, just beyond the wall he could see a wave of monsters, packed so tightly together he couldn't see the ground. Thousands of eyes glowed in the moonlight, full of hate and insanity.
He felt his heart seize and he looked over at Bach, who in turn was waiting for his reaction.
Aiden looked at the house behind them, then back to the wall.
"I'm supporting you," Reggie said softly.
Aiden slowly nodded, then looked at Bach. He nodded to the blacksmith, who returned the gesture.
Aiden braced his stance, "We hold the house."
The voice guided her to the bottom of the stairs and Petra burst out the door. She found herself amidst the one magnificent diamond mines... If only she had lived here on her diamond hunting spree, some small part of her thought.
A scream echoed through the mineshafts like a knife, followed by the sound of metal screeching on stone.
"Lukas!" Petra went to run, but froze.
Which way?
Notch, where do I go?
"This way…."
Petra looked at tunnel, hesitating.
"Petra go!"
She raced forward, letting the voice guide her left, right, through the endless maze that was the mines,
A loud crash shook the tunnels and Petra noticed the area was getting brighter with the glint of lava light.
"That way."
"Play time is over!"
Herobrine!
Petra ran, one foot in front of the other. She had to get to Lukas, she had to.
Another scream, one of agony and pain.
"LUKAS!"
She rushed out into an open chasm, connected by dozens of bridges on various levels. Hers however – judging by the dust in the air and lack of bridge- had been recently demolished. She slid out, landing on her side, just barely able to stop before the ledge. Petra looked over the side, her breath freezing in her lungs.
Herobrine was kneeling over Lukas, the blonde's clothes were stained red in blood. His eyes were closed.
She was too late! He was-
No! Lukas was breathing, he was still alive!
Herobrine's sword was up in the air.
Petra didn't even blink twice, shoving herself of the ledge to the demigod below. "No!" she hit Herobrine's backside full force, his entire form lurching. His blade stabbed down, slamming into the stone floor, missing Lukas's head buy centimeters.
Lukas's eyes shot open, "Petra?!" he cried.
Petra yanked on Herobrine's hair, "Get away from him!" she screamed, and she pulled out her dagger, stabbing it into his side.
Herobrine roared.
Petra pulled out the knife, stabbed again, pull stab, pull stab she kept going ,kept fighting. Lukas shoved Herobrine off him, the later getting up and staggered away, Petra still on his back.
"I'm sick of you little pests!" Herobrine roared. He reached back, grabbing Petra by her tangled hair, and with a hard yank, pulled her over his shoulder. She screamed in pain at the immense wave of agony coursing through her skull. Herobrine threw her over, and slammed her down back first onto the stone. She gasped, the breath knocked from her lungs and her dagger slid out of her fingers as she was stunned.
Herobrine's blood poured out of his wounds, the injuries unable to heal due to the enchantments. His skin crackled and sizzled, the effect of the deity mode. Petra found herself staring up in the furious void that had become Herobrine's eyes as white turned to black.
"Nothing you can do will save him!" His fist curled.
Lukas slammed into Herobrine to the best of his ability, and he might as well have hit a brick wall. "Don't you dare touch her!" he had Petra's dagger, already swinging for Herobrine's wounded side.
He caught Lukas by the throat slamming him down of the ground, the blonde's head hit the ground with a sickening crack, and he went immediately lax.
"Lukas!" Petra cried.
Herobrine snatched the dagger up, twisting it around in his hand.
"No!" Petra rolled over Lukas, trying to shield him.
The daze snapped out of his eyes, and he looked up at her in horror, "Petra! No!"
There was a sickening sound, the sound of flesh and bone ravaged by blade. Petra flinched, waiting for the inevitable pain that would follow with the sound. Instead she felt a wet damp sensation splattering on the back of her neck.
Lukas gasped beneath her. "Steve!"
Petra looked over her shoulder, and sure enough, the Immortal was there, the diamond blade impaled through his forearm.
Steve slowly pushed up, teeth gritted in pain. His eyes flashed, the last of his deity strength fighting to hang on just a little longer. He grabbed hold of Herobrine's shoulder and hurled his brother. Sending the other flying into the pile of debris in at the other end of the bridge.
Herobrine shoved himself out of it, "You couldn't win then Steve! You can't win now!"
Steve slowly pulled the knife from his arm with his uninjured limb. The blade glistened with little rivers of ruby red. The skin and muscle making wet sounds of protests as the jagged blade pulled free. He dropped the blade to the floor. Blood splattering as it hit the stone.
"I have help this time," he snarled. "And you've lost your edge."
Herobrine growled, the dark voids of his eyes flashing briefly white. He lunged, snatching his weapon from the floor as he passed it. Steve lifted his hands, resummoning his own diamond blade, blocking just as Herobrine made impact.
Petra ducked pushing into Lukas as Steve flew over her and the male. The two immortals slamming into the opposite tunnel. The entire bridge shook, the wood groaning in protest.
Lukas pushed up, "Are you okay?!"
She ran her fingers along the back of his messy hair, feeling the sticky blood in the locks. "I"m fine! Are you okay?"
He shakily nodded, flinching as Herobrine slammed once again into Steve.
Petra was up on her feet, snatching up her fallen dagger, "Come on we have to help!"
Lukas didn't argue, snapping the shaft of an arrow in his arm and yanking out the diamond head.
Petra ran for the battle, dodging as Steve was knocked down past her. She lunged at Herobrine, ducking under the blade, feeling the sharp edges slice at the edge of her hair cutting the ginger tips free. Her dagger came down slamming hard and deep into Herobrine's thigh, she put her full weight into it feeling the blade crack the bone.
"AUGH!"
He grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head back, sword aiming for her throat-
Lukas was there stabbing the red stained diamond arrow head deep into his opponent's hand. Herobrine backhanded him in response, sending the youth sprawling to the floor. Steve came up again, only for Herobrine to catch in him with his blade, Steve barely blocked, but it sent his own weapon into his shoulder. He cried out in pain, blood pooling from the wound immediately.
"Enough!" Herobrine roared.
There was an intense wave of air and heat and Petra felt herself flying back, landing hard on the ground opposite side of the bridge. Lukas flew past her, body sliding over the edge of the bridge.
"LUKAS!"
He caught the side of the wooden structure, hands tearing into the wood as he clawed onto it for purchase.
Steve went to get up, only for his brother to slam into him, pinning him full force against the wall.
"We are finishing this!" the later raged. He shoved his blade towards Steve's chest, full weight on the hilt.
Steve cried out, pressing his hands against the handle of the blade, pushing back as hard as he could. Blood burst forth from his arm wound, his racing heart and building pressure urging his precious lifeblood out.
"Petra help him!" Lukas cried.
Petra got up, scrambling for the pair.
Herobrine saw her coming and slammed his foot down, the heat wave once more knocking her back.
She landed hard, cracked wood and broken iron tearing into her hands.
Steve hissed in pain, the wave at such a close range making his arms buckle slightly. The tip of the blade sank into his chest, and Steve gasped out in pain.
Petra's breath hitched, no! She got up, running once again only for Herobrine to see her coming and sending her spiraling back with another wave.
How could she get to him?
Lukas was half way back onto the bridge, "Petra the knife!"
Petra spotted her weapon on the floor, and snagged it up. Planting her feet firmly she raised it over her head. Steve's gift gleamed brightly in her hand. For a split second, Petra hesitated.
What if I miss?
She tightened her grip.
I won't.
Then with a roar, Petra threw the knife.
Aiden was on his back, there was a creeper right on top of him, skin flashing as it began to charge.
Reggie was screaming for him, and trying to get there.
Aiden's head fell back as another spawn hit him in the face, he looked through the swarms and the haze. Staring helplessly as a set of enderman marched up the blacksmith house stairs...
For a moment – only for a split second – the whole world seemed to slow.
Petra saw the knife leave her hand, droplets of sweat flicking off her fingers as the weapon was released. She could feel trickles of more sweat running down the back of her neck. She could feel the tears sticking to her eyelashes. There was ash and embers brushing against her skin…
Herobrine's blade was pressing into Steve's chest, the black diamond not even reflecting the lava all around. Lukas was jerking in surprise from the corner of her vision, her battle roar having surprised him. Even Steve himself lurched slightly, blood oozing from the growing wound as he moved.
Petra saw it all, in that split second. That whole moment, she prayed. Harder than she ever had in her life.
Don't let me miss.
The blade seemed to gleam.
Then by the next moment, everything was all a blur.
The knife flew lightning fast, spinning. It looked like a blue disk as it sailed through the air. It cut through the air currents radiating off Herobrine like a kitchen knife to butter
But would it make it?
What if it hit Steve?!
Herobrine froze, the air currents stopped.
The blade had sunk into the back of Herobrine's neck, embedding all the way to the hilt.
Petra's breath hitched. She had hit him!
Herobrine reached up, slowly pulling the blade free of his neck.
Her heart stopped, No die! Die!
He slowly turned his head, looking towards her. Steve shoved his brother off of him, yanking the black blade free of his grip. Steve spun it around. Herobrine lurched in a weak attempt to dodge, the blade imbedding itself into his stomach.
The dagger fell to the ground, vibrating on the stone.
Herobrine snarled the sound came out strange and foreign with the mangled throat, blood ran from the wound on both sides. It stained the Dark One's shirt red on the front and back. His sword vanished and his grisly stomach wound poured out blood like thick water.
For a moment everything seemed to freeze, even the volcano itself went briefly silent
Herobrine snarled again, a dark fury in his eyes. He leaned a little closer to Steve, whose expression was grim, but eyes full of turmoiled emotion.
"I'll be back," Herobrine's voice was wet and gurgled. Blood pooled out of his lips, dripping of his chin. Each syllable forced blood out of his desecrated throat.
"I know…." Steve said quietly.
Herobrine gripped his older brother's shirt, blood staining the damaged fabric, "You will…never be… safe. I'll…. k-kill all…of you."
Herobrine released his grip on Steve and staggered back, stopping centimeters from the bridge's edge.
"This…. isn't…. over."
Then with a feral growl, Herobrine toppled over the edge, almost as if it was intentional, falling to the inferno below.
The rumbling of the mountain snuffed out, and Aiden opened his eyes to see the spawns rapidly retreating. Some meeting their end as the no longer overwhelmed golems did their work.
Reggie pulled Aiden up, "They're retreating?"
Aiden looked to the mountain. The smoke reducing in the night.
He's gone….
There was nothing.
Only the never tiring vibrations of the mountain. But Herobrine's rage was gone, the fury of the volcano died with him.
Lukas collapsed in his respective standing spot, exhaustion finally taking it's claim. Petra slowly turned around to face him.
"You came back," Lukas said, shaking.
"You said we're saving this group," Petra replied weakly, "All means you too."
"But…you came back."
"Did you not want me to?" she asked dryly.
Lukas let out a tear clogged laugh, "No, no, I just- I really thought that I-"He looked up at her, shakily standing, "Thanks Petra."
Petra gave him a weary smile and took a step towards him. "Oh!" her weakened legs gave out and she went to her knees. Lukas got onto bloody palms and crawled towards her. Petra reached out and pulled Lukas to her, the blond not arguing as he fell into her embrace.
"No more splitting up," She sobbed.
"I've been saying that since the beginning," he replied, voice muffled by her hair.
"Yeah, well now I'm saying it, so not it's a rule." She sniffed.
Lukas let out another laugh, crying into her shoulder. He gave her a squeeze, "Whatever you say Petra."
She pulled away, "Steve are you okay?"
Steve was staring at the edge. Where Herobrine had been moments before. He mumbled something softly to himself. Then silently picked up the dagger he weakly walked over to the pair and handed it to Petra, "I'm sorry this happened," he said quietly.
"It's not your fault," Lukas said.
"If I had finished this when I should have…." He kneeled down and inspected them over, "Are either of you seriously hurt?"
"Are you?" Lukas asked instead.
"I'm bleeding internally, my ankle is broken and my arm just had a dagger go through it. But none of that will matter one I am clear of the enchantments." He got slowly up, cringing, "Come on, I know the way out, we need to get you two down the mountain."
They followed after, "Where is Alex?" Petra asked, "Did she get to Jesse?"
"Yes, now we need to hurry, or- "Steve stopped.
"Steve?"
The male was frozen, slowly lifting up his amulet with shaking hands. The stone glowed a rapid but gentle pulse, illuminating his hands.
Lukas looked at the stone, "Steve? What does that mean?"
Steve didn't answer, tears slowly falling down his face. He gripped the amulet shaking his head, "No…."
The fear that had receded, crept back into Lukas's core, and he stared at the pulsing blue stone.
Jesse.
"I need to be out there,"
"You are hurt sit still."
"But Lukas and Petra-"
"Reggie is getting together a search party. Now sit or I will sedate you," Ivor warned.
He watched as Aiden looked stressed, "What about Mariah-"
"Resting, she is fine-"
Aiden pulled his bloody hands free of Ivor's grip, trying to stand, "Hero- He has to be gone, I need to find Lukas and Petra before-"
Ivor had to catch him as his knees gave out, lowering him back onto the bench, "Aiden you are hurt. No more fighting,"
"B-but-"
"They will find them."
Bach entered the room at the moment, he looked winded, and messy but still very focused on the status of his dear wife. "Ivor! Is Mariah alright?"
"She is fine, healthy too," Ivor assured.
Bach paused at the door, "The baby…"
Ivor just nodded to the door.
Bach opened it, gasping softly, "Mariah oh luv."
The female glowed from her bed, two infants in her arms, "We were both right Bach."
"Oh Mariah, we have twins?" he hurried to the bed, kissing her tenderly, "Oh Mariah."
Aiden smiled, though it was brief, he looked the other door, the entrance closed. "….Jesse?"
Ivor looked at the bedroom door as well. Once Alex had entered the room she hadn't left. Matthew came in and out a few times, and Ivor didn't want to tell Aiden that his expression was not promising. They hadn't even left the room since the battle cleared.
"I don't-"
The door slammed open and Matthew exited, throwing bloody rags to the floor, eyes filled to the brim with frustration. He looked at Ivor and Aiden "Pray to your deities," he whispered, voice full of pain and sorrow.
Ivor felt Aiden stiffen. "No."
"Is he not-"
Matthew shook his head.
Inside the room, Alex had stopped her tending, running her fingers through a limp Jesse's hair. Tears poured down her face, "Jesse, honey wake up."
Jesse, his skin stained red, the rest of it deathly pale, didn't respond.
Alex choked on a sob, "Jesse, baby. Come back." She gritted her teeth, "Baby I'm sorry, please just come back, Jesse! I'm sorry I'm sorry, I should have been there, I- let you down, I-" She pulled her son into her arms, he lay limp against her as she kissed his hair, running her fingers through the tresses. "Come back!"
But Jesse's head remained against her breasts.
Alex let out a wail, screaming towards the heavens, "Notch give him back! Don't take him from me again! I can't- I- Give my baby back to me! Notch please! Don't take him from me again, don't take my Jesse I- I"- she broke into sobs, cradling Jesse close.
Shaking, Aiden got up, "I have to find them,"
Ivor followed, "Aiden wait!"
"They have to be here Ivor. Lukas and Petra need to- need to-" Aiden's voice cracked and tears ran down bloody and filthy cheeks. "I wasn't fast enough Ivor. Now he's – he's-"
Ivor pulled the teen in as he sobbed, clinging onto his shirt with each body wracking cry.
"Give him back! Jesse, honey, please come back!" Alex continuously cried out, "Notch please! Jesse! Jesse baby! No, Jesse, please!" She clung tight to him, her child, her son, her Jesse.
The Healer was gone, the Immortal was too broken, it was only a mother that remained grieving now.
Ivor stood there, feeling stuck between two scenes. In one room, a couple, though filled with sorrow, silently rejoiced at the miracle of their two children and in the other…
A mother cried out to her deity to bring the boy, her child, back to her.
Next Time on MCSM: I͛̑͏̢̳̤̟̝͚̺͓m̢̖͈̥͎̩̗̣̑̃̌ͅmͬͩ̉͐͏̪̮̮̥̙̼̗ơ̞͂ͮͪ̃ͮͪ̒r͉͊̂̆ͬ́̆͌͟ţ͇͖̗͍̮̤̜̈ͧ́̕ã̠͕̞͈͈̥̙̗̟̓̓ͤ̍̎͗ͨ̉͜͞͝ļ̛͎̩͈̦̥̜͖͖̘ͯ̄͑'̡̱̻̜̣̰̩̫͍ͤ̓̔ͦs̝͔̦̱̎́ͨ͐̀͝͝ ̶̣̜̰̎̍͋͐̈ͮͣC̞̯͎͇͚͍͉̬͇ͯh̉̊̍̋͑͆͛̈́̎͝҉̣͚͎̪̺̬̫ĭ͆҉͖̹̞̳̤l̠̼̻̠̣͂̆ͬ̄̔ͪ̕ḋ̡̩̯̜̙̜̳̓́̀͝͠
. . . . .Jesse?.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽
.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉. . . .. . .God's no!
. . . . . . . .Father if you can hear me!. . . . . .
... . . . . . . . . . . Bring him back! .͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉ . . . . . . .JESSE NO!...
.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽ ...Give him back give him back to me! .͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . ..͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉ . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Creator please don't do this to him. . . . ..͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉ . . . . Jesse come back! Dear Notch don't let him die! . . . . .
...Can you hear me?
....͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉ . . . . .Am I getting though tonight? . . . . .
.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉...͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽
̧̟͔̞͐̂͋ͥ̽
̧̟͔̞͐̂͋.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽
̧̟͔̞͐̂͋
JESSE!
. . . . . . . . . . ..͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉. . . . . . . . . .Please, he's not just anyone!....͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̋ͪ̉.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽
̧̟͔̞͐̂͋
.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽.͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽. . . . . . .Jesse! Jesse please come back!...
Jesse!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..͍̳̥̙͚̘͂ͣ͌́̀ͤ͗͘.̬͖̹̼̮̈ͫ̓.̫̝̤̤̗̻͝.̵̜̳.͖̺͕̞̠̬͚͌͐.̣̺̮̝̖̿̐̓͊̃.̬̪̙̘̯̺͑͊̃ͧ͝.̪̲̟͙̝͟.̳̹̙̈́́̕.̢͔͚͉̋ͪ̉ͥ̽ . . . .He's my son...Father...please....̧̟͔̞͐̂͋