Archive of Our Own ^beta

Xisuma had called a meeting amongst all Hermits, something important had to be discussed. It was a new world, everyone assumed it would be the average meet up with new rules being given.

They thought incorrectly.

>Xisumavoid< I need you ALL to stay indoors and not let ANYONE in your bases for some time. Hermits, we need to stick to our name.

>TinFoilChef< Deal

>ImpulseSV< lol the hermit hermits

>Keralis< Sweetface, is that our only rule this season?

>Grian< That seems so counterproductive for pranks and entertainment! =(

>TangoTek< Hold on WHAT?!

>Hypotized< wack, why

>Bdouble0100< WOAH WHY?!!?!!! IS SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENING?!?!

>Cubfan135< Are you worried about the flu? Lol

>Docm77< Probably lol

>EthosLab< I call dibs on taking camp in the end

>TangoTek<HEY I WAS GOING TO DO THAT

>EthosLab< gg

>FalseSymmetry< we aren't even allowed to spar?

>GeminiTay< wait why can't we interact with each other after this?

>GoodTimesWithScar< WAIT THAT'S BAD FOR BUSINESS

>Grian< A bit better for your lifespan too lol

>GoodTimesWithScar< HEY lol

>ijevin< Scar's right for once, real bad for business. Guess we won't have a shopping district this season???

>Iskall85< Don't like that

>JoeHills< Uh oh?

>MumboJumbo< Xisuma please tell us why, my anxiety is eating me alive as we speak!

>PearlescentMoon< Wait wait we need to stop spamming the communications to see when he responds first!!

>Rendog< This is the opposite of cool dudes

>StressMonster101< Guys stop

>VintageBeef< Oh I can do that easy. Tinfoil and I got that down

>XbCrafted< Yeah we know that but shhhhh

>Welsknight< What is even going on anymore?? Lol??

>ZedaphPlays< Oh this is going to be interesting!!!

>ZombieCleo< LOL

>PearlescentMoon< GUYS SH, XISUMA PLEASE CONTINUE

The communications go silent from all the buzzing notifications after some time. Xisuma was taking his time typing despite the urgency and tensity now spread in the air.

>Xisumavoid< It is a sickness, yes.

>Cubfan135< Knew it

>Docm77< Not that bad

>Xisumavoid< Men. Allow me to continue.

Silence yet again before another response.

>Xisumavoid< Not the flu. Not the cold. Worse. The Boogey Virus. Don't laugh. It sounds like a silly name, I know. This should be taken seriously despite the name. Someone soon will be infected. I don't have any control over it. Something followed us here.

All at once the chat is in a panicked uproar. Scared. Anxious. Using jokes to cope with the serious news. Too much at once.

>Xisumavoid< Please calm down. Take deep breaths. Especially you Mumbo.

>MumboJumbo< I am trying so hard.

>Grian< Count to 4 and slowly inhale and exhale, think about your Redstone contraptions you want to try out soon.

>MumboJumbo< Okay..

>Xisumavoid< Thank you Grian.

>Grian< =)

>Xisumavoid< I need you all to start separations immediately once I give more information. Keep notes.

>ZedaphPlays< Already on it

>Xisumavoid< Of course you are.

>ZedaphPlays< >:) Notes come in handy!

>Xisumavoid< Right. Especially now of all times. Now listen.

Xisuma breathed in, slow and steady. Shaking. Trying his best to relax. He usually had control over situations just in case. He didn't have control this time. This thought didn't help him.

>Xisumavoid< The Boogey Virus is hard to notice. It takes over instantly. At first you won't be able to feel it. Over time? You will. I am not entirely sure what it will do to you since it affects everyone differently. Though one symptom stays similar. An insatiable hunger and craving to kill. Rules are as follows.. Do Not Interact with ANYONE. You do not know who is infected until they act up. Do not let anyone in your home. All of us may be friends, however, this virus affects the brain.This season we were just going to have different amount of lives, but the death would be permanent when you get to your last life. This virus with this challenge really doesn't mix well. Please stay safe.I want you all to spread out Immediately.

The communications were completely silent after that. Everyone running off in different directions at top speeds or at least to the best of their ability. Listening to Xisuma without any sassy or snarky joke. There was still respawn mechanics but no-one knew their amount of lives. Not even Xisuma.

They would be treating this world as if it were a hardcore one.

Chef bunked on the side of a mountain, digging into it immediately. Wels a starter cobblestone castle on top of Chef's mountain. Hypno was laughing as he waved to them both, right across from them he made a small cobblestone house.

Grian made rush at a treehouse near the jungle. Scar was doing the same yet more detailed, farther away from Grian.

Mumbo was making an underground bunker. Much like a panic room. Away from ALL hermits. He wouldn't be sleeping.

Jevin had begun an underwater glass dome base. Xb accidentally made an underwater base that looked like an anemone near Jevin's glass dome.

Gem was making a starting cabin in a flower biome, Stress was making a wooden house shaped like a carved rose nearby.

Iskall stuck to a snow biome to make an igloo. Making a goal to make as many farms as possible while making friends with the polar bears.

Xisuma made haste on a start of an enderdragon skull base out of stone for now. Keralis kept a modern look to his base, farther from Xisuma but still close enough to see him through a window.

Pearl made a crescent moon inside of a mountain, way farther than most hermits ran.

Cleo went to find an underwater ship wreck to tidy it up, making it her starter base.

Bdubs sheered a bunch of trees to make a humble bush home.

Zed was mining for iron to make his base an underground lab later on, though at night he would sleep in a dirt hut.

Doc just made a dirt hole in the side of a mountain that would fit a bed. He had bigger plans for a broken goat horn base. Shattered peices of skull around.

Cub had started to make a panda sanctuary out of jungle wood, he would just be sleeping on a bed in the middle of them. 'emotional support pandas' he joked. Halfheartedly.

Ren had gathered so many wolfs, turned them into dogs and gotten armor. Paranoid. He didn't have a base yet. He wouldn't sleep yet. His base idea was a giant doghouse as a bit.

Beef had taken over a nice village to live among them. Trading with them already. Felt like home. If he couldn't interact with the other hermits, he wanted to befriend the villagers.

Joehills was doing a bit and made a hobbit house in a hill. Joehillshill she called it.

Impulse decided to set himself loose in the nether, making a base near his portal. Nether brick house. Meaning he called dibs on the nether. Tango followed after Impulse. Despite Impulse calling dibs, Tango went to find the fortress, making camp inside it. These two did not have to worry about beds.

Ethos didn't sleep until he found the stronghold, making home in the library. Reading would be his sanctuary for his sanity during these times.

False made a hammock on a tree to sleep in. She was planning on making a huge training grounds along with a medieval times cottage. All in a nice spruce biome.

>Xisumavoid< Everyone set up? Spread out?

>Keralis< GASP!! PRINCESS!! Take us out to dinner first!!

>GoodTimesWithScar< LOL NICE ONE

>MumboJumbo< Keralis!! You're worse than Scar

>Grian< lol

Everyone started to loosen up once they followed directions, felt more safe. Keralis's joke seemed to lighten up the mood even more. Stress snorting out laughter at it, Iskall too. Xisuma rolled his eyes affectionately.

>Xisumavoid< Everyone set your spawns. Get some rest, don't let the Boogey be your pest.

>Iskall85< That joke is worse than diorite.

>Grian< LOL aw c'mon I thought it was good

Everyone hesitated before setting their spawns and getting rest. Everyone besides Tango and Impulse that is.

Next day the communications were empty. It was an uncomfortable radio silence. No death messages. No jokes. All of them were working on their own projects. Busying themselves. Not even Grian spoke. Uncharacteristic.

Another nights rest passed. Another day. More silence. It was making few of them restless.

>Grian< Okay okay I know we aren't allowed to interact with eachother, but does this have to count? It's only through texts!

>GoodTimesWithScar< Finally, I was going to go crazy

>ImpulseSV< The silence wasn't even awkward, just unlike us

>Grian< Xisuma?

There was no answer.

>GoodTimesWithScar< Keralis is Xisuma okay?

>Keralis< He's having a nice well needed rest!

>GoodTimesWithScar< ooOoho after what ;)

>MumboJumbo< SCAR

>Grian< He is so lucky I can't come over there, he is so lucky

>Docm77< I can send some TNT his way

>MumboJumbo< please

>Docm77< On it lol

>GoodTimesWithScar< NOOO

Doc was only giving false threats. All of them speaking as if they always did. Some familiarity. Fear makes people do and say many things.

>Iskall85< Speaking about TNT, I could hook you up with some

>Docm77< How would you get it to me?

>Iskall85< Good question

>Grian< Wait, crazy idea

>MumboJumbo< All of your ideas are crazy

>Docm77< lol

>Grian< true, but, Mumbo remember our messaging system?

>GoodTimesWithScar< ;:) oooo???

>Grian< Scar shut up

>MumboJumbo< Scar shut up

>Iskall85< LOL

>Grian< anyways

>Grian< what if we make a huge messaging system, to everyone? We can still have our shopping district....just in home delivery!

>Keralis< I love it!

>MumboJumbo< That is actually brilliant. The Redstoners and I can get it set up. It'll take time but it won't be impossible.

>ZombieCleo< Yeah about that

>Ijevin< guys not to burst your bubble, but some of us are underwater. That is going to be a lot of tunnels. Who's going to be crazy enough to do that?

At first the chat was about to continue in silence to think. There are plenty of crazy hermits, but who wanted to risk their unknown lives for underground tunneling.

>Bdouble0100< DID SOMEBODY SAY TUNNELING?

>Keralis< Bubbles!

>Grian< PERFECT! Yes, we did! We need a messaging system! You could do the community a big favour with your hobby! After that the Redstoners would go in and set it up. It could be like one big trading system! We can all still interact, just at a distance.

>Bdouble0100< I get to have fun AND help my friends? DEAL

>Grian< Amazing! You're the best!

>Keralis< Of course bubbles is the best! Best eyes and face I know! Well one of them!

>Grian< You always have such a way with words

>MumboJumbo< Such a way indeed!

>ImpulseSV< I can help with the setting up

>TangoTek< same here. We both are in the nether but we can set another camp out on the overworld with you all near our portal.

>ImpusleSV< Yeah! We can be the main shop where you get anything you need from the nether!

>EthosLab< That's a good idea. I can be where you all can get any end items.

>Grian< =D

>Grian< That's the spirit!

>Ijevin< I know a few of us from under the depths can think of a shop too.

>ZombieCleo< You bet we can, we can turn on private messages and get that planned out.

>MumboJumbo< I missed this.

>Grian< Me too buddy, me too.

Everyone seemed to calm down, tension loosened. Bdubs setting out to dig a tunnel from his house to the others. Getting everyone to DM him their personal coordinates. Afterall, he wasn't a stranger. He was a good friend who was only setting a few things up. They were sure Xisuma would love the surprise they were all working hard on. Sure that he would enjoy the effort and high spirits in such a hard time like this.

Days passed. Four more. Nothing but hard work was put into this, the chat was now always full. Lively. Fresh as if the Boogey Virus was just an after thought, not a threat at all times. At this point they all had their bases near finished, the Redstoners with the help of Bdubs had a trading system up and running, and things felt back to normal.

The only thing on the back of everyone's minds was an insane urge of curiosity about Xisuma's whereabouts. He was known to disappear for some time and come back whenever he pleased. That was normal. However, it wasn't normal for him to do so without warning.

>Grian< Hate to be that guy, just kidding I love to be that guy, but Keralis...question!

>Keralis< I am all ears!

>Grian< Have you seen Xisuma? Heard from him? Maybe in your private messages or just saw him passing by? Busy with projects or? It's..been some time! I'm just worried I won't get to see our community project!

>Cubfan135< I was just about to ask the same question actually..

>TinfoilChef< I know I keep to myself but I'm usually sending him messages..not a single of them have gone read or answered..

>Keralis< I haven't seen shishwhammy since the last time I saw him napping! I went to knock on his wall to check on him but no answer!

>Grian< That's no good!

>MumboJumbo< Gentlemen! I'm sure he's just slaving away down in the mines? Too busy dodging creepers to text, maybe give him more time?

>Grian< Yea...YEAH! I'm sure it's that! Creepers are such jokesters.

>Docm77< Watch your next words birdboy

>Grian< Or what?

>Rendog< I'll let the hounds loose, favor for a friend.

>MumboJumbo< As much as I love threats and fighting, I don't think now is the time! All of us are very worried about Xisuma I'm sure.

>Docm77<...

>Rendog< B( yea

>Grian< =(

>Keralis< I miss his perfect face!

>MumboJumbo< You..it's hidden by a helmet.

>Keralis< If you had such big big gorgeous beautiful beautiful eyes like me, you could see his face even with the helmet

>TangoTek< freak shit

>Grian< Excuse me?

>TangoTek< I MEANNN

>TangoTek< Yeah I'm not taking that back, c'mon, it's Keralis I'm talking about here

>MumboJumbo< Language.

>TangoTek< >:|

>ImpusleSV< lol

>Keralis< Aw so rude to me! So mean! So cruel!

>Grian< So foul!

>Keralis< SO FOUL! EXACTLY!

>MumboJumbo< Uncalled for really.

>TangoTek< Aw c'mon guys

>TangoTek< it's TRUE

>Grian< so mean to him and for no reason

>MumboJumbo< So unjust!

>Keralis< UNJUST! You owe me a drink for such mean mean words!

>TangoTek< What?!? Noo , Impulse back me up here

>ImpulseSV< Sorry I can't hear you, I'm busy piglin farming

>TangoTek< ITS TEXT?!!!!!

>ImpulseSV< Sorry can't read

>TangoTek< WHAT

>TangoTek< SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, BACK ME UP HERE

This bit winded up going on throughout lunchtime. Everyone teaming up against Tango, affectionately bullying him for his reactions. His dramatic reactions got them through the day. Apologizing to him by sending over too many pumpkin pies. They all had a laugh about it. Waiting hours for Xisuma to respond. Finally a response.

>Xisumavoid< EVERYONE KEEP IN YOUR HOMES. I MEAN IT. I love the community project but something happened to me. I was out for some time. I didn't catch who the killer was. Whoever it was got me while I was chopping down trees. Meaning I am down a life. Please stay safe.

>Keralis< Sweetface I adore you, but are you so sure we should stay alone? Wouldn't that make us easier targets?

>Grian< Keralis has a point here...You were alone and got killed!!!!! Alone or not we are good as gone! Some friendly teaming up would give more firepower.

>Xisumavoid< And what if even with multiple hermits, there was still a death? That would mean multiple people's lives at stake. I already dislike the thought of ONE life at stake.....

>Xisumavoid< so no. No teams.

>Xisumavoid< Whoever is the Boogey or experiencing side effects, tell everyone immediately. Quarantine yourself. Lock yourself away. Stay self aware.

>Cubfan135< "If you're the killer and you know it clap your hands"

>Docm77< LOL

>Docm77< "If you're the killer and you know it, Simon says tell on yourself."

>Bdouble0100< IT'S ME. I'M THE BOOGEY.

>Keralis< Bubbles!!!

>Grian< That would have been funny if it wasn't so soon..

>GeminiTay< Too soon! If you really are the Boogey, don't come near me please!

>Docm77< "If you're the killer and you know it, pretty please with a cherry on top, don't touch me" <3

>Cubfan135<Lol.

>Xisumavoid< Alright I get it. It sounds insane. I know.

>Xisumavoid< I just don't want any more of you killed off.

>Grian< Wait.

>Grian< Xisuma........

>Grian< If you are telling us the truth..Why didn't we see a death message?

Communications silenced. It seemed to be a running trend.

>Xisumavoid< Wait. There...it didn't show a death message?

>MumboJumbo< Oh dear end.....this is like all my nightmares coming true at once..

>TinfoilChef< Really oddly specific nightmares you are having there bud.

>ZombieCleo< No death messages? At all? That's..we are really out here running blind..

>StressMonster101< A girl is owning up to her name right now

>FalseSymmetry< I'd like to go after the Boogey once we find out who it is.

>Welsknight< I could assist.

>FalseSymmetry< Yess

>Xisumavoid< No..nono. Don't. This just keeps getting worse.

>Rendog< Maybe Grian could open detective services again and find out who it is!

>Grian< :0 OH YEAH!!

>Grian< I can sleuth out the imposter!

>impulseSV< among us

>Grian< LOL

>MumboJumbo< Stop that

>Iskall85< LOL AMONG US

>Xisumavoid< I know this is a stressful time..please take this more seriously. Grian you can find out who it is if you're very confident in your detective skills..though I really suggest against it. You could be the next victim.

>Grian< But think about it! I can also be the one to quarantine the mad man! Or woman! Or nonbinary? Iskall, Joe.

>Joehills< :-)

>Iskall85< Called out

>Joehills< What an ally! :-P

>Grian< LOL

>Iskall85< LOL

Xisuma sighed. Nervous. Locking his door. It seemed he would just have to get wood from the trading system the other hermits made. The Boogey was near by. Bdubs, Keralis, Chef, Wels and anyone else near by. It could be any of them.

>Keralis< There is weird sounds coming from the trading system. Anyone else hear it?

>Xisumavoid< Please don't be pranking me like this right now.

>Keralis< I tell no lie, I would say look into my eyes but you know

>Keralis< No it sounds like rats. As if rats were in the walls.

>MumboJumbo< HATE THAT.

>Grian< maybe it's some chickens?

>MumboJumbo< Grian. I swear. Now is not the time for "poultry man".

>Grian< He's happily retired and married I'll have you know.

>MumboJumbo< I

>MumboJumbo< What?

>Grian< What?

>GoodTimesWithScar< Awkwarddddd

>Iskall85< ^

>MumboJumbo< Nevermind.

>Keralis< Shhh Sweetfaces shhh shh shhhh

>Keralis< Listen.

>Keralis< Listen closely. You will hear.

Everyone paused. Wherever they were they walked to the nearest Trading System railway. Listening. Five minutes go by, no sound.

>StressMonster100< I don't hear anything.

>Keralis< Quiet.

>Keralis< Listen.

>Keralis< It is like heart beat. Patience.

Silence fell again.

On the seventh minute there is a faint sound. Stretching. Squelching. Unnecessarily nerve wreckingly, uncomfortably moist sounds.

>StressMonster101< Nevermind oh my god nevermind

>Keralis< Hear it?

>StressMonster101< Loud and Clear

>Grian< I hear it too

>Grian< Wait how is it everywhere in the tunnel system? Do you think it's just water leaking in? It does sound pretty wet.

>Grian< Scar not a wordd

>Keralis< It is not water.

>Docm77< It is definitely not water.

>ZedaphPlays< Leaking water does not sound like THAT. If your leaks tend to sound like that, my brother in Christ, do I have some news for you!

>MumboJumbo< Let me believe it being water, please let me have this, please

>ZedaphPlays< Woopsies?

>Grian< Fine

>Grian< It's not water.

>Grian< What is it then?

>Bdouble100< Someone should open up a wall or two to find out maybe?

>ZedaphPlays< I could! For science!

>Bdouble100< For science! :D

>Xisumavoid< Don't you "For science!" this.

>ZedaphPlays< Too late! BRB

>Bdouble100< He'll be fine :D

>Keralis< He has the sweet sweet scientific protection!

>MumboJumbo< Scar don't even try it

>GoodTimesWithScar< Oh c'mon!!!!

More playful bickering happened in the background as Zedaph's communicator buzzed softly on his wrist. Fixing his lab coat he walked back over to the closed redstone door that the trading system was behind. Placing a gloved hand on the wall, he ran it by, testing to see if he could feel any vibrations from where the sound was coming from. The sound was paused for now. He waited. 7 minutes, the sound could be heard again. From where he could hear it,he places a hand on the wall. Pulsating could be felt. Like a heartbeat as Keralis said.

"Fascinating..." Soft whispered interest left his lips before he got out his pickaxe. Swinging at the wall to open it up like a greedy child with a cookie jar. Upon opening the wall there was a large crimson red growth along the dirt. "oh... I could use you for samples! I'll just tell the group we just have a little plant overgrowth." Zedaph started to type on his communicator. Unaware to the mass stretching out to him.

>ZedaphPlays< Good news guys! It's just some massive red plant growth! Nothing to be worried about! I'll start testing it right away! BRB

>Xisumavoid< ZEDAPH DON'T.

>Xisumavoid< ZEDAPH!

>Xisumavoid< WHO KNOWS WHERE ZEDAPH LIVES?

>Bdouble100< I do! :D Can I go get him?

>Docm77< That's weird wording

>Xisumavoid< PLEASE GO GET HIM

>Xisumavoid< We don't know what that mass is! Don't touch it! Be safe!

>bdouble100< I will!

Zedaph's ankle was grabbed immediately after he went to get a vial for samples. A forced yelp left him as he tripped. Goggles protecting half of his face from the fall. "..wh-" He tried to get up, dizzy. The grip on his ankle getting tighter. "Oh that's interesting!!!" He chuckled nervously before sitting up more. "Heyy little-big? Guy! Can you let go? Please? I promise I'll take good care of you in my lab!-" More vines escalated up Zedaph's body. Pulling him close to the wall. "Okay how about I just get a sample and call it a day?" The pulling continued. Faster. Rougher. "Wait wait-"

Bdubs tore through Zedaph's trading system door with a netherite pickaxe. "Hiii Zed! Knock knock!"

"Oh bubs! Thank goodness! Can you help me with this? I can get a sample and I'll get you some resources in my chest for helping!" Zed sounded desperate. Smiling to see a good friend come to help.

Bdubs walked out of the door, shadows falling behind him, light showing his appearance much better. His award winning smile wasn't there. His eyes were still the big ones he was known for. Yet different. Red and white. His pickaxe was now held at a more threatening angle to Zedaph's neck. His smile making an appearance again as he kneeled down lower to give Zedaph a better look at his face. Red vines were shown so strongly over his face among his golden freckles. Grown out as if they were his own veins.

Zed got pale. "...My good best friend bubss- You aren't here to help are you?"

"Aw,you were always so smart! No I AM here to help. Just not YOU."

Zed grew more pale, as if he were the one sick, not the other way around. "Were?"

"Past tense silly. Since you too will be past tense. Buh bye!"

A couple swings left the man on the ground dead. Body being dragged off into the walls. Everytime he respawed, four times, he was killed in a different way with the netherite pickaxe. None of the deaths being called out.

Bdubs's smile was now back, teeth sharp. Holding Zedaph's communicator.

>ZedaphPlays< Like I said, nothing to worry about! The sounds will be gone soon!

>MumboJumbo< That's a relief! I can get some sleep knowing that.

>Xisumavoid< You really had us worried there.

>ZedaphPlays< All thanks to your help, Bdubs was able to come get me. If anyone else needs help, call for him. Really helpful.

>Xisumavoid< I'll keep that in mind!

>Grian< Good job buddy!!!

>Keralis< Beautiful bubbles!! Very beautiful job!

The chat flooded with positive feedback towards Bdubs. Unaware of his work.

>Bdouble100< Aw thank you guys, you're making me all red faced.

He couldn't stop giggling to himself at his little inside joke. Going around Zedaph's base and looting it for anything that would come in handy with his hunger for death. Only to not care for any of it, stepping inside the wall and replacing it as if it wasn't broken in the first place.

The day was coming to an end and Bdubs new life goal was coming to a beautiful start.

He was going to help all of his friends.

Another day on the new server, more work was getting done.

All the hermits were working on detailing of their bases, sending over trades they needed, finding pets and going about things as normally as they could. As 'Zedaph' said, the noises in the trading system were gone. Chat was booming once again.

>Bdouble0100< Does anyone need anything?

>Xisumavoid< I am good thank you.

>Grian< I was going to say TNT but Iskall promised me a hook up

>Grian< no scar

>Grian< A hookup of some TNT later on through the system so I should be good!!! Thanks anyways!!

>Bdouble0100< oh okay!! Great! Ethos what are you working on?

>EthosLab< Gathering items for shulker boxes and elytra since they will be needed

>Bdouble0100< OOOOOOO YESS

>Bdouble0100< I NEED those SO BADDD, once you get some I call dibs for first call

>EthosLab< lol ofc you can, I'll even make you a green shulker. Just for you

>Bdouble0100< YOU'RE LIKE AN ANGEL

>GoodTimesWithScar< Aw that's such a sweet moment

>GoodTimesWithScar< HOWEVER I call second dibs

>Bdouble0100< LOL

>Grian< YOURE SO LUCKY I WAS TYPING THAT BEFORE YOU SENT IT

>GoodTimesWithScar< better luck next time

The discussion continued, bickering and laughing. They were too distracted to hear a small sound through the walls. Too busy to realize their bases being mapped out. Marked.

Sun setting now, Zedaph's eyes opened. He felt cold,faint,and fuzzy. Looking around he noticed he was in the middle of the sky. Only to look down. There was no blur of trees, no feeling of a jump in his stomach, and no legs seen squirming in loss of ground to stand on. There was only trees and a nice view. Looking around himself more, he couldn't see his own body. Now screaming due to that realization. He was dead. A Spectator. The entire time he screamed no one could hear, for he had no lungs. No mouth. His screams were falling on deaf ears. Muffled.

Only after that realization, he came to another, having no mouth meant no means to warn his friends that Bdubs was the killer.

All he could do was spectate. Watch them suffer.

If he could cry, he would.

Zedaph hurried to his base through the air, looking for his body. Any evidence of a home invasion, something. Nothing. There was nothing robbed. There was no body. The walls that were broken in were neatly replaced as if the whole incident never happened. As if he never died. No face to show the horrid fear he felt.

The walls. They were replaced. He came to conclusion to check inside them, follow the mass. Zedaph went through the wall, looking around. The mass was curled and wrapped along the dirt, spread elongated off in so many directions. Off to the north he saw his neon pink tinted goggles. Going towards the view he noticed a body. Twisted and contorted along the vines. As if it fell from a building.

It was his.

He looked away.

Only to continue going down different directions, seeing where it lead to. All of his friends bases. Except dear paranoid mumbo's.

The cords. Mumbo never gave Bdubs his cords.

Zedaph found another body along the vines, looking as if it was currently still being eaten by the carnivorous plant. It was his, again.

He died four times. There must have been four bodies inside the walls.

Zedaph left the inside of the walls, left underground. He couldn't stand seeing them. It was hitting him hard that he was dead. Really dead. His curiosity had really been the death of him.

Bdubs watered his beautiful rose bush garden. Watered his other posies, tulips, and then his gorgeous mass. A smile as wide as can be as he pet the growth like a cat.

"You're doing such an amazing thing for me, yes, you are! Yess you are. Who's a good little plant? You are! You! That's right!" An eerie little pet baby voice left him in a coo, little proud giggles to go with such a voice. "You will be my eyes. You will be my help while I am theirs. How does that sound? I know. I know. I'm a genius." While he spoke he stopped watering the mass to give it some pork. "I helped and I think I can be so much more helpful with you though...I think..I want to recruit more help soon. What do you think?"

The mass does not respond. It can not speak.

"That's what I was thinking!!! You are just as smart as I thought." He giggled more madly now. Bdubs brushed off his hands. "I think I'll pay Keralis a little visit. Check on his building. I'm sure..he will need my help. If I can't help him, I think I'll watch. I'm just..I just have that itch. That itch I have to scratch. I know,,I knowww we aren't allowed to see friends. But! I think some rules are meant to be broken." He then put his hand back on the mass, the petting more slow. "I know you believe the same.." His eyes scanned over his beautiful plant. Patting it before walking off to the upper section of his base. The bush base had been redesigned as a greenhouse.

>Bdouble0100< Are you still working on your base Keralis?

>Keralis< That I am! I am almost done!

Bdubs whines under his breath.

>Bdouble0100< Do you need help?

>Keralis< Nope! :D

>Keralis< You can come to see it with your beautiful eyes if you would like! Just stay at a distance for safety!

>Bdouble0100< I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT! On my way!

>Xisumavoid< I will be keeping watch for you two

>Keralis< Thank you sweetface

>Bdouble0100< That's so smart

During lunch Bdubs had been sitting in the grass with crossed legs to watch Keralis work. Eating raw beef.

Zedaph looked down at Bdubs from the sky. Going down closer to get a better look. Bdubs did not appear to be the same as he saw him before he died. Zedaph looked for any difference in Bdub's appearance, anything at all. Something that would give his killer, his friend, away. Nothing. Frustration bubbled in the core of his soul.

Keralis now turned around, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. Sighing with relief. His plaid cover-up over his shoulder, turning to Bdubs. "Well, what do you think?"

Bdubs took a second to mentally click in. "Hm? Oh- OH!!! I LIKE! I REALLY LIKE! Do my big eyes lie or is that flooring beehive?"

Keralis chuckled. "It is beehive! Expensive but Papa K likes it regal." He joked with a shoulder shrug.

"REGAL?!" Bdubs snorted with a snicker. "Oh yeahh yeah very regal! Says the man who makes the worst kind of jokes along next to Scar and Iskall!"

Keralis makes a big dramatic gasp. "Moi?!"

Bdubs rolls his eyes and points to Keralis. "Yes!!! Yes you!!"

Zedaph felt sick. Disgusted. Such a friendly man. His good friend. Always so funny and kind and deadly. He watched, anxious. Always on the edge, expecting the worst. The worst that never happened the whole meetup.

Bdubs hummed, carrying some logs in his hands. A gift from Keralis. Putting it in his storage system.

Zedaph looked away. He couldn't look at him the same way anymore. He was acting so normally after his death. Bdubs wasn't mentally all the way there. It was obvious. His friend was still his friend. His friend was just, sick. Sick in the head. Sick. Zedaph wandered around more. Noticing all the hermits going about their day. They all were so unaware of his death. It was unsettling. Someone was bound to find one of his bodies during mining. Till then, the coverup in the chat and the base would last for some time.

Until then, Zedaph looked back at Bdubs. He would follow him around everywhere he went now. If the world would be infected from Bdubs, then from a scientific standpoint he wanted to see this happen.

From a victim standpoint, he wanted to see the man fail. Be cured. Death be the cure.

He just wanted bdubs back. Not this parasite.

Zedaph wanted to watch the others too, yet morbid curiosity was keeping him tethered to the parasite.

Tension formed anytime bdubs would be near someone he shouldn't be near. Interacting with people despite the rules. Xisuma noticed and only lectured him once, zedaph noticed.

>Grian< Mumbo do you have any sticks?

>MumboJumbo< Only a few, I know Ren has too many

>Rendiggitydog< TRUE BUT THEY ARE LIKE GOLD TO ME MY DUDE

>Grian< What if, you give me sticks now..and in the longer run..I give you MORE sticks back. Like interest..

>Iskall85< What an investment

>Rendiggitydog< DEAL

Zedaph wanted so badly to press any communication buttons on his stolen communicator, so badly to tell them to stop worrying about sticks and find his bodies. Find who will be devouring the server. His friends. He knew there was nothing he could do. Nothing.

A thought hit him that hurt him to his core.

They'll never find his bodies and they will never know he was dead in the first place. They'll go the entire season without him. Never knowing.

Zed didn't want to watch anymore. Curious or not he did not want to be the curious cat that continued to be turned into roadkill. Zed just wanted to be noticed. To be avenged. To know his friends cared.

A week passed by.

All while Zed had been having many realizations, the mass it grew. The mass would be made of more matter the more time and care it had received. Bdubs always loved to spoil his friends. The mass was now one of his friends. So the mass, was spoiled. Spoiled and growing more and more. Bdubs gathering false alibis accidentally without second thought. All he was doing was spending time with the other hermits.

They all thought, it couldn't be him. Thinking, if it was him, he would have killed anyone of us by now. They all give him such a clear slate by wrong assumptions.

Grian didn't open a detective case yet since there was no deaths. Nothing to run on by with evidence yet.

>Grian< Anyone else besides Xisuma loose any lives?

>GoodTimesWithScar< I fell down a ravine yesterday!

>Grian< Anyone ELSE besides Xisuma AND SCAR loose any lives?

>Grian< I mean to the killer

Zedaph was filled with hope for once since his deaths. Finally there was a serious discussion about the killer.

>ZedaphPlays< If you have, I can take note!

Zedaph watched as his name popped up in the chat. That wasn't him. He watched as Bdubs giggled, taking over from his communications. Bdubs having now two watches on his left wrist. He was known for collecting those golden watches but this was another sick and twisted form of collecting.

>Grian< That would be great! You can be my keeper!

>ZedaphPlays< I can do that :)

>Grian< Perfect! So since I didn't get an answer besides scar, I think we are all doing pretty good surviving

>Iskall85< kinda reminds me of the zombie apocalypse

>MumboJumbo< ISKALL NO

>Iskall85< What?! It does!! Think about it, virus and deadly in a way? C'mon bro that is so close

>MumboJumbo< I'm choosing to take your words with a grain of salt

>Grian< He has a point wafflehead

>MumboJumbo< I hate it here

>Iskall85< You love us

Mumbo rolled his eyes, responded to the text by an 'unfortunately' before looking away from his communications, muting it for some time. He wanted to continue working on his underground farms. At the moment he was working on a zombie farm.

As Mumbo was mining for his farm he heard a familiar sound.

Squelching.

He froze. Waiting. Surely he heard wrong, he thought to himself.

One minute. Silence.

Two minutes. Silence.

Three, four, five, six, silence.

Seven.

Squirming, muffled squirming.

Mumbo slowly turned to look at the wall, cold sweat covering his face. Backing away. His anxiety was just acting up he thought, he was just being paranoid. Mumbo wanted to pretend that he didn't hear anything. Pretend it and possibly it would be true. Hallucinations.

Mumbo started to mine again after some hesitation. Humming to himself to calm his nerves. He didn't hear anything for some time after that one time.

He was just paranoid and thinking illogically based on fear is what he concluded with.

Mumbo decided from then on out, if he heard another noise, he would trust Zedaph's word on it.

Trust his good friend on it.

There was no more red mass and Zedaph was fine. He said so himself. He was a man of science! He was clever!

He could ignore the red against his walls, it was just leftover Redstone.

>Grian< Another question, anybody notice anything weird?

>MumboJumbo< Anything?

>Grian< Yeah anything!

>MumboJumbo< I uh

>MumboJumbo< Weird noises

>MumboJumbo< The weird noises

>Grian< you sure they aren't just made up by you? I do trust you! I just think you tend to overthink things! Are you sure?

>Iskall85< Yea man are you sure? This is important

Mumbo sweat at being put on the spot.

>MumboJumbo< No no you know what, yes, yes you are both right. I must be overthinking it. I do that. Everything's fine. I'm safe, I'm just scared.

>Grian< it's okay to be scared! Try to think before answering questions! Zedaph is taking notes and I need the story to be clear!

>MumboJumbo< Right, Right. I'm sorry grian

>Grian< you're alright!

Mumbo muted his communications again. Feeling guilty.

His private messages being spammed.

>Bdouble100< You heard weird noises?

>Bdouble100< Do you need help dealing with them?

>Bdouble100< Where did you hear them from?

>Bdouble100< I wouldn't mind going all the way over to help

>Bdouble100< No matter how far your cords are

>Bdouble100< I would go to so many lengths to get those cords of yours

>Bdouble100< Mumbo? Are you there? :D?

>Bdouble100< I didn't even know you were connected to the trading system! How did you do that without my help?

>Bdouble100< I can help you, you know?

>Bdouble100< Why don't you trust me?

All of the messages at some point still dissapear over time. Hours being waste away as Bdubs gets no response and Mumbo works on his Redstone.

>Bdouble100< Mumbo am I helpful? You don't think I'm helpful do you?

No response. It was making Bdubs antsy. Clingy. Desperate. He wanted to help. He needed to help. Mumbo wouldn't let him. Didn't trust him. He craved it.

>Bdouble100< Mumbo

>Bdouble100< Mumbo?

>Bdouble100< Mumbo please answer

>Bdouble100< mumbo I will help you, let me help you

No answer. Bdubs knew mumbo got quiet during his builds. Even if he knew this he was covered in sweat. Crying and laughing. It hurt so bad not to be able to help. It hurt so bad knowing that something felt abnormal about himself. Even if he was a monster, he still wanted to help. Even in his twisted sense. He wanted to help.

He opened his chat. Private messaging Keralis.

>Bdouble100< Keralis

>Keralis< Oui?

>Bdouble100< I'm upset and I don't know what to do

>Keralis< Aw no, come here now, I give you honey and tea and we talk, yes?

>Bdouble100< you'll help me?

>Keralis< yes, I help you

Bdubs wiped his face and started to head over to keralis's house. Face dripping with liquid. Tears he figured.

Keralis turned around to smile widely at his favorite wide grinning man besides himself, only to fall short. Pausing in his turn.

"BUBBLES?! Who has made you bleed this way?" Keralis ran over and rubbed a thumb over Bdubs cheek, runny red liquid getting smeared against his skin.

"Bleed? I'm? IM BLEEDING???" bdubs blinked quickly

Keralis now squished Bdubs face with two hands. "YOU ARE BLEEDING SO MANY! SO MUCH! What has happened????"

"I don't know!!" Bdubs genuinely could not remember.

"Is your blood, right?" Keralis raised a brow.

"I think so???? Is it?" Bdubs tilted his head, confused.

Keralis runs a finger by it and lightly licks it like a cat. "Yes is yours."

Bdubs blinked rapidly. Standing there for a moment.

Zedaph would blink so fast if he could.

Keralis smiled. "No worries, I am a professional."

"I" bdubs smiled and then started to laugh. "I trust you. Tango was right." Right about him being a freak.

"hey!" Keralis puts his hands on his own hips. "Take it back or no tea."

"okay okay I take it back! I take it back!" Bdubs couldn't stop laughing.

"first we get you aid, then we clean you up and get you the tea. Lets go. Tell no one, all of them paranoid. No need to add stress." Keralis walked behind bdubs and started to push at his back to get him moving.

Zedaph was coming to acceptance of being barely there. Just known of sounds and maybe red.

Just barely noticeable.