Beware the darkness

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Steve was sitting and reading a book at home. A thunderstorm was raging outside the window. The screams of furious gusts of wind came from the street every now and then, hitting the strong wooden walls, as if wanting to get inside the small building and take possession of everyone and everything. However, Steve's house was sturdy inside and out. So he was not afraid of any bad weather. Of course, the guy could have gone to bed now, but he didn't want to. He liked the storm. I liked this wild whistling wind, the sound of raindrops on windows and walls. All this brought back memories of his first day here. He was brought out of his memories by a knock on the door, which Steve distinctly heard over the noise on the street. "Wasn't it my imagination? Was someone knocking? We need to check it out": as he approached the door, he thought, and then carefully opened it. A silhouette with dazzling white burning eyes stood on the threshold. Why the silhouette? Because all the torches and lanterns on the street had been blown out by the bad weather, so right now it was pitch black everywhere. However, a flash of lightning briefly illuminated the figure, which turned out to be the same stranger. Steve was surprised by such a sudden arrival, but invited him to come inside. He did not refuse. Rather, he didn't say anything and just walked in.

- Wow, you're all wet, - said the guy, looking at him, closing the door, - Come, sit down by the stove, you'll get warm and dry faster, - he pointed with his palm towards the place where he was sitting before.

However, the stranger did not move from his place and just continued to look at Steve, standing near the workbench: "Damn, well, at least say something.... You can talk. It's kind of awkward even."

- Well, uh, okay. If you don't want to, whatever you want," the guy shrugged, "Why are you here? Something happened?

- You are struck by darkness, - the stranger did not immediately answer, to which Steve blinked, - You need treatment. And I can give it to you.

- Why do you want to help me?

- We were the only survivors. And we have to support each other if we want to survive this and stay alive. And in his right mind.

- Well... I suppose you're right, - Steve was a little confused by such a long speech, - And what do you want from me in return? I mean, you're not just going to help me.

The stranger tilted his head slightly, as if not understanding him. The guy immediately realized his mistake and, shaking his hands, hurried to help himself, smiling awkwardly:

- Well, or you can just come to my place and spend the night here as much as you want. I think this will be the most it. But we need to make a bed. I had some wool somewhere.

Next, Steve made a bed for the stranger, and after that they finally got to know each other. Or rather, they tried to get to know each other. The guy introduced himself, but his guest did not want to talk again. This made the owner of the house uncomfortable, but he decided not to focus on it. Steve has already realized that the stranger is a very strange and mysterious person, and you just can't find out anything about him. Nevertheless, this did not prevent both of them from cohabiting for quite a long time. And then one day, when they were both sitting around the campfire in the evening, looking at the reddish sunset, the stranger suddenly spoke:

- Herobrine.

Steve looked at him in surprise.

- My name is Herobrine.

- Ah! Nice to meet you, - the guy smiled, - I'm glad that you finally decided to tell me your name.

After that, their relationship became a little warmer. Herobrine seemed to Steve to be not such a distant and mysterious person as before. They went to the forest together, visited the mine together in search of ores, descended into hell together. Although it's better to say Steve was wandering everywhere, and Herobrin was just walking behind, practically saying nothing. And then one day the first one took the second one deep into the mine, under the pretext of showing him something very important to him. The second, as always, did not resist and just silently followed the first, looking straight at him (which Steve clearly felt and was a little nervous about). Eventually they reached a lush cave, lit partly by lanterns, partly by glowing berries. There were many small and large puddles around, and there was even a small lake with a small waterfall near the wall. A little water dripped from the ceiling, the echo of which pleasantly hit the walls and scattered throughout the cave, bringing calmness. There were also moss, azaleas, lianas and bros of different heights growing around. It was very beautiful, bright and calm. Add more fish and axolotls here and there will be a paradise under the earth in general! However, for some reason Steve looked at all this with longing, which Herobrin immediately noticed, although he did not attach any importance to it. The first one, after walking a few meters, for some reason sat down on a small ledge. So, in silence, five minutes passed, after which, still standing, already behind Steve, Herobrin spoke a little displeased:

- You brought me here under the pretext of showing me something important, and you've been sitting here for five minutes and not saying or doing anything. If you just wanted to show me this place, then I'll go. I have more important things to do.

- I found this place a long time ago and literally fell in love with it," Steve said sadly, "I came here almost every day and admired it. Do you see that little pond over there by the wall? Fish lived there. Cute beautiful fish, which I sometimes fed. And here lived an axolotl," Steve looked at a large puddle not far from the ledge on which he was sitting, "A very cute little animal that I quickly became friends with. I called him... Asi, - Herobrin stood and did not understand why Steve was telling him all this, - We were friends with him, and I really wanted to take him on a trip with me one day. However, I didn't have time, - he paused for a second, - When it happened, I immediately rushed here in the hope that Asi was still alive, but... - Steve sighed, -He disappeared. Like all fish. After that, I began to run around all parts of the world and frantically search for at least someone alive. But I didn't find anyone anywhere. The forests are empty, the villages too, there is not a single sound at night, the caves are empty, and even in hell there is no one. Except that I found bones in the valleys of souls. But they were before that," there was silence for a while, "You're probably wondering why I'm telling you all this. I'll tell you why. We've been talking and living in the neighborhood for almost two weeks now, so I thought why don't I tell you about what I've been through. You know, I don't expect you to tell me back, I just wanted to... well... vent my emotions or something...

- An interesting story, - Herobrin replied indifferently, after a long silence, - Do not expect sympathy from me.

After that, he disappeared. He just disappeared into thin air. Not to say that it surprised Steve, but deep down it was still disappointing. It seemed to him that they were already close enough as friends. But... it looks like he was wrong.

The guy spent the next three days alone. It is strange that Herobrine did not appear. Where did he go? Or maybe he was just a glitch after all? No, this guy is definitely real. Steve has already regretted opening up to him several times: "It's a shame that he treated me like that. But it's my own fault," he then began to reproach himself, "Why did you even think that he would listen to you? What makes you think he needs you or is interested in you in any way? What makes you think he would sympathize with you? Just look at him, he's acting like an insensitive monster. Steve pursed his lips at the fact of his own stupidity, after which he decided never to talk to Herobrin about topics of concern to him again: "I wouldn't be surprised if he never shows up to me again. I think I've fallen too low in his eyes." However, Steve's guesses turned out to be wrong. Literally the next day, when he was digging in the mine, there was a landslide, after which water gushed out and flooded some caves, at the same time extinguishing a good part of the torches and lanterns, plunging Steve into darkness trying to swim to the surface. Yes, he finally managed to get out, but he did not feel very well in the light. And I didn't really want to get out of the water, but the guy literally kicked himself to do it. Then he trudged out of the mine. Unfortunately for him, it was already starting to get dark outside, and there was nothing in the inventory except tools and mined ores and stone: "I won't be able to get there. It's too dark in there. Damn..." Steve shivered from the cold, hugging himself, then retreated back into the cave, where it was warmer. So he would have had to sit here all night if not for the sudden appearance of a path of red torches, along with Herobrine. He was standing right at the entrance of the cave, and his white eyes were burning with a bright light. Steve looked at him in surprise, and his heart felt happier.

-I t-thought you weren't c-coming anymore," he said with a grin, then got up and headed for the exit, and Herobrin disappeared.