Respawn 404

Keralis

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"You were the last person with Iskall..." Keralis said tentatively, smiling nervously in the hopes that Xisuma wouldn't think he was going to hurt him. "And I don't think it's him, Iskall's the last person he'd kill. And thinking of it, Mumbo as well. He's not the type of person to go ballistic out of nowhere..."

"And I am?" Xisuma snapped, feeling genuine emotion for the first time this whole ordeal had started other than glee.

"You've seemed off ever since False died, before that actually. I just want to know if someone's forcing you to do this because this isn't the sort of thing you'd do..." Keralis was nervous, knowing he was putting himself at high risk of being murdered, but he wanted to help. There had to be a way to help. He didn't want Xisuma to feel alone.

"I-" Xisuma looked away, biting his lip as he started to shake silently, all but confirming Keralis's suspicions.

"H-hey, it's okay," Keralis said hurriedly, stepping closer hesitantly. "It's alright, I'm here."

"That won't make them stop," Xisuma whispered, looking so fragile from Keralis's perspective, his friend's kindness making him feel a slight twinge of guilt at how carelessly he was manipulating him. But he couldn't really stop, nothing would be able to make him stop.

"Make what stop?" 

"The little voices, going whisper whisper in my head, whisper whisper, telling me to do... So many things and I listen." He made vicious, unnatural gestures as he tried to get across what was happening inside his head. His voice was an unnatural hiss, making it hard for Keralis to make out what he was saying.

"It's okay Shishwammy, just-" He was cut off by his communicator buzzing, Xisuma glancing at his as well. Keralis's heart sank, the all too familiar letters flickering over the pixellated screen. "Oh god-"  

"That wasn't me, I swear-"

"I- I think he jumped..." Keralis whispered, a horrified expression on his face. Xisuma started to shake, instantly attracting the hermit's attention. "Are you okay Shishwammy?" Faking a sniffle, Xisuma nodded, glad that the mask hid his face, though relying on it to survive wasn't that great. 

"Yeah, fine, just... I led him to this, didn't I?" Keralis hesitated for a few seconds before nodding, stepping closer. "It's gonna be ok Shishwammy, just let me help." Keralis hesitated, wrapping his arms around Xisuma into a gentle hug. Xisuma felt the warmth surrounding him, letting his hands hang limp by his side before hugging back, enjoying the comfort of his friend surrounding him for a few seconds before-

"ach-" Xisuma pulled away, sliding away the now blood-stained knife and letting it fall to the floor. Surprisingly he wasn't smiling like he normally was, but he couldn't deny that he enjoyed it. 

"Xisuma-" 

"I'm sorry." Xisuma turned around, his expression emotionless as his communicator buzzed.

Keralis was slain by Xisumavoid