Finally went ahead and searched it up. Wow, Google's got some sass!
==================================================

Section 8: 

     Two days later, the explorers said goodbye to their villager friends, handing them a replica of their map in case they didn't return in four to five days, and left at sunrise. All day, the two traveled. Hero wondered at sights such as slight inclines in terrain he first thought were mountains, and the amazingly sweet watermelon slices Steve brought on the trip as snacks. Steve vaguely recognized the terrain. He had traveled through this biome so quickly, he never stopped to look at much. Mostly because in reality, there wasn't much to see. But, this time around he spotted a few weird animals somewhat like a mix between sheep and cows, but smaller and more aggressive.

     Luckily in the day their only threats were the creepers, which only seemed interested in the seasoned miner, alays preferring him over the tall one whonwould always run away instantly. It was the night thst brought along more threats for the two. At night, the two quickly put together a basic wooden shelter that would keep the monsters out and slept on some soft carpet, nothing but earth beneath it. When they woke, again early, they simply took up their bedding and left. They would likely use that same shelter on the way back.

     And, after two full days, they had arrived.

     A jagged, lifeless cliff stood intimidatingly before them. The dark ocean sung a deathly tune. Sharp waves bombarded its bank without end, showing no signs of stopping. Even the cold air blowing past bore no calming whispers; only shallow whales and low moans, as if to mimic the spirits of the dead. Up from the cliff rose the aroma of salt, and whatever else joined it in the ocean, the small moist particles quickly sticking to their skin. Low hanging clouds covered the sun, and a distant fog made it impossible to see just how endless the ocean beyond was. No green or other color was in sight, besides the two men themselves. The place looked like one having taken more lives than ever granted refuge within its rocks.

     Hero paced worriedly behind Steve, absent mindedly biting at his nails. Steve stood stiff, standing closer to the cliff than his friend, his map flapping under the beating of the wind in his hands. He stared down at the X, a frown beginning so settle.

     "It leads here. It leads, right here!" The human finally spoke up. "Where on earth are we supposed to go next?! Do we dig down?.. Maybe it's a little off. Yeah... We probably just need to wander the coastline a little."

     "Mmf.. I'm not sure if that is a good idea.." Hero warned. "The wind could push us off if we got too close, or some rocks could fall beneath us, or-"

     "Hero," Steve chuckled, "I'm sure we'll be fine. We won't get too close to the cliff anyways. See? We're at a safe distance right now. We can just keep a safe distance and we'll be fine." That seemed to ease Hero's conscience a little. "Now... How about we start by going right?" He pointed to his right, where the cliff slowly dropped a little until way off in the distance it melded with a dark, sandy beach. Hero liked that plan. "Then we can turn back and go left." Steve then pointed to his lefr, where the cliff only grew sharper, meeting with large boulders sticking from the water, and in the distance, mountains towered above the clouds. Hero didn't like that plan as much. But, he kept that all in. He knew Steve was a seasoned explorer, and would know how to save himself from almost any situation... If only he could be sure Steve wouldn't put himself in any danger that he might not have any ways to save himself from.

     The two walked right, where there was a slight decline, searching for anything that could look like a human had been there, though neither of them really knew what that would look like. Having gone far enough from their original spot, Steve turned the two of them around. It was getting dark, and he had seen a small cave where they had been before that would work as shelter for the night.

     On the way back, Steve grew anxious that the map had been wrong, and that he had come this far to find nothing. All that hope for some form of a clue, slowly rotting away in the back of his mind. Without even thinking, the human pulled Lumpy from his pocket and held him firmly. Hero barely even noticed, and would have been fine with it, until Steve began talking to it again.

     "Um.. heh, Steve. I'm right here.." Hero eventually spoke up, startling his friend.

     "Oh, yeah..." Then Steve was quiet, his hold around the piece of coal growing firmer.

     "Listen... if you want to talk, I would be happy to. I mean, I am able to talk back, afterall." Hero tried to say playfully, shrugging as his and Steve's eyes met for a moment.

     "What do you mean by that?" Steve quickly turned his head away, a hint of spite in his tone. "You saying Lumpy is somehow worse at talking than you?"

     "Well...yeah..." Hero had to be honest. Steve's shoulders lifted a bit, his walk stiffening. Though he huffed in frustration, he really didn't want to engage in the matter. With all honesty, he wished to avoid the topic entirely. But he also didn't want to explode like last time in Hero's face and send him running again.

     "Listen, I know you might be concerned, but I'm fine. Lumpy is fine. And we would apericeate it if you didn't bring it up anymore." The shorter human stomped ahead of his friend. Hero blinked in confused astonishment.

     "Wai-wai-wait, so you really do think that- Lumpy can talk?" Hero pondered. Steve just attempted to ignore him. "Lumpy is just a piece of coal, Steve! How can it talk?!"

     "Hey! Lumpy isn't hurting anyone!" Steve spun around, officially offended now.

     "Yes, he is! He is hurting you! Items shouldn't be treated like people, especially when you have us! You don't need Lumpy as some--support item! You have real people, real friends in your life, Steve!.. You need to let the coal go!"

     "What do you mean by that?! That- that I just chuck him into the ocean, forget everything we went through together; what we survived together?! I- I can't just to that! That would be the worst betrayal in history!!"

     "I am not telling you to throw it away, but... Lumpy is a rock." Hero then sighed. "It wouldn't care, even if you did... The point is.. It's sad, honestly, watching you talk to something that can't comprehend what you are saying..and thinking it can... I, and the rest of the village... We're here for you... You don't need Lumpy anymore..."

     Steve's hands were quivering. His once tight fist around Lumpy now loose enough to drop it if the right winds came. The human said nothing, deep in thought. He breathed only on occasion. Then, a light shade of red slowly swelled in his eyes, along with some tears not big enough to fall. Steve then slowly crouched down, and carefully, delicately, placed the lump of coal down on the ground in front of him. He stood straight again, with a sigh looking down upon the still object.

     "You're right..." Steve said finally. "Lumpy never talked to me.. I just... Hhhhh... I wouldn't be here..if it weren't for him..." Steve then sank again, this time on one knee as he grabbed some gravel to carefully place over the coal, not burying it entirely though. Before he stood up, Steve saw Hero's shadow, and the other knelt as well, pulling out a couple dark red small flowers from his pockets (likely from the berry bushes) and carefully placed them over the pile of gravel.

     "...For that..I give it my thanks." Hero smiled, though still keeping his attitude somber.

     The two men stood, looking down at their little grave they had made for the inanimate lump of coal. Finally, Steve felt at least some level of peace in the matter. But, he still couldn't bring himself to walk away, even as Hero took notice of the growing wind and decreasing sunlight. Steve didn't even hear the other as he tugged him lightly; in a trance.

     "Come on, Steve, we need to go! There's a storm coming this way -- not big, but we still need to prepare-" Hero pulled again on Steve's arm, but this time harder.

     "At least give me a minute!" The shorter one yanked his hand away as he spun around, not noticing that he had just kicked Lumpy in his mourning. The winds, having picked up since Steve last noticed, were delighted to continue the coal's journey, easily rolling downwards, towards the edge of the cliff.

(Ah yes, finally, we are at the next pre-written scene I wrote months ago!)

     Steve, realizing his mistake, raced quickly after the item as it rolled downhill, towards the steep cliff which dropped into a dark, raging ocean below.

     "Steve! Stop! It's just a lump of coal! You are much more important than it!" Hero called out, eyes widening when he took notice of his friend so close to the sudden drop.

     "Lumpy!" But Steve didn't listen. Instead, he dove for the item right as it was tipping over the cliff's edge. "-Uhg!" The man was tackled by his friend, sending him off course so he wouldn't fall off himself. The two landed harshly on the sharp rocks at the edge of the cliff face, continuing to tussle as Steve desperately tried kicking and hitting Hero off of him. Hero held onto him firmly, desperately trying to keep his friend from losing his life for some coal, which fell down -- off the cliff -- before the smaller man's eyes. "Nooo! LUMPY!" Steve cried, turning onto his stomach and pulling himself to the very edge of the cliff so that his arms were dangling. Hero had to act quickly, pinning the other as best he could to the ground, not letting him jump, as much as he tried. Steve continued to struggle, not letting his eyes leave his prized item, until, finally, he witnessed it plop beneath the waves. Steve dropped the struggle, panting hard, eyes scanning over the foam of the ocean for any sign of where Lumpy had gone. The two were stuck in complete silence.

     "You can't do that, Steve! You- you could have died!. It is probably best that Lumpy is gone anyways. It isn't a good idea to care about an item like that.." Hero finally spoke over the waves. Steve just sniffled, a couple small tears slipping from his eyes. "..Come on.. Let's go back home before things get worse." Hero suggested, watching for a sign of agreement from the other.

     Steve nodded a little. "Yeah.. It is probably for the best..." He agreed quietly. Content, Hero got up while Steve began standing as well. But, suddenly, once Steve's feet were fully on the ground, he use them to propel himself forward, jumping off the cliff for the deep blue.

     "STEVE!" Hero screamed from the top of the cliff, eyes as wide as they possibly could be as he watched his friend fall into the blue abyss. Right before he landed, Steve aimed himself downward, sticking his arms out in front of him, piercing the water the moment he came into contact with it. Eyes struggling to stay open, the man looked around in all directions for his dear Lumpy. When he did finally catch a glimpse of it, a wave of adrenaline shot through him instantly. The lump of coal was being carried away in a strong current -- a current Steve quickly began fighting to enter. Once having passed through and into the current, he knew there was no turning back.

     Hero landed in the water shortly after, not as well as Steve, however, and the younger man rushed quickly for the surface, finding unforgiving waves. Waves which constantly slapped him in the face as he tried to take in a full breath of air. Eventually, he had to settle for the breath he had and dove back down, sighting Steve as nothing but a distant blur, already so far away down the current which only pulled him further and further out into sea.

     The current didn't last long, and soon, Lumpy, with Steve close behind, were dropped into the ocean's open but weary space. So little oxygen left, Steve had to go up for air soon, but Lumpy was so close. He could almost reach him! So, he followed the lump of coal as it sank down. Down where the dark water was even darker. Down to the place of little return. Steve could feel the pressure on his ears as he swam further and further down. He recognized his situation. He had been in similar ones too many times before, none of them ending pleasantly. But, he had to save Lumpy! He couldn't see the ocean floor beneath him, meaning this was his last chance!

     Hero rose from the frigid water, gasping for air. He was so glad the waves further from shore weren't as wild, but they made up for that by being big. The younger man hurried to re-stalk his lungs, bright eyes gaping at the sight of a massive wave coming his way. He finished just in time, ducking beneath the water right as it came crashing down on him, pushing him downward, which would have been bad had he not already been trying to go that way. Because, directly underneath him, was Steve.

     The man's strokes grew desperate as the pressure on his lungs began to set in -- no oxygen left to burn. Inside, he tried shoving any potential oxygen from his mouth into his lungs, if that were even possible. All he knew was that he needed to reach Lumpy in time, who was falling faster than he could swim. Hopelessness began settling in, and the man's face contorted, pained by any thoughts involving having to let his friend go.

CRACK

     A sudden jolt of pain starting at his lungs and ending in his brain, finally snapping him into a realization. His own life was in danger now! And what would the villagers do if they learned he had died?.. How would Hero feel for not being able to save him? Ohh, this was all so stupid! With one last longing look at Lumpy, Steve lost yet another tear into the deep blue, before turning fully around and beginning his journey back up, choosing life!

     Hero's eyes lit up when he saw Steve's blue ones meet his. The human was so far down, it was almost impressive! Steve's eyes set on the younger one's with a desperation in them he had never seen before, as he began swimming back up. Suddenly, his friend contorted, arms reaching by instinct for his chest, and he quickened his desperate paddling for the surface. For his friend. Hero also hurried, realizing that now Steve was in physical pain: drowning. Hero flinched when he watched his friend convulse a second time, that time accidentally opening his mouth a little to let a few bubbles go free. Hero was already swinging as fast as he could, so it was torturous knowing there was nothing he could do but keep going.

     Steve did what he usually did in the past, forcing his lungs not to hiccup and swallow any of the salty ocean water around him. He pressed his lips together tightly, hoping that would help a little. As much as he tried to swim, it got to the point where he was needing all his energy just to hold his breath. He had been in some pretty tough situations like this before... But not this bad..

CRACK

     Steve's lungs burnt as if they were on fire. His body pleaded for air. Something that was seemingly not any closer than it was half a minute ago. Little black speckles began lingering before his eyes. It hurt to think of anything but surviving. It became impossible to think of anything else but smelling that sweet sweet oxygen.

CRACK

     Steve's muscles were working as hard as they could, so it didn't help when his arms and legs began locking up, making it even harder for him to swim for the surface. Finally, right when things were looking like it was impossible for him to make it to the surface,

CRACK!

     it was impossible...

     Hero's eyes widened painfully as he watched the body of his friend give to the pressing ocean, back for the dark abyss, bubbles rising from his chest.

Section 9: (now it is no longer that pre-written scene)

Blub..

Blub..

Blub..

Splash!!

     A gasp! Hero's soaked hair stuck to his face, adding more struggle to his already tough position as it plastered itself to his struggling eyelids. After swiping that away with one hand and a bunch of sea water, the white eyed individual dragged his friend's head up out of the water. Steve did not respond to the fresh air -- still limp. Hero refused to allow the worry to cloud his thinking. He swam for shore as quickly as he could; didn't matter where along the shore at this point! As he swam, he kept his friend's head on his shoulder, or at least somewhere above the water. These two tasks of swimming and basically dragging Steve limply through the rough waves was almost too much for him! But, he fought on! 'Just a little longer. Just a little longer. Just a little longer.' Hero repeated in his head, which lent him the strength, enough to reach the shore before completely collapsing. Hero tossed Steve first onto the rocks, finishing when he dragged himself up onto them. Well, he wasn't finished yet. Steve still wasn't breathing.

     "Wake up!" Hero shouted between heavy pants. His face was pale from the whole ordeal, and he was beginning to feel light-headed, but Steve was obviously in a much worse condition.

     Mustering more strength from his core, the taller man pushed himself up onto his knees and shook Steve. That didn't help. He then rolled him over onto his side, then tried his stomach, and then his side again. Finally, he got the idea to just push the water out of him. Hoping this would work, Hero put both his hands on Steve's chest and began pressing down on his lungs, hoping it would do something. Thankfully, it did. Ocean water spouted from Steve's lungs, followed by a gasp and a plethora of coughing.

     "St- Steve!! You're alive!!" Hero practically screamed. Steve was hearing none of it! His ears were full of water. The human rolled over onto his side, away from Hero, coughing up more and more water until his lungs were sore. Suddenly, he felt a tight hug around his neck. In a spasm, the human punched Hero in the jaw. "Ow!"

     Steve spun around on the stone, only then realizing it was Hero. "O-h.." cough "...sorry..." Steve managed out his weak lungs. Hero was still in a pretty similar state, except his face was pale and with a fresh bruise on his cheek.

     "It's alright.." Hero exhaled. "We.... We need to find some shelter..." The newer human then had a go at looking around. On one side of them was still the raging ocean. Beneath them was a naturally carved ledge soaked with sea water. And to their other side was the towering cliff they had just come from. Nearby, however, just a little ways up the steep cliff, was a cave large enough for the two to hide away in. After pointing it out to Steve, the two dragged themselves over to it and climbed up the ledge needed to reach it. Once up, Hero grabbed some items that managed to stay dry, such as enough wooden planks and some flint to make a fire with. Once the fire was lit, and Hero made sure Steve was still generally alright, He sat down in front of the flames, eyes already drooping half shut. "Alright... We're alive... You're alive... Good..." And, with that all mentally checked off the list, Hero flopped down onto his side, literally passing out. Steve rose from his side of the fire, a little startled by his friend's sudden drop. But, at least he didn't look injured.. And, now, Hero was sleeping peacefully by the fire.

     The roaring waves still lingered in the background, only muffled a little by the remaining water in the human's ears. The crackling fire was a good distraction. It was easy to forget for a brief moment as he stared down into the dancing flames.

Rruuuughhhuuuhhhh

     Though his hearing was a little off, he knew what a zombie sounded like. Standing up, it was again Steve's turn to fight for their lives. The human crept towards the shadows, slipping his sword slowly between his fingers as he drew further into the darkness.

Rragh!

     The hobbling beast sprang out at him, earning a small yelp. But the human knew what he was doing. Sure, he was tired, but he was tired all those times before when he killed countless of these.

Chi-...qsh

     The rotten monster's head fell to the floor, severed from the host's body. Steve glared down at it with disgust. He quickly disposed of the corpse by tossing it out the cave entrance and onto the ledge below. Then he sat down again, only to notice something in the dark side of the cave he hadn't before. Forcing himself back onto aching legs again, Steve walked over to investigate. An old torch, just laying there on the floor. By the looks of it, the item hadn't been used in a long time! Steve walked back to the fire, used it to light the torch, and began exploring down the twisty tunnel of a cave. This way and that, Steve followed. Along the way, he found a broken compass, which was an item he had little knowledge of, a scrap piece of flint, some weird metal tube with glass in it, and...

     The cave had ended. A second, burnt out torch had been shoved into a chiseled hole in the wall, at the end of the cave. Below the unlit torch was a leather bag, full of forgotten belongings; to the side of it was a lonely piece of paper. Steve picked that up first. It looked like some written note, but it was hard to read the letter while holding something that could so easily burn it. Using the first torch, Steve lit the one on the wall and sat down below it, leaning against the wall, and began to read.

     ' "I am writing today..not because I have finally found signs of recovery here, but... quite the opposite, actually. I am afraid this is where my adventure ends...

     I had a dream about this once. About me sitting alone in a cave, struggling to write with a broken arm. For years I have tried to keep myself from such a fate, but...here I am.. finally ready to accept it. Heh.. Took me long enough.

     I had a good run. My research has been spread across so much of the world now, waiting for the right hands to pick them up. I still can't help but question how much I have yet to figure out; all the hidden mysteries I have yet to reveal. Oh well... I will just leave those for someone else, I guess. Hopefully to someone who is more immune to the virus than me, I say as it eats away at my broken limbs. I have been fighting this off for ages it seems. But soon, I shall be just as dead as the rest of them... I pray the same fate does not come for you. It certainly isn't the most elegant way to go... heh.

     It is likely that my body will never be found, and that what I am writing right now will never be read. But, in the slim chance that it is, and the one who finds it is still alive and well... may the night's grace be upon you. For you are not just a survivor; the last of your kind, but hope. Dear reader of this letter, you are tomorrow's sunrise; our very will to live on. Keep fighting. Show us what a bright future looks like.

                     -Sincerely, Steven Chriss" '

     Steve gasped when he read that name, and sorrow swept over him... Steven Chriss was his favorite writer. His role model. The one he named himself after! If it wasn't for that man... He remembered back to that thing he had written about a virus. Had.. had that zombie he just slain... Was that Steven?.. There was no body laying about...and... Oh no...

     A lump swelled in the human's throat. Such a revalating idea was crushing. Had all those zombies he killed..once been humans...just like him? Steve had been stabbed, sliced, scratched, and even bitten by the ghouls before, but he felt no disease come upon him afterward. Was he the virus-immune human Steven had hoped for..? Did this mean he was slightly different from the rest? Was it possible that he had changed in other ways? Noo, this was too much to think about in one setting. He needed to focus on the letter, and the possibility that the monster he just killed had once been him.

     Looking down at the letter again, the human's eyes were too blurry to even read it a second time. He couldn't get past, ' "I am afraid this is where my adventure ends..." ' Steve's eyes grew soggy as he held the old piece of paper firmly. ...That man had been like a father to him... Though he never met him in real life, Steve felt the weight of his passing on his chest... His books had guided him for so long. They taught him, guided him, gave him purpose... He just..had no idea what to think about his passing... Was he really dead? Was this really him?.. Was he really...gone?

     A feeling of loneliness settled into the human's mind. His feet scooted chose and his knees came to his chest. Steve's arms wrapped around them, and he rested his forehead on his knees. Only two fingers of his held the letter loosely. Quietly, Steve sat in silence, his mind whirling in every-which direction... What an amazing adventure this had turned out to be...