Herobrine stared at the screen with an annoyed glare, clearly showing that he is not amused.
He knows why Notch is gone long now; an update launch. Makes a lot of sense with such strong words of 'AN UPDATE THAT CHANGES THE WORLD' and a long list of updates and other hullabaloos he does not give a damn about. More fishes, more flowers, more biomes, taller grasses...
However, the Nether King's eyes are not focused on the lists but one.
One that succeeded ticking him off.
'Removed Herobrine.'
Herobrine made a mental note to spam Notch's e-mail soon.
Herobrine
Chapter 6
Rejection
Steve stumbled down the hill, still in a daze. Giving little care to his own condition, the miner descended down to the place he once called a village.
It is gone now. It does not exist now.
The man slowed his pace as he stepped into the village. There is nothing. Nothing at all. The houses are either burnt down or destroyed into several blocks. The gravel roads are full of holes, like someone has detonated a TNT smack in the middle. Trees are burnt down and fences are destroyed. Bodies were lying down almost everywhere, and some started to puff away into white smoke, like all of Overworld beings.
Steve cautiously went to the village square, where usually he would trade and buy his everyday needs when necessary, is demolished. The huge sign 'Clothes Department Store' is now on the ground, still half burning from whatever had occurred while he was gone.
"Hello?" Steve called out in the silence. With this happening, there is no way all villagers would be dead. There is just no way. "Anyone here...? D-Did someone survive...? Please answer me!"
Steve slowly lifted up his sword. He might be tired, but as long as there are still survivors, he has to help them. Perhaps the mobs did it. Perhaps the mobs did come and brought the entire village down. His weary and shaken gaze fell on the fire nearby, eating up wooden blocks and grasses. Then again, what kind of bloody mobs attacks with fire? As long as he is concerned, there are no mobs that can shoot out fire and burn things down. There are also never the case in which village will attack another village. Sure, all they care about are the gleaming emeralds and themselves, but there is never a village war in any history. Creepers does explode but creates no fire, and Endermen or skeletons could not possibly did this.
Then what did?
The miner stopped to catch his breath. The exhaustion and wounds had taken toll of his own well-being, and he started to feel sick. He looked up slowly, sweat drenching his shirt and grunts slowly, standing up straight and sighed.
A drip of water fell to his helmet and he looked up, taking his helmet off as he stared at the grey sky. It was going to rain. He mumbled and used his helmet, securing it on his head. Well, at least the rain will extinguish the fire. Once more, the miner sighed and placed his sword into his inventory.
A small crack from the corner stopped him from going any further. Steve turned quickly upon hearing the sudden noise in the deserted area. Silently, he chose his sword and yield it once more, and looked around with extra precaution. 'Mobs can come out in daylight as rain poured down,' he remembered from the journal. The man went to a fighting stance, as well as fighting for his consciousness. Another snap came from his back and he spun around to point his sword to whatever is behind him.
A little villager boy stood in the middle of the desolation. His green eyes were wide in pure fear, and he hiccuped before he slump down on the gravel, sobbing. Steve stoned there for some good ten seconds to register what is in front of him before inserting the sword back to the inventory and coming close to the sobbing boy.
"Oh no, nonono don't cry, I am truly sorry," The miner cooed slightly. "See, see? I uh.. I won't hurt you. I promise."
The boy looked up to him, still tearing a bit as Steve rummaged through what he has, looking if there is something he can use. Unfortunately, from yesterday's kill, he only got a piece of leather and a raw porkchop he has not eaten just yet.
Well, he certainly cannot give the boy a raw porkchop.
"Come here." He said as he took the leather and veiled it over the boy. The boy, still looking at him with a look of disbelief, hastily accepted the leather, using it to cover himself from the rain, as well as keeping himself warm. Steve stood up and took off his helmet, giving it to the child as well. He kind of needs it by now, but as long as the kid is okay, he would feel less bad. Maybe he lost his parents already. He doesn't know. Whatever happened is not good, and he did think as long as there are survivors, he will try to help him as he can.
"..Um... Do you want to come with me?" He asked the boy carefully, offering his hand to hold, and the boy flinched for a while, before nodding and got up, holding his hand. Steve smiled a bit and slightly limped out of the smoking village, as rain poured down hard on them. The boy tightened his hold on the cloak, and silently walking behind him.
"...Uhh..." Steve broke the silence as he slowed his pace from exhaustion. "If-If it is fine to ask... What happened?"
No answer.
"..Okay... I'm sorry."
"...Mister?"
Steve turned at the boy and wiped the water droplets from his face. "Yes...?"
"Are... Are you the angel man in the market... a week ago?"
Ah, so this was the little boy from the market days ago. Why isn't he surprised?
"Um.. Yes... Yes, I am that man." Steve muttered slightly. "Except my clothes are super dirty right now..."
"Oh, okay." The boy timidly got closer to him. "You're an angel, so I can be safe with you around."
Steve gave a relieved and a sad smile at the boy. He must have been really frightened, going through all of that. Perhaps his parents were slayed in front of him. He does not know, and he wished he never would need to know.
"My name's Steve." Steve introduced himself to the boy. "I-I know you should not go out with strangers... So I'll tell you my name just in case you... want to know?"
"Hello, Steve," The boy answered. "My name's Joe."
Steve chuckled and slowly limped. If he does not count wrong, he should be about 34 blocks from his home. Joe kept walking close to him, occasionally looking around timidly and holding Steve's hand tightly.
"...Mister Steve?" Steve could hear Joe calling him faintly. Alas, seems like he felt worse than before. Good thing the boy talking to him kept him awake for some more time. Cracking his eyes as wide as they can, Steve breathed out and answered shakily. "Y-Yes, Joe?"
"Why are you limping?"
"Monsters... They attack me when I was mining..."
"...Monsters." Joe repeated. "A monster a-attacked us some while ago, too..."
Steve stopped dead in his tracks for some moments, before snapping himself out of his daze and cleared his throat. "I-I'm sorry... If you can tell me... w-what exactly happened..?"
"He looks like you, Mister. A lot like you. But you are an angel, so I trust you." Joe mimicked Steve; clearing his throat and continued. "There was this man with fangs and he looks like you, mister. Has tanned skin, he does. And he does not use a helmet-y and he roars so loud the place shook." A whimper. "He was really scary. He shoots purple things and bam, bam bam! Things exploded and my h-house burned down..."
"...I-I'm sorry..."
"Don't worry, mister. Many people I know ran into the woods. They told me to hide in a hole. They will be back soon."
Steve's heart sank. He felt like he has no courage to tell the poor child that his father and mother might be eaten by mobs, maybe zombies, at that.
"Yeah. They'll be back." Steve mumbled, and advanced forward.
His home felt like heaven, but also very dusty.
After cleaning the table with a damp cloth, Steve placed the boy on it and looked into his chest to find a small sized tunic for him to use. He also went to the crafting table in the kitchen to bake some bread and fish before coming back to the kid with the clothes and food. Steve also wiped the boy's face with a napkin and help him use the clothes on. Joe seemed comfortable being there with him, and that is a good sign.
After getting the boy done, Steve told him to stay there as he shakily took off his armor and went to the fireplace, and took a bucket of boiled water he prepared earlier. He poured them into a cauldron, then adding another bucket of cold water to make it lukewarm and comfortable.
The miner grabbed his sword and proceeded to rip what was left of his t-shirt. The bloody cloth was gently snipped apart, and disappear upon contact with the floor. Steve grunted softly as he sat down and inspect the extent of his injuries. There are some badly patched wounds from a zombie tearing through his skin with its hands, a large bruise on his left shoulder from the creeper explosion earlier and hitting the wall tad too hard, and there was this about 3 days old wound from a skeleton attack. Steve hissed a bit. It does not look too good. It seemed like the wound has been infected terribly. The miner bit his lower lip and prodded the wound slightly before jerking his finger away. Once more, he cursed those days in the mineshaft. The adrenaline back then made the wounds nothing for him. Now it felt like someone stabbed him through with a sword all over again. He certainly has no remaining strength to pluck it out, and he knows he will bleed all over the floor if he does so.
"Mister?"
Steve almost jerked again when he heard Joe called him. Either he was frightened or he was concerned about the miner's well being; his tone sounded worried.
"I-I'm okay, Joe. Just stay there. I'm... uh... Washing a boo-boo in my arm," Steve tried to sound reassuring, and thankfully the little one answered with an 'uh-huh' and stayed where he is.
Well, that is certainly not a boo-boo, and that is not on his arm that he was afraid about.
Steve decided he will do a small surgery on himself when he recovered a bit. Steve slowly soaked a random cloth he found nearby into the cauldron, and soaked his wounds, whimpering as he felt pain shot through his nerves, and mostly from the arrow. After cleaning himself up slightly, Steve sighed and started to slowly wrap them in clean bandages. Once or a while he wound look at the terrible wound on his stomach, and he would cringe.
Such life.
He slowly grab the arrow and breathed in slowly before he snapped the body off and held back a yelp as another pang of pain shook his entire being. He wiped his sweat off his forehead and rested his head to the wall behind him with labored breathing. It is painful enough to even move, and he felt his vision went bleary from the tears. He threw the arrow's body away and slowly wrapped the wound with utmost gentleness, careful not to hurt himself even more. He sighed in a little bit of relief, and slowly and shakily stood up and reached out for his chest for a decent clothing.
Joe has finished his meal when Steve came in. Seems like the boy is still hungry, because he looked at him with these eyes that plead for more fish. By now, Steve barely walks straight. The little village boy quickly went to the miner, with a face of curiosity and worry. "Mister, are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah... Yeah just a bit... tired.." Steve muttered slowly before he leaned on the wall, trying to force himself to stand upright. He was not as hungry, but more to terribly hurting. He swallowed slightly and turned at Joe, who is still looking very concerned and smiled a bit.
"There's... Another cooked fish on the kitchen counter... If-If you want to eat..."
Joe's worried gaze showed that is he is not interested with the food anymore, but nodded and went to the kitchen to get the fish. He went back and gave it to Steve, even pushing it to his hand slightly.
"You seemed sick, Mister. You have to eat more."
Steve chuckled a bit before he felt like gravity increased ten times over. A second he closed his eyes, and another second he opened them, he was already on the floor, unable to move, and Joe calling out for him, shaking him with a panicked voice.
Another voice outside managed to alert him, although his body is too weak to move. Joe turned back for some seconds and tried to pull him away by the arm. Steve tried to push himself up as the door shook with every bang it took.
There are torches outside. He has no idea what happened, but his cloudy mind disregard him from thinking too much.
When the door burst open, Steve has passed out.
Herobrine stabbed again at the villager lying in front of him, repeatedly. The fool has tried to ram him through with a stick. Such pathetic being. And the Nether King does not like people prodding his face with a dirty stick, so with a single slash of his sword, the villager crumpled to the ground, dead. Him stabbing the body all over again is just for the pleasure. Say, it is only a way to show that he ruled over these pathetic beings.
Herobrine stood up straight and started to chuckle like mad after what he has done. It seemed really, really fascinating to see death. Death is like a perfect entertainment for him, and he loves to see someone being embraced by death, and taken away. Wait, no. He is death. He is fear.
What kind of mortal can withstand him?
Herobrine wiped some blood off his face and looked up. Strange, based on his memory, night just started some minutes ago. Herobrine frowned slightly, and went forth as he looked at the sky once or twice.
The sky started to light up.
Which is impossible unless...
Herobrine remembered where the filthy mortal lives. A cruel sneer started to form on his face. If his calculation is correct, then he would be greeted with a fine sight.
As he has predicted, a blazing sight awaits.
What was once the mortal's pesky house was now set ablaze. His wheat farm, his fence, his tree; everything is on fire. Herobrine cocked his head to the side a bit, shaking with crazed chuckles as he stared at the burning sight in front of him. Very beautiful. Very marvelous. Even the night sky turned like dawn from the bright light. Angry villagers stood in front of the burning house, giving each other handshakes and a pat to the back at their work. Those fools successfully thought that the 'monster' that demolished the entire village is the lonely miner living in the hills. Boo-hoo, how sad. Well, at last he proved a point that the villagers' stupidity can be used as an advantage.
He slowly retreated into the shadows, still smiling like a demented person. Ah yes, once more his plans have created a nice outcome for him to see. The miner should be fleeing by now, or tortured. No idea. Well, of course he will live for another day to play with, now? There is no way villagers can kill someone.
Before he left, however, something quite disturb him. The Nether King turned once more at the commotion, eying the people present there one by one.
A child seemed like he was screaming and hitting whoever is carrying him on his shoulder. Beside said person, someone seemed to be holding a lead. Herobrine could not really see this due to his nonstrategic position, and the light is not helping with his night vision due to the intense brightness.
He decided his curiosity lead him to find out. Letting out a low-pitched call, he waited as nearby spiders came and bowed behind him. With a wave of his hand, Herobrine mentioned them to follow the villagers, stealthily. The spiders nodded and does as they were told.
Something is not right.
As the sky slowly light up to dawn, the house is nothing but dark charcoal and ashes. By then, the villagers had left the area, but not towards their village, and that means either they are moving or something will happen. Herobrine clicked his tongue. As he proceeded, he has not found any signs of the miner. Drops of blood, sweat, or anything is not present around the house but from the front porch, which means some hours ago when he entered the house.
If the miner does not run away, does that mean he was burned inside?
Another strange thing is the same scent also came from between the villagers. Perhaps the child has his shirt on. As he followed with his furry, eight-legged underlings, the child has not stopped crying and screaming something about 'don't hurt him!' or 'he's innocent, dad!' which are left unheard by the villagers. So noisy. He wondered what is going on.
When the sun fully risen, the mob of villagers has reached a top of a cliff. Herobrine was watching from behind them, and the spiders too, on the sides of the cliff, unseen.
Herobrine wondered what they are doing on a tall cliff. What is going on? This is certainly not included in his plan. He does not think that of all places, the cliff is where they are going to. A pained yelp made Herobrine focused more on the villagers as one pulled an all too familiar figure out from the group with a leash. His eyes widen. They actually captured him? This is certainly not inside of his plan. He expected these foolish beings to set his house on fire and he will flee! What made him stayed inside? Was the mortal planning to die?
The mortal was on his side, whimpering as the lead was released from him. He shakily tried to stand up straight to look at the villagers with intense fear and pain. Th villagers are taunting him, calling him 'monster', 'murderer', everything, and the miner seemed to shook his head and tries to reason with the angry mob. Herobrine also observed that the miner seemed to have bandages around him, and he looked like he was in intense pain. The mobs must have hurt him too much in the mineshaft? He gritted his teeth. Why can't the mobs do anything right? But no worries. Villagers never harm others. They will never kill the miner and of course they will just taunt him and put him here to not disturb them anymore.
Oh, how wrong he was.
Herobrine's thin smile fell into a surprised gaze as one villager flung a brick to the miner, followed by the others. They rained him with anything they have; torches, buckets, everything. Before the miner could shield himself, a brick hit the miner 's head, causing him to topple over the edge of the cliff. In reflex, the surprised being reached out, as if he was trying to catch him. For just one second, he could feel Steve was looking at him, both in shock and in fear.
The next moment, he was gone.
I have this strong feeling I am being terribly mean to our favorite miner.
Uh... I am not very sure about this chapter. I kind of feel like I don't put too much effort in it. I am not sure why.
So I'm sorry if this chapter is not very interesting or anything for my fellow readers and followers. I have major artblock and writing block lately I just have some trouble thinking for some good while. I still thank you for following my story. It means a lot. Thank you.
Ok, on to answering reviews.
BlackDragon41: -answered through her PM-
Wolflove9: Yooo I like Hero's Bane too! ^ ^ It's really awesome. I also have read your story. It is pretty nicely written and I like it. I forgot if I followed it already but I like your work as well! Keep writing!
Thank you for reading. Once again I'm sorry for the errors and all, or if it's not as good as previus chapters but I will make sure the next chapter is quite interesting, because it is fully about Herobrine.
Thank you for reading!
