Warnings: None

     ~Mitch's P.O.V.~

     "Mitch... Mitch come on, say something... Mitch don't you dare die on me."

With a persisting ringing in my head, I groan weakly and crack open an eye. All around me excited mumbling is stirring up as my second eye opens, and five blurry figures are surrounding me. Or is it ten...

"Mitch how many fingers am I holding up?"

I try to squint at the figure, presumably Preston by the warm glow surrounding him, and my eyes just can't seem to focus on his fingers.

"...Four?"

Preston looks at his fingers, before what I think to be shaking his head 'no'.

Then a wave of nausea is flooding over me and I find my vision blurring even more. I let my head fall back into the pillow and groan as my eyes scrunch shut. Pain courses through my body, and I find myself slipping away once again.

"Guys, he's going out again."
"At least we know he's okay..."
"... Rest well Mitch."

~~~

~Vikk's P.O.V.~

     And with that, Mitch once again is unresponsive... Much to my displeasure. And probably everyone else's too. For the past few days Mitch has been constantly in and out, but this is the first time he's actually had any sense in his words. For the past multiple times he's just emitted sounds of pain and discomfort, before blacking out again. Which means, we haven't been able to figure out what happened to him, and how he lost his necklace. Could his necklace be the item he's supposed to find...? No that can't be the case... If it was then Mitch would have got his memories back by now. And he would have felt a connection with it, so whoever took it must have another reason. Maybe they just like shiny things.

     "Okay guys, real talk here. As soon as Mitch wakes up and is good enough to talk, we need to find out what happened to him. Because I have a feeling, whoever or whatever took his amulet must have known that's Mitch's memory item." Preston states firmly.

Well then...

     "But Preston, there's a problem with that... If that is Mitch's memory item then wouldn't he have already gotten them back? And wouldn't he have felt it?" I point out.
     "That's true Vikk but just think about it..." He continues, "First up, it almost seems like we're getting the feelings in a specific order. Like, what I mean is my item was leading me towards the desert, but right after that Jerome's was to the right. But he didn't feel it until after I got my memories. You see what I'm saying? Not only that but if I'm correct, we have to defeat a mutant mob before the item can actually restore or memories. Now I can't really back this up but if that's the case then it would explain why Mitch hasn't gotten his memories from the necklace yet."
     "Well, it's far fetched, but you do have a point." Lachlan comments thoughtfully.
     "I just hope he gets better soon. Just because he seems to be getting better doesn't mean he'll make it..." Jerome trails on.
     "I wouldn't worry to much Jerome, he wasn't hurt too badly..." Rob reassures.
     "Rob, his leg is broken, the cut on his arm is down to the bone, and he has multiple gasses along his back, stomach, and chest... Not to mention-"

     Jerome kinda lowers his head, Rob stomps on Preston's foot to shut him up, Lachlan shoots Preston a death glare, and I whisper under my breath, "Not helping Preston."

And then after a moment of tense silence Lachlan clears his throat. "Well it's far past sundown, I'm going to bed."

And with that Lachlan stands up and excuses himself from the room.

"Me too."
"Me three."

That's the point Preston and Rob exit.

     "Well, I guess I'm heading off to bed too then... Night Jerome." I say, stifling a yawn.

     Jerome calls out a quick goodnight before I slink away into my room. I dive into my bed and let the covers embrace me, welcoming me into a deep sleep.

~~~

"Vikk! Get your lazy butt out of bed! Mitch is up!" A rather shrill voice rings throughout the area.

I groan in displeasure and with heavy eyes look up to see Rob's head, just disappearing behind the door.

"I guess I should go if Rob is already up..." I chuckle to myself, finding strength and rolling out of bed.

Within a couple minutes I'm slipping into Mitch's room, noting that everyone is already here and talking in hushed voices. Swinging the door shut behind me, it latches into place with a small click, and everyone turns my way.

     "Vikk's here, good, now you can tell us everything that happened." Preston ushers to Mitch, slumping on his bed.
     "Hold up, am I missing something?"
     "No, cuz Mitch wouldn't tell us anything until you showed up. So geeeeet over here and sit down so Mitch can talk!" Lachlan exclaims, pulling me away from the door and into the circle of discussion.

     Mitch sighs, rubbing at his scuffed up face, before staring off with a blank expression.

     "I don't really know what happened..."
     "WHAT?!" Preston screeches, Mitch wincing at the high pitched noise.
     "Let him finish, Preston." Jerome growls, nodding at Mitch to continue.
     Mitch nods and weakly clears his throat, closing his eyes in concentration. "You guys were right, back when I was going to tell Preston about the plan I grabbed my stuff to go hunting with. But... All I can really remember was that I was walking towards the mine, when all of a sudden a figure sprung out from nowhere. I didn't really get a good look at them, because within the next second I felt extremely dizzy and like," He snaps, "That I was out. When I woke up I was in the middle of the field, far away from our house, at night. I also noticed I didn't have my dog tags on. So I tried to get back as quickly as I could but a bunch of mobs attacked me on the way... Including a few zombies with swords. And that's right about when I had almost made it all the way here before passing out in front of you guys." He finishes, coughing weakly. Rob hands him a bottle of water.
     "So really... All we know is that someone or... Something knocked you out, took your necklace, and dumped you in the middle of the field at night." Jerome summarizes.
     "Do you feel anything?" I question, but Mitch shakes his head.
     "So that means whoever took his necklace mustn't be close to here..." Rob comments.
     "So you don't remember anything else? Even something small could help." Lachlan prods, and Mitch scratches at his head.
     "Well I guess it's worth mentioning that when I woke up in the field, I felt a bit of a pull back to the left... Back into the forest. But it could have been just the tingling of me waking up so I can't say for sure."
     "So then, I guess when you get better we're going that way?" Jerome suggests.
     "I guess we are." Mitch answers.
     "Oh, and Mitch..."
     "Yeah?"
     "It wasn't a mob that knocked you out was it?" Preston inquires.
     "No, it was a person... That I can tell you is true."
     "But who would do such a thing?" I mumble, gazing out the window.

      Everyone else shrugs.

     "So let's make sure we're extra prepared this time. Because if we have to go up against someone that can knock you out within a second, well... It'd be stupid not to." Rob declares.
     "Although... He- eh she? ... THEY could have given it to a mutant mob." Mitch reminds him.
     "Who on earth would approach a mutant?" Lachlan huffs.
     "The kind of person that knocks you out, steals your amulet, and drops you in a field at night." Jerome replies with a monotone voice.
     "Good point."
"But Mitch, your leg is broken... You sure you can come?" Jerome asks, turning his attention away from Lachlan.
"Nothing a few healing potions can't fix... We'll just have to find some witches, seeing as we haven't found a nether fortress yet and all." He states causally.
"Well, in that case, I'll head out now." Jerome declares, standing up and strolling towards the door.
"I'll go with you." Lachlan volunteers.
"I'm sure I can handle this, thanks though."
"Jerome... Have you learned nothing?" Rob dead pans.
"Wha...?"

I clear my throat in an attention grabbing manner, and nod towards Mitch.

"Right."

~~~

Extra chapter today cuz @Quakecat left a nice comment so I felt like posting a bonus chapter 😋 thx Quakecat!

Leave a comment on who you think this mystery person might be 😏