Ami fiddled with a stick, twirling it this way and that. She wasn't ready to travel, not yet. It almost seemed wrong, leaving him here, but she had to move on. She sighed, slowly stumbling to her feet. "Lousy foot." she said, shaking the sleep out of her foot.
"Ready?" Michael asked upon her entry into the main room. Everyone was in the process of gearing up. Putting on armour, equipping weapons and food and all that. Michael had all but his helmet on and seemed to have been discussing something with Charlotte.
"I suppose." Ami grabbed onto her arm tightly. Michael frowned, stepping up to her. "It'll be okay. I know it hurts, believe me, but we need to move. I...I'm sorry it has to be so soon."
Ami smiled. "Don't worry. I have to get over it eventually." He nodded, his eyes glazing over for a second. "Well," he took a deep breath. "When you're all geared up, some outside. We'll discuss the route out there."
"Can do." she said, going to the nearest chest and digging out a pair of Iron boots. She sat on the ground, fitting the surprisingly light shoes on her small feet. Ami watched as just about everyone started to go outside, all quiet. As she pulled on an Iron chest plate, someone started talking to her.
"Are you okay?" Aiden stood before her.
Ami hesitated, but soon returned to gearing up. "Fine. Why do you ask?"
He chuckled. "Because you've been on the verge of tearing up for three days. I know you and Jack were close. I get it. But I don't understand how you can keep moping around like that for days on end."
Ami felt a nerve bulge in her neck. "You've never watched someone you love die. So you wouldn't get it."
"And Jack would? Besides, you two didn't even know each other for that long. You can't call that love."
"My point is, watching people die isn't exactly my favourite pass time. Now, if you would kindly screw off, I could get something done." She took out a sword from the chest, glaring at Aiden.
"Fine." He headed towards the door. "If you ever want to talk, come talk to me. I know a thing or two about death." He spat on the ground before exiting. Ami paused for a moment, considering his words. But a greater sense overcame her and she put it out of her mind. She put her sword in her inventory and headed outside to where everyone was gathered in a circle.
"Okay, so we're going to head off ASAP, with two groups in case one of us gets lost. Group one consists of Charlotte, Izzy, and Aiden, and group two is me, Ami, and Luke. Is that okay with us all?" Michael looked up from a map he was holding at the group. A collective nod came from all but Aiden, who almost looked fearful at the idea of travelling with Charlotte. "Okay. Group one, you'll split off to the left when we all come to a fork in the road marked here, my group, we keep to the right. I think that if we keep a good pace, we should all get there around sundown, just in time for dinner. Charlotte, for food breaks I've trusted you with your groups' rations. I have ours. And with that, uh, yeah." he blushed. "I don't know how to end this. Uh, au revior? Let's go? We're all in this together?" A few smiles were cracked, and soon everyone was on their way.
They all started walking in a cluster, many talking and joking around, a couple silent and staring ahead. Izzy and Michael were in a heated debate about the physics of a marshmallow, Michael insisting the most logical point of view, while Izzy kept throwing out bizarre theories of how one day they could all wake up floating. Charlotte was cracking jokes with Aiden, who seemed more irritated than anything, but Ami caught him smiling a few times at the better jokes. Ami stared off into the clouds, still wondering why something as round as a cloud was still a cube in this world.
"Hey," Luke approached her. "You seem lonely."
"Is it because of the entire staring at the sky thing? Sorry, I can come off as melodramatic. Which I probably am." he laughed. "Partially. Mostly because otherwise we both will stick out like sore thumbs. Also, if we're living together, it would seem a good thing to get to know everyone. So far, Michael's the geek, Charlotte's the eccentric bodyguard, Izzy is the daydreamer, Aiden's a jerkwad, and you are something I don't know."
She smiled. "Well, like Izzy I'm a bit spacey. I enjoy barbecues and long walks on the beach...now I feel stupid."
"No, no, it was a great start. As for me, I'm a bit on the smartie side like Michael, but not quite as odd. I've always been told I was smart, and apparently gave great relationship advice to others when I have never experienced such things. People have claimed to be my father, I have a good chemistry with the Internet, and that's where most of my memories stop."
"Are you easy to freak out?"
"I'd like to say no for that. I don't really know. Why?"
Ami fiddled with her fingers. "One of my memories is blood. More specifically, the doctor kind."
"Oh. Thing is, I could have sworn there weren't doctor kinds of blood. The more you know, huh? I don't remember anything about family or doctors. Just some blurry images of what strikes me as friends and a love of gadgets. You could say I was a hermit."
"Was?"
"Well, seeing as how now I'm almost forced to communicate with everyone if I want to live has pulled me out of my shell. Not that I dislike it or anything, it's just weird to be outside like this. Almost surreal."
"Well, Michael has a theory of this world. He thinks that we're all in a video game called Minecraft, and we need to defeat some big boss called the...uh..." Ami scratched her head. "Shoot. It started with an E, I swear." Luke blew out a low whistle. "Well if that's true, it's no wonder I excel. It's like I'm in one weird online server with a bunch of random people I've never met. Tip for the future: don't go on video chats with people you don't know. It can lead to horrible things. Horrible, horrible things."
"Noted. But the thing is, Michael thinks we can take on this boss guy. I'm not exactly the fighting type of the group."
"Neither am I, but I guess if we ever want to get out of here then it ends up being survival of the fittest. Bummer how things work out like that, huh?"
"Yeah." Ami stared at the ground thoughtfully. "Well, enough of this depressing talk. Are you okay with the standard get-to-know-you type of questions?"
"It's a guilty pleasure that I must carry with me." Luke shrugged, flipping his bangs out of his face.
"Oh, you're in for the earful of your life." Ami rubbed her hands together eagerly. "Favourite colour?"
"Ocean blue. The streak can kind of give that away, though. Animal?" he fired back.
"Red! Cats! Uaaaah! Style of music?"
Luke grinned. "Metal! Time of day?"
The two kept up their constant questions until the group reached the fork in the road, where everyone said a short farewell. Charlotte, Izzy, and Aiden headed left, and Ami, Luke, and Michael stuck right, just like the plan.
"How do you two come up with so many questions?" Michael moaned after the millionth time Luke and Ami yelled answers for their favourite tree in view.
"Think of improv games, and how they keep your mind whirring. It's good to stay creative, so then in a fight you can do the weird stuff that audiences in movies love!" Ami bounced beside him happily.
"I don't see how that works in a logical sense." Michael raised an eyebrow.
"You're looking at it from the wrong way! Just relax, lay loose, and have some fun once in a while." Luke grinned toothily at him.
"Well, one of us needs to be on the lookout for anything that could be out here."
Luke sighed. "Michael, honey, listen. It's the middle of the day. Unless we go rummaging through some old cave, there's nothing that will just out and attack us, right?"
"I know, but it doesn't hurt to be too careful! Both of you know that we only have one life." A cold silence swept itself over the trio.
"That was a bit icy." Luke looked down.
"Sorry."
Luke shook his head. "Chill. Everyone's on edge lately since Jack died. I'm just happy that I've seen us so upbeat today. It's like everyone woke up on the right side of the bed. Well, everyone except Aiden."
Michael chuckled. "You're right. Even though we are in darker times, today feels oddly refreshing. Like we're all starting fresh. Not that we'll ever forget Jack, mind, but it's like we can learn to make things right again. Know what I mean?"
"I've almost forgotten how smart you talk, Michael." Ami giggled. "But yeah. I know I feel better than I did earlier. I actually have Luke to thank for that. Weird, you seemed so cold when I first saw you when Charlotte broke down the door. You were fairly antisocial."
"I know," Luke bit his lip. "I was in a pessimistic state of mind. Eventually, I just let it go and started talking to people. Izzy was the first person I conversed with, actually. She's really...weird."
"You have no idea." Michael shuddered. "Let's just say that the physics of a marshmallow should never be discussed with someone like her. I'd suggest a more simple route of conversation with her. Like cotton candy."
"Ooh, cotton candy." Ami smacked her lips. "Is there any of that in this world?"
Michael chuckled. "Unfortunately, no, but I'm sure you're aware that there is cake."
"It's what's kept my sweet tooth from destroying all I hold dear."
"You'll be happy to know that I packed an extra big cake with me."
Ami's face lit up in excitement. "Whoo! Cake party!"
"Yes and no," Michael couldn't conceal a smile. "I was thinking of throwing a little party for all of us, like we could make a date where we celebrate what we have. In this case, we just have a little fun with the people we have and get to know them a little better."
"Excuse me?" Luke said. "Have a little fun? Ami, I think we've influenced him. Call the doctors!" They laughed.
"Believe it or not, I've been planning this for longer than just today. I'm thinking more last week I figured I would do something like this. Unlike you guys, I plan in advance." Michael smirked smugly.
"Is that really why we're going to the other house?" Ami asked.
"No, I actually do have a bunch of things stored there in case I ever needed to get some of it." Just then, a thought struck Ami that required attention. In fact, Ami herself was surprised that she didn't think of this earlier.
"Michael, how long have you lived in this world?" she held a steady gaze on him.
"Well," he started, looking to the sky as he hummed in thought. "At least a few months, I'd say. How long have you been here?"
Ami stopped in her tracks. "Maybe a couple weeks. Our first day here was when Jack and I ran into you. You were here far longer than any of us. How long? It must have taken you days to build both of your houses..."
"Uh, see there's a problem with your reasoning."
"What?" Ami spoke in a monotone.
"I have three houses."
"You have what." Ami stared Michael down as they sat down to eat. She shoved a potato in her mouth, not daring to let her eyes wander away.
"Three houses. One where we've been living, the one we're going to, and another in the sky."
"What."
"A friend and I managed to build this amazing mansion in the sky, because once we figured out this world's physics, anything was possible. So we built a giant mansion in the sky and called it home for a while. I still know where it is, if you guys ever want to go to it. I don't know if my friend's still there, though. He likes to travel." Michael took an uncertain sip of water.
"Slow the firetruck down. You have a mansion. In the bloody sky." Ami ate another potato, clearly not ready to drop the subject.
Michael sighed. "Yes, I do."
"Who's this friend you mentioned?" Luke asked, sitting cross-legged and munching on a carrot.
"He's uh, different. He told me to call him Steve, and when I asked him about what he remembered from his previous life, he told me he didn't have one. We got into a talking, and from what I have gathered, Steve was born in this world and has lived here his entire life."
"So if we're in a game..." Luke mumbled.
"He could be classed as an NPC, yes. It was weird, though. Steve acted like any of us would. Not like any of the villagers I've met in this world. The villagers are honestly...stupid. I won't even gloss it over. The last time I was in a village one of the villagers set fire to their house. Absolutely idiots."
"There's villagers here, too?!" Ami exclaimed. "How much do I not know about this place?!"
"Considering you still forget how to make a simple pickax I worry about the other things that roam about in your head."
"Hey-" she started, but was interrupted.
"I think we should to to this place. The castle in the sky, you could say. If your friend is there, we could learn so much from him. Imagine it - living here your entire life. His knowledge about this world could be phenomenal!" Luke's eyes glimmered with fascination.
"He's pretty cool about it, to be honest. More interested in where I came from than anything. He wanted to help me in finding my lost memories, but there's no potion or material to cure it. So we went to the Nether." Michael put down his glass and nibbled on an apple.
"Didn't you say something about that place earlier?" Ami cocked her head.
"Yeah. It's the place where we can get the items that will lead us to the Ender Dragon. It's also a minefield of death at every step. We didn't last the night. Retreated back to the regular world when we were too injured to carry on. But he still swore that he would find a way. Even if he had to kill the Ender Dragon himself. Steve's one crazy guy."
Ami downed her drink. "I agree with Luke on this, and I'm sure everyone else will. We need to go to your mansion. House. Flying thing. Whatever. Like he said, if Steve is there we can get a bunch of knowledge out of him."
"I'll admit he knows more about this place than me." Michael nodded. "Sure, I'll take everyone up once we get back to the usual place. It's in that direction anyway. Anyway, we better get moving. It's not that far from here, I believe." He got up and stretched, gazing at the sun. "Let's keep up the pace, okay?" And then they were off.
It was nearing sundown every second that passed, and worry only began to grow with the group. They were in the desert, with what looked like nothing awaiting them a warm welcome home. Michael stopped in his tracks after a while, digging in his pocket for something - a metallic earpiece.
"Hello? Charlotte? Can you hear me?" He tapped the earpiece. A look of relief crossed over his face as a muffled tone was heard over the receiver. "You're all okay? Great. Are you in the desert? ...Yeah? Right. Just follow the trail of torches and you should see us in no time. Y-Yeah. Okay. See you soon. Bye." Michael pressed a button on the earpiece and stuck it back in his pocket.
"You still have that?" Ami wondered in amazement after Michael patted his pocket.
"Of course," he said. "For things like this, they're mighty useful. Charlotte's group should be here in no time. They're in the desert and following a trail of torches I made."
"You mean that trail?" Luke glanced to the side.
"Precisely."
It didn't take long for three silhouettes to become visible in the distance. Charlotte's booming voice and Izzy's happy singsong tone was enough to alert anything from a mile away. Izzy was the first to run over, ecstatic and excited to see the rest of the group. Once everyone had gotten together, Michael gathered the attention once more.
"Okay, so I'm going to blow your minds here," He walked over to a patch of sand and stomped on the ground. Immediately, the sand disappeared and a set of trapdoors were visible. Upon opening and entering them, the group was greeted with an underground room that, despite the bizarre location, had almost nothing in it. Sandstone aligned the walls, keeping the structure firmly in place. A singular bed was in the corner, as well as a few chests were scattered about.
"I brought extra beds for all of us, since only the one is here. It's sundown now, so I'd suggest we all get ready to sleep. I know I'm exhausted." The only one who took no surprise in their location was Michael. The rest of the group, however, was completely transfixed with this secret room.
"How did you even find this?!" Ami shouted, running around the room like a maniac. The thrill of a secret place like this had her heart pounding.
"I built it." Michael stated. "There's a cave that I barricaded where I was exploring and then I found this open space. I was tired so I made quick work and made a small base. Now it's become a storage centre for all my gems and whatnot. Neat, huh?"
"No kidding." Charlotte put her hands on her hips. "Well, I'd hate to agree with ya, but I am tired after that trek. Sleep time, y'all!" she announced.
Once the rest of the beds were quickly set up, the gang all retired to their beds, exhausted from a long day. And for the first time in three days, Ami fell into a joyful, dreamy sleep.
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