by Terry Mayer
"Nice Jack, you're getting better at this game."
"You think? I'd prefer to find the houses empty," he replies.
"Right, one to go. I'll go in first, just watch my back, ok?"
"Got you," he says, advancing on the last house in the village that remains un-cleared.
"Ok, here goes nothing," Natasha smirks as she opens the door and walks inside.
*****
The house is empty, no bodies, and no survivors.
"I wonder where everyone is?" asks Jack
"You kidding? Where do you think all those zombies that are chasing us came from?"
"Uh right, sorry. That was a bit of a stupid question."
"You think?" replies Natasha sarcastically but with a smile on her lips. "The village is clear, let's look for a garden, get our seeds, and get out of here."
Walking outside they split up and head off to search for either watermelons or pumpkins. In the first garden that Jack comes across, he finds two pumpkins, picks them up, and puts them in his inventory, then finds two more in the next garden. Searching the rest of the village without finding any more gardens, he heads back to the empty house where Natasha is already waiting for him.
"How did you get on kid?"
"Four pumpkins, how about you?"
"Three pumpkins. You better pray that they are the right seed or all this was for nothing."
Getting out her crafting table, she places a pumpkin on it and retrieves the seeds. Then putting the syringe on the table she looks at Jack before placing the zombie flesh on too.
"Keep your fingers crossed."
Picking up the syringe, it is now full with a glowing liquid.
"Way to go, it worked." Raising her hand into the air she high-fives Jack and they spend a quick second celebrating. "Right, we have enough here for a second cure," she says making a second syringe full of zombie virus cure. Taking the rest of the pumpkins, she turns them into seeds then packs everything away in her inventory.
"Right, time to see if this baby works," she says heading for the wall. She stops suddenly and exclaims. "You have got to be kidding!" Jumping up onto the wall Natasha stares out of the village at a vast mass of moving bodies. There are at least 200 zombies blocking their way. "Let's check out the other side of the village."
Dashing across the small village square they climb up onto the wall and gasp. Well over three hundred zombies are pressing up against their defenses. "Up on the roof, let's take a look at what we are up against."
Quickly making a cobblestone staircase they climb up onto the roof of the closest house and look at the scene that confronts them.
"It's like Dawn of the Dead when they are all stood on the roof of the mall looking out at the thousands of zombies in the car park."
"Your mum let you watch that. How old are you?"
"Twelve, but I downloaded it without her knowing."
"Cool Jack," she smiles giving him a jab in the ribs with her elbow. Turning their attention back to the hoard of zombies before them, she asks. "So, how many do you think there are?"
Turning 360 degrees, Jack surveys their surroundings. "Hard to tell, but there's got to be thousands."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. I just hoped my eyes were playing tricks on me. Well I guess we will just have to wait until daybreak."
"What? But zombies burn in the sun."
"Exactly!"
"But what about Jay and the others? We can't let them burn, we have to get back before it happens."
"Relax Jack. We locked them in rooms with no windows. As long as they stay there they should be ok."
"I don't like this Natasha. It feels like were taking too many chances just waiting here."
"And you think you have more of a chance with that lot?" she replies pointing out at the groaning mass of bodies.
Looking at the zombie hoard, Jack mumbles. "No, I guess we have no choice."
Putting her arm around his shoulders, she gives him a hug and whispers. "It will be ok Jack, we'll give Jay and the other's the cure tomorrow and they'll be fine.
"I really hope so."
Sitting on the roof the roof of the building, Natasha hands Jack some pork from her inventory. "Here, eat this. We will need all our energy in the morning." Eating together, they sit and stare at the zombies, waiting for daylight and their chance to escape.
*****
14 - Daybreak
Watching the sky slowly brighten, Natasha points out at the zombie hoard. "They're getting a little restless, You think they know it's almost sunrise?"
"I doubt it, they are completely brain dead. Maybe it's just instinct telling them that danger is close but they are too stupid to do anything about it."
"Well thank Notch that they are. At least in a few minutes they will all be toast, and then we can get back to the castle. Hey Jack, you in there, you paying attention?"
"Huh, oh sorry, but what's that moving about four or five rows back?"
"Where, oh right, it's just another zombie."
"Yeah, but there's something different about him."
"What, he looks the same to me...oh right, it's his head, look up, there's a name floating above him, what's it say."
"Sky!"
"Oh not Sky. I liked him."
"You know him?"
"Not know him, know him. He's this guy on YouTube that hosts his own Minecraft show. He's pretty cool."
"Well he doesn't look too cool right now."
"What are we going to do? We can't leave him out there with the sun coming up he'll burn."
"I don't know. How about we attach a syringe onto an arrow and fire it into him?"
"Do you have a bow and arrow?"
"Uh, no."
"Me neither. Anyway, even if we did manage to hit him and cure him he would turn back human in the middle of that lot. They would tear him apart."
"Well whatever we do we had better be quick, look," he points as the sun breaks over the horizon.
Instantly the zombies moaning grows louder and they start shuffling in all directions.
"What are they doing?"
"Getting ready to die by the looks of it. Look, Sky's moving this way. Down onto the wall, if he moves close enough we can grab him and pull him out of there before the sun comes up."
Climbing off the roof, they move to the wall and stand ready to grab Sky if he gets within grabbing distance. Hands reach up at their legs but they are safe on the wall.
"Hang on, I have an idea." Reaching into his inventory, he takes out a rope and makes a lasso. "Right, let's see if we can catch a zombie." Taking aim, he throws the rope over Sky's zombie avatar but it slides off as he starts to pull."So close, let's try again."
"You better be quick, look!" Pointing to the horizon, the first rays of sunlight streak across the land.
Pulling in the rope, Jack makes the lasso again and takes careful aim. Throwing it out into the hoard of bodies, they suddenly surge forward and the lasso drops over the head of a different zombie.
"What do I do now?"
"Pull it in and try again, we're running out of time."
Pulling on the rope, they lift the zombie from the hoard and it bodysurfs across the mass of moving bodies towards the wall.
"Right, keep that rope tight," says Natasha drawing her sword and slicing off the zombie's head. "Ok, untie the rope and try again."
A huge roar erupts from the zombie hoard as those furthest from the wall start to burn as the suns first rays streaks across the countryside.
Untying the dead zombie Jack takes careful aim. "Come on, one last chance." Throwing the rope into the crowd it drops perfectly over Sky's head. "Got him, help me pull Natasha."
Pulling with all they have, Sky does not lift from the crowd as easily as the last zombie did.
"They're all pushing together. We'll never get him out."
"Wait, I'll make some space." Taking her sword, she starts cutting zombie heads, after ten or twelve fall to the floor the hoard move closer to fill the spa
ce. "Pull now Jack." Grabbing the rope, they both pull and ever so slowly, Sky-zombie starts to rise from the pack. Even as they are pulling, the screaming and moaning is getting louder as more and more zombies burst into flames. Pulling hard on the rope, they drag Sky across the heaving hoard and are within grabbing distance as the sun ignites those zombies at the back.
"Quick Natasha, get the syringe ready."
Removing the syringe from her inventory, she lets go of the rope and Sky pulls free from their grasp, moving backwards towards the burning zombies. Dropping the syringe to grab the rope again, it falls onto the wall and rolls over the edge.
"No!" screams Jack, pulling with all his might and Sky pulls within grabbing distance. Grabbing Sky's outstretch arm, he immediately lets go as Sky lunges for him, teeth gnashing.
"Careful Jack, he may be a player but he's still a zombie and can infect you."
"Throw him over the wall. We'll have more chance of controlling him on the ground."
Pulling Sky forward again they tug him until his head is on the wall, then with one almighty yank, they throw him over the edge into the square below. Just as Sky falls, the sun light touches the remaining zombies and with a roar, they ignite.
"Quick, jump; we'll be toast if we stay here."
Jumping from the wall Natasha hits the ground and rolls, but as Jack hits, he goes face first into the mud. Immediately Sky is on his back, trying to bite his neck. Running to his aid, Natasha grabs hold of Sky from behind but he throws her off and hungrily attacks Jack. Lifting his head in the air, Sky roars as he is about to plunge his teeth into Jack, just as the sun light strikes the back of his head. Immediately bursting into flames his triumphant roar turns to one of defeat. Running and jumping at the same time, Natasha leaps into the air and kicks Sky in the side, sending him sprawling on the ground in a fiery heap. Pulling Jack away from the flame, she dusts him off.
"You ok, did he bite you?"
Rubbing the back of his neck, he finds no blood. "I'm ok, thanks Natasha. That was too close."
Watching Sky burn, they silently curse this game. So close, we almost saved him.
BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...
The third competitor has been eliminated. Sky has not proven worthy. Nine competitors remain. Continue the tournament.
"We don't even get a second to grieve. Stuff you and your game," shouts Natasha. "Come on Jack, let's find that syringe."
Jumping back onto the wall, they are greeted by a much-changed scene. Gone are the zombie hoards with a clear field left in their place.
"Now that's a sight for sore eyes." Jumping to the ground Natasha retrieves the dropped syringe. "Still ok. So Jack, you ready for a run?"
"Oh right, Jay. I almost forgot." Jumping off the wall, this time Jack does a nice tuck and roll, coming up next to Natasha.
"Nice Jack. Pity you couldn't have done that last time."
"I'm sorry Natasha. It's my fault we could not cure Sky in time."
"What? Rubbish, I was only messing. You did great Jack. We only tried to save him because of you. Come on, we have some other's who need our help."
As the two run across the empty field in the direction of their tower, a lone NPC stands on the wall and watches them leave.
15 - Honey, I'm home!
Running back into the tower, Natasha grabs Jack and spins him to face her. "Jack, you did great to get this cure but you do know that it might not work, don't you?"
"Why not? We did everything we were supposed to."
"The seeds Jack. We don't know if we have the right seeds."
"What will happen if it is the wrong when we inject them?"
"Who knows? Maybe nothing and we'll just have to go back out and find some watermelon seeds and try again or..."
"Or what Natasha?"
"Or they could die. We just won't know until we try it."
With a huge explosion of noise, the two are thrown off their feet in a pile of rubble.
"What the heck was that?" Natasha shouts as she drags herself to her feet. Looking at a hole in the wall, she can see green shapes moving in the fields beyond the castle. "Creepers" she sighs under her breath as another explosion shatters the far wall.
"Jack, start blocking the holes with cobblestone but stay as far back from them as you can. If the creepers get in here, they'll destroy the place before we can cure the others."
"Right Natasha, but who are you going to try the cure on?" shouts Jack over his shoulder, already blocking the first hole and preparing to move to the second.
"Jethro. If he were here, he would insist we use it on him. He's just that type of guy. Wish me luck kid," she says with a wink as she dashes off to where she left Jethro the day before. Just as she reaches his door an explosion detonates, quickly followed by another. "Holy Notch, Jack better work quick or we're done for. Right Jethro, be kind to me," she mumbles as she retrieves the syringe from her inventory and pushes open the door.
*****
Stepping into the room, she is shocked to find it empty. "What the...," but does not get to finish her sentence as Jethro lunges at her from behind the door and wrestles her to the ground, knocking the syringe out of her hand in the process. "Jack, help," she screams just as another detonation rocks the castle. Realizing that she is on her own, she throws Jethro off her and crawls towards the syringe. As she reaches out her hand, Jethro grabs her foot and pulls her back. "No you stinking zombie, get off me!" she screams as Jethro continues to pull himself up her leg. Kicking him in the face, she reaches behind her, franticly searching for the syringe but as she lays her hand on it, Jethro sinks his teeth into her leg. "No...," screaming she plunges the syringe into the back of Jethro's neck and pushes him off her. Quickly grabbing the second syringe she plunges it into her own leg as she feels the zombie virus coursing through her blood vessels.
*****
As Jack patches one hole, another is blown in the other side of the castle. Running across the courtyard another explosion rips the side of the wall at the opposite side. Oh no, I can't fix them both, he thinks running to the furthest hole. Looking out across the field, he gasps at the sight of dozens of creepers moving towards the castle. "Natasha, hurry up. We don't have much time here," he shouts as he patches the hole and runs towards the next as another explosion detonates.
"Natasha, come on girl, we need to get moving!" he shouts at her as she stumbles into the courtyard. "Did you hear me? There are dozens of creepers heading for the castle, did it work, the cure?" he asks just as Jethro also stumbles into the courtyard. They both stare at him with dead eyes, weaving from side to side. "No.... Natasha!" Running towards her she suddenly starts coughing and falls to her knees as Jack arrives at her side.
"Jack, it works. Jethro will be fine but I've bad news. He bit me before I could inject him and I had to use the last syringe on myself. I'm so sorry."
Standing, just as another detonation rips some more of the wall away, Jacks looks at her, tears streaming down his face. "But what about Jay and Nathan. We don't have time to find some more cures and if they stay here the creepers will blow this place apart and they'll burn in the sun."
Struggling to her feet, Natasha reaches out to Jack. "I'm so sorry; I don't know what to say."
"Get off me."
"Jack, it's not her fault. If I hadn't bitten her, we would be ok," stutters Jethro.
"Shut it Jethro." Looking back, Jack looks at him in shock."Jethro, you're ok. Good to have you back." Looking back at Natasha his anger recedes and he apologizes. "Sorry Natasha, but what are we going to do?"
"It's ok Jack, but I just don't know. If only we had some iron ingots we could make some more cure."
"Uh, I have an iron ingot," replies Jethro reaching into his inventory and pulling out the bar.
Running to his side Jack embraces him. "Jethro, you rock man. Quick Natasha, make another syringe."
Throwing the iron ingot to Natasha, she catches it and sets up the craft
ing table. "Jack, go fill those holes. If the creepers get in here we'll never be able to help them." Working furiously she assembles another syringe then loads it with zombie virus cure.
"Right, Jack keep filling those holes, I'm going to inject Nathan."
"No...What about Jay?"
"We have to do Nathan first. He's carrying the last iron ingot. If we inject Jay then Nathan is dead."
"Right, just do it, just please help Jay too," he pleads.
"I will Jack, I promise. Jethro, come with me. I'm going to need your help with Nathan."
Running into the tower, they stand outside the room as another explosion rocks the castle.
"Right Jethro, when I open the door you have to distract Nathan so I can plunge this syringe into him. Do not let him bite you. We have no more zombie cure, ok?"
"No problem there Natasha. Being infected once was quite enough."
Opening the door Jethro runs into the room and grabs Nathan by the arm, swinging him around to face the far wall. "Now Natasha, get him," he shouts, trying to keep Nathan from biting his upraised arms.
Natasha dashes into the room and plunges the syringe into Nathan's back as he reaches for Jethro.
Letting out an ear-splitting scream, he throws Jethro to the floor and turns to face Natasha. With drool running from his teeth, he advances on her as she stumbles and falls to the floor. Taking advantage of the situation, Nathan lunges at her and jumps on her leg, raising his head ready to deliver a deadly bite.
"Not again," screams Natasha as she raises her free leg, ready to kick Nathan in the head. Just as she is about to release a neck breaking blow Nathan looks at her and smiles.
"Natasha? What are we doing on the floor?"
Laughing despite herself she replies. "Nathan, am I ever glad to see you." Pulling herself to her feet, she picks Nathan up off the floor. "No time for explanations Nate, but do you have an iron ingot in your inventory?"
Reaching inside himself, he pulls out an iron ingot. "Sure, what do you need that for?"
Grabbing the bar, Natasha whips out her crafting table, assembles another syringe, and loads it up with zombie virus cure. "Right Jethro, ready to try that again?"