TW: Implied mentions of suicide

It's not long until the cake's finished. Scar's still acting off, but I ignore, ready to dig in.

'This is the best cake I've ever eaten.' I declare with a full mouth. 'Cub's a genius.'

'It's not as good.' Mumbles Scar. 'It's really not as good.'

'Stop complaining, Scar. It's incredible. I've never had cake this good.' I go in for a second slice as Scar gives a small smile. Mumbo's just sitting there in cake heaven, eyes closed with bliss.

'Earth to Mumbo.' I laugh, poking him with a spoon. He blinks, then takes another mouthful of cake. Scar's not even tried to finish his, staring at it. I shuffle closer, frowning. 'Scar, if you're not going to eat that, I will.'

He pushes it towards me, standing and running from the room. For a second, nothing. Then I catch a sob, before hearing his door slam. For a moment I'm too shocked to do anything before...

'I need to check on him...' Leaving Mumbo to devour all the cake, I run into the hall. There's a scuffle from behind Scar's door. I knock.

'Scar?'

He doesn't reply.

'Scar, your cake was the best thing ever... None of us mind if it isn't quite as good as his... I don't care that you're Hotguy either.'

Still nothing. I sigh, leaning on the door.

'If you want me to leave tell me, ok? If not I'm coming in.'

'I'm fine.' Comes a call from inside. Something in his tone concerns me. 'I'll be completely fine.'

'Scar what are you doing?' I shove the door. It doesn't open, stuck. There's something there. He's blocked it. 'SCAR OPEN THE DOOR. PLEASE.' Panic fills my voice, ideas, the worst possibilities. I stand back, and run at it. Whatever's blocking it unlodges, and I fall inside. I look for Scar. He's standing by the open window. On his bed. Next to the open window.

'SCAR NO!' Barely thinking more than just pure panic, I run at him, jump on the bed, push him out the way. He stumbles, falling off it to the floor. I slam the window shut, panting. And where I should be scared, or upset, or even just relieved I came in here in time, all I feel is rage.

'WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, SCAR? WHY WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT... WHAT ABOUT ME AND MUMBO? WHAT ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HERE? WITH US? WHY- WHY WOULD YOU...'

It's like something inside him deflates. I just stand there, on the verge of tears as he sinks down further, sobbing, hands covering his face,  not even trying to defend his actions. Mumbo bursts into the room, eyes wild with terror.

'What- Grian- Scar?!' He falls to the ground next to Scar. 'Scar, are you ok? What happened?'

He still doesn't reply, instead pointing to where a scrawled note sits on the bed. I sit down, taking it with shaking hands.

To Grian and Mumbo

I can't do this any more.

I'm sorry for getting into trouble again.

When Ren comes to kill me tell him I did it for him.

I'm glad you liked my cake

Goodbye

From, Scar

The words blur in front of me. I quickly hand the note to Mumbo. Scar's still just crying, and now I'm crying too. I notice another piece of paper in his hands, but don't ask.

'Why?' Is all Mumbo says as he lowers the paper. 'Why would...'

It takes a few attempts for him to stop crying. 'C... Cub's gone.... And I'm never going to be as good as him... And now... Now...' His hand scrunches up the letter even more. I crawl to the edge of the bed and he lets me take it.

By authority of King Ren

You are condemned for treachery and abandonment of position. Your sentence is death.

We unafraid to get you by any means possible and recommend you come quietly. Any attempt of escape or brutality to guards will result in worse punishment.

No one speaks for a horrible second.

'I wanted to go on my own terms.'

I tear the letter apart. Even when the pieces are too small to read I keep going.

'F*** YOU!' I  throw the paper everywhere, and start sobbing. 'F... F**K YOU!'

'What was it?'

'Letter from Ren. Death sentence.'

'Goodness gracious...' Jellie appears, bounding over to Scar as though sensing his sadness. He hugs her, crying again. I let out a yell that dissolves into sobs. Mumbo looks from me to Scar and decides my needs are greater, hugging me. I let him, silently seething, forcing himself to calm down and act rational.

'We need to get out of here and find somewhere else. Before Ren finds you.' I figure, letting Mumbo sit me down on the bed. 'We can't stay here.'

Mumbo nods. Scar's still hugging Jellie and crying, while I try to think. Right now, the most protected place from Ren is the resistance base. But then there's the problem of me. Whether they'll even accept us, or recognise Scar as Hotguy...

'I need air, and space to think.' I decide. 'Scar... You should come too. You'll be safer everywhere else but here. Mumbo... You stay here and act confused if Ren comes. And tell us if anything happens. Jellie... Jellie will stay as emotional support. Ok?'

Mumbo nods, helping Scar to his feet. I slip off the bed, and hug him. He hugs back.

'I'm sorry.'

'Don't apologise, Scar. This isn't your fault. This really isn't your fault.'

He doesn't reply. I step away.

'Let's go.'

With a final goodbye to Mumbo, we prepare to leave. Jellie refuses to leave Scar, following us outside. We take the stairs down, and leave the building.

Numbness from what just happens dulls the day around us. I just walk, not minding which way we go. Scar follows behind, silent. We don't know how long we walk for, or how far away we are when we hear yells.

I force Scar into an alley as a group of royal guards appear, passing. They don't see us.

'I hope Mumbo's ok.'

'He can't be in trouble for hiding us when we're not there...'

'Any more ideas?'

'No.' I don't share the idea of finding the resistance. 'I don't know where we can go that'll stay safe...' Scar sighs.

'I don't want to live in hiding for the rest of my life.'

'I understand.' He walks away, back towards home. I follow.

'I wonder if I could fake my death. Again.'

'You think that would work?'

'It worked then...' The sound of yells reaches us. Scar breaks into a run until I force him to stop, standing on the edge of sight, just outside our tower block. Guards swarm the area.

'Split up and search the city.' One barks. 'We can't let him escape again.'

'When I say run, run.' I grab Scar's hand, waiting for the right moment to... 'Run!'

We dart forwards towards the building. No one notices us. We reach inside. Scar pulls us into the elevator, presses the button for our floor...

I pace as we ascend, praying it won't break down, counting the floors we pass... A cheerful ding, and the doors open.

My stomach turns to ice.

The door to our flat is torn open. I sprint over, unable to take in all the destruction... There's broken pictures, broken doors... Half the cupboards in the kitchen have been opened, contents strewn about the surface. There's a sudden yowl as Jellie appears, jumping into Scar's arms.

And then we check the living room.

Sofas are upturned, the table with the cake on its side. Only the TV is untouched. But I don't care about any of that.

All I see is the dead body of Mumbo.

Scar's actions in this chapter were unplanned. The idea literally came as I was writing and almost upturned the entire rest of the book.