Beware the darkness

╷┈╵ 21 ╵┈╷

After falling into that crevice and being in the dark for a long time, Steve didn't feel very good. The hallucinations, which had previously become a little less disturbing, began to press with renewed vigor. And they have changed radically. If before they were mostly simple in style, one creature came and started chasing Steve or looking at him, now everything has changed. First, these creatures began to appear in groups of three to eight individuals. Secondly, their appearance has changed to a more morally heavy, dark and sinister one. With each new time, it became more and more difficult for the guy to stay calm. And finally, thirdly, the intentions of these entities. If before they mostly just stood and watched, rarely coming into close contact, now, as soon as Steve saw them, they immediately attacked him, when screaming, and when in deathly silence. However, sometimes at such moments there is a hum or speech in his head that vaguely resembles human speech, and before his eyes everything flickers, then blushes, then inverts colors, then ripples, like on a TV screen.… In the beginning, Steve was very scared, but then he got used to the rapidly changing colors. He was used to quickly running away from monsters chasing him, and he was used to strange sounds during hallucinations. But what he can't get used to is the look of the creatures. They are so distorted and psychedelic that the guy's whole body is pierced by a strong tremor. Herobrine, who was almost always with Steve after his return, watched his reactions. And sometimes he observed the creatures themselves, which he completely ignored. At such moments, he felt a little scared himself, but not because of their appearance. He was worried about Steve himself because he realized that he was getting weaker and could no longer help him as much as before, and the burden was increasing: "If he couldn't stand it... the darkness would swallow him up completely. I'm... I'm going to lose him.… I'll be left alone... with voices in my head and darkness outside.… I'm... going to go crazy again..." Despite his inner weakness, which was becoming more noticeable every week, Herobrine helped, treated and supported Steve with everything he could.

— Maybe... try to get it out of me again? — Stive once suggested the second one while he was sitting and receiving treatment from his friend.

"Unfortunately, I can't do that anymore. I'm not strong enough. I'll probably make your situation worse": thought Herobrine.

— It's a good idea, but... I can't do it yet.

— Why?

— It's hard to explain. I just... can't. Sorry.

Of course, Steve doesn't blame his friend. After all, he does so much for him every day. That is why the former never argues and accepts everything as it is. "Well, then I'll hold on. With all my might. I can handle it. It's just more work, more positivity, more awareness, more light everywhere. And then it'll go away again": Steve thought. However, his ideas didn't always work. In addition, quite often after meeting with the creatures, he was overcome by panic attacks. It was very difficult to breathe at such moments. The guy was literally suffocating, and his head felt so empty and quiet that he felt like he was dead. It was in this case that Herobrine told him to just breathe deeper and count. Count until he gets better. And it worked, although Steve sometimes did not always remember the need to do this, thereby falling deeper into the empty dark abyss. At such moments, being nearby, the white-eyed man himself began to bring his friend to his senses according to the same pattern. And here, for example, is one of those days. A thunderstorm began. Herobrine and Steve finally reached the house. Who would have thought that the weather would turn bad so suddenly. An hour ago it was sunny and clear, which is very rare nowadays. And now it's very dark and windy. The clouds hung like dark boulders over the forest, threatening at any moment to spill out all the contents of their wet body. When Herobrine entered the house, he was not happy that the weather had deteriorated so quickly. He was hoping to take a longer walk and talk about important things. But Steve suddenly stopped in front of the porch, as if rooted to the spot, and began to breathe more often, looking at the door: "What's wrong with me? I'm breathing like that again.… Am I afraid? Why is that?" Herobrine heard noisy breathing and turned around when he saw his comrade's condition.

— Steve? — the guy did not immediately turn his gaze to his friend.

— I... can't…

— Can't you come in? — the white-eyed man turned to him, after which he nodded, — Then let me help you.

Steve had fear in his eyes when he approached him. He took a step back, looking at his friend.

— You can trust me, — the white-eyed man held out his hand, — Just close your eyes, give me your hand and follow me.

The guy didn't dare. One side of him didn't want to do this, genuinely wanting to run away without looking back. However, the other one, on the contrary, wanted to trust and follow a friend. Steve closed his eyes and with great effort extended his hand to Herobrine. He gently squeezed her and gently pulled the guy towards him, which made him breathe even faster, but he still controlled himself and did not run away. Steve walked on and on, until suddenly he touched the soft surface of the stove.

— Do you feel this warmth? — Herobrine suddenly spoke up, — It warms from the inside, doesn't it?

The guy opened his eyes, and fear shot through him again, but not so much. Tolerable.

— Sit down.

Steve sat on a chair next to the stove, breathing fast, and Herobrine draped a blanket over his shoulders, and sat opposite, pulling up a chair for himself: "It doesn't help much. He's still breathing fast. If you don't calm him down, he'll just run away from here." Then he went to one of the chests and took out a wooden bowl from there, and then returned to his place.

— Steve, look at me, listen to my voice, — Herobrine began to slowly tap the knuckle of the index finger of one hand on the back of the bowl, while the other held it, — Breathe to the beat of my knock.

Knock. Steve is breathing very fast. Knock. It echoes in his head. Knock. It hurts. Knock. Enough. Knock. Why am I here? Knock. Painfully. Knock. The darkness is already near. Knock. It's so empty. Knock. So lonely. Knock. It's so scary. Knock. Something's wrong. Knock. Your breathing is still too fast. Knock. He looks at me. Knock. Am I at home? Knock. You're home. Knock. You're safe. Knock. I won't let the darkness take you over again. Knock. His breathing became more regular. Knock. My heart is beating so loudly. Knock. Everything all right. Knock. Or not? Knock. White eyes. Knock. They suck in. Knock. They subdue. Knock. He does not subjugate. Knock. He trusts you. Knock. It's so warm. Knock. The heartbeat is almost inaudible. Knock. Her breathing steadied. Steve felt better, and he breathed a sigh of relief, closing his eyes. Herobrine stopped knocking.

— Are you feeling better?

— Yes... thank you, — the guy opened eyes, — When will it all end?…

At this, Herobrine frowned slightly and said in a firm but not cruel voice:

— Remember, no matter what difficulties happen to you, never let yourself fall apart, never let despair get into you, and finally never stop fighting. Only by fighting can we survive. These words are obviously familiar to you, because remember, you fought before all this started. You survived by fighting monsters. And only because of this did you live on. Yes, you were dying, but you still got up. He got up and walked on. Keep doing this and one day you will achieve more.

These words gave Steve a little more confidence and strength. The warmth from the stove, on which his hand was still resting, and the soft blanket on his shoulders were also not in vain, inspiring calmness and hope for a better future. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth and peace seep into him and fill him completely. Herobrine continued to look at his friend, internally rejoicing that he was able to help him: "You must be strong. You can be strong. You can be like me, I've already seen that, — out of the corner of his eye he saw a white face in the window, clearly watching what was happening, — You're too arrogant. ¢͇̪͎̽̋ͮ0̖̯͉ͨ̔ͧm̦̬͇ͮ̈́̂€͉͉̦̂̽͐ ̩̰̣̀̌͋b̬̭͖̀̎͒ä͈̗̮̍̇̅¢͍͇̪ͦͣͩk̦̟̜̈̿̍. No. I've made my choice. Dï€ ïñ th€ fïr€, y0u b€ä$t."