I can't run.

My mind screams to DO SOMETHING. Fight or flight is broken as I stand, watching as Martyn falls... not unconscious, but he can't be awake. Black tendrils tear through the sides of his head, sculk covers him, inky black washes over his eyes. Pearl steps back as Martyn blinks back to consciousness.

Possessed.

'Welcome, Martyn.'

He looks at Pearl. I let out the tiniest squeak, stepping backwards. He turns to me, black, empty eyes staring through me as he lets out a low, guttural growl.

'Watcher...' He claws his way to his feet like a zombie, or more likely a warden. I step further back. I barely feel my magic, wings raised behind me. Nearly crushed. Broken. Again. I can't break them again.

'I'm sorry.' Pearl smiles a very un-sorry smile. 'You had time to run if you wanted to...'

I hit the back wall.

There's nowhere to go.

Martyn prepares to pounce and-

Scar.

Martyn stops, turning at the unexpected sound of GoodTimesWithScar emerging from the dungeon.

Alone.

F***.

'Where's Cub?'

There's sculk all over Scar, but his eyes are still green as he fixes them on mine.

'Cub's gone.'

I stumble further back as utter terror washes through me, beyond where I thought I could. My exit has opened again.

I break into a run and don't look back.

My mind still doesn't work when I reach the overworld, stumbling through the portal into what was sunshine, but is now an unfamiliar room. I want to call for help, run outside. Instead I collapse on the ground and just scream.

'GRIAN!'

I'm just crying, unable to speak, unable to breathe, as Jimmy falls next to me. I hug him, tight as I can, and don't let go.

'Where's Cubby? And Scott and Martyn?' Tango questions.

'Grian! What's going on?' Now xB's here. I just bury my head in Jimmy's jacket and keep crying. Scott's dead. Martyn's possessed. And...

'Cub's gone.'

I only cry more.

'If something happened to Scott or Martyn, I swear to notch I'll...' Jimmy mutters. I keep crying. I can't stop. My wings still hurt. Or... my wing hurts, and the other burns with phantom pain I thought was gone.

'Grian, listen to me...' now Bdubs is crouching next to me, and it's probably his hand on my shoulder. 'It'll be ok. Just take deep breaths. You'll be fine.'

'Yeah... deep breaths.' Jimmy agrees. I gulp at the air like it'll do any good, still crying. I want everyone to go. I want to stay here with Jimmy, and everyone else be gone. I don't care if they're trying to help, all I hear are their little mutters and worries: Impulse saying he knows how I feel, Jevin swearing he'll kill the sculk if it dared to even touch Cub again, Beef offering to go through, because it was his fault we were in this mess. That doesn't matter anymore. This would've happened whatever. Pearl beating us. And Cub disappearing in the dark, only to be left there is some horrible state. And Scar... Scar... Scar being...

'What's going on here, dudes?!'

Ren.

Martyn's friend, Ren.

Martyn who's now...

Now...

A muffled shriek escapes me instead of words.

'G- get out...' I somehow say.

'You want... ME to...?' And now Ren thinks it's him.

'No- no... all of you! You, Ren, stay. And Jimmy. But... all of you go. I can't think, I can't cope with- just GO!' I start crying anew, but the hermits slowly obey, leaving only Jimmy, still hugging me, Ren against the wall, and Tango hovering in the doorway, clearly worried for Jimmy. I slip out of the hug, sitting against the wall, taking deep breaths.

'Tango, just... You can leave Jimmy for 5 seconds!' I don't mean to be rude, but I don't have time for politeness. Tango slips away. Jimmy puts a hand on my shoulder.

'Grian? What happened?' he asks quietly.

'Everything,' I mumble. 'Everything went wrong... F-first Cleo was killed... Then we got to the fortress... Cub ran off to find Scar. I was going to follow. I should've been quicker... But then no one would've saved Scott... But- but Scott died anyway. I should've been there with Cub and Scar... I- I might've saved Cub then...'

'What?' Jimmy stares at me, uncomprehending. 'You said...'

'Scott was killed. Pearl pinned me... With Sculk. And Martyn... Pearl- Pearl killed Scott. I'm sorry. I couldn't help him. I couldn't do anything.'

'Scott's... dead?'

'It was a quick death.' Is all I can say to help as Jimmy crumples and starts sobbing.

'Oh- notch...' Ren mumbles. 'He was always so...'

'There was nothing he could do.'

'And... Martyn?'

'Possessed.' I remember the slow, excruciating possession. Ren sinks to the ground.

'Then Scar appeared, alone. Said Cub was... 'gone'. He wasn't possessed. He wasn't even possessed but he... He was covered in Sculk, expressionless... There was nothing I could do. I just... fled.'

Jimmy's crying. Ren's silent, staring at the ground. I hug my wings and legs tighter around myself and start sobbing again. Footsteps, and a moment later Tango's there, hugging Jimmy close.

'What...'

'They're all gone. Scott's dead, Martyn's possessed and Scar came back saying 'Cub's gone,' on the Sculk's side but not possessed.' It's barely any easier the 2nd time around.

'Scar's... joined it?'

I nod, swallowing back tears.

'I thought... Because I didn't feel anything from the soulbinding... He might be ok.' 

'We're going to get them back. As soon as we can.' Tango murmurs. 'I'm not resting until we do.'

'Neither. I'm gonna kill the sculk for...'

'Jimmy, no,' I interrupt. 'You stay here.'

'What?! Grian- you- no- don't you- you're joking.'

'A: If Scott and Martyn were bested that easily, then you stand no chance. B: I told you at the start that the only reason I let you here is if you stay here, and don't get in danger.' As I speak, I realise the only reason Scott and Martyn were here to be taken or killed was because of me. I killed them. The same way I killed Mumbo. But I have to continue before Jimmy starts arguing again. 'And C, we need you here to help on Hermitcraft. When Martyn, Pearl, Cub and Scar get back, they'll need support immediately. Tango, you too. You've been through enough already.'

Tango goes silent, but nods. 

'I'm going.' Ren decides. I glance up. He's staring at me, almost daring me to say no. 

'You can go.'

'When are we going?' He asks. I look over at him.

'As soon as we can.'