grian pov
The room buzzed with low murmurs and the soft clatter of keyboards as Xisuma worked through lines of code. My heart pounded as I moved through the shadows, staying just out of sight behind the others. Every now and then, the sound of chairs creaking or feet shuffling punctuated the air. The hum of the admin room's computers was steady, but I could barely focus, too consumed by the quiet terror gnawing at me.
Scar and Mumbo stood near the center, wearing sunglasses that drew puzzled looks from the other hermits. No one understood, but I did. I knew what those dark lenses were hiding—eyes that weren't theirs. I could feel Sam’s presence in Scar, and it unsettled me to the core.
My pacing quickened. My wings, pulled tight against my back under my sweater, itched with the need to stretch, to flee, but I couldn’t. Every step felt heavy, each breath shallow, as I kept moving, weaving through the room as the murmurs swelled and ebbed. I could feel Sam's eyes on me, not Scar's familiar gaze, but something more invasive, tracking me every time I passed by. My hands trembled, and I stuffed them into my pockets, trying to ground myself.
Xisuma glanced up, fingers still moving across the keyboard, checking the code while throwing the occasional concerned glance my way. The others, still confused, whispered amongst themselves, their voices blending with the rhythm of my footsteps.
The clicking of the keyboard stopped as I heard the clink of chains—the unmistakable sound of the admin restrictions taking hold. It wrapped around Mumbo and Scar like serpents, coiling tightly, and for a split second, their facades flickered, then shattered. The room went dead silent.
Scar was no longer Scar. In his place stood someone with long white bunny ears and a matching tail, his brown hair and sharp features giving him an unmistakably malicious air. The look in his eyes was nothing like the mischievous but kind-hearted Scar we knew. It was cold, calculated... evil.
And Mumbo… the transformation left me frozen in place. His figure morphed into someone I hadn’t seen in what felt like a lifetime. That tanned skin, the familiar dark hair, those iconic headphones, the blue sweater, and sweatbands—it was him. My heart clenched painfully in my chest, the sight almost unbearable. I hadn’t expected to ever see him again, and the rush of memories threatened to overwhelm me.
I took a step back, ears pinned low against my head, feathers twitching with anxiety. The others looked between the two figures in confusion, murmurs rising again as they tried to make sense of what they were seeing. Despite the fear prickling my skin, they seemed open to hearing them out, to figuring out what was going on. But I couldn’t shake the dread gnawing at me.
Sam was in Scar's place, that much I knew. His clothes had changed—something newer but reminiscent of the old YHS uniforms. It was a small detail, but it screamed a painful reminder of the past, one I couldn’t ignore. My legs felt like they might give out, but I forced myself to stay upright, wings still tightly folded under my sweater as my mind raced.
B-Dubs' voice cut through the tension like a knife, sharp and filled with panic. "Who the hell are these two people, and why the hell did they take the place of Scar and Mumbo? Where are Scar and Mumbo?" His words echoed in my mind, fueling the fear that had already taken root deep inside me.
My breath started to come in shallow gasps, chest tightening as my vision blurred at the edges. I could barely hear the confused murmurs around me over the rush of blood in my ears. The room began to spin, and I couldn’t focus on anything but the rising terror clawing at my insides. They weren't Scar and Mumbo, and the sight of those familiar yet wrong faces sent me spiraling.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm, gentle but firm, pulling me away from the chaos. I didn’t resist. I couldn't. My legs were barely working as I stumbled after them, too consumed by the panic to even register who it was. The shaking took over completely, my body trembling as if I might collapse at any second. Whoever it was, they didn’t let go, guiding me further from the scene until the noise of the room faded into the background, and the frantic pounding of my heart was all I could hear.
I struggled to breathe, my chest tightening as the weight of fear pressed down on me. Every attempt to ground myself felt like slipping further into a void. My mind raced, thoughts scattering in every direction, when suddenly, I heard a voice—calm, gentle, and familiar.
"That's right, sweet face, just look directly at me. Look at my eyes."
The words cut through the fog, and I instinctively looked up, my panicked gaze locking onto his. Keralis. His voice was like a lifeline, pulling me out of the storm in my head. The moment our eyes met, a wave of calm washed over me, soothing the jagged edges of my fear. My frantic breathing slowed, the tightness in my chest easing as exhaustion quickly crept in.
I could feel my body relax, the tension draining from my muscles as Keralis continued to speak, his voice lulling me into a peaceful haze. I was so tired—physically, mentally, emotionally. My eyelids grew heavier with every passing second, and before I realized what was happening, sleep took me.
I knew he had put me under, but I didn’t mind. I welcomed the escape, grateful to slip away from the terror, even if just for a little while. It was quiet now, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.
keralis pov:
I felt his whole body slump against mine as the tension melted away, his trembling replaced by the slow, steady rhythm of sleep. Gently, I ran my fingers through his soft golden hair, trying to soothe whatever remnants of fear lingered. Poor little sweet angel. He had been so terrified of those impostors—those twisted versions of Scar and Mumbo. The way he’d looked at them, how his entire being recoiled in fear... I could feel the weight of it just from being near him.
I held him close for a moment, allowing him to rest against me, feeling how fragile and drained he was. His wings were pinned down so tightly, I’d never seen them like that before. Usually, they’d flutter or ruffle, full of life, but now they were drawn so close it was as if he was trying to disappear into himself.
Carefully, I carried him to Shishwammy’s guest room, ensuring the journey was as quiet and peaceful as possible. He needed the rest, to be far from the chaos, from the fear that had gripped him so tightly. As I laid him down on the bed, I couldn’t help but watch for a moment, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. His features, though soft in sleep, still held traces of the terror he’d felt.
“He’s been through so much…” I whispered to myself, pulling a blanket over him. I hated seeing him like this, so vulnerable and shaken. But for now, he was safe, away from the nightmare outside.
I gently leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head, a silent promise that he was still safe. I wanted him to know, even in his sleep, that I was here, that nothing would harm him while I watched over him. Before I left, I placed a small plushie by his side, tucking it into his arms. He needed something to hold, something familiar and comforting, especially after what he’d been through.
Quietly, I stepped out of the room, locking the door behind me. No one would get in. Not today, not while he rested. I would make damn sure that little angel had a safe place, away from everything that frightened him. He deserved that much.
As I made my way back to the admin room, I steeled myself. The situation still needed handling, and I couldn’t let my guard down. When I reached Xisuma, his quiet voice broke through the hum of the room. “Is he okay?”
I simply nodded, not wanting to dive into too many details, especially with that bunny—Sam—still around. His presence made my skin crawl, and I wasn’t about to give him more information than necessary. For now, I just needed to stay focused and make sure everything stayed under control. The kid was safe, and that was all that mattered.
