Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

9: Grian

Slam.

I pause mid-conversation with Impulse at the sound of the door slamming. Scar must be back.

'Scar? Are you feeling better, buddy?' I call. No reply.

'Scar?' Impulse steps closer. 'Are you ok?'

I drop the books I'm holding, knowing something's wrong, breaking into a run down the stairs towards...

Scar lies by the door, covered in blood, barely breathing, eyes closed.

'Scar!' I fall next to him, covering the gaping wound in his chest... Cub must've come but... why didn't we hear? Why didn't he call?! 'No... no... IMPULSE GET HEALING STUFF!'

'Can't we just kill him and he'll respawn ok?!'

'No! It's magical! It's too dangerous! Get healing stuff.' He runs off, returning with a handful of potions and bandages. I try to cover his injuries quickly, ignoring his half-conscious grunts and winces... eventually the blood stops seeping through. I step back, hands bloody, somewhat calmed down.

'Let's get him upstairs.' A glance at Impulse. He nods, and together we lift Scar, bringing him up the stairs and towards the nearest bed. Once he's secure, a blanket over him, I sigh. 'I'll stay here for when he wakes up... you continue researching or... whatever you want to do.'

A nod. Impulse remains for a moment before heading off downstairs, muttering about building traps. I let him go, staying sat next to Scar... he probably thought he could take Cub on his own. But he couldn't. And now... I glance over. He's pale, and I can see he's in pain, even as he's sleeping. 

'Why didn't you call us?' I mutter. 'Why can't you ever just ask for help?' Outside, it's growing darker. Night. I stifle a yawn, shifting to be more comfortable as I steadily drift asleep.

'Cub- OW!' 

I wake with a jolt at Scar's voice, twisting around to see him hunched over in pain. 

'Woah, woah, woah... Why are you trying to move?! You nearly died! Lie down!' I insist, forcing him down. 'What happened out there? And why didn't you ask for help?'

'He stopped me asking! He covered the building in skulk to stop you hearing. Stupid skulk- ow- magic stuff...'

I sigh, turning back, moving to be more comfortable.

'I didn't know it could do that.'

'Neither...'

'It was... Cub?'

'Yeah.'

'Skulky?'

'Obviously. He... he can make weapons out of skulk. But he can't control too much at a time... he reached his limit and... I hit him back with vex powers... but he still stabbed me. And he... he's still Cub. And I could only see Cub...' 

'It's ok...' I put a hand on his shoulder as he starts sobbing. 'It'll all be ok. You're safe, you managed to get away, everything is fine.'

'Except the fact my best friend is possessed by magical evil plants and wants to possess me too... yeah, everything is fine.'

Silence for a moment. I stare around the room, thinking

'We need more help,' I decide. 'We can't fight the skulk as just 3 of us... it nearly killed you alone.'

'Who? The other hermits don't want to help.'

'They'll believe us more now we have proper proof. And... I was thinking help beyond the server.'

'Who- ow!'

'Lie down, Scar!' I snap as he tries to sit up again. 'You'll find out soon enough, just trust me.'

'Pix?' 

'Hello? Grian, how did you get here?!' 

'Watcher tricks,' I reply casually, closing the door of Pix's New Life house I just broke into. 'But that's not why I'm here. We have a... very large problem on Hermitcraft that you might've seen because... you spy on us.'

'Yes. Yes, I do spy on you... but I haven't seen everything... I know Cub went missing and...'

'He's skulky again and just tried to murder Scar. You helped before and 90% of the hermits don't want to. Because they don't believe us and don't feel like trying to defeat an evil entity capable of possessing any and all magical players... but we need your help.'

'I- ok? Can Xisuma let me back into Hermitcraft again?'

'Slight problem, Xisuma's been possessed as well. But I can Watcher us back to Hermitcraft. Xisuma will know, but... hopefully he won't find you.'

'Good. Sure. Ok. This is... not what I was expecting from today, but I'll help.'

'Thank you. Thank you so much.' I summon a portal back to Hermitcraft, stepping through. Pix follows after a moment.

'Impulse!' I call. 

'AAA- Grian! Don't creep up on me like- Pix?!' 

'Hello... Grian said you had a skulk problem?' He frowns. 'And I can help you with it?'

'Yes. Yes we have a skulk problem. Welcome to Hermitcraft. Again.' 

'This... I didn't go here last time... is this place new?' Pix picks up a couple of empty potion bottles. 

'We made it. As a place we can stay and stop the skulk before it spreads. Help Xisuma and Cub...' Pix continues to look around. 'And now our first question... do you know how to treat serious injuries?'

'Scar was badly attacked. He's woken up a couple times but he's... in a bad position.'

'I can try...' 

'Great. Thanks. He's up here.' 

Me and Impulse lead Pix up to the second storey where Scar still lies, immediately perking up at the sight of us.

'Hello! Grian! Impulse! And... Pix? Why are you... ohhh you're the friend Grian said was coming!'

'You... look unwell.'

'I am mortally wounded!' Scar declares dramatically.

'Yeah, yeah, alright. Pix, can you help him?' 

'I can try. But... what's Cub and Xisuma done so far?'

'Tried to murder me. Or possess me. Me and Cub knew something was wrong with Xisuma. So I let Cub go off to try and help him... and he was taken. And possessed.' Scar's attempt to stay light fails. 'And we need to help him.'

'That's why Pix is here. He's going to help us save Cub from the skulk. Like he did before.'

'With help. And a lot of potions.' 

'We have a lot of potions. We have a lot of books... and me and Impulse are here to help.'

'And I'm here.' Scar points out. We all turn back to him.

'You're also badly injured. You're staying here until you're better.' I demand. 'Pix, what's your first move?'

'See what we're working with... Impulse, you stay with Scar and force other hermits to help. Grian?'

'Yeah?'

'We're going into Xisuma's base.'

Next chapter was going to be different but Scar's still mortally wounded and Pix wouldn't logically choose to do that thing yet