:)

It's late at night when I hear it.

I'm in the magical village, as always, trying to sleep. I know Cub and Scar are both here too, deciding to keep me company and hang out, telling me and each other about the meeting - Scar ended up arguing with Grian elsewhere and missed several of the questions 'Martyn and Jimmy' answered.

I yawn, rolling over onto my side, ignoring it. It's probably just Scar or Cub. Or maybe even one of the villagers.

But then the magic hits me.

It feels like some kind of glitch, but worse. A whispered conversation I can't understand... I sit up, frowning.

A crash.

A yell from the house next to mine. I grab a sword, on my feet in seconds, terror and recognition filling me in equal parts.

Cub.

I'm outside, fear growing, unable to stop the worst possible scenarios running through my mind. I keep both hands on the weapon, listening for a moment, trying to tell what's going on. A laugh from a voice I've never heard before but that still fills me with terror. My grip on the sword tightens. I creep closer.

Words in a strange language. Taunting. Joking. And a small sound of pleading back from Cub. I break into the quietest run I can, further into the house.

I skid to a stop.

Cub's lying on the ground, his pharaoh clothes stained with blood, one pale hand failing to stem the constant flow from a deep gash across his chest. A pair of strange winged people stand in front of him, one holding a sword.

Anger rises inside me.

'LEAVE HIM ALONE!'

Pain.

Nothing but pain.

I hit the wall, letting out a scream, feeling like every cog and wire inside me is being torn apart. And then my mind. Attacked. Barraged with memories.

'...Test Number 279... Do you hear me?' I'm bound to a table. Someone stands in front of me. Grian.

'...I'm not joking, Taurtis. I made an actual working robot...'

'You're joking!' I'm in the same place, but not tied up. Grian knows I'm alive now.

'Build it again, but faster.' I stand in front of the house I've built a billion times before.

'Master Grian...'

'Do it! Or I lock you in the cabinet!'

'Stop.' I don't want to stop. Grian told me to build. My command was to build these houses. And he's not going to stop me from doing it. 'Stop building! NPG! STOP BUILDING!'

The blocks are forced from my hand and burning fury fills me. I push Grian away, and he hits the ground, bleeding...

'Come on, it's just over here.' He leads me into a forest, then pauses. 'Just... wait here for me. Don't go anywhere.' I don't move. Instead I just wait.

Wait.

Wait.

A portal. Someone walks through, silent. I blink. They let out a yell at the sight of me.

'Grian?!'

'You know Grian?' I focus on. 'You know who he is?'

'He's... gone?'

Gone.

Gone

Gone

A scream. My scream. Then? Now? I don't know. Years of pain just past me in seconds. Everything... HE did to me. And then... he blamed me? Why? What did I do wrong?

'NPG!'

I'm lying on the ground, curled up, looking over to see Scar, standing in the entrance, clearly just woken up, eyes scanning the room for a second before-

'CUB NO!' He runs for his friend. I claw my way to my feet, hearing a crack. One of the creatures still trying to kill Cub hits the ground. The other goes for Scar. 'NPG GET HELP NOW!'

Scar doesn't need to repeat the demand. I'm out the house in seconds, tearing through the village despite the pain... Terror fills me about the likeliness that I'll actually find anyone... Iskall... or Mumbo... or Xisuma or...

Grian.

I nearly crash into him, utter panic leading to me forgetting how he thinks of me, what he's done, everything I've just been forced to remember...

I yell.

'GRIAN HELP CUB'S HURT!'

He screams, stumbling away. A sword appears in his hand.

'GET AWAY FROM ME!' 

'PLEASE!' I shout over him 'PLEASE!' For a moment he doesn't talk, panting as some realisation fills him.

'Scar- Scar lied to me about you...' A dangerous fury fills his voice. I blink. Why doesn't he understand?! 'And now he's sent you to kill me.'

'Grian- Grian... this creature came and... and hurt Cub... he's covered in blood... you need to come and help...'

'Why would I believe you?' He points the sword at me. My heart-rate doubles. Every second I'm here... Cub could be dying... Scar could be dying...'

'I'm not lying this creature came... with big wings... and everything... and... and... he was hurt... and Scar told me to find someone... please... please help me...' I continue, words coming out even faster than my heart rate. 

'You should be dead. SCAR told me he'd killed you!'

'Scar needs your help!'

'WHY WOULD I BELIEVE YOU AFTER WHAT YOU DID?!'

'CUB COULD BE DEAD BY NOW!' It's all I can focus on. It's the only thing in my mind. Not what Grian did. Not what I did. And Grian doesn't understand.

Grian pushes me, trying to run, but I'm faster. I grab his neck. He kicks back, but I don't let go, pulling him forwards. He screams again, trying to force me away.

'GET- GET OFF!' He chokes out. 'GET OFF ME!'

I don't, breaking into a run, dragging him with me. Because Cub's dying. Cub's dying. Cub's dying. Cub's dying... through the village, Grian still fighting against my grip, digging his feet into the ground. But I don't let go. He needs to help. Scar said to find someone to help. And I found Grian... And Grian will help. Grian has to help.

'SCAR I'M COMING!' I yell. 'GRIAN'S COMING!'

'HELP!' Grian bellows back as I pull him into Cub's house. 'HELP! SCAR- SCAR'S TRYING TO KILL ME! HE'S GOT NPG TO TRY AND KILL ME! SCAR'S TRYING-'

Grian stops. 

Scar's crouched on the bloody ground, sobbing.

And Cub lies at his feet.

Dead.

:)