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It had been too easy to lead them down the dark tunnels of polished blackstone, the ghostly lighting of soul lamps barely illuminating their navy blue uniforms. Like leading a pack of blind sheep, with Eret at the front, taking them deeper and deeper into their deathtrap. The five of them crowded into the darkened room, two chests along both walls with one in the centre, names scratched onto signs hung on each chest.
Eret took a deep breath, hands pushing his dark shades higher up along the bridge of his nose. "This is it, gentlemen. The Final Control Room." Arms spread wide, a welcoming jester to lure them further into the room. Cheers of victory bumble within the doomed room, quick hands opening chests to see what the aforementioned 'secret weapon' was. The only person who hadn't immediately gravitated to his dedicated chest was Tommy.
It was Wilbur who spoke first,
"Eret? These chests are empty."
The latter stayed still, in his planned position. Just in reach of the button to activate the piston doors, but out of the way of the SMP members crouched just behind the walls. He had led them all down this way, had every chance to change his mind and save them... But he ignored the small thud in his heart, biting down the pained grin that wished to overtake him. Just as he planned to reach out for the wooden button along the floor, say the infamous line of betrayal he had choked down this entire battle, a painfully naive voice cut in.
"What's this button do?"
The piston's sounded, pulling away blackstone blocks to reveal the SMP members, potion particles rolling off of them as they raised their swords high. "Down with the revolution boys!" Eret exclaimed, hand raised in a salute as the screams ricocheted within the Control Room, the added people making the small suffocating space seem even smaller. "It was never meant to be."
彡
Tommy hadn't meant to press it.
Okay well that's a lie, even he can acknowledge that, but how was he to know that pressing a seemingly innocent button that was just asking to get pressed would open the floodgates and allow the bloodthirsty SMP members to invade in on them. Eret's floating words of betrayal barely registered when a familiar blade rested threateningly along his neck, a chest pressing into his back as Dream held him with Nightmare, the swirls of powerful enchantments looming around it. The threat kept his head facing forward, forcing him to watch his fellow revolutionists in similar predicaments.
Fundy laid discarded behind a chest, no longer invisible. Sapnap held his blade against the back of Tubbo's neck, the later of his knees with both of his hands atop his head. George and Punz mimicked the same stance, swords looming over the bruised revolutionary leader. Tommy bit the inside of his cheek as he stared into Wilbur's wounded eyes, a desperate message of questioning going unanswered by the older.
"Wow," The laughter of the SMP leader felt along his back, "I didn't think it would have been that easy now." He shifted, mask more noticeable in Tommy's peripheral as the leader moved to get a better look at the crumpled figure of Wilbur. The edge of sword dug ever so softly into his neck, a thin line of blood rolling down before being absorbed into the collar of his uniform, staining the collar a deeper shade of red. Instinctually his hand came up, gripping onto the forearm that trapped him against the other.
A beat passed before Wilbur spoke. "Well? You got what you wanted," A glare was shot at Eret, powerful considering the pitiful stance of the leader. "What are you waiting for? Finish it."
Tubbo let out a silent exhale of air, the grim reality of the situation further settling in from Wilbur's words. He made no move, arms still shakingly held atop his head, but blue eyes peered through sweaty brown locks to meet Tommy's. The other's eyebrow remained furrowed, but he met Tubbo's glance, and hope that his emotion shone through to the other.
"Hm? That seems too easy though, Wilbur." Dream pondered aloud, free hand rolling at the wrist, as though gesticulating something he was not able to place into words. "Easy...?" The L'Manberg leader bit out, eyebrows continuing to furrow further.
"Yes, easy." The SMP leader's free hand grabbed hold of unruly golden locks, before yanking it, baring Tommy's neck more to the sharp kiss of his blade. More blood blossomed and rolled down both his sword and the other's throat from the sudden and harsh movement. Tommy couldn't help but let a pained gasp out, not expecting the sudden change. "Perhaps I should make you grovel around a bit more, continue this little game that you wished to play, Soot."
"What do you mean, Dream." Wilbur dared to ask.
The leader took a step backward, back towards the opened piston tunnel he had emerged from, Tommy forced to retreat with him.
The revolutionists eyes all widened as they realized what the notion implied. "Dream, please, wait. Not Tommy," Wilbur pleaded, immediately trying to rise up from his kneeling stance, only to be shoved back down by both Punz and George. Still, he continued. "Take me instead, I'm sure I can provide more value, more info. Just please--" His pleads got cut short by the wheezing laughter of the SMP leader, the sound being contagious enough for the other SMP members to also chuckle at their blight.
"How tempting Wilbur! But I'm afraid I also like to play games, and theres one I haven't finished quite yet." He took another step back, porcelain mask partially shaded by the tunnel now. Once more Tommy was forced to step back with him, the sharp netherite blade continuing to bite further and further into his neck. His hand remained frozen upon Dream's forearm, his only anchor against the leader slitting his throat without another thought. Blue eyes met pained brown ones as he was forced to take another step back, now fully inside of the tunnel, the piston still holding the door opened.
"Come now, Wilbur. Let's continue our game of cat and mouse!" Dream proclaimed, the horrible sound so close to his ear as he watched the heavy handles of the other SMP members blades swing down onto the base of Wilbur and Tubbo's neck, effectively knocking them out. He saw a glimmer of pure white as Eret looked over the crumpled forms of his former teammates before the piston slammed the blackstone back into place, effectively locking him away from his members.
Dream shoved him to the floor, the blade once more pressing just a bit deeper before he fell against the blackstone, the sound of sadistic celebration on the other side audible to him. The looming of green and porcelain drew his eyes to the SMPs leader, and for once Tommy would admit that he felt... fear.
"As for us, Tommy," The other began, sword being changed out for an axe, the powerful enchantments rolling off of it reflected as Dream raised the weapon high. "Our little game has only begun once more."
The axes handle slammed against his temple, and as darkness swallowed him whole, Tommy let a stray tear escape his eye.
Why had he pressed the button?