Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

39: Xisuma

New PoV for the penultimate chapter? 

:)

Everything is my fault.

No one quite knows everything I did, but I did a lot. Or as they try to convince me, the sculk did a lot. But it wasn't just the sculk. It was me. I did it. I let it control me and it destroyed the server. 

I limp through the healing camp, leaning on a stick I was given. It's been a couple weeks since they stopped the sculk's possession of me. I've been awake for 5 days. My injuries held me back, the deep scar across my chest and the cuts and bruises from fighting. Today's the first day I'm allowed out. 

El and Joe are with me, discussing TCG ('there's a CARD of me too?!'), helping me along as I stare at the different huts and builds where different hermits are... Doc, Mumbo and Iskall discussing the mechanical wings they're making for Grian... Etho, still in recovery, with Bdubs and Beef telling rubbish jokes, and then I see Cub, not too far away, deep in focus on a giant diagram I can't see. 

'Hey, Cub!' I call. He freezes. 

'Don't- do that.' He replies, voice shaking. I step back. 'I still... I'm sorry.' He turns. He's clearly exhausted, covering his arms and hands. I know he was possessed too.

I possessed him too.

'Sorry.'

'It's not you.' He can't look at me. 'It's the sculk. You just... remind me of... what it made you do. And what you made me do. What it made you tell me to do.' There's a scar across his cheek I know wasn't there before. One hand rises towards it. Did I do that?

'I'm sorry.' 

'Just... let me work here, man. Alone. Please.'

'Alright. Sorry.' I set off again, El and Joe not far behind. 

'Hey, it's alright X. Things'll take time. They're just used to... what you became. A lot's changed.'

Yeah.

A lot's changed indeed if you're getting friendship advice from your 'evil' brother.

'I... need some time alone.' I mumble. I barely hear their acceptance, walking away to find somewhere quiet.

It's not long until I reach the edge of the camp, ducking around the back where...

I'm not along. 

Grian's here.

'Hey, Grian.'

'X- I- I'm...' Grian's voice. Terrified. Of me. 'I'm just going.'

'Wait, please.' I move out the way as he leaves, folllowing. He turns, eyes wide. 'I'm not going to do anything to you. Seriously.'

'I know. I don't want to... I was just resting. Taking a break from... wings. I didn't want- I wasn't expecting to run into you. I thought... weren't you still recovering?'

'Yeah... I needed a rest. Can I stay here with you?'

'I've... got somewhere to be. Sorry.'

He runs away. I stare at him as he goes. He's terrified of me, I realise. Everyone is. The sculk turned me into a monster they can't unsee.

I was supposed to be looking after the server.

And I just turned into a monster and destroyed it.

Tears blur the world ahead. I can't get rid of them without removing my helmet. I don't want to remove my helmet where the hermits can find me. See the scarring the sculk left. See my face for the first time looking like this...