Dead Inside

56.

"Dust Alex!" Portal Steve cried out. Entity Steve stood next to him, just as shocked as everyone else around Sabre. The spider turned its large head to face them, not a drop of blood standing out on its prickly-haired jaws. Guilt flooded Sabre as he stared straight into the large spider's beady red eyes which glowered with anger. 

It's my fault, he thought. I couldn't warn her.

Sabre turned to the group. Entity Steve looked as if he would cry, yet at the same time run off in the opposite direction, away from the spider. Portal Steve looked upset as if he would collapse on his knees and cry out into the sky. Green Steve glared at the spider, and Sabre could feel the anger radiating off him. Blue Steve looked afraid, but yet tired from carrying Galaxy Steve on his back. Alex gazed unblinkingly on the spider as if her gaze would cause it to burst into flames or turn tiny and run away from fear. Bright Steve looked away with a glare, though a single tear seemed to slip away. Rainbow Steve turned his worried gaze towards Sabre, his expression full of surprise and grief. 

Sabre felt the same. Not only did they just lose Dust Alex, but now how were they supposed to save Sabre and the other spirits of the Cemetary of Bones from Forest Steve?

I screwed up, Sabre thought. Really bad.

"We got to get out of here!" Portal Steve exclaimed, turning to the group.

"B-b-but-" Entity Steve stammered, surprising Sabre that he was arguing with Portal Steve about leaving yet he's terrified of almost everything. "W-what about D-D-Dust A-Alex?"

"She's dead, Entity Steve!" Portal Steve snapped at him, causing Entity Steve to flinch. 

Rainbow Steve set a hand on Entity Steve's shoulder. "He's just worried about her, you don't need to get mad at him for that."

"Stay out of this, Rainbow Steve!" Portal Steve glared at Rainbow Steve. "Because of this, of Dust Alex's death, Emburn, Carodu, Cala, and Sally will never be saved!" 

"Chill out, Portal Steve," Sabre stepped forward. "We are more than happy to help you. It is sad that Dust Alex is dead, but that doesn't mean we should give up hope."

"Hope?" Portal Steve challenged. "Hope? That's what you've been believing in this entire time? It doesn't matter how much of us there are! Emburn chose us at Guardians, which means we are the only ones to save her and the other spirits, including you. Now that Dust Alex is dead, we will never be able to save them!"

Sabre didn't say anything. He felt bad for Portal Steve; He was torn between hopelessness and grief. Sabre remembered when he was like that, when Void Steve seemed absolutely unstoppable. But everything turned out fine. All Sabre had to do was prove to Portal Steve that they could still save the spirits of the Cemetary of Bones. But, what if Portal Steve was right? What if they needed Dust Alex to save them? 

Suddenly, the spider let out a terribly high-pitched screech, turning everyone's gaze toward it. It was trembling violently as dropped to its side as if it were in terrible pain. Sabre than saw something was different. Was it's side expanding? Just then, the spider's side burst, spilling bright green slime everywhere. Sabre blinked from surprise. Standing in the giant hole in the spider's side was a figure, their long hair and clothes were covered in the green slime. It was Dust Alex. 

"Dust Alex?" Portal Steve spoke first.

"Oh!" Dust Alex whipped around to face the group of friends. "Hiya, Portal Steve!" She had a wide smile across her face as if she just had the time of her life being eaten alive by a giant, hairy spider. 

"But, how?" Portal Steve managed to question. "A giant spider just ate you and-" he broke off and fell silent. 

"She's alive!" Entity Steve burst out. "I don't believe my eyes!" 

Dust Alex laughed and darted over to stand by Entity Steve's side, the smile on her face expressing pure joy. Sabre couldn't help but smile as he gazed at the two standing side by side. He remembered when Alex and Galaxy Steve stood like that together, seeing the two happy. 

Galaxy Steve, Sabre realized with a bit of surprise. He had forgotten about the injured Steve. He turned to Blue Steve, who still carried Galaxy Steve on his back. 

"We should get Dust Alex cleaned up," Sabre told them. "And find a way out of here. We have to help Galaxy Steve before we go searching for Blue Alex. We don't know how injured he could be, or how long the journey will be."

"Sabre's right," Portal Steve nodded his agreement. "Bright Steve, do you think there's a pool around here where Dust Alex can clean up?"

Bright Steve nodded. "There's a spring not far from here. Plus, there's a patch of herbs growing there, too. Green Steve can use those to help Galaxy Steve."

Green Steve nodded, a look of determination in his eyes. Sabre couldn't help but sag with relief. Dust Alex was alive, which meant they have a higher chance of defeating Forest Steve and rescuing the spirits of the Cemetary of Bones. Hopefully, Galaxy Steve was alright, and they could find Blue Alex. Blue Alex had to join in their mission or the chances of successfully ridding of Forest Steve would lower.