TW: torture

'Oh my goodness.' 

It's all I can say as Scar finishes explaining everything. There are tears in his eyes even before he blinks and explains.

'That's the last time I ever saw him.'

I hug him as he starts to sob. He hugs back, realizing with a jolt that Ren's taken everything from Scar 3 whole times. After Concorp, after the Convex, and now after Mumbo's death. Every time he had a life, friendship and happiness... Ren stole it from him. My hands clench into fists and I glare over Scar's shoulder.

'He's going to pay.' 

'What?'

'Ren's going to pay. For everything he's done to you.'

'It's fine.'

'Scar there's no f***ing way this is fine!' I snap. He falls silent. 'I'm sorry. But Ren's... Ren's stolen everything you've ever loved over and over again... he's driven you from your home... and friends... and... and...'

'Grian, you've been the best friend I could've ever had. I'm not letting you get upset about what happened in the past.'

'I'm not your best friend, Scar. That's Cub... he's done more for you than I can and Ren took him from you too.'

'Grian, seriously... You chose to get locked up, just so you could be with me... You risked your own life to avenge me... You stopped me from ending it all... I'm so happy you found me and couldn't have wished for a better friend. It's ok.'

'It's NOT!'

'GRIAN!' I jump as the door crashes open and Scott appears, clearly woken up.

'It is 3 in the morning! We didn't let you share with Scar to have you screaming your head off in the early hours of the morning!'

'I was upset.'

'Be upset at a normal time!'

'Scott, I couldn't sleep. Scar had a nightmare and then... We ended up talking and...'

'If you can't sleep you can come through to the main area and do night watch.' Scott crosses his arms. 'Now.'

'What- I'm... What?!'

'You need time out. Let Scar sleep. You can come back here in an hour.'

Feeling like a scolded child, I stand.

'I'm so sorry, Scar. I didn't realise...'

'Come on. Scar will be fine on his own for an hour.'

I follow Scott from the room. A twinge of guilt fills me as the door is closed behind, leaving Scar alone. Through the no longer sleeping corridor, and into the main area.

'Sit.' I blink, taking a seat on a box. 'I'm setting a timer for an hour. Only when it's done you can go back. But of course, if you want to spend longer here, you can. Goodnight.'

And with that, Scott leaves.

I stay on the resistance-naughty-step-of-shame-and-humiliation, thinking about Scar, and how unfair this is. Scott has no authority to force me to sit out here in the middle of the night after Scar's shared another story of his hurt. He'll be all alone, scared... I consider sneaking back, hoping Scott won't notice, but I don't as another person walks over.

'Grian?' Pix frowns as he walks over. 'Why are you here?'

'Scott told me off for shouting. I got an hour of timeout... Why are you here?'

'Couldn't sleep. Ren sent a message yesterday. For Scar. I listened to it and... Can't get it out of my head.'

'For Scar?'

'You should hear it. It's awful.'

'I have to stay here.'

'You can help me. I'm sure Scott won't mind you using your timeout well.'

I sigh.

'Scar's on his own. He'll be scared and it's my fault.'

'Come on. Scar will be fine. He's stronger than you think.' I follow Pix towards his office, noting that we're not alone out here. Guards are on watch, while some others are helping bring in food and resources. No one pays any attention to us as we enter Pix's office and he turns on the light.'

I take a seat as he finds the audio, warning me how bad it'll be and that he'll only play the start. I accept, and he plays it.

'Scar.' Ren's voice crackles through the TV. 'I don't want to spend my life chasing you down. You cannot hide from us. We know you're in the resistance base, hiding. But rest assured that I won't stand back and let you get away from the punishment you deserve for your treachery and hate. We killed your friend. Your little friend Cub is dead. Your traitor friend Mumbo is dead for keeping you safe. And we won't stop killing people until we have you again. I don't want to kill people. But I will. And I hope what you're about to hear teaches you that.'

The audio cuts of, changing. But before it plays, Pix stops the recording, taking a deep breath before explaining.

'It's audio of... they wanted to get information from Cub. About where he is. They sent footage of them trying to get it. Of... Of them hurting him to get it.'

'S***.'

'And... And then it plays footage of Mumbo. When they cornered him in your flat. And then killed him when he didn't say where you were.'

'Oh my goodness.'

'Interrogation attempt number 1. Prisoner name, Cub.' The audio plays, only temporarily hindered. Pix scrambles to stop it, but it's too late. 'Cub. Where is the fellow criminal and known friend, Scar?'

'I don't know.'

'Who were you talking to when we found you?'

'I don't know.'

'Stop lying.'

'I'm not lying.'

The voices pause for a second. I realise the interrogator is Martyn.

'Tell us the truth,Cub. Where is fellow criminal and known friend, Scar?'

'I don't know.'

Cub lets out a pained sound.

'Pix, stop it.' I insist. 'Pix, please.'

'It's not working...'

'PIX!' Another sound of whatever horrors are going on. Cub's still refusing to talk, until he bursts out.

'Fine! I'll tell you about Scar.'

'Go on.'

'Scar is my best friend and I'd do anything for him. Whatever it takes. Even if I knew where he was I wouldn't share anything with you, even if you hurt me until I died. Do you understand?'

'Where is Scar?'

'I don't know.'

I'm crying. Out of options, Pix throws his computer across the room. The audio stops.

'I didn't realise they'd rig it so you couldn't pause. I'm sorry.'

'Send a reply.' Is all I say. Pix recovers his now-broken computer. It turns on, only half the cracked screen showing anything. A few minutes later he nods

'I'm recording.'

So, running on little more than anger and revenge, mind repeating the audio of Cub's pain, fueled by sleep deprivation, I take a deep breath and speak.

'My name is Grian. Scar is my best friend and I will stop at nothing to protect him from you and the f***ing s*** you've forced him to go through. And if any part of your deluded sadistic brain thinks I'll let you hurt him or take anything else from him you're WRONG. I WILL NOT LET YOU HURT HIM ANY MORE!'

I fall silent, sobbing. Pix sends the video before hugging me.

And only a minute later, we get a reply.

'Challenge accepted.'