"A soul?" Grian asked. He was laying tiredly in an armchair, unable to stand due to his knee. He stared at Doc and Pearl intensely. "The cure needs a soul?"
Pearl nodded grimly. "Vampirism technically kills the host, so curing Mumbo would mean we'd have to bring him back to life, which would require a soul."
Grian turned his eyes to Mumbo. He was laying on the couch, fully passed out. Doc had given him a few weakness potions to try and prevent the possibility of escape. He was also bound by restraints, but Grian knew that if he really tried, he could break them.
"Well, can't we just use a totem or something?" Grian retorted. Doc shook his head. "A totem technically keeps someone from dying. It doesn't bring back a fully dead individual, it just keeps them from crossing over."
"Well, what about soul sand? Can't you get a soul from that?" Grian asked. He was searching desperately for a solution, one that wouldn't involve someone dying.
"Soul sand is composed of soul fragments, Grian," Pearl replied, "We've looked at every possible option. Weakness potions and gapples, soul soil, beacons, everything. But," she paused, looking down, "A full soul is the only way to save him."
Grian just sat, feeling shocked and angry. "No!" he exclaimed, "This is bullshit!" He stood up, and nearly doubled over in pain, but he held himself upright.
"This isn't some one person who lives and another who dies kind of deal. This isn't some stupid lesson about having cake and not being able to eat it too. I'm not gonna let one person die here!"
He looked down at his fists and clenched them tightly. The room felt heavy, everyone silent. Doc and Pearl didn't speak, instead just looking at each other sadly. Scar fidgeted with his sleeve quietly.
"I'll do it, then," Grian spoke quietly. Everyone looked at him, startled. "We can use my soul."
Doc looked at Grian uncertainty. "Are you sure, Grian?" He nodded, looking up at Doc. "I'll do it."
Pearl shook her head. "Grian, you can't." Doc and Grian looked at her. "Yes, I can," Grian responded. "It's okay, really."
"No, Grian," Pearl replied, "You literally can't."
Doc looked at her questioningly. "Why can't he, Pearl?" Pearl looked between the two of them uncertainty.
"Grian doesn't have a soul to give."
...
Stupid Evo.
Stupid stupid Evo server. Stupid Watchers. Stupid choices.
Stupid Grian.
They had taken it from him. Stolen it from him. His soul, his humanity.
Stupid Evo.
Of course the Watchers wouldn't let him leave without paying a price. He knew that. He was foolish to have thought that the only price he would have to pay was his past life. Or his happiness. God, even his sanity.
But they had to take something else, something irreplaceable.
And now he couldn't do anything to save his friend.
He knew, somewhere, they were laughing at him. A long played game of revenge finally giving them their twisted prize.
Stupid Evo.
Stupid Watchers.
Stupid, stupid, Grian.
...
"What?" Doc asked. He turned to Grian, staring at him in shock. "What do you mean, Pearl?"
"Grian's soul was taken when he became," Pearl paused, unsure if she should say. Grian looked at her, his eyes full of hurt. Not hurt from what she said, but hurt that this was what he had to deal with. Hurt that only came from loss.
"When I became a Watcher," he said bitterly. Doc's eyes widened.
Grian was nearly blacking out with pure anger. Pure agony. He silently clenched his fists, leaving deep, crimson imprints in his palms. Part of him wondered if the blood would wake Mumbo.
Pearl rested a hand on Grian, and he felt every drop of anger leave him. It was now replaced by bitter sorrow, and an ache in his chest. A few tears fell from his eyes.
"So, what do we do now?" Grian asked quietly. Helplessly.
Scar, who had been standing quietly to the side, stepped forward. "I can do it," he said, his voice sounding much more calm and even than expected.
Grian's head whipped up. "No, no, Scar," he said, "You can't do that."
Scar smiled quietly and rested a hand on Grian's shoulder. "Yes, I can, Grian."
Everyone stood in silence. Grian looked around at everyone, his eyes pleading to them. 'There has to be another way,' he thought desperately, 'Please, there has to be another way.'
Grian slammed his fists on the wall angrily. Stupid Evo Stupid Watchers Stupid Grian StupidStupidStupid-
"Are you sure, Scar?" Doc asked. Scar nodded quietly.
"No, Scar. No!" Grian exclaimed. Scar didn't respond, but instead gave him a small smile.
"Scar," Doc said, "I'm going to ask again. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Scar stood silent for a minute, thinking. Afterwards, he gave Doc a grim nod. "Yes. I'm sure," he responded.
Doc looked at him for a minute, before sighing and nodding. "Alright," he said quietly, "I'll start setting up."
Doc and Pearl left to begin "preparing" for whatever they had planned, leaving Scar and Grian alone in the room.
"Scar," Grian began quietly, "Why are you doing this?" Scar sat quietly for a moment, thinking. "Because," he answered quietly, "I owe it to you."
"You.. what?" Grian asked. "I owe this to you," Scar said again. Grian looked at him questioningly.
"Grian, you have done so much for people," Scar began, "I mean, look at this! You've been taking care of Mumbo for goodness knows how long, even when it was a risk to yourself."
Scar sighed and rested a hand on Grian's shoulder. "Please, just.. let me help you for once. And Mumbo."
A few tears ran down from Grian's eyes. Quietly, he nodded, and Scar gave him a small smile. Pearl stepped into the room and gestured for the two to follow her.
Both Scar and Grian's eyes widened when they entered the room. A table had been cleared and was sitting in the center of the room. Doc stood next to it and made a gesture to Pearl.
Pearl left promptly, returning with what looked to be a shining silver syringe. Scar gulped nervously at the sight of the large needle. Grian, meanwhile, took note of the small, blue tip of the needle. He could tell almost immediately it was made of lapis.
"Alright," she said, "The only thing left for us to do is move Mumbo onto the table." Everyone glanced around, seemingly waiting for someone to take up the job. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, and several pointed glances from Pearl, Doc let out a large sigh.
"Fine, fine," he said with a hint of annoyance, "I'll go grab him."
He left and shortly returned with a still-unconscious Mumbo slung over his shoulders. It was immediately worrying to everyone in the room once they saw how nervous Doc looked. If Doc of all people was nervous, then everyone else was downright terrified.
All except for Grian, who, despite everything that had occured, felt more worried about Mumbo's safety.
Doc laid Mumbo out on the empty table and took a few steps back. "Thanks for the help, you guys," he huffed. Pearl stepped towards the table, and began to tie Mumbo's arms and torso down. "Hey, I'm tying the restraints, aren't I?" Pearl retorted.
After they were tied, Pearl stepped back quickly. Grian, however, quietly stepped closer and looked down at the table. There, all he saw was Mumbo, looking tired. It made Grian nearly forget that he'd literally tried to kill him earlier.
Pearl checked the clock. Midnight was approaching rapidly. Everyone could sense the tension in the room growing thicker. "We'd better hurry," she said quietly.
Pearl motioned for Scar to sit down in one of the chairs. As he did, she grabbed the syringe and kneeled down beside him. She held up the needle.
"Scar, this syringe is going to be what.. gathers the materials we need," she said. Scar nodded and Grian looked at it curiously. "But, how is that little thing meant to harvest Scar's soul? I would think he has enough for it to overflow," he said.
Pearl pointed at the tip. "Lapis has the ability to collect soul matter. Even without directly coming into contact with it, it collects bits of soul matter from around it. That's why it's able to be used to power enchantments."
Grian nodded quietly. Scar was now staring at the needle tip nervously. The room felt heavy with the tensity of the situation. Pearl looked at Scar with a saddened look before asking, "Are you ready?"
Scar closed his eyes and nodded. Grian sat down next to him and placed a hand on Scar's, giving him a reassuring smile. But internally, all Grian could do was scream.
This was his fault. Pushing Mumbo, from the very beginning. He blamed himself for everything going wrong. For risking everyone's safety. For risking Mumbo's sanity. And now, Scar was going to pay the price for it, all because Grian couldn't.
All because Grian himself was a monster.
"Here we go," Pearl said quietly. Scar braced himself, squeezing Grian's hand a bit tightly. Carefully, Pearl stuck the needle of the syringe into Scar's arm and began to pull slowly.
Scar clenched his eyes shut tightly, his grip on Grian's hand tightening. Grian, too, was in pain, his hand practically being crushed by Scar's. But he barely noticed as he watched the syringe.
The syringe in Pearl's hand began to fill with a swirling, blue substance. It's faint glow illuminated Scar's wrist, which has a small stream of blood beginning to drip down his arm.
Grian's eyes widened in horror. "Pearl, stop," he said quietly. Pearl paused, looking at him. "Grian, we need to do this. I'm sorry," she replied.
"No, no, you don't understand, Pearl," Grian replied, "We need to stop. The blood from Scar's arm-" Grian's voice was cut off by Doc's. "Uh, guys?" he said, "We have a problem."
Pearl and Grian turned their heads to the table. Their eyes widened in horror as they realized what was happening.
Mumbo's eyes were open as he laid on the table. He looked around wildly, before his eyes landed on Scar's wrist. Grian watched as Mumbo began to tug on the restraints in an attempt to escape.
Without thinking, Grian stepped closer. "Mumbo," he said, "Mumbo, stop!" Mumbo looked up at him with bright red glowing eyes. "Everything is okay Mumbo, just stay still."
Mumbo tugged on the restraints again. "Let me go," he grunted, "Let me go!" Grian tried to move closer to comfort Mumbo, but Doc quickly pulled him away. "Grian, that isn't Mumbo."
Grian wanted to open his mouth and contest, but before he could Doc pointed at the clock. It was midnight.
They were out of time.
Everyone's heads whipped around as they heard the tear of restraints and the sound of the table breaking. Mumbo threw the torn restraints to the ground, and rushed towards the chair Scar sat in.
Before he could, Doc grabbed him and pushed him away. Now Mumbo's eyes were locked onto Doc, and he lunged towards him.
Doc fell to the ground, with Mumbo above him and attempting to attack him. Doc held Mumbo's shoulders tightly, just barely keeping Mumbo off. "I could- use some help here!" he grunted.
Grian rushed towards Pearl and snatched the syringe from her hands. "Grian, that isn't the entire thing!" Pearl exclaimed, "It won't be able to cure him!"
"Well, it's either we do this now or we lose Doc, Scar, and Mumbo!" Grian retorted. Pearl paused, then nodded in response.
Doc was struggling more and more to keep Mumbo away. He laid with his back pressed to the wall, his arms aching as he tried to restrain Mumbo.
Mumbo did a final lunge at Doc before he froze, his arms going limp.
Grian stood behind Mumbo, holding the syringe that he'd stuck deep into Mumbo's back. He quickly injected its contents into Mumbo's back, leaving him to fall limply to the ground.
Grian caught Mumbo in his arms, helping him fall to the ground gently. Meanwhile, Doc collapsed himself, exhausted. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Grian stood for a minute, trying to catch his breath and grasp everything that had happened. Then, he turned his attention to Scar.
Scar was sitting in the chair, unconscious. His face was pale and his hair was matted to his face from sweat. Pearl looked over him carefully. Grian rushed towards them.
Pearl held his wrist firmly for a moment. She put an ear near Scar's chest. Grian stared at the two anxiously.
"His pulse is thready and his breathing is shallow, but he's alive."
Grian nearly collapsed from relief. "Oh my gosh, thank goodness." He sank to the floor, sitting next to Scar's chair. Pearl spoke with Doc quickly before rushing off. She returned with healing potions and shining golden apples.
Grian felt his eyes growing heavier. It had been a long night. He slumped over, exhausted. The last thing he remembered was Pearl's voice before he fell asleep.