The Ones Who Survived - An MCYT fanfic

Ch 23

I don't process much of what follows. 

Scott collapses at my side, sobbing. Pearl calls over that Tango isn't dead, just unconscious. The watchers give us the only mercy they've ever given anyone, and let us go. We make our way silently out of the room, Scott carrying Jimmy and Pearl carrying Tango. I walk alongside, eyes on Jimmy as tears roll down my cheeks. Another innocent man dead to the Watchers' hands. Another sacrifice for freedom that shouldn't have been made. 

The others meet us in the entrance. A lot of them are bleeding, or hurt. Scar isn't there. They ask questions we try to answer but just end up promising to explain it when we're safe. Martyn connects the dots of soulmates as fast as I did before. All Pearl says back is the only thing she's said at all: Tango's alive.

Out of the building, across to where we'd left the open exit and back to Hermitcraft. Someone says I should sleep. I refuse, even as I'm gently led over to my tent by someone. I lie down, blinking tears, before eventually drifting asleep.

The sound of shouting wakes me. I groan as I sit up, too tired to be confused by who it is. 

Joel.

I stand up, leaving my tent to see the god, standing opposite Pearl, screaming at her.

'Joel, calm down...' Sausage begged from the side. 'It's ok...'

'IT'S NOT OK! JIMMY AND ETHO ARE BLOODY DEAD!'

'Joel?' My voice shakes as I interrupt him.

'Oh there he is. The man of the moment. The poor SURVIVOR.' 

'What are you talking about?'

'YOU LET JIMMY DIE!' I step back as he yells. 'YOU LET HIM GO INTO THAT BLOODY PLACE AND GET KILLED LIKE THE IDIOT HE IS!'

'This isn't Grian's fault, Joel.'

'SHUT UP PEARL!'

I don't talk, refusing to rebuke his statement. I let out a sob, before walking out towards him.

'You're right. It is my fault. I'm sorry.' Is all I get out before running off, through the nether portal, and away from everyone I let down.

And straight into Martyn.

'Grian?' 

'Hey.' Is all I reply. 

'Come- sit down.' I pause, but accept his offer.

'When did Joel get here?' I ask.

'While we were gone he... got worried and Scott and Jimmy. He, Fwhip and Sausage decided to investigate their side of the rift and...' 

'Joel's now blaming everyone...'

'He's as upset as we are... and no one's been able to share what happened. Scott's been too upset, Tango's... still unconscious and Pearl's been trying to get over it while doing everything else.'

I sense the need to explain and sigh.

'The Watcher caught them all with their soulbound link and... they got us all trapped because if one of us tried to do anything, they'd kill Tango and Scott and therefore kill Jimmy and Pearl too and... Jimmy volunteered to fight the watcher leader and lost.' I can't say anything else without crying. Martyn hugs me and I hug him back as I sob.

'They found us as soon as we entered and realised Scar wasn't there. We were trapped there by one of the leaders before they disappeared to watch... what must've been the other watcher and Jimmy fighting. They got this group of new graduates to watch us and... they beat us up because they've been taught that hybrids and other magic users are evil. Cub and Ren got it worst... I think they were too scared of Doc and me and Bdubs didn't have any visible powers. They said they were tipped off by the real guard.'

I don't reply as he finishes, remembering with a jolt of guilt that Ren and Cub must've faced the same previously as well, when they were caught before. And I'd just brought them back to where they'd been trapped for weeks. Too many mistakes. Too many things I should've realised. I stare at the lava below as I mumble one thing.

'I'm so sorry.'

'Grian, this isn't your fault.'

'There were so many things I should've realised before we went there again... so many problems with the plan. Of course the leader of the All-creating watchers can manipulate the soulbinding between Tango and Jimmy and Scott and Pearl. Of course I was sending Cub, Ren and you back to where you'd faced weeks of torture you're still too traumatised to tell us about. Of course we were going to get completely and utterly defeated so yet again the innocent is taken as a sacrifice.'

'You didn't choose for Jimmy to fight the watchers. You didn't choose any of it. Stop acting like you did.'

'I'm so stupid.'

'You're not stupid, Grian.' 

'I could've stopped Jimmy from sacrificing himself by volunteering for him.'

'Grian, you can't change what happened.'

I don't reply. 

'We can't go back there again.' I finally say. Martyn frowns, but I look away. I swallow. 'We can't... go back for Scar.'

'Grian?'

'I'm not sacrificing any more of my friends to get him back. He wouldn't want that.'

'And you're happy telling the others that?' Replies Martyn, and I try to tell if it's meant maliciously or not, silent.

'We'll need to... we need time for everything to settle to 'normal' and then I'll let everyone know.' I stand up. Martyn follows. 

'Grian, you can't just give up.'

'I'm not giving up I'm stopping them from getting what they want. They told me Scar wasn't there, as though they want me to look elsewhere for him... they want me back, so they're keeping Scar as... bait.' 

'Grian...'

'It's my decision to make.'

'Ever since Evo I've been trying to fight the Watchers. That's why I'm a Listener, Grian. Not because they found me or saved me or anything. I chose to gain these powers so I can fight the Watchers and maybe win one day.'

'I've tried beating them before. It didn't work.' Refusing to let Martyn change my mind again, I walk back through to the overworld again.

'Grian... you're alright.' Instantly, I'm crushed by Mumbo hugging me. 

'Why wouldn't...' I push out of the hug. 'Why wouldn't I be alright?'

'Pearl said you left in tears blaming yourself. I thought maybe... you'd given up.' 

'I was talking to Martyn in the nether.' I reply, pushing past. 'Don't worry. I'm fine.'

'You're not fine.' Mumbo replies. 'You can talk to me about it.'

'I've decided against rescuing Scar. I'm not letting anyone else die trying to save him.' I explain, voice shaking. 'This is my final decision you can't change my mind.' 

He doesn't argue like Martyn does, just nods, and walks away. 

I didn't really know what was going to happen in this chapter other than sad

I'm glad something did happen though