‘You see,’ Grian says as we decorate the shopping district ready for our yearly Christmas party. ‘We always have to do something for Christmas. It’s traditional. Some kind of Secret Santa, give out gifts, drink hot chocolate, sing some Christmas songs.’

‘Thank you Grian for reminding me of Mumbiah Carey…’ Cleo mutters. I grimace at the memory.

‘And we all admit that we should be banned from singing Band Aid ever again,’ Joe adds.

‘It wasn't that bad, guys…’ Scar insists, as we all turn to him, remembering how Oli’s noble attempt to record a Christmas song ended. ‘Cub said I sounded like an angel!’

‘I distinctly remember Cub wearing earplugs for that entire song to block it out.’

‘Oh man…’ Skizz laughs, halfway up a ladder, trying to stop the tinsel from falling down again. ‘This sounds amazing… what do you do when it’s between seasons?’

‘With no Hermitcraft season, there’s more space for the Christmas season… oh, Skizz, pass that tinsel over.’

‘Oh yeah, we did have that celebration in that hardcore world…’ remembers Joel with a smile. ‘That was a bloody awesome Christmas.’

‘Oh, that was so fun!’ Scar agrees, ‘I loved that Christmas!’

‘Weren’t you between seasons last Christmas too? Did you do something then?’

‘Skizz,’ Grian drops a box of decorations into my arms. Immediately, Scar grabs the ugliest, light up, singing reindeer Christmas hat and forces it onto my head. ‘Skizz, buddy, last year was the biggest Hermit Christmas party yet. Everyone was there. We found a world with a snowy spawn and spent like, 4 weeks turning it into an epic Christmas wonderland and everyone came to celebrate.’

‘Almost everyone.’ corrects Cleo. ‘I know Keralis and xB were off skiing because xB sent that card of Keralis half-naked in the snow. And Scar couldn't make it.’

‘Oh yeah!’ Grian remembers, grinning. ‘Of course Scar wasn't there, we had that whole running joke about him being in stupid places… didn't we say you’d kidnapped him at one point, Cub?’

‘Uhh…’ I glance at where Scar’s dissociating, fidgeting with an ornament. ‘Yeah… maybe…’ Of course Scar wasn’t there last Christmas.

He was trapped in Secret Life.

‘The weirdest thing about Scar was that he never messaged either to give us a reason why he wasn't there.’ Cleo adds. ‘xB and Keralis, yeah, they were off being weird on a mountain together. But Scar? Could’ve been anywhere.’

‘He didn’t even message?’ Skizz frowns. ‘How many Christmas drinks had he drunk? Did you find out where he was at all?’

‘I think so,’ Grian replies. ‘Thing is, I can’t actually remember where… Scar, where were you, buddy?’

No reply.

Scar’s disappeared.

‘He’s bloody vanished again! Is he allergic to Christmas or something?!’ Joel bursts out. Grian glances at me, as if for explanation. I try not to glare back, but his lack of tact is making it rather hard. The moment his focus shifts again, I slip away to find Scar.

A quick glance at my glowing vex-magic necklace, and I know where he is – above the shopping district on my giant firework explosion. I land just behind where he’s sat staring into nothing.

‘Scar?’

‘I’m fine,’ he mumbles back. I hear the sob he’s choking back. ‘I just- needed some space.’

‘Of course, man.’

Scar shuffles over, allowing me to stay with him. His face shines with tears. I sit down next to him, placing an arm around his back. He rests his head on my shoulder and, for a moment, we just stay there in silence. Until Scar speaks again.

‘Did you really all meet up last Christmas?’

I nod.

‘And you joked about the fact I wasn't there? And I wasn't responding?’

Another painful silence as I struggle for the right words. Scar stares at the ground, struggling not to cry.

‘I thought the Watchers were lying.’

‘We should’ve known better,’ The shopping district blurs below me. ‘I should’ve been on alert the moment you didn’t reply. Of course you wouldn’t miss Christmas with us. We all knew that was weird. And we’re so stupid we never thought any further than that.’ I wipe the tears away. Scar cuddles closer to me.

‘It’s not your fault.’

But he doesn’t think that. I know he’s resentful. I know it hurts him to know that we didn’t worry about him at all.

‘If I ever find the Watcher that decided to trap you there… The fact they trapped you there over Christmas…’  I let out a deep breath. Scar doesn't speak. Below, I can clearly see Joe laughing about something. ‘And the fact the others forgot why you weren’t there is unacceptable. I should’ve said something.’

‘And ruin that Christmas for them forever?’

I don’t reply.

‘They’re allowed to enjoy what happened that Christmas. They can laugh at all the memories. I’m not going to ruin their fun. I’m happy to sit out for a moment while they talk about it.’ A pause. ‘I think Christmas is just always going to be a little weird for me now, and that’s not their fault. It sounds like you had an amazing time last year.’

‘You should’ve been there with us.’

‘It’s not your fault I wasn’t. You still found me.’

I hug him closer.

‘And I’m not losing you again.’