Now, back to the present...

'Scar, you need to stop watching that.'

It's a couple days after everything happened, and Scar's taken to watching the execution over and over until I basically know it word perfect, trying to spot the exact moment he escapes, if he even does. I still haven't spotted any sign of escape, but denial leads to insistence Scar will refuse to see sense over.

'Seriously... it's not good for you.' Agrees Mumbo behind me.

'No... look. You can see him preparing to run the entire time and then when the camera cuts out...'

'When the camera cuts out he very quickly... well... you know what.'

Scar glares past me to Mumbo. 

'It's better than them repeating what I did, and the explosion.'

'What did happen with the explosion.'

'Cub blew up the castle and we snuck away.' Is all the explanation we get as Scar stands, turning off the TV and leaving the room. Jellie follows, meowing. 

'Scar... seriously.'

'I'm going for a walk.'

'Scar no.' I run over, grabbing his hand before he reaches the door. 'You know you can't... people might see you and... I don't want you to get caught...'

'And you think I do?!' He snaps. Tears shine in his eyes. I step back. 'I want to go outside and... I don't know. Just walk around. Clear my head. Not be trapped inside forever...' 

'I'm sorry. I know this is tough for you. But... Hotguy.'

'We can come with you.'

'No... I want to be alone for a bit. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.'

'Scar, there are wanted posters with your face on everywhere.' Adds Mumbo

'I'm not spending the rest of my life inside waiting for Ren to be stopped or give up. I need fresh air. I'm sorry.' And, refusing to accept another word, he leaves.

'Do we... follow?'

'I don't know. He's right.' I sigh as I return to the living room, flopping down on the sofa. 'He can't stay cooped up inside forever. He'll go mad.' Jellie bounds onto my lap, mewing for strokes. I provide them, accepting the cookie Mumbo offers. A pause as I start to eat, before Mumbo speaks again.

'Grian... do you think he's right?'

'About what?'

'About... Cub. Him being alive.'

I shake my head.

'He can't be. Scar's making stuff up because he's desperate. He can't accept his friend's dead so... he's making up reasons why he's alive. But the dead don't come back to life... and I learnt that the hard way.' I add. 

'You know that wasn't your fault.'

I don't reply. We've gone through the conversation enough.

'What's on telly?'

'Propaganda and reports about Scar.' I don't even turn it on to check. 'Hotguy.' I correct.

'I can't believe Scar flew around... doing Ren's dirty work.' Mumbo mutters. 'I'd never expect it.'

'Well I can very much believe Ren forced him to... I hate Ren. He's ruined the economy, ruined our lives, and ruined everything.'

'Grian...'

The door opens. I stand, and Jellie tumbles off, yowling, before running away.

'There's a letter...' Explains Scar from the hallway. Mumbo's just behind me as we reach where he's standing, holding the letter. I snatch it up.

'What about your walk? You've barely had enough time to climb down the stairs and get back up again.'

'Someone had post directly for us... illegal... post...' Though I'd already guessed from the lack of writing. 

'Who?'

'I didn't recognise them.'

'Describe them.'

'Short brown hair and eyes... wearing pink... had a scar across her face...'

'Resistance.' I tear the letter in half. 'Stupid resistance.'

'What about...'

'Reading it?' I tear it again, and again 'They just want me to join them again. When I've said over and over I'm not joining.' I throw letter confetti everywhere, storming back to the living room.

'It's not that bad...'

'Scar, imagine if Ren sent a letter asking you to come back.' I snap, then regret it as Scar goes silent, eyes clouded with memory again. 'I'm sorry.' 

'It's alright.' Not even gathering up the pieces, he enters the living room, taking his own seat next to the cookies. I snatch up the remote before he can consider turning the TV on. Mumbo joins us both, taking the other sofa, as Scar speaks again.

'Grian?'

'Yeah?'

'Why did you leave the resistance?'

I pause, then sigh, reminding myself how much he's told me.

'A friend... died. And I blame myself.' Scar doesn't speak. I elaborate. 'So... I helped the resistance with my shop, because I didn't want to properly join it... and then after the vault challenge, and Ren lied about giving up the throne I actually joined. It was alright. I spread propaganda... told them everything I knew about Ren. Made friends. I knew some of them from before Ren, so I got to catch up with them and then...' The memories come back. For once I don't force them away. Scar's still looking at me. Mumbo knows the story, but he's equally attentive.

 'One day, I met this other friend on the streets. BigB. We were good friends a while back. He told me he was part of Ren's court. I lied and said I was staying out of the conflict... we became friends again. Until one day... one day Impulse asked me to keep an eye on another friend, but I'd already planned to hang out with BigB then. So I told him I had other plans, but he wanted me to look after her and... I snuck away instead to talk to BigB. We had a great day. Just talking, and catching up... and...' I try to hold back the emotion. 'And then xB appeared and... he was wearing his hoodie with the resistance symbol on. BigB accused me of lying and spreading Ren's secrets. I accused him of working for a horrible king, he ran off crying and...' A pause. 'xB told me... the person I was supposed to be protecting was killed. I ran away and never returned because I was scared Impulse would hate me for it. And I sent back a letter explaining my decision to quit and he accepted and then... I never went back.'

'Who?' Scar's staring at the ground. 'Who died?'

I try to speak, and finally force out the name.

'Pearl.'

:)