The Phantom Virus

by Mark Cheverton

  Crafter looked at the villagers with his aged, bright-blue eyes. “You have gone unnoticed until now. But the monsters likely know of your presence and will be here soon. A wall is your only hope of survival. I’m sorry we cannot stay and help, but I fear we have bigger problems to deal with.”

  Stitcher then stepped forward and spoke in a low voice. “We should take some of the wolves with us for our own protection. I think the monsters of the Overworld will have their eyes on us as well.”

  “You are probably right,” Crafter said, then nodded to Herder.

  The boy pulled out bones from his inventory, then ran through the crowd of wolves, taming each one with a tap of the bone. Soon, the entire massive pack wore brown collars around their necks. Pulling a dozen aside, he knelt down and whispered into their ears, giving each one a separate command. Then he stood up to face the rest of the animals.

  “Protect,” Herder said in a clear voice.

  The wolves barked, then some spread out around the village while others shot into the woods, looking for threats. The dozen he’d spoken to stayed at his side. He turned and smiled at Crafter, his grin reaching his sparkling, two-color eyes.

  “Everyone gather supplies,” Gameknight said. “We don’t know when we’ll get to the next village; we must be prepared.”

  The party spread out, asking the villagers for what they needed, while the village crafter repaired armor and weapons for Gameknight and his friends. Standing on the edge of the village, the User-that-is-not-a-user gazed into the dark spruce forest that encircled the village. For some reason, he felt as if the forest were staring back at him. Was he going crazy?

  “You can’t let Herobrine’s words get to you,” Crafter said. “He’s lying to make you upset.”

  “But—”

  Crafter held up a hand, silencing his friend.

  “Don’t play his game,” Crafter said. “If you start to blame yourself, then you’re doing exactly what he wants. Do you think that is the best thing to do?”

  “No,” Gameknight replied, his head hung in shame.

  “That’s right. So maybe you should hold your head up and be confident. You’re the User-that-is-not-a-user, the person that defeated Herobrine and ended his reign of terror. Stand up straight!”

  Gameknight reluctantly pulled his head up and stood tall.

  “That’s better,” Crafter said. “Now, go get some supplies. We should leave by noon.”

  Gameknight gave his friend a smile, then went to a villager to get food and torches … and, of course, TNT.

  The spider that lurked high overhead, nestled amid the branches of a tall spruce, wanted to laugh at the foolish NPCs, but knew remaining hidden for now was more important. She watched as the villagers scurried about, collecting items for their quest … how pathetic. Closing her multiple red eyes, she sent her thoughts to the queen of the spiders, then waited to receive new instructions. Being a direct descendant of Shaivalak, she had this particular ability to communicate, her thoughts merging into those of her queen and the rest of the queen’s descendants. The sister gave a sinister smile when she heard Shaivalak’s plans unfold within her spidery mind. The monster’s eyes glowed bright red at the thought of her sisters destroying the terrible User-that-is-not-a-user. She resisted the urge to click her mandibles together with evil glee, then burrowed deeper into the branches of the spruce, staying out of sight … and waiting.

  CHAPTER 11

  BRYCE

  They left the village with the sun at its zenith, the noonday light streaming through the high overhead tree branches, creating islands of bright illumination within the sea of shadows that covered the forest floor. With the bright patches of light, it was unlikely they would run into any zombies or skeletons, but even so, they kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. Herder’s wolves formed a protective ring around the companions and made them all feel a bit safer.

  Digger led them northeast, toward the nearest village that sat far in the distance. According to the last village’s crafter, they could make it there just before dusk, but they had to hurry.

  “You got a weird feeling being in these woods?” Gameknight asked Hunter.

  She turned and looked at him, her enchanted bow casting an iridescent purple glow on the nearby trees.

  “Yeah … like we’re being watched,” Hunter whispered.

  Gameknight nodded, then glanced up at the treetops. He’d been scanning the dark green leaves since they left, and every once in a while he swore he saw something move, but sometimes a breeze moved the high branches and made it look like something was up there watching them. Then again, it would be easy for something to hide up there and remain unseen.

  “Let’s move faster,” Gameknight said in a low voice.

  They shifted from walking to running, trying to move as quietly as the wolves, which was impossible.

  Soon they reached the edge of the forest. Gameknight stopped and sat down to catch his breath. Before him stretched a strange landscape filled with bands of brown, tan, beige, and mustard-yellow colors, all stratified into layers that stretched out across the plateaus. Narrow valleys revealed layers of colors within their steep sides. It reminded Gameknight of the sand sculpture he’d done one year at summer camp. They’d poured different colored sand into a vase, one color atop another, creating vibrant layers within the glass container. That was how this land looked.

  Just beyond the mesas was a collection of narrow, colorful mountains. They weren’t very tall, but they were incredibly steep. Around their bases ran a complex network of shallow chasms only ten to twelve blocks deep, but with walls that were nearly vertical and impossible to climb. Gameknight knew this to be the Bryce biome, named after Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. It was beautiful.

  “The NPCs said the next village will be on the other side of this biome,” Crafter said. “It must be past all those brown spires.”

  “That’s the Bryce biome,” Gameknight said.

  “I’ve never seen it before,” Crafter said.

  “It’s fantastic,” Digger said, the big NPC’s blue-green eyes wide with amazement.

  “We should get moving,” Stitcher said.

  “Yeah, let’s get the sightseeing over with,” Hunter added. “I don’t want to be out there in all those chasms after dark. We’ll never be able to see the monsters coming until it’s too late.”

  “Agreed,” Gameknight said. “Let’s go.”

  He went forward, splashing through a narrow stream that separated the mega taiga from the brown mesa. Herder’s wolves darted past him. The furry creatures shot through the water at incredible speed, then raced up the sloped landscape to the top of the mesa. Gameknight was always amazed at how fast they could run. Turning, he looked back at Herder and found the lanky boy smiling, pride showing on his square face.

  “Let’s get up on top of the mesa and find an easy path across this land,” Crafter suggested.

  Gameknight nodded and climbed the gradual incline that led to the top of a plateau. The land was completely flat across the summit, the ground underfoot a chocolate brown. In fact, all of the land around him was the same color. The brown landscape stretched out in all directions with multiple valleys carved through the seemingly endless plain. The valleys curved to the left and right, taking circuitous routes through the landscape. Gameknight knew following those valleys would add hours to their journey, which they couldn’t afford. For now, they had to stay on top of the mesa so as to get to the next village as soon as possible.

  “Northeast is this way,” Digger said as he started walking.

  “We run!” Hunter said as she sprinted by him.

  The rest of the party raced to follow her example. At times, they had to run down the side of a narrow valley, only to climb the other side and continue their sprint to the northeast. As he ran, Gameknight turned his head, scanning their surroundings and looking for threats. He didn’t like being on top of the mesa and out in the open; it was flat and empty and there was no pl
ace to hide. Monsters would be able to see them from far away, and with the dark landscape surrounding them, the creatures of the night would be difficult to spot.

  “Gameknight,” Crafter said, moving up next to him.

  “What?”

  “Spiders.”

  “Where?” he asked.

  Crafter gestured over his right shoulder.

  The User-that-is-not-a-user looked in that direction, trying not to be conspicuous. Far to the right, he could see a cluster of spiders. It looked like the group was at least twenty strong, if not more.

  “Yeah, I saw them too, a few moments ago,” Stitcher said. “They just popped up over the ridge on the left.”

  “On the left … what are you talking about?” Gameknight asked.

  Looking to the left, he gasped.

  “They’re on both sides of us,” Digger said as he pulled out his pickaxe.

  Gameknight glanced to the left and right and sighed. There were far too many for them to fight. Even with Herder’s wolves, they would be outnumbered and overrun. They could not stand and confront the dark monsters. They had only one option.

  “What do we do?” Crafter asked.

  “We run,” Gameknight said.

  “We can’t run from spiders,” Herder said. “They’re faster than us. My wolves might be able to slow them down for a bit, but not for long.”

  “Gameknight, what do we do?” Crafter asked, his blue eyes filled with fear.

  Gameknight glanced around. Everything was flat, with no place to hide. But then he remembered what lay ahead in the Bryce biome: a labyrinth of narrow chasms weaving their way around tall spires of multicolored clay. They could lose them in the maze.

  “Follow me,” Gameknight said. “We’ll lose the spiders in all the twisting passages and chasms.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Digger said.

  “Since when did that ever stop him before?” Hunter replied with a smile.

  The companions ran into the winding passages that cut through the landscape. Tall spires of brown and tan and pale yellow clay loomed high into the air around them, the earthy spikes casting long shadows across the chasm as the sun raced to the horizon.

  “If we get stuck out here after dark, we’ll get lost,” Crafter said. “We have to keep heading northeast whenever possible.”

  “Just keep your eye on the sun,” Gameknight said as he led the company into a narrow curving passage. The sandy walls hugged them close; at times, the passage was only a single block wide.

  “Herder, have the wolves take up a rear guard position,” Gameknight said.

  The lanky boy nodded, then whistled, calling the animals. In seconds, he had a dozen wolves running at his side.

  “Protect behind,” Herder said to the largest animal in the pack.

  Somehow, the creature understood and slowed, allowing the rest of the group to pull away.

  Their path now started to wind back and forth, carving wide, twisting passageways through the multihued clay. It was sometimes difficult to tell where they were heading, but Crafter seemed confident they were still going in the right direction.

  They had been on the move for a little while when they all heard the unmistakable clicking of spiders high overhead.

  “Everyone hide,” Gameknight said in a whisper.

  Quickly, he dug a hole in the ground two blocks deep and jumped in it, the others doing the same. Herder’s wolves caught up with the group, and all surrounded the boy, their white fur standing out against the rusty sand.

  If the spiders see the wolves, we’re done for, Gameknight thought.

  “Herder, send the wolves away,” the User-that-is-not-a-user whispered. “They’re too easy to see.”

  The young NPC gave his friend a sad look, then nodded. Whispering into the ear of the alpha male, he sent the wolves back toward the mega taiga.

  “Hopefully, they will lead some of the spiders away,” Herder whispered. “They’ll find us later.”

  “If there is a later,” Hunter mumbled.

  Without warning, a group of spiders flowed over the edge of the chasm. With little effort, they scaled the steep walls and charged. Climbing out of their holes, the NPCs had no choice but to draw their weapons and attack. Gameknight was grateful when he counted only six monsters; it could have been a lot worse. Charging, he ran straight through the mob with his shield out, using it like a snowplow. The spiders tumbled aside, allowing him to streak by. When he reached the end, he turned and fell on the back ranks with his sword drawn while the rest of the company attacked the front, trapping the spiders from both sides.

  A spider charged at him, slashing with its dark claws. Gameknight blocked the attack with his shield, then swung at the monster with his diamond sword. The creature flashed red, then attacked again. Claw met diamond as he brought his sword up, but a second claw curved around from the other side and found his chest plate. Fortunately, his armor protected him. Turning, he dropped the shield and drew his iron sword. Spinning like a mad, razor-sharp top, he dove into the spider formations, slashing and hitting everything within reach. As he fought, flaming arrows streaked through the air, hitting the monsters near him. In seconds, it was over.

  Bending down, Gameknight picked up his shield.

  “Why did they attack with only six spiders?” Herder asked.

  “They split up their forces to find us,” Gameknight said. “Exactly what I hoped they would do.”

  “But that means there are still more creatures out there looking for us,” Crafter said.

  “Yeah, and we need them to go to the wrong place,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “Crafter, do you have any of your fireworks with you?”

  “Of course,” the NPC replied. “My great-great-uncle …”

  “Please, not now,” Hunter said, rolling her eyes.

  Crafter stopped, looking embarrassed, then pulled the red-and-white striped rocket from his inventory.

  “Hook it up to a tripwire,” Gameknight said. “If the fireworks go off, we’ll know that more spiders have gotten onto our trail, and it will give us a little more warning.”

  “Set it up and let’s keep going,” Digger said. “The sun is getting lower.”

  Crafter set up the trap, then started running, following Digger and Hunter through the twisting pathway. Only a few minutes later, an explosion erupted high overhead. The green, sparkling face of a creeper looked down upon them as they followed the curving pathway.

  “Everyone, sprint!” Digger said.

  As they ran, the chasm straightened out and they could see the end of the biome. Just past the Bryce were rolling grassy hills; a grassland biome.

  “Come on!” Gameknight said.

  But a clicking sound, like a thousand crickets, filled the air ahead. A wave of spiders filed into the end of the chasm, blocking their exit to the grasslands. In the dimming light of dusk, the bright red eyes of the spiders looked like hateful, burning coals, all of them focused on their prey.

  “What do we do?” Stitcher asked, her voice shaking.

  The spiders behind them hadn’t closed in on them yet, but Gameknight was sure that the loud clicking of the spiders would carry through the curving passes and alert the monsters pursuing them from the rear. Soon, the other half of the spider army would be on them.

  “Gameknight, what do we do?” Stitcher asked.

  “Maybe we should turn around and run for it,” Digger said, his voice edged with fear.

  “What if we climb the walls of the chasm?” Crafter suggested, his voice on the verge of panic.

  “What do we do? Gameknight, tell us—save us—”

  But the User-that-is-not-a-user could not come up with a single idea. He realized now that he had led his friends to this point, and their deaths would be his fault, just like the fate of the villages from Herobrine’s command blocks. Herobrine’s mocking signs had him doubting whether he could be trusted to lead anyone to safety again. As the spiders closed in, he understood that in
trying to help, he’d just made everything worse. Around him, his friends were panicking, yelling out ideas they all knew would never work. This was the end, and all Gameknight could do was stand there, consumed with terror, as the spiders started clicking faster and faster, then finally charged forward, a black fuzzy wave of death flowing through the narrow chasm.

  CHAPTER 12

  TRAPPED

  A loud voice rang out from behind the spiders in front of the group, causing the monsters to stop and turn around. Before they had time to move, the thundering sound of hooves filled the chasm like an impending storm. A chorus of battle cries replied to the first voice as the hoofbeats became louder. And then what seemed to Gameknight like the most beautiful thing in the world happened. Heavily armed cavalry smashed through the spider formation, crushing the monsters under the weight of their warhorses. They drove through the spiders and kept going, charging up to Gameknight and his friends.

  “Come on, get on!” yelled one of the warriors as he drew near.

  Not waiting for a second, Gameknight jumped behind the rider and drew his two swords. More horsemen came forth, gathering the rest of his companions, then stormed back in the direction they’d came.

  By now, the other spiders that had been behind Gameknight and his friends were advancing, clicking their mandibles excitedly. Moving quickly, the warriors charged back toward the opening, but this time it was different. This time, the riders had expert warriors on the back of their steeds, their weapons reaching out with deadly precision to sting the monsters with their razor-sharp blades.

  As the horses charged, Gameknight’s blades tore into the fuzzy creatures with ruthless accuracy. At the same time, the warrior whose horse he was sharing drew his own iron sword. Together, they carved through the enemies in front as they drove the entire group back, making spider after spider flash red with damage. When they successfully punched through the horde, the riders kept going, heading out onto a brown plain.