They already started chuckling off in their corner. Léonie did not join them. She intentionally stepped away to stand to the side, sat down on the floor, and waited patiently for all the discussions to come to an end.
Only Pierre, Charlie, and Ousmane remained, with Maxime standing close by. As for Léonie, she stayed back, apart from everyone else; she could have joined them, but she preferred to stay there and watch.
Maxime walked over to stand beside Victor and Charlie. Positioning himself between the two of them, he looked toward the girls' group without turning his face fully toward them, and let slip a few words:
— For once, someone might actually be useful to us, he said with a smile. That's pretty good news!
Neither of them said anything, but they seemed rather to agree with what he was saying. Even Pierre was inclined to agree with the statement Maxime had just made.
Their discussion lasted a good few minutes. Meanwhile, a new dynamic was forming.
— From what I can see, Pierre, you've got plenty of resources. Why didn't you mention it directly to the group? Maxime asked, looking at Pierre with a glint of mockery in his eyes. You may be the leader, but you have to be honest with your allies or risk losing them... It would be a shame, wouldn't it, to lose all of us right now, huh?
— You're exaggerating, Maxime, Pierre said, locking eyes with him. You think I knew she was going to show up, is that it? If I had known, I wouldn't even have taken you in my group; you would have run the risk of scaring her off. Now you'll glare at me, but I'm only stating a certain truth.
— You're really funny, I'll give you that, Pierre. But why are you so pleased to see her? Did something happen between you two? Oh, no, forget your famous temperament that even she pointed out. Ha! Ha! Truly an idiot, that's what you are, Pierre, a simple idiot... Let's put aside the mean remarks, Pierre, and forget—my dear comrades—our nasty discussion from earlier, if you please, because if we keep going like this, I have a feeling we'll be at it all day. Instead, I'd like to propose that we form a group, or a new alliance if you prefer. Because don't you find it strange to see a woman so kind, and what's more, someone our leader actually knows? No, doesn't that tickle your curiosity?
— Of course not, Maxime, Ousmane said, looking at him with incomprehension—he hadn't understood a thing from the start. What's suspicious about someone being kind? It's actually pretty good news, really... For once someone doesn't look completely crazy, shouldn't we rejoice, huh? Besides, aren't we already a group? Why form another one?
— Your theory holds water, Pierre said, looking at all of them, then turning his head toward Nastassia. It's rather odd for her to reappear out of nowhere like this, but it could also just be a simple coincidence; we have absolutely no idea how many people could have been assigned as our supervisor. It might be a trap, yes, but it's just as likely that it isn't. Besides, what are you getting at with your so-called alliance?
— So, what do we do with this information, Pierre? Ousmane asked, looking at him. Do we tell the girls?
— We can't, Charlie replied, looking in turn at the group of girls. If we do, they'll likely check directly whether the information is solid or not. The problem, if it turns out to be real, is that we risk getting into serious trouble: she might stop talking to us altogether, or it could be even worse than if she just kept on speaking. On the off chance that she's on our side... actually, that's not possible, because she would have helped us already.
— You see I was right, she's against us! Plus, she's trying to buddy up with the girls, and the worst part is that they don't even realize Nastassia is using them to get better control over our group, Maxime said, looking over at Nastassia from a distance in turn. I propose, by joining this alliance or this new group within the group, that we stop trusting any of the authorities here. Anyway, we won't be able to beat her head-on if we don't know their power or her intellectual capabilities. It'll take time, but we still have to tell the girls what we think of her. I'd say tonight... Yes, that's it, tonight we'll talk about it, but with caution—provided, of course, that you agree to join this alliance.
They all seemed more or less hesitant about the idea of a new alliance. One could sense a certain frustration at the thought of potentially welcoming a traitor with an uncovered face, not to mention that it was their own supervisor—which made them quite anxious, even frustrated, while stoking the fear of suspecting one another.
— The group comes first... but right now, I wonder if we aren't going to divide ourselves by thinking like that, Victor said, looking ahead toward where Maxime was standing. There are no heroes in this world, and you know that very well. So it's no use playing the so-called little saviors among ourselves. I don't see how it's going to change anything if Yvonne, or Justine, or even one of the girls becomes Nastassia's puppet.
— Are you only thinking short-term or what? Maxime said, shooting him a dark look. The problem is that the manipulated person is also going to start contaminating others in turn with her corrupted ideas, and the risk is that it's going to end up becoming a real epidemic we won't even be able to manage anymore. We'll fall one by one, and then one day you'll fall like a fucking idiot in your turn, that's the problem, Victor! Usually, we solve a problem like this by going straight to the root, but here, we simply can't do it that way. So we improvise a plan that can potentially work, and you aren't ready to do anything to prevent this, not even for your own group...
Victor cut Maxime off. He spoke sharply, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
— I'm ready to do a lot of things for the group, I think like everyone else here! But don't insinuate that I wouldn't do anything for our own. If I have to kill the person being manipulated by Nastassia, then I'll do it. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, especially when that person's blood is useless and isn't even worth half a life! You know very well I'll do whatever it takes for the group to survive, with myself inside it and the people I care about—and no, not people like you, Maxime, who belong to those vile folks with questionable ideologies, with your radical pessimism about humanity. Who are we to play daycare for others? They made the choice to go buddy-up with her, let's leave them their free will! And if we have to kill all of them, then we'll do it, because killing people who are useless to our survival, is that really murder? No, it's just the most noble form of justice for our survival! But for now, nothing has happened yet, so let's grant them their rights.
— I expected as much from you, Victor, Maxime replied with a smile stretching almost from ear to ear. But will you keep the word you just gave? Yes, yes, I see determination in your eyes, but look, there haven't been any actions yet. So, when the situation calls for it, I hope you'll honor your commitment in front of all of us.
— Do you even realize what you are saying? Ousmane pointed out, looking at Maxime and Victor with a look you could never really forget. You are already plotting murders... not even against our enemies, but our allies! I hope you understand the situation! You know the love of God... No, does that ring no bell? Ah... yes... I forgot that nowadays there are more atheists and nihilists than practicing people. Think! A murder isn't just saying hello to someone, it's taking their life away! Are you really ready to go that far!?
— This doesn't have anything to do with anyone anymore, nor with any ideology. What matters to us, Ousmane, at this very moment, is our own survival, Charlie retorted, looking him straight in the eye. Perhaps you'll say this way of thinking amounts to acting completely irrationally, or even that our actions stem from a future extreme individualism. But there's nothing wrong with that. We're simply putting our lives on the line, just like in poker. We're playing with the absurdity of the situation we've found ourselves in, that's all.
Ousmane looked at them for a few moments, then muttered under his breath:
— You are all crazy, completely barking mad! You think you're gods, but you're merely mortals. On what right do you base yourselves to take the life of another?
— Perhaps so, Ousmane, but madness has virtues that only those who tread this path can attest to with its many positive points. And if we have to play God, then we'll do it, and better than He does! Maxime said, stepping closer to Ousmane. He positioned himself in the middle and continued: Our actions might be hypocritical in many ways, especially from certain viewpoints, but that's how we need to look at things here. Maybe I'm a nihilist, so what? I don't know, the only thing I'm sure of at this hour is that the idea of suicide has saved me from death in many ways. What is wrong with being a bad person in this kind of situation? I'm only trying to help my group. I am myself! I am true to my nature! I am an authentic person! My actions will be both good and bad, people might say my morality is questionable, sure, but I'll do whatever it takes to survive!
Maxime looked at Ousmane and the others with an assured expression. He was sincere in many ways, and Pierre rather quickly noticed that Maxime was wearing his little smile at the corners of his lips. He knew his sentences were filled with just as many lies as truths—both sides intertwining—and Pierre could clearly see that he had already set up a form of manipulation to try and bring them under his sway... but he did nothing to contradict him.
Ousmane looked at him, a shock rippling through his mind.
— I see... I... I'm not on board with this plan, but I'm more of the opinion that we should tell them tonight... I... Look, oh fuck it, what am I even talking about? May God guide me through this trial.
He clenched his fists and began to pray in silence.
Maxime didn't say anything, but a slight smile escaped his face, and his cheeks turned slightly pink. He stopped smiling, then turned toward Pierre and quickly noticed that the latter was watching him without speaking.
— And you, Pierre, what do you think of our plan then? Aren't these ideas to your taste? We must surprise the observers before they take control of our team. Riding these fools to better fight those idiots from the inside, isn't that a brilliant plan? We'll take the rules by the horns to reformulate and reset them as we please with our new colleagues. We will convince those incapable girls to join our cause, poison their so-maligned and coveted ethics to destroy them from within. We will deceive them as we see fit, only our morality will be the source of truth and victory. Do you agree? And you, do you agree as well?
They nodded with rather timid head movements, but everyone more or less agreed with Maxime.
Pierre saw no major problem with this alliance; it was even a windfall for the group and for him. But there was a catch, a risk inherent in this plan.
— In many ways, I agree with your ideas, even if you're strange at times. But I won't be part of it this time, Pierre replied with confidence.
Upon hearing this, Maxime completely fell apart. He turned livid, fell to the ground—literally crushed—and crawled toward Pierre to half-beg him for his reasons. He was on the floor, clinging to Pierre's sleeves, who brushed him off.
Pierre took a few steps back and stepped aside. Maxime followed him as he got back up:
— But why? Why are you doing this to me? What did I do for you to abandon me like this? My plan was so carefully put together, why don't you want to join our crew? Besides, look at all the trouble I went through to create this crew, and you guys just walk away like that! I won't accept this! Since when are you at the mercy of others? Tell me, if that's the case, I can help you... Of course, the price will reflect that. I'm almost tempted to make you a friend's offer, so please tell me why you're refusing such an enticing offer.
Maxime grabbed onto the sleeves of Pierre's sweater once again, and Pierre slapped away the hands gripping him. Looking down at him, Pierre replied with annoyance:
— For many reasons, Pierre said. He discreetly turned to look at the girls' group while still talking to Maxime. The most likely source of my refusal, should I happen to join your crew now, is Nastassia herself. She might spot something odd; she's very observant, Maxime. Sometimes it's best to be wary of the people you know best before diving in headfirst.
— I know that well, but why still refuse to join the group? There are already three of us with me; Ousmane isn't on board for now, but he'll remain our outside link since he doesn't want to get his hands dirty... But you, no, no, and no! It's impossible, if you refuse, my whole plan will be ruined! My plan was built around you, so tell me honestly why you don't want to do it. We've already done so much zusammen... why leave so suddenly?
— Because there are other parameters to take into account, not just Nastassia or the girls, Maxime. If it were only that, I'd gladly accept, but no. The major problem is that we'll inevitably have to get our hands dirty. Killing doesn't bother me, and you know that well, Maxime. I love my baseness and my madness, but the problem is that our group will have to do it too. And do you think they'll want to become monsters like you and me? The other groups will think about eliminating us just as we'll eliminate them, so in your opinion—and all of yours—what will happen in the end?!
----
Meanwhile, Charlie, Victor, and Ousmane had found themselves left alone. They watched Pierre and Maxime talking apart, even though they clearly noticed that it was mostly Maxime doing the talking between the two.
Ousmane watched them for a few more seconds, then turned his attention back to his two companions who were also observing the scene. He threw one last glance toward the two debaters, hoping they would no longer pay attention to them, and then focused on Charlie and Pierre.
— Why don't we form a third alliance? Ousmane suddenly said in a voice that was barely audible.
— What did you just say? Charlie asked, looking perplexed.
Victor remained silent. Usually, his face was cold and dark, remaining mostly impassive, but at this remark, a slight frown appeared—something that did not escape Ousmane.
— What I mean is more of a countermeasure just in case Maxime or any of us loses it and goes too far, Ousmane explained, looking at them. That is the main goal of this new alliance.
— These famous countermeasures, what do they consist of? Charlie pointed out.
— I think my measure is twofold, Victor said, looking at both of them. The first solution would be to reason with him so that he surrenders or repents, but as for the second solution, it will be much more direct... the elimination of the problem. Though I think we can already cross off the first solution. For who would want to repent when they were acting for their own survival and that of their group?
— Yes, you're quite right... but then, what this plan means is that anyone could end up falling, you, me, or even the whole group, Charlie suddenly said, grasping the core issue.
— You two always have to see the worst in everything! Ousmane said, sounding exhausted. Of course there are grey areas in this plan, but I simply don't want us to kill innocent people just for our survival... So, are we doing this alliance or not?
— Of course I have to be like that, Ousmane, Charlie said, raising her voice with a smile on her lips. I'd say I'm more like Meursault in The Stranger: I look at the choices life offers me while casting a critical, even absurd gaze on things. By doing this, I feel at peace! Oh well, I'm joining your group! Anyway, I was going to join Maxime's, so might as well be in two different groups—it thrills me to have some strong sensations!
— For the good of the group as well as my own, I will join this new alliance! Victor said, a slight smile beginning to form at the corners of his lips. But one question crosses my mind: what is the name of this alliance?
— As for the name of the group... Ousmane began.
He thought for a few seconds, and then an idea came to him:
— The alliance will be called... Lux Sanguinis!
They all agreed with this Latin name. With a light movement, Ousmane extended his clenched fist toward the center; seeing this, the other two did the same. These three individuals formed a circle with their closed fists, an ordinary gesture of solidarity that became a source of courage for their future mission or the internal battle to come.
— Good! Ousmane said, feeling relieved. Let's go join those two before they notice a change.
----
— To an escalation of violence, right up to murder! Victor, Charlie, and Ousmane answered at the exact same time, in a cold tone and with flawless coordination.
— Oh! You guys are here! Oh well, if that's all it is, then it's nothing. We'll protect the girls and kill our adversaries, period! I had a feeling you had a chivalrous spirit, but look, you aren't going to save everyone here! The problem is solved, can you join us now?!
At that moment, the two of them stopped paying much attention to their returning colleagues. Maxime desperately wanted Pierre to come back, while Pierre was weighing the pros and cons of his plans. He therefore said nothing, postponing his decision each time.
— You're still hesitating? Maxime asked with a smile before letting out a tired sigh. You're still looking for a flawless reason to act, as if somewhere in this world, someone wrote a rule dictating who deserves to be saved and who deserves to fall. But look around you, Pierre. They lie to us, hide things from us, and destroy us while reducing us to slavery. Yet they still pretend they're following some grand ideal. Me? I stopped looking for a light in a world that might not have any at all, so I decided to follow my own light.
— Or maybe you just closed your eyes because you didn't want to search anymore, Pierre replied. It's easy to say nothing matters when you refuse to look at those who are suffering. If everything is empty, then why protect anyone? Why even want to win?
— Because I don't need a higher reason to move forward, Maxime retorted. A flower grows without asking the sky why it must exist. An animal hunts without wondering if it's fair or unfair. Only humans torture themselves with chains they manufactured themselves. They invent laws, duties, judgments, and then spend their lives terrified of breaking them.
— But a flower doesn't choose to destroy another flower, Pierre countered. We, on the other hand, are conscious of our actions. It's precisely because we can think that we must question what we are becoming.
— You still believe others are as real as you are in your own story, Maxime continued. Yet, when you close your eyes, this entire world disappears for you. Your memories, your thoughts, your emotions... everything passes through your mind. So why give so much power to the opinions of others? Why live for their expectations? Why not sow chaos?
— Because even though I only experience the world through myself and my own vision, that doesn't mean others feel nothing. Their pain exists just as much as mine, even if it matters less to me. If everyone decided that only their own world matters, then nothing would be left between men... only chaos.
— That's your problem, Pierre. You want to be free, but you carry the chains of everyone else. You'd like to transcend human limits, but you refuse to abandon what makes you weak. You dream of a man capable of choosing his own path, but the moment he walks it alone, you call him monstrous.
— No, Pierre replied. It's not strength that scares me. It's what a man is ready to sacrifice in order to become strong. If we lose all compassion so as not to suffer anymore, then we may have won the world, but we've lost our very existence.
— You speak like a sage, but you remain a prisoner of your own contradictions! You have already soiled those chains with Didier's death. You want to be better than others while refusing to admit that you're just like them. That is hypocritical, but human—there's no shame in it. You're looking for a purity that doesn't exist, and you well know that no one has it. Me? I've accepted my flaws, my desires, and my darkness. I don't play the saint.
— And yet, you seem to love the role of the liberator, Pierre answered. You criticize those who think they're superior, but you place yourself above them. You despise the illusions of others while creating your own. You tear down everyone else's god to sow your total nihilism over the situation, you contaminate the rivers with your pessimism, you do nothing but sow disorder and chaos in this place.
— Perhaps. But at least I don't ask for forgiveness for existing. Look at the men who claim to be good: they hide their desires behind fine words. They give to be admired, they forgive to feel superior, they help to be praised. Their goodness is often just another form of selfishness.
— Maybe some are false, Pierre admitted, but that doesn't render all goodness useless. Even if our intentions are never perfectly pure, that doesn't mean our choices have no value.
— You're always trying to save something, Pierre. Someone... but ultimately, why? Out of kindness? Don't make me laugh! You know it as well as I do, you're doing this just for your own well-being and not out of pure altruism. You're nothing more than a little flame in a world that never stops blowing on it. I'm almost certain there are days when you love everyone so much that you would sincerely like them to disappear in the flames of chaos. Isn't that contradictory? You think you're good, but you're completely wrong, because there is never a good or a bad person—there are only humans! So stop waiting to be anyone's savior.
— Maybe there is nothing, Pierre replied. But that doesn't stop me from hoping for something. The world is so cold—the worst part is that I love that cold and silence—but someone has to be someone else's shield, even if their feelings aren't noble. It has to be, otherwise all those frozen people before me will have served no purpose.
— That's why I appreciate you, Pierre. You're still capable of believing in something you can't prove. It's almost admirable. But this belief will end up breaking you. Destiny is already in motion, and no man truly changes the path imposed upon him.
— If everything is written in advance, then why are you trying to convince me? Pierre asked. If I'm supposed to join you, it will happen without you needing to speak.
Maxime remained silent for a few seconds before smiling:
— Because even a marionette can have the impression that it's dancing by itself, Maxime said. The question isn't whether your choices are free. Look at the group: it's already formed, and you're almost the only one left who hasn't joined us yet. The question is whether you prefer to grab the key or look away.
Maxime continued without giving Pierre time to reply...
— You know you could lose everything by joining us? You also know you could become someone you once despised? But I also know that no one likes being enslaved by others, so why hesitate?
— Yes... I know. Oh, fuck it, let's head down the path of debauchery for our future! Pierre replied, looking at his new crew. Let's survive and slaughter the weak who block our doors!
With a great surge of energy, everyone burst out laughing, except perhaps Ousmane, who still seemed in shock from the end of this lengthy discussion.
With a sudden movement, Maxime extended his closed fist toward the center. Pierre, Charlie, Victor, and Ousmane, seeing this, followed suit one after another, extending their closed fists in turn. These five individuals formed a circle with their fists joined in the middle: the alliance had just been formed for better or for worse.
In a loud burst of laughter, they concluded their discussion. Charlie had a wide smile on her lips, just like Maxime. Victor simply wore a smirk, but his eyes spoke volumes. For Pierre, it was different: he looked more alive than ever.
Ousmane, on the other hand, looked exhausted by all of this. Even though Maxime and Pierre looked at him with broad smiles which he returned, he seemed more on guard than anything else.
Pierre now knew that things were going to shift—perhaps not immediately for the group, but rather quickly for the rest of the teams.
Pierre walked over to the group of girls, closely followed by the rest of his troupe. Léonie was also standing back; she didn't speak, but she had heard the two new alliances that had just been created.
— Are you done with your chat? Can we finally start the tour now?!
The girls and Nastassia let out soft, stifled laughs.
— Yes, yes, I see you're still as impatient as ever, my dear Pierre, Nastassia said in a cheerful tone. So, please follow me for this tour. We will start with the cafeteria, and then we'll finish with your room. I hope you like walking, because this will take a while.
Nastassia turned around, the girls stepped up beside her, and they moved forward talking and laughing merrily. The group followed, leaving only Pierre and Léonie behind. They looked at each other for a moment, then Pierre extended his hand with a slight smile for her to go ahead. She smiled back, her cheeks turning slightly pink, and stepped forward. Pierre followed closely until they were walking side by side.
A thought crossed Pierre's mind as he turned his head toward the outside while they walked down the corridor. Through the glass window, covered in dust and all sorts of insects, he caught sight, beyond the dirty pane, of that church... that famous church.
"Why was I so resistant? I could have joined the group right away, so why not immediately? Fear? The doubt of killing and deceiving others? I don't know... I doubt my choices, and my actions, both past and future.
I am lying to myself... Didier's death didn't do a thing to me, I felt nothing except calm... Maxime always pushes me deep into my inner retrenchments. Perhaps that's what I doubt, or maybe he scares me; he reminds me of the woman who locked me up here.
Things have happened and unfolded. I am not afraid of my past or of myself: I am the scientist, and he is the devil whispering in my ear. What am I going to discover in this descent into hell, with this cheap guide pushing us to rebel against the heavens for our freedom?
I am evil, and I know it all too well. I accepted that a long time ago, but there are days when I doubt it... Does killing someone necessarily mean we are evil? I have helped a good number of people without ever expecting the slightest thanks in return, isn't that proof of goodness? I know what I have done and what I will be later, but is it really so wrong to think of oneself?
There are days when I am more sentimental than others, and on those days, I replay my actions like my memories... One thing is certain: I am a good person. My actions may be unnatural, and they respect neither the ethics nor the morals of this society, so be it: I am a monster, but my nature is true! I am a genuine and authentic person! My acts are merely the reflection of my soul, and my acts are nothing less than love for the world.
In a few days, this courtyard as well as the rest of these buildings will become the playground for a great many people. Blood will weep in torrents, just like conspiracies and alliances."
Pierre gazed for a few more seconds at the window that was already disappearing in the distance. His eyes darkened with every step he took, but a slight smile had appeared on his face. He was already walking behind the others, with Léonie by his side.
Nastassia led them all thus into this gigantic infrastructure, for one of the most mystical tours of their lives.
End of this episode.
Thank you for reading.