You lived in the pixelated world of Minecraft, surrounded by jagged mountains, endless forests, and shimmering oceans. Your long hair flowed over your shoulders as you tirelessly gathered resources, crafted tools, and explored new territories. You shared your home with Alex and Steve, a couple often seen sitting close together by the campfire. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes whenever you caught sight of them, especially when they started debating whose turn it was to prepare food.

Together, you had built a small wooden house with a stone foundation near the edge of a village. The villagers – all identical, with square faces and monotone murmurs – traded goods in exchange for emeralds. Occasionally, the iron golems would assist in defending the village from hordes of zombies or skeletons. More often than not, however, the three of you had to fend for yourselves, wielding swords and bows against Creepers, giant spiders, and the unnervingly quiet Endermen.

The nights were perilous. Under the pale light of the Minecraft moon, monsters emerged from the shadows. The group ventured out only with torches and sturdy armor, but resources were growing scarce. You knew you would have to dig deeper.

One stormy evening, as lightning fractured the sky, you descended into a dark cave alone. You placed torches along the walls, their faint light pushing back the oppressive darkness. The distant drip of water echoed through the caverns as your pickaxe clinked rhythmically against the stone. You found redstone, gold, and eventually the glittering blue of diamonds. Heart pounding, you kept mining.

A sudden flash of lightning lit up the cave, illuminating every corner for a brief moment. You froze. For a split second, you thought you saw something—two glowing white eyes staring at you from the shadows, devoid of life.

Then the light faded, and the cave fell silent again.