Mortalized

Potentially Pointless (2)

     "No. You don't pull away when someone holds your hand, you hold it gently. You need to stop acting like I am always about to kill you or something." I reminded him kindly, though it was becoming obvious that my patience for the day was running thin. My captor and I walked slowly in the shade of a thin birch forest. I was thankful, at least, that Herobrine appeared to like being in the Over World more than the Nether, which ironically was where he lived: in a small Nether-brick castle, no real decorations or anything to make it homely. That decently sized castle was where I also had been staying for the past three weeks. I was taken care of pretty well for a "prisoner." Every day I was given three filling meals, and even slept in a rather large guest bedroom. It was obvious, however, that my treatment was mostly just to keep me content. At times I could still see his eyes flare up, the burning desire to kill me like a deadly instinct. Those moments had decreased a lot during that time, thankfully. However, it was rather traumatizing never knowing when you are truly safe; having to box yourself into a continuous false sense of security, just to keep yourself from going insane under such stress. It surely wasn't a fun time. A time which I was glad to be slowly saying goodbye to, as Herobrine was showing less and less signs of anger or distaste in my "annoying" teaching methods.

     After that quick scold, Herobrine didn't pull his hand away, and instead walked beside me stiffly with his hand in mine.

     "This is pathetic." He commented, not even wanting to look down at his hand. I just rolled my eyes.

     "Well, this is one of the simplest ways humans show they care for one another. The first step towards love." I explained. He just grumbled something about silverfish under his breath. I continued walking in silence, trying to think of how I could possibly teach this guy something so foreign to him. One of my fingers in his stiff hold twitched ever-so-slightly, and before I could even comprehend it, I was flying through the air. I crash landed in a nearby bush and just groaned in more annoyance than anything as I lay there. Quick footsteps rushed my way and I was lifted again onto my feet by this guy's inhuman strength. He visually scanned me for any injuries, but made no attempt to communicate anything to me. "Remember. You need to ask if I am okay. It is both a sign that you care, and a fast way to see if someone is hurt or not.

     "Okay." He seemed to cough out the single word. I scowled slightly.

     "No, not 'okay.' Here, repeat after me." I began, receiving another annoyed look. "'Rey, are you okay?'"

     "Human, are you okay?"

     "Ugh! Again, my name is not 'human' it is Rey. It is important that you call someone by their name. That is one of the biggest ways we identify someone as an individual, who we CARE about... So...?" Herobrine only stared blankly into my eyes before finally speaking slowly, as if I couldn't understand English.

     "Female human, are you okay?"

     "UUGHH! This is pointless!" I spun around, whipping the tall man with my hair as I spun, and stormed off in that random direction. I knew there was no real escape, but I just needed some time to cool down. Alone.

><>Herobrine's POV<><

     I watched as the human female stomped away from me, allowing her to leave for now. I was just as angry as she was anyways. This was becoming much more complicated than I had hoped. It wasn't as easy as memorizing a spell or figuring out that if you heat your skin enough it catches on fire. This, this was different... And the challenge enthralled me.

     When she had left my view, I looked down at my own two hands. They opened their palms to my view, revealing their hard, calloused nature. I closed my eyes quickly as a dull burn on it caught my attention. The burn wasn't random, but was a small design, which looked like a skull. I hated it. Good thing it was so small it was rarely caught by any eye.

     I quickly grew bored. Standing around in the silence would only make me go on another rampage. I needed to find that human again. She was the only thing at the time that could take my mind off torturous thoughts. In my moment of sudden need, I teleported just a few feet away from where the female human had wandered to. She jumped with a startle, but it was much less severe than her past scares. I stared at her blankly, wondering if she would come up with something new. She quickly realized this is what I wanted, and placed her hand to her chin and began thinking. 

     "Ummm, you could learn social skills, if you want. It may not be love, exactly, but it is still very important." She looked up at me. I simply tilted my emotionless head.

     "How important?" I asked plainly. As I waited for an answer, my mind began fogging again, and with annoyance the desire to kill grew. It was a painful thing to suppress, but it was doable. And I managed. Still, every breath she took I couldn't help but think about since she is so small and frail, it might possibly be her last.

     In short, the human finally did answer with yet another "very" and I agreed to practice this form of communication. Apparently it is just like living normally, but with a bunch of really complicated rules added on.

------------two weeks later-------------

     It was hard to walk. It was hard to breathe. My insides felt like they were tearing themselves in a war of their own. Simply going through the emotions had brought me to such a low point. A point of humiliation, and building hatered. Was this how love was supposed to work; suppressing your own feelings in order to not harm the other? Is this the pain all humans feel? There is one thing I know now for certain.. it sure must suck to be them.

     It is beginning to feel cramped in my shell of a body! Nothing but rules. What is wrong with everything?!.. What is wrong with me?

     "Hey, Hero. What's up?" I cringe where I sit: my legs dangling off the thick rails which seat me, on the large castle balcony. I hadn't even cared to listen for her footsteps. So foolish of me. Did I not learn anything from before?!

     "Go away." I growled, hiding my face behind the back which faced her. I, however, did not hear any footsteps stepping away. Instead, they came nearer.

     "That isn't how you talk to a 'friend." She said, plopping herself down about a foot away beside me, annoyed with my attitude; same as I was of hers. We both sat sulking beside one enother, not caring to glance over at the other. "..-You know..." Her sudden existing voice made me jump slightly. "There is something humans do, called sharing their thoughts. It really helps clear the mind.. Maybe you could-"

     "-I dislike your presence."

     "....."

     "..How do you humans live with this?"
    
     "Live with what?-"

     "This pain. This suffering. It burns me more than the firey depths of the Nether. I cannot control my mind... Am I dieing?"

     "...Struggle? Internal struggle? Is that what you are talking about?"

     "How would I know?!"

     "..."

     "Perhaps.. perhap-hhH! What if this love isn't even possible for me?!" I turned to look at her, angry.

     "...You are still treating it like magic. It.. it is just a feeling. I don't really know. It just comes naturally to us humans, I guess."

     "Exactly... And I am only a monster. I cannot learn such emotions." I recited aloud.

     "No, Hero. I- I think it may actually be possible. You just need to believe--" Rey was silenced when a distant thud caught both our attention. I and the human quickly slipped back onto the balcony and stood, looking around for whatever had caused that noise. Up from the dark red fog of the Nether rose a completely black figure with a dark mist rising from his being. His eyes shined even brighter than my own... No... H- how did he even find me? Does that mean-?.. Better not. The being's blank eyes were narrowed, set directly upon me. Null, had found me.