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

Chapter 20 - Grian

Woo! Another chapter I was looking forward to writing!

And... the complete lack of motivation to actually write it...

*sighs*

TW: more gore and death than normal, suicide. 

There's a good minute after Scar dies when no one moves. I'm just staring at the body, lying on the edge of the castle wall, blood spilling down. He's smiling, contented, and if it wasn't for the cut straight through his chest, you would think he was sleeping. Martyn's holding back Ren, who's snarls are growing louder. Impulse is just grinning, the euphoria of killing his enemy disabling any other movement. Cub's silently crying, Tango's fixated on Impulse, horrified, and Bdubs looks ready to run at any moment. I know that any moment now the tension's going to break, and someone will move first. 

Turns out that person is Ren. 

Martyn lets go of his ripped top and he runs for Impulse, scaling the castle's wall with terrifying speed. But the murderer's pulled out an iridescent orb, which he chucks over all of us, into to the maze. A moment later, he teleports there, gets his balance, and runs. 

Bdubs makes a break for it, chasing after. Ren and Martyn are close behind. With one last glance back at Cub and Tango, still getting over what's just happened, I follow. The maze is dark, and I can barely see the silhouettes of my friend's ahead. But I still run after. There are footsteps behind, and I glance over to see Tango.

'RUN FASTER!' He yells. 

'I'M GOING AS FAST AS I CAN!' I holler back. I try to pick up speed, but the others are much faster. My limbs scream with the effort. I push them harder, phlegm building up in my throat and breathing unable to keep up. Martyn pauses for a moment ahead, and I catch up with him. 

'Come on, we're almost back according to Bdubs.'

'Already?!' I pant back, not stopping. If I stop I won't be able to start again. Martyn easily runs alongside me. 

'Yeah, he knew a short-cut I think. And if I remember correctly, it wasn't too far away anyway.' 

'That's... good.' Talking seems to be suicide, so I don't talk again. The brightness of safety appears ahead and I pick up the pace further, stumbling to a stop only when inside. Bdubs and Impulse are there, but I barely comprehend anything else as I collapse, every inch of energy gone. 

'What's going on?!' Doc's snarl reaches my ears. I look up, seeing Impulse holding Bdubs against the wall. The latter is screaming with pain and sheer adrenaline. Something shiny glints in Impulse's hand. 

A knife. 

He's not?

Bdubs!

I reach pathetically over, trying to give the warning as Impulse stabs Bdubs in the neck. My friend collapses to the ground, coughing up pools of blood. Impulse turns to face everyone else, grinning like a maniac. Doc's glaring at him. I manage to crawl to my feet. 

'What is the MEANING OF THIS?!' The creeper snarls. 

'You saw him attack first... there was nothing I could've done.' Impulse lies back. Red is seeping around his feet and he looks down, nonchalantly acknowledging the puddle of blood he's not standing in. He returns his gaze to Doc, who's pulled out his trident. 

Ren pounds into view, fangs bared in a feral snarl. I hadn't noticed he wasn't here. Where had he gone? Martyn's at his side in an instant sword ready. 

'IT GOT IN!' Doc bursts out in terror. 'THEY CAN'T GET IN! I KNOW THEY CAN'T GET IN!' 

Ren attacks, going for Impulse. Doc's trident's already flying. I notice the crowd of others behind him. But just before it hits Ren, Martyn leaps in the way, screeching his friend's name. The weapon hits home, and he falls to the ground.

'MARTYN!' Ren's howl sends a prickle down my back. 'NO!'

'I saved your life...' His friend chokes back, almost grinning at the trident in his stomach. 'I actually got there in time...' 

'DON'T DIE ON ME.' 

'My lord... my time is over... I am, as you can see, dying.'

'NO!' 

'I know it's sad, Red King. Ren. My best friend. But I'm dying.'

'DON'T DIE ON ME!'

'Goodbye...' He slumps over, dead. My heart is pounding. 3 deaths in a short span of time. One a friend, the other two I trusted. It's almost too much to take. Doc's not moving, still in shock. 

'More friendly fire, I guess...' Impulse sighs. 'I guess it's for the best. He'd allied with that MUTT anyway.' 

At this, Ren lets off a chilling snarl, claws digging into the ground and fangs out. Impulse looks unfazed, but steps away. 

'Are you going to kill me or what?' He challenges. Ren's began prowling forward, low to the ground with his tail swishing behind. All signs of his humanity are gone. I get quickly out of the way. 

As if the moment wasn't tense enough, Tango charges straight through the entrance, pointing and shrieking: 'IMPULSE KILLED ETHO!'

'What?!' The accused murderer glares at him.

'DON'T LIE NOW YOU MURDEROUS... MURDERIFICATOR! YOU KILLED HIM! YOU TOLD ME YOU KILLED HIM. ADMIT IT! ADMIT IT WHERE EVERYONE CAN HEAR! IMPULSE KILLED ETHO AND ONE OF THE CONVEX AS REVENGE FOR KILLING SKIZZ.'

Everyone's looking at Impulse. Ren's stopped. I'm silent, looking between the two former-friends. Tango's in tears, hysterical. Impulse stares at him a moment longer, before laughing. He's still holding his knife. 

'ADMIT IT OR... OR I'LL KILL YOU!' Tango pulls out a knife. 

'This dog already wants to kill me for laughing at Martyn. I mean, only one of you can do it...'

Ren pounces, claws tearing through flesh. Impulse falls against the wall of one of the map room, slicing back. The wolf whines loudly, falling away, blood pouring from his chest. He collapses to the ground, still in pain. 

'YES, I KILLED ETHO! WHY? BECAUSE ETHO KILLED SKIZZ! EVERYTHING ADDS UP TO IT BEING HIM! HE TOLD ME HIMSELF, SO I KILLED HIM.' Impulse is still smiling. The knife is still in his hand as he sit there, slowly bleeding to death, against the building. Tango's looking at him. Everyone's looking at him. Doc's outraged. Stress has tentatively crept over to Ren and is trying to patch up his wounds. 

'And he's not the last person I'll kill.' 

My mind goes to Cub, before it finds the more likely alternative. He looks down at the knife, chuckling to himself. 

'Bring me to the afterlife, Brother. I've had enough of this maze.' 

I realise a moment too late. Tango's already running, and screams his name. But no one can stop him as he stabs himself in the chest.