Doc POV

We ran through the forest, away from the vampire. Between branches in the way, and the fact that it was the middle of the night, we couldn't get very far.

"We have to get back to the road." Tango panted as we ran.

"This way!" Iskall took the lead and led us down a narrow path.

I could hear Mumbo behind us, hunting us down. Moving through the bush inhumanly.

It was all a game. The vampire could kill us whenever he wanted. He was toying with us.

We followed Iskall for a few minutes before I realized that him taking the lead probably wasn't the best idea.

But Iskall prevailed, and successfully got us back to the path in one piece. More or less.

My robotic arm was still crushed from Ren, but aside from that we weren't really injured.

"Are we all okay?" Impulse asked. I nodded, still out of breath from the run.

Mumbo walked onto the path, a scowl on his face.

"You Hermits are really starting to annoy me." he hissed.

"We get that a lot." I shot back.

The vampire growled, and raised his hand towards the sky. Dozens of bats flew down from the sky. As they landed, their forms changed into those of panther-like creatures, with glowing red eyes.

The vampire smirked. "Fortunately for me, the Higher One gave me an army to dispose of you."

The Higher One? Was the vampire under orders to mess with us? Thoughts filled my mind.

I didn't have much time though, because the creatures pounced at us.

I raised my sword just in time to stop one from killing me. Without the use of my mangled arm, it was harder to hold my weapon.

Tango ran up and kicked the thing off of me. "Thanks." I muttered. He nodded in response.

Us four Hermits fought back to back, but we were outnumbered. There were too many monsters.

I lashed out at one as it tried to jump on Impulse. It turned around and clawed my good shoulder. It burned like fire. Iskall killed the thing, but not before another lept at him.

Tango noticed. "You okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine." I lied. "Just give me a minute-"

I didn't have a minute. One of the monsters swiped at me, and it's paw hit the side of my head. I was knocked to the ground, landing in a dazed heap.

But the others couldn't get to me. They were trying not to die as well.

Something caught Iskall's attention. "Doc, look out!"

The vampire drew his trident and stepped closer to me, a sadistic and pained look in his eyes. It was creepy seeing this look on Mumbo's face.

"This job is easy. I don't know why Meat Face had such a hard time killing you guys." he sneered.

He knew about Meaty.

Mumbo raised the trident, and I yelled in rage.

A huge wave of energy erupted from me, and panic filled the enemy ranks. Fear filled Mumbo's eyes. All the monsters turned and fled, tails between their legs.

Mumbo had been knocked back by the force of it, and was kneeling a few meters away from me, his eyes flickering from the vampire's eyes to his normal ones.

"Guys..." Mumbo's weak voice came through for a minute before the strangled voice of the vampire cut him off. "Noo!"

He clutched his head, distorted voices cutting through the night.

"Get out of my head!"

"Never!"

"Guys, help me-"

"NOOO!"

I watched as Mumbo and the vampire fought for control. Eventually they went still.

"Mumbo?" Impulse edged closer, still wary.

Mumbo lifted his head. For the first time in days, his eyes were free of the yellow glow from the vampire.

Guilt flooded his gaze. "I'm sorry." He whispered, and i was flooded with pity.

Suddenly, his head jerked up.

"My host might be useless, but I don't have to take care of you myself anymore." The vampire pointed to the side of the road.

We all turned. "Oh come on." Impulse groaned.

Ren. We froze for a minute, before Xisuma padded out behind him. Then Wither.

Ren pounced, shooting over our heads and landing on Mumbo.

I will not be able to figure this out ever, but somehow Mumbo fought back, holding off the wolf on his own.

They fought, occasionally breaking free of the other for a moment before being drawn back into the fight.

X and Wither changed back into halfhels. 

"Who summoned the Panic?" Wither asked.

Iskall frowned. "That thing that made the weird panther things retreat?"

"Yep."

The group looked at me, but Wither just nodded.

"Thought so." He murmured.

"When will the virus be erased?" I asked, ignoring the pain in my shoulder.

Xisuma glanced at the sky, which was now lightening. "In a few minutes." He turned to Wither. "You know what to do, right?"

Wither nodded. I shook my head. "I don't, what's happening?"

"Good." X glanced back at the fight. "Get ready."

"Get ready for what?" I looked at the two of them. "Is there something you aren't telling us?"

Xisuma sighed. "The virus will be forced out of Mumbo, and take another host or a physical form. The antivirus will knock us those of us who changed out to change us back, so Wither will be alone against the Vampire."

"Wait what?" I glared at Wither. "How do you expect to do this alone?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea. I'm not a fan of it, especially since it puts all of you guys at risk." He looked at the horizon, where the sun was coming up. "But I'm gonna try."

We all turned to see the sun rising over the horizon. "Good luck." X whispered to Wither.

As the sun rays stretched across the server, pain exploded through me and I passed out.

-----

Wither POV

I watched as all the Hermits passed out, slumping to the ground without a sound. 

Mumbo however, was different. You know that movie Venom? Well, imagine that symbiotic sludge coming off of him and taking a human form. 'Cause that's what happened.

The black goop slowly changed into a human form. Details started appearing, and the vampire from False's memory was standing above Mumbo's fallen form.

"You!" The distorted voice hissed. "You can't stop me from taking another host!" 

He reached for Iskall, who was defenceless against the vampire.  No I thought. I won't let you take Iskall as your host.

Quickly, I pulled out a knife and threw it in the vampire's throat. It screeched and jerked away from the Hermit.

"Now you die!"

He bared his long fangs and charged. I sidestepped, and reached for a lead. When the vampire rushed at me again, I wrapped the rope around its throat and pulled hard.

A choking noise came from the vampire. I pulled harder, tightening the lead and the vampire went slightly purple in the face. It fell to the ground in a heap.

I kicked the virus in the ribs. "Bastard."