The Bench In The Courtyard - Bench Trio

17 - Hiding and Trapped

TW - swearing, panic attack, mentions of suicide, ambush

TUBBO POV -

Tommy hung up the phone.

None of us said a word. We were all still in shock.

Schlatt terrified me. I mean sure, he'd been scary before but people tend to become 1000% more scary after they push you off a building. I could feel myslef beginning to hyperventilate. After I'd woken up in the hospital, even thinking Schlatt's name had caused me to break down in hysterical fits of tears.

My heartbeat sped up as I replayed memories of the phone call in my head. I felt like I suddenly couldn't breathe, I was gasping for air. My vision was going foggy, I couldn't think about anything except Schlatt.

Ranboo was the first to notice how panicked I'd become, he placed his hand gently in mine and squeezed reassuringly. He started to demonstrate breathing in and out and after a few failed attempts, I synced my breathing with his, managing to calm down.

"Thanks," I whispered, giving him a smile. Ranboo just nodded, not letting go of my hand.

"What do we do?" Tommy asked, still holding his phone like it was about to explode. I shrugged my shoulders, not having an answer. To my surprise, it was Techno who spoke first.
"We have to warn Quackity, but we can't do it over the phone, Schlatt could be tracking our calls or something. I've been his friend a long time, deep deep down he isn't that bad y'know. He's dealt with a lot of stuff and his coping mechanisms aren't the best which is why he acts so crazy. He doesn't know how to control his emotions and thoughts, thats what makes him so dangerous," Techno's words surprised me, after all I'd known Schlatt a long time aswell and I'd never noticed any reasons for him to act the way he did.

"How do we warn Quackity?" Tommy started pacing, his hand shaking slightly. I could tell he was the most scared out of all of us.
"He's hiding in a cabin near the village. Three of his friends are helping take care of him," I piped up, struggling to pull myself out of the hospital bed and wincing slightly as pain shot through my wounds. Ranboo tried to direct me wordlessly back into the bed but I just shook my head and stood up properly.

After a few minutes of planning, it was decided, we were going to warn Quackity, right this second.

———

"Hey guys? Why the fuck is the school not doing anything?" Tommy asked suddenly as we drove along the road towards the cabin. I sighed deeply, recalling the conversation I'd had with Quackity a few days prior. Apparently Schlatt had convinced all the teachers that Quackity and I had some sort of suicide pact and that he, Ranboo and Techno were trying to save our lives. The only reason he didn't snitch on Ranboo is because it would lead to questions and if there was one thing Schlatt hated, it was questions.

"Schlatt worked his magic bullshit," I replied, figuring that that pretty much summed up what Schlatt had done. Tommy nodded, a look of understanding crossing his face.

"We're here," Techno said suddenly, stopping the car in front of a secluded log cabin. As the four of us climbed out of the vehicle, I could hear loud music and singing erupting from inside the small building.

"-nothing that I wouldn't wanna tell you about nooooo,"
That was Quackity's voice.

"Cause it's to cOoOoOoOoOold,"
I'm pretty sure that was one of Quackity's friends, the British brunette, George...I think?

"For you hereee! And now!"
I recognised Dream's voice because he was the one I'd talked to about hiding Quackity here.

"So let me hOoOoOoOoOold!"
Of course I knew Karl. He sat next to me in science and we'd become friends over our mutual dislike of the science teacher, 'Mr MoleFace' as we liked to call him.

"Both your hands in the holes of my sweater!"
The chorus came to an end and I could hear them shouting loudly, mostly stuff like 'pop off!' And 'We're popping off your honour!' And 'Let's go! We're popping off! We're popping off!'

I chuckled and smiled as we walked up to the front door. I reached out to knock and only then did I realise that Ranboo and I had been holding hands the entire car ride and looking down I found that our fingers were still intertwined. He squeezed my hand reassuringly, giving me a look full of support. I was glad to have him there.

I knocked loudly on the door and the music abruptly stopped. Whispering came from inside and a slot in the door at eye level opened revealing a pair of emerald green eyes. The eyes scanned the group for a moment before closing the slot and flinging the door open.

"Hey guys!" Dream said, ushering us through the door and into the cosy living room. There was a large fireplace with a crackling fire inside and at least five different couches. "Q! Karl! George! It's safe!" Dream called, walking through into the kitchen and beginning to pour us all drinks.

Quackity, George and Karl all came sneaking out of what looked like the bathroom. Quackity's face immediately lit up when he saw us.
"Tubbo!" He cried, rushing over and pulling me into a hug. "You're okay!" We pulled apart and Quackity began examining my bruises and cuts, muttering curses in Spanish towards Schlatt under his breath. I giggled softly.
"Missed you too Big Q,"

Karl and George walked over and joined the group. I happily accepted a hug from Karl, as did Tommy and a slightly hesitant Ranboo. Techno stepped away from the group and just observed our happiness from the corner, a soft smile settling on his face.

Once we all had a mug of hot chocolate in our hands, we gathered in the living room to talk.

I opened my mouth and was about to start warning them about the phone call and Schlatt when all of the power went out in the building. Karl, Tommy and Quackity let out loud screams and I immediately felt someone cling onto my arm. It was Ranboo. I rubbed his back, comfortingly and pulled him into a safe hug.

"It's okay, it's just a power outage," Dream declared standing up and making his way through the dark room.
"Then how come the fire went out as well idiot?" George pointed out, making Dream stop dead in his tracks. He immediately returned to the group and pulled George into his arms, looking suddenly nervous.
"Guys, somethings not right here," Tommy whispered as the entire group huddled closer together.

Then I realised something.
"Hey, where's Techno?"

Then the lights flickered back on and we were surrounded. Schlatt stood above us with Techno by his side, his expression unreadable. There were also about fifteen kids from our school, all of them wore all black clothing and all of them looked dangerous.

"Techno!" Tommy yelled, his face filling with rage. "You betrayed us?!" He looked so heartbroken and I could only imagine how Tommy must be feeling. I knew how shitty of a brother Techno had been from what Tommy had said in his letters but this just reached a whole new level.

Techno shrugged as an evil smile spread across Schlatt's face.
"Better luck next time Theseus," Techno smirked and Schlatt's little army of students closed in on us.

We were trapped.

Word count - 1248

A/N -
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