Hey guys, welcome back to Saga of Survival.
No one got my puzzle yet? More clues: 42 is 8, 8 is 3, 3 is 5, 5 is 4, 4 is cosmic.
Cookie still up for grabs!
Also, this chapter features a character created by allyofkatniss, another fanfic author. If you want to have a character too, feel free to PM me.
Without further ado, let's go!
CHAPTER 3
Uneasy Allies
I descend down the hill, cautiously eyeing the village that stands before me. I can't trust anything- for all I know this could be a zombie settlement.
It strikes me as odd that the only hostile thing I have seen so far is a zombie. Is there anything else in this land that will try to kill me?
If I find out, it will have to be the hard way.
A loud moo interrupts my thoughts. Bacon oinks in surprise. Looking around, I see a herd of cows leisurely chewing the cud by the village's borders.
I am loath to end the life of any creature trapped in this world like me, but I have no choice. I can't live on mushrooms forever- I need meat!
I draw my sword, gulp, and creep toward the bovines.
One difficult, bloody hour later, I have successfully slain and butchered the cows. I am no expert in this field, and it was certainly the most harrowing experience
that this world has given me, but I have several slabs of raw beef to show for it, as well as some strips of cowhide. If i can somehow make it into leather, I can make clothes
and a pack. Leaving my spoils where I found them for the moment, I enter the village.
"Hello?" I call in a wavering voice. "Anyone… anyone home?" I hate the way my voice rings out. If there is anyone in the town, I must sound like an easy target.
"Hello…" I call again, opening the door of one house. Deserted.
"Anyone-" I begin as I enter the next house. My words are swiftly cut off by a flash of motion.
Time slows down.
I perceive a line of silver metal slicing toward my throat. Faster than thought, I flick Tamerlein up from where it hangs at my side to parry the blow.
How did I do that? I wonder as I leap out of the doorway. My assailant pursues.
I get a split-second look at him as he flies at me. Brown hair, brown eyes. He has on an iron chestplate for armor, and holds a sharp iron sword.
He attempts to stab me in the chest, but I barely manage to block him again. Lashing out, I mange to twist his sword away from his arm, towards the ground. The force of the blow momentarily stuns him.
Before he can react, I drop my sword and charge him, tackling him hard head-on. We both go down in a tangle of limbs.
I can't see much as we wrestle for the sword. He keeps trying to slice me anywhere he can, while I desperately try to push his arm far enough away to retrieve my own weapon.
He kicks out with both feet, sending me flying off of him with a surprised "Oof!" Bacon squeals in fear from the sidelines. I grit my teeth, almost blinded by a haze of pain as I crumple against a brick wall. Real helpful there, porkchop.
I scrabble around on the ground around me, trying to find Tamerlein, but I sight it on my attackers other side. Hopelessness washes over me.
The brown-haired swordsman walks over to me and plants his foot on my chest, pinning me to the ground. He raises his sword, preparing to stab.
I close my eyes. "This is the end." I mutter, half to myself.
My attacker's eyes widen in shock. "What did you say? Are you… are you looking for it too?"
This is such a surprising statement, it takes a moment for me to gather my thoughts in a coherent manner. "Wh-what… What are you looking for?"
Apparently convinced by my ignorance that I am no direct threat, he sheathes his sword, but keeps me pinned. "The End, of course! I thought you just said something about it!"
I am so confused. "I said… this is the end."
His brow wrinkles in confusion. "No it's not! Do you see any dragons around here? I don't!"
I groan from the weight of his foot. "It was just a figure of speech… can you let me up so we can talk about it?"
He considers it for a moment. "Fine. But no funny business. I'm Niegel, by the way." He offers his hand, and I take it to pull myself up.
"Here, come on in," he says, motioning toward the house in which our battle started. Walking into the house, I see a comfortable-looking couch, a roaring fireplace,
a table with two chairs, and a row of bookshelves. We sit down at the table.
I decide to start the conversation. "So, what is this 'End' thing? I haven't heard of it, but I'm pretty new here."
He meets my eyes. "The End is the ultimate goal. It's what they want us to find. What we need to find. It's… it's the endgame. The only way to shut this thing down, once and for all."
"Wait… you mean… we're in some kind of…"
"It's all a simulation," says Niegel. "I don't exist. This table doesn't exist. This world doesn't exist! Are you trying to mess with me? How could you not know that? We're in a computer program!"
I blink. "Sorry. My memory is all gone. This world is all I remember. Except…" I hesitate, recalling my strange dream of a few nights before. "The first night I was here, I heard something… in a dream.
I think it was a memory. It was someone saying something like.. I would thank them… if I survived. And they were sorry for doing it."
Niegel gasps. "You mean… you were put in here? You weren't here from the Coding?"
"No…" I say weakly. "Coding?"
"The creation of our world. I'm just part of the program. But you… you are a Player! This is big! This could be what I was looking for! Maybe you are the one who can find the End!"
"Wait," I say, "If you are part of the program, why do you want to end that? Won't that kill you?"
"I don't really know," says Niegel casually. "It's part of my code! Finding the End… it's the final achievement! The fulfillment of everything a program can strive for!"
"Oooo-kay.." I mutter to myself, kind of surprised at this guy's sudden ferocity. "Getting out of here sounds pretty good to me. All I've met so far is an ugly zombie and a loose cannon line of code."
Something else occurs to me. "Niegel, if we're part of a simulation… What's the purpose? I mean, why was this made?"
"No idea," he says. "You should know, you were the one who agreed to be part of it."
"I told you, I don't remember any of it."
"Well," declares Niegel, standing up, "regardless, our path seems clear. You can help me get to the End, and get yourself out in the process. So, we must return to the hunt!"
"Niegel… how do we even get to the End? What do we have to do?"
Niegel meets my eyes again, and for the first time, all I see in his face is pure fear.
Well, that's Chapter 3. I tried to put in a little action, maybe didn't succeed, but whatevah. See you guys in Chapter 4, and feel free to send me character submissions!