Tw: mentions of torture

Impulse could've killed anyone. 

The realisation sets in with a grim finality as Friday draws to a close. Jimmy's assured everyone that Scott's still around, but also how terrified is friend is after Impulse's outburst before. Cub finds me and Scar in the evening and tells us we're having a meeting.

Everyone comes. 

No one is happy.

Doc's the first on the kill-Impulse idea again, which is quickly shot down by Tango, who confesses that he spoke to our apparent murderer, and that he's A: regretting everything and B: only told on one person.  

Great. I guess our chance of survival has turned into a game of who does Impulse hate most. And I know exactly who's right at the bottom of that list. 

'Cub, it's going to be you.'

'I'll kill him if he tries.' Swears back Scar instantly. 'He's not going to get my best friend killed.' 

I decide it's not the place or time to question why Cub's the best friend and not me, sighing instead and saying: 'It makes the most sense. After he told EX, you're the one who... got upset.' It's the lightest way I can put it. Scar still glares back at me. 'What? Do you want to be a surprised when he gets sent away and slaughtered.' I can't stop myself, as much as I try to. 

'Enough.' Interrupts Cub. 'Both of you.' 

'It's your fault for getting us found by Impulse... we should've dealt with this when we had the chance. We all knew this was going to happen eventually.' Doc snaps back. 'You don't just start mentioning it when anyone could be listening!' 

'I know, I won't again, and it was the only thing I could've done. I needed to get Scar's trust and I wanted him to know...'

'Try something else. Don't just rat all of us out.' Doc steps towards Cub, ignoring futile attempts from Ren for him to calm down.

'It's not his fault!' 

'Oh, I'm sorry Scar. I didn't know you were there when Taurtis was dragged away screaming. Or when Stress disappeared and no one knew what had happened. Or way before then, when Python was killed in plain sight.'

'ENOUGH!' I snap, wings up behind me. Doc clenches his hands, turning to face me.

'He needs to learn!'

'This isn't his fault. It's mine. We've all agreed that it's mine, so stop scaring my friend.' Cub takes a defensive position between Scar and Doc.

'Doc's right,' Cleo sighs, stepping out of the shadows. 'This is more serious than Scar thinks.'

'I know how serious it is!'

'Oh, really?'

'Yeah, and... and I'm sorry for the three people you know that are gone.' Scar's voice takes on a colder tone. 'I know that's nothing compared to growing up on the streets, terrified whenever anyone I know disappears for even a moment in case they're being beaten or killed just around the corner. Or when the group of vexlings I found got slaughtered, and I was the only one that made it out alive. I'm sure your little friends matter so much more than everyone I've ever known outside this place.' 

'I'm sorry. I didn't know.' Genuine regret fills Doc's voice. 

'No, because you just assumed that I was alright, didn't you? You think the world outside here is better? Like there's some safer option out there? This is the safe option.' The last sentence is spat. Tears roll down Scar's cheeks. I don't know whether to step forwards and comfort him or if it'll just make it worse. 

'Scar, dude, I'm so sorry.' 

'Oh f*** off with your 'sorry'. Stop acting like that helps.'

'Scar...' My mouth struggles over the words, failing to find anything I can say. 

'We didn't mean to upset you.' Ren finds them instead. 'We... we're just all worried about Impulse, dude. And stressed out...' he falters at Scar's look back. 

'I understand.' The vexling says simply, before leaving the room, closing the door behind. 

'Well, that went well...' Jevin mutters. 'Really glad Impulse isn't breaking up our group by making us all panic...' 

'Stop acting like it's his fault!' I'm confused for a moment as to who Tango means. 'Impulse... Impulse didn't want to be part of this.'

'Then why's he consistently shared every piece of information with the people who kill us for it?' Doc snarls back, choosing his next target now Scar's gone. 

'Doc! Stop this! Calm down...' Ren doesn't flinch as the creeper's gaze turns on him. 'Seriously, dude. We're all stressed right now. Let Tango explain, and then we'll see. Tango?' 

'Impy was... basically tortured for the information. I had to overhear him and Skizz talking about it the other day. And I don't know, and certainly don't want to think about how, but he resisted for an entire afternoon before giving in. So... he isn't intentionally getting us killed.'

'You're only supporting him because you're his friend.' Cleo retorts. 

'I'm supporting him because it's right.' 

'He's a jerk, you should just accept that he's gone to the dark side.' Flicking back a lock of their hair, Cleo glares at Tango, who's left figuring out what to say for a moment. 

'He's not to blame! He didn't want to find out!'

'And... we're back to blaming Cub. Great. Full circle.' I can't keep my emotions hidden any longer. 'Anyone else who's fault this is?'

'If you want to go there, yours. Didn't you say on that meeting, the second day he was here, that you were convinced he had magic? Why didn't you ask him about it?'

'Because I'm an idiot and bad at judging people.' The reasonable braincell in my head tells me to stop there, while the other makes me continue with. 'Apparent from why we're still friends, Doc.'

'Grian! That wasn't necessary! Doc's upset.'

'I'm upset too, Ren. So shut up.'

'Don't shout at Ren! He's not the one who caused this.' 

'And I am?' I snap. 'Seriously? Could you be more of a d*ck if you tried?!'

'This is both painful and entertaining to listen to...'

'F*** off, Jevin.' 

'Any more vocabulary like that and I'm telling Tommyinnit.' Cub retorts. 'So you can be forced into hanging out with him and Jack Manifold again.'

'I take back everything I just said. Because clearly Tommy knowing that I do swear is our biggest problem right now.' 

The room goes black. Everyone's silent, before Hypno speaks up. 'Are we going to argue some more? Or should we just ditch this meeting and make it up another point.'

'That's the best decision anyone's had all evening. Goodbye.' I force back on my sweater and storm out the room, not caring if anyone follows. Scar's in his bed when I return to the dorm. And, not sure if he's asleep or crying, I decide not to speak to him, just getting into my own without even bothering to change, hoping I fall asleep at some point.

(This chapter was supposed to be kinda chill with Scar and Grian hanging out and buying prom clothes but now everyone's angsty and depressed how did this happened?)

I'm up before Scar the next morning, wings aching after being quickly hidden before. He hasn't moved, still asleep or upset or both. And wanting to erect our friendship quickly after his outburst yesterday, I sneak into the kitchen, grab some bread and return, waking him up.

'What... Grian? Why are you here?' 

'Do you want some magic toast?' Is my reply, holding up the bread. As he slowly wakes up, Scar realises and starts laughing. 

'Not the magic toast! Anything but the magic toast!' 

'Too late.' I set it alight with bright purple watcher-y fire, extinguishing immediately to reveal perfectly cooked toast. 'Huh- this is easy.' 

'See, I told you.' Scar sits up, taking the toast and eating it. 'Perfect toast, in a second.'

'Perfect plain toast...'

'Yeah, but still perfect toast. You can't magic butter onto toast...' Scar argues, climbing out of bed and following as I leave the room. 

'Have you tried?'

'No...' He hasn't changed either and I imagine we both stink, especially since we had PvP class in the morning. 

'Well, go and try. I'm gonna get dressed.' 

So I do, finding an old white t-shirt from my Mumbo for Mayor campaign that never took off. We collectively decided against naming someone mayor, since every candidate was in the 2 braincells club. Pulling on some new trousers as well, I leave the room, letting Scar change after. Once we're both ready for the day, we head down to the shopping area for our routine say hi to Cub and collect profits. Pluschecking out stuff for prom. 

Once there, it's easy to find the Hermiton Herald stand, due to the sheer number of customers. Scar slips away through the crowd, and a few minutes later returns with a free copy for both of us.

'New news!'

'Well... yeah. You'd expect that.' I reply, 'Given that it's literally called news.'

'But- Impulse... the person he snitched on?' 

I grab the paper from Scar, reading the cover. 

It's not who anyone expected. 

ILMANGO TAKEN FOR HAVING MAGIC? 

Oh, yeah. That was also going to happen