Shot Shot Bang. - GeorgeNotFound Oneshot

Instructions

The chill of the blocky night air clung to George’s skin as he crouched behind the crumbling wall of a half-destroyed village house. His breath came out in shallow puffs, visible in the moonlight filtering through the shattered roof. Nearby, the sound of footsteps crunching against gravel set his nerves alight. “Dream,” George hissed, his voice barely audible above the distant growl of a zombie. “Are you sure about this?” Dream’s masked face turned toward him, the glint of his enchanted netherite armor reflecting the faint light. “We don’t have a choice. Niki’s depending on us.” George’s gaze flickered to Niki, who was crouched a few feet away, her hands gripping the hilt of a diamond sword with an intensity that betrayed her usual calm demeanor. Her soft pink hair framed her face, shadowed and tense. She caught George staring and offered a faint, reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I—” George’s voice faltered as a piercing screech cut through the night. He froze, heart hammering in his chest. “Endermen.” “Stay low and don’t look at them,” Dream instructed, his tone steady, but George caught the slight shift in his stance—even Dream wasn’t immune to the unease these creatures brought. The group moved as one, weaving through the debris of the village. George’s grip tightened on his bow, the familiar weight both comforting and nerve-wracking. His inventory was running low, and every arrow counted. They reached the village center, where a solitary fountain stood, its water long since dried up. Dream raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. George’s eyes scanned the area, his gaze landing on the target: a chest half-buried in rubble, faintly glowing with the telltale shimmer of enchanted loot. “That’s it,” Niki whispered, her voice barely audible. “But it’s too quiet.” “It’s a trap,” George muttered, his stomach twisting. “It has to be.” Dream’s voice was calm but firm. “We’ll handle it. George, cover us from the ridge. Niki, you’re with me.” George hesitated, his chest tightening. He didn’t like splitting up, especially not when Niki would be in the thick of it. “Dream, I—” “Just do it, George,” Dream snapped, his patience thinning. “We need you.” Reluctantly, George nodded and climbed up the nearest hill, positioning himself behind a cluster of oak leaves. He nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring back, his fingers trembling. Below, Dream and Niki advanced toward the chest. Every step they took set George more on edge. Dream reached the chest first. He opened it cautiously, his sword ready in his other hand. The glow of the enchanted items inside briefly illuminated his face. “It’s here,” Dream called out. “But there’s a redstone trigger—” Before he could finish, the ground beneath them erupted. A wall of explosions lit up the night as TNT detonated, sending blocks and debris flying in all directions. George’s heart dropped. He loosed an arrow instinctively, hitting a skeleton that had emerged from the shadows. “Niki!” he shouted, panic overtaking him. Through the chaos, he saw her figure stumble out of the smoke, coughing and clutching her arm. Dream was beside her, his armor cracked but intact. They’d survived the trap, but not unscathed. “Fall back!” Dream ordered, his voice sharp. George scrambled down the hill to meet them, firing off arrows to cover their retreat. When he reached Niki, he could see the blood dripping from a gash on her arm. “Niki, you’re hurt,” George said, his voice tight with worry. He reached for a potion in his inventory, but she stopped him with a shake of her head. “I’m fine,” she insisted, though her voice wavered. “Save it. We might need it later.” Dream stepped between them, his expression unreadable behind the mask. “We have what we came for. Let’s move before more mobs show up.” As they retreated into the forest, the silence between them was heavy. George’s mind raced, guilt and frustration gnawing at him. He hated how Dream always seemed so sure of himself, so willing to take risks without a second thought. And yet, he couldn’t shake the image of Niki’s injured arm, her smile faltering in the moonlight. Later that night, as they set up camp, George found himself sitting beside Niki by the flickering fire. Dream was a few paces away, sharpening his sword in focused silence. “You scared me back there,” George admitted quietly, his eyes fixed on the flames. “I thought I was going to lose you.” (continued in notes and credits :>)