~The First Step~ a Hermitcraft AU

Chapter 33 (Mumbo/Grian)

wc: 1678

NOTE: FROM HERE ON OUT I WILL NOT BE USING SPECIFIC TRIGGER WARNING TAGS. I think it has too many spoilers. HERE IS A LIST OF TRIGGER WARNINGS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING:

blood
gore
death
violence
hunger
panic attacks
loud arguments
torture
experimenting

I will most likely add to this list as I go on. 

This chapter was kinda empty ngl but the next one will HOPEFULLY be up sooner. Ik my uploads have been very inconsistent sorry :( 

enjoy!

Prison was silent.

Mumbo's stomach was eating itself inside out. From his count on the walls, it had only been almost two weeks, but that was enough to let someone who had grown up in a nice neighborhood with plenty to eat feel like they were starving. He'd tried the chorus fruit a couple of times, but the way his stomach heaved dangerously whenever he nibbled on a piece told him that if he ate any more, he'd merely throw up the little food that was inside of his stomach.

This was all he could think about for however long he was in here. Ever since Grian disappeared, all his brain would say was food. And, of course, Grian.

He missed that comfort that Grian was closeby. Even if he couldn't get out of the cell, Mumbo just...

He just didn't want to die alone

And Mumbo didn't know that was something he'd have to worry about. But now, it looked like everything was about to end for him.

For a while, Mumbo curled up on the ground, watching the guards occasionally walk down the hallways. They seemed bored too, their idle conversation barely making it to Mumbo's ears.

On day 15, everything changed.

Mumbo was sitting on the floor, squeezing the juice from a chorus fruit and drawing on the floor. The purple stains spiraled across the concrete.

For one of the first times, there was a noise throughout the hall. No, it wasn't the thud of chorus fruit hitting the floor of the cells, and no, it wasn't the thumping of the heavy boots worn by the guards.

It was more of a... ripping.

There was some clamor at the end of the hall. Mumbo rushed to the bars of his cell, straining his ears and eyes. He saw a glint of silver from across the corridor, and then everything went eerily silent. Only for a moment, however, as soon the prisoners started shouting.

Hope blossomed in Mumbo's chest. The prisoners were shouting thanks, were praying for freedom. Perhaps an angel had come to save them all.

As these people rounded the corner, Mumbo's heart lifted further. These people were better than angels.

Xisuma and Scar walked down the hallway at a brisk pace, looking back and forth. Fellow captives reached their hands out through the bars, grasping, begging.

"X-" Mumbo managed. His voice was raspy and hoarse from disuse. The little water that had been given had quickly been drunk, and water was only given to them once a day or two.

Somehow X heard, and a moment later him and Scar were crouched in front of the bars. "Oh, thank goodness," X murmured. He and Scar quickly went to work on the lock. The sound of the bars creaking open was the best sound Mumbo had heard in a while.

"I'll free these other people," X whispered to Scar. "You get some food and water to Mumbo." Scar nodded and pulled out some bread.

Mumbo inhaled the slice and chugged the water, his stomach desperately aching for it. Scar handed him a golden apple, and he quickly went to work.

The sounds of prison doors breaking open rang throughout the hall. Scar didn't seem to have enough room for the entire hall, but he pulled out all of the bread he had, distributing it to the grabby hands.