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Grian believed himself to be ingenious, until he was sitting up high in a tower freezing to death. Perhaps he was dramatic, perhaps not, but with the cold air biting at his face, his fingers, his nose, he felt that death might be more peaceful than this. When Grian came up with the plan to run, to hide away from the zombie apocalypse that was Gem’s task, it had been a mere 6 degrees. However, when he came about sitting over 100 blocks above the ground, it felt nearly -15. With his thick cloak, his sweater, and winter boots, Grian expected a cold winter chill to wash over this season of the Life Games; though, with the snow rushing to the ground in a flurry, even his warm sweater could not protect him from the frost.
As Grian cuddles up into a corner of the sky base, he could hear the faintest jeers and hollering coming from the ground. Those who were killed by the task were congregating down below, most excited about their recent conquest. Grian feared for his life, he feared Gem, he feared snow, most importantly he feared the tasks he brought upon this server. When he looked up, snow caught in his lashes, making him blink. He scrubs at his face, attempting to calm his heart, and warm his numbing cheeks. The louder the hollering got, the louder his heart beat in his ears, fearing the inevitable doom of becoming a red name. Grian has nothing to do but wait for the session to end, for the tasks to go out of play, and for him to be free.
As he waits, he reminds himself of his own stupidity. Grian reminds himself that he is responsible for his frosty heart, he created the games and once again faces the consequences. When Grian first came about coding 3rd life, he thought nothing of it, inviting his friends to have a good time. He invited the Watchers to watch, and those who wished to listen. He wanted it to be a nice break from Hermitcraft, he was running out of creative ideas and thought of the 3rd life concept. Green, yellow, and red, allowing a fun pvp server to be enjoyed. Alliances were formed, enemies were made, and the Watchers were fed.
The Watchers were much like humans, and with humanity came greed. If he closed his eyes, and listened closely, he would be able to hear their whispers, their demands. When the Watchers were fed, they were happy, and when they were happy, the whispers were too. All of this became too much too quickly, after 3rd life, the watchers were shouting, enraged, they were starving and they wanted more. Impatience grew within the Watchers. Grian, to save himself, greeted the next set of games with open arms and a smile. He invited more friends, despite knowing the harm he inflicted upon the previous set. Grian knew that 3rd life brought no joy in the end, there were no happy endings. He wished he could turn back time, to erase this mistake. He couldn’t, and when he told his friends it would be better in last life, even he knew it was a lie.
Grian felt selfish, and ashamed for putting his friends in danger. Soon, it wasn’t his choice. Martyn told Grian a while back, during Last Life, that he too was hearing the voices of the watchers. Occasionally, the two of them would sit in a quiet room and listen to their taunting. Martyn spoke to Grian, telling him of the watchers' whispers that Martyn heard the previous night, and it sent a shiver down Grian’s spine. At that point, it was no longer a choice to participate in the life games, it was a threat.
Jimmy too came to Grian with his thoughts. When Jimmy anxiously fiddled with his fingers, a look of fear ridden on his face, Grian knew what was happening. Jimmy choked on telling Grian of the voices, rather than whispers, the Watchers spoke with clarity to Jimmy. Grian hadn’t heard most of what Jimmy was saying, Grian’s ears were ringing and his palms were sweaty. Jimmy didn’t deserve it, out of all the people it shouldn’t have been him. Grian saw a correlation with those who participated in his Evolution server, and those who also participated in the Life Games. After Last Life, Grian felt nothing but guilt. A constant looming anxiety clouded his thoughts and his vision, it was all his fault and he could do nothing about it.
They were forced into double life, limited life too, and soon, secret life. When the Watchers were hungry, they simply took, no permission needed. Their hunger grew, they felt as if they needed to control the players now, like dolls. It was a child's game, forcing the members to act however the Watchers wanted them to. It was ridiculous to keep following their games, and Grian knew it. He knew it especially as he freezes in the corner of his sky tower. He knew it when Jimmy was pushed to his death for the sake of the story. He knew it when he became soulmates with Scar. Grian was gullible and he knew it.
Frosty tears wet his cheeks as he looks to the sky, closing his eyes. Grian sighs, a sad sigh and wishes things had gone differently. During Hermitcraft, the Watchers were generally peaceful, simply feeding on the creative ideas he laid out. When Grian introduced the battles, bloodshed, and fear, the Watchers wanted nothing but. Now he faces the consequences. Grian looks over the edge of his tower, he sees those infected by the boogeyman curse, and he takes a solemn look at the secret keeper. When they spawned into the server, Grian viewed the statue with disgust. He was more frightened because they were now physically interfering with the server, much like they did with Evo. All he could think about was the stripping of his humanity, of his friends.
As frost numbs his face, his limbs, and his mind, Grian apologizes. He apologizes to his friends for the pain and suffering. He apologizes to the Watchers for giving them greed. He apologizes to his family, despite deep down knowing they aren’t blood related. Finally, he apologizes to himself for being so selfish.
Grian froze to death.