When Time Stopped

Chapter 7

I don't think any of us were expecting this.

After Scar and Tango killed each other, Joel and Skizz have been filling them in on the situation. As I come up to the hilltop, the four of them are chatting, giving occasional glances at the other side of the hill.

"What's going on?" I ask, giving a stretch once at the top.

"Those three are probably having a secret meeting!" Scar exclaims, pointing at the trio by the barrier.

Grian, Martyn and Scott are huddling beside the barrier, looking over their shoulders and giving skeptical looks at nothing.

"We should eavesdrop on them-" Joel suggests.

"We should not." Skizz replies quickly.

"There's nothing wrong with a quick listen-" Tango claims, only for Skizz to give a 'you serious?' look.

"It could cause their plan to fail if we get too close. They could find out by us just watching." By the end of the sentence, I realise I've said it out loud.

Looking at the others, only Scar and Joel noticed since Tango seems to be defending himself from Skizz's stare. Joel shrugs it off and puts an arm around Skizz and Tango going off to the side. Scar doesn't look their way; instead, he seems to be looking nowhere in a very quizzical way.

" ' They '... are you talking about the other groups?" He asks.

I give a small chuckle, "I wish..."

Placing a hand on his chin, Scar starts to audibly think, "Are these the same guys that Grain talks about in his sleep?"

"What?"

"Sometimes in Hermitcraft I go round his place and—how does he put it—'lag' around some chests. Well, I didn't realise he was home one time, and he was sleep talking, or more accurately, sleep arguing. He kept referring to them as just 'you'. Plus, you're acting very sketchy, and Grian's always sketchy about his past."

"That's... surprisingly accurate."

"The Scar Senses are always on point!"

I give him a reassuring smile, "I can't explain it, but we've got to trust them."

"All we can do is wait for them to save us."

~~~

The trio waits at the barrier for Pearl and BigB to join them. After their discovery, Martyn and Scott have been trying to figure out a way to get to the building. Once Grian had arrived, it didn't take long for him to understand what he'd have to do.

"Yo yo yo! What did you guys find?" Pearl half-yells, BigB waving as the two approach. Their smiles fade as their eyes land on the structure beyond the containment, "Ah."

"Yeah, G is just about to explain our next move." Martyn starts, hoping Grian will explain fully.

Giving a sheepish look, Grian first pulls down his sunnies which turn to his purple glasses. Looking around at the group, he flinches before looking down at his own wrist.

"Alright. At best, we have an hour to get this done." He starts, looking at BigB, "They're probably already aware of our deviation, and once we start this, we won't have any time for dawdling." Looking at the barrier, he goes over to the piston and water hole that Scott put up earlier.

"We'll go across the barrier, and no one goes past the safe zone until I... until I run the command. Shout when you're low on health, as I'll try to heal as many people as I can."

"They'll instantly know what we're doing." BigB claims.

"I'd be more surprised if they didn't already know." Martyn mutters, "It's more about if they'll stop us."

"I'll make sure they can't.", Grian presses a button to spout out a boat, and one by one the sheep head towards the end. All their faces show fear, hope and caution. Once they're on the outside, the group waits patiently, and the ghosts watch with curiosity no different from our own.

"Three." Grian takes a deep breath.

"Two." He opens the chat.

"One." Types in the command.

Pressing enter, their future is sealed.

"Go."

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