MCYT RANDOMNESS 2

Mercury Pt 4

TW in comments ---->

‘No,’ is all I can say as my throat constricts, the world spins. They’re going to send Scar to the Watchers. ‘No no no no…’

‘We can’t risk crossing the deadline. We’ll say our goodbyes quickly and be done,’ Xisuma’s still speaking. I barely hear over my thundering heartbeat and the Vex screeching in my mind, blaming me for the situation. I scan the hermits for anyone on my side.

And realize.

Scar's not here.

A plan snaps into place in my mind.

Find Scar.

Calm Scar.

Gather supplies.

Flee for our lives.

I slip from the group, find fireworks and, before anyone sees me leave, fly away.

Inside Scar’s train, there’s a second to check the necklace. One glance and I know immediately where Scar’s gone. My base. Underground. The emergency bunker only we knows about. I prepare to fly again and-

‘CUB! Cub, Scar’s gone. Where is he?’

Grian.

I don't hesitate, drawing my netherite sword.

And stab him.

‘Fuck you.’ I snarl as he screams, close enough to the Secret Keeper to be left in pain, but not dead. I pull my sword free, letting him collapse as I take to the air again.

I land in my base only a couple minutes later, then underground. I know where to faze through the wall, and into the final defensive maze.

‘Scar?’

‘Cub!’

He’s here. I run, navigating to a small supply room where I find Scar, sobbing uncontrollably. I fall next to him.

‘I’m here. I’m right here. I’m right here.’ I hug him. Tight. The panic fades somewhat now I know he’s safe, leaving only the cold truth.

We’re not safe in Hermitcraft anymore.

Scar sobs in my arms, not letting go. I fight my own tears, focusing on the plan instead.

‘We’ll go to The Summoner.’ I decide. The Vexling-only bar is the one comfortable place no one will find us. Scar glances up at me, eyes red, tears down his cheeks. ‘I’ll grab valuables from our bases. The other hermits are looking for you, so stay here.’

‘Don’t leave me,’ Scar pleads, hugging me tighter. ‘Please.’ There’s no time to waste. We have a day and a half until the Watchers return. But I can’t leave Scar alone when he’s like this.

‘Ok.’ I relent, ‘I’ll stay a little longer. Try and get some sleep. I don’t know how much you managed to rest while I was out.’

‘I didn’t,’ he admits.

‘I’ll wake you if anything happens,’ I promise. Scar nods, curling up on my lap to sleep. Within 10 minutes, he’s snoring.

And I can leave.

Guilt fills me I slowly shift free of Scar, leaving him to rest against the wall. I don’t want to leave him here. But I need to get our stuff. I tuck a note into Scar’s hand, just in case he wakes up, and leave the hidden room.

I quickly gather a shulker of valuables from my base and, within minutes, I’m at Scar’s to find his stuff. I know where he keeps most of the things he’d want to take. But I’m still searching for the final pieces when something buzzes.

The panic bracelet.

Scar’s awake.

I messaged that I’m coming back before tearing  through the final few chests in search of anything else. Then, having to give up, search for fireworks and-

Hands cover my face.

‘Where are you going, Caduceus?’

Terror paralyses me. It burns through my pounding heart, through my throat as it constricts. I can't breathe.

Only 1 thought remains.

I'm going to die.

I glitch, teleported with the Watcher to the Secret Keeper where-

No.

Fuck.

There, shirtless, chained to the Secret Keeper with obsidian shackles tight around his wrists, his ankles, his chest, his neck, is Scar.

‘No- no Scar- SCAR- LET HIM GO!’ I fight and struggle against the Watcher holding me, kicking, clawing, hissing. I try to faze free of them, but can't. I lock eyes with Scar, his eyes wide and shining with tears of utter terror. ‘You said 3 days you FUCKING MONSTERS!’

I’m thrown to the ground.

‘Call for help.’

‘What?’

This is a trick. This has to be a trick. I don't move.

‘I allow you 1 message to the Hermits. If they save you, we will leave.’

I don't care if they're lying.

cubfan135: HAN URSA SECRET KEEPER BLINK

The moment I send the frantic message of emergency words, I’m dragged backwards by my collar. Bedrock covers my hands, feet, neck,  digging into my skin and chaining me to one of the podiums. I fight back. Not for myself. For Scar. The Watcher laughs over his screaming and pleading. The bedrock over my neck grows to cover my lower face.

Cover my mouth.

I can't scream. I can't move. I can't breathe. All I can do is panic, struggling for freedom. But the Hermits saw my message. They’re coming, right?

‘And now, Caduceus.’ The Watcher draws a knife. I can't escape. ‘We punish you.’

I close my eyes, bracing for the pain.

And instead hear screams.

Scar.

My eyes snap open. Horror and fury drown any panic for myself. They're hurting Scar. The Watcher etches deep marks into his arm. No. Symbols. Words. I can't look away, positioned perfectly to see every last second of it. With every cut of the knife, Scar screams. I sob, praying over and over for the Hermits to come, for the Vex to do anything. Even for the Sculk to tear through my mind and take control forever. More and more blood streams down Scar’s arms and chest as the Watcher continues hurting him. He doesn't fall unconscious. He doesn't die, as much as I can see how much he longs for it. He’s left in agony as the Watcher steps away. I read the words through my tears, all the way across Scar's arms and chest.

THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.

And no one helps us.

The Watcher turns to me. I’m still sobbing. I want to murder them. Every single Watcher. Maybe even the other Hermits. For not helping us.

‘Hermitcraft will be destroyed, every little hermit killed or chased into isolation. And Mercury will be ours to play with for the rest of time. But first, we deal with you.’ The Watcher returns focus to me. I can't look at them, sobbing. This is it. I’m going to die. With Scar forced to watch. ‘I wonder… what will kill you first?’

The only thing I can do is hope Scar, can read the apology in my eyes. I left him alone. I let this happen. Will the Hermits come and rescue him? Or will he be trapped by Watchers forever?

‘The bedrock slowly suffocating you?’

It tightens even further. Digging deeper into my skin. Reminding me what it does to Vexlings.

Pain.

Burning pain as the Watcher stabs my communicator into sparking shatters. I let out a muffled scream.

‘Or your little necklace breaking as I break you.’

:)