The labyrinth of monsters (a Hermitcraft and third life AU fanfic)

Chapter 7 - Impulse

(Three weeks ago)

'RUN!'

My feet ache as I flee, arms driving me forwards, driving me away from the persuers. Skizz is at my tail. My brother. My closest friend. One of us might die.

'Panic, I'm scared,' he admits. I dare an assuring look back, 

'I know, Brother.' Brother. His nickname. The first thing he thought of was me. 'But we can make it out, I promise.'

'You've seen what they can do. What they've done. You've faced them before...'

I don't think about it, continuing to run. If I slow down, it's all over. For both of us. Any of the other monster in this maze can be beaten with weapons, or tactics, or just by staying passive if your lucky. But you never fight a vex. If you see one, you get out. That's the rule. If you stop running, they'll kill you. If you run faster, they'll kill your brother. You know you're faster than Skizz.

'Brother? You're still there?'

'I'm still here, man. Why?'

'Just checking. How far away are they?'

'You think I have time to look back?!'

I do it for him. My brother is right behind me, and the Vex turns a corner several blocks behind. Black robes with gold accenting, a worn cowboy hat, and that grinning, soulless blue mask. That mask will be the last thing you ever see.

I look forward again. 

'We're still ahead. He's got to tire soon...'

'I'm ALREADY tired!' Skizz snaps in his panic.  'Where's the exit to this place?! Where's Etho gone?'

'Etho will come back. He'll save us.' Confidence fill my voice. Etho has to come back. Right?

Suddenly, my body turns to ice as I sense someone falling behind me. I stop, turning and seeing Skizz, lying on the ground. 

'Brother, get up!' I don't move towards him, every nerve in my body telling me to leave Skizz behind. Save myself. I shake the thought quickly away. 'We need to run!'

'I... I think I've broken my leg.'

'How?!'

'I tripped on that damn cat he has!'

In the darkness, I barely saw it, but now I notice the streak of white and grey returning to her master. I still don't move. 

'Is the Vex there?'

'They've disappeared. We must've lost them.'

'Phew. Lucky us...' 

'Yeah...' I want to go over and help, but know that if I do, we'll both be more likely to die. Here I still have the extra steps ahead in case the vex returns. 

'Are... Are you going to help me?' Skizz finally says it, and I take a step forward.

'I think so?' It's a rubbish answer. I know the right thing is to help him. The most important thing. But I can't. Somehow, I'm stuck where I am. 'At least stay here, please? When I die? I don't want to die alone.'

'I'll stay. I promise. You're my brother. I'm not going to abandon you.'

'I hope not! Hey, when we get back, we'll have quite the story to tell! How we outran the convex. They can't stop us. Skizzleman and Impulse coming out on top!'

'Don't use our-' it's already too late. I run forwards, as the vex turns around the corner. I swear loudly, just about to grab Skizz's hand, save him, do what I should've done ages ago, when another pair of hands drags me away. 

I scream his name. Both names. Real name and nickname. Because it doesn't matter any more. He's yelling back at me, as the vex pulls him to his feet, sword at his neck. Ready to kill him.

'NO DON'T KILL HIM PLEASE HE'S MY BROTHER SKIZZ PLEASE NO!' The words fall out in a tumble of sheer panic. I'm struggling desperately. Kicking and clawing and fighting to escape from the grip of the other vex. 

'IMPULSE!' Skizz howls back. 'DON'T LET ME DIE!'

'I WON'T! ETHO! WHERE ARE YOU?!'

'IMPULSE!' Skizz is crying now, and his face shines with tears. I don't know how I'm not. Fight or flight is in full overdrive within me, but from where I am neither is possible. 'I DON'T WANT TO DIE!'

'I WON'T LET THEM KILL YOU.' THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO, YOU'RE BOTH GOING TO DIE. 'SKIZZLEMAN! BROTHER! I PROMISE!'

Just as all hope seems gone, my capturer hollers with pain, letting me go. I see blood spray ahead, and a body fall to the ground. But I've fought my way to safety, and Etho's grabbed my hand, about to pull me away as I stare ahead, mind racing as the vex runs over to his friend, abandoning Skizz's - my brother's - dead body. For a moment, I can't do anything. It doesn't seem right. I can't let it be right. He's not dead, he's not dead, he's not...

'Panic, we need to run!' Etho is staring straight at me, a look of concern on his face. 'It doesn't matter, we need to run! Now!'

'I... I... we can't leave Skizz...'

'He's dead.' The words mean everything and nothing at the same time. It takes a few moments for me to even comprehend them. 'Impulse, he's dead.' 

'He... he can't be...' 

'He's dead, and we need to go! NOW!' 

I'm jolted back into the moment, and run. I know the way to the base. It's not too far. I can think when I get there. As me and Etho race through the maze, I hear the sound of pursuit behind and try to give the warning. Nothing comes out of my mouth, and I continue to stumble along, skidding to a stop as Etho turns and shoots again, hitting the cowboy-vex right in the chest, and they fall to the ground. 

We carry on, back to the base. The doors open in front of us, and we only stop once they're closed again. Etho's panting heavily, and I look up as Tango runs over. 

'Where's Skizz?' He asks first. I can't answer, as the emotions finally build up, going through it in my mind again, and again. Your brother's dead, Impulse. He's dead and you could've saved him. 

You could've saved him.

Etho could've saved him. 

Etho waited. 

He didn't shoot.

You can't trust him.

Skizz is dead.

And it's all Etho's fault.

Anguish washes over me as I know I'm never going to see him again. Hear his laugh. His jokes. His voice. Never again. 

'He's dead.' I say the words aloud, and as Tango walks over to comfort me, I finally begin to cry.

>:)

I was really looking forward to writing this chapter...