“We’ve never done anything together that I’ve actually cared about!” Shouted Alex to Steve. “I never wanted to be in this situation with you, or anyone for that matter, so don’t make this harder than it has to be!” Steve sat there by the fire he built for them, staring into the flame motionless as she chewed him out. “You’re the only one I’d want to be in this situation with.” He thought to himself, but didn’t say aloud. Alex, who had crossed the small stream on the island, wandered into the wilderness by herself. Steve knew with no shelter or food she’d have trouble surviving the night on her own, and pleaded into the darkness for her to come back at least for the night, but his cries fell on deaf ears; Alex didn’t want to hear from him.
Steve lied next to the fire with his back against a boulder nearby, contemplating what to do. Did she think he wanted to be stranded without contact on a desolate island? She should know that her emotions cannot take priority over their teamwork to survive. He decided to fall asleep, she would probably come back later in the night after he’d fallen asleep.
He awoke to a bright light shining in his face, but not sunlight. Flames. Bright burning flames. The entire forest surrounding him had been burning and he was stuck amidst the chaos, though he was safe within a clearing seemingly made almost intentionally around him. He called for Alex, immediately wondering if she was safe, when he heard a voice to his left; one that was not Alex’s. “Alex isn’t here.” stated this figure, as Steve turned to their direction startled. “Brian?” inquired Steve. Steve wouldn’t expect anyone to find them stranded on this island, let alone his old friend from high school. “Perhaps he was stranded here with us?” Steve thought to himself quietly.
“What is that supposed to mean?” asked Steve in a groggy voice, still recovering from his uncomfortable sleep under the flames. “Alex isn’t here.” repeated Brian, this time firmer, as if he didn’t want to repeat what he had said. Steve still didn’t know what he meant but didn’t dare ask it again. “Where is Alex?” he tried, not expecting a much better answer. “I’ve taken her elsewhere.” said Brian in a cold monotone voice. “She’s safe?” Steve tried. “Alive.” he responded in the same cold voice.
Steve had no idea what was happening. He thought he was alone on this island with Alex, trying to survive only to wake up to the island scorched around him and someone else talking to him ominously. Steve cleared his throat and tried to remain calm, still perplexed by the whole situation. “Can I see her please? And do you know what this fire is from?” “You’re not going to see another soul for a long time, and neither will Alex.” That’s when Steve came to his senses from his sleep and noticed a chilling detail about Brian; his eyes were slightly aglow, shining a bright white light in his face.
“This isn’t you Brian.” said Steve, beginning to panic “You were always trying to help people, you were going to join the fire department back home; you were supposed to be a hero, Brian!” Brian chuckled at the last sentence, looking down at his hands, blackened by the flames surrounding the two. “I think I like that name…” he muttered. “You’re on your own for now Steve.” Herobrine explained. “I’ll see you again once you face your next challenge. If you ever want to see Alex again then you two are going to have to survive what I have planned for you.” Steve stared at him with a thousand questions flying around in his head like a storm, wondering if he was just still dreaming. Without warning, Herobrine began levitating and flew off beyond the horizon, and Steve was left alone to survive on the island.