Chapter 10- Good Boy!

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, a rustle in the bushes stopped me.

Jess glanced over at Emfia, who whimpered. The blonde gave me a pointed look. She looked over at Emfia, then back to me, and then back to Emfia, as if saying go shut her up. I scrambled over to Emfia, pulling her to my chest.

While I silently consoled the auburn, Jess took out her sword and cautiously walked towards the shaking bush. "Come out, come out wherever you are." Jess taunted. The bush stopped shaking and out stepped a young man.

Emfia gasped. "Liam? Wha…how did you…what are you doing here?" "Liam? The one from the inn?" Jess growled as she turned to face Emfia, her eyes a dark gray. They were like storm clouds, ready to release the lightning. I let go of Emfia. "What is he doing here?"

Liam answered. "Emfia wouldn't help me on my quest, so I figured I might as well join hers." "Without asking? Are you insane?" Jess spit out. Liam shrugged. Emfia looked less than pleased with her friend's arrival. "I thought you had your own quest to go on. Why follow me?" Jess looked as though she wanted to slice both of them open. To avoid further conflict, I stepped between them.

"Emfia, Liam, you two can work this out. Jess, let's go hunt some dinner. We'll need food for tomorrow, right?" Jess snarled. She took a step towards Liam but I grabbed her arm. "We need dinner." I stated, dragging her away from the distressed Emfia and the confused Liam. I pulled her sword out of its sheath and handed it to her. Once her sword was in her hand she relaxed somewhat while I let out a sign of relief.

We started through the forest, the trees thick around us, shadowing us from the moonlight. The shadows moved around me, allowing me to melt into the shadows and I had done so many times before. Being Herobrine, being myself, was like riding a dragon. Thrilling, and an endless amount of fun. I had controlled the mobs that roam in the night, I created destruction and fear. It was who I am, who I was. But now, I was forgetting. And I think forgetting who I am, is like losing myself entirely.

Jess was tense and on edge, her hand gripping her sword so tightly her knuckles were turning white. "Jess, its fine." She turned to me, her eyes alight with anger.

"Fine? You think this is fine? We have a complete stranger following us and I -," she stuttered, "—we have a mission to carry out." A rabbit suddenly broke through the grass, staring innocently up at us. I had barely glanced over at the creature before a zombie tore through the trees and grabbed it. The rabbit desperately tried to free itself, but failed after the zombie swallowed it in one gulp.

This all took place in a matter of seconds. The zombie burped and then turned to us. Its eyes were pitch black and one of them was hanging from its socket. Its clothes were torn and dirty and pieces of guts and other body parts clung to the fabric. It cocked its head to one side, studying me.

It rumbled something incoherent, a mix between a growl and words. Jess turned to me, panic written all over her face. "Run," I mumbled, keeping my eyes on the creature. "But Steve…" "Go, I'll meet you back by Emfia and Liam. Now go!" Jess didn't hesitate. She turned on her heel and ran.

I drew out my sword, the iron ringing as it whipped through the air. The zombie rumbled something again. "Harobren?" It asked. I paused. "What did you say?" "Harobren." The zombie nodded at me. What is 'harobren'? It then dawned on me. Herobrine.

I pointed at myself. "Herobrine?" The zombie gave me what seemed like a smile. I inched closer to the creature, my sword in front of me. The zombie then placed his arm across his chest, his hand covering his throat. It was the sign the mobs used to honor me whenever I would pass them by. So this monster, he recognized me. I lowered my sword and stood right in front of the zombie.

"Caden?" I whispered. The zombie almost lit up, waving his arms around everywhere. He pulled out the dangling eyeball and offered it to me. "No, no you keep it. It's yours." Caden was my 'assistant' back when I was still Herobrine. He managed all the boring stuff for me, like cleaning up the bodies that were in my way.

"Listen, you have to go back. It's not safe around me anymore." I whispered harshly, causing Caden to step away from me. "Go back home." He almost whimpered, but turned around. "Wait," I said, pulling on his shoulder. He looked thrilled that I had touched him and I quickly took my hand away. "What's wrong? Did you follow me here?" Caden grumbled. "Caden…" I warned, and he mumbled something about people who were becoming less afraid.

"Less afraid? What?" The monster just shrugged. "Steve?" Someone called out behind me. I glanced at Caden who was watching me. "Go hide. If I don't come back, go to the clan." I told him, before heading towards the voice.

Jess broke through the trees, her sword ready at her side. She glanced around me in confusion when she didn't see anything. "Where'd that zombie go?"

"I…uh killed him." I said. Jess raised her eyebrow. "Did you go back to Emfia and Liam?" I asked, trying to change the subject. Jess rolled her eyes. "They are still fighting. We have to leave soon if we want to make it to TCOH by sunrise." I quickly walked back to our makeshift campsite, Jess trailing behind me.

Emfia and Liam were still in a heated argument. "That's it!" Jess yelled. "Liam, I'm done with you and your shiftiness. Come along with us or leave us alone. And if you do come along with us, then know that I will not tolerate anything. Understood?" Liam grinned and nodded. Emfia crossed her arms, clearly unhappy. "Emfia, I don't know what's wrong with you and your friend but if you want to find Herobrine we need to go."

"Alright then, let's go. I'll explain the plan to you as we walk." Jess said to Liam. Emfia glanced at me, but I needed to talk to Caden. "You guys go ahead, I saw some potential dinner before. I think I'll snag that and catch up."

"Steve are you sure?" Emfia asked worry lacing her words. I patted her shoulder and nodded to Jess, who nodded back and starting walking. Liam trailed slightly behind her, Emfia on his other side.

I found Caden behind a tree. He came bounding over to me as if he was a puppy. I rolled my eyes. "Explain." I demanded. Caden rumbled to me in pieces of broken English and a lot of hand waving.

Apparently because the people hadn't seen Herobrine for a while, some of them assumed that he, me, had just gone. Some thought Notch played a hand in the matter (which he did) while others were convinced that I, Herobrine, was going to come back in a swirl of destruction. But the ones who thought I was gone had already become confident. I would have never allowed this if I still had my power. My job was to instill fear, make people afraid to leave their homes. And now, the complete opposite was happening.

"I want you to do something for me." I said to Caden and explained to him my plan. He grunted and nodded happily. "Now go, you have work to do." I shooed him away, and I went in search of an animal to bring back to the others.

I returned with a fat pig slung over my shoulder. Jess looked over at me and grinned. "No problems I assume?" She asked.

"None at all."