Weird text appearance lies ahead.

Cub is gone.

I got rid of him.

The Sculk helped, but I got rid of Cub. He's gone because of me.

You've done very, very well, the Sculk whispers as it leads me to my new home, up in its fortress, in one of the towers. I'm so proud of you.

Yes.

I think I'm proud of me too.

I enter the tower. Everything's made of Sculk, but I'm used to that. It hurts to move, but I'm used to that. I feel nothing, but I'm used to that. 

I sit on my 'bed' of sculk. It's more comfortable than the dungeon. A lot more comfortable. Here, I can move. Well... I guess I was allowed to move since I started cooperating with the Sculk. It allowed me some movement, I understood how to move with it, not against it. But now I can move properly. My muscles are sore from disuse, but the pain from what I assume is my broken leg still healing after Pearl broke it is more of a hindrance.

Rest. You have done well today. Tomorrow you will do just as well. 

I lie down, curling up under the Sculk as it covers me like a blanket. It's not warm, but the cold is familiar, soothing. I let out a contented sigh as I close my eyes. The sculk hugs me closer, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. 

Goodnight, Scar.

I smile, snuggling up under the comfort of the only thing I truly trust. Tiredness washes over me with the comfort I haven't had in ages, another person caring for me, loving me, soothing my aching body.

'G̶o̶o̶d̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶, C̶u̶b̶.'

I'm in the prison again. Cub's arrived. He's talking to me. I'm trying to get answers that he isn't giving. H̶u̶r̶t̶. Feigning hurt. C̶o̶n̶f̶u̶s̶e̶d̶. Feigning confusion. 

'You were speaking about me with Grian. Told him 'Scar is the worst person I know'

'How do you know about that?'

How do you know about that.

He didn't tell you it was a mistake.

He asked you how you knew.

Because he doesn't love you.

He doesn't care about you.

'Please, I swear on your... I- swear on...'

'You can't admit it.'

He couldn't swear he cared about you.

He wanted to swear on YOUR life. 

Like that's something that matters to him. 

L̶i̶k̶e̶ t̶h̶a̶t̶'s̶ s̶o̶m̶e̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ t̶h̶a̶t̶ m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶s̶.

Like you matter to him. 

But he knew you understood that so he didn't say it.

And then he's trapped. 

Then you're safe.

Then he's GONE and you don't have to think about it. You don't have to do anything.

'N...now you won't hurt me anymore,'

And he's hopeless.

And he can't come up with anything.

And he doesn't know what to say.

A̶n̶d̶ h̶e̶ w̶a̶n̶t̶s̶ t̶o̶ f̶i̶n̶d̶ s̶o̶m̶e̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ t̶o̶ c̶o̶m̶f̶o̶r̶t̶ y̶o̶u̶.

So he just said what you said to him before.

Like you're trapped.

Like we're not helping.

Like he's actually going to help you.

'If you still care... I'm h̶e̶r̶e̶. I'll a̶l̶w̶a̶y̶s̶ b̶e̶ h̶e̶r̶e̶. I'm here to s̶a̶v̶e̶ y̶o̶u̶, ok?'

'Goodbye Cub.'

It's the next morning.

And I did the right thing.

Yesterday. When I was freed. My waiting was over. Cub came. 

And I let him go.

I freed myself.

Good morning Scar. The Sculk slips from a blanket into more of a cloak around me as I stand. I will summon Martyn and Pearl. The three of you will talk. 

'Talk?'

About Hermitcraft.

It leads me back downstairs and to another room made of Sculk. Martyn hunches blankly across the room, his antenna flickering the only sign that he sensed me here. I take a seat. Pearl enters just after me.

We are gathered to talk about Hermitcraft and our roles in the coming victory there. Pearl has done well for us so far in getting a strong hold on their world. Martyn, you hold the defence. Scar, you stay and keep watch on our prisoner, in case he thinks he can escape. I'll control the ways through, spread further. Does everyone understand?

'What about me?' Pearl asks.

Stay here.

'...and?'

Stay here. You've done well.

'I want to do something! I don't want to just sit around doing nothing!'

You deserve the rest after how well you did yesterday. I don't want to push you too far physically. You are very helpful to me, Pearl. Don't think you're any less important than the others.

Pearl opens her mouth to argue, but doesn't.

'I have something.'

We all look over at Martyn as he speaks. He pulls something from his pocket. The Sculk investigates, before drawing quickly away.

Destroy it.

'What is it?' I ask.

Fire. Dangerous. Leave it here and I will handle it.

'I will.'

'What are we doing with the prisoner? Can I do anything with him? Isn't he a Vexling?' Pearl questions, interrupting. My mind buzzes with CUB- and hate and his expression and his words...

No. He will join us in due course.

'Can I still question him? Get answers. Find out about Hermitcraft. Their plans... Hurt him.'

Scar has hurt him enough.

My injuries twinge with pain at the memory, hands slowly clenching as I remember the agony. Mumbo. No one came for me. No one helped me. Pearl hurt me. Over and over and...

Scar.

I still struggle to breathe, think past the pain, pain, pain, pain. Cub didn't rescue me from pain, pain, pain. Grian didn't rescue me from the pain pain pain pain. Grian ran away when he saw me. He was s̶c̶a̶r̶e̶d̶. He abandoned me. I don't care about Grian. I don't care about Cub.

Told him 'Scar is the worst person I know'

'How do you know about that?'

He's so close. He's right underground me. Somewhere. He's here.

SCAR.

Pain, dragging me from my thoughts and back to discussions. Martyn's looking at me. Pearl's eyes are narrowed. Otherwise emotionless.

'Sorry.' I can barely say back. My vision blurs with tears. I start crying. I don't know why. I don't care about Cub. I don't care about Cub. I don't care about Cub. I don't care about Cub. The Sculk comforts me, hugging me, soothing me, stroking my hair and back as I don't stop crying. I feel pain. I am pain.

And Cub is gone.

:)