5: Too Painful to be True

Scary. OoOoOoOoK

Imagine existence, but like...it doesn't exist... @.@
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     I woke up coughing. The back of my throat was dry and pasty, which quickly flooded my mind with memories explaining how that was so. A wet, warm cloth came down to rest on my forehead, sending a small series of shivers through my bones.

     I nearly opened my eyes, but quickly stopped. They were now the iconic glowing white, which was always associated with Herobrine...and I didn't want whoever this was to turn on me in an instance. So, I just lay there, my muscles stiffening.

     It felt like under me was a soft couch and over me was a thick, fluffy blanket. Made sense. I felt a little feverish, my skin burning but my blood frozen as ice. All of my muscles, especially my legs, were sore from all the running I had done the night prior.

     Silently, I laid there, listening to a gentle fire tussling at my left, and the occasional shuffling sounds of someone who was moving around the room. I could tell we were inside from the lack of breeze and sounds of the wilderness.

     "I was almost worried there for a moment.." A voice suddenly spoke from within the room, definitely the one who had been moving around before. Didn't sound like anyone else was here either. The voice was of a middle aged man. Nothing too special was about his voice, but it certainly was interesting to listen to, as if, though simple, the speaker himself was one of importance. "You coughed non-stop for nearly five minutes. Even now, I wonder if I need to take you to the hospital.."

     "-No-no! Please don't!" I quickly sat up, still keeping my eyes closed. The wet rag slipped from my forehead onto my lap with a sopping plop. "...I, I mean.. No... I'm good... I don't need to go the hospital, pff!" I quickly tried to play-off the sudden outburst.

     "I...know who you are- I can literally see your eyes glowing through your eyelids, faintly.." The man shrugged. My breath caught within me. As if he knew my exact fear, "And no. I don't think you are Herobrine. You're his daughter, though, making you my one and only niece!" He proclaimed.

     I choked on ash.

     "..NoOO way!" Quickly opening my eyes, I saw none other than the hero of a hundred villages himself! "STEVE!?! I- I- ...NO WAY!!" The man just began laughing. My eyes were wide with amazement. There he stood in the same room as I, casually stirring a steaming bowl of soup, classic smile on his face; teal shirt, dark pants, brown hair only a little shorter than my own. IT WAS REALLY HIM! "Yh- you're a HERO!! C- ...Ohhh, I'm so sorry, sir!" I fell out from the couch onto my two wobbly legs. "I- I- I- really don't want to inconvenience you like this!" As I tried to stand, the man rushed to put down the soup in a safe place before rushing to grab my shoulders and, carefully, push me back down onto the couch. My head spun from standing so quickly, so I didn't make any attempt to push back.

     "Woah, woah, calm down.." He chuckled. "You are family, afterall. It is no burden of mine to care for you."

     "But I- ...But I-"

     "But you burnt down half a village? Psshhh! Everyone does that on their first day; it's nothing to be ashamed about!" Steve swat at imaginary air or something, idk. I sat sitting straight up now, arms and legs all closely tucked together.

     "...Noo ..actually I was going to say I don't even think I am related to you..." Came the reserved but surprised words. Steve stood, a little awkward look in his eyes, as we just stared eye to eye for a good ten seconds. "How did you know about the village thing anyways?"

     "Huh, well, it only makes sense you would be related. After all, only ONE person has glowing eyes, and that is Brian!"

     "Brian?"

     "Herobrine, I mean. And no one else has found another way to get such eyes, meaning-"

     "Yeah but I wasn't born this way! I touched a glowing diamond and BOOM! My life changed like that! Also, do you happen to know where Herobrine lives; I think he was the one who stole my cat and I really want him back."

    "--You see it's the NOSE too.. He always had a very distinct- ...Wait, why did he steal your cat??" Steve was pacing, expressively referring to noses, when he just as dramatically stopped in his tracks, one brow raised and the other furrowed. ...I just shrugged. "-Anyways! That nose of yours though.. It very much reminds me of him, as well as your eyebrow shape, the spacing between your eyes, and the hairline." He decided to nit-pick small things about my face, making me feel a little uncomfortable and self conscious.

     My faint (also white and glowing) pupils darted between his studious eyes and the fireplace. "...Ookaayyy..?" I guess it did make sense. Steve was, in his defense, related to the demon of chaos, so it only made sense that he would know what his own brother looked like. But, gosh, man! Could he have pointed out anything BUT my eyebrows??

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Also, her hair is short simply because she is special, and I know what that's like now so I can write it better...maybe. :P
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     "Great to know I have the nose of a killer.. At least it isn't the worst thing I've been called." I rolled my eyes.

     "What?? You?? What would such an innocent child as yourself be called?" Steve said sarcastically, handing me the little bowl of soup he had been stirring. I just held it as I spoke back.

     "Well, believe it or not, I used to be called a lot of things. 'Street Cat' was probably the most common one, especially when I was really little."

     "Oh? Why's that?" The man asked casually, returning from the little ledge in the back of his room that served as a temporary kitchen, a bowl of his own in his hands. Making barely a sound, the man plopped on the other couch opposite to the one I was on. As I looked around, I saw the house was simple. Merely two couches, parallel, facing each other, with the fireplace sitting between them against the wall. In one corner, the furthest from me, was a bed. In the other corner was the little kitchen, and finally in the corner just to the right and behind me was the door. Behind it, darkness. No light seeped in. I sat quietly for a moment, just looking around; the spoon stirring around in Steve's dish being the only thing audible, other than the faint sound of fire to my left. "Again.. Why's that?" I jumped, having completely forgotten the man of great importance had asked me a question.

     "I- um- I...  Oh! Yeah that. Heh, I nearly forgot." The older man just chuckled, finally taking a bite of his soup. Realizing I too had some, I decided to take a scoop from it and eat, silently nodding a thanks for the meal. "I..um.." I had to swallow first. "I had become quite the thief, actually.. My mom always told me it was wrong, but I didn't really care... I was... Eight..? Back then..?"

     Steve nearly spat out his soup. "Eight?! That's too young to do anything! Wait, how old are you now?"

     "Nineteen." I looked up from my soup with that annoyed expression all teens have when they are called childish. "Just turned nineteen two months ago, actually." I informed. I then consumed another spoon full of soup. As awkward as I felt accepting the food from this hero, I could feel the ash and dust melt away in the back of my throat, relieving it of the discomfort I woke up with.

     "Wow.. And here I thought you were fourteen or something!... Hah!" He chuckled. I held back the little glare I usually reserved for those who said I looked really young.

     I cleared my throat. "But, yeah.. -but I don't live like that anymore. I found an easier way to make money, free of getting chased down by angry, screaming people."

     "Oh really? And what is that?" He asked, accompanied by the sound of both of you scraping around in your bowls for more pieces of chicken.

     "Well I- ...Do a little of this.. a little of that.. You know, the usual.." I played it off with a shrug.

     "No, actually, I don't know what 'a little of this and a little of that' means." Steve looked up at me, dead in the eyes. There was this strange expression he had in his eyes, like some kind of strange- wait, I had seen other kids' dads do that same look before. Was he seriously giving me the dad glare? Haha!

     Still, this strange ashamed feeling came over me, as I lowered my head slightly, still looking him directly in the eyes.

     "....Does gambling count as a sin?"

     "Oh my gosh.." Falling back into the back cautions of the couch, a hand over his forehead.

     "What?! It's a reasonable job- I mean, all jobs come with their risks and rewards!

     "I can't believe this.."

     "And the pay is good as long as you know how to play the game, and-"

     "What would your father think if he found out about you-?"

     "-Alright, I've had enough! Please! I respect you, and everything you have done, but for the love of Notch just stop it with the 'Herobrine is my dad' thing!!" I stood up, a little woozy but feeling better than before. "I just found out about my glowing eyes last night, and I do not want his identity to be attached to mine in any way! Now I thank you for everything you are doing to help me, but bring him up ONE more time and SO help me, I'll leave through that door and never come back!!" After the outburst, I still stood stiffly with one arm stretched out, hand pointing at the door, glaring down at Steve with crazed, wide eyes.

     At first, Steve stared up at me, a bit shocked, maybe even a little angry. But, then, as time slowly passed, his face softened, until he finally looked back at the fire, again stirring through his soup.

     "...Sorry. Guess I was..just... A little excited to finally see my niece face to face. I didn't think before I spoke.." My own face softened, and slowly my arm fell down to my side. Then, I sat back down, but I didn't pick up my bowl and continue eating like he did.

     "It's...alright. I.. I just need to know for sure, whether I am actually related or not... Until then, I will forever be in denial."

     "Oh, that part's easy. There's a big chance you inherited his powers. If you really are his daughter, you would be able to use them." I looked up from my lap, my head having fallen into in my hands.

     "Huh..? Is that even possible?" I asked, barely a whisper.

     "Yeah, should be. I mean, it worked a while back for Notch's kid! -Oh wait."

     "Wait what?!? No one ever told me this!" I suddenly sat up a lot straighter.

     "That's because..." Jazz hands, "no one's supposed to know~" A weak smile plastered on his face, Steve knew he was busted. An eyebrow of mine rose to the heavens in confusion. Seeing my question, "Heh, yeah... Um.. please don't tell him I said anything.."

     "Why? Who is Notch's child?! Are they a boy- or a girl? Probably a boy, since you said I was your first niece.- How old is he? And why is his existence kept such a big secret? And why is HIS existence allowed to be kept so well hidden while MINE is practically screamed to the rooftops!?" The whole time, Steve was trying to signal to me to stop talking, eyes slightly widened, jaw clenched, but still refusing to answer! 

     "Please!... Please.. These are all things you can ask him, how about? Right?! Now, how about tonight you get some more rest, and tomorrow-"

     "Woah woah.. hold up!... I'm not just going to waltz right on into Notch's castle to talk to him?! For crying out loud, he wants to KILL me!!"

     "Oh, no he doesn't! Pff!"

     "Then why did he put a bounty on my head from the moment I was born, huh?? Why did he let untrustworthy strangers hunt me down, like I was some kind of animal!?!" Steve was silent. I realized I was getting a little too expressive with my emotions, and quickly reeled myself back in, saying a little calmer, "Notch is the only reason my mother is dead... You really think I can trust a guy like him..?" There was silence. I looked into Steve's eyes and he looked back into mine with a new found understanding expressed around those dark blue irises. "Don't tell him about me...and I won't ask any more questions about him... Got it?" Steve took a moment to process, but then, he nodded slowly.

     "Agreed.." With his simple answer; that one simple word, I felt at ease, and in a much calmer way, I sat on the couch, leaning back now. It was quiet for some time longer. "So... How did you like the soup?"

     "It was pretty good... A bit salty."

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That's literally it! A whole chapter of just conversation; just like that one in Mortalized! XD

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