The Herobrine Quest

Chapter 9. Your Worst Nightmare

Absolute silence. Cloud walked through the forest, savoring the sights and sounds of nature. It calmed her, easing her stress on the events that had taken place. She watched a cow and a pig running around playfully and wondered how different her life would be if they were as carefree as the animals.

A twig snapped. Cloud passed it off as nothing, believing it to be another animal. She continued walking down the well-worn path. She reached the riverside and sat down on the bank. She found a smooth, thin rock and sent it spiraling across the water. It skipped four times, then sunk into the water. It was so peaceful out here, she thought. If only it could be this way forever.

Another twig snapped. Now slightly suspicious, Cloud stood up from the riverbank and looked around at the surrounding forest. The moon's pale light cast eerie shadows on the trees and ground and suddenly nature didn't seem like such a good stress reliever.

Another twig snapped. As did her nerve. Finding the path the walked through the woods at a brisk pace, and with every twig snap her heart beat twice as fast.

She was halfway there when a voice whispered "Hello Cloud."

A hand clamped onto her mouth to prevent her from making any noise. Cloud could only hear the thunderous sound of her own heart beating out it's constant drumming rhythm.

The voice said "Wonderful to see you again. But I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me." Frozen with fear, and nearly numb with cold, Cloud nodded. The voice said "I'm going to let go of your mouth, and when I do, you don't scream, or I will destroy you. Got it?" Cloud nodded again and turned around slowly after the hand was taken away from her mouth. Her earlier suspicions were confirmed as she saw the person.

It was a girl. She asked quietly, not daring to make any more noise than necessary "Who are you?" The girl grinned evilly and said "Your worst nightmare." Uh oh...that doesn't sound good...Cloud's heart began to pound harder and she asked "What do you want with me?" The girl began to circle her. Cloud followed her with her eyes, not daring to turn around. At last the girl replied "I have no quarrel with you."

Cloud didn't have time to let out a breath before the girl said "But Herobrine does." Cloud panicked, but didn't show it, as she preferred not to die on the spot. Cloud spotted something out of the corner of her eye. A flame mark, on the left hand of her attacker.

She branded it into her memory in case she escaped. Before she could stop the words she asked "Are you the traitor the riddle told of?" The girl smiled and said "Traitor isn't the word I'd use. I prefer 'victor.' It's much more...realistic, I suppose, isn't it?" Cloud was determined not to give in to the fear. She said "I'm not afraid of you." Cloud saw a flash of steel as the girl said "You should be."

Then she saw only the unforgiving darkness.