“Nothing’s wrong, I-I swear!” Cube backed up further, the cave’s gaping maw threatening to eat her alive as she was forced back into it. Boat stepped forward, his brow furrowed low over his eyes.

“No ya ain’t!” he exclaimed. “Ev’ar since ya came out ah that volcano, ya’ve been acting real odd-like,” Cube’s pulse quickened, and she gulped. A strand of hair curled between her fingers, which she curled oddly as if she had claws. Drops of sweat dripped from her face as the heat of corruption crept from her wound, down her spine, and into every inch of her. She felt her mind lose control of her body, left to watch as her brow twitched. She bared her teeth, slanting her eyes downward.

“I told you, it’s just a head injury, I’ll be fine!” she snapped. Her friends stepped back, not expecting the strange tone her voice carried. Even Blixer back off, his eye staring at her knowingly, but unable to help. Her chest rose and fell, the heat continuing to envelop her senses. Her mind filled with tingling, drowning her thoughts. “Just leave me alone. I need to be alone,” Her voice softened again. She felt the trickles of pink crawl over her infected eye just under her bang. Square floated closer, blipping with concern. Cube tried to back away but found that her back hit a stalagmite. Her heart began to race as Square approached. They made sounds of comfort and determination, but Cube couldn’t process anything they were saying. Her heart pounded, and a strange feeling of anger rooted itself in her.

They think you’re helpless. The gravelly voice returned. Cube fought for control over her body, left to only watch as her fists began to ball up and her jaw set in place. Sharp teeth poked out from her lips. A voice that was not hers barked.

“Get away from me, you don’t know what you’re dealing with!” Cube’s mind raced as the gravelly voice came out, startling Square and her friends. Square only furrowed their brow in frustration and marched over to her. The others began to protest, but their words were muffled and swam in her head. Her vision clouded, a red haze overtaking her as the roots of anger spread deeper into her spirit. She felt herself changing as the world around her slowed to a crawl and swam in a nauseating manner.

You’re not going to seriously let them think of you as weak, are you? God, you’re such a pansy! The voice was louder, booming in her head. Tears streamed down Cube’s face. Show them who you truly are, show them what you’re capable of!

“Square, back off!”

Show them!

“Cube? What are you—”

Show them!

“SQUARE!”

SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE, PANSY!

“I said, GET AWAY FROM ME!” In a flash, the ground broke open as Cube shrieked, her voice intermingled with the unknown entity in her head. She flung her arm out in front of her to keep Square away, causing saw blades to rip open the earth and smack into them. Square screeched as they were flung back, their body hitting the ground with a soft thump! They leaped to their feet, fueled by adrenaline. A part of their face was gone. Cube’s vision cleared and her hearing faded in, her entire body relaxing as the blades sunk back into the earth. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach as Square scrambled back, a chip missing from their face. That’s when she noticed a cacophony from the gathered crowd as Heli screamed.

“She’s corrupted! Look!” One of the plants that had gathered pointed at Cube as her friends shrank away, except for Square and Blixer, who stayed frozen in place. Cube looked down at her hands and let out a shrill of terror. Her arms and hand were bright pink, black sleeves replacing what was once pale blue. Any blue on her was now gone and replaced with pink. She trembled as the buzz of the crowd intensified.

“Is that why the volcano’s corrupted?”

“How long has she been like that?”

“Square! Square’s been hurt!”

“She hurt them? How?”

The noise swelled as Cube backed into the cave. The crowd was beginning to rile up, rearing its head to attack. Heli, Boat, and Blixer turned to stand in front of the crowd, yelling over the din. Square was only able to stare, helpless and longing, at Cube.

“Hey, you’re freaking her out!” Blixer snapped. “You're gonna make her go off again if ya keep this racket—”

“Of course you’d defend a corrupted shape!” Someone in the crowd snapped back. “I say we nip this at the bud!” Cube felt a chill run down her spine as the crowd swelled angrily, her friends unable to keep them contained. “Get her!” A resounding shout echoed through the cave, and Cube screamed. She turned and bolted over the unstable flooring of the cave, the sound of footsteps gaining quick behind her. Her legs burned as she bolted to the open space where she and Square first found Blixer. She stopped just short of the sheer drop. Looking down, she saw nothing but darkness. She looked back to find a paranoid, afraid, and angry crowd gathering quickly. She turned and held up her hands, tears streaming down her face as she was backed against the rim of the drop.

“P-Please! You don’t understand!” She begged her voice a raspy whine. She stepped back, losing her footing. She scrambled for stable ground, only to fall further back. Her foot slipped, sending her down into the dark. She screamed as she felt herself fall, reaching up at her friends as they peered over the rim of the hole. The last thing she heard over the din of the mob was them calling for her and reaching for her outstretched hand before she was swallowed in darkness.