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Craters were scattered across Gem and Joel’s base - remnants from countless previous TNT traps. A gentle breeze whispered through the hollow frame of Joel’s broken-down car as Pearl carefully navigated the uneven ground, pausing right next to the riverside where Cleo stood.
A faint explosion could be heard in the distance, but Pearl and Cleo were too exhausted to react.
Pearl looked at the ground, mumbling, “Cleo, I don’t know what to do anymore…”
First, Impulse had died. Taken out by a creeper. Gone. Just like that.
Scott followed soon after. Pearl clenched her fists as she glared in the direction of Etho’s tower.
From the corner of her eye, movement caught Pearl’s attention. Her eyes instinctively flicked toward the figure, mind racing with fears of being ambushed by a player, or worse, a snail.
Her worst fears were somewhat quelled as she spotted Gem stepping onto the roof of the cobblestone base, seemingly eavesdropping on their conversation.
“I mean… I did say that we would try to help Ren if Impulse died, because he’s not won, and he’s part of our team,” Cleo suggested to Pearl, their voice steady despite the weight of their allies’ deaths pressing down on them.
Before she could respond, Gem suddenly leapt down from the cobblestone base, heading straight towards them. As she drew closer, Pearl noticed the energy in Gem’s stride, a spark that felt out of place amidst the grimness of the death game.
“Well, you know,” Gem looked up at Pearl with a glint in her eye, “You could always team here, with me and Joel.”
Pearl’s eyes widened at the offer, the memory of Gem’s promise from session five flooding back.
“You did say that when we were red,” Pearl’s voice softened as she muttered, “We could be best buddies again…”
Gem grinned, her excitement tinged with a mischievous, almost murderous edge, “And we’re red now, Pearl! Look at us, we’re red!”
“...Okay…? I’m going to leave, before whatever this is- happens,” Cleo cautiously backed away from the pair, running across the bridge to safety.
Pearl turned towards the bridge and started to walk, but as she lifted her foot for the first step, it froze mid-air.
Her head told her to follow Cleo, away from Gem, away from danger. They were never allied, and Pearl knew that Gem didn’t really like her hanging around her base. For all she knew, this could be a trap. Gem was a red name now, after all.
But her heart told her to stay, to see where this interaction with Gem could lead her.
Behind her, Gem chuckled. Pearl swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.
Gem bounded over to her side and draped her left arm around Pearl’s shoulder. She stiffened at the touch but didn't pull away.
“So, what’ll it be? You do want the Murder Camel back, right?” Gem gazed up at Pearl, a sly smile dancing on her lips.
“I don’t know. I’m kind of-” A small groan of frustration escaped Pearl’s lips as she hung her head low. “You’re so conflicting though…”
Gem hummed. “I’ve got a black hood.”
“Yeah, but like-”
“You’ve got a red one,” Gem lifted her left arm and toyed with Pearl’s signature crimson hood. “Your red skin is my favourite, you know?”
Pearl sighed, shaking her head.
“Oh, what’s wrong?” Gem teased, her voice carrying a playful tone. ”Come on, remember when you had your robot voice? You were so excited to have fun together again, you were basically bleeping and blooping all over the place!”
Pearl swatted Gem’s arm off, turning away from her as she tried to compose herself.
“Aww, you’re so pathetic,” Gem giggled, crossing her arms. Flashing a smug smirk, she continued, “It’s cute.”
Something inside Pearl snapped. “Don’t call me cute!” Pearl spat, whipping around with eyes glowing a bright scarlet red as she shoved Gem away.
Gem stumbled a few steps back, taken aback by Pearl’s sudden outburst.
Pearl shut her eyes close. Her breath came in heavy, ragged gasps.
Pearl slowly opened her eyes, blinking rapidly to clear up the red fog clouding her vision. She looked up to find a stunned Gem.
“I… I’m sorry, Gem… I- I didn’t mean to-” Pearl stuttered, her words breaking apart like sand falling through a sieve.
A shadowy figure on the other side of the bridge led Pearl to glance over Gem’s shoulder. Her eyes widened in horror as the grey figures seemed to multiply in number.
“It’s alright, Pearl, really. Besides, the red in your eyes just now? Absolutely amazing. Ten out of ten, would love to go on a murder rampage with you,” A dark grin formed on Gem’s face.
The words barely registered in Pearl’s head. All she could focus on was the horde of zombie players that was looking at them with a hungry stare.
“Go kill Gem!” Cleo’s voice rang out from the other side of the bridge.
Heeding their master’s command, the zombie players surged forward with relentless, mindless energy. The sight sent a chill down Pearl’s spine, a sense of urgency flooding her mind.
“Gem, behind you!” Pearl cried.
Gem turned around, eyes widening as the wave of zombie players closed in on her. She barely had time to react before one of them lunged at her, grabbing her arm with a surprisingly strong grip.
“Pearl!” Gem shrieked, fighting to break free.
“Gem!” Pearl reached out to try and pull her away, but the grey mass of bodies was too dense.
Gem thrashed around, pulling out her sword to slice at the zombie player that grabbed her arm. “Let go of me, you stupid zombies!”
“Sorry, Master’s orders!” Martyn’s nasally voice sneered as Gem felt a sharp kick to her side.
One of the zombie players held out a bucket of lava, its orange glow flickering dangerously in the night. With a guttural snarl, he slammed the bucket down at Gem’s feet. The molten lava spread across the ground, searing heat melting everything it touched.
She screamed as a wave of pain exploded up her leg.
“Bye, Gem!” Scott’s triumphant voice boomed amidst the chaos.
Heart pounding in her ears, Pearl frantically searched for a water bucket in her inventory. “No, no!”
As she finally pulled it out, she rushed forward to help Gem, but the mass of zombie players pushed her back, causing her hand to jerk.
The bucket slipped from her grip, spilling water onto the ground behind her instead of on the burning lava. Her heart sank as her chance to save Gem slipped away (literally).
Words tumbled out of Pearl’s mouth like a waterfall as she mumbled, “Oh gosh, this is horrible, this is so bad, this is disgusting…”
Pearl could only watch helplessly as Gem desperately tried to pour her own bucket of water to neutralise the searing lava, but her effort was in vain. Two zombies held onto her arms, preventing her from escaping.
Her eyes suddenly locked onto Pearl, an intense scowl spreading across her face as realisation hit her like a truck.
“Pearl! Y-You told Cleo to send them after me, didn’t you? You were just… distracting me!” Gem yelled, gritting her teeth as she fought through the pain.
Pearl’s breath hitched.
She shook her head slowly, the weight of Gem’s accusation pressing down on her.
Pearl stood there, paralysed with horror and regret. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t speak.
She didn’t mean for this to happen.
No, she didn’t even want this to happen.
“Gem, no, I swear I didn’t-”
“L-Liar!” Gem spat as agonising pain spread throughout her torso. “You betrayed me, again!”
“No, Gem, no!” Pearl reached out, tugging at one of the zombie players. “Stop! Please, stop!” she begged, but her voice was drowned out by the dark laughter of the zombies. They weren’t responding to anything she said.
A strained, bitter chuckle echoed through the air.
Then came a hoarse voice that barely rose above a whisper.
“When will you ever learn, Pearl?”
As red-orange flames rose up to consume her entire body, Gem took one last look at Pearl.
“You’re still not honourable.”
With a final, broken gasp, Gem collapsed to the ground, the fire engulfing her completely.
Pearl’s world was spinning around her. She didn’t even realise that she was blinking back tears.
The zombie players cheered and celebrated their victory, shuffling across the bridge to report to their master. Pearl crumbled to her knees.
“Gem…” The name was barely a whisper on her lips, a mournful cry.
When she finally had the chance to reconcile with Gem, why did she hesitate? Why did she lash out, pushing her away instead of joining her?
After all that time of getting on her nerves, trapping her base, trying to kill her…
And now, with Gem finally gone…
Why did it hurt so much?