He couldn't do this anymore.
Caden paced back and forth in his office, one hand at his mouth as he nervously chewed at his nails. He hated, hated how he was reacting to this, but the guilt for what he'd done was overwhelming. He'd tried to excuse it, but he couldn't.
He'd stolen an innocent young man from his home and taken everything away from him. Not even the coldest heart could play that off as being okay.
But what could he do about it now? He'd given Stephan a new world, released him from his prison. His world was gone, long deleted, there was no hope of bringing it back now. And there was no way he could get Herobrine back, even if he wanted to. He didn't even know who had taken him.
He wanted to say he was sorry, but that hadn't gone well last time, why should it now? What could he say or do to fix this? He had to do something, the horrible heaviness in his chest was becoming unbearable.
He sat down at his desk, and opened up Steve's new world.
The miner was back to being blocky, just an avatar, but it didn't change how he interacted with the world around him. He had built a small home for himself, and currently he sat just outside the front door with a tamed wolf lying half in his lap. It was impossible to gauge his expression, but he seemed… at least a bit more content. At least that was a start.
He cast a glance at his headset, but ultimately decided against trying to talk. He would have to, eventually, but for now he should give him time. Trying to make amends too early would only deepen the hole he had dug himself.
Minimizing the window, Caden threw himself into his other project, trying to drive the feelings of guilt from his mind.
He could've guessed it wouldn't be that easy.
Steve had almost forgotten how fun it was to explore.
The miner climbed up the last block to the top of the mountain, stepping onto the summit and gazing out at the starlit sky. One of his wolves yipped softly from behind him, and a chuckle escaped him as he agreed,
"Yeah, it's pretty." Stepping away from the edge, Steve sat down with his legs crossed, leaning back on his hands as the stars winked down at him. His dogs joined him at his side, and he let out a breath as his eyes fell shut. It was… peaceful, here.
If only he had someone to share it with.
A stab of guilt assaulted him as he thought of Herobrine, alone and confused. It felt so unfair for him to be given this world - set free, in a sense - while Herobrine was undoubtedly being mercilessly tortured. And he couldn't do a single thing about it. Nothing he'd said to his captor had gone through to him, he probably just gave him this world to keep from having to take care of him.
Not unlike a pet of which he'd gotten bored.
One of his dogs growled, and his head jerked up, eyes darting back and forth as he searched for any sign of hostile mobs. Nothing. At least, not until he turned around, just in time for a skeleton's arrow to graze his cheek as it passed.
Immediately, his wolves sprung up to attack, and Steve scrambled away as the mob tumbled off the cliff in a vain attempt to escape. Lifting one hand to his cheek, he pressed one finger against the thin cut. It was barely bleeding, that's good.
Sighing, he got back to his feet, smiling down at his dogs as they rejoined him. He should begin the climb back down before more mobs spawned.
Slowly, cautiously, the miner made his way down the side of the mountain. His wolves teleported down with him from time to time - nearly knocking him off once, but that was hardly their fault - and attacking any mobs they came across. Before he knew it, he stood upon grass once more.
Grabbing his compass from where it hung off of his belt, he squinted through the darkness at the red needle. He'd go a ways further before making his way homewards, drifting to the east so he wouldn't have to climb the mountain again. With any luck, he mulled as he began to walk, he would run across a village. That way he'd be able to trade away some of the supplies he had brought with him.
Caught up in his thoughts, Steve didn't notice the ravine until his next step met only thin air.
He'd hardly realized what was happening when he hit the ground with a crunch, pain spiking through his body from his undoubtedly-shattered shoulder. He could only manage a strangled yelp as he crumpled to the stone, blinking away the flashes of color in his vision.
"Oh Notch." He gasped out, his body beginning to tremble. His wolves, he - he could see them out of the corner of his eyes, pacing nervously around his prone form. Food, he needed food. If nothing else, it would jumpstart his body's ability to heal.
But, try as he might, he couldn't access his food stores. All kept in the knapsack on his back, he was incapable of getting to it with the agony that coursed through him with each movement. Going limp on the cold stone, Steve closed his eyes, teeth chattering from the tremors that gripped his form.
Herobrine was his first thought. That he'd come. That he'd notice he was missing and come looking for him. But that was impossible, he knew that. Herobrine wasn't here, and he was… probably suffering worse.
His eyes fluttered shut. He'd have to wait it out.
It was the middle of the night when Caden startled awake.
Blinking away the sleep in his eyes, he lifted his head, gazing sleepily around his office. He'd fallen asleep at his desk. Something had startled him, some sort of noise, maybe? Maybe it was a dream.
An odd feeling clawed at his chest.
He glanced down at his headphones on the desk, which he had been wearing when he fell asleep. Had the sound come from there, maybe…?
Putting the headset back on, he clicked to the several different apps he had open, searching for any source of an unexpected noise. He made it around to Steve's server, focused on the miner's base, and stopped.
Stephan wasn't home.
Caden's brow creased as he typed a command into the chat, sending his spectating account to Steve's location. Why would he not be home? There's a possibility he was mining, he supposed, but he almost never went out at night. Where-?
He entered the command, and found himself at the bottom of a ravine.
Something was wrong. Steve's avatar lay on his stomach on the ground, reminiscent of the swimming animation, but he wasn't moving and his wolves were circling him with slow, deliberate steps. Had he fallen? He couldn't tell if he was hurt, maybe he was just sleeping. Without a bed, it looked odd, but he wasn't your average minecraft player.
Opening his first prison, Caden picked him up and dragged him back into it.
A muted yelp played through his headphones as the man appeared, dropping a couple inches to the 'floor' as he curled into himself. Caden's mouth dropped open in horror, only for it to snap shut a moment later. He had definitely fallen.
His right shoulder lay at an odd angle, blood trickling from an undetermined location under his sleeve. His forehead was bruised, and his blue eyes fluttered as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. Caden's hand shot to his chest as an unfamiliar pang went through him, his heart aching. He was way, way too human.
The hacker's fingers shook as they returned to the keyboard, summoning healing potions. This was his fault. It was only fair that he should have to fix it.
