Suddenly, he could breathe.

The blond lurched forwards, twitching uncontrollably and shivering as he curled in on himself. He didn't think that anything would hurt as much as his first "death", and he was so, so wrong. He felt numb, yet at the same time could feel a tingle running along his neck all the way to his lower back.

'What, what happened this time?' He groaned, moving an arm to cover his eyes as he heard a sigh of relief from somewhere to his right.

'Thank the Lords you're okay... How're you feeling?' A voice asked. Vaguely recognizing it as Preston, the teenager slowly lowered his arms from his face and blinked at the light; He didn't dare to move though.

'Like a piece of crap, really, where are the others?'

'Harvey got them out before it happened.' The Texan reported, moving into view and crouching down to check his eyes before helping his friend sit up. 'I'm just trying to figure out how you survived it.'

Kenny laughed nervously, until he began to cough and wrapped an arm around his stomach. 'Ow, dangit... It's my ability.'

'Being fireproof? Makes sense, I guess, but even before that you looked dead.'

'Technically? I guess?'

'You've lost me, buddy.'

'From what Harvey and Jason said, apparently my body can rebuild itself from any fatal injury, which is why I'm not a rotting corpse t the bottom of a ravine. My turn for questions, why're you human now? And what was the "it" that happened?' Preston had an expression somewhere between shocked and confused for a few seconds, but recovered and glanced away awkwardly.

Noting this behaviour as odd, the blond sat up properly (with much difficulty, mind you) and crossed his legs so that he was more comfortable. 'Preston, bro, what's wrong?'

'I-I shouldn't even be alive right now. Kenny, I... was too late. Herobrine got away, but I couldn't stop it-'

'Woah woah woah, hold up and take a second to calm down.' The brunet nodded slightly, letting out a small puff of air and practically falling back onto the floor while staring at the high ceiling. There were a few moments of quiet before he started again, this time seeming to have an explanation ready.

'Right, so you know when creepers get hit by lightning, they get supercharged, right? Apparently that can happen to hybrids too, but the extra hostility bit didn't come in until later. With the whole thing with Rob, and seeing the guys getting hurt I just.... It's like I wasn't me anymore.'

'The creeper part of you went into overdrive. You exploded, didn't you?'

He nodded, bringing his hands infront of his face and staring at them through narrowed eyes - Smooth, unblemished skin, yet he remembered the feeling tearing him apart from the inside.

It...

It was weird.

'Harvey just managed to get Choco and Mitch outside, but since I was too dangerous and everyone thought you were dead they left.'

'That's understandable. They'll probably be back soon... Wait, can you still use your powers?' Preston nodded, clicking his fingers as a small flame erupted in his hand until he closed his fist and groaned. 'I'm such an idiot.'

'What makes you say that?'

'I dunno, self-deprecation jokes. Let me feel bad about myself for like two minutes.'

'Thirty seconds, then we go destroy a few rooms? I want to take out some anger on this guy.'

'You're weirdly calm about this, and sure.'

'You just explained-'

'I meant about your Mom.'

The blond tensed up, picking at the hem of his shirt awkwardly and biting the inside of his mouth while glancing at the - now empty - cell in the corner. 'I'm trying not to think about that. Wow, thirty seconds already, let's go batter a library or something.'

~~~

'We've got to go back for them!'

'Choco, I understand that you were close to both of them, but they're gone.' Harvey began to explain, but the feathered hybrid just shook his head and stepped back towards the portal. He saw Lachlan move towards the dimensional doorway as well, with Rob right behind him, but everyone thought that they were going to stop Choco.

Hahaha, nope. It turns out that Rob can be very fast even when he's injured, Lachlan's fast anyway, and Choco was already standing right by it.

'You guys come for the boys as well?'

'We can't leave them behind, even if they are - Anyway.' Lachlan caught himself before he said the "d" word, glancing at Rob (how was he still conscious?!) nervously and clearing his throat before continuing. 'The others probably won't try to follow us, but we should get there quickly.'

'What if-if Herobrine's still there?'

'He got scared, and teleported away before Preston exploded. Coward.' The chocobo spat, not realizing that Rob didn't actually know about that as he began walking in the direction of the fortress. 'We should get going.'

'Preston did what?!' Their favourite (and only) wolf hybrid screeched, eyes wide as Choco and Lachlan exchanged guilty looks. They'd both kind of... assumed that he knew.

Oops.

'Ahah, yeah, funny story; Lachlan why don't you explain? 'Kay thanks bye!' Choco yelped, parkouring as best he could towards the castle as his blond friend swore quietly.

'I seriously hate that chocobo right now... Right, so basically what happened is that Preston got hit by lightning from a Nether storm on the way to the castle, and he got so mad at Herobrine that he exploded.'

'But he's not dead.'

'We're not sure, Rob, that's why we're going back to find-'

'I'm being serious, Preston isn't dead. I would know, just please trust me on this?'

The Australian knew that his friend only had so much hope left. He couldn't say no to him, anyway - Rob could seriously pull off the puppy eyes when he needed to. 'Screw you and your pouty face. Okay, let's go get Preston back.'

'Yes!' Rob cheered, taking two steps in Choco's direction before faltering and pressing a hand against his side. 'Crap.'

'Mate, you alright?'

'Yeah, I-I've got a stitch.' Lachlan, not believing a word that his older friend said, rolled his eyes and put a hand on his arm. 'You need a few stitches in the state you're in. You're not going anywhere.'

'I've got to get Preston.'

'Choco and I can manage by ourselves. I'm taking you back through the portal, you need to get home.'

'But-'

'Rob, please. I might've just lost two of my best friends, I can't lose you too so please just go.'

"He's right, I'll just slow them down like this." 'Bring him home, alright? Even if, even if he is-'

'Don't worry, we'll make sure they get back.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't think I actually tricked any of you guys with the character deaths dangit.

I cri evritim ;-;

BUT DO THEY GET BACK- Pfffffffffffffft who am I kiddin'

See you all in the next chapter, and have a great Morning - Afternoon - Evening - Dawn - Dusk - Midnight - Paranormal Timezone!