Marco and Mili shook their heads, distraught and a bit hesitant to believe in Lucius’s sudden cim, but hidden beneath all that fluster was a suspicion that could no longer be deterred. They wished to deny it, of course: to cim that it all must be a misunderstanding of some kind. But the evidence was pin as day. Nothing could puncture Lucius so cleanly save for a weapon wielded by man.

  “What do you mean?” Marco asked. “You sayin’ Jack lost his mind? That can’t be… he looked fine when we were walkin’ around together before. I can understand being a little on edge, but to attack someone ‘cause of that—I don’t get it.”

  Mili fiddled with her fingers. “It’s not that hard to believe, big guy. If you weren’t with me after that damn wall fell, I think I’d go crazy, too. This pce isn’t right. It’s like something’s constantly trying to worm into your brain, and ol’ Jack-o was just another victim. Probably couldn’t stand it anymore and eventually gave in, or that’s what I want to believe at least. It’d sting real bad if he turned out to be just another scumbag. I’ve seen the types: actin’ all nice and stuff before taking advantage of you at your weakest.”

  The spunky musician seemed to have no end of stories about her encounters with so-called scumbags - such was unfortunately the price of fame. But was that how she truly regarded Mister Thames? No, Mili spoke as if she had actually grown fond of his awkward nature, and Marco shared her sentiment as well. Lucius wasn’t surprised: going through a near-death experience with someone was the perfect shortcut for forging a quick bond.

  But a bond built upon a shaky foundation was all the easier to topple. They bore witness to Jack’s heroic sacrifice, true, but it was exactly because they saw him then that Lucius could now tell a different story.

  One of the most important things in creating a convincing lie was pusibility. In order for something to be probable, it had to be pusible. There was no end to what a person could make up if they create a believable background: weave a narrative, let the others connect the dots, and watch as they come to a conclusion of their own.

  For Lucius, his starting point was already determined. The injury Jack suffered, the reason he garnered such goodwill from his fellows… it would now serve to drive a wedge between them.

  “Mister Thames did not act out of malice,” Lucius said, pleading towards the group as he shed a single, meager tear. “He was ever the same, a jovial youth with a strong heart, even after our unfortunate separation. The man I know would never fall for such temptations so easily, however…”

  Marco and Mili leaned in close, absorbed in Lucius’s passionate story.

  “However…?” the two asked.

  Lucius pretended to look conflicted with himself, before speaking again in a big dramatic pause. “Mister Thames was infected by something. It wasn’t noticeable, at first. The man simply seemed tired during our journey—honestly, who wouldn’t after experiencing such danger? I paid it no mind and resolved myself to find the two of you as quickly as I could. But after a while, his condition deteriorated. His skin grew sickly, his breaths became increasingly more savage, and when I looked at him once more… his arm had changed. It oozed a liquid I dare not describe.”

  Mili froze, and horror dawned on her face. “His arm? Then… oh no, was it when he protected me?”

  Lucius nodded. “Some kind of poison or virus must have been ced within that monster’s cw. It passed onto Jack upon the moment of contact, and it festered within him until he lost his wits.”

  “So it’s my fault.” She clenched her fist and squeezed her eyes shut. “Damnit, I just had to be the slowest of the group.”

  There was a dark spiral settling inside her. The musician cursed at herself, stood up, and nearly punched the wall as if doing so would somehow alleviate her faults, but Lucius quickly stopped her before she could.

  “Do not be rash, Miss Mili,” Lucius said, catching her fist with the palm of his hand. His sudden movement reopened his wound, and the others tried to get him to sit back down, but the gentleman wouldn’t budge. He firmly stared at Mili right in the eye and calmed her down. “The fault lies with no one. Jack made his choice to protect you, and I have no doubt he did so without an ounce of regret. If you wish to thank him, then do so by keeping yourself safe. Self-harm serves to help no one in this situation.”

  Mili opened her mouth and tried to respond, but eventually gave up and let her body fall limp. “I know. I know it’s stupid and dumb, but I hate leavin’ behind debts—especially ones I can’t pay back.”

  “Who is to say you cannot?”

  “But Jack’s—”

  Lucius tutted and lightly squished her cheeks. “I wish to have hope, my dear. Mister Thames is not lost to us yet; we must believe it so. The moment we give up is the moment we lose him forever.”

  Marco joined them, saying, “When did this even happen?”

  “An hour ago, give or take. We discovered a treasure room and hid inside to get some sleep, but when I awoke the man’s spear had already pierced my flesh. I quickly ran away until I had the fortune of meeting you two here.”

  “Then it’s only gonna get worse. Let’s find him quick; we’re not sting another day without food or water. Our bodies’ running on fumes as is.”

  Mili hesitated and stared at her feet. “We’re already in enough danger tryin’ to avoid that animal-faced freak, but to go lookin’ for a guy that might attack us at first sight? It’s too risky.”

  Desperation had a way of forcing hard choices upon people. The musician was hungry, tired, and now responsible for the well-being of an injured Lucius. This wasn’t the kind of story where everything would somehow work out: Mili had to be realistic no matter how much it hurt her.

  The safety of the majority over the gamble of an uncertain few - such choices often led to the disbanding of a group. Marco, however, wasn’t a man easily deterred. He stared at her with a pleading look, tugging on the young woman’s heartstrings, until she finally backed down.

  “... Alright, fine. I want to help Jack as much as you do,” Mili said, groaning. “But if we’re going to do this, we can’t risk bringing Lucius. What if he gets attacked? The guy can hardly walk.”

  To that, Lucius chimed in with a proposal. “There should be another safe room not far from here. You can leave me be and search for Mister Thames while I rest. If you cannot find him within a certain time, then we shall adjourn and decide our next move from there.”

  Lucius had this entire section of the maze all mapped out. Even the traps.

  “Well, sounds like a pn.” With a big heave, Marco practically flung Lucius over his shoulder and began to move. The gentleman acted as their guide along the way, heading south, until they arrived at the location where they discovered Lucius’s cane.

  “Take a nap, Lucius. Get some Z’s. We’ll bring Jacky boy back before you know it.”

  Mili triumphantly pumped her fist in the air and was about to depart when Lucius gave her a few words of advice.

  “Although I am not certain, you should start your search over there.” Lucius pointed west. “The room I rested in before is roughly along that way. Even if Mister Thames is no longer present, it would not be unlikely if he left behind a trace.”

  The duo nodded and said their goodbyes before vanishing back into the darkness.

  To be honest, Lucius lied. Again. Jack actually resided up north rather than west. Marco and Mili were sent along a wild goose chase, and while they searched for traces that didn’t exist, Lucius took the opportunity to make his way towards the real hideout.

  “Oh dear, I really am running all over the pce, aren’t I?”

  He chuckled and tidied his attire. There was still much left to do.