[Aria's POV]

Thankfully, despite our shared code, it would seem I am mostly unaffected by the wound Herobrine received. I could feel slight pain from it, and the area was sensitive to the touch. However, I wasn't passed out at the moment from blood loss. My hand hovers above the wound, and I fill my palm with as much healing energy as I can. The pain lightens up a bit, but I can't do much else without risking my own unconsciousness. I lower my hand and open my eyes. Alexa and Joseph are across from me, standing next to the bed Hero was lying on.

"I've got him stable, for now. I can't do much else without ending up in the same boat." I could feel the fatigue sitting in, but I still had enough energy to stay awake. Alexa nods, her arms crossed. Joseph shakes his head and sighs.

"This isn't good. With no one else available to help us for at least another six hours, or longer, we need to stay hidden." I can only nod in agreement. I slowly stand, feeling my legs give a little bit. Alexa looks me over, but I shake my head. "I'm fine, just tired. We need to check the code around the mine and start preparing everything we might need." Alexa starts to protest, but I hold up a hand. "I won't leave the mine, and I'll keep communications clear." 

She nods, and Joseph opens his inventory. He grabs something and tosses it to me. I catch it and inspect it. It was a walkie talkie. I look back at him in shock. He just shrugs before strapping one to his waist. "I've been trying to figure out the recipe. Thankfully, they are long distance and span across the entire world, underground or not." I attach it to the band across my chest for the sheath on my back. I click it on just as Joseph clicks his on as well. "What's the battery life?"

"About five days, by our hours I mean."

"That's impressive. Thanks."

Joseph nods, then turns to Alexa. "Let's get some invis potions. He might still see our code, but at least we can give ourselves a few seconds advantage." The woman nods but turns back to look me over once more before she leaves. I lean against the chair I just got out of but wave her off. "I'll be fine. I promise." I can tell she doesn't believe me, but right now we don't have much choice.

Together, Joseph and Alexa head back into the mine. I stand alone beside the passed-out Herobrine. I lean heavily on the chair now, feeling my brain strain at staying awake. I couldn't risk falling as well while Notch was here and posing a clear and very present threat to everyone. I need to stay vigilant.

'Sure, but if you don't rest, then you'll end up worse off.'

'Coming from the one who had a hole blown in his side.'

I hear him grunt, but his body doesn't move.

'Fair enough.'

I shake my head and allow my legs to give so I can sit in the chair. I could at least stop seeming strong for now. No point in pretending when the only person present can read my mind and feel my pain. My hand gravitates to my side, and I let out a slight hiss. My eyes fall on Herobrine, and I can see the light beneath his eyelids starting to glow again.

'Finally waking up?'

'Wish I wasn't.'

His eyes flicker before he slowly opens them. He lets out a huff which quickly switches to a hiss in pain. I can tell he was watching me now, and I shake my head. "You're not good with pain, are you?" He scowls, but doesn't reply.

Well, not verbally.

'I'd rather speak like this until I know he's not listening.'

'You think he might have broke through some firewalls around the mine?'

'Honestly? I don't know.'

I can feel his unease. Looking around the room, I feel my left eye heat up as the wooden planks creating this room suddenly shift into numbers and code. I analyze each layer and part. Everything looks fine-

'In the corner.'

I turn my gaze to the corner of the room, furthest away from both Herobrine and myself. Everything looks the same at first. I keep my gaze there, and suddenly I see something snap in then out of existence. It was almost as if it was seeping through the cracks. I growl, slowly moving out of my chair and around Hero's bed. I make it to the corner, and sure enough, I can see something hiding between the blocks of wooden planks. Similar to an old glitch, I notice the code was a minecart with something in it. I wasn't sure what, exactly, but I knew I needed to be careful. If it was TNT, Herobrine and I would be in a lot of trouble.

'Be careful.'

'Thank you, Captain Obvious. I'll do my best.'

That does earn me a grunt, but he doesn't say anything else. I carefully remove the wooden planks next to it, hoping it won't trigger anything else. Unfortunately, there was an observer behind the block I broke. Suddenly, the block below the minecart broke. Quickly, I feel my sword form in my hand and I slice at the minecart. It instantly breaks and I jump up to grab it and the item inside of it.

And the other item inside of it just before it falls. I feel my heart racing when I'm able to see the redstone torch and hopper in my hand with the minecart in the opposite. I gaze down into the hole that was below the minecart to see the rail I missed land on top of a single block of TNT. Fear hits my chest, because I know there is definitely more than that hiding beneath the stone. 

'I'm assuming it's about as bad as I would imagine.'

'If you're assuming redstone torch in a hopper minecart to fall onto TNT that has been laid below us, then yes.'

I can feel his sudden shock hit me like a brick wall. I nearly drop the torch. With a deep breath, I quickly put the torch into my inventory, and then move myself from the whole in the wall. I fill it in with gravel to make sure I don't leave any space available for Notch to harm us. The minute I place the wooden planks back, I feel relief. The code slowly switches back to regular blocks. My eye loses the heat and I flop down onto the bed next to Herobrine.

"Okay. All clear."

"Can't say I'm surprised."

I slightly turn my head to look at him, and he keeps his eyes on the ceiling. We go silent for a while, so I suspected he was focusing on healing. My eyes are starting to close from fatigue. I double check the code around us one last time. Once I'm sure we are safe, I let my eyes close and I take a deep breath. I need to rest.

But I can't.

I can feel Herobrine's mind racing. Worry was the main emotion I was feeling from him. I let out a huff, then speak.

"Alright. Spit it out."

"I'm scared."

My eyes snap open, and I turn to look at Herobrine. I could see slight tears forming in his eyes. Now I understand why he was so focused on the ceiling. He was trying to distract himself, but I couldn't understand why he was scared. Was it for me? No, this is different. This has past trauma, something beyond both of our survival. What could-

"The redstone. You're scared of it, aren't you?"

He pauses, and I can feel his heart skip a beat. He takes a deep breath in, and lets it out.

"It's not redstone, in and of itself, but what he could do with it. His creativity and lack of empathy knows no bounds. He..." A shiver runs through both of us, and I am finally seeing a side of Herobrine that I never truly understood. I had seen his creation and the first moments of his life, but only now am I truly realizing so much.

How human he is.

"Hero, look at me."

Surprisingly, he does, and I offer a soft smile.

"I know there might not be much I can do, but I promise you I will do whatever I can in my power to keep you safe from anything Notch tries to do to harm you."

His eyes widen, then he smiles and lays his head back down. His eyes close and I feel his heart rate settle. I decide to do the same and relax while we can.

"Thank you, Aria."

I smile, feeling our shared minds finally start to relax.

"You're welcome, Hero."

With that, we both drift into sleep.