The Minecraft Story: The Beginning: Chapter 7
They were all trapped in Morzen. The monsters surrounded the entire village. There was no longer anywhere to retreat. They had to make a stand, or they would all die.
Marcus continued to search for Franz as Thomas made his way back to the other carrier slaves. Soon, Marcus saw Franz sitting in the fetal position near a well.
"Franz, thank god you're alive," Marcus said as relief flowed through his body. Franz looked up and his eyes were red and puffy. It looked as if he'd been crying.
As soon as Franz saw it was Marcus, he wiped his eyes, stood up, and laughed, "Of course I'm alive. I'm a member of the Miter Knights. I'm glad you made it out of that carnage."
"Franz we're surrounded on all sides. It wasn't just the entrance that was compromised," Marcus said.
"Yeah I caught on to that," Franz replied.
"Hey Franz, have you been crying?" Marucus asked, finally acknowledging it.
"What, no!" Franz yelled, "Of course not, some smoke just got into my eyes!" The outburst surprised Marcus.
"It's okay if you were, considering the circumstances," Marcus said, trying to comfort his brother.
"I wasn't, it was jsut smoke!" Franz retaliated, "Just drop it okay, we have a job to do!" Franz pushed past Marcus and headed towards the General.
"Attentiooooooon!" The General's screams caught everyone's attention. "It has come to my knowledge that the horde has surrounded the village! They will be in the town center shortly. To survive this attack, we must fortify and barricade! If the Bible stories are accurate, these creatures should disappear in the morning due to their aversion to sunlight! I want half the villagers to make their way into the Town Hall and I want the other half in the Community Dining Hall! Now go! My holy knights, gather around closely!" The surviving knights drew in closer to the General while the villagers divided themselves into the Town Hall and the Community Dining Hall. Having the villagers split in half seemed odd to Marcus. To his knowledge, these Town Halls are meant for the entire village to take refuge in the event of an enemy invasion. They were built out of solid stone and would be much safer than the wooden Community Dining Hall.
"My knights, I want everyone to my left, help barricade the Town Hall," General Ausmin ordered. Everyone to my right," the General fell into more of a whisper, "make some hasty fortifications in the Dining Hall, but before the monsters reach the center, make a break for the Town Hall."
Make a break for the Town Hall? Marcus thought. Why would we leave the people in the Dining Hall? Maybe he wants us to divert the monster's attention to the more solid structure?
"Does everyone understand the plan?" General Ausmin asked.
"Yes sir!" All the knights yelled.
Marcus and Franz were assigned to the Dining Hall group. They sent their carrier slaves into the Town Hall to assist in fortification. They ran into the Dining Hall where dozens of villagers were already preparing barricades. Marcus quickly started boarding up windows and pushing tables to block the doors. As he was fortifying, he noticed a young girl and an older man. They seemed familiar. It hit Marcus, it was the vendor and his daughter. They did make it. Marcus walked over to the vendor and knelt down.
"Excuse me sir," Marcus said.
"What do you want?" The vendor asked angrily.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry about yesterday," Marcus answered, "I'm going to make it up to you by protecting you tonight, and I want you to have this." Marcus gave the vendor the ten gold nuggets he owed for the stews.
"Oh, thank you holy knight," the vendor was surprised as he took the gold nuggets.
"Are you going to keep us safe?" his daughter asked.
"Yes, I am," Marcus answered.
"Knights, the monsters are upon us!" A knight yelled. "We have to go!"
The knights began to leave the Dining Hall until one villager yelled out, "Wait, why are you leaving us! Aren't you going to stay and protect us!"
No other knight answered the villagers' question, so Marcus spoke up, "It's okay, we're going to divert the monsters to the Town Hall and keep them away from you!" Marcus ran out of the Dining Hall as other knights closed the main doors and blocked them.
Marcus felt a hand slap him in the back of the head. "Why did you say something to them?" Franz asked angrily.
"What are you talking about brother? Isn't that what we're doing?" Marcus replied. Suddenly, Marcus noticed two soldiers lighting the side of the Dining Hall on fire with torches. "Wait, what are those knights doing?" He asked.
"Idiot, you really haven't figured it out?" Franz answered, "Their screams will draw them the monsters to the Dining Hall. They're the bait."
Marcus snapped his head towards Franz. "No, no no no no no we can't," Marcus protested as he turned back to the Dining Hall. The monsters began to flood the center. Franz grabbed Marcus and began to drag him to the Town Hall. "Wait, no, we can't leave th-!" Marcus tried to scream but Franz put him in a headlock and covered his mouth as he dragged him back.
Marcus kicked and punched all the way back to the Town Hall. When they were finally inside, the doors were shut and barricaded. Franz finally released his grip. Marcus looked at Franz with hatred.
How could they do this? He thought. How could he do this? It's our job to protect these people!
Marcus tried to run towards the doors, but Franz punched him in the face. He was sent backwards into a table and onto his back. Franz got on top of him and covered his mouth as he tried to scream.
"That is enough out of you," Franz said, gritting through his teeth. "You've been nothing but a pain ever since you joined." Marcus tried to push Franz off, but he was too strong. "This is how we survive. This is how we live to spread the word of Notch. Sacrifices are necessary for our cause. And if you don't want everyone in here to die as well, then shut the fuck up" That's when the screams started.
Horrible, blood curdling screams could be heard from the Dining Hall. Franz slowly let Marcus go. The villagers cried out for help from the knights, but nobody moved. Nobody said anything, they just listened. Marcus still lay on the floor as he began to silently cry. He covered his ears, he couldn't bare to listen to it. There was nothing he could do now, except lay on the floor and wait for it all to be over.