:)

A crash. 

'LET ME GO! LET ME OUT OF HERE, SCAR!' Cub howls, fighting to escape from the box.  'LET ME OUT! XISUMA WILL KILL YOU!'

'F*** XISUMA!' Yells back Badtimes before I can speak. 'AND F*** YOU TOO!'

'Can we not have that language on our lovely PG server?' Joe insists, again, interrupting anything I'm going to say.

'I can very easily head back to my own server... Jason Mountains.' 

It doesn't take long for the two to be arguing about names and swearing, stopping me speaking. I block it out, too focussed on not crying and ignoring Cub pleading to be let free. 

He didn't recognise me. 

I try to convince myself it's because of the light. He couldn't see properly. But Cub would never make that mistake. 

That's because it's not Cub. It's the skulk. 

And the skulk has completely taken control. 

Last time, it wasn't like this. Last time Cub still interacted with the other hermits, knew who he and all of us were. But now it's even worse. It's like he's not even there. It's just the skulk controlling his body, mind, and actions... I fight the urge to cry, scream, force the skulk out with violence here and now.

'...and also, for your information, s**t Hills, I'm better than you'll ever be so f*** off and cry in a hole that your only friend spends more time with armour stands than you!'

'Just SHUT UP!'

I turn. Joe and Badtimes fall silent. 

'Sheesh... someone got out the wrong side of bed... we're just talking to each other.'

'We just trapped my best friend in a box. My best friend who doesn't even recognise me and has been completely and utterly possessed by skulk.'

'Scar... we're going to save him.' Joe insists.

'We're not finished yet?!'

'No, we're not finished! Weren't you listening when I said repeatedly that this was the FIRST part of my plan?!' 

'I was finishing my list in that meeting!' Badtimes holds up his stupid list. 'And number 1 is you accept that I'm not to blame, so I'm not to blame.'

'Fine! Whatever!'

Another crash behind of attempted escape. I glance back.

'Hold on in there, Cub.' I mutter. 'We're going to get you out eventually.'

'Oh come on, Scar. Lighten up a bit. Or I'll set you on fire and properly brighten up your day.'

'Go away, Badtimes.'

'I just told a joke Scar.'

'It wasn't funny. Go away.'

'I waste all my best work on you, Scar. At least Vex PRETENDS I'm funny!'

'I SAID GO AWAY!' Vex fire burns at my hands for a second. Badtimes sighs,

'I'm sorry, DramaticTimesWithScar. Tell me when we get to murder someone or set something on fire.' Badtimes storms away. Joe remains.

'Go away includes you too. I need some time alone.'

'Scar... I know you're upset but we're going to save him. And Grian and Xisuma. As soon as we can. I promise.'

I don't reply.

'You should get some sleep. Today's been busy. And the next few days will be just as busy trying to find a cure to the skulk. We'd all prefer AwakeTimesWithScar than Half-AsleepTimesWithScar.'

'I'll be inside in a minute.' Joe senses the lie immediately, sighing.

'Scar, get some sleep. Cub will be fine. He can't hurt anyone.'

'I'm not tired. I want some time alone.'

'Alright then... I won't argue. I'm heading inside. It's time for Joe Hills to go chill, if you know what I mean. See you around, Scar!'

He runs off, leaving me alone. I rest my hand on the box, knowing I haven't trapped Cub. He's already been trapped by the skulk. 

'Cub... if you're in there. Below all the stupid skulk. If you can still hear me... I'm here. I'll always be here. We're going to save you, ok?'

Silence. I stare at the ground, trying to find more to say. After a moment I sit down, facing away, leaning on the wall of vex magic. Subconsciously, my hands start fiddling with my still skulk-black necklace.

'Remember when we first met, Cub?' I smile. 'Early Season 4. I'm not counting the one meeting in Kingdomcraft. You wanted to build a dam between our bases.' Again, silence. But I keep speaking. 'And Season 5. Pranking Xisuma...' I fight back memories of the skulk. '...and Joe and then the Vex took over and helped us with the rest. It drove you mad trying to figure out where they'd hidden the base because they never showed us when we woke up and remembered. But you figured it out... and Season 6. Finding Captain Jack... Concorp, all our shops and diamonds. And pranking Sahara and commentating on the Civil War. We won, didn't we Cub? We won the Civil War because none of the hermits can withstand the power of the Convex. And Demise...'

I stare over at the setting sun, blurred behind my tears. I hear the sounds of talking inside the tower. I can't deal with their company yet and don't want to ruin their mood. So I keep talking to Cub.

'Remember Season 7? You were the enforcer, I was the mayor. I wasn't a very good mayor. But I was the mayor, and you made sure everyone did what I wanted. Until the resistance came... and then Season 8 with the moon. And you scared me by suddenly appearing completely different... you had hair, and your beard was gone... I wish this was just like that. That you seem completely different but you're still the same chaotic, big-brain, best friend I can't live without. But you're not.' I fight the urge to start crying, 'And I'm going to save you from the skulk, Cub. I'm going to fight it with the passion of a thousand Scars and it's never going to hurt you again.' I pretend his silence is him listening, remembering. He's probably just asleep. Or he's stopped himself from hearing what I'm saying with skulk. 'You're my best friend. You'll always be my best friend, Cub. Never forget that, ok?'

Silence. I consider heading inside again, but I still can't face it. Instead, I just sit where I am, hoping for a sign from Cub, anything to show he understands, cares, even just that he heard what I said. But there's nothing. He's still under its control. And I can't help him. 

'I love you, Cub.' I mumble, as though it'll help. 'You're my best friend...' I sob. 'I'm sorry I let it do this to you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.' I start crying and don't stop until, exhausted, I drift asleep.