Mitch's Diary

Day 1- I had to stay in bed all day so that my wounds could heal properly. It wasn't so bad, because I got to meet everyone in the Sky Army (technically it's Team Crafted, but according to Jerome "Sky Army" sounds more menacing to squids.) The only ones that weren't here were Sky himself, Deadlox (or Ty, as his friends call him), and Seto. The first two were kidnapped by the squids, and it doesn't seem like this is the first time either. Seto is a sorcerer who left a few months ago to study the magical properties of water in some taiga biome. They all call gold "butter" and fight against squids.

Jason- He used to live on a star until it spontaneously combusted. He escaped but crash-landed his spacecraft on Minecraftia. His spacesuit is powered by lightning strikes. Jason has a space pig named Jeffrey and a space bat named Dillon.

Jerome- He is a friendly bacca who saved me from the Endermen. Like all baccas, he is obsessed with axes. Jerome calls his diamond axe "Betty". He hates cooked fish (or "vile creatures" as he calls them) and likes to eat raw meat. Jerome was abandoned by his parents for being a runt, but he managed to survive on his own in the jungle until he joined the Sky Army. Jerome is also colorblind.

Quentin- He is a blue mudkip that loves to use TNT. He's calm and collected, but don't call him a fish unless you're asking for a death sentence. Quentin and his family were driven out of their ocean home by the squids and were forced to live in a murky pond. He can live for a few days out of the water before drying out.

Ian- He was raised in a big city until he left his family to look for adventure. He wears sunglasses indoors. When I asked him why, he gave me an uncomfortable look and left the room. Later he told me that his eyes react badly to the sun. I don't really believe him, but who am I to judge when I'm also hiding something?

When they asked me about myself, I told them that I was an orphan whose parents died from mobs. Technically that is true, but they don't know all the details. I also left out how I survived till now. All I said was that I kept exploring until the day the Endermen attacked me for no reason. I just have to remember not to accidentally reveal anything, and everything will be fine. My wounds will heal, and I'll go back home.

Day 2- Today someone shot an arrow through my window. A note was attached to it. The note had a picture of Sky and Ty in a cage. Sky had a broken arm that was wrapped in a bloody sling, but he was sleeping peacefully. Ty looked a lot healthier than Sky, but his eyes were looking fearfully at whoever took the photo. Below the picture were two words: NO HOPE. They can't find whoever shot the arrow. Jason locked himself in his room and won't come out. Everyone else is just silent.

Day 3- Today Jason finally removed my hip stitches. With the help of Jerome, I was finally able to stand up and walk! I asked Jason when I could go home. He looked at me and said, "Actually, I was going to ask if you would like to join the Sky Army."

I didn't know what to say. I heard Jerome mutter to himself, "Please say yes, please say yes..." and a big part of me wanted to. But I also knew that if they ever found out my secret, then they might hate me forever.

Reluctantly, I said no. They all looked disappointed. Jerome asked me why I didn't want to stay. I told him that I was more used to living alone. Jason said that Jerome could take me home first thing tomorrow. I feel so bad right now. They've treated me so well, and here I am rejecting their offer. Why can't I trust anyone?

---

Lord Enderlox swirled the water around with his claw, chuckling gleefully to himself. "Hey." a squid said. "What's that thing in your hands?"

"It's a scrying bowl."

"What's a scrying bowl?"

"It allows me to see whatever I want, now shut up. I'm trying to concentrate." The squid whimpered and swam away. Lord Enderlox's black slits stared into the water intensely. The winged creature felt satisfaction when an image rippled into view. It was a fortified building, and he knew that this was the Sky Army's home base. It was nighttime, and all of its inhabitants were fast asleep. Cold black fire formed in Lord Enderlox's palm. His sharp fangs shone in the darkness as he smiled sadistically.

"Let the nightmares begin..."

---

Jerome was in the jungle, Betty flashing in the sunlight as the axe sliced through another zombie. He smiled as he felt the wind brush past his fur and the adrenaline coarse through his body. Then everything went wrong. Jerome screamed as he felt himself falling and falling...

Crunch. Jerome lay on the ground, his blood staining the dirt around him. It hurt to breathe, and he couldn't feel his legs. He coughed weakly as he saw two baccas approach him.

"He's just a worthless runt." the male said.

"We should leave him." the female said. "He'll die soon, and he'll never amount to anything."

"He's useless."

"Useless."

"Useless..." Jerome turned to see all of his friends staring coldly at him. "You're a useless bacca, and we don't need you anymore..." Jerome screamed when he saw the blinding flash as a blade descended upon him.

Jerome's eyes snapped open. His heart pounded in his chest and his quick breaths broke the silence in the room. It was a dream. Thank Notch it was just a dream... Then he heard whimpers coming from Mitch, who was shifting erratically in his bed. Jerome's legs wobbled like jelly as he stood up and walked over to him.

---

"Hey, kid! Wake up!" Twelve-year-old Mitch gasped as he jolted awake. He gazed in horror at the man towering over him, his gleeful face illuminated by the torch in his hands. Mitch whimpered in fear as he scooted backwards, away from the man. "Hey, hey, I'm not here to hurt you!" the man said in a "friendly" voice as he approached Mitch, his demented smile widening.

"Get away from me!" Mitch said, his panic increasing as his back collided with the wall of the cave he had been sleeping in. "This is my cave! I live here, not you!"

"Too bad, kid. It's mine now." the man said as he casually placed the torch on the wall. "Where are your parents? Are you alone, boy?"

Mitch swallowed nervously. "I- I- They-"

"They're dead, aren't they?" the man said. Mitch stared gloomily at the floor. "Well, kid," the man said, laughing under his breath, "I guess that means it's just you and me." Mitch let out a squeak of terror when the man pulled out a diamond sword. "Got anything of value on you?"

Mitch felt like a mouse being cornered by a cat as he slowly shook his head. "N-No."

"Oh, is that so? What about that necklace you got there?" the man said, pointing at the dog tag hanging around Mitch's neck. Before Mitch could react, the man grabbed the dog tag and tugged on it so the rope snapped.

Mitch went utterly ballistic and struggled with the man, shrieking hysterically. "GIVE IT BACK! THAT WAS MY DADDY'S!"

The man chuckled as he pushed Mitch away and said, "But your daddy isn't here now, is he, boy?" Mitch glared at him, his fists clenched at his sides. The man examined the dog tag triumphantly before turning back to the boy, pointing the diamond sword at him. "Got anything else?" Mitch remained silent, seething with pure anger. "Guess I'll just have to kill you, then. Can't leave any witnesses- OW!" the man cried out as the twelve-year-old swiftly kicked him in the crotch and ran past him. When the man's pain subsided, he whirled around to see Mitch raise a bow and draw an arrow back on the string. There was a fiery intensity in his amber eyes as he aimed it at the man's chest. It was scary how fast Mitch had turned from a terrified child to a fierce fighter. "Now, now, kid, I'm sure we can talk this out..." the man said nervously as he backed away.

"Give it back." Mitch said in a deadly voice. "Give it back, leave, and don't come back, or I'll shoot."

The man's grip on the dog tag tightened. "You don't have the guts, kid."

The man raised his sword and approached Mitch slowly. "Stay back!" Mitch yelled. "I really will shoot!" The man only laughed as he stepped closer to the twelve-year-old. He was only a few feet away when a bird outside the cave suddenly let out a sharp warble, startling Mitch. His hands shook and Mitch instinctively closed his eyes. He suddenly realized that his right hand was empty, for the arrow had slipped from his grasp. The man's laughter was cut off and he let out a choking sound as his body slumped to the floor. And then the realization of what had just happened came crashing down on Mitch as he slowly opened his eyes and immediately wished he hadn't.

---

"Mitch, wake up!" Jerome said as he shook his friend's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Mitch screamed as he jolted awake. He sobbed and buried his face in his hands.

Jerome patted Mitch's shoulder comfortingly. "It's okay, it was just a nightmare. It wasn't real."

"No, it was real, and it was all my fault!" Mitch said as he sniffled. "I'm a horrible person!" Jerome was about to reply when he heard Quentin yell.

Is everyone having nightmares tonight? Jerome wondered as he and Mitch headed over to Quentin's room. By the time they got there, the mudkip was already awake. "I'm okay, it was just a really bad dream about the day the squids drove my family out."

"Mitch and I also had nightmares." Jerome said.

"That's weird. You know, I hardly ever dream, but tonight I did." Quentin said.

"At least it's dawn." Mitch said quietly. "I don't want to go back to sleep."

"Same here." Jerome said. Little did they know that there was an intruder in their midst...

---

Ian yawned and opened his eyes. Unlike his friends, he hadn't had any bad dreams. Ian stood up and looked out the window to see the pale sun rising above the horizon, making him put his hands to his eyes and gasp. Oh Notch, my blindfold! Did I forget to put it on before going to bed? He desperately looked on the table for his sunglasses and saw with horror that they were shattered on the floor.

A few minutes later, Jason slowly opened Ian's door. He sighed with relief when he saw Ian sitting on his bed facing away from the door. "Ian? Sorry to bother you, but I..." He trailed off when Ian didn't respond. "Ian?" Jason asked nervously.

"I HATE YOU, JASON!" Ian screamed as he turned to face the surprised space man, a sharp knife clutched in his hands. "I HATE YOU SO MUCH!" Jason watched in horror as Ian's ice blue eyes slowly moved in opposite directions.