MCYT RANDOMNESS 2

Horror Stories Pt 3

'What happened?' Grian asks the moment I arrive at his base to discuss findings with him and Scar. 'You have information?'

'Yeah.' I reply. It's the next day, as soon as I could meet the others. 'I saw something concerning, but...'

'Oh, Scar's coming!'

'SKIZZ.'

Pain. An arrow hits my shoulder and I stumble back, balance lost. In seconds, I'm pinned to the fishing-shack wall.

'Don't you dare,' Scar hisses, sharp fangs showing, claws digging into my neck. 'Treat my best friend like that again.' I struggle against his grip.

'Please,' I reply, trying to prise myself free, at least enough to breathe. 'Listen. It got us vital information-'

'I don't give a fuck about information when Cub came to my base in tears after you little fitst pinned him to a wall and screamed at him!'

'What?! Skizz...'

'It wasn't like that!' I cut through Grian's horror. 'You weren't there!'

'Tango said it looked like you'd been possessed. You attacked Cub, out of nowhere, making up lies-'

'I needed some excuse or he'd know we're onto him! I just thought I saw something, and had to see if I could spot it again! Which I did. I didn't hurt him, I feel terrible about it, I never wanted to hurt Cub!'

'Then WHY DID YOU ATTACK HIM?'

'Scar! Calm down!'

'SHUT UP, GRIAN!'

Scar's eyes flash white as he turns on Grian. I try to break free.

'Don't you FUCKING dare.' A knife slams into the wood, inches from my face as Scar notices. I freeze. 'You try to escape again and I'll tear you into pieces.'

'Scar, I never wanted to hurt him! I know went too far. I- I just panicked when I saw...'

'Saw WHAT?'

'Sculk. On his neck,' Scar's expression shifts to horror. 'Like it was part of his skin.'

'What?'

A prickle claws down my back at Scar's tone, the mix of terror, fury, and burning defensiveness.

'That's what I saw.'

'You definitely saw that?'

'I definitely saw that.'

Scar steps away, staring at the ground. I massage my neck, not taking my eyes off him.

'Scar?' Grian steps closer. 'It'll be ok. We can fix this. Just sit down, take a moment.'

'No.' Scar swats his attempted comfort away. 'We need to do something. Now. Was that all you learnt, Skizz?'

'I also gathered that he was hiding something in his base.'

'Then we start there. Grian, you look around, but no going down any secret hidden passages, or anywhere that looks private. He may've trapped them. Skizz, you're coming with me and apologizing to Cub's face.'

He flies off. I have to follow, Grian behind me, in total silence. The journey takes forever, but eventually we get there. Scar crouches down next to the sculk. Grian perches on a fencepost. I skid to a stop on the path.

'Scar?'

'It's not regular sculk.' Scar realizes. 'Or what he spread in Empires. Or even what possessed him. I need to look into this further. Maybe give some to Pix...' Scar tears out a clump of sculk. Even I hear the hiss and ripple of the rest reacting, covering the patch thicker than before, and shudder.