A Glitch of Magic - a Hermitcraft (and third life?) Fanfiction

Chapter 24

'Do not be a potato. Be a pota(r)to.' -my mum 

TW : suicide

Bdubs wanted to run. Hide. Block out Jimmy's chilling screams of agony. Anything to escape. But Herobrine made him stay. He knew he couldn't leave. Even Etho looked uncomfortable. 

'Right.' The glitch began. 'Etho, stop him from wailing and throw him outside.' 

There was a nod from the Canadian and he dragged Jimmy roughly to his feet. The shock was enough to cease his mourning, pulled across the room and out of the door. It closed behind. Bdubs's feet itched to run. He knew Herobrine could see that. But it didn't matter. 

'Phantom, clean up this body. Burn it like all the others then get out of here. I can tell you want to.'

He didn't speak, obeying in silent duty as he hauled Scott's corpse across the ground. Nausea filled him and Bdubs hurried up, getting out of sight before he let loose a wave of vomit. His hands were shaking, skin ashen, barely standing as he continued on. He brought the body outside before taking some flint and steel from his pocket. It took a few attempts to light it, but eventually it all set fire and he ran off before the stench got to him, physically unable to remain a moment longer. 

Into the house he'd built himself, slamming the door behind him. He couldn't do this any longer. BigB. Lizzie. Scott. The bodies flashed into his mind. Vertigo filled him and Bdubs collapsed onto the floor, sobbing. He would never be able to wash of the blood. He didn't want to try to. He didn't want to remain in this hell-hole of a server a moment longer. 

A knife lay on the table and he snatched it up, holding it to his chest. He barely hesitated before plunging it into his heart, dying mercifully quickly.

'Cub, Martyn's betrayed us and they made me watch Scott die and everything is going wrong and I want to die.' Jimmy burst into Grian's starter base in floods of hysterical tears. Jevin, Cub, False and Pearl all looked over, surprised. 

'He let you go free?'

'I wish he hadn't.' sobbed Jimmy, slumped against the wall. Pearl sat next to him.

'It's ok.'

'It's not! Scott's dead! We both agreed that I would die, and that F*****G Herobrine killed Scott instead,'

'Why did he let you go?! Herobrine NEVER lets people go. He just lost two potential allies by doing that.'

'And he's got Martyn now too?'

'Traitor. Martyn's a f*****g traitor.'

'What?'

'He's a f*****g coward. And now he's dressed up like a f*****g king.'

'Why would he do that though? We should mean more to him than finery and power!'

'Cub, stop worrying.' Jevin placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, stopping his pacing. 'Martyn's betrayed us, but we don't have to worry about that. We'll just stay here, and we should be fine for now, right?'

With a sigh, Cub walked away. Jimmy was still crying, Pearl next to him with a hand on his shoulder. False was watching the entire scene, frowning.

'I'm guessing you're definitely not going back on your decision to stay here, Jev.' She let a hint of exasperated hope into her voice. 

'Nope. We need all the support we can give over here.'

'I'll tell the rest of them we're staying here.'

'Good idea. And make sure you add that Cub is on our side.'

'You were worried about which side I was on?'

'I wasn't. Iskall and Beef were. Mostly because they're jealous about Mumbo and Etho.'

'Etho's the other one who's a traitor. Keralis was too, but he's dead now.'

'Cleo?'

'Joe's being used as an incentive for her. It's not like the other three.'

Someone knocked on the door and Jevin leapt back, sword out, not really relaxing as Tango entered.

'Bdubs is dead.'

'What?!'

'He's dead. He killed himself.' 

'He deserves it.' Jimmy mumbled. 'He killed Scott.'

'I saw.'

'Why hasn't it come up in chat?' Cub looked down at his communicator. 'It really should've come up in chat...'

'Isn't your communicator still broken from being stuck in that hole?'

'Herobrine fixed it. But... It should've come up.'

'Cub, stop worrying!'

'And how did he even do it with Herobrine gifting him with respawning powers?'

'No one knows. But he's dead. And Herobrine doesn't know yet.'

'Well, he has Martyn to take his place as head-jerk.' False responded. 'He's gone and betrayed us all.'

'Bdubs wasn't bad. He was forced into this like me and Cub. He was just forced into doing the worst stuff. And Doc isn't either.'

'Seemed pretty bad when he was attacking me and False the other day.' Grumbled Pearl. 

'Yeah...'

'Come on, we need all the allies we can get. Jev, I'm guessing you, Pearl and False are staying here.'

'Yep. False has just told the others... We came over here to spy, and check Cub's alliance.'

'Well, this is all very interesting...' A small voice came from the second floor of the base. With almost superhuman reflexes, False turned, bow out, firing an arrow at Etho. It was easily dodged. 'Hey, everybody! I'm sure Herobrine would be very interested to hear what you're all saying. Especially from you, Cub. You're supposed to be one of the few Hero trusts most... Shame I'll have to kill you.' 

He leapt down from his position, a jet of vex-magic ice giving him an easy landing. False fired a few more arrows as Cub pulled out a sword. 

'Don't kill him, or Herobrine will know what's going on!' He warned, running forwards and slicing the ninja to the ground. Etho dodged out the way, getting behind and clawing with his furred fox paws. Jevin dragged him backwards, ducking to avoid another burst of magic sent at him. He kicked, sending Etho falling against the wall. Pearl had stood up, ready to assist if needed. Tango had set himself on fire for self-defense (and out of shock). 

Cub pointed his sword at Etho. The arctic fox seemed completely unfazed by it. 

'You just said you couldn't kill me.'

'I can still hurt you.'

'Yeah... but I don't really care about pain.'

'If you tell Herobrine ANYTHING, I swear I will remove whatever part of your body you value the most.' Cub threatened. 

'Ok. I won't say anything.' The vexling relaxed, ready to sheath his weapon. 'But I'm afraid that won't help you.' 

The door opened. Cub dropped his sword. False swore loudly. Jevin backed away. 

Herobrine smiled.