Jack paced the room animatedly, muttering beneath his breath and hands shaking as they gestured wildly. His two friends watched him, still in awe of his presence before them and unwilling to break his concentration. Shelby was brimming with curiosity, but somewhat reluctant to speak. She didn't know what Jack, or these people he was associated with, wanted with Herobrine. The whole reveal of Jack's intentions, happy as she was that he is still alive, she didn't trust the blond.

Gordon's thoughts were somehwhere else entirely, his elation at the return of both his friends drowning them in memories and memories-to-be. He curled his toes into the thin carpet at one particular daydream, mouth falling ajar, and forgetting momentarily the presence of his two friends.

"Do either if you two know his current location?!"

Jack's outburst tire them both from their thoughts, and for a short second they stared at him as they collected their thoughts.

"I think he was here yesterday." Gordon spluttered, looking a little taken off guard. Jack rounded on him, his expression wild.

"This is great! Tell me, friend, do you know where he went? Did anyone see him leave?"

His growing excitement caused the other two to shrink back in their seats, his presence overwhelming. But the demand for information still hung and Gordon, thinking of only the best for Jack, gave him a stuttered reply.

"I-I... Shelby! Herobrine was talking about Shelby!"

Gordon then turned to her in an effort to ease Jack's sudden attention off himself.

"Do you know where he might be?"

As Jack turned his prying gaze to her, she licked her lips nervously. The look in his eyes was intense, and Shelby couldn't help but wonder why he looked so conniving.

"Why do you need him anyways..?"

The question registered and Jack's face immediately dropped into one of sorrow.

"You know why, Shelby," he said softly, sitting down slowly next to the now very uncomfortable girl.

He looked her straight I the eyes, his own wet with earnest tears. Afraid to look away, she held his gaze for a few silent seconds.

The moment passed and Jack looked away. He sighed.

"I know you don't trust me, Shelby. I don't blame you. But... I've been looking for the right one for a long time now. I just... I have to save him."

"Of course, Jack, I get it." she replied softly, "I would do anything for my sister."

Jack's eyes lit up, no sign of the sorrow they contained just a moment before, and bore straight into her heart. She'd never been able to say no to those icy blues in the past.

"Okay look... I knew him, but I..." she hesitated for just a moment under Jack's intense gaze, "I don't know where he is is. We were only friends in passing. Last I heard he was heading south to the desert."

The blond stared stared hard at her with an unreadable expression.

"Thank you," he said breathily, taking her hand and capturing her attention. He smiled wistfully for a moment before taking Gordon's hand as well.

"Both of you!"

A young woman named named Jennifer appeared from a nearby stairway, her tired eyes glazing over the three blankly. She had been Richard's lover before he... died.

"Sorry to interrupt," she murmured,

"But once you three are free, there's work to be done."

Shelby stood in the crafting room, flipping through a tattered old journal. It had instructions for simple first aid and protective measures against monsters. She'd been through it a million times before, but the feel of the familiar paper beneath her fingertips was relaxing. Enough so to make her forget that she should have been working.

"You interested in that kind of thing?"

Shelby humor and turned around. She was met with Steve's smiling face. He looked so similar to Herobrine it took her a second to recollect her thoughts. Once she did, she realized he had asked her a question and was waiting patiently for an answer.

"Only a little," she replied, "I've read it before just for the basics." She turned back to the list she was given and skimmed it over before handing it over to Steve.

"Notch left us a list of things to do. Mostly organizing and checking supplies. I'll... what's wrong?"

Steve looked up from the sheet, looking uncomfortable, and then handed the paper back.

"I'm not so good at reading..."

Shelby blurted out the first thing that came to her head:

"Didn't your parents teach you?"

... and then immediately regretted it. Steve's face fell.

"I don't have a mom and the closest thing I have to a dad doesn't know me." he said sullenly, scuffing the floor with his leather shoe.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"It's okay. Emma's trying to teach me! She's like a big sister!"

Shelby smiled along with him, his pleasantly childish attitude lifting the awkward tension.

"Hey Shelby?" Steve asked quietly, "What is Herobrine like?"

Not looking up from her work, she sighed.

"Quiet," is how she started, "and he doesn't show when he's happy or angry very well. He is kind to those he cares for, but has a lot of anger he can't control for the people he doesn't like or cause problems."

She finished rolling the bandage and placed it back into the chest. She met Steve's look of fascination.

"I want to meet him some day. Can you help me?"

Shelby gave him a wry smile.

"I don't know, Steve. I don't know when I'll see him next. Why do you want to anyways? It is about that boo-" Steve clamped a hand over her mouth and seemed to stare off into space for a moment.

"Sorry," he said suddenly, "somebody was outside the door."

"How did you-" Shelby started, but was cut off quickly with:

"I hear really good."

"Anyways, about the book. Are you trying to say that he is somehow related to that person? That he is..?"

"No. He isn't like that person. He is that person. But if he doesn't know, you can't tell him."

Shelby shook her head, eyebrows drawn together.

"But he can't be! Sure, his story is weird but his power is similar to certain enchantments, right?"

"You can't enchant a person, Shelby, only things." he said dismissively, "I'm telling you this because you need to know what you're in love with. So you can help him! He's going to need it soon!"

A door closed in the distance and they snapped their heads towards it.

"He's in danger," Steve whispered, "And I'm not supposed to tell anyone anything, but he trusts you. And Herobrine does too."

The door to the crafting room opened, revealing a flushed and sweaty young man. His shoulder-length, curly amber hair stuck to his slim face and was a pleasing lighter contrast to his darker skin. But it was his height, rather than his enticingly feminine build, that really caught Shelby's attention. He was easily 6inches taller than her and shyly refused to meet her eyes.

"My hoe broke."