Ah, here comes another perspective! Finally!

The sound of frantic knocking wakes me. I sit up from where I was trying to stay awake on the sofa, realise it must be Grian, and run to the door, opening.

'Grian?'

'Scar- oh my goodness...' He's in tears as he hugs me. I hug back, kicking the door closed. At the sound, he steps back, turning and locking it, hands shaking. 'Oh my goodness I think I just killed someone.'

'What... come on through and tell me there.' I lead him to the living room. 'Sit down.' I urge. He does, staring at the ground. 'I'll get you a drink.' I hurry to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water. Just as I'm about to return to Grian, I think, putting it down and grabbing the box of cookies again.

He's in the same place when I return, shaking. Handing him the drink and cookies, I sit down next to him.

'What happened?'

He takes a shaky sip of the water, calming down enough to speak.

'The person- they were taken.'

'What?'

'I pushed them too far... they said they wanted to kill Ren... he wanted me to help him kill Ren... but the... but the resistance were too slow and- the the camera hear and they took him. Bdubs. It was Bdubs. I think.'

'Bdubs?' Confusion fills me. 'Why would Bdubs hate Ren?'

'Martyn replaced him? He never said. He didn't have a chance to tell me. He didn't tell me anything. And now he's going to get killed because of me.'

'Calm down.' I put an arm around his shoulder. 'Breath in... hold... and out.' He does, and starts crying.

'Oh my goodness I just killed him.'

'This wasn't your fault.'

'I'm so STUPID!'

'You're not stupid. Just have a cookie, and drink some water... it'll make you feel better.'

'I don't want a cookie.'

'Now you're being stupid. Come on.' I force a cookie into his hands. He eats it, wiping tears from his face.

'He's dead. They're going to kill him.'

'Have another cookie.'

'I've already had 5 today.'

'Have another cookie. Cookies stop you being upset... it's scientifically proven, you know.'

He gives a small smile, and accept.

'Thanks.'

'Remind me to make more cookies tomorrow.'

'I will.'

We sit in silence as he eats his next cookie, and I run through what he told me. So Bdubs ran away? When he was so sure it was...

'Scar?'

'Yeah?'

'Bdubs... Bdubs said you were his friend.' A pause. 'I didn't know you were part of Ren's court.'

'I didn't choose to be.' Memories return. Nights spent awake, regretting what I'd done. Bloody hands, bloody arrows.

'I... never knew.'

'I never told anyone. Ashamed.' Grian frowns at me.

'Have a cookie.'

'What?'

'They make you happier.' 

I laugh, but accept. I still can't stop the memories I've suppressed for so long from returning, even with the help of a couple of cookies (Grian forces me to have a second).

'I need sleep.' I yawn. 'You need it too. Come on.' He nods, finishing his water and returning the glass and cookie box to the kitchen before heading to his bedroom to sleep. 

'Breaking news. Reports are coming in that late last night a former member of King Ren's court was caught talking to a civilian and that according to respondents from inside the Crastle, the execution is due for later today... Our reporter Beef is there now... Beef?'

I wake to the sound of the TV, groaning. It takes a moment to realise what it's about, at which point I'm on my feet, running through.

'That's- they're executing him.' Grian's there, pointing at the crackling screen as I enter. I take a seat next to him.

'This isn't your fault.'

'Lady Cleo, what do you think of the incident?' 

'I am very surprised, I must admit. I, as many other did, believed he was already dead, and the explosion half a year ago killed him as well as Hotguy.' 

My stomach twists at the name. The memories come back again. I remember the escape... But not Bdubs's involvement in it. Maybe he too took the chance to run away then, and we never realised.

'Yeah... I'll be right up there with King Ren watching. People like that who know all our secrets need to be stopped before they can give them out to resistance members and strangers.'

'Thank you, Cleo, for your insight. Now, we return to Hypno in the studio... Hypno, any advance on today's proceedings?'

Suddenly, the screen changes to another channel, a camera looking out on the Crastle balcony, where the area is already set up for the execution. King Ren's sitting on his own balcony above, eyes narrowed beneath his diamond glasses, looking down on the proceedings. Lord Joe of Says and Lord Martyn Littlewood are there next to him, and Lady Cleo joins a moment later.

The castle doors open.

My eyes widen at the sight of the convict. He's hurt, badly bleeding, dark hair matted with blood, but his glower is still that of pure stubborn resistance. 

'Oh my goodness.' Grian speaks next to me. The words I want to say stay stuck in my throat. 'I didn't realise- I didn't realise he was that beaten up.'

'...do you accept these charges of attempted treason, treachery against your king and spreading trade court secrets with the resistant enemy force led by Impulse?' We just catch the end of Ren's opening. There's no reply for a second before...

'Can I speak my last words?'

Silence. Ren accepts.

'Your king is a liar and a fool.' He begins. 'We all remember what happened at the Vault, when our brave and noble king lied to the public about returning to us the diamonds he stole, and stepping down as leader to let democracy run hermit city again. We all know how he denied his promise and kept leading even more ruthlessly. But what we don't all know is the truth. That your king is nothing but paranoid and ill-advised in looking after our city.'

In the background Ren is barking for him to stop, on his feet.

'OUR KING.' The convict speaks louder. 'Used the diamonds for chandeliers and clothing. He replaced our valued currency with nothing more than fake crystals he broke his own rules to obtain.'

'KILL HIM!' Ren yells.

'THE GOVERNMENT IS A CON!'

'And I feel vexed.' I whisper. Tears burn in my eyes. I think Grian looks over at me.

'Scar?'

'It's not Bdubs.'

The TV image turns to static

'It's Cub.' I say, just as the gunshot fires.