Free Rescue Island by Stone Marshall

the small underground shelter. Khan is nearby. Something passes by the open door. Danger! Where is my sword? I try to get up, but fall back to the bed. I'm weak.
    "You are lucky to be alive." It's Zana. "When I found you, I couldn't revive you. I used a potion to remove the poison. Now you must eat to restore your health."
    With difficulty I say, "Zana. Where have you been? We haven't seen you for such a long time."
    "You've been fine until now. I came as soon as you were in real trouble."
    "You call this fine?" I argue.
    "Here, eat this," she hands me cooked pork chop from my chest. I eat and feel much stronger.
    "Zana, I have a question I've been meaning to ask you," I say. "I feel something whenever I face real danger. It's something I can't explain. Do you know what that is?"
    Zana looks at me. She looks like she is hiding a feeling of shock. "That is only a coincidence. Don't try to read into feelings. Remember, I am evolved beyond allowing feelings to affect me. You will do well in this world if you try to evolve too."
    "That sounds like good advice," I reply.
    "What are you looking for down here?" she inquires.
    "Khan and I are on an adventure."
    "An adventure? You should be fulfilling your destiny. You should be searching for a portal," retorts Zana. She sounds angry.
    "I will make my own destiny, Zana. I do not accept the predetermined destiny you have described. Besides, I prefer living here. I don't want to return to the physical world." I need to make sure she understands my feelings.
    "How can you prefer this to your physical world?" she asks rhetorically. "This is not your destiny!"
    "I do prefer this. Don't bully me," I feel angry.
    Zana steps closer to me. She looks at me, her eyes are piercing. "Very well, do as you wish. I cannot help you if you refuse me, and refusing your destiny is refusing me." Her voice is intense. With that she turns and leaves.
    "I hope that doesn't come back to haunt us, Khan," I say, trying to reassure myself. Khan pounces on me, knocking me to the ground. I hit my head on the crafting table as I fall.
    Thorn approaches me. I'm in the underground shelter, but it's shrinking and Thorn is getting larger. I can't run, in fact I can't move, I've been wrapped in a web, tied to a long stick that extends beyond my head and beyond my feet.
    Boom! The walls of the shelter explode, exposing an army of pixelators. They sound like they are laughing at me. And there is a giant fire in the middle of them. Thorn carries me to the fire. "AHHHH!" I yell as I am being roasted over the fire! The pain is so real! I see my body burning!
    "AHHHH!" I jolt upward. The room is dark except for a single torch. I look at my body. I'm fine. I look around. I'm lying next to the bed. Khan is sitting on the bed, looking at me. My head throbs. I was dreaming.
    "Khan, that's just about as much as I can take. These dreams are freaking me out. Maybe I should listen to Zana. I don't belong in here. I need to get out."
    The shelter has made me content. I break it down with my pickaxe. "No more safety, Khan. No more mining. No. I am going to find a portal! I am going to fulfill my destiny!"

LOG ENTRY 16

The Beginning

    I CRAFT DIAMOND ORE INTO A FULL SET OF ARMOR and several diamond swords and tools. I am ready to take on anything. I have a mission, to find a way home.
    I search day and night. I ignore valuable minerals. I have one goal, and it doesn't include building anything other than a portal. I am looking for obsidian. If I can't find a portal I will make one!
    I follow corridors deeper into the core. I fight many battles with creatures. The deeper I get, the smarter the creatures become.
    I walk slowly down a path, toward a distant light. I trip. What was that? A tripwire? Directly above me a block moves! Immediately the cavern lights up. I feel tingling; my instincts take over, I jump to my feet and sprint uphill. Lava pours down. If I were a moment slower I would be covered in lava. A trap! Several arrows whiz