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The sun scorches the desert causing the air to rise in waves. Grian and Scar circle each other in a ring of cactus.
The Watchers demanded bloodshed.
Grian could feel the sand under his fingernails. His heart thundered against his ribcage. Scar was smiling at him. Scar was a willing sacrifice.
The specters demanded a fight.
Grian is straddling Scar's chest, his hands around his neck. Scar's attempts to push him off grow weaker. Tears blur Grian's vision.
Grian was the lone survivor.
The sun beat down on the bloodstained sand. Their team banner shifted in the slight breeze. Grian walked to the edge of Monopoly Mountain.
Even the winner must face death.
Grian threw himself off the cliff. The air ripped at his red poncho and blond hair. He knew the impact of the landing should have hurt, but it was over before he could feel it.
Grian wakes in Hermitcraft, a parallel reality.
It had been several weeks, since the duel in the red desert. It had been several weeks, since Grian had first awoken in this new world. Yet, Grian could not shake the lingering unease.
Pearl, Mumbo, Impulse, Grian and Scar had settled in the land of Boatem. Impulse and Scar had both died in the other world. Grian saw Impulse die by Bdubs's hands. Yet here they were.
Grian did not find himself avoiding them. He wasn't avoiding Scar and Impulse. It's just the weeks following his victory, He hung out with Pearl and Mumbo more often. They hadn't seen each other in forever! It was only natural Grian would want to spend time with them! Mumbo and Grian kept pranking each other by passing trees back and forth. Pearl's front door was in constant disarray.
It was nice.
Grian drags himself out of bed. A cold sweat clings to his skin.
The first time Grian really interacted with either of the living ghosts, was when he was delivering some supplies to Impulse. He hadn't meant to stay as long as he did. He was a busy guy! He had places to be!
"Hey, Grian?" Impulse said. "Are you feeling okay? You've been acting kind of weird."
"Never been better!" Grian lied.
"Oh, okay…" Impulse said. "You'll let me know if anything wrong, right? I'm here for you, okay?"
"Mhm." Grian bounced on the balls of his feet. He tried not to look at the other's face.
Grian switches into his red sweater. The fabric is soft and worn. The wood flooring is cool beneath his feet.
It had been surprisingly easy to convince Bdubs to betray Impulse. All it took was a clock. Bdubs had already suspected Impulse was a traitor.
He had been struck down outside of the Crastle, his own team's base, by his own teammate.
Grian goes outside. The early sunlight is warm but not scorching. The grass is lush. His neighbor's bases continue to impress.
By the time, Grian had convinced himself to see Scar most of Boatem knew something was up. They didn't have clue what was going on. How could they? None of them remembered what had happened in Third Life. That was Grian's burden to bare.
Grian brought a wild Jellie cat to Scar. Scar had been looking for one since the dawn of the season. It seemed like a good place to start. It couldn't make up for everything. It couldn't make up for anything.
Scar loved her. As he cooed at the kitty, Grian tried not to recall the way his glassy lifeless eyes stared through him or the way his handprints had lingered around Scar's throat.
"Isn't she just precious?" Scar babbled as he pet Jellie. "I've been looking everywhere for her! Thank you Grian!."
Grian rubbed the back of his neck. "It was nothing."
"By the way, I love the way your base is coming along! It's been a while. We should collaborate on something soon!"
"We should." Grian smiled. It didn't reach his dark eyes.
Grian strolls down the streets of Boatem. The trampled grass of the path crunch softly. The air carries a sweetness to it. Bird chatter drifts around him. A dog barks in the distance.
Grian couldn't tell anyone about the Life series. Either they wouldn't believe him or they would and would have to live with the burden just like Grian was doing.
He didn't want to bring them anymore suffering.
Grian walks up to the swagon. The hum of machines grows louder. The scent of pine lingers in the air. The humid air clings to his skin. A shrill whistle cuts through the quiet. Jellie meows at him.
The first Boatem Meeting since establishment went well. They met around the Boatem hole, a gaping drop down into the void and certain death. Death was laughable in how impermanent it was in this reality.
They discussed how they could convince more people to shop at Boatem, instead of at Big Eyes or the Evil Emporium.
Grian knocks on Scar's front door. The spruce is rough under his knuckles. Delivery carts rattle inside. Chests and barrels lay in a pile along the rails. The wind ruffled his blond hair. The smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies lingered in the air. A wind chime sings its melody.
His friends were dead. They were right in front of him. He'd killed Scar with his own hands. Scar was as lively as ever. Nobody else remembered. His friends didn't stay dead, yet all the same Grian felt like he was surrounded by ghosts. Grian could still feel the sand under his fingernails.
Scar answers. The door creeks as it swings open. His long brown hair is mildly unkept. His pajamas are star wars themed. Scar gives a crooked smile. Grian avoids looking into Scar's green eyes. Grian opens his mouth before abruptly closing it. The chimes fill the silence.
He did eventually tell Scar about what happened at Monopoly Mountain. They had just been sitting by the Boatem Pole. It didn't seem like the right time, but there didn't seem to ever be a right time. He just couldn't keep going like he had been. When Grian explained the desert, Scar hadn't dismissed him or tried to convince him it hadn't happened. Instead, Scar had offered to listen to him and keep him company whenever the ghosts of the past haunted him. It had helped.
Grian swallows. His throat feels dry. Scar waits for him to speak. The morning air is cold. The rest of Boatem is slowly waking up. The cart rattles again. Grian tries to calm his racing heart. He feels sand under his fingernails. Grian inhales.
"Scar, can we talk?"