Chapter One

The village hunter dashed through the dense, dark forest. Though he could barely see ahead of him, he knew his village was ahead, but he wasn’t sure if he could make it. An arrow whizzed past his head. 5 more followed. He heard the bones shaking and the skeleton horse’s bony hooves hitting the ground getting louder with every step he took. Finally, he saw a light, the sun shined through holes in the roofed forest. It seemed like it was nighttime in there. Before him stood a clearing, and the walls of his village. He saw the two guards look in his direction, already seeing him approaching. “Hey!” The hunter called. “Open the gates!” Without hesitation, one of them pulled a lever, and the gate rose. The hunter could somewhat hear the pistons activating from where he was. He finally entered the clearing. The sun was high in the sky, and it made him glare. Just when he thought he was safe, an arrow hit his leg and he fell to the ground. He let out a cry of pain, and the last thing he saw was an army of iron-clad skeletons on horseback, and a sword zooming towards his face. Shocked, the guards pulled the lever once more to close the gates. More skeletons came out of the forest and began building a cobblestone structure. The speed of their construction was astonishing. The gate was still closing, and the army drew nearer. The gate was barely closed when a skeleton on horseback nearly made it through. The gate closed, crushing the skeleton horse and its bony rider. The skeletons who were building placed a lever on their cobblestone construction, and the hissing of ignited TNT was heard. They built a TNT cannon. An ear shattering boom filled the air, and a block of TNT flew towards the wall of the village. The shockwave spread throughout the village, and a gaping hole was left in the wall. The alarm had not been sounded yet, but the soldiers of the village took up arms, along with other villagers. The incoming army ran through the wall. A few arrows were shot at the skeletons, but a dozen more were fired back. 7 villagers had already fallen. Only 3 of the skeletons were killed. The skeletons rode throughout the village, killing anyone they could. Once the defending villagers were killed, the army began to burn the village. A single block of TNT was placed inside of the watchtower. Once it went off, the skeletons had access to the tunnels. 11 skeletons unmounted from their horses. They climbed the ladder into the tunnel system. Four skeletons at the ends of the group pulled out bows, while the rest pulled out iron swords. The one in the middle, the leader, drew an enchanted diamond sword. Walking further, they saw that most of the villagers had fled through the tunnel system. The ones that hid were pulled out and shot. The leader knew the villagers would flee, but he had a plan for it. He lead his army through the tunnel system. The TNT had gone off. Items littered the floor, and villagers stood there, helpless, as there was a cobblestone wall blocking their path. The village crafter had survived, as planned. The leader grasped the crafter’s grey smock and pulled him closer. The skeleton started to speak. It sounded like bones grinding against each other, somehow forming words with the noise. “You pathetic little thing” the leader said, disgust filled his voice. The crafter’s green eyes widened with fear. He signaled for two of his villagers to bring to him a villager, the crafter’s wife, Librarian. She screamed and struggled as they brought her towards the leader. “Wait, please no!” the crafter pleaded. “Crafter!” his wife exclaimed. “Please let her go” the crafter said, looking into the dark empty eyes of the leader. “Let her go” the leader commanded. The skeletons threw her to the ground. “Fire” he commanded once more. “Wait no…” she was silenced by four arrows that hit her. She flashed red briefly, and disappeared, leaving behind her items. “No…” the crafter said in shock. The leader chuckled. “Sternum” a scratchy voice said from behind. “Users are here!” The leader turned to face the skeleton. “kill them all, show them that we are not to be messed with” he replied. “Yes Sternum”.