During my unexpected nap, I had dreams.

I dreamt I was walking in a fleshy red, dark, lava-filled landscape where strange creatures floated and scurried about.

I dreamt I jumped through a portal of stars, emerging into a strange environment with dark pillars and a dark beast flying overhead.

I saw unusually-clothed figures, against a blurry dark sky, one wearing bright green, one in blue, and another donning a strangely modern style of white and black.
The people faded, and I swirled through a pool of visions and strange sounds, suddenly being assaulted by the sensation of falling.

I fell past memories and images, random signs I didn't understand, my gut churning like the whirlpool around me. Just when I felt like I would pass out, I woke up screaming.

"Hey, hey, calm down!" A kind voice said.

I looked around, faintly acknowledging that I was sitting up in a bed, but my eyes locked onto Bad, who was sitting next to me in a chair.

He had changed out of his hoodie and boots and was now wearing a simple gray t-shirt and black drawstring sweatpants. I could now see his arms, which were fairly toned, and they were the exact same color as his face.

Of course they are, I thought. His whole body is probably the color of charcoal.

His hair wasn't covered by his hood anymore. It was onyx, like I'd guessed, and fluffy. His pure white eyes were kind.

He leaned forward and rested a hand on my arm. "Hey. You're safe. Just relax."

I took a deep breath. "How... How did I get here?" I looked around. I was in a medium-sized home that was fairly open. Furnaces sat on one side of the room, as well as a wooden countertop with chairs. A fireplace was on the opposite side, which crackled and emitted a soft glow that illuminated the entire room. The bed I was in was against the back wall, so I could see everything. The whole place gave a very warm, homey vibe that calmed me immensely.

"After you fainted, I carried you," Bad said.

I flushed red. "Sorry about you having to carry me. And fainting."

He waved it off. "It's all good. You have a fear of spiders?"

I gulped and nodded, hating even the mention of the creepy little things.

He chuckled softly, a sound that somehow made me melt and feel even safer.

"Well, you're safe here," he said, a warm smile spreading across his face.

I tentatively smiled back and pulled the covers up to my chin, enjoying the warmth after the chilliness of the water and the night air. "Hey Bad?"

"Hm?"

"Where are we?"

He frowned. "Earth 678-22. Why?"

I sighed a breath of relief. "Okay. So I am on Earth-- wait, WHAT?"

He tilted his head. "What, what?"

"Did you just say Earth 678-22? Why not just Earth?"

His expression darkened. "Ah. Of course."

I blinked. Why had his mood changed so quickly? "What? Did I say something wrong?" I asked.

"No, you didn't," he replied. "But I'm going to have to explain a lot of things to you."

I sat up, interested. "I'm listening."

(Mind-bending alternate world weirdness ahead)

Bad took a deep breath. "Okay. So, you obviously heard me say Earth 678-22. Basically, this is an alternate Earth. I don't know how it exists, or how you somehow crash-landed here, but basically this is sort of like a simulation that we can't break free of. I was born here, and me and my friends learned about how this world works when we were younger.

"So basically, everyone's goal in their lives here is to escape. To do that, they'd have to find the necessary materials to create a portal to The End, a magical floating landmass that is home to the most powerful beast to exist, the Ender Dragon.

"No one knows how the Ender Dragon came to be, but there are stories of greater beings that created this world as a source of entertainment, a pathetic prison for souls to try and escape.

"Anyway, if you defeat the Ender Dragon, it is said that once you deliver the final blow, the Dragon will rise into the sky and dissolve into a pillar of purple light. This purple light will bring you to the Real World, or Earth, where it is said the greater beings reside."

(That hurt my brain just to write)

I frowned, quickly processing this information. "I... I'm not absolutely certain, but I believe that I come from the Real World you speak of."

A sense of dread settled over me as I realized what was happening. "And...I believe the greater beings are the people that live up there. But see... From what you're describing about this place--I should've noticed this sooner-- but in my world, there's a video game that is just like this world. Its called Minecraft."

Sorry this was a short chapter, I've been brainstorming story ideas