Sam's Back || Book 1 of 2 in the Sam's Back series

6

Mumbo and Scar woke up at 3 am to the most horrifying sound they'd ever heard.

A scream.

Grian's scream.

Mumbo shot out of bed and Scar followed, putting his armour and elytra on and passing Mumbo his. They picked up some rockets and a sword, silently communicating, before making their way towards the sound.

They found a metal, circular hatch in a random place near the edge of the steepest cliff on the mountain. It was more or less vertical.

Through it they could hear yelling, although they couldn't make out the words. They were all muffled, but they were angry. They were threatening and aggressive. Mumbo looked at Scar worriedly, who returned the expression.

***

Somehow, Grian had managed to doze off, even in the most pain he'd been in in years. When he woke up, it was to Sam grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet.

"Morning, Gree-on!" He said lightly, although it was still dark outside. It was probably very early. "Say good morning!" He said.

"Good morning, Sam." Grian said, the words tiring on his bruised lungs. He coughed at the pressure on them.

"It isn't for you," Sam said, and before Grian had time to register what he meant he punched him at his ribs. There was an audible crack and Grian screamed. "Don't make so much noise!" He yelled, "it's three in the morning, my ears can't take it!"

He pushed him up against the wall, pinning him there by wrapping his hand tightly around Grian's neck.

"Now, I have plans for you." Grian choked, "Listen to me!" Sam yelled loudly, "You're not paying attention, listen!"

"I'm- listen... ing," Grian said between shallow breaths.

"You'd better be, or you know what you get," Sam said. "Now, where was I? Oh yeah, I have something planned for you. You're going to love it, Yuki originally came up with the concept, so I guess you can learn about-" His attention flickered away. "Did you hear that, Gree-on?" Grian wasn't sure whether he was referring to his previous speech or another sound.

"Uh-huh." He said as clearly as possible, too scared to ask.

"I'm going to check what it was, stay here." Sam said, taking his hand away from Grian's neck, who collapsed and took several deep breaths. He could feel exactly where Sam's fingers had been and it felt like they were still there.

***

Mumbo mined a couple of blocks next to the metal trapdoor-size hatch and carefully lowered himself in, grabbing onto a ladder that was right next to it. Scar followed. They could hear the murmuring of an unfamiliar voice in the next room.

"-know what you get." Whoever it was hesitated for a moment, "Now, where was I? Oh yeah, I have something planned for you. You're going to love it-" Is he talking to Grian? Mumbo thought. He spared a glance at Scar, who stepped a bit closer to him. His sword knocked the wall. The sound it made was tiny, but the voice stopped and Mumbo instantly turned to look back at the closed door the voice had been coming from.

"Did you hear that, Gree-on?" It asked.

"Uh-huh." They could barely make out Grian's voice, it sounded terrified and like it was being denied enough air. Before, worry, guilt and sorrow had been filling Mumbo, but now the empty pit in his stomach was replaced with rage. Someone was hurting Grian.

"I'm going to check what it was, stay here." The voice said, nothing short of a threat coming through in his voice. There was movement, and as the person's footsteps neared the door it sounded like something dropped to the ground. Grian.

Mumbo was fuming by this point and he wanted to see the face of his (probably) first murder victim. Scar saw the way he puffed his chest out and, realising his train of thought, grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the only other room that was behind a closed door in order to hide.

"What were you doing?" He hissed, not liking the sound of his voice when it was angry, though anger may not be the right word. "You can't try and fight that person, you have no idea what they're capable of!" Mumbo crossed his arms in a half hearted sulk, but he knew Scar was right.

Footsteps went by outside and they stayed silent. The door opened and Sam poked his head around the door, then locked eyes with Mumbo and Scar.

This is going to be fun, he thought, grinning at the two new people.