Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

33: Scar

'Hey, Scar, can I talk to you?'

I turn to face EX from forcing Cub and Impulse to recover after the meeting. It continued a while after our revelation - finalising plans, working everything out, agreeing who would do what and to meet in a day's time at Skulk-Tower. Badtimes set off instantly to get Vex on our side. Pix is back trying to make a potion that will work against the skulk, helped massively by our work before. Which means there's no one to save me from EX.

'What do you want?' I'm still aching from his unexpected attack before. We haven't spoken since.

'I wanted to apologise. For...' A glance across the fading bruises. 'For attacking you. I wasn't thinking. I thought I was better than that.'

'You were right to be mad. It was my plan. I shouldn't have underestimated the skulk. Especially after the last time someone...' The panic of Cub not returning rises in my mind. Him skulky. Hurting him to save his life.

'No... no I'm the one that hurt you. It was stupid.' Tears in his eyes. 'It was so f***ing stupid- I'm sorry- I shouldn't swear...' He tries to rub the tears away. 

'EX... It's alright.' He doesn't seem to hear, repeating to himself it's stupid, and he's stupid. 

'No... no I'm so stupid...'

I put a hand on his shoulder.

'Elex, it's ok.' 

He stops, just looking at me.

'I forgive you. And we're going to get Zedaph back. And Xisuma.'

'Fu- stupid Xisuma...'

'You can swear. Badtimes isn't here to whine about it. And the whole situation is... it is s***.'

EX laughs.

'Yeah... just a bit. And I guess I was jealous that you got your friend back and... I just lost mine.'

'We're getting them back. It'll all be ok. I promise.'

'Skizz is dead.'

I can't reply for a moment. All I can do is nod. 

'Yeah. He's- he's gone...' is what I finally say. 'But...'

Optimism doesn't come. The only thing that comes are tears. 

'He didn't deserve this. He shouldn't have been part of this...'

'We... we'll figure this out. Together. Stop the skulk.'

'Stop the skulk,' I echo, 'Yeah. That would be good.'

'Come on. You need sleep too. Head back to Scarland for the night...'

'I can't do that. They'll get me. I'll rest upstairs with Cub... see you tomorrow.'

'When we defeat the skulk.' I smile at his optimism.

'When we defeat the skulk. Exactly.'

I walk with Badtimes towards Decked Out. Cub is ahead. It was supposed to be Vex, but it isn't. It's Cub. 

We enter. 

The skulk flickers with light as we step on it, spreading a signal all the way to...

Badtimes isn't here.

It's Grian and Pearl, laughing, covered in skulk, approaching Cub. I try to reach him, but skulk tangles around my legs. Try to call for him to run, but no words come out. All I can do is watch as he's attacked. Forced to the ground. There's nothing I can do as he stands again, bleeding, covered in skulk, and turns to face me.