Floor-Bound

I woke up sore and weak, again. It hadn't been the first time I woke up like that. But this morning I knew that I had almost died the other day. I must have been given a few healing potions because I wasn't hurting extremely bad, but my chest was still pretty painful. I wonder if I still, technically, won the tournament. :}

I slid out of bed and walked all the way to the training room. No one was there. I picked up a wooden sword from the wall and started swinging at an armor stand. I started getting into the groove of things but had to stop when a stinging pain surged through my chest where I was still healing. It felt like someone had cut through me all over again. I stumbled, grabbing my chest in pain, but didn't fall over. I hunched over and that seemed to help with the pain.

The worst part was that.. I was all alone. I hoped that someone might comfort me as I held my chest, like in movies or books, but that didn't happen with me. The pain slowly faded and when it finally stopped I was laying on the floor curled up in a ball. I didn't dare move. What if moving was what caused the pain to come back in the first place. After a long time, I built up the courage to stand up. I couldn't just lay down forever. I slowly stood to my feet and turned to the door. My plan was to go right to my room and lay down where I was supposed to be. Maybe it was considered night in the Nether and everyone was asleep. By now, it would probably be considered morning. I only made it a few steps. I felt pain again and this time I was floor-bound in moments. I could do nothing but curl up into a ball and groan.

I thought while I laid there. I wished my mom and dad were there to be with me. I wish they were there, period. I began to cry the more I thought of them. Maybe, just maybe, they had entered the game like I had. Maybe they were in that big city in the center of the map.

"..Mommy... Daddy..." I whispered quietly, hoping they would magickly show up. It seemed to work all the other times. It was a pitiful scene seeing me laying on the floor curled into a ball crying. I must have been there a while before I finally heard movement around me.

"Hazel?" I heard Herobrine's voice ask me in a drowsy tone. He had probably just woken up and saw me through the doorless frame when he was walking around. He then suddenly realized I was in pain when he heard me whimper on the floor and ran over to me, "Hazel?!," not exactly the comforter I had wished for.

"Uncle-" I mumbled but couldn't finish in time before the pain distracted me. Why was I hurting so bad!?

"What happened?!" He asked. He didn't need an answer, however. Once he reached me a potion of healing splashed on the floor right next to me and the stinging around my still healing cut only faded a little and I still laid there. Herobrine then picked me up like I was a big baby. I no longer felt alone or hopeless. It might have been Herobrine, but he was good enough for that moment. After laying on the cold floor for probably a few HOURS I wasn't sure if I ever wanted to be put down again. "You should have stayed in bed." Herobrine scolded quietly. He looked too worried to be properly angry. I wonder if when I was gone Herobrine remembered something I didn't because he was a lot gentler than before. After a few minutes, Herobrine started to walk towards one of the doors that lead to my room.

For some reason I got worried and I sounded like I was pleading for my life when I said, "Please don't leave me alone in my room. It was scary being on the floor by myself. Just keep me with you. Please?" I pleaded. I didn't really care about my tough act anymore. Herobrine actually listened.

"Fine.." He slightly grumbled, as if trying to sound annoyed. He just stared blankly at a wall as I fell fast asleep.

I slowly woke up and the swaying motion of walking and the sound of footsteps reminded me that I had actually fallen asleep in my uncle's arms. Awkward, I know. But at the time I felt alone and re-remembering my parents' deaths had really gotten me shaken up. Herobrine just happened to be the one person who cared enough not to just put me back in my room. I then noticed that Herobrine had somehow used his powers to shrink me and was carrying me in one arm all bundled up like a baby. That was just silly, but I guess it made me easier to hold and he probably had things to do that would be hard if he were carrying a fifteen-year-old around. I only opened my eyes slightly to see that we were winding through the many halls. I must have been asleep for a while because now the entire Nether was bustling with mobs of all kinds walking through it. I never mentioned the mobs before but they were always there.

"You. Take your team to gather as much lapis as you can find." Herobrine began giving orders to the mobs. It was probably funny seeing him holding little me in his arms, all bundled up in a blanket. I saw some of the mobs look at me and smile slightly but they didn't tell their master that my eyes were open. Good thing too, because the sooner he realized I was awake, the sooner he would probably put me down. "Put the obsidian in the project chamber... Find the blazes, I need their firepower."

"Lord Herobrine!" A pigment said as he bowed before Herobrine. I laughed inside at what thought he might be having about me. I probably took Herobrine's intimidating bar all the way down to a five, or even a three.

"What?! Has your team finished yet?" Herobrine growled.

"Yes, my lord. The canons have been constructed and hidden right outside the city limits." He answered.

"Good, make sure the creepers get there by Dooms Day." Herobrine said, not angry anymore. I heard running and panting from behind and Herobrine turned around. I closed my eyes as soon as I saw Daniel running, out of breath. He stopped when he saw me in Herobrine's arms and I heard a smile in his breath as he panted. "What?" Herobrine asked as if he didn't notice he was holding me.

"Oh nothing, I had just gone to check on Hazel like you had told me and saw that she was gone. I just thought she might be in trouble." Daniel answered as he regained his breath. "Why are you holding her?" Daniel asked in the most respectful way he could think of. It made me chuckle a bit.

"She had fallen on the floor in pain and didn't let me put her back in her room." Herobrine answered plainly.

"Oh, well, why is she like a baby?" Daniel asked. I was wondering the same thing.

"What, you think it would be easier to carry her around bridal style?!" Herobrine huffed, but he sounded more annoyed than angry. I almost couldn't hold in the laugh.

Daniel left soon after and Herobrine continued giving commands to the mobs again. I was pretty interested in what he was planning, and a sleeping baby was the perfect cover for finding out. I kept my eyes closed most of the time. I really did feel like a little baby, it was kind of funny.