I would like to thank AvaMarieSchneider and Note_Block5 for helping me with ideas for this chapter. You guys are are a really big help, so thank you both so much! :D
Some point of views are short in this chapter, so forgive me if it bothers you. Anyways, I hope you all like it! Enjoy!
The picture up above belongs to Note_Block5, who drew it for me, along with other pictures! I'm thinking about adding more of her pictures in the book.
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Grayson's point of view-

It had been nearly a week since Herobrine last took control of Drake. He was in another coma, but it was somehow worse than when he was shot by the arrow. He had constant nightmares, but we knew that no matter how much we tried to shake him up, his eyes wouldn't open. He didn't wake up, and barely even moved, but he was constantly getting sick in his unconscious state. I usually left Mia alone to take care of him, but it was getting to a point where I was scared to even do that. So, we started taking turns on going out to get supplies, and watching over Drake and the "hideout".
I sat on the stone ground, listening to the rain and Drake's heavy breathing. I had my sword in my lap, hoping that no one who would pose a threat to us would show their faces. A few mercenaries had passed by here before but it was always while Mia was around, and and she always pleaded for me to leave them alone. It wasn't that she felt sympathy for them, it was because she knew that if we killed them, then eventually another one would come by, see the blood stained grass, and find us. I knew that she was right to leave them alone. It's better to be safe than sorry, I guess.
I looked down, my focus shifting itself away from Drake for a moment. I had on a different shirt; now wearing a gray and black striped sweater, but I still wore the the same old jacket, same old pants and same old boots. My scarf rested next to me, and despite that I was starting to get cold, I didn't put it back on. I was lost in thought as I looked at the object that I fiddled around with my hand, dragging me back to memories that will always haunt me.
I moved the golden ring from hand to hand, stroking the gold and the diamond with my fingers. I remembered putting that ring on, and looking up at Clara's smiling face as we said our vows, and kissed, becoming one. The joy of that day will forever be clouded with sorrow. I'm the reason I'll never see that gorgeous smile again. I shook my head, putting the ring back into my backpack, and taking my sword back in my grasp.

I looked up at Drake, letting out a sigh of boredom and irritation. "C'mon, buddy...wake up already. I'm tired of you worrying me like this."

He rested in the same spot, with his back against the rough stone wall. His skin on his human half looked even more pale then when we had come here, but his ear and nose were still red, and dark rings were still around his eyes. I knew that those must have been caused by stress. An old, torn up wet rag rested on his head, trying to cool down his burning forehead. I could see that it was drying off, and his forehead was getting more red from the heat returning. I put my sword down, standing up and walking over to him.
Touching the cloth, I put my sword back into its sheath. I took the cloth, and walked to the opening of the cave, holding it out so the rain hit it. I could feel it become cold as the freezing water was absorbed into it, the water dripping down my hand. I pulled it back in, ringing out the excess water out. Going back to Drake, I placed it back on his forehead, and stared down at him. I just wanted him to open his eyes.
I sighed again, giving up on waiting. I sat back down directly across from Drake, grabbing my scarf, and using it to rub the water off of my hand. The skin turned red, and became hard to move from how cold it was. I could hear hail begin to hit the ground outside, some pieces bouncing and getting into the cave.

"I hope Mia gets back soon." I said.

I watched my breath freeze as it rose from my mouth. My eyes scanned over the cave, so bored that I tried to memorize everything detail the cave had to offer. We had a fire pit made of rocks, filled with ashes and burnt wood. Our sleeping bags rested at the end of the cave, close to the extra wood we were able to collect for a fire.

I looked at Drake, seeing him shiver, then the thought finally occurred to me, 'Why haven't we put him in his sleeping bag to stay warm?'

I dragged my hand down my face, feeling stupid. A week has gone by and I haven't thought about that. I'm really out of my game. I stood up, and walked up to him. Looking through his backpack that rested next to him, I pulled out his sleeping bag, and rested in on the ground on the other side of him. I unzipped it, then picked up Drake and put him inside, leaving my cape wrapped around him. I wiped away the water from the cloth that was rolling down onto his eyelids.

"There. You should be a bit warmer. Sorry for not thinking about that a week ago." I chuckled, before a small wave of grief and loneliness washed over me.

I sat down with my back against the wall, looking to the entrance of the cave and waiting for Mia. Sometimes it took her all day to come back. A lot of times, I wanted to go out there and find her, but I couldn't leave Drake. Mia always returned, relieving me that she was okay. Sometimes I couldn't help but scold her because she worried me so much. I'll admit, she's not the best at hunting, which is why she always takes so long.
Through the sound of the hail, I could hear footsteps running to the cave. I drew my sword as I stood, ready to fight incase it was anyone that was against us. A hand wrapped around the vines, pushing them away, revealing Mia with a dead chicken in one hand. It was already skinned and gutted.

"It's just me! I have lunch with me!" She said, walking into the shelter.

She shook her head, getting the hail out of her hair. "Ow. That hurt."

I walked to the fire pit, putting some new wood in it and readying to cook our meal. I then walked up to Mia, taking the chicken from her hand.

"I'm glad you're finally back. It's actually more close to dinner then lunch now."

"Well, sorry."

As I walked away from her, and grabbing a flint and steel from my backpack, she spoke. "You finally put him in his sleeping bag. Why didn't I think of that!"

I chuckled. "I know. Poor guy had to freeze all week because of us. I feel really bad for him. I mean...can you imagine the h**l that Herobrine's been putting him through and we weren't around to help him sooner."

I took out my flint and steel, then went and lit the fire. As I prepared the meal, Mia and I continued our conversation.

"I know, but...we're here for him now, aren't we? We'll find something.... I know we will." I smiled. I loved the bright atmosphere and how she always had hope. I wish I could have that much hope.

"Yeah... Yeah! We'll find something! We have to. We have to..."

I was starting to become sad. I don't want him to suffer anymore. I let Armen suffer for four years, and I refuse to let Drake go through that. I promised him that I'd find a way to free him. I don't want to break another promise...
Suddenly, we heard a soft groan. I looked over to Drake, seeing him begin to stir. His eyes fluttered, and looked over at us. His eyes looked tired.

"Guys?" His voice was hoarse.

"Drake! Finally, you're awake! I was worried sick about you!" I yelled.

He tried to sit up, but fell back down in pain, feeling to weak. I scampered to my backpack, not caring if our food got burned. I quickly grabbed a bottle of water, and a health potion that I had saved for him. I went to him, setting down the bottles as I put my hand under his head, trying to help him sit up. I took the cloth off of his head, then pushed him up into a sitting position, and handed him the bottles.

"Drink these. Drink the water first. You're throat must feel really dry."

He nodded. "Yeah, and it hurts."

He opened it, drinking it down hastily as some of it dripped down his chin. He set the a side, then drank the health potion. He closed that bottle and handed it to me.

"Thanks." Drake said, grabbing onto his throat. "That made my throat feel better."

He pushed himself back, so that his back touched the wall, but his long legs were still inside the sleeping bag. I took the bottles, and put them in my backpack.

"You have a sore throat?" I asked, realizing that if he did, then asking questions probably wasn't going to be a good idea.

He nodded. "Yeah. What happened? I don't remember...again." He spat out the last word, seeming irritated.

I scratched the back of my neck, not knowing if he remembered that he finally told us the truth. As I did that, I realized something; I was not wearing my scarf.

"Grayson, what happened to your neck?"

I looked at Mia, who looked at me with wide, worried eyes. I didn't want to tell him that he was the one who did it, or at least his body being forced to do it. I looked back to him, not knowing what to do.

"Grayson. You need to tell him." Mia said, sitting on the ground and holding her legs against her chest.

I looked back at Drake's concerned face, I sighed and finally gave in.
"Drake... We have a lot to talk about."

He pushed his back harder on the wall, like he was scared. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to find the right words to say.

"Drake, um... Well first off, you've been unconscious for a week."

His eyes widened. He let out a sigh of irritation. "A week? Again?" He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.

I tugged on the collar of my shirt. "Y-yeah, but um.... Listen Drake, don't freak out but... Herobrine took control of you...on a few occasions."

I didn't like seeing his eyes fear stricken. He was horrified. "He d-did? No... I-I did that to your neck. Didn't I?" I touched the hand prints, feeling the aching as my fingers trailed over the marks.

"Yeah. He took control of you at and after we escaped the Red keep. In the middle of the night, he attacked me using your body and started choking me. The last time it happened, it was kind of useful because he attacked the mercenaries and got Luke off my tail, but....it put you in a coma."

Mia spoke up. "At least you're awake now!" She tried changing the subject so he'd be more comfortable.

The expression of uneasiness on his face didn't shift. Actually, he started hyperventilating and the shaking of his body got worse. His eyes kept darting around to everything they could lock onto. I knew that reaction. I saw so many people get like that on the battlefield when I was a commander. He was having a panic attack.

"Drake? Drake, calm down! Take deep breaths and count to ten!"

He closed his eyes. I could see him mouthing the numbers as he let in and out deep breaths. The shaking of his body became less intense, as he held his ears.

"It hurts... It hurts..." He said after he reached the number ten.

"What? Your head?" I asked, getting ready to grab another health potion from my bag.

He cringed and shut his eyes tight, biting his lip. I could hear him mumble, "Shut up. Shut up." I couldn't tell if he was saying it to me, or whatever was going on in his head.

He released his ears, his breathing slowing down. His eyes opened, slowly looking up at us with tears in his mis-colored orbs. He clawed at the fabric of his sleeping bag and swallowed a lump in his throat.

"I guess I have a lot of explaining to do.." He scratched the back of his neck. "..don't I?"

I crossed my arms. "Yeah, pretty much."

Mia elbowed me in the side. I rubbed it as she growled. "Grayson, don't say it like that. Can't you see that he's stressed enough?"

Drake spoke up with a shaken voice, yet an almost emotionless tone. "The chickens burning."

I looked over, seeing the chicken held over the fire with a crank and poll. The meat was becoming black as flames licked at it. I got up and ran to it, trying to get it off. I burnt my fingers slightly as I took it off and extinguished the flames around it. Turning around as I set it on a wooden plate that I had setting aside, I put on a smile.

"So..." I chuckled, forgetting Drake's situation. "...Who's hungry?"

Drake's point of view-

I fell asleep soon after I ate. I just felt exhausted. Unfortunately, the nightmares did start up again, but it seemed that for the first time in weeks, I woke up not being able to remember or feel the physical pain. I just knew that it was there before, somehow. I lit a small fire with a few small sticks, trying not to got so much that the smell of smoke and the sudden heat would wake up Mia and Grayson. My head hurt and my body was still for once, despite the freezing weather and my illness. I sat there, staring at the flames, lost in thought. No. It was more than simple thoughts, they were memories. I remembered sitting by a river, with a fishing pole in my hand and my chin resting in my other hand. I remembered the feeling of boredom as I waited for something to bite down on the bait, so could reel it in so we could have something to eat for dinner. It was the day before this all started; the day before night fell and Armen and I spent our first night in the d***d house. I don't even know how I remembered it. It just sort of came up from the crevices of my mind out of the blue. I remembered Armen, with blonde hair, smiling down at me as he sat down on the grass to keep me occupied while I waited. I remembered getting into fights at Ruby shire school, for my freakish appearance and Armen's frailty. We showed that I was something that should be feared. We showed them that Armen was far from weak. I remembered laughing and joking... I saw him smile, and saw that he was genuinely happy. I miss that smile. I miss his positive attitude. I miss him.

"I'm sorry..."

I pulled my legs close to my chest. I wondered if those memories were even real. What if they were the artificial memories planted into my mind when I was created? I wondered if they were all lies just like so many other aspects of my life. I dug my fingers into my head, feeling the sickening pain in my chest as I remembered Armen. The moment he fell into lava replayed in my head, and seeing the sorrow and agony in his cyan eye while he was possessed.
I could have saved him from that fate. I could have pulled him away from that ledge and kept him from falling in the lava. I could have performed that spell again and put Herobrine on myself. It would have been better if I just did that and let myself get possessed instead. He'd still be alive, and besides, I'm going down that path anyways. Why didn't I do anything then? I'm selfish, that's why. Selfish and stupid. He's dead all because of me, and no matter how hard I have tried or ever will try, he won't come back. Maybe if I just let Herobrine kill me, I'll see him again, but I have to protect everyone else that's still alive. I hate having that burden on my shoulders.
I remembered him whispering my name, that pained sound in his voice. That dream world, or whatever it was... I remember him telling me about his family, and that hopelessness that filled him. It pained me to see him like, and for some reason, it hurt more remembering it. I felt burning tears in my eyes, slowly going down my cheeks. Images flashed rapidly through my mind that I could barely grasp to, but the dreadful feeling that all of them could have been a lie just made things worse. I remembered his laugh, filled with so much exuberance, echoing and playing on repeat in my mind. My hair got messier and bunched up as I clawed at my scalp.
He's gone...He's gone because of me...
Gone forever... Dead.
More images flashed through my mind, with detail that I probably didn't even notice when the event actually played out. That very moment I broke the diamond. That exact second the crack formed in its clear surface. That moment I killed him.

"Drake?" I looked up, seeing Mia laying on her stomach, facing me in her sleeping bag.

She rubbed her drowsy eyes, and let out a yawn. The light of the flames sparkled in her red eyes.

"Did you have another nightmare?" She said in her somnolent voice, tilting her head and looking as if she was trying to see through me.

I wiped my eyes, only to have the tears replaced by more. The shaking in my body was returning as my face and eyes burned. My chest felt like it was being pushed in, making it hard for me to breathe. I put my arms on my knees and dug my face into them to hide myself. I couldn't hold it back anymore. I felt miserable. I had never felt so much sorrow. Armen's gone because of me...and that's something I'll never be able to forgive myself for. That is something I'll never let myself forget.

"It's my fault..."

Mia pulled herself up, and crawled out of her sleeping bag. I could feel her dress rub against my legs as she sat next to me.

"He's dead because of me..." My tears covered the bottom of my face and my arms. "A-Armen..." I choked out his name.

She put her arm around my shoulder, and patted my back. I knew that she was trying to comfort me, but it wasn't helping. I felt her hand move away, and heard the shuffling of her dress. I flinched, feeling her soft hands grasp my cheeks, and force me to look up. My hands let go of my head, moving down to her wrist as I choked and sniffed.

"Drake, I know that losing him hurts." Her voice came out smooth. "But he's in a better place."

I pulled my head out of her grasp. "How do you know that? We know nothing!" I tried not to shout.

I looked over, seeing Grayson turn in his sleeping bag, but he didn't wake up. I dug my face back into my arms, letting my grief overcame me as I continued to sob. The images of Armen's body disintegrating in the blinding light continued to plague my mind. My head pounded. I kept hearing things in my head, but they weren't that dark menacing voice I had grown used to. I heard Armen's voice. It sounded distant and raspy.
You killed me...
How could you have done this? I trusted you to protect me... You failed.

I dug my fingers into my head again, shutting my eyes tight. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry....I'm sorry.. it's all my fault..."

Suddenly, Mia's hands wrapped around me. She placed her chin on my shoulder and once again began to pat my back to comfort me. "It's okay, Drake. Shh. I'm here for you."

My arms wrapped around her. I could hear her grunt as I held her tightly. "Everything is going to be okay."

As I was beginning to calm down, I suddenly couldn't breathe. I kept gasping for air, as my fingers dug into Mia's sides. She pulled away looking up at me as she cringed.

"Drake, your..." She gasped.

I could feel my lungs begging for air, as I became lightheaded. My head fell back, hitting the stone wall. Spots were appearing in my vision as I tried to breathe. I hated the pain coursing through my body, especially my chest and head. The last thing I saw, was Mia's panicking form.

Grayson's point of view-

My eyes shot open when Mia screamed out my name. I shot up, looking over at Mia. My heart raced at the thought that Herobrine might have taken control of Drake. I looked up, but what I saw was nothing like I had expected. Mia was shaking Drake, in tears, but the hybrid didn't open his eyes or move. I was even more panicked by what Mia screamed to me.

"He's not breathing! Help!"

Immediately, I jumped out of my sleeping bag, running up to him. I grabbed his wrist and placed my fingers on it, looking for a pulse. I tried to ignore my own beating heart beat that pounded in my ears, and look for his. Finally, I felt his pulse, that was faint and slow. I looked up at his face, seeing it turn a deep red. My body was shaking from fear that he would die. Quickly, I grabbed him and rested him flat on the ground. I went to his side, and put my hands together, lifting them up and bringing them down on his chest. Again and again I tried to make him breathe, but it didn't seem to be working.

"Drake, please!" I yelled, my eyes filling with tears.

I continued to push down on his chest, hoping that he was gasp and come back to us. I can't loose my best friend. I just can't...

Drake's point of view-

I stood in a room with black walls, black ceiling and a large black floor. Over again, I could see my left eye glowing as I looked down at my reflection on the black surface. A gasp escaped my throat, when a drop of red dripped onto the ground. I looked up, and let out a scream as I fell back. I hyperventilated as fear filled my entire body. Standing before me was Armen; his body disfigured. One of his eyes were gone, leaving only a bleeding socket. Blood came out of his mouth, nose, and a few drops out of his right eye. He looked down at me as I now sat on the ground, horrified. He reached out to me with his right hand, that was burnt with charred flesh, and his thumb had nothing left but bone. His head tilted to the left, as he took a step closer.

"...Drake..." It had that raspy tone in it.

I scooted away from him as much as I could, until my back hit a wall. This is all a dream. It's just a dream. It's not real. No matter how much I convinced myself of that, I couldn't get rid of the panic and the scream rising in my throat. Even with my back already on a wall, I still kept trying to push myself back to away from the horrific body of my friend.

"No! Get away from me!"

I began kicking my feet as he got closer and closer. "You're not my friend! You're not Armen! Get away! Leave me alone!"

I shut my eyes tight, as his hand reached out to my cheek. My body tensed up, waiting for the ungentle touch. Instead, I felt warm, soft skin touch my cheek. There was no feeling of bone like I had anticipated. Slowly, I opened my eyes, seeing Armen's body glowing. His skin wasn't burnt anymore, blood wasn't covering his face, and both of his light cyan eyes looked at me, shining brightly. He kneeled down next to me, placing his other hand on my cheek.

"Hey buddy. Everything's going to be okay. Just keep fighting."

This has to be a trick. I'm not falling for it again. His arms found their way around me, pulling me into a hug. I tried to pull away, they were locked around me.

"Just stay calm. Do it for them. For Grayson and Mia." He said in my ear. "Stay strong."

He seemed like he meant what he said. It didn't have that tone of trickery like Herobrine's. Only now did I truly notice that diffraction.

"A-Armen..." My voice cracked as my eyes teared up. "... I miss you...p-please...don't leave me again..."

He pushed away from me, as his body grew brighter. I clawed at the air, trying to grab him as he began to fade.

"No. No! Don't leave me!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, finally noticing how difficult it was for me to breathe.

He smiled at me with a slight tilt of his head, as his light started to dim. I stood up, and ran to him, yelling for him not to go, but my hand grasped at nothing. He faded. He was gone. He left me again...

Mia's point of view-

Grayson finally got him to start breathing again, but he started yelling while still unconscious. His eyes shut tight, and he clutched his fist, making his knuckles turn white. Tears were coming out of his closed eyes, going down his cheeks and dripping onto the stone.

"Armen! Armen please!" He kept shouting Armen's name.

Grayson tried frantically to shake him awake, but to no avail. He even pinched him and tried lightly slapping him, but not even that worked. Grayson turned to me, pointing to a bucket that we had gotten while Drake was in his coma. It was wooden, with a metal handle.

"Mia!" He practically yelled. "Get some water, now!"

Immediately, I responded to his command. I got up, grabbing the bucket and running to the entrance of the cave. The rain poured down hard, quickly filling the bucket with cold water. I ran back inside, waiting for Grayson to move out of the way, before I thrust the bucket forward, still holding it tightly as the water came out, splashing onto Drake. I could hear the sizzling as some of the water hit the fire.

Drake's point of view-

I suddenly felt a burning sensation all over my body. I was burning, yet freezing. It felt weird, but mainly, it hurt. I was struggling to breathe again, like I was drowning. My eyes snapped open as I coughed and gasped for air. I sat up straight, getting onto my hands and knees as I coughed, feeling like I was going to throw up, but only saliva came out of my mouth. I breathed heavily, looking up at Mia and Grayson, who stood over me with a bucket in Mia's hands.

"D-did you guys...d-do this?" I asked, even though the answer was obvious.

Grayson answered me. "Yes. Drake, you were having a violent nightmare, or something! You...you were yelling about Armen..."

Suddenly, I remembered that nightmare, or at least most of it. I remembered seeing Armen's butchered body, bleeding and burnt. I felt that there was more that I was supposed to remember, but I couldn't for the life of me. It was probably just a hallucination that would be best if it stayed forgotten. I can't trust my dreams anymore. Grayson handed me a piece of cloth, that I assumed I was supposed to use to dry myself off. I took it, rubbing it against my face. I took it off of my face, looking down at it. The water looked like blood. It was dark red, and felt sticky on my fingers. I was starting to shake violently yet again, as panic rose in me. I tossed the rag, making it land at the edge of the fire. I stared, as the clothed burned to ash in the flames.

"Drake? Do you need anything?" I heard Grayson ask, but his voice was growing distant.

I looked up, a gasp leaving my throat, as I began to slowly stand up. The sides of my vision was getting blurry, and images were playing in my mind. I saw my hands wrapped around Mia's neck, constricting my hands around it, and I saw Grayson's body on the ground, with my sword in his chest. I backed up, until my back hit the wall. Make theses thoughts stop!

"Drake, calm down!" Grayson reached his hand out to me.

I felt angry, and scared. I had the urge to see blood. I wanted to be the one to spill it. My head was pounding again. I let out a scream as I dug my fingers into my head, feeling my fingernails tear the skin. I took them off, and looked down, seeing my blood beneath my short fingernails. I need to be alone until these thoughts leave. His hand rested on my shoulder, making me flinch. I need to protect them.

"I can't... I can't...I can't!" I shoved his hand away, not looking at their fearful eyes, and run to the entrance of the cave.

"Drake!" They yelled for me to return as I pushed aside the vines, and ran into the thick forest.

Their footsteps trailed behind me, but they quickly grew more distant, and were replaced by the sound of my heavy breathing and the rain hitting the ground. I could hear splashing as my feet ran through the wet mud. The water that covered my body was beginning to freeze in the cold winter night. My muscles were aching as if my insides were getting frozen in ice. The water kept getting into my eyes, making my already blurred vision even worse. I was starting to feel nauseous. I felt myself run into a tree, continue on, and run into yet another. I wiped my eyes, letting me see a little better, but not much. I pulled up my hood, and continued running. The further away I am from them, the safer they are.
I starting to feel the atmosphere around me change. I saw a bright purple light surround me as I felt nothing beneath my feet. I recognize that feeling. I was teleporting. I didn't want to do that. Suddenly, my feet touched the ground, but being unprepared for the sudden change of environment, they slipped on the mud, making me tumbl on the ground. I heard familiar, menacing laughter. I looked up slowly, my eyes wide even though they stung from the rainwater dripping into them. The horrendous form of Armen that I seen in my nightmare stood in front of me, looming over me with a wide smile.

Coward. Abandoning your friends. You really are a pity.

"Shut up!"

I looked back down, the memories of those horrible thoughts playing in my head. I began choking on my sorrows, as my eyes teared up again. I put my hand over my left eye, cursing the demon that resigned in my body. I want to go back to my friends, and apologize, but I know that I'll end up hurting or even killing them. I can't live with that. I gasped for air as I sobbed, no longer the calm and collected person I once was.

Third person point of view-

Drake looked up, feeling a familiar life force in front of him. The grotesque manifested nightmare of his friend was gone, allowing him to see the empire assassin looking down at him with an almost emotionless expression.

He let out a half hearted chuckle. "Never thought I'd see a demon cry. Or was that just some trick?"

He no longer wore his armor chest plate, but instead, he wore a gray shirt robe, with a purple rope tying it, and purple around his collar and the edge of his cuffs. Behind that emotionless expression, a fire burned in his eyes.

"Where are your buddies at? Did you kill them too?" He growled, taunting the hybrid.

Drake growled, slowly standing up on his shaking legs. His breath fogged up as he took in deep breaths, and let them out. The two glared at each other, not daring to take their eyes off of one another. Drake was filled with anger and the dreaded feeling that he wasn't entirely himself, but now, he didn't care anymore. He clinched his fist and gritted his teeth as he let out a small growl. He let out a soft, dark laugh, one that sounded deeper and more menacing than his usual laugh.

"I care about my friends, unlike you. Can't you see?" Drake hissed.

For a second, his vision flashed white. His head tilted, as his hair drooped over his left eye. He closed it to stop the water from getting into it, but even with water from the rain continuing to pour into his right eye, he kept it open, staring down the assassin. A wide grin spread across his face, as he finally closed his eye, and opened it again to glare at him.

"... I'm doing this to protect them..." He growled.

He pulled out his sword, lifting up his head. Luke took a step back, seeing the anger in his eyes, as the familiar sound of an angry Enderman rung out through the trees. He shook his head, refusing to be scared anymore. He held his own sword firmly in his grasp. A smirk appeared on Drake's face, as he examined his expression, seeing the uncertainty and worry. A feeling rose in him that he didn't want to feel; satisfaction with  Luke's fear. Drake charged, holding up his sword at the last second as the two blades collided. The two both felt fear, as the hybrid stood over the assassin, skill against skill. Drake jumped to the side as Luke swiped at him, narrowly avoiding his side.

"...from the empire.."

Drake's body ached everywhere. He was pushing himself, knowing that with his illness and broken emotional state, he wasn't in the best condition to fight. Even with that knowledge, his will to protect his comrades was stronger. He thrust his blade forward, but Luke dodged the attack, and retaliated. Their wrists vibrated as their swords made impact with each other, both of them pushing against the opposite force.

"...from you..."

The hybrid tried lunging again, but the assassin made another swipe with his blade, knocking Drake's aside, giving him just enough time to make a move that the hybrid wouldn't be able to stop. He pulled out his dagger from his robe, and tried stabbing his prays arm. Drake moved his arm, narrowly avoiding getting him. The blade slashed his side instead, cutting him in between his ribs. Drake cringed and hissed, stepping in the opposite direction Luke swung, and swung his own blade. His diamond blade cut into the side of Luke's neck.
He screamed out; his expression of pain quickly turning into fury. As Drake made another swipe, Luke dodged, but his dagger was knocked out of his hand. He completely disregarded it, not caring for it anymore. Magic energy flowed down Drake's arm, a vibration coursing through his arm, feeling like electricity as his mana manifested into the material plain, creating a ball of energy. An intense pain shot up in his chest, and his energy felt drained. His head pounded more, making the world become a blur as his ears rung.

"...from MYSELF!"

It shot from his palm, heading straight to Luke. It glowed bright in the vast darkness of the night. It's brilliant colors of blue, purple, and white was blinding. Luke faced away from it, too late to dodge the spell. The ball of stable magic hit him square in the chest, making his back slam into the tree. His head slammed into the bark, and his ears rung and head throbbed, before he blacked out.
Drake looked at him, hyperventilating and struggling to stay standing. The world kept spinning, and his knees threatened to give out from underneath himself. He choked and gagged, feeling bile rise in his throat. He held up his hand, vomiting blood into his palm. He put it back down, letting the blood drip down his fingers. He felt physically exhausted; his legs swayed and the world continued to spin, but something wasn't right. He refused to fall until he figured it out. He felt a familiar life force, it felt so faint. It wasn't the same kind of faint like he usually felt; the kind when people died in front of him, this was different. It was like he felt this same presence before, but never saw their face, or even acknowledged their presence in any way. Just before Drake's legs could no longer hold him, a rustling came from the trees above him.
Xavier swung from the tree, upside down and with his legs still holding on to the branch. His balled up fist collided with the side of the Enderman hybrids forehead, making him fall to the side. He landed onto the mud, the rain water splashing as his body fell in it. He let out a yell and whimper as he rolled over, holding the wound on his side. He cringed from the pain he felt throughout his body. Before he could recover, the imperial spy was over him, the light from the moonlight reflecting in his goggles that covered his eyes. Even with the blinding moonlight, Drake saw his reflection within the glass, and to him, he only saw a shell of who he used to be. When he was completely sane.
A white cloth hovered over his mouth, forcing itself over his mouth and nose. Xavier loomed over him, with a wide smile on his face as he held the cloth firmly in it's place. Drake struggled, trying to get the man away from him, but he was already weakened. The smell of rain was replaced with a sweet aroma, as he felt himself become drowsy. His arms and legs fell limp as his eyes, still filled with tears and rain water closed, letting them slide down his cheeks, hidden by the rainwater falling on his face.
Xavier removed the cloth when he felt Drake's body go still, with no movement besides his rising and falling chest. Luke opened his eyes, blinking them to readjust them to the moonlight and darkness. His eyes fell to the spy.

"Xavier?" He said.

The spy turned around, his head slightly looking down as his smile faded. "Oh...Lucas. I... I'm sorry."

Luke's brows fell. "Why are you apologizing?"

His eyes widened, as another figure emerged from the bushes. He walked up to Drake, lightly kicking him in the head to ensure that he was unconscious. Henry turned, tilting his hat to Xavier as he looked up to him, getting off of the hybrid.

"Good work Xavier. You definitely earned your prize!" Henry said, shaking his hand.

"Thank you." The smile returned to his face, but it fell back down when his head turned to face Luke again.

He sighed, looking back to Henry. The captain tilted his head, telling him to go through with whatever his plan was. Xavier let out another sigh, as he pulled out a stone sword. He walked over to Luke, who was trying to stand back up. He placed his foot on Luke's chest, and pushed down to force him to stay sitting. Luke let out a grunt, looking up at the person he thought was his comrade.

"What are you doing?!" He demanded.

Xavier shrugged. "Look, Lucus...he offered me at least half of the reward that this guy can get us. I have a family to take care of so..."

He rose up the sword, holding the ball at the end on the handle towards him. Luke's eyes widened, knowing what he was doing. For a second, Xavier let his head fall, and refused to make eye contact with him. That same expression that Luke wore the night Grayson was dragged out of his home as it was burned to the ground. The expression he knew all too familiar as guilt and shame.

"Don't take this personally."

Before Luke knew it, the handle was brought down on the side of his head, knocking him out cold.