Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

40: Scar

Final chapter!

'Are you alright' seems to be the new catch phrase of Cub's pyramid arena where EX's match against Joe is now running parallel to the most-worried match between me, Cub, Impulse, Etho, Grian, Mumbo and Gem. And though a lot of it is aimed at each other, most of the worry is for EX instead. After Zedaph's death, he spent his days ignoring the pain by caring for Xisuma. And now Xisuma's gone, he's ignoring it with TCG. Endless TCG. Beyond the level of obsession I know Cub reaches whenever he's on edge. 

'Are you alright?' This time it's Cub asking me, as I just stare at EX pacing his corner, muttering about whether to switch to his Cleo or let his 2nd Wels perish, but also take out Joe's card.

'I'm fine.' I reply on instinct, before realising it's Cub and he knows I'm lying. 'No. EX is... not coping and doesn't accept anyone telling him that.'

'He's allowed to be upset about... the circumstances.' 

'He doesn't think that!' I point back at where EX is still pacing. 'It's like he can't be upset because... I don't know.'

'Denial.' Explains Impulse quietly from behind. 'Tango... that's where he's got to. With Zed and Skizz. He's in denial.'

'We all are.' Grian joins in too. He still hasn't read his letter from Xisuma. Me and Cub haven't either. 'That or... worse.'

'Worse?'

'He feels he could've prevented it. Like... I... do.' 

'Grian, it's ok.' Mumbo shuffles closer. 'It's not your fault.'

'It is because I can't get over the sculk! And the fact that Xisuma was possessed by it. And...' He pauses, only able to look at Cub for a second. 'And Cub too. If I'd been more considerate then maybe...'

'That's GG?' Joe's voice reaches us below. 

'Again. Let's play again.' EX is already saying. I take my chance to glide down and talk to him.

'Or maybe... you can get some rest? Sleep for a bit, see how you feel after that... I'm heading off to bed anyway.'

'I'm not tired... Joe? Are you up for another game?'

'We've been playing all day. And yesterday. Literally. You need a break.' 

'I'm fine! Everything's fine. Just... let me play. Joe, didn't you say something about single player? Some boss fight?'

'I think it was in... His... base.' 

'Oh. Alright. Well then I'll... does anyone want to play?' He looks around the room of people who know he needs rest. 'Just 1 game. Probably won't be too long... unfortunately.'

'You don't need to hide from your feelings, EX.' I insist, a hand on his shoulder. 'It's alright to feel sad about Xisu...'

'DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM!'

I hit the ground hard. Beneath the tears of pain I see him standing, panting, furious, before another hermit appears.

'Alright... that's enough man.' Cub. 'As someone who... does stuff like this, you've gone too far. You need rest, you need recovery time, not hiding time.'

'I know exactly what I'm doing, Cub. And if you don't accept that... well... well this is my server now.'

'Is that a threat?'

'And what if it is? What are you going to do? Tell me to take a break? Start screaming at me? I'm. Fine.'

'You just- F***!'

I turn to see Grian, barely on hands and knees, wing bent awkwardly. 

'Yeah... Yeah, I still can't fly.' He forces out. 'And trying isn't... helpful...' Mumbo's at his side in an instant. EX returns to arguing with Cub and Joe. I return to my feet just as...

'Does anyone know who's TCG cards these are?' 

Attention turns to Etho, holding up a deck he found in a random barrel. For a moment, confusion, then...

'Yeah...' Mumbles Joe. 'Yeah... those were Xisuma's.'

'F***!'

Of course they are. 

 While everyone's distracted by that revelation, I slip outside, about to take to the air when I hear footsteps behind.

'Scar?'

'Hey... Cub... I was going to head back to the tower and... help Pix with finding Ren and Pearl.'

'You need rest too.'

'I know... it just feels like when they're back, everything will return to normal. It'll be... over. Even though that's stupid. It'll never be back to normal.' I stare at the ground, fighting tears. 'It'll never be normal...'

'Hey, it's alright.' Cub runs over, hugging me as I start to cry. 'I'm here, ok? If you want me to help with finding Ren and Pearl...'

'No! No. No I'm fine. It's ok.' I push out the hug 'It's... it's just stupid. I'm being stupid. I've got nothing to be upset about.' I know he's still scared of the sculk, I know helping find it will hurt him even more, as much as he's trying to hide it. I know he's having nightmares every time he tries to sleep. I'm not letting him end up with even more.

'You've got every right to be upset. The sculk hurt you too...' He stares at the black marks down my arms, unable to look away for a moment before, closing his eyes, sighing.  'You should head back to Scarland and sleep. You're exhausted. I'll make sure EX sleeps too. Don't worry.'

'I'm not worried.' I lie. I'm worried about everything. And Cub knows it. 'But you're right. I'll go and rest. See you tomorrow.' I take off, flying back towards Scarland... and then turning off back towards the tower. Cub doesn't need to know I'm still working. Besides, it won't be for too long. Just see how Pix is getting on, read another chapter about the sculk or travel across worlds. Just a little bit more progress. A little closer to a solution... I land outside, entering. Pix isn't here. Good. He's sleeping. He's been working himself too hard as well. All of us have been.

I grab a book off the shelf, sitting down to read when...

I stop. 

There's something in the corner.

Sculk.

'No no no... what the heck?! Why are you here?' Vex magic at my hands, ready to burn it into nothing if it attacks, moves, does anything. But I can't just destroy it. I need to see why it's here.

I need to see if it can appear elsewhere as well.

I crouch down next to it, trying to find any kind of crack in the wall, or a sign of the sculk coming in from somewhere...

It attacks.

I scream as it grabs my leg, trying to break it off, free myself, anything. It doesn't work. Nothing works as I'm dragged forwards, onto my back towards where the world cracks, a gateway in front of me.

The sculk world. 

It's taking me to the sculk world.

'No- no no no... HELP! PIX! CUB! GRIAN! HELP PLEASE!' I twist onto my front, trying to find something to cling onto as I'm dragged backwards... my hands claw futilely at the wood floor, screaming for anyone to come...

No one comes. 

There's nothing I can do.

I'm pulled through the portal.

And everything turns black.

The end

:)

The sequel will be coming at some point soon, but not immediately because planning takes time.

. In the meantime, I'll be working on 'How Not to Holiday', maybe 'Demised' and maybe some oneshots.