MCYT RANDOMNESS 2

Involuntary Exile pt 7

I fly away from the courtroom alone, silent, my mind racing.

After Grian was banned, it was time for my trial. It was quick. I told the truth, about what I’d done. The implications of Grian lying about the vex aren't lost on me. If they didn't control my actions, I did everything of my own accord. The vote to ban me was close. But in the end, I was allowed to stay. A tracker was coded into my communicator, recording conversations in case I need to prove my innocence again. I should've gotten a harsher punishment. I hurt other hermits. I hurt Scar and Skizz, my friends. I put the server in danger again. Almost half the hermits want to ban me.

I don't know where I’m flying. All I know is I want to be away from everything. The Permit Office, the memories, the courtroom where I should’ve been shouted at, and blamed, and punished, but wasn't. My wings lead me to a hillside in the growing dark, where I land. I sit down, watching the moon on the horizon, the constellations. It’s silent. I take a deep breath. Only a minute later is there the sound of someone landing behind me.

‘Scar?’

‘Hey Cub.’ He speaks quietly, glancing down at me. ‘Can I sit with you?’

‘Of course, man.’

So he sits next to me, hiding his ruined arm with the teddy he’s hugging still. Silent. Barely moving. His eyes are red from crying.

‘So it’s over,’ he says eventually. I nod. ‘We survived.’

‘All thanks to you.’ I glance over. ‘If you hadn't stood up for me, well…’

‘Grian’s a monster. For trying to pull that fucking coward move,’ Scar stabs the ground with a stick. ‘Blaming you. Lying about the Vex, and the stupid high evoker bullshit.’ I take a deep breatn.

‘That really was just a lie, huh?’

‘I knew it was weird they never communicated.’

‘I should’ve realised.’

‘He still would've sent you past the world border if you’d refused,’ Scar says. I threaten to start crying again.

‘I thought they were controlling my actions. Now it turns out they weren't and everything I did was just me all along.’

‘The Hermits voted you innocent, Cub.’

‘Barely.’

‘Most of them don't think you’re to blame.’

‘And what do you think?’

Scar takes my hand. Goosebumps rise at the sudden touch. His fingers are colder than normal. He looks down, struggling to find the right words l.

‘Well, Cub, I won't lie to you and say I wasn't hurt by what happened. Physically and mentally. But you’re still my best friend. I still love you. And that’s what matters.’

‘But do you blame me?’

‘No, no I don't blame you,’ He says. But he’s trying to convince himself too. ‘The Vex are fucking terrifying, and you were in real danger from Grian. You were just trying to survive.’

Silence. The right reply to Scar’s words doesn't come so I just change the subject.

‘How are you doing? After everything today?’

‘Overwhelmed,’ Scar admits. ‘Still a little scared. But recovering. Slowly.’

‘Recovering is good.’

Silence. The hermits’ reaction to Grian getting banned rises in my mind. The shouts. The swearing. All it took was one step out of line and they attacked. I take a deep breath. The words I wanted to tell Scar first barely want to come.