It's just as me and Grian carry a couple plates of cookies to the living room when the TV turns on. Thankfully not dropping all of them, I sigh, sitting down as the news comes in. 'And now, we turn attention to the Crastle where live now, King Ren himself will be speaking in a political broadcast on recent events.'

'Greeting, citizens.' He begins, readjusting his glasses. Today his fluffy collar seems even bigger and diamond-filled than normal. 'I come thusly, feeling the need to shed light on the situation we found ourselves in when the castle received reports of a traitor caught live on security camera, pretending to be my loyal left-hand man, Bdubs.'

Grian takes my hand, ready for me to start crying. I keep a straight face, even as an image of Cub appears on the screen.

'Sir Cubalot was caught by Lord Iskall, head of security here in the Crastle. And, according to Sir Martyn Littlewood, it didn't take much persuading to get him to admit to his crimes, howling my name as though I was a leach or slug. But it is not his proof of treachery people wonder about, it's that he survived the terror attack on the Crastle 10 months ago, where many believed both him and Hotguy perished. Which leads to beliefs that if Sir Cubalot escaped, they both did.'

I look at the ground. Grian doesn't know I'm Hotguy, though he may've guessed.

'I must give a warning of Hotguy's danger. As you know, he is an expert bowman and may be armed. I fear that allied with the resistance, he will not just be a danger to himself, but to any good-willed citizen of Hermit-city.' A picture of myself appears. I can't look at it. The confident grin, dark hair, that outfit. The persona Ren forced me into.

'Scar?' Grian frowns, looking between the picture and me.' I try to block him out, but realise he's already guessed.

'I'm Hotguy.'

Silence. I look over to see him shocked. So he hadn't known. I stare at the ground. 

'I never chose to be Hotguy. Ren... forced me to be.'

'Why you?'

'I don't know.' I lie. 'Cub came at the same time. He was forced to remove people's shops, and sometimes joined me on missions... when we were lucky. The rest of the time we were trapped in our room. Together... but it wasn't good. It wasn't the life of luxury and money Ren had. So we faked our deaths and ran.' I smile. 'And then we were free.'

'Oh my goodness... is that where you got your... scars?'

'Yeah. I was lucky Cub knew how to make healing potions... Ren certainly didn't provide any.'

'Ren didn't help you when you were hurt?! Oh my goodness... that's...'

'Yeah.'

Silence. Grian stares at the ground.

'But it's ok now. I got out. I'm free and happy with you and Mumbo.' I add quickly.

'And now Ren will be looking for you.'

'But it'll be ok. You didn't realise who I was, so others won't either.'

'Others don't know your personality is basically the opposite of Hotguy's.' Grian shuffles closer. Ren's still talking about Hotguy, and as much as I'm trying to ignore him I can't, grabbing the remote and trying to turn off the TV.

'I had to put on an act. And then it just... took over... whenever I put on the suit. I was hurting people, and killing them... I couldn't handle it.' Grian notices my growing emotion, shuffling over and putting a hand on my shoulder.

'Couldn't you refuse?'

'Ren gave me two choices... Execution or joining his court.' And then, hoping Grian can't hear, I mumble. 'Sometimes I wondered if I made the right choice.'

'Oh my goodness, Scar...' He hugs me before I can lie my way out of it. 'I never knew.'

'I hoped I could grow to forget it. Living a happy life here with you. But... they got him and now they'll start looking for me.' Taking a cookie with me, I stand, leaving the room.

'I need a rest. It's been a long day.'

'Take all the time you need. I'll be here if you need a shoulder to cry on.' I smile at Grian, then leave to my own bedroom.

I let the door close behind me before letting out a sigh. For a moment I just stand there, before I walk to my bed and pull out the box under it. I always keep the key on me, so quickly unlock it, opening.

My eyes set on the picture of me and Cub, taken long before we joined Ren's court, outside a shop. We're both smiling, arms around each other's shoulders and a red parrot sitting proudly on Cub's. I don't need to turn it over to know the scrawled caption.

OUR FIRST SHOP! S, C, CJ

It's only when a tear falls onto the glass, I realise I'm crying again. This box is the only stuff I have left of him. The final reminders we gave of each other... I gave him my signature cowboy hat, he gave me the cake recipe at the very bottom of the box. Who'll inherit it now? Will anyone else miss him? What did he do after we separated? I hug the picture close as I sob, trying to remind myself of what I saw at the end of the footage. The flash of movement... his constant ability to survive when others couldn't... Under that is a transceiver. I lift it from the box. 0 new messages, as its said for 6 months. But I still press the record button and wait.

For a moment I don't know what to say, tears down my face, opening and closing my mouth as words fail me.

'Cub... if you're there... I know you're good at surviving... I don't even know if you kept this but please. If you're there. If you're alive... Just know I'm safe. That's all. And... if you can, just reply. Please. That's all I need from you... I miss you. I'll always miss you. You were my best friend and... just... I miss you.' 

I end the recording, dropping the transceiver, fighting the tears, vision blurring as I take in all the other objects... the blood-stained arrow... the folded poster... the crystals from my scam business... soon I can't see any of it, blinking tears, as I fight the thoughts that Cub's gone forever.