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

Chapter 24 - Doc

Three more deaths. 

Three more deaths since Impulse's. 

BigB and TFC in the mines. 

Keralis from his pre-existing injuries. 

With a yell, I punch the wall nearest to me with my metal hand. It crumples, but doesn't fall in. I don't punch it again. There's been enough damage done already. 

I walk out of the house me and Etho used to share, the empty bed a painful reminder that he was still dead. I grab my trident, remembering that I've put myself on patrol. I've also decided to let another group go out as well. The faster we can kill the people inside the maze, the better. 

I'm sick of this labyrinth of monsters. 

'Hey, Doc! Who am I with today?' xB comes cheerfully over to me, his bow and a quiver of arrows already across his shoulder. I have to smile at his constant eagerness. 

'Me and Pearl. Joe, Xisuma and Cleo are also going out. I'm going to tell X, so can you tell the others?'

'Sure!' 

The runner dashes off, and I walk over behind, towards where Xisuma's home sits at the end of the street. I knock on the door, and my leader calls me inside.

'What is it?' He asks as I enter. I sense the tiredness of his voice. 

'You're on patrol today with Cleo and Joe.' 

'None of us are runners...'

'I decided that more people needed to go out than just one group.' 

'Alright.' 

There's a moment of silence in which I look around the room. It's cluttered, with piles of weird symbol writing and a pair of strange helmet, similar to his own, sitting on a shelf. One's grey and red, the other pink and yellow. Xisuma notices my staring. 

'I found them here when I arrived. I don't know why they're here.'

'Perhaps it's an Easter Egg the creators put in here, some link to the outside world or clue towards who made this place.'

'They both have labels in. Red one says 'EX' and the other 'Biffa'.'

'Odd names. Anyway, we should get going.'

Xisuma follows me out. xB's already gathered the others. 

'Everyone ready?' Everyone nods. 'Then let's go. Good luck, and try not to die.' 

And with that, we set off. 

xB leads the way, with me and Pearl behind. None of us talk. 

Good. 

Noise might make the monsters in here aware of our presence. 

I'm holding my trident, ready to throw it. I'm not leaving here until at least one of them is dead. Until peace is restored. If they stay, more of us will end up dead. 

'Someone's nearby.' Pearl whispers. We all stop. xB draws an arrow. I hold my trident out to throw it. It's then that Tango, Joel, and 'Ren', as I think I remember people calling him, appear. 

There's a moment when none of us does anything. From quick inspection, I can see that Tango and Joel are armed. Still no one attacks. 

'Doc.' Joel addresses. 'You're here.'

'You're dead.' 

I throw the trident. My enemy ducks and it sails over his head. xB has already began firing arrows, making Tango yelp and run out of the way. Ren hurls himself at the runner. I drag him away, flicking my wrist and sending my trident flying back into it. Blood seeps down xB's front, and he runs back. Joel and Pearl are swordfighting next to me. It's then that I'm reminded that no one should EVER underestimate Pearl's fighting skill. Joel's already pinned to the wall, but not for long as he hits her sword away and goes in for another attack. Tango's finally regained his senses and is running towards all of us, screaming out some sort of feral war cry. 

Ren claws at me and I try to stab him with my trident. He grabs the weapon in his teeth, yanking it from my grasp. Another wrist flick and it's back in my hand, pulling Ren with it. The dog bites my other hand and I yell out in pain as I feel the bones break. I kick Ren, who falls back as xB hits his side. My left hand hangs limply at my side, but my metal one is fine. Ren's growling from a safer position behind everyone. I throw my trident, and he skids out the way. But the weapon still strikes through his leg and he whines with pain. 

Tango grabs the trident, pulling it free. Ren limps further away. Pearl and Joel are still in combat, and Pearl calls out a warning as Grian and the vex-guy run around the corner.

'Grian, back up Joel. I'll take down Mr Creeper-face.' The winged now-enemy nods, running over to Pearl. She fights back, pushing Joel back against the wall and stabbing him through the neck. 

I desperately fight back the hoards of vex flying at me. Vex-guy's got his spooky mask on again, showing everyone how inhuman he really is. I'm still without my trident, but Tango throws it towards me and a wrist-flick in back into my hand, trying to impale the vex. In the chaos, I barely notice Joe, Cleo and Xisuma appear, but they do. Grian retreats from Pearl, his other wing hanging awkwardly at his side. Blood stains his red sweater redder. I dare a grin. 

'Cub, bail!' I hear Grian yell. Cub. Finally a name for the vex. He backs quickly away, but slips in a pool of blood. I notice his mistake, and pounce. My trident's already flying, and I stab him straight in the chest. Grian wails his new friend's name as I laugh. Finally, another one of them dead. 

This fight's turning me insane. I realise with a jolt, pulling my weapon out and stepping back. Tango's trying to fight Joe, Cleo and Pearl, and somehow isn't failing. But Pearl was already badly hurt, and is slumped unconscious against the ground at his next blow. Grian's back on his feet, eyes blazing. Ren's run forwards, pulling Cub's body away from further harm, and charges back into the fight with a new fire in his eyes.

'THIS IS FOR MARTYN!' He howls as he soars towards me, claws outstretched. I duck just in time and he falls into Xisuma. 

Rage has made him unstoppable as he tears off armour and skin, biting into our leader's neck until he goes still. Grian and Tango have killed Joe, and now Cleo's in tears. The two nod at each other, stepping back. 

'Ren, come on.' Grian states. The dog looks up from his kill, covered in Xisuma's blood, and limps away in retreat, with the others just behind.