The walk back to spawn felt longer than before.
Not because the terrain changed, or because the path was confusing—
but because nobody could stop glancing over their shoulder.
Grass still swayed in the breeze.
The sky still glowed a perfect midday blue.
A chicken wandered nearby, clucking aimlessly.
Everything looked fine.
But the twelve walked closer together now, almost shoulder-to-shoulder.
Every footstep sounded too loud. Every sound felt too sharp.
Like the world was watching.
---
The Circle at Spawn
They reached the place they'd started—the ring of flowers and scattered wood pieces where they'd spawned in a circle only minutes ago.
Hopper clapped his hands once, too loudly.
"Alright! Time to—uh—punch trees. You know. Normal things. Tree punching. Classic Minecraft moment."
His grin was bright. Too bright.
Melina forced a small laugh. "Yeah. Just… back to basics."
"Back to basics," Oliver repeated, nodding. "Basic basics. Very basic."
Hadrian pointed at a nearby oak. "Tree. Hit. Yes?"
"Correct," Tessa said flatly. "You nailed the concept."
Griffin inhaled deeply, visibly trying to calm himself.
"We need tools. And shelter. And food. First night might hit soon."
"Yep," Faye said. "Let's get prepped."
She didn't sound confident.
She sounded like she was pretending to lead so she didn't scream.
---
Punching Trees… Weirdly Carefully
The group spread out around the spawn area.
Not far.
Never more than ten blocks apart.
Hopper approached a tree and raised his blocky fist.
He hesitated.
Just for half a second.
"Okay, real talk," he said. "Does anyone else feel like the tree might explode?"
"Don't jinx it," Tessa warned.
"It won't explode," Sterling muttered. "It's a normal block."
"…Probably," Oliver added.
Sterling shot him a betrayed look.
Oliver winced. "SORRY. Reflex."
Hopper finally punched the tree.
Thock.
The familiar chunky sound echoed normally.
The texture cracked.
The log popped off.
Everything worked exactly as expected.
Hopper held up the log triumphantly. "BOOM. SUCCESS! World: zero. Hopper: one."
Melina clapped softly. "Nice."
Hadrian struck a heroic pose. "Truly, a victory for humankind."
Ren knelt dramatically. "The Tree of Beginnings falls to the chosen hero."
"Ren," Faye said tiredly.
"Muting myself. Again."
---
Everyone Pretends to Be Okay
Tools began forming slowly as people crafted workbenches and sticks.
But unlike normal play, nobody rushed.
Every action felt cautious, deliberate.
Tessa crafted a stone axe, but her eyes flicked constantly at the weirdly delayed shadows.
Griffin carved a crafting table, smiling softly at those around him, trying to look calm even when his hands shook.
Sterling crafted a wooden pickaxe but kept missing the grid, the VR calibration unsteady.
Faye quietly steadying his hands wasn't commented on.
Cyrus built a tiny dirt pillar—not for use, but to test block updates.
When it behaved normally, he exhaled with relief he didn't realize he was holding.
Oliver was trying to make a redstone-powered tree farm… without redstone.
He was describing it out loud anyway.
"So if I place this block here, and pretend there's a piston there, and pretend the piston works—"
Faye interrupted, "We don't HAVE pistons. Why are you building imaginary ones?"
"It's for the vibe," Oliver replied earnestly.
Hadrian laughed for the first time since the glitch.
"Man built an imaginary contraption. Incredible."
Oliver bowed.
Flint walked up holding a single oak log.
"Look! I survived the tree."
Hopper ruffled his hair again. "Love that for you."
---
Marlow… Nearly Dies Again
Marlow wandered toward a small ravine.
Not dangerously close—just close enough that the group instinctively tensed.
He leaned over the edge, curious.
"Hey, the shadows down there look funky—"
His foot slipped a pixel.
Everyone screamed.
"MARLOW NO—!"
"DUDE BACK UP—!"
"This will be fun to watch—"
"GET AWAY FROM THE EDGE—!"
"Are you testing fall damage—!"
Marlow flailed, windmilling his arms dramatically, barely catching himself before tipping forward.
"I'M OKAY!" he yelled, stumbling backward. "I'M GOOD! I'M ALIVE!"
Griffin sagged with relief. "Please… please don't do that right now."
Melina pressed both hands to her chest. "My heart—"
Tessa walked over and flicked Marlow lightly on the helmet.
"You terrify me."
Marlow grinned sheepishly. "Accidental skill issue."
Hadrian wrapped an arm around Marlow's shoulders. "Buddy system. You're not allowed near cliffs without a handler."
Marlow saluted. "Yes, captain."
---
The First Real Fall in Tone
The sun, slowly drifting across the sky, cast orange light across the clearing.
Their shadows followed half a second late.
Everyone noticed.
Nobody spoke about it.
Hopper was the first to say something real.
"…We're all pretending this is fine. Right?"
The clearing fell silent.
Griffin answered gently.
"We're trying."
Faye exhaled shakily. "We just need to keep moving. Staying busy helps."
"Yeah." Sterling nodded, though his voice was tight. "We keep playing. Gather resources. Explore. Build."
Ren lifted his stick, quieter than usual.
"We continue the story. Even if the world doesn't."
Cyrus crouched down and touched the grass, staring at it.
"It just… doesn't feel like the game anymore."
Melina's voice trembled. "It doesn't."
Flint swallowed hard. "But we can still help each other. Right? We're still us."
"Always," Griffin said.
Tessa looked at all of them, then sighed.
"…Fine. Group hug. Right now."
Everyone stared.
Tessa glared.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
Hopper whooped. "YES MA'AM."
And they all piled in awkwardly.
Twelve avatars hugging in a blocky mess.
Awkward. Silly. Uncoordinated.
But real.
Hadrian laughed softly. "Okay. Okay. We got this."
Melina said under her breath, "Yeah. Together."
Sterling spoke last, voice quiet but firm:
"For now… we just stick close. And keep going."
---
They broke apart slowly, still nervous, but a little steadier.
Even the shadows, lagging behind them, didn't feel quite as terrifying in that moment.
---