Greetings again, it's been a long time. My apologies for the extreme wait, went through many iterations of this Chapter before it actually pleased me enough to post it, and here it is. I hope it was worth the wait.
(Read/Review and as always, I hope you enjoy.)
Chapter Fifteen: Divide and Subtract.
Three days later.
"I hope she's right this time." Finn spoke while idly kicking a stone along the light pink-path.
"Yeah, I can't keep doing these trips back and fourth man. I'm getting too old for this."
"Too old? I thought you age the same as us in magical dog years?"
"...Well – yeah, but... look, the mind is willing, the body is tired."
"And lazy." He added.
"Hmmf." Jake disregarded that comment.
Another spring afternoon they got the call, this was the fourth time in the past couple of days. Bubblegum was overworking herself to get this thing finished that she kept overlooking procedures in order to get it done. Her message was same as always, 'I'm sure I've got it this time.' then went on to explain the engineering and science-y side to back-up her statement. Honestly they both were growing tired of Bubblegums claims, this isn't the calm, cognitive Princess Bubblegum they know, but they remained committed and always beckoned to her calls driven (mostly) by curiosity that she actually had it this time. They wanted to have a little more faith in her, though clearly the stress caught up with her and now she is working like clockwork too short of breaks or even sleep.
They worried for her well being, though she always assured them she was fine. This needed to be done ASAP for a multitude of reasons and she was willing to sacrifice her time and health to meet a deadline.
The kingdom was just ahead now, down the road, the last stretch before the city gates. "You know, I got a good feeling she's got it this time." Jake shared his optimism. "And then we won't have to keep doing this walk." He praised.
"Oh? And what makes you say that?" Finn wondered what made this time any different, not that he wanted to doubt Bubblegums abilities, but there was a pattern of false promise developed these past three days.
"She just seemed - I don't know, excited down the phone. It was in her voice, like she nailed it. You've seen how she gets when she finally cracks something that's been bugging her for weeks."
He smiled naturally at the thought, "Yeah, I haven't seen her happy like that for awhile."
"Don't worry dude, when the whole mess is finished and things return back to normal, I'm sure we'll all find some peace and happiness we long forgot."
Finn's walking noticeably slowed, yawing his head to his feet. "Sure..."
It was hard for Jake to miss as Finn slowly fell behind his line of sight, he turned, "Hey man, what's wrong." He stretched his arm up around the back of his neck and over his shoulder, lightly pulling him back up to synchronize speeds again. "We got this, everything's gonna turn out like it was before and we'll all be fine. Just gotta make the final push. We want this far more than he does, and we're gonna get it." Finn wished he had his brothers confidence, or at least his influential encouragement.
His words did awaken a wanting desire inside him again however, a dangerously powerful albeit not exactly selfish desire that made him want to press on forward. He returned to his previous pace with a bit more kick in his step, tensing in muscles and more noticeably his fists. All of a sudden he was driven, and couldn't wait to arrive sooner, "Sure..."
Bubblegum was rushing around to set up in the bunker below, it was difficult for her to move swiftly or even remain alert, the self-inflicted sleep deprivation was taking its toll on her body now at the worst possible time. She was certain that this time would be it, though her exerted state could be the device's doom if she isn't focused enough to realise which wires go to what output and what commands to execute on the terminal in the correct order.
To alleviate her physical stress pacing up and down staircases with boxes of equipment and tools she asked of Peppermint's aid to at least relieve her of one bother so she could put more of her thinking power towards what's actually important.
She wasn't organised at all, the work-stations were a mess, cluttered with mix-matches of notes, scraps and tools from all different boxes. She had hit the maximum capacity of tools needed; why did she need more wrenches when she already had multiple adjustable ones by her shins as she bent down to work underneath the drainer? why did she need a sledgehammer close-by over on another table? Peppermint didn't question, she hardly knew herself, but still requested him to bring more and more.
Peppermint jingled his way into the silo, the metal from the old toolbox in hand echoed each step, dropping it down by the the table topped-off with the plenty other boxes. He took a quick breather for all that heavy lifting before turning to Bubblegum. "Princess I really must insist you at least take one short break. Your body can only take so much, you'll get sick, come down with a fever or something worse. What good will you be able to do then?"
"No, thi-" Handing herself the wrong tool she stunted in her speech, "-this is it this time, it's going to work! I have to give it my full attention or else it will be another wasted effort..." Her sleepless being left her stubborn and ill-tempered.
"You can't give it your full attention when you have lost two nights of sleep in a row with as little as a fifth teen minuet rest. That simply cannot do. It is my responsibility as your butler to make sure you are fit and healthy, if I don't stop you now then I would be failing to attain the requirements of my duty. So again I implore you take a stop and rest. The last I brought you something to eat was yesterday just before midnight, and you hardly ate a quarter.
She stopped to address to him directly. "I grabbed a few snacks- Yawn -from the kitchen in the morning, I'm fine." She continued to rant with her droopy eyes back on the job, "It's my responsibility to protect this kingdom! I'm too close to make any screw ups now, which is exactly what I'll do if I rest and let my mind wander off. Is it not also your duty to heed my words and do as I ask?" Her eyes jumped back to him for his answer.
He went to argue, but didn't, took a pause before giving a submissive nod, annoyed to where this was going. "Then I override you of those responsibilities you mentioned until I say otherwise. Now please get me those extra tools and let me work, and-and see if Finn and Jake has arrived yet." Back to her feet walking off to the table she grumbled under her breath in a grumpy tone, "I'll rest when I'm done..."
He let her temper clear a bit, as-well-as his own, before leaving off with, "As you wish, milady."
Everything was coming together now, time was on his side. Bubblegum wasn't the only one with a secret weapon; the Lich wasn't one to accept losing at a game of 'who has the pointiest stick?'. especially when he has an audience to impress. In such games he only saw it fitting to respectfully up the ante, otherwise what a bore it would be. Pointless, anti-climactic. This throw down soon to be had was to be a spectacle marked in history. Win or lose he would have his way. The weak ones beneath him would look back in their dates and be reminded; he will become an eternal example in their literature, immortalised in words, a benchmark of evil and horror, he would become the very definition of the two. Already the superstitious have told whispers and stories of his name at camp-fires, around tables late in the night at inns. Now he would prove to the non-believers of his existence there are such terrors in this world. One way or another.
This was to be a day of reckoning, he couldn't just show up any old-how. He ditched the old robes and rags he threw over Hunson's husk in placement of those tacky suits he wore. Armour wasn't his style. A simple update to his normal attire would do, he had to look prestigious for the event; it was almost becoming a party to him, like a celebration. A birthday. It wouldn't be inaccurate, not for what he had planned. He had never felt this before. Excitement? Whatever it was or whatever mortals call it, it was assuredly the closest thing he felt to being alive.
To obtain what he wants though he knows what is needed from him, more specifically what 'pieces' are needed of himself: his strength, his knowledge, eagerness, ego, a part of his very essence. All the traits which make him strong and are powerful even on their own, no imperfections could go in, no weaknesses, no self-doubts, no framework or form to shell up in. This was it, his true self he would unveil to the world to gaze upon, the last privilege he would give before casting them to the Underworld. Death is going have allot more residents.
The door opened as he'd been expecting, about time. "You called for me, sire?" The short demon servant hobbled inside the green bloom room formerly known as Hunson's chambers. The irradiated glare coming from the blistering well of green sledge, lighting the room, was enough to itch a sting his fragile skin.
The Lich heard his wheezing, noticed how far back he kept his distance from the source of his displeasure. "Don't be shy, come closer." He gestured his finger at him, the demon almost felt his weight lifted as the Lich's finger summoned over to him. The imp slowly committed to his steps and stood by his master, feeling an arm wrap around his back, gripping his left shoulder, hearing a throaty unnerving mutter in his right ear, "Beautiful isn't it?" The Lich complimented the pool of liquid just in front of them, the demon so small his eyes just manage to peer over the stone it was contained in; even the Lich had to kneel just to wrap his arm around him. "Can you see it?" The Lich's other arm cast out in front, "The future in the ripples, the destruction, chaos. A new age dawning, and I will bear it."
The imp stayed silent, unsure how to reply, or even to where this was going. The Lich took it as a compliment, "In awe you should be, or fear. Either works so long a you comprehend its magnitude."
"...Um, sire, if I may – why did you call for me to see this?" The demon saw rather increasing oddities in Hunson's behaviour and personality lately. Being around him now, the aura he gave off just sends chills down the imp's spine.
"You're here because, well, as much as I'd hate to admit, you are needed, no – required before my last step."
"Required? Do you need me to fetch something for, 'this'."
"No, no, you are fine as you are. You see I poured my soul into this great work of mine to see it a reality. My kin telling me it couldn't be done, that we'd always need another's form to physically exist, I dreamed for something greater, to be more than a parasite using these disgusting bags of meat to be my existence, do my bidding. I would never truly be me... until now." He took a stand.
"I... I don't understand." He said sheepishly.
"Of course you don't, not that it matters either way really. Getting to the point, regretfully all of what is me isn't enough, you see I'm trying to give life here and I have none to give, I am not living nor dead. I have the engine but no key to start it. You however... albeit a demon, the lowest most degenerate excuse of life there is, are a living creature with a consciousness and self-awareness.
He closed the gap between them, restricting where he could move, up against the stone well. The fear was visibly clear on his face, The Lich grabbed him underneath the jaw. "Putrid flesh should not be allowed to defile this, but it calls, it hungers. No need to fear," He wiped his hand down his face, closing his eyes (only for them to pop open again), "-you'll be purified soon enough."
The demon squirmed and pleaded in hold of his hand, "Please, sire – Hunson! I only wished to serve you! Whatever I did to displease you, I am forever sorry! P-Please reconsider, punish me some-other way!"
"Hmm, your right, I could be more merciful, you haven't wronged me." The demon's struggles subsided slightly in relief, yet he had still not been put down. "Though there's something you are mistaken with – I am not Hunson." No longer held up from danger the imp's body was given a gentle toss forward to fall centre into the acidic brew below. He only screamed shortly till his mouth was filled and his face sank, with blobs and bubbles coming to the surface, marking his passing. The Lich comfortably watched and couldn't control the smile on his face in undeniable excitement, but he patiently waited, saw until the layer of blood blended into the green around it.
One last thing had to be done prior to crossing into greatness, using Hunson's powers to their utmost usefulness. Walking up to the dormant portal gate at the end of the room, he cut open his palm with a sharp rock on the floor, clapping his hands together to smear blood from one to the other, then positioned his hands in the middle of the gate. It reacted to Hunson's scent, felt like a vibration through the air, like it could smell it's masters blood. The markings carved into the obsidian gate became a vacuum sucking up the red plasma through the tiny gaps in his faced hands. The markings didn't stop till every inch of carving was covered red; when it had finished it responded with another more violent vibration. It then did as required and tore open a link to any destination he desired.
Attention went back to the well, no sign of the imp ever falling in was left. "Now cleanse me of this weaker form, let me feel what it is like to be a true god..." He chanted to his concoction like it was an alive entity. He held out his hands closely above the liquid layer as it begun the reach up and accept him, seep into the wound on his palm, coating itself on the the pours of his skin. He could feel it connect to him, become part of him, change him. He whispered gratefully, "Finally, thank you..." Before stepping inside completely.
Walking in through the city gates, the folk around the street doing their daily business were so out of the loop, unknowing of the danger that could strike at any moment. Maybe it was for the best they didn't know, they all seem normal and peaceful like any other day, no need to strike unnecessary worries into them.
"You know what Jake, I think you're right." Finn grabbed Jakes attention.
"Yeah, about what?"
"What you said, it's our turn to fight back, our time to strike. This whole time we've been afraid, feared him. Now its our turn to give him a reason to be fear of us. He doesn't understand what becomes of a person when they've lost something they hold dear, he's incapable of knowing - feeling emotions. I'm gonna make him, I'll shove it down his throat and make him choke on the suffering he has caused. Even then everything won't be back to the way it was... He's took too much to just flip the switch back to normal, but he will suffer."
"Finn, that's not how I meant it to sound, you're jumping ahead too much man. We gotta take this one step at a time or mistakes will happen, you know? You're only seeing revenge at the moment, but not focusing on how you'll get there, and all the other things at stake. I know how much you want to see him dead, we all do, but you're letting that goal become all you are fighting for, it's clouding your vision..."
"Well it's starting to seem like it's all I got to go on." He said stubbornly.
Jake stood in front of his path and stopped him. "What about me and Bubblegum, these people, and what about her, you telling me you've given up?"
A crashing thunder roared before Finn could even begin to answer, the sound was unlike anything they have ever heard, almost indescribable. The still wind picked up into gusts, Finn battened down in his cloak, holding the front of his hood to insure it wouldn't fling open. Over in the square not too far beside them came black-purple arks and volts ripped from the brick tiled path latching on to the nearest and sturdiest tall structures, the statue, buildings even trees. They gripped and then begun to pull up what still had them anchored to the ground: two uneven black obsidian struts. The black arks then stopped pulling and were reeled back to the struts sparking a connection with the arks on the opposite strut in the centre, they gripped and pulled till they could no more and ripped open a portal to another world, the portal held stable between the two struts.
Unable to see clearly what was lurking inside, a foot emerged and placed itself on the ground as the rest of the leg and body it was attached too followed through. Was this it, has the time come? It was too early surely, Bubblegum wouldn't be ready. The Lich wearing Hunson's body emerged before them and all the kingdoms subjects.
"M-master?" He murmured with disbelief of what he was seeing. Peppermint Butler pressed against the glass pane looking down onto the streets below to see his dark lord Hunson step fourth into the mortal world. He always knew this day would come, the day Hunson will liberate Ooo and unite all mortals under his Sigil. "...But... the-the Princess, Miss Bubblegum... This is what she was preparing for?" Peppermint was torn between his loyalties: his creator, friend and his responsibility – Princess Bubblegum, or his dark lord and master Hunson Abadeer. "...I.. I'm sorry Princess. It's for the good of the realm, you of all people should understand..." He shakily persuaded himself, taking a deep breath knowing what had to be done he steadied himself and head towards the kitchen.
The Lich tilted his head corresponding one of a perplexed dog, astounded that it was really the two he saw before him. He grinned at these fates, "What a coincidence seeing you two here. I was just coming to find you," he corrected, "-well first coming to visit her. Though I don't mind shifting schedule to deal with you guys beforehand... You both seem eager to see me." He took note of their expressions, shock twisted to fury upon seeing his ghoulish green eyes peer through. Brighter than usual, more awake with a burning white and radioactive green.
The crowds of citizens either ran for shelter shouting out of fear, warning those unaware of his presence or stayed to watch safely behind the street corners and shopping stalls, trees and any other hard cover to be found. Finn wasted no time equipping a sword in his hand, "Lets finish this." He hissed through his bared teeth.
"So impatient child, I can see you've been yearning for this moment for so long, what's a few more minuets of waiting? Savour the moment for what it is, smell the air now for it will soon stink of charred corpses. Today is a grand event, either Ooo's greatest hero or Ooo's greatest terror will perish." He was rather calm, accepting of both those outcomes.
Finn placed a foot in-front, readying himself to go give it everything he had, Jake out-stretched his arm across his chest, Finn gave him a questionable look. "Finn I know this is what you think you want, but you can't let your hatred take control of your judgement, can't you see it's really what he wants."
Finn snarled with frustration and yelled, "So what do you want from me? You want me to stand back and watch while he takes more and more!?"
"No dude, we just gotta be smart about this, give him something he ain't expecting. I want you to go."
"What?" He couldn't believe he was hearing this.
"Leave me here to distract him while you go help get everything ready with Bubblegum. She'll have the plan to defeat him. Take him by surprise while he's focused on me."
"But... Jake... he'll-"
"Dude don't worry about me, I know I'm not as strong as him, but you know what he isn't? As stretchy as me. I won't fight him head on, I'll wear him out till you get back. Then we'll finish this, together." His words were getting through to him. Finn bit his bottom lip out of frustration and worry, skittishly tapping his boot on the ground in aid of making a decision.
"You two done with the chit-chat over there?" The Lich inquired. He was growing tired of standing around now, he had a world awaiting obliteration.
"Dammit Jake..." Finn finally cracked and agreed, nodding him good luck. Sheathing his sword on the spin, running towards the steps up to the castle leaving the Lich to question, "Where do you think you're running to boy! There's nowhere you can hide from me when I'm done with this mutt! You hear me? Coward!" The Lich's heckling almost came to work, Finn fought the urge to stomp down and reverse back down the street, swearing he'd make the Lich regret those words later.
Jake whistled to grab the Lich's attention to himself, "Guess it's just me and you, Lich" Jake stood firm before him as the only barrier between him and his goals. His fur rose to the tips, baring his teeth giving him a much more savage appearance.
The Lich only saw him as a minor interference without his other half. "Irritable, looks like I'll have to dispose of the incompetence first and work my way up the food chain. I hope you'll be a worthy warm up, dog..." He ridiculed, walking fourth, heating up a fire in his hand.
"...It's nothing personal... it's not about me or-or what I want... Yes! I'm doing this for the good of - of everyone! Personal feelings cannot interfere!" Peppermint jittered to himself at an unsteady pace. Wielding a kitchen knife, large enough [In comparison to himself] to be more like a sword for a man of his size; he made his way down into the bunker. "...I mean her no bad will, I'll make it quick and painless while she's not paying attention. I w-would try talking her out of it, to just let our master be. No, I know her far too well – she just won't listen! She's too stubborn to be walked over a-and then it'll be too late for me to sneak up on her. She may be exhausted but she is still able to overpower me... I must use her naïve thoughts for me to my advantage... Forgive me Princess. I'll be sure to not let Death get his hands on you... you deserve better."
So close now, she was just in the other room, he could hear her working still, 'Dammit, why couldn't she take a quick nap!' His heart beat rapidly against his chest. He didn't want this, but it had to be done. She'd just die a far more gruesome fate at his hands regardless, this was being merciful if anything.
Peppermint walked inside saying nothing with the knife hidden behind his back, he could see Bubblegum crouched under the device, her view obscured from his presence. She could hear his not so subtle footsteps echo within the silo. "Peppermint?" She call out.
He froze, had to think quick, "...Y-yes!" He responded. She got up from where she was working to establish eye contact. 'Noooo!' He chewed down on his tongue; 'why did she have to get up?' He now had to wait for the perfect window for when she lets her guard down.
"Yawn. What are you doing back here? Where are the tools I requested? W-where's Finn and Jake? This thing is just about ready to go, they should be here." She prodded at him, checking the time on her watch.
'Questions!?' He internally screamed, he had nothing to say – no possible excuses. Maybe Finn and Jake hadn't arrived yet? What explanation could he have for not bringing the tools? She stood there awaiting answers he did not have, ready to poke him some more with further questionings, and the then his world begun to fall apart upon hearing the boy's voice coming from the hall behind, calling for the Princess's name.
"Is that Finn? Why isn't he with you?" She speculated. Something didn't feel right, the aura he was kicking off. She could see it on his face now, he was bad at hiding his nerves.
'No, no, no, his going to see it, everything will be ruined! I-I have to... have to act now, there's no other chance I'll get..." Peppermint begun to step forward, "Um – P-Princess?..."
"Yes?..." She responded, growing quite eerie of Peppermints change in tone, slowly backing up from his advance; her exhaustion made her seemingly swift movement in reality very sluggish.
"...I-" -Shwing- Jolt, breath hitched, sudden gasp and petrified choke... Eyes unable to shut, she clung to his short shoulders pushing down the entirety of her weight on him, trying to steady her standing. The knife drove up through her lower gut in his jab, not tall enough to reach any higher. "-I-I'm sorry, milady..." He hushed to her; seeing her in this pain both the physical and mental, brought him to the verge of tears for his betrayal.
"...W-guhh...why?..." She winced to him. She started to loose balance, he guided her best he could for someone of his height, trying also not to move the knife with his right hand still tensely tethered on the handle, he didn't want to cause any-more unnecessary pain. He lied her back-pressed against the table leg.
"Because you wouldn't have listened! I didn't want this, please believe me. You were trying to stop the dark lord, my master. I had to choose what was best." He tried to justify his sin.
"The Lich?... Y-your master?..." She was puzzled, needed answers for this sickening deceit.
"T-the Lich? No, my master, The Nameless One." He corrected her.
"Gah-haha-hugh... hehec." She chocked up a laugh. He now looked more puzzled than she. "Hunson's been possessed by the Lich. He-hagh. Your 'master' is gone – cough... I – we were trying to save him. You just – cough – fell right into his trap, so easily deceived." She somehow saw humour in this.
"What? Impossible." He spat out, unwilling to believe in her attempts to sway him.
She chuckled through the pain and heaths again, "I don't need to explain – Gulp - you'll see soon... soon enough." The feeling from the wound started to dwindle as the room around her started to become a daze.
The doors swung open, Finn rushed on in only to see the two on the floor by the table, the sight was inconclusive at first, it slowly started to piece together in his mind and make sense of the horror of the situation. The shocked look on Peppermints face, the blood on his sleeve, the way high tried to cover from Finn seeing the knife – he already saw enough. Finn went for his sword, the sound of a clobbering crack interrupted his reaching hand. Bubblegum drew all her strength to sit up and reach for a hammer on the table, grabbing it and lodging it firmly in the back of Peppermint's flat round head. He fell to the ground, the chunk of his cracked head chipped free on impact.
Finn didn't have time to waste to state his surprise for her violence. His sword safely holstered again; he hurried over to her aid, seeing the knife still left inside the gash, how deep it went in, almost the entire dagger, close to the handle. Nervous, panicked and confused, his eyebrows steeply curved in distress, he didn't know how to deal with this, he was never good with wounds. "Bubblegum, t-tell me what to do! How do I fix this?" His arm went under her upper back to give her leverage off the ground, she cried out a little from the movement, resting her floppy, sweat-beaded head in the crook between chest and bicep, her eyes half shut. He urgently tried again, "Peebles come on, please you can rest soon but you have to tell me what to do, I don't know how I can help you. Should I take it out?"
"No!" She murmured out-loudly, intended to be a shout; grabbing his free hand to prevent him. "Don't-" She tried getting more comfortable in his arms. "-just let me rest for a minuet..." She was hardly moving her mouth to speak.
"...B-but if I leave you... y-you'll die..." He swallowed down hard on those words.
"Nah... no..." She now whispered, he could feel her moving less and less, her breathing gradually slowed – her burning sweaty not thirty-seconds ago now subsided, she was growing colder. "-I'm fine -Yawn- I'll be fine... Finn..." Her words trailed off a little. "...Just let me rest here a... a little bit longer... Okay?... Please." He wanted to cry; he wanted to help but he didn't know how, she wouldn't tell him, maybe she knew there was no point. He abided to every word she said, anything she needed at this point, so he let her rest loosely in his hold. She shuffled, or more like twitched to get more comfortable, her movement was slow yet uneasy, the pain was still evident in her lower abdomen, she reached up her arm around his neck and in an attempt for warmth, more bodily contact and to get her lower back off the hard cold floor, she wanted to hang off him with as little contact to the ground as possible. She jolted and whined out rather loudly when the handle sticking out from her ground against Finn as she brought herself closer to him. Bubblegum tensely gripped around the back of his collar, trying to hold still in place whimpering.
"Peebles, I'm sorry! Are you okay?" He worried at the sound of her yelp. He tried to distance himself from the knife handle, shuffling away so he wouldn't bump against it again, she didn't allow him to move pulling him back every time he tried. "Bubblegum..."
"Finn... it's okay now... Please don't move. Would you pull it out?" Her breathes were raspy and weak, it took her so much effort to say anything. He looked down between them, blood slowly oozed out around the stained metal.
"But... if-if I do that... won't it bleed more?"
"It'll be fine... I just... wanna get more comfortable... would you pull it out... please?" He was hesitant but nodded.
The next few seconds were quiet as she prepared herself for the movement. Finn was reluctant to do it, he didn't want to cause her any more pain, but it's what she wanted, he had to do it soon and fast before her mind anticipated it further. In one swift motion while her eyes were still shut he manoeuvred his hand to the handle, pulling it back the opposite direction and tossing it away, the metal clanging against the concrete. Bubblegum hitched in her breath, her eyes shot open feeling the sharp steel vacate her body. She stunned for a second, balled fists latching to his fabric, waiting for the new pain to subside, shaking feverishly, almost tearing the clothing she had in hold on Finn's back. I took several seconds for her to consciously remind herself to breath, and when she did they were heavy, deep, gasping for air in panic to get the pain to stop.
Now able to close the gap between the, Finn hoisted Bubblegum up against him in order to comfort and calm her. He spoke softly near her ear, "It's okay, I got you... Everything's gonna be okay, right?" He gave a chuckle evoked by fear, his words more-so trying to convince himself. She didn't say anything, her arm around him was growing more limp. "Peebles?..." She still didn't respond. He shuffled her a bit, just to wake her up, "Peebles?..." He quickly pulled her away to look at her face.
"...Finn..." She mumbled, her voice weak yet high pitch and breaking.
He was panicked there for a second, "Yeah? What is it?" He darted back.
"...The device... to use it... press – press the blue button and-and hold it until you see the red light flashing... make sure you chuck it near the Lich... That's all you have to do, it should do the rest..." She grunted with unease. The agony she tried to mask was vocal in her words.
"Bubblegum, you – I-" He didn't know how to react. She was speaking like she wasn't going to be here.
"Do you understand my instructions Finn?" This wasn't the time for second guessing. She needed a positive response from him.
"Yeah I got it but-"
She pulled up closer again, silencing his objections, hiding her face up in the crook of his neck, away from his view. "Good... good... You sure are warm... Finn..." She curled up more in his embrace. He closed his eyes to stop the inevitable waterworks.
Her shivering stopped, muscles cease tension. Through lack of her movement he disquietly reopened his watery vision. "B-Bubblegum?..." His voice cracked.
Only one chapter left.
Soon and it will all finally conclude.
Who will emerge victorious?
Who wants to win more?