Chapter 3
Uneasy Notes and Letters in Slumber
Steve's visit with the administrator didn't go as planned, instead it left him with more questions than answers, more reasons he should feel as if he is in danger. The adventurer still didn't understand why Herobrine would be searching for him, it was not like him to do such a thing. The last time Steve had seen the Underworld God was many, many years ago...Steve had almost forgotten about Herobrine's existence.
The sun was setting by the time Alex and Steve left the administrator's building, golden rays of sunshine being cast down on the beautiful stonework engraved in the building's walls. Steve looked at the building thoughtfully, wondering what might happen to it in the future if Herobrine really was stepping foot in the server. Was Jorgensen lying about all of this? Was all of this just fake? Steve decided that he would never truly know until he talked with Notch about all of it...which he will soon.
"I...really don't know what to make of all of this, but be careful for the next few days, Steve, until we get this figured out." Alex said, turning to Steve as they slowly came to a halt.
The sunset hit Steve's face as he gazed into the distance with bright, gentle eyes. He looked relaxed, he looked surprisingly peaceful. His soft voice spoke, "Alex, I am not worried. I am confused, yes, but I am sure that this is nothing big. I will be fine, dear."
The female adventurer sighed and took his hands and hers, making him jolt his head away from the sunset and turn his gaze towards her. "Well, I am worried, Steve. I am very worried that something is wrong."
Steve bit his lower lip and pondered on her words. He really couldn't argue with what she said, for she might be right.
"Let's just get some rest tonight, alright? We can sort this out in the morning and try to reach out to Notch or Jeb." Steve murmured and pulled his hands away from her grasp slowly.
A flash of concern and even frustration passed through Alex's face, her green eyes glaring down at the grass blocks beneath her feet. "Fine...just be careful..." She muttered, giving him a little punch in the shoulder.
"Don't worry, Alex. Everything will be fine." Steve mumbled, giving her a warm smile, although he wasn't convincing himself inside.
Alex gave him one last look before exiting the server, going to one of her own Worlds to sleep in for the night. Steve sighed and exited as well, spawning back into his main World that he's lived in for years. His house was very simple and neat looking, luckily, compared to his other builds. It was made of wooden oak planks and had two stories, Steve's bed being on the second story by his large windows and bookcases. Normally he would read or fight monsters before he tucked himself into his red bed, but tonight he wouldn't. Tonight he just wanted to go to sleep immediately and forget about all of his troubles...
Steve ate a cooked piece of beef downstairs, playing games with himself as he ate in silence. He pretended that Herobrine was watching him through one of his windows right at that very moment. He pretended that Herobrine was too chicken to come inside Steve's house. Steve was never really scared of Herobrine, only intimidated a little, but that was a normal feeling to feel around Herobrine.
The adventurer finished his beef and sat on his stair step for a few moments, entwining his fingers and gazing down at them. He never quite understood his feelings for Herobrine. Nervous? Maybe. Angry? No, not really. Wanting to know more about him? Yes. The adventurer hadn't thought about Herobrine in years though. He only thought about Herobrine back in the Alpha days when Herobrine was more active around him, creating glowstone towers and redstone torch trails in his Worlds.
Steve smiled. Ah, those were the days... The days where only Notch, Herobrine, and myself existed...
Steve walked towards his door to close it, but noticed something lying on the grass blocks in front of his oak door. Steve grew curious and walked outside, seeing that is was a book that lay on the ground. A book? Steve wondered how it got to his house and what writing it held inside it.
Slowly, Steve bent down to grab the mysterious book, eyeing the night sky as he did so, almost expecting something or someone to come out and spook him. Fortunately, something came out of the shadows to grab him. Steve carried the book into his house and shoved his door closed behind him, which squeaked loudly in response.
The old player from Alpha brought the book upstairs with him to his bed, excitement filling him as he snuggled underneath his red blankets, opening the book in eagerness. What could be in it? Did someone write him a secret message? Did Herobrine send him a letter?
Steve was greeted with something he didn't quite expect. There was a long passage in the book that covered about three pages, being written in Notch's handwriting. Steve looked at it in surprise, not expecting Notch to write to him like this, for he never has in the past. The passage read:
To Steve,
I am sure that you are now well aware of the havoc spreading across servers because of Herobrine. It is quite the crisis in Minecraftia right now because of the rumors that supposedly say he is coming after you for some unknown reason. I am sorry, Steve, I do not know if that is true, I do not know his intentions.
Steve, my friend, it is best for you to stay off of servers and stick to your own Worlds. It is important that you isolate yourself from everyone at this time so he cannot find you through your connections with others. Most importantly, do NOT enter the Nether.
I want to meet with you in private as soon as possible, perhaps in my castle? I want to share with you some of the recent things I have heard about Herobrine and his intentions. This is urgent, Steve. I fear for your life and your safety. I do not know what that old miner wants with you and why he is suddenly appearing on popular servers.
I wrote this letter today and I set it in front of your door today. Tomorrow morning I would like to speak with you.
-Notch
Steve blinked a few times, rereading parts of the letter, trying to take in everything Notch had said. It worried him that Notch wrote that he didn't understand what was going on either, he didn't know of Herobrine's intentions...
Steve sighed and closed the book, setting it down on the floor beside his bed. He really didn't want to think about it, he didn't want to believe any of this, it just came up too suddenly and it sounded too crazy.
Slowly, Steve turned around and broke the torch above his head, making his room quite dark and full of shadows. Steve pulled his red blankets over his legs and chest, only allowing his head to be uncovered. He closed his eyes and pushed his cheek into his pillow, squinting, try to shut out all of the thoughts clouding his tired mind. What is going on? I don't know what to think anymore...
Suddenly Steve felt a faint wind on the back of his neck, a cold draft of air that seemed to sweep along his skin for a mere second. He blinked and turned around, looking around his dark house, only to find nothing there that could've caused the cold wind. The miner pushed his nose into his pillow and drew his red blankets over the back of his neck and ears. This was not the first time Steve had experienced that cold, mysterious wind hitting the back of his neck at nighttime. It has happened to him a few times in the past as well and Steve never had an explanation for it occurring. Maybe that is something that...he should talk to Notch about tomorrow morning as well.
Steve finally closed his violet eyes and fell into a restless slumber...
