Markiplier x Reader | The Promised Land

Chapter 18: Rest Stops

When you had spotted Sean racing up the stairs of the building, gun in hand with others behind him, you tried to shout out but the Skull Breakers had had you pinned and were getting ready for your execution. Only when the Skull Breakers were shot and killed all around you were you able to dash for him.

The other people who were with Sean checked you over and led you downstairs as Sean and a few others stayed up top to help Mark. They led you to the bottom floor, and you cried in joy as [P/n] was sitting there, alongside Chica. When your pet saw you, she dashed for you, and began to shower you in love. You knelt down and wrapped her into a hug, "[P/n]! I was so worried for you, where were you!?"

"She was with Mark's dog when she came to alert us," the woman in the group said, "If it wasn't for her and your girl, I fear you both wouldn't be alive right now."

You looked up at the group, a curious expression forming on your face, "Who... who are you people?"

The woman who spoke to you, looked to the others, who were two guys. When they shook their heads, she replied, "It's up to Mark  to share that information. He is your Angel after all."

"My... 'Angel?'" you asked, confused, "Does this have to do with why that hammer guy called him Angel?"

The woman nodded, "That man with the hammer, we call him Diablos. He's... he's the leader of the Skull Breakers."

You widened your eyes, "What the hell did Mark do to make him step in!?"

The woman shrugged, "Probably that hot head of his. That doesn't matter right now anyways. We have orders to escort you and Mark to Pasadena, with our party size I doubt we'll have much trouble though. But we will need to be careful to avoid stray Skull Breakers."

"But how on earth did you get here in such short timing?" you asked, "I thought Sean was... erm, all the way in Castaic?"

The woman squatted down and gently stroked Chica, the poor dog looked tired, "Sean had received word of intense Skull Breaker movement in these parts a few days ago, and was sent on a scouting mission with a few others. I was one of the scouts with him. After seeing the mass of Skull Breakers earlier this morning, we followed in quiet, gathering up others who were at their posts to lead an attack on them. We spotted Chica and your girl in the midst of the Skull Breakers, and they led us to you both. It was too close of a call in my opinion."

You nodded slowly, then looked up to the stairs to see Sean helping Mark down them. Seeing Mark alive, and talking snarkily at Sean made you feel relief, joy, and fear all in one. You stood up and raced to Mark, hugging him tightly.

Thankful you hadn't made a mistake hugging him, you felt Mark wrap his good arm around you to accept your hug. You could feel tears coming again and you cried into his shoulder, "I was so scared Mark..." you whispered, "Scared for us both... I saw what he did to your arm and how the Skull Breakers almost got us and-"

"Shhh," Mark said, tilting his head into yours, "It's alright, we're safe now. Sean is gonna get us to Pasadena where you can stay safe and have a normal life again."

You held him for a moment longer before you both let go, standing back away from each other. Suddenly feeling awkward like the last time you hugged, you decided to busy yourself with checking to make sure [P/n] was okay.

Once everyone was ready to go, you and Mark began the 3 mile walk to Pasadena. You hoped Mark would be okay, but you trusted the group you were with, considering they all knew Mark. You were glad Sean was there though too, it only added to your comfort.

The group consisted of seven people including Sean, it was crazy to think they took on four times as many Skull Breakers, if not more, on their own. Who the hell were these guys? What even was Mark and just how much has he been hiding from you? You shook the thoughts away and continued walking.

The walk to Pasadena was through South Arroyo. The first part of the walk was tense, because you could still hear the maniacal cries of the Skull Breakers in all directions. However, as soon as you got out of Eagle Rock, it grew quiet.

It took a little over two hours to get to the outskirts of Pasadena since Mark needed frequent breaks to get off of his leg, but during the rest stops and sometimes during the walk, you got to meet your rescuers.

The woman who had talked with you earlier was a sweet, and short woman named Imane. She was fair skinned with brown hair and dark brown eyes. The two men who walked you downstairs with Imane were Rob and Barney, they both had darker hair, and seemed to be very good friends. The other three who had stayed up top with Sean were two women and one other guy. Their names were Tabs, Mink, and Danny. Tabs was a rounder woman with broad shoulders and very muscular arms, Mink was almost unhealthily skinny with a shaved head and a beanie, and Danny was muscular and very tall with a submachine gun strapped to his back.

As you approached Pasadena, you could hear Mark asking Sean to make one last stop before entering the city. When you all gathered around and sat down, silence fell upon the group, until Mark spoke, "Have you been in Pasadena recently?"

Sean shook his head, "No, but we were heading that way when we found you guys."

Mark rubbed a hand down his face, wincing as he forgot about the near-healed scratch on his cheek. "Why do you ask?" Sean continued.

Mark shook his head, "We heard some gunfire out this way earlier... it didn't sound good." He adjusted his sitting position to straighten his right leg a little, "I heard the Executioner's Shot."

"The what?" you blurted, realizing you probably shouldn't have been listening. "Sorry, I didn't mean-" you began.

"No it's okay [N/n]," Mark said, "You've been around long enough that you deserve some answers-"

"The Executioner's Shot is a signature sound provided by the Skull Breakers," Sean explained, cutting in a little, "It's the silence after a gunfight, and then a single shot about ten seconds afterwards. That is usually the execution of whoever led the defense or attack."