"Welcome to the Nether, a land of hellish heat and life-threatening creatures." My guide's voice was shaky-could someone who travelled back and forth between this realm and the Nether be so afraid of it?
"First off-the ru-"

Sirens blared.

The EAS appeared on the television. My heart dropped through the floor and into the basement.

"Civil danger warning. At 3:30 PM, a nether portal was created by the Village of Wadiah's military. It has spread out of control and is expected to hit our village soon. It is too late to evacuate. I repeat-it is too late to evacuate. Do not attempt to reach loved ones in schools, hospitals, or nursing homes. These establishments have their own emergencey procedure. Information on the Nether will follow shortly."

I looked at my guide's pale face.

"ALRIGHT EVERYBODY, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ANY CREATURES YOU MAY FIND. AVOID ANY BLOCK BESIDES THE NETHERACK," he screamed while pointing at a chunk of what looked like flesh put in a meat grinder. I assumed this was what netherack looked like.
"Stay with the group."

One by one we hopped through the portal, faces white, knees heavy, hearts racing, minds racing faster. I, however, stayed back.
"Are you coming or not?!" My guide sounded hostile.

I turned away and ran.

The Nether was no home to a villager. It was a hell. We visited it out of our nature to conquer every land there was-it was what drove us out of the caves and into the villages. First the overworld, check. Then the nether, check. Next the End. However, it seemed that instead of conquering the Nether, it would conquer us.

Strangely, I wasn't afraid as I started running. I wasn't afraid of dying as the portal consumed me.

I wouldn't let the Nether kill my spirit.