Markiplier x Reader | The Promised Land

Chapter 23: Remember Me?

Fuck fuck fuck! Mark thought, fighting down the growing panic inside him, Why!? How the hell!?

Of the few people to get to Mark, this guy was one of the worst. Any sudden movement Diablos made, Mark flinched. He had become acutely aware of the aching in his broken arm and the weakness in his leg. All this from the doing of this man of pure evil before him... and now he and [Y/n] were alone, weak, scared, and in the hands of him... Mark had escaped his games too many times to count, and now Diablos looked more than royally pissed off. But he had a sour glint of amusement.

Mark squeezed [Y/n]'s hand tightly as more Skull Breakers broke from the shadows. Some still lingered in the back, but he recognized two of them as the cronies from before during the car explosion and... as the ones who aided in breaking his arm.

"What's the matter Angel boy?" a woman from the shadows asked in a sickly sweet voice, "Scared you won't escape another one of our games? But they're so much fun! How could you resist?"

When he didn't respond, the two crony Skull Breakers that had come close, jumped him. He fought, spitting, kicking, and biting. When his gun hand got free, he attempted to aim it at Diablos. The man didn't even flinch when the gun went off, but Mark missed hit the one beside Diablos because one of the Skull Breakers smacked his arm down. The Skull Breaker he shot was dead. When he was slammed to the ground, he couldn't help but catch the smile on Diablos' face. 

Mark was breathless as a sharp knee jabbed into the middle of his back, and a firm hand pushed his head onto the ground. He tried to move, but each time he tried, the knee grinded further into his back, making him gasp for air. 

The Skull Breaker had positioned his head to where he got a good look at [Y/n] as Diablos walked towards them. They were frozen in terror.

For fuck's sake move! Mark thought, willing them to do something, Don't just stand there! Use your gun!

He tried to get out from under the two people on top of him, but screeched when he felt hands grab his broken arm and force it behind his back, where his hands were bound painfully tight. [Y/n] simply dropped their gun, shaking in fear, and let a Skull Breaker tie their hands in a similar fashion to his own.

He was forced upright, and pushed forward. He stumbled. [Y/n] just moved along quietly, staring at the ground ahead. Mark couldn't help but feel severe frustration towards them. Why would they act this way now? When they were so resilient before? When he needed them to be themself most of all at this point in time?

His sniper and backpack had been taken away, as had [Y/n]'s things. He felt the knife in his boot still, and hoped that [Y/n] was still conscious enough to remember theirs as well. They both had to find a way out of this, even if they had to both do it alone.

"Move." Diablos said in his deep, baritone voice. He swung his hammer dangerously close to Mark, who instinctively stumbled away from it, and the group of Skull Breakers laughed in unison.

They were forced to walk for what felt like hours. Mark's head was spinning from the searing shots of pain in his arm. Every now and then he would trip, only to be punched in his bad arm's shoulder to keep moving, where he would briefly cry out, gasping.

They walked through a series of broken tunnels that looked like they were crudely made from a series of explosions. Examining the fact there was no dust in the air, this was definitely older than the previous explosions. How long had they been down here? Knowing where the Light Ring was hiding? Do they know of any of their other locations?

Mark began to make the conclusion that the Light Ring didn't retreat further into the tunnels, but had rather escaped through the main entrance... That would explain the broken latch and Ethan, a newer recruit, hanging outside near the watch posts. How the Skull Breakers done this without being heard?

They kept walking, until they were brought to a large room that looked similar to a medieval arena. Hoots and hollers resounded, deafening Mark's ears as crowds of Skull Breakers called out from all around. They were spitting, kicking, and throwing things at him and [Y/n] as they were brought in.

At first, Mark thought they were to be forced to fight in front of the whole of the Skull Breakers, but soon thought otherwise when they were turned and herded into a smaller, side room that Mark immediately recognized as a standard Skull Breaker torture chamber.

His arms were quickly unbound along with [Y/n] and they were tossed into a tiny, cramped cell together. At first they hung back into separate corners of the cage as Diablos lit the room, but eventually found each other and clung on. Mark watched as several Skull Breakers left the room, having had their fill in the fun, but one other remained with Diablos.

"We are going to have oh so much fun... aren't we?" it was that woman who had clung to the shadows before. He still couldn't see her, but fear lingered mysteriously around him when he heard her voice.

"Oh yes Xenia, yes we will." Diablos replied, "Close the door."

Mark held tightly to [Y/n], who was now sobbing into his shoulder. He tried his best to push aside all his panic, fear, pain, and anger to help protect them. He had to be strong now, and he would protect them with his life.

"So, Angel boy, this game is going to be a little different..." Diablos began, opening up the cell. He leaned in and yanked Mark from [Y/n] and shoved him into a chair, and bound him to it, "This game, is something similar to Truth and Lie but... with a twist yes? Xenia, step into the light."

The woman named Xenia, took slow steps forward, and Mark watched as her face was revealed. He stared in both shock, disbelief, and immense terror as she fully basked in the light... this woman... the short blonde hair, the grey eyes... the small freckle on her forehead...

He was utterly speechless as the woman watched him, "Did you miss me... Angel?"

He jerked in the chair, trying to get away. Not only was he in the room with the leader of the Skull Breakers, but now with the very woman he thought he had killed years ago who nearly ended his life...

And Sean wasn't there this time to save him.