Just as the first three days had gone by, the next two were much faster. Henry's routine had stayed the same, though he was now filled with paranoia whenever he made contact with Lumora. Of course, he still trusted her, but he had a feeling there was something off. Now he and Lumora were one day away from a decision that would decide the next however long they were still trapped within the desolate city.
And with that knowledge, it made today… even weirder. The morning started off with Lumora making both of them food. She also held a pleasant conversation with Henry, discussing their classes at the academy, he had almost forgotten that she was in the camouflaging class which explained the hidden room in the camp.
'What is she hiding from me!'
Henry slammed his hands against the wall in his room. The fear that she was lying to him in someway had come to a tipping point, Henry needed answers, and he was nervous to wait for tomorrow.
'Should I just ask?'
Lumora's words from yesterday replayed, "Even if I'm busy, ask."
She was his only friend in the city, and one of his only friends in the outside world too. The idea she was lying to him about anything was petrifying. He could tell that she cared about him, as she had seemingly been genuinely happy to be with him on the first day, but Henry couldn't help but think 'Was it all an act?'. He shook his head, dismissing the idea.
'That's it, I'll just wait. It's only one more night, what could possibly happen?'
Henry leaned his head against the wall, letting out a sigh of relief.
"I'm just like dad."
He let out a chuckle with the words. They rolled off his tongue with ease.
'Wait, what?!'
Henry beamed up, staring wide eyed. 'Why did I say that?' His breaths became quick, and hyper. 'Am I remembering?' No, it couldn't be that, he still couldn't think up anything about his father, besides offhand things his mother had said. 'Instinct? Or muscle memory?' He looked around as if the answers were written on the walls somewhere, but they weren't.
'How did I know?'
A familiar voice chuckled in the confines of his head.
Now that one, boy, that got a laugh out of me.
The Rotting Fish, spoke with its heinous tongue to Henry.
"Oh so that's what you consider entertaining, ever heard of a crisis, other people have many more than me if that didn't satisfy you."
What a clever response, did you become intelligent in the time I was sleeping?
'Sleeping?' Henry didn't know anything about the Rotting Fish, he had expected it to be some sort of powerful being, but why would it need sleep?
"I was always intelligent, I just don't waste it on fish."
The fish laughed, filling Henry's ears with the torturous noise.
'God, I hate that.'
I'm glad I chose you, it's quite fun these chats we have.
'For you.'
Henry scoffed.
"What do you mean you sleep? Doesn't something as all powerful as the "Rotting Fish" look down at sleep."
There was silence, then the fish replied, its gurgled voice tame for once.
Hmmm, well, Henry, just as you have trouble looking at your head, I'm having trouble finding my body!
The fish began laughing, it's cryptic answer engraving itself in his head.
"What does that have to do with sleeping."
Don't you get it, Henry? Everything sleeps, you go to bed wakeup, and voilà prime condition, healed, and ready to face the day. A stable mind is a strong mind.
He hadn't thought of it like that. Sleep was quite miraculous, especially with the added bonus's of being a chosen. His broken arm had healed in only a month, and he didn't need to set the bone or anything. Henry was fortunate for the peaceful release of sleep, especially as an escape from Rakh'el.
"That's fair."
It better be! I would be damned to be made fun of by someone as pathetic as you.
The fish laughed again, its mood seemingly quite nice today.
"So to what do I owe your visit? Or are you just here to bother me."
The fish hummed for a minute before responding.
Maybe I just wanted to catch up with my friend! Besides, you're the only one I can check on, at least right now. So I might as well when I have the time.
"Oh, I'm glad the rotting fish head that haunts me thinks of us as friends, and that in all its glory it refuses to answer a single question of mine."
You insignificant, vermin, how dare you speak of me like that!
Huffing with anger, the fish slowly composed itself.
If you're so desperate for answers, then ask away, I'll answer one question right now, anything you want to know anything at all!
Though he couldn't see the fish, Henry imagined it crossing its arms at him.
'Anything?'
Henry contemplated what the fish would have answers too, it probably wouldn't be wise to ask it something that logically it would be unable to know, especially if it was just watching him.
Then, he realized what to ask, something that had been bothering him for a long time.
"Why can't I see my face?"
Silence was split between the two for a long time. Interrupted only be the occasional grunt from the fish.
Well, Henry.
The fish began to chuckle.
You gave your whole identity away, besides that name of yours.
He could hear the smile on the fishes face as it spoke.
'I what? Why would I ever sell my identity, who I am?'
"So what I sold away myself to you, why would I do that?"
Oh no, no, no, not to me. To answer your question, however, all I need is one word.
The fish growled in Henrys mind.
Desperation.
Henry was about to ask another question when someone else's voice hit his ears.
"Are you okay?"
It was Lumora, crawling into his room.
"Uh yeah why?"
She gave him a worried look, unknowing that he could see her perfectly within the darkness.
"Well I heard you talking to yourself… you haven't gone crazy right?"
'Dammit, I forgot I'm not alone anymore, talking to the fish out loud must make me look crazy.'
Henry wanted to slap himself, but chose not to, as to not make Lumora think he was worse off than he was.
"Oh, sorry, I was just thinking aloud. Bad habit from being alone so long."
He mustered a fake chuckle, and looked softly at her. Lumora looked at him for a while, but eventually caved and accepted his answer.
"Okay, just know you can talk to me anytime. No need to sit in this dark room all day."
Henry could feel her judgement, and she was right. Without the knowledge of the spectral eyes, it must've looked like he sat in darkness all day.
"I know, I just, don't like not moving."
He sighed, standing up and stretching his legs.
"Every day I've been here, all I did was sleep, wake, and travel. Each day, regardless of how lonely, I had to travel, the new camps each night, the mysteries I was solving. It kept me going. It feels… weird just being stagnant, you know? Not only that, it just… feels wrong."
'God, I just overshared, didn't I?'
Henry studies Lumora's face, and saw a smile… She seemed content with his answer.
"Jeez Henry you haven't changed a bit have you. The same guy regardless of the trial."
She giggled, and kicked his foot.
"I'm glad, I wish I was as content as you."
Her face suddenly shifted, something bothering her.
"Maybe that would make things easier."
Henry laughed, and calmly replied.
"It's all going to be easy, we'll figure out what the game plan is tomorrow, and whether you come or not I'll make sure to find a way out, no matter what."
She looked worse after that comment.
"Don't worry! I already thought of a way for us to keep meeting. I was thinking that every two days you could set a massive fire up, and I'll just look out for the smoke during that day. If I don't show up, do it again, and again until I do!"
In the midst of his statement, Lumora began crying.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Henry put his hand on her shoulder, and she held on to him tight, crying into his shirt.
"I'm sorry, I-I can't help it. Please forgive me, Henry."
"It's fine Lumora, I forgive you. Everybody cries, even me. "
Henry said, holding on to Lumora, for almost an hour before she finally stopped. She looked at him with red eyes.
"I'm going to head to bed early, you should do the same if you don't want to be bored."
She started walking away, before turning as she was about to exit his room.
"Henry?"
"Yeah Lumora?"
"Thank you, so much."
She smiled at him, with sadness in her eyes, and exited his room.
'Huh. I guess I should get some sleep too.'
Henry tied his bag around his chest and laid his head down for a nice rest.
Hey boy, have a good night's rest.
The fish laughed, and Henry ignored it, as he slowly fell asleep.