Scar's alive.

SCAR'S ALIVE.

He survived. Stress explains everything. It's been 2 weeks of no progress, and then a secret magical potion that improved everything drastically arrived yesterday. Joel tried to avenge Sausage's death and died before he could. Skizz ran away before anyone could get him.

And now Skizz's betrayer has returned and I get the final decision on what to do with him.

I wince with pain as I'm led slowly from the hospital wing by Jimmy. Stress insisted that I couldn't leave. Gem told me it was to do with Scar.

The choice was easy.

I notice the figure kneeling in the middle of the room. The only part of his face I see is his eyes, a dark fabric mask covering his mouth and nose. His clothes are dark blue and green, well-worn and torn in places, flecked with blood and lined with white fur. Matted white hair is tied in a ponytail behind him and a scar covers a bloodshot eye. He blinks at me.

'Etho.' I blink as he speaks. 'I'm Etho.'

A pause.

'Ok...?'

'And you are...?'

'Grian. What do you want.'

'I have made many mistakes, Grian. And Impulse will hold me to them if I talk with him. If he decides what happens.'

'Why would I help you? You got Skizz caught.'

'I saved your life.' He replies. I blink.

'How?' But I realise as I speak what he mean. 'You made... The potion?'

'No, no. I didn't make it. But I delivered it. My friend wanted me to help you. He might not help if you trap or kill me.'

I consider for a moment.

'So either we let you go free or Scar dies.'

He nods.

'I didn't choose to get caught... I don't want him to die. Or you. You're going to need another. I don't want you to die.'

'You got Skizz caught. The others won't want you to go free.'

'I have made many mistakes.' He repeats. 'I didn't realise... Didn't know... What would happen.'

'You gave Skizz up for your own selfishness. Because you're a coward.' For a moment he doesn't reply to Impulse behind.

'I made many mistakes. We were cornered... There was nothing else I could've done.' Etho insists. 'There was no way to save him.'

'You could've given yourself up? Do you know what's happened to him now?'

A nod.

'We were trying to help.'

'Who's 'we'? Who... Were you sneaking potions to Scar because he is a traitor, and you're on Ren's side?'

'Impulse, he saved your life.' I reply evenly. 'He's not on Ren's side.'

'Then why were you helping him? Or was it poison you gave them?' I can't stop Impulse from forcing me aside and pulling Etho to his feet, one hand on his collar. There's no reaction, no panic. 'Are you trying to kill them?'

'No! It's-' A pause. 'I'm helping him.'

'Why?'

No reply. Impulse shoves Etho to the ground again, calling to the guards.

'Take him to the prison. High security. He can't be able to escape.'

'Impulse, seriously. He's helping.' I black out for a moment from the pain as I try to stand. 'He's helping me and Scar! He's on our side!'

'Get back to bed before your injuries kill you.' A flash of regret crosses Impulse's face. 'I'm sorry, but we'll find something else that works... Someone get Grian to the medical wing now.' I try to fight back against the approaching guards but can't, chest on fire with pain. By now, even breathing hurts, and I accept their help, guilt filling me as Etho is dragged to his feet and out of sight.

It's another while later that I wake up next, lying on my bed in the hospital, staring over at Scar.

His eyes are open a crack, watching me. Stress is across the room, mixing potions.

'Grian?' Scar forces out. 'What happened?'

'A lot.' A flash of pain. I wince. 'You ok?'

'Pain.'

'Same.'

For a moment neither of us speak. I free my hand from the tangle of blankets and hold it out. Scar doesn't take it.

'Broken arm. Sorry.'

Stress walks over, seeing us awake. She gives a worried smile.

'Are you two alright?'

'Everything hurts...' Scar mumbles.

'This should stop a lot of it... We're trying to find a better medicine than what we have. We had a good potion but... the secret geezer isn't giving it to us any more after... other stuff.'

Scar frowns.

'Etho betrayed the resistance...' I pause for a moment of relief, happy accepting the potion Stress hands me. I drink, and the pain eases enough to explain. 'Etho betrayed the resistance, and was caught a couple days ago. But he was the one delivering the potions. With someone else making them who... was unnamed.' For a moment I wonder who it might've been, but reason there's too many people in the city to be sure. 'So...'

'Can't we free Etho?'

'He betrayed Impulse... he's the reason Skizz is... Hotguy. Impulse doesn't want him to go free. And he doesn't trust that the potions were good.'

'I tried them myself and made sure they were good. There's nothing bad in those potions.' Stress replies. 'Impulse is just paranoid.'

'He's the most paranoid person I've met. Including Ren.' I mutter.

'He's not that bad, love. He's incredibly stressed...' I glance over at the table between me and Scar, remembering.

'Oh, Impulse returned your stuff. He said he didn't want to look through it.' It's hard to hide the bitterness in my voice. Scar looks over.

'Thank goodness...' Though I can tell he has the same worry as I, and Impulse just lied. But he can't open it, both from his broken arm and the fact me and Stress are here.

'Is there any food anywhere?' I ask, realising suddenly how hungry I am.

'Of course... Scott can provide something...' Stress hurries off. I glance over at Scar again.

'Are you alright?'

'Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking.' He replies hurriedly.

'You're worried Impulse...' A nod.

'I wouldn't put it past him...'

'You did the right thing saving Impulse.'

'Probably...'

'You... don't think so?'

'He's a jerk. He's been mistrusting of us since we got here and I... I'm stuck here and he locked up the only person who'd be able to provide something that actually helps...'

'It's ok. It'll all be ok, Scar...'

'I could've died saving someone who hated me.'

'It proved you're trustworthy.'

'And then he's refusing support by keeping Etho trapped.'

Silence. The conversation falls short as Stress enters the room, bringing food and the only sight of the outside we're going to have for a while.

I admit, I kind of shot myself in the foot by seriously injuring both the perspective characters.

Ah well, guess I've just got to add a new perspective