Mumbo was in the containment unit by the next morning. He left while Grian slept. He felt it would make it easier for the both of them.
But as soon as Grian woke up, he was on his way to see Mumbo.
He entered the room outside of the containment unit. It felt strangely empty, like a ransacked doctor's office. It sent a shiver down Grian's spine.
Mumbo was leaning against the wall of the containment cell, humming to himself. Grian looked at him through the glass.
"Hey, Mumbo," Grian said. Mumbo glanced at him, in an almost bored manner. It felt slightly off, but Grian didn't say anything. "How do you feel?"
"Oh, I feel fine," Mumbo said. Again, Grian got a weird feeling from him. His voice also sounded wrong, almost forced. It made Grian a bit uncomfortable.
"Fine?" Grian asked. Mumbo nodded. "Fine."
"Are you.. hungry?" Grian pressed. He didn't know why he was trying to get Mumbo to answer this, but he could feel that something was off. He wanted answers.
"Hmm," Mumbo hummed idly, "I could go for a bite," he said. He laughed a bit at his own joke. It sent shivers down Grian's spine.
"What's up with you, Mumbo? You're acting strange," Grian said, looking at Mumbo with concern. Mumbo laughed a bit. He looked at Grian, his bored expression melting into one close to desperation. It also looked hungry. Grian had seen it before.
"Oh, Grian, I'm just so hungry," Mumbo confessed. "Please, you have to get me some food."
"Mumbo, you know I can't do that," Grian said. Mumbo was staring at him, with pleading, red eyes.
"That's fine, you don't have to do anything. I can just do it for you. All you have to do is let me out."
Grian took a step back, feeling increasingly nervous. "Mumbo, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Grian, please," Mumbo pleaded. He took a step towards the glass. "I need to eat."
Grian's heart began to race. Mumbo was really losing it now. It startled Grian.
Mumbo was staring at him hungrily. He could hear Grian's heart beating. It was driving him crazy.
"Grian, why don't you just come in here?" Mumbo asked. Grian shook his head, taking another step back.
Mumbo suddenly slammed his hand on the glass. "Grian! Let me out of here!" he shouted. Grian let out a startled yell.
He didn't say anything, and instead began to walk quickly towards the door. He shook as he heard Mumbo yell again.
He went to Doc's base, where Pearl, Scar, and Doc were all gathered, discussing the cure. They watched Grian as he entered, noticing how shaken he looked. "What's wrong?" Doc asked. Grian shook his head. "It's Mumbo. He's acting differently. Scary."
Doc looked at Pearl, concerned. They were losing time faster than anticipated.
"How's the cure coming?" Grian asked. He didn't want to think about Mumbo's state right now.
Doc's face became more serious. Grian took that as a sign that the answer wouldn't be a good one.
"There might be a small complication," Doc said. Grian looked at him questioningly. "What kind of complication?" Grian asked.
"The cure might require something.. expensive.. to say the least."
"Well, I have plenty of diamonds," Grian responded, "I'll pay for whatever it is."
"It isn't that kind of expensive, Grian," Pearl stated. Grian looked at her, confused. "Well, what kind of expensive is it?"
Doc shook his head. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he said. Grian felt like this day couldn't get any worse.
The group worked on the cure for the majority of the day. Grian spent most of his time sitting down, worrying. Scar tried to comfort him the best he could. Meanwhile, Doc and Pearl spoke in whispers.
Grian felt an increasing anxiousness in his stomach, and soon decided that he had to leave the confines of Doc's base. He waited for Scar to check in with the others, then quietly slipped out the door.
He wandered around for a bit, unsure of what he wanted to do. All he knew was that he couldn't stay in that base.
He decided that he was going to visit Mumbo again. He felt a bit guilty for leaving the way he did. Mumbo was all alone now, and Grian decided that he wanted to keep him company. If anything, Grian wanted a bit of company himself.
He slowly entered the room. "Mumbo?" he called, but he fell silent when he saw the containment cell.
The glass window had been shattered, leaving shards of glass strewn about on the floor. Grian began to search around wildly, looking for any sign of Mumbo.
He ran out the door. It was almost sunset now. That couldn't be good.
Grian began to head back to Doc's base. He knew it was a horrible idea to be out here, especially now that Mumbo was loose. God knows where he could've been by now.
Unfortunately for Grian, he was about to learn exactly where Mumbo was.
Grian felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He jumped, quickly whipping his head around. It was Mumbo.
"Grian," Mumbo said plainly.
"M- Mumbo! You're out!" Grian said, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
"Well, I figured it was about time, anyway," Mumbo said. Grian offered a nervous smile. "Well, it- it's good to see you!"
Mumbo took a step forward. "It's good to see you too, Grian."
They both stood silently, just staring at each other. Grian's pale blue eyes were glued onto Mumbo's glowing red ones.
"Grian."
"Mumbo?"
Mumbo moved closer. Grian could hardly move, those familiar red eyes keeping locked in place.
"Just.. hold still."
Mumbo lunged forward, both arms extended towards Grian trying to grab him. Grian managed to jump back and dodge Mumbo's attempted grab.
Mumbo fell to the ground. Grian just ran, his heart pounding fast. 'I need to get out of here,' he thought to himself.
Mumbo got up and looked around. "Grian! Come back!" he called out. 'His voice,' Grian thought, 'It sounds deeper. Angrier.'
He just kept running. The growing darkness of the evening made it hard to see where he was going, but he knew that there was a forest somewhere nearby. He could barely make out a tree line in front of him.
'Just a little farther,' he thought. His ears were ringing, his heart pounded in them. He wondered if Mumbo could hear it too.
Grian ran into the forest and began to look for a place to hide. But before he could, he felt himself fall to the ground.
Grian felt his knee give out from under him. Pain radiated like shockwaves through his body.
Mumbo, who had been close behind him, seized this opportunity. He quicky got on top of Grian, using one knee to keep him pinned to the ground. His hands were on top of Grian's shoulders, pushing him deeper into the dirt. Grian held his breath.
Grian's arms slowly began to search the ground. His eyes were locked onto Mumbo's. His heart pounded in his chest.
"Grian, just stay still and I won't hurt you," Mumbo said quietly. They both knew it was a lie, but Mumbo's voice made it almost impossible for Grian to resist.
"Stay still," Mumbo repeated. This time, it was a clear command. "Alright," Grian said quietly, nodding. "I'll stay still."
Mumbo moved closer, his face inches away from Grian's. His eyes were locked onto Grian's neck, and his fangs were exposed.
Just as he prepared to bite, Grian's hand closed around a rock he'd found on the ground beside him. He quickly brought it up and hit it against the side of Mumbo's head. Mumbo clutched the wound and recoiled in pain, giving Grian the perfect opportunity to escape.
Grian ran, despite the exhaustion in his legs and the pain in his knee. He heard Mumbo's pained grunts behind him, but he didn't dare turn back.
"Grian!" Mumbo shouted. "Grian, you bitch! Get back here!"
Grian just ran, his legs pushing him as far as he could go. He just had to hide, he just had to go a little longer. 'Please,' he pleaded with himself, 'Please just keep going. Just a little longer.'
He ran and ran, ignoring any sounds behind him. Finally, he found himself in a small clearing, surrounded by bushes. He had to be able to hide here. He didn't have any other choice.
He could hear Mumbo walking around, his footsteps heavy. Grian knew that Mumbo was looking for him.
"Grian?" he called out into the darkness. Grian could just make out his glowing red eyes. He held his breath.
"Grian, just come out please?" Mumbo asked into the darkness. Part of Grian wanted to, but he knew this wasn't his friend right now. Mumbo was hunting for him, he had to keep that in mind.
Grian wanted so desperately to go to his friend, but this was different. During this whole ordeal, he had wanted so badly to believe that Mumbo was safe. That Mumbo was in control. But now, his friend wasn't there, and instead he was faced with a predator, one who was looking for Grian and wanted to hurt him.
That didn't make this any easier, however.
Mumbo took a few steps closer to the bushes, but he still didn't see Grian. "Grian," he said, angrier this time, "Come out."
Grian had to hold himself in place, but something about Mumbo's voice was so hypnotic, Grian wanted to come out of the bushes.
He held his breath, listening carefully. He could hear the sound of Mumbo's footsteps and his own heartbeat. He wondered if Mumbo could hear it too.
"Grian? You can't just leave me here. You can't just leave me to starve. Please, Grian, just come out!"
God, Mumbo sounded so desperate. It made Grian ill hearing him. It took every ounce of strength he had not to run to Mumbo.
Grian just waited quietly. He listened as Mumbo's heavy footsteps seemed to falter for a second, as if hesitating. Grian couldn't see anything, but part of him hoped that this was Mumbo coming to his senses.
Slowly, Mumbo's distinct, heavy footsteps began to leave. They faded further into the distance. Grian could only hold his breath.
He waited, all he could do was wait. But every single part of Grian just wanted to leave. Not just leave this bush, but leave the whole situation entirely. Why did he have to be a part of this?
He sat there for another minute, listening for any sign of Mumbo. But no sound could be heard. Grian took this as a sign that the cost was clear, so he quietly crawled out from the bush.
Grian stepped into the clearing, every sense amplified. He felt aware of everything, every noise, every breeze. His whole body trembled a bit. He felt a bit sick to his stomach.
He looked around cautiously, scanning for any sign of Mumbo. But, he didn't find anything. He let out a relieved sigh. He was safe.
Grian took a few more steps forward and squinted, trying to figure out which direction he'd come from. He really wanted to get back to Doc's base.
Grian let out a small, startled squeak as he felt someone grab him from behind. Grian felt their strong arms, broad shoulders, grip tightly around him. He didn't need to see who it was, he already knew.
Grian began to try and wriggle his way out of Mumbo's grip. He tried to kick and elbow at him, desperate to escape. Mumbo didn't say anything, just held him tightly. Grian felt like he was being crushed.
In a desperate attempt to get help, Grian began to shout. "Mumbo! Mumbo let go of me!" Grian yelled, again trying to elbow Mumbo. Mumbo grabbed him tighter. "Just- hold still," he grunted, but Grian continued to put up a fight.
He felt himself beginning to get exhausted. He kept trying to fight and escape, but Mumbo simply held him tighter. Grian could barely breathe.
He knew that he couldn't get out. Mumbo had always been stronger than him. And now, he wasn't holding back.
Grian wondered if this was how he died, at the hands of his best friend. Was this it?
"Mumbo, stop it, please!" he pleaded, in a desperate attempt to wake Mumbo from whatever trance he was in. Mumbo couldn't hear him.
Grian could barely move anymore. His limbs felt heavy from exhaustion and lack of oxygen. He couldn't get out.
He gritted his teeth, waiting for the bite. The bite that would kill him.
Suddenly, he heard a dull 'thud' and felt Mumbo's grip loosen. He collapsed to the ground, quickly followed by Grian himself, too tired to stand.
Grian stared at Mumbo's unconscious body in shock. He looked up to see what had happened.
There stood Pearl, breathing heavily. She held an axe, as if she had just swung it. Grian noticed the blood that stained the dull side of it.
"Let's get you two back to Doc's base," she said between breaths. Grian nodded silently as Scar approached, leading two horses to where they were.
Grian collapsed onto one of them, which was driven by Pearl. The other carried Mumbo with Scar driving.
As they began to ride, Pearl sighed. "Grian," she said, "It's time we talked about that expensive ingredient."