I woke up and my senses first picked up the crackling fire. Noname had awoken before me and started the fire place again. I had slept very well, I dreamed even. So blurry, it looked like a house. Oh well, I was awake now. Noname had his back to me, observing the fire. He slowly turned around to notice I was awake. “Good morning.” Said Noname. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. I had slept on a raggy couch in front of the fireplace. I never took off my armor, I slept in my armor? I removed my helmet and yawned. Noname, still looking at the fire, noticed. “I made some mushroom soup, it’s on the counter over there.” He said. I turned right to see a kitchen area and a bowl of mushroom soup sitting on the counter, still steaming hot. I stood up and walked my way to the meal with my armor clanking dully. I simply lifted up the bowl and began drinking the soup and its contents gulp by gulp. I was hungry, very hungry. I felt the hot liquid drip down the corners of my mouth, I didn’t even like mushrooms! I put down the empty wooden bowl and walked into the living room. I saw Kr3w’s body laying on the floor lifelessly as well as Extreats’ horribly murdered remains. The blood on the wall was dry now, turning a crusty brown. I turned and walked up to Noname in front of the fire. I sat down next to him. We didn’t exchange looks but we spoke. “We have to go Noname.” I said “I know. I want to leave, I can’t stop thinking about Extreats. I don’t think I’ve killed before.” “You felt sorry for him? He killed Kr3w though...” “I know, but I don’t think I was ready to take anybody's life. I was just given a little push.” “A push?” “He was going to kill you, I didn’t want him to kill you.” Noname said. I turned my view from the fire place to Noname. He had drifted his sight down towards the floor. I stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come on dude, lets go home.” I said. Noname stood up silently. He picked up some cloths and placed them around the fire. Then he grabbed a stick and connected the burning charcoal to the dry and flammable cloths. “Okay, let’s go. Let’s let this place burn, burn everything inside.” Said Noname.
We surfaced from Extreats’ cave and began walking along the cliffs. I had snagged the map off of Kr3w’s body before leaving. We walked long, across the bright white sands. We didn’t intend to try the tunnels again. The sun beating down on us. Our sweat flowing freely. It must have been a few hours before the stone platform came into sight. I didn’t see this before, but the platform had a small staircase coming up the west side. It wasn’t marked, hardly visible from above. So, Noname started to approach the staircase. I was happy to see the exit, but thought that we’d never come back. We’ll never want to see this place again. I turned around to see the Sandstone Desert one more time. But what I saw was never what I suspected. I saw a person walking across the sand in the distance. I decided not to mention it to Noname, I figured that other people visit the desert and the figure was just a citizen of Sunset Cove. Noname had already began walking up the staircase. He stopped to view my progress
“C’mon Graphix!.” He said I looked at him and hustled up to the staircase. As soon as my foot reached the first step Noname continued his ascend out of the desert ahead of me.. I began walking up the spiral staircase, far behind my teammate. As we made progress up the staircase, I kept glancing out into the desert to see the unfamiliar figure moving out way beyond distinct eye sight. “Who is that?” I thought. I didn’t stop to ask or ponder the stranger. But then I heard something incredible. Noname screamed. “Holy ! GO DOWN, GO DOWN!” He yelled. I stopped walking up the stairs and glanced upwards to listen to his words. “TNT! RUN!” Noname said. My eyes grew wide with fear and I began racing back down the stairs, too late. BANG! I felt the stone wall the staircase stood along explode and its shrapnel spray me. The force threw me out off the staircase and airborne. I was falling. Suddenly, I hit the sand with heavy impact. I rolled over half conscious. I looked up at the platform to see the staircase completely obliterated and a large column of destruction left in the stonewall. Looking up, I saw soldiers. Revenant’s soldiers. The armed men atop the platform walked away, out of sight. I blacked out.
I was dreaming...flowers...grass...a house...smells good. I opened my eyes and sat up sharply with a large inhale of air. My heart was beating fiercely and my body ached. “Ahhh...ing....ugh...” I moaned. It hurt so bad! I leaned back down onto a soft surface. I noticed that I was lying down on a single bed, comfortably with blankets and a soft pillow. I turned my head left and noticed a wooden wall with a window that extended out of the wall just a block. In the window sill were flowers and plants that absorbed the sunlight happily. flowers... I turned my head right to see an open room. A night stand next to the bed had a clock, it was noon. I sat up in bed once more to observe the room. It was an all wooden bedroom. I saw the exiting door, only about 10 blocks away. It was a decent sized room. I twisted and brought my legs out from under the covers, sitting up straight. I looked at myself. I was bandaged. I had white straps around my torso and my left arm in a sling. My right knee was also wrapped. I grasped my wounded arm and felt the pain, the ache. I stood up, ignoring the roaring pain in my leg. I began hobbling toward the door, but was interrupted when I found a chest just on the other side of the night stand. I decided to investigate. I opened up the chest to find all of my armor and weapons, all my belongings.
After putting all my armor on, I had removed my sling, I prepared to exit the room. I debated whether I should proceed with my weapon drawn, but decided against it. If there was any threat, they wouldn’t have let me keep my blade. I stared at the blade, noticing its blood stains were still there. Extreats’ blood stains. I also noticed a crack, from when I charged Extreats. Our blades collided with such force, the sword had a small chip in the material. The little missing piece didn’t bother me, it was the crack. There was a crack spreading from the damaged point. It looked like the sword might have struck its last mark. It was time to find where I have found myself. I quickly recalled what happened and walked outside. The door opened creakily. I peeked around the door. I was in a hallway, to my left was a dead end but to my right was a living room. I wandered into the living room, eyes darting insecurely. The living room was well designed, a beautiful home. There was a fireplace inside of a drop down floor with a black carpet. I noticed that along the immediate floor was red carpet. I looked up to see an above ground pool with a glass floor directly above me. The fireplace was crackling, but I heard no other noise.
“Hello?” I said. “Hello!” I heard. I turned around to see a young woman walking in through the door. My eyes were wide with surprise, who knew asking hello actually gets you an answer? “Oh, uh...hi! Is this your house?” I asked. She smiled and nodded. “Well, thanks for your hospitality but do you know where my friend is? We have to get going.” I said. “So soon? Why not just stay here for a while, you still need to heal.” She responded. I squinted my eyes in suspicion. “So it WAS you who brought us here. You were the person I saw in the desert!” I said. Putting pieces together is fun, but what I figured out was not very impressive. I could tell because of her response. “Haha, way to go hero! Yea, it was me. Why? You got a problem with people saving your lives?” She said. I had a feeling that I was gonna be a here a while. “Yea...well, I’m Graphix7 nice to meet you.” I extended my hand in introduction. She raised one eyebrow. “A gentlemen huh? Nice to meet you Graphix, I’m Voxanna.” She introduced herself. She locked a strong hand with mine and shook firmly. Ouch! She’s strong! Her hand stopped greeting my own and turned to a gentle touch, she held my hand and quickly began walking past me. With her fingers around my palm, I was dragged behind her. “Come here,” Vox said while leading me into the drop down area with the fire place, “Sit down, I want to talk to you.” She lead me in front of a couch and commanded me to sit and make myself comfortable. I was slightly charmed by her. I really haven’t thought about it but, I’ve never had a girlfriend. At least to my memory of course. Why was I thinking about girlfriends while talking to Voxanna? I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was staring at her in stupidity. “Are you still with us Graphix?” She broke the silence. I blinked. “Oh, uh yea! Ha ha, sorry about that. You...wanted to talk right?” I clumsily responded. I expected a smile to spread on Voxanna’s face but instead I saw a look of concern. She leaned forward in her chair.
“Yea, I have some questions,” She began, “What happened back there? In the desert I mean.” “Well,” I began. My thoughts began to drift back to that moment. “Noname and I were walking up the staircase to exit Sandstone Desert when I heard him scream ‘TNT’ at the top of his lungs. I started running down the staircase and then, boom.” My eyes were wandering during the story but locked right back on Voxanna. She showed no emotion. “Where were you going?” She asked. I looked out the window to my right. I thought we were in Sunset Cove, but all I saw was blue sky outside the window. “Um, we were going back to Sunset Cove.” I answered. Voxanna looked down at the floor and sighed inconspicuously. I raised an eyebrow, concern. “Is something wrong?” I asked. Vox looked up at me and brushed her hair back over her right ear. “Actually, yea-” She began, but was interrupted by my trusted teammate.
Noname walked into the room bandaged and bloody. He was obviously more hurt than I was. I stood up to greet my comrade, however Voxanna beat me to it. She rushed to his attendance and insisted that he lies down back in his bed. Noname argued very weakly in surprise. “But...no I...um...but” Noname feebly attempted to interrupt Voxanna’s almost, ferocious attack. I sat back down as the two rounded the corner. Why didn’t she act like that for me?
I leaned back on the couch and stretched my arms out above me. I was still very sore. I stood up and stretched my legs. I need some fresh air. Looking over to my right I saw a wooden door exiting the house. I began walking to the door, turned the handle, and opened the door. Exiting the house, my eyes strained from the sun. My vision focused as my pupils adjusted to the light. The house was on a flat of grassland right outside the Sandstone Desert. Actually, we were very close to Sunset Cove. I could see the walls far in the distance just peering over the Horizon. I looked around, it was a very secluded location. The humble home was in a drop down somewhere in the forest, going anywhere requires you to walk up out of the dug out. Voxanna had installed a few sets of stairs to help exiting the dug out easier.
I looked up to observe the clouds. Their square bodies slowly drifting North. This is pretty nice. But I had other things cross across my mind, things that interrupted my comfortable position in this Eden. What happened? Why didn’t Revenant’s men help us? Did Revenant think we are dead? “Noname and I should go back to Sunset Cove” I whispered to myself. I looked back at the exit I had taken to come outside. I walked back into the house. I stepped in and felt the comforting surroundings relax me, it was a very pleasant house. I walked down the hallway, where I saw Vox and Noname walk. I passed the bedroom I woke up in and opened the next door on the left.
I must have had bad timing, or maybe just bad luck. I walked in and saw Vox leaning over the bed, locking lips with Noname. My eyes widened and Nonames right eye peeked open to see me standing in the doorway. He turned away from Vox and locked eyes with me. Vox turned and stood up in surprise.
“Oh, um...hello Graphix...um...I’ll go make drinks...” She nervously uttered. I looked at her as she quickly walked out of the room passed me. I turned and looked at Noname once again with a dropped jaw. His eyes looked at me with surprise, his lips frozen in the relaxed position they were previously occupying. “Hey...um...hey...” Noname said. My eyebrows lowered and squeezed together as I shook my head left and right. Noname simply shrugged. I turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. I slowly walked back down the hallway but stopped, what just happened? Was I jealous? I don’t think I’m jealous, but why am I angry with Noname for getting involved with Vox? Whoa...one kiss makes a lot of questions.
I walked into the living room to see Vox sitting on the couch leaning forward and staring into the fire. Her green eyes were glued to the orange glow of the fire as it cast over the room. It was now dark and the fire was all that lit the room. I leaned against the wall casually. “I thought you were going to make drinks?” I interrupted her moment. She didn’t move, she just closed her eyes and lowered her head. “You know I wasn’t really...” She said. I walked over and sat beside her. I leaned forward just as she did and stared at the fire. “I’m so embarrassed. I just, got caught in the moment I guess.” “What happened?” I asked. “He had more serious injuries than you, it’s been lonely out here all by myself...I have been taking care of him. Maybe he just charmed me...” She said. “It looked like he caught more of your charm” I responded. She turned her head at me and gave me an angry look. I was scared at first but then, I saw. She had tears in her eyes, not quite falling down her cheeks nor quite drying up. They just sat there in her eyes. “Sorry...I didn’t mean that.” I said. Vox turned her head to the fire and continued staring. “I don’t really think it matters, lets just forget about it.” I spoke. I was expecting a mutual agreement but didn’t get one. “I think I like him, he’s kind of cute...” Vox said. She turned her head to me with a smile. I felt my eyebrows assume a curious position on my face. I guess she’s okay. Voxanna leaned back on the couch and wiped away her, “kinda sorta” tears.
“You can’t go back to Sunset Cove. Revenant put a bounty on your head and he wants you dead.” Voxanna spoke. My eyes showed concern. I turned my body toward her, showing my full attention. “What? How do you know this?” I asked. Voxanna avoided eye contact with me. “I know for sure, he wants you gone. You’re a loose end. I’m surprised you and Noname haven’t figured it out yet.” She answered. I started thinking. What’s going on? We went looking for Extreats, Revenant gave us shelter and weapons to kill him, we killed Extreats, then the staircase going home exploded! Holy crap! “Wait, what’s going on?” I asked, my eyes darting frantically in thought. Vox turned to look at me thinking hard. “I assume you came to the Sandstone Desert to kill Extreats, right?” Vox began. I turned and nodded my head. “Revenant wanted him dead because Extreats knew about his plan. You see, Revenant has been paying him to grief and pillage Spawnville in hopes of attracting new citizens to Sunset Cove. Think Graphix, think.” She said. I looked down at the floor, still pondering the situation.
zRevenant paid Extreats to terrorize the citizens of Spawnville and drive them to his town, Sunset Cove. He gave Extreats soldiers and didn’t tell him the full plan, only to grief Spawnville. Extreats learned and was unhappy that he was just a tool in Revenants gang. Extreats murdered all of the soldiers, Revenant became worried. Revenant wanted Extreats dead because he knew of the whole plot, Revenant put a bounty on Extreats and drove him into the desert to live in a cave. Revenant must have been very worried that his citizens would find out that he was personally responsible for the griefing of a small town, but he couldn’t just send soldiers out to kill Extreats because it would look suspicious. Revenant encouraged and supplied us to kill Extreats. Just to be safe, Revenant ordered the murder of anyone that emerged from Extreats’ cave alive. His goons planted the staircase with TNT...that’s why he wants us dead.
That’s how Extreats was so well supplied! That’s why he murdered his gang! That’s why Revenant was happy to have residents but wanted him gone! That’s why Sunset Cove was so populated! That’s why Noname and I are now wrapped in ing bandages while zRevenant was enjoying his power over the puppets of Sunset Cove.
Holy crap, this whole time Me, Noname, and Kr3w were all part of this bastards plot of conspiracy. Extreats, the very person I sought to murder warned me! Kr3w died because this son of a turned our group into a ing tool!
My anger rose, my fingers squeezed together, my teeth clenched. I stood up and walked quickly down the hall. I had to tell Noname, he has to know. Voxanna only glanced at me as I walked away. “Bingo...you get it.” I heard Vox say.
I spent a while explaining the situation to Noname, I noticed Voxanna watch from the doorway. Noname was still in bed but this information changed everything, he had to know as soon as possible. Noname showed no emotion, only a surprised look on his face. He was lost in thought after I was finished. Vox showed me back to my bed as I walked out into the hallway. She said I had a big day tomorrow, that me and Noname need to sleep. I walked into the bedroom and just stood there. Vox closed the door and I heard her footsteps grow quiet. I looked at the bed, my emotions drained...I’ll worry about this tomorrow...I was tired...
This picture came from
Day - 6 Extreats’ Cave; Sandstone Desert
“Good morning.” Said Noname. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. I had slept on a raggy couch in front of the fireplace. I never took off my armor, I slept in my armor? I removed my helmet and yawned. Noname, still looking at the fire, noticed.
“I made some mushroom soup, it’s on the counter over there.” He said. I turned right to see a kitchen area and a bowl of mushroom soup sitting on the counter, still steaming hot. I stood up and walked my way to the meal with my armor clanking dully. I simply lifted up the bowl and began drinking the soup and its contents gulp by gulp. I was hungry, very hungry. I felt the hot liquid drip down the corners of my mouth, I didn’t even like mushrooms! I put down the empty wooden bowl and walked into the living room. I saw Kr3w’s body laying on the floor lifelessly as well as Extreats’ horribly murdered remains. The blood on the wall was dry now, turning a crusty brown. I turned and walked up to Noname in front of the fire. I sat down next to him. We didn’t exchange looks but we spoke.
“We have to go Noname.” I said
“I know. I want to leave, I can’t stop thinking about Extreats. I don’t think I’ve killed before.”
“You felt sorry for him? He killed Kr3w though...”
“I know, but I don’t think I was ready to take anybody's life. I was just given a little push.”
“A push?”
“He was going to kill you, I didn’t want him to kill you.” Noname said. I turned my view from the fire place to Noname. He had drifted his sight down towards the floor. I stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Come on dude, lets go home.” I said. Noname stood up silently. He picked up some cloths and placed them around the fire. Then he grabbed a stick and connected the burning charcoal to the dry and flammable cloths.
“Okay, let’s go. Let’s let this place burn, burn everything inside.” Said Noname.
“Who is that?” I thought. I didn’t stop to ask or ponder the stranger. But then I heard something incredible. Noname screamed.
“Holy ! GO DOWN, GO DOWN!” He yelled. I stopped walking up the stairs and glanced upwards to listen to his words. “TNT! RUN!” Noname said. My eyes grew wide with fear and I began racing back down the stairs, too late. BANG! I felt the stone wall the staircase stood along explode and its shrapnel spray me. The force threw me out off the staircase and airborne. I was falling. Suddenly, I hit the sand with heavy impact. I rolled over half conscious. I looked up at the platform to see the staircase completely obliterated and a large column of destruction left in the stonewall. Looking up, I saw soldiers. Revenant’s soldiers. The armed men atop the platform walked away, out of sight. I blacked out.
“Ahhh...ing....ugh...” I moaned. It hurt so bad! I leaned back down onto a soft surface. I noticed that I was lying down on a single bed, comfortably with blankets and a soft pillow. I turned my head left and noticed a wooden wall with a window that extended out of the wall just a block. In the window sill were flowers and plants that absorbed the sunlight happily. flowers... I turned my head right to see an open room. A night stand next to the bed had a clock, it was noon. I sat up in bed once more to observe the room. It was an all wooden bedroom. I saw the exiting door, only about 10 blocks away. It was a decent sized room. I twisted and brought my legs out from under the covers, sitting up straight. I looked at myself. I was bandaged. I had white straps around my torso and my left arm in a sling. My right knee was also wrapped. I grasped my wounded arm and felt the pain, the ache. I stood up, ignoring the roaring pain in my leg. I began hobbling toward the door, but was interrupted when I found a chest just on the other side of the night stand. I decided to investigate. I opened up the chest to find all of my armor and weapons, all my belongings.
“Hello!” I heard. I turned around to see a young woman walking in through the door. My eyes were wide with surprise, who knew asking hello actually gets you an answer?
“Oh, uh...hi! Is this your house?” I asked. She smiled and nodded. “Well, thanks for your hospitality but do you know where my friend is? We have to get going.” I said.
“So soon? Why not just stay here for a while, you still need to heal.” She responded. I squinted my eyes in suspicion.
“So it WAS you who brought us here. You were the person I saw in the desert!” I said. Putting pieces together is fun, but what I figured out was not very impressive. I could tell because of her response.
“Haha, way to go hero! Yea, it was me. Why? You got a problem with people saving your lives?” She said. I had a feeling that I was gonna be a here a while.
“Yea...well, I’m Graphix7 nice to meet you.” I extended my hand in introduction. She raised one eyebrow.
“A gentlemen huh? Nice to meet you Graphix, I’m Voxanna.” She introduced herself. She locked a strong hand with mine and shook firmly. Ouch! She’s strong! Her hand stopped greeting my own and turned to a gentle touch, she held my hand and quickly began walking past me. With her fingers around my palm, I was dragged behind her.
“Come here,” Vox said while leading me into the drop down area with the fire place, “Sit down, I want to talk to you.” She lead me in front of a couch and commanded me to sit and make myself comfortable. I was slightly charmed by her. I really haven’t thought about it but, I’ve never had a girlfriend. At least to my memory of course. Why was I thinking about girlfriends while talking to Voxanna? I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was staring at her in stupidity. “Are you still with us Graphix?” She broke the silence. I blinked.
“Oh, uh yea! Ha ha, sorry about that. You...wanted to talk right?” I clumsily responded. I expected a smile to spread on Voxanna’s face but instead I saw a look of concern. She leaned forward in her chair.
“Well,” I began. My thoughts began to drift back to that moment. “Noname and I were walking up the staircase to exit Sandstone Desert when I heard him scream ‘TNT’ at the top of his lungs. I started running down the staircase and then, boom.” My eyes were wandering during the story but locked right back on Voxanna. She showed no emotion.
“Where were you going?” She asked. I looked out the window to my right. I thought we were in Sunset Cove, but all I saw was blue sky outside the window.
“Um, we were going back to Sunset Cove.” I answered. Voxanna looked down at the floor and sighed inconspicuously. I raised an eyebrow, concern.
“Is something wrong?” I asked. Vox looked up at me and brushed her hair back over her right ear.
“Actually, yea-” She began, but was interrupted by my trusted teammate.
“But...no I...um...but” Noname feebly attempted to interrupt Voxanna’s almost, ferocious attack. I sat back down as the two rounded the corner. Why didn’t she act like that for me?
“Noname and I should go back to Sunset Cove” I whispered to myself. I looked back at the exit I had taken to come outside. I walked back into the house. I stepped in and felt the comforting surroundings relax me, it was a very pleasant house. I walked down the hallway, where I saw Vox and Noname walk. I passed the bedroom I woke up in and opened the next door on the left.
“Hey...um...hey...” Noname said. My eyebrows lowered and squeezed together as I shook my head left and right. Noname simply shrugged. I turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. I slowly walked back down the hallway but stopped, what just happened? Was I jealous? I don’t think I’m jealous, but why am I angry with Noname for getting involved with Vox? Whoa...one kiss makes a lot of questions.
“I thought you were going to make drinks?” I interrupted her moment. She didn’t move, she just closed her eyes and lowered her head.
“You know I wasn’t really...” She said. I walked over and sat beside her. I leaned forward just as she did and stared at the fire. “I’m so embarrassed. I just, got caught in the moment I guess.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“He had more serious injuries than you, it’s been lonely out here all by myself...I have been taking care of him. Maybe he just charmed me...” She said.
“It looked like he caught more of your charm” I responded. She turned her head at me and gave me an angry look. I was scared at first but then, I saw. She had tears in her eyes, not quite falling down her cheeks nor quite drying up. They just sat there in her eyes. “Sorry...I didn’t mean that.” I said. Vox turned her head to the fire and continued staring. “I don’t really think it matters, lets just forget about it.” I spoke. I was expecting a mutual agreement but didn’t get one.
“I think I like him, he’s kind of cute...” Vox said. She turned her head to me with a smile. I felt my eyebrows assume a curious position on my face. I guess she’s okay. Voxanna leaned back on the couch and wiped away her, “kinda sorta” tears.
“What? How do you know this?” I asked. Voxanna avoided eye contact with me.
“I know for sure, he wants you gone. You’re a loose end. I’m surprised you and Noname haven’t figured it out yet.” She answered. I started thinking. What’s going on? We went looking for Extreats, Revenant gave us shelter and weapons to kill him, we killed Extreats, then the staircase going home exploded! Holy crap!
“Wait, what’s going on?” I asked, my eyes darting frantically in thought. Vox turned to look at me thinking hard.
“I assume you came to the Sandstone Desert to kill Extreats, right?” Vox began. I turned and nodded my head. “Revenant wanted him dead because Extreats knew about his plan. You see, Revenant has been paying him to grief and pillage Spawnville in hopes of attracting new citizens to Sunset Cove. Think Graphix, think.” She said. I looked down at the floor, still pondering the situation.
“Bingo...you get it.” I heard Vox say.
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We're all just doing our best, to do what we think is right, in the world we believe in.
We're all just doing our best, to do what we think is right, in the world we believe in.