Herobrine went unseen in the shadows, an unimpressed smirk on his face. He wanted Ciara all for himself, she was his. There was no way he could allow this to slide, forgotten and suppressed, he had to deal with it. She was definitely special, not even he could survive that drop without activating his powers, but this was the last time she would be unfaithful to him. He would just have to find a new toy to play with, even if all that training would be going to waste.

"Goodbye, sweet Ciara." He whispered with poison lacing his tone, before vanishing. Only the disturbed leaves gave away that anyone was ever there.

Ridge stared at the treeline, eyeing it narrowly, sure he had seen something there. But then he shrugged turning back to look at the two siblings who had resorted to prodding each other while trying to pretend it wasn't them... Somehow. He couldn't help but smile at the sight, it was just too cute to leave unnoticed, and yet some part of him couldn't keep his mind off Ciara, wondering whether Toby would allow them to be together. That was even if she said yes in the first place.

"Ridge?" He snapped back to reality at the melodic voice of Ciara, who was watching him anxiously with wide, hazel eyes.

"S-sorry, I was completely out of it just then," He gave a nervous chuckle, offering an awkward grin that was just like him.

She laughed while Toby smirked, a worryingly knowing twinkle in his eyes. "Well, as I said before, but you were clearly absent for it, are you going to answer the call, or just let it keep ringing like that?"

"Oh! Sorry!" He tried to ignore her brother's insistent gaze, finally responding to the call with a 'Hey Xeph'.

"Thank Notch Ridgedog! You weren't answering and... And I thought..." Xephos' attitude changed from relieved to sad in a matter of moments, before he blundered on as if nothing ever happened. "Anyway, uh, what was I going to... Oh, I remember now, everyone's here at Sipsco, and we're waiting for you. Are you being held hostage or something?"

"What?! Why would you think an amazing demigod like me would get captured that easily?" He spluttered, pausing to cough after a bug decided that it was smart to fly into his mouth.

"Well, first you didn't answer for ages, and second, you seem a little off right now. Is there anything wrong?"

"Nah, I'm fine. See you in a few," He ended the call abruptly, turning to the other two who stared back with mild interest.

"So what's happening?" Toby inquired with an arm draped over his sister's shoulders, a slight threat in his gaze as if he knew what Ridge felt about her.

"We're going to Sipsco, everyone is there already, so we'd best be off." He briefly explained, holding a hand up to shade his eyes as he looked to the bright, innocent sky.

"Okay, cool." Ciara replied, attempting to sound light hearted, but both knew she was terrified of being accused despite it being Herobrine.

The brunette instantly shot to his feet and scooped her into his arms when he noticed her trying to get up. "You aren't going anywhere on your own after that."

"I can agree with you on that, kid." Ridge said with the ghost of a smile at his indignant expression, before placing a hand on his shoulder and concentrating.

They appeared at Sipsco, having teleported, and at the notification the remaining members looked around until Hat Films spotted them. Ciara smiled uncomfortably as she was eyed with curiosity in her brother's arms, the unlikely trio all sharing glances and conveying messages with the smallest gestures and expressions.

"Something goin' on between ya then, eh?" Ross asked after being nudged by his companions, all three now wiggling their eyebrows.

She felt the heat flood to her face, so buried it in her hands. "He's my brother!"

"So what, am I right?!" Smith chipped in, earning cheeky laughs from the other two.

Ridge couldn't help but let a small grin slide onto his face, but he didn't have time for jokes when people were being picked off around him, so strode through the crowd with Toby following uncertainly in tow. He marched to the front, pleading gazes burning into his back, the group seeming empty without the husky voice of Honeydew, the dark yet comforting presence of Rythian, Duncan and Kim making sweet jokes, Hannah's bubbly personality, Sjin's calming tone, Martyn's optimistic point of view and Area 11 acting like immature brothers. Sips was slumped with his back against the wall of the skyscraper, a hand pressed on his face and a meaningless air about him. Xephos bustled over upon the demigod's arrival, stressed features melting as his gaze rested on Toby, who appeared to be handling the death of his best friend surprisingly well.

"You two are getting along... Well?" The raven-haired man attempted to start a casual conversation, one hand anxiously fiddling with his collar.

"We're siblings, before you get any ideas." She muttered with a sigh, wincing as she moved into a more comfortable position.

He looked taken aback, then delighted. "That's cute!"

"Since when were you soppy?" She responded with one hand travelling to her leg, pressing against the wound in a bizarre attempt to stop the pain.

"Since you two found each other, it's sweet, like a story. But anyway, now you're here, everyone is..." He paused, features darkening, before he shook the unwanted emotions off and continued. "So I can start the announcement."

Ridge absentmindedly passed his life-stone to Ciara, who took it and tried to ignore the warmth that tingled in her hand as her fingertips brushed his skin. She held it to the injury, looking up at Xephos, her eyes glowing guiltily in the fading light.

"As you know... We've lost many of our friends to the RHM. We've yet to track her down, and until we do I suggest that we all stay here, together, so we have more of a chance to see who it is if they dare strike again. It is safety in numbers after all. I say that we have... Three people on watch, all well-armed, so if anything happens we're hopefully secure. Does anyone object?" There was silence in his pause. "Okay, good. Everyone make a bed and we'll settle in the skyscraper for the night."

"Wait!" It was Sips who spoke up, standing next to Xephos with a face that looked so different to his normal expression. "Does anyone have any info on the RHM? We all have a reason to bring her to justice, she's ruthlessly killed our friends, leaving us to mourn and dread daylight, wondering whether another has been murdered. Even just a small sighting could help, anyone?"

"Well... Toby was attacked and almost died by the RHM, and so far he's been the only one to survive-" The spaceman glanced to the demigod, who's jaw was clenched and his face was set in a frown. "-without being marked. Did you see anything?"

He bit his cheek, trying to keep the guilt away from lying to his friends, all the while trying to think up a convincing story. "N-no, I could only see a cloak and a sword. I couldn't push them away, they were like a... A ghost."

"Oh," He couldn't help the disappointment leak into his tone.

"Um, Sparkles* did accuse Ciara, and it was kind of convincing?" Panda awkwardly spoke up, avoiding looking at her.

"There's no way she'd do such a thing!" Zoey blurted out without thinking, all eyes turning to her. "She's kind and sweet, and easily embarrassed, and... And adorable, and beautiful, and amazing, and wonderful."

"I guess... She hasn't been hostile to any of us... Okay, you're right-" Xephos began, but was cut off.

The guilt was too much for Ciara to bear. She felt as if she was drowning, sinking further from the surface with each lie that was told. It stopped now. She would come clean, she would tell the truth, and she would face whatever punishment that was thrown her way. After all, she deserved it. It was her fault for accepting Herobrine's offer in the first place, it was her fault for thinking that murdering people over some petty dispute would fix everything, it was her fault that that so many people were dead. She let the life-stone drop from her grasp and it landed with a dull clunk, yet the small sound was loud enough to bring the attention back to her. Her eyes were shadowed and her features seemed sharper as dusk gathered, as if they were carved from stone. The temperature seemed to drop as a freezing wind ruffled the leaves and bit at their exposed skin, turning noses and ears pink. Toby allowed her to escape, for the first time feeling intimidated and afraid of his own sister. Even Ridge had a nervous expression on, although he was trying his hardest to hide it. He stretched out an arm in a halfhearted attempt to pull her back, but let it fall back to his side as she stepped out of reach.

"It's true..." She muttered, clenching her hands into fists and keeping her gaze stuck on her boots.

"W-what is, Ciara?" Nilesy, surprisingly, was the only one who had the courage to speak in the face of their current situation.

"I killed them."

No one said a thing, too afraid by the confession to react.

"No, y-you can't have done! You've been nothing b-but nice to us since y-you arrived, this isn't true!" Zoey ranted tearfully, bright blue eyes pleading for Ciara to comfort her and tell her it was all fine.

"It's as true as the sun that sets on the horizon." She finally tore her eyes away from the ground, the wind suddenly dying down, only to he replaced by a depressing drizzle that dusted their hair.

"But... Why would you do such a thing?" Xephos asked as a tear trailing down his cheek, while in the background Sips had gotten up with a sword in his hand and a grimace n his face.

"She didn't do it!" Toby blurted out, only earning a glare that could kill from his sister as he tried to step forwards.

"He's right, she didn't. She did try to kill me, but stopped herself. After me, all the deaths weren't her fault." Ridge added hopefully, golden eyes silently daring people to say otherwise, the red handprint backing up his explanation.

"Why should we trust you after you both said you saw nothing of any use? Did you know about this the whole time, and you kept it from us, even as our friends fell around us?!" The dirt salesman's voice gradually rose until he was yelling at the three of them, in their own little clearing as the group uncertainly moved away from them.

"Yes! Yes they did, Sips! Leave them out of this, this was my fault, it's is my burden, and I have to face the punishment, so if you're to yell at anyone, yell at me Notchdammit!" She shouted back, thunder rumbling ominously in the distance as she shoved the only two people who stayed by her side away.

Sips sneered at her, striding in her direction with eyes like chips of ice. "Here you stand, on high-quality Sipsco soil, admitting to your disgusting crimes, yet you still have the cheek to act all innocent by helping these two!" He gave a short, hysterical laugh, rain rapidly falling heavier around them, but no one paid any heed to the oddly fluctuating weather. "These two kept your secret, which I bet you're glad for, but that makes them as bad as you! If these two had so kindly spoken up like they had been repeatedly asked as our heart's were ripped from our chest's with each death, then maybe we could've prevented all this grief and heartache. Scum, the lot of you!"

"Now, Sips, please don't just jump to conclusions..." Xephos said without much conviction, but his gaze was softer than most of the crowd. "These two said it wasn't her, and they seemed pretty convinced that what they were saying was true."

"Thank you, thank you so much Xeph!" Toby exclaimed breathlessly, but the older man just looked away and slightly waved his hand to signal that he continue. "She hasn't killed anyone since she didn't kill Ridge. Think about it; when she first arrived here she was uncomfortable and uneasy, but then she got used to us and was totally friendly. It wasn't technically her who killed the others..." He paused for dramatic effect, allowing his determine gaze to sweep over the crowd. "...it was Herobrine."

Gasps rippled across the people gathered, most looking a mix between shocked and a little worried. Some responses called back to him went along the lines of 'don't be silly, he probably doesn't even exist' and 'he hasn't even been heard from since Notch banished him all those years ago'. Gradually the replies got more offensive and aggressive, so much so that he shrank back under the stares that were once warm, but now unwelcoming.

Lightning forcefully struck the pool boy interview chamber, silencing everyone in one flash, and everyone looked to Ciara who's features were furious. "Don't you dare insult Toby like that." She took a shuddering breath, fighting to stay calm, before continuing. "He is your friend, is he not? Why are you acting like this towards him- it's me you should be throwing hateful comments at!"

"Sorry, Toby." Xephos raked his ashamed eyes over his friends, who looked meek. "Ridge, is there truth in his words?"

"I'm afraid so. Herobrine has tried to kill Ciara multiple times, and has framed her for crimes she didn't commit. He was only trying to kill her because she refused to kill me or anyone else, does that not show her loyalty to us?" The demigod pointed out calmly, but his squared shoulders told otherwise.

"I may be loyal, but I deserve to die. Please..." Her voice had reduced to barely more than a whisper, leaving everyone bewildered as she squeezed her eyes shut and quietly sobbed.

Ridge didn't even think before he reacted. He couldn't just stand around and watch heartlessly as she cried to herself, so he instinctively wrapped his arms around her in a protective cocoon. Fueled by the need to keep her safe, he set his painful glare on Sips, who stared with malice back, not backing down. The only tying that broke the silence was her hiccuping sobs, slightly muffled by Ridge's warm shirt.

Suddenly, she seemed to come back to her angry senses, attempting to jerk away from the demigod who just kept her stuck in his embrace. "Let me go! Let me go, Ridge! I killed them! I need to die! Let me go! Let me die!" By this point her voice had become hysterical, her breaths short and sharp as she thumped her fists on his chest, not making a mark as he sadly watched.

A stranger's voice rang out over her screaming, deep and commanding, so much so that everyone turned to look. "That's all we needed to hear. Take her away and announce that we've finally got her. Thank you sir for the info."

She froze, eyes wide and hands midway to his chest. "Oh. Oh. Oh no..."

Men dressed in dark clothing and a badge pinned to their chests strode importantly towards them, silently ordering themselves into formation. One stepped forwards, intending to take her away, but Ridge let out a low growl, pulling her closer to his chest and vowing not to let her go. The policeman shook his head, slipping his hands under her arms and tugging her more firmly, while she just stayed still, stuck with disbelief.

"Sir, if you don't allow her to come peacefully with us, we'll have to resort to force." He warned darkly, eyes flicking from one side to the other, silently summoning two others to help.

"Excuse me? Did you just... Did you just threaten a demigod?" Ridge said incredulously, making the policemen take a wary step back and notice his eyes for the first time.

"Sir... Please, if you wouldn't mind, she's a worldwide wanted killer, I don't think you realise the weight of this situation." Another spoke up tentatively, worried about angering him.

"Oh, I don't do I?" He angled his face slightly towards them to reveal the handprint. "I'd advise you, gentlemen, to take your leave. She is a Tekkitopian, and no Tekkitopian gets taken away while I'm around."

"Shouldn't you be arresting him and the boy as well? They both stayed silent even as murders occurred around them." A fairly tall man with sunglasses on pointed out, clothed casually, clearly not part of the police force.

The three closest to the accused exchanged blank glances, before the first took charge again. "Y-yes, of course. Boys, if you please."

One grabbed Toby's wrists, twisting his arms behind his back and making his let out a little groan of pain when he tried to struggle. Nilesy kicked into action... Literally. His foot connected with the policeman's jaw, making a crack resound throughout the compound and as he took his hands away to clutch his jaw the brunette rapidly stepped stepped away, rubbing his wrists. While most of the others began to tussle, fighting to keep back the authorities, Zoey was staring intently at the man in sunglasses. She was wondering why he needed them, seeing as it was raining. The thought that he was blind crossed her mind, but she ruled it out as he probably would need a guide dog to get around, so she began to get more suspicious. Of course, he could be wearing them as a fashion statement, but if the odd ensemble of clothes was anything to go by she highly doubted it. As if the Aether sensed her burning curiosity, his glasses slipped a little way down his wet nose, and she gave a little gasp of shock and realisation. Fiona, who was stood next to her, taking in every perfect detail, zoned back in and followed her gaze, but the sunglasses were already back in place so there was nothing to he seen.

"Fifi, his eyes, they were white!" The redhead exclaimed in a hushed whisper, both of them oblivious to the punches being thrown in front of them.

"Are you sure? I mean, it's a bit hard to see things when the weather is like this."

She furiously nodded her head, sending her bright hair that, miraculously, wasn't even slightly damp, flying in all directions. "I'm positive! Trust me, please, Fifi."

Fiona gave a smile, before the gears clicked and her own eyes widened. "Does that mean..."

"Yes! Their story was true!" She squealed excitedly, turning and planning to report her discoveries like the stylin' detective she was, only to come face to face with a fist that she only just managed to dodge.

"Right, that's our job done. Take 'em away and lock 'em up. They'll be executed at daybreak. Thank you again sir, you'll be famous, I'm sure!" The head officer announced, and everyone stopped, breathing heavily and sporting a wide array of cuts and bruises.

Zoey couldn't seem to do anything but watch as three unconscious bodies were dragged unceremoniously away, and the same seemed to go for everyone else. Xephos, who was decorated with a black eye and a split lip, heaved a sigh, his shoulders visibly rising and falling loosely. Teep growled at them, but appeared to have injured his leg so couldn't run after them.

"We lost guys... I'm sorry..." The spaceman muttered dejectedly, dropping to the ground and hiding his face in his hands.

Others mirrored his actions, but some remained standing, adrenaline pulsing through their bodies and not allowing them to relax. The weather had calmed to an eerie silence, and a thick fog had smothered the landscape, as if trying to protect it from any further dangers. Zoey's tearful blue eyes caught a soft pink glow on the ground a little way from her, so she bent down and picked it up. It was Ridge's life-stone, still stained with Ciara's blood. The redhead burst into tears, holding the object to her chest as Fiona tried her best to comfort her.

The stranger smirked slightly before turning his back on the crowd and marching after the police. "Oh, it's not the fame I'm after..."