Herobrine stood in the hallway, his glowing white eyes fixed on the shattered remnants of the stained glass window—his window. The vibrant shards lay strewn across the floor, their jagged edges catching the flickering light of his mansion. They shimmered like broken promises, reflecting a defiance that dared to challenge him. For a moment, the sight almost felt unreal, as if the very idea that something of his—something so intricately crafted—could be destroyed was too absurd to comprehend.

That stained glass, with its intricate artwork and the magic woven into every shard, had taken years to perfect. She had shattered it with a single, desperate, reckless act, obliterating his creation without a second thought. It could be repaired, of course. But that wasn't the point.

No, the point was her audacity.

His fists clenched, a slow burn of fury igniting within him. The hot, sulfur-laden air of the Nether blasted through the broken window, mingling with his anger. Herobrine's magic pulsed through the walls of the mansion, the runes carved into the stone flickering erratically as if they, too, felt the depth of his wrath. And yet, he forced calm upon himself, though the hunger for control simmered just beneath his surface.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, voice laced with venomous disbelief.

He stepped over the jagged shards, his boots crunching the glass beneath them as he moved through the shattered window. The oppressive heat of the Nether wrapped around him like a living force, but it meant nothing compared to the fire now burning inside him. Ki was close, he could feel her frantic energy, her panic.

But Herobrine didn't need to rush. She couldn't escape him. Not in his realm. Not in the Nether, where every breath, every step was his to command. His lips curled into a cruel smile as he descended from the mansion. The jagged, hostile landscape of the Nether stretched out before him—lava pools bubbling in the distance, twisted stone formations rising like teeth against a blood-red sky. And there, in the distance, the faint outline of Ki, running with all the desperation of someone who had just realized the depths of her mistake.

Herobrine's eyes locked onto her, and his fury deepened. He wouldn't need magic to bring her back. This time, it would be personal. He wanted to feel her break under the weight of his hands. With terrifying speed, Herobrine closed the distance between them, his pickaxe materializing in his hand like an extension of his fury. Before Ki could react, the blunt edge of the weapon crashed against her side, sending a wave of agony through her ribs and knocking her off balance. She stumbled, her feet skidding across the rough, uneven ground, but Herobrine was relentless. His other hand shot out, catching her wrist and using her momentum against her, twisting her violently off course.

Ki's body hit the ground hard, the breath driven from her lungs as the coarse ash and jagged stones scraped against her skin. She gasped for air, struggling to rise, but Herobrine was already there. His foot slammed down between her shoulder blades, pinning her with a calculated force that left no room for escape. His weight pressed her deeper into the unforgiving ground, his voice cutting through the crackling air above her.

"You broke my window," he growled, the dark amusement in his voice barely masking the fury beneath. The vibration of his words hummed through her bones as he leaned down, his presence suffocating. "And you think that gives you a head start?"

Ki's body trembled beneath the weight of him, her fingers clawing desperately at the coarse ground. But before she could even gather the strength to fight, Herobrine knelt beside her, one knee digging into her ribs as his hand twisted cruelly into her hair, yanking her head back with a vicious pull. His breath ghosted over her skin, his lips brushing her ear with terrifying intimacy.

"You've made this so much worse for yourself." His voice was low, venomous. "All you've done is show me just how much more fun we're going to have." His grip tightened, and with brutal force, he hauled her to her feet, the strength in his arms lifting her effortlessly off the ground as though she were weightless. Ki barely had time to gasp before she was slammed back against a jagged netherrack spire, the sharp rocks biting into her spine as she let out a choked cry of pain.

Herobrine's body followed hers, pressing against her with an unyielding force. The pickaxe in his hand hovered dangerously close, its cold, lethal edge a constant reminder of how easily he could end this—but he didn't. He was savoring this moment. His free hand curled possessively around her throat again, his fingers pressing just enough to make her pulse quicken. His eyes, burning with violent intent, locked onto hers. "Was it worth it?" His voice dripped with mockery, his tone flippant but underlined with menace. He leaned in, his lips grazing her cheek as he whispered, "I like it, Ki. I like that fight in you. It's what makes breaking you so much more satisfying."

Ki's legs buckled under the pressure, but Herobrine held her fast, his hand moving from her throat to grip her waist with bruising force. His fingers dug into her flesh as if staking his claim, pulling her tighter against him. Her body shuddered with the weight of his control, her pulse thundering in her ears, but the dark glint in his eyes told her he wasn't done yet.

"You'll never get away from me," he murmured, his tone unnervingly playful despite the violence thrumming through him. His grip on her tightened, his fingers brushing dangerously close to the edge of the pickaxe, still poised near her throat. "But go ahead," he breathed, his lips brushing her ear with a twisted smile, "keep running. Every time you do, I'll be right behind you... and when I catch you, I'll make sure you never forget your place."

With a vicious twist, Herobrine jerked her off balance and sent her crashing to the ground. The jagged stone beneath her knocked the breath from her lungs, her body convulsing from the impact. Herobrine's foot hovered above her, as if debating whether to drive it down and crush what little resistance she had left. His glowing eyes gleamed with sadistic intent. But instead of stomping her into the dirt, he crouched beside her, his hand snaking into her hair with a brutal tug, wrenching her head back to meet his gaze. "You thought this was over?" His voice was a chilling purr, laced with cruel amusement. "It's only the beginning."

He tightened his grip, his fingers twisting deeper into her hair as he dragged her face closer, forcing her to feel his presence, his control. Her body quivered beneath his grasp, every tremor only fueling the dark satisfaction in his eyes. For a moment, he lingered there, savoring the fear radiating from her. Then, with a calculated shove, he released her, sending her sprawling back onto the blistering, jagged ground. Ki coughed violently, her lungs burning as she fought for air, her limbs trembling with exhaustion and pain.

"Go."

Ki scrambled to her feet, her legs shaky and weak. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, the fiery landscape of the Nether stretching endlessly before her, a cruel reflection of her hopelessness. Herobrine watched her with that same twisted hunger in his eyes, not moving, but daring her to make a choice. She hesitated for only a second, then took off running, her breaths ragged and sharp. Ki's heart pounded wildly as she stumbled across the rocky ground, her body aching from his cruel handing. Every breath was a struggle, her lungs burning from the suffocating heat of the Nether and the weight of her own desperation. Her legs wobbled beneath her, weakened by exhaustion and pain, but she couldn't stop. Not with Herobrine's presence looming behind her like a shadow, watching her every move.

The jagged shards of the shattered stained glass had cut deep into her hands, and blood dripped from her palms as she clutched her side where Herobrine had slammed her—repeatedly—into the unforgiving stone. The agony was sharp, but distant compared to the overpowering instinct to survive. She could still feel the burning weight of his hands on her body, the bruises forming where he had pinned her down, and the sound of his cold, mocking voice echoed in her mind.

The Nether portal shimmered faintly in the distance—her only chance at escape. But it felt impossibly far, every step slower and more painful than the last. Her body screamed for rest, for relief, but she pushed herself harder, the terror of Herobrine's calm fury propelling her forward. She could feel his eyes on her, piercing through the heavy, oppressive air like a predator savoring the chase.

But he wasn't chasing her.

Not yet.

She knew that, and it terrified her even more. He didn't need to. This was a game to him, and he was letting her run, letting her believe she had a chance—only to crush her hope when he decided the time was right. The cold certainty of his control hung over her, almost more suffocating than his physical presence had been.

"I won't let you win," Ki whispered to herself, her voice weak and trembling, barely audible above her ragged breaths. The words felt empty in her throat, a desperate attempt to cling to some scrap of defiance, but even she could feel the fear beneath them.

Behind her, Herobrine's laughter echoed through the night, low and venomous. It was different now—no longer amused, but simmering with cold malice. His fury from before had not dissipated; it had merely transformed into something more sinister, more calculating. His power was a quiet storm, tightening around her like a noose with every step she took.

The portal was closer now, its swirling energy glowing faintly against the blood-red sky. Freedom. But with each step, Herobrine's presence became heavier, his control over the space around them more suffocating. She could feel his eyes on her back, watching her falter, waiting for her to collapse. The pain in her chest was unbearable, her vision blurring with each ragged breath, but she forced her body forward, reaching out toward the portal with bloodied hands. Her fingertips brushed the swirling energy, the last barrier between her and the demon she was running from.

But Herobrine's cruel, mocking voice was right there, in her thoughts—her memory?—always present, his voice haunting her with the promise of her inevitable return. "You can break glass, you can run across worlds… but you'll always run back to me."

For a moment, Ki's hand trembled at the edge of the portal. The weight of Herobrine's voice, the pain of her injuries, the all-consuming presence of his control—it all threatened to crush her.

Then, summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she hurled herself into the portal. The swirling magic enveloped her, pulling her through, and just before the Nether disappeared from view, she saw Herobrine, standing motionless amidst the chaos, his white eyes glowing with cold, ruthless promise.

She had escaped, but his gaze told her one undeniable truth:

This wasn't over.

A/N: Personally, it's not so much Herobrine's brutality and cruelty that I find terrifying. It's his patience, paired with that unwavering certainty, that really sends a chill down my spine. Please let me know if you want me to continue.