Cruel but Gentle - Herobrine X Steve

Chapter 24

A pitch black darkness had swallowed everything around him. In the emptiness of this silent void, nothing happened. Time didn't exist and neither did anything else. Not even he existed. Had he existed before? He did not know. He wasn't even sure what 'before' was. Was it important? Was he even sure he was a 'he'? What did it mean to be a 'he' again?

He supposed the jet black abyss around him would be suffocating but he didn't know what that meant either. Was he even sure everything was black? It might have been blood red for all he knew; he didn't know what anything was.

What did he remember? Ghostly silhouettes haunted his...mind..? He did not know how many, for he had forgotten how to count. Did he know these silhouettes? Were they his friends? When he thought of them, these silhouettes made him...happy. They looked different in shape. Very different, yet similar.

One of the silhouettes stood out marginally more than the others. Mainly because this silhouette gave him a confusing mix of...what was it again? Emotions? Yes, that sounded right. He couldn't pinpoint what emotions, however most of them seemed to be positive. This silhouette seemed safe, despite the hint of something unpleasant and...intimidating...still lurking amongst the other emotions. The mix of feelings was...rather unnerving.

The silhouette next to that one was the most different to the others in shape. This one was on more appendages than the others. It was smaller and the emotions this one gave weren't as confusing as the other one. This one beamed him with the overwhelming sense to...hate..? No, that wasn't it. He didn't know what hate was but it wasn't the word he was looking for. Care? That sounded right. He felt lots of care for this silhouette.

For another, there was...respect. Respect and admiration. He looked up to this silhouette, whoever it was. This one was relaxing and smart. This one always knew what to do.

He would forget these silhouettes many times, but they always came back to him. Sometimes, there were more silhouettes but they were always gone before he could study them closer. He was never sure what they looked like.

Something brushed against his form; it was shaky and rough. A small spark of a stinging sensation lingered where it had touched him. It was uncomfortable and he didn't like it. What was it? Was it bad?  It moved away for a moment before, swiftly, it came back and this time it wrapped around him tightly, pain erupted where it had contact with him. It was definitely bad, but - no matter how he struggled - it wouldn't let him go.

It was dragging him somewhere and (wherever it was) the closer he got, the more the ferocious the now burning got. He was powerless to do anything as the searing steadily grew more and more unbearable with every passing moment.
                              ***
Notch was so close to finally getting Steve back. The god worked furiously as the lifeless body of Steve rested upon a hospital bed - moved from the infirmary - behind him.  A motionless heart monitor was strapped to the human, as were numerous other medical instruments.

Notch had managed to heal the fatal injury which had sliced right though Steve's guts, however, there was a huge scar resting on top of the mortal's stomach and serving as a constant reminder of the tragedy which had taken place two months and a week ago today.

When Herobrine had came to ask Notch about the progress for the first time, Notch had offered to let him see Steve. Surprising and confusing Notch, he had hastily declined the offer and avoided the question when pressed for why. Notch had wondered about this strange reaction but didn't question Herobrine further; he had just lost someone he cared about to his own blade. This was the first death of a mortal which had such an impact on him and he was well known for his anger and lack of emotional control.

As for Dusky, well...she always held a dead expression. Her remaining eye a shadow of the pain she had endured; the horrible pain of someone being ripped from one's life. Dusky no longer wagged her tail, no longer jumped about happily and she no longer showed any signs of joy. Notch prayed the light would return to her once Steve woke up.

Alex, although very upset, didn't know Steve that well. While she was sympathetic for Dusky, she did not share her pain. Ace had never bonded with Steve but, nevertheless, he still tried to comfort his canine rival.

As he typed, Notch knew he also cared for Steve. He loved all of his creations, however Steve was one of those humans who made him have keep reminding himself to not pick favourites with. Notch grew restless; he was almost there. Each passing second hastened Notch further and brought Steve closer. Until, finally, a bar began to load and the overworked god actually cried out in excitement. He had to tell the others!
                             ***
Whenever he opened his mouth to express his pain, no sound came out. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn't. His mouth hung open in a silent cry as the cruel burning only grew with each passing second.

Why did it hurt? What had he done? Did he deserve it? He wouldn't know, but he wanted it to stop. It was unbearable. The dreadful pain like a hungry flame burning down the rainforest and absorbing the peace and tranquility.

He tried to distract himself the pain, instead focusing on attempting to remember his name. He had recalled he had one but what was it? He felt his eyes wonder about and then he froze.

Millions - no, trillions - of canvas white ghostly beings all floated within the overwhelming abyss; each one glowing dully. Why couldn't he see them before? Or could he and just didn't acknowledge them? Each was like a beautiful, twinkling star in the night sky. That's it! There was a day and a night! How many had he spent here, he wondered.

Then, Steve remembered his name.

Memories began to simultaneously poured into his head: an enraged river of thoughts once contained by a dam which had cracked and broken. His head pounded as he began to remember everything.

A dog, soft and sweet. A god, calm and collected. A cat, cunning and sneaky. A woman, kind and determined.

A lover, cruel but gentle. Soft but firm lips against his own.

Steve remembered happiness, sadness, fear and anger. Steve remembered pain and he remembered innocence. It was far too much to bare but the memories kept coming.

Nightmares danced alongside dreams and reality danced alongside fantasy. Steve couldn't think as his head pounded from being overflowed with every single memory he had forgotten.

Finally, with a flash of blinding white light, he let out a scream of excruciating pain.