"STOP THE FUCKING CAR!" I screamed with all the rage I could muster.
My brother completely froze with terror-struck eyes due to my incinerating voice and the cold cylinder of the gun I held to his head.
Ken was looking at me in terror.
Willow was shocked but also making quick calculations in her head based on the revelation she had just seen on my phone.
That the shadow on the police sketch looked exactly like James.
"Nobody speak or move a muscle! James, foot off the gas and roll us to a stop in the emergency lane! Touch the brake and I'll squeeze the trigger!"
My brother looked me in the eyes in the mirror, and I looked back.
His fear only grew.
I felt the car decelerate. He complied and steered the car towards where I wanted.
"Not so close to the railing. Ken will get out once we're at a stop," I said with deadly calm.
James immediately corrected.
After a few seconds, the car rolled to a stop.
"Here's what you're going to do, and don't you dare pull any tricks. You'll slowly put your hand in your pocket, take your phone out, open it and give it to Ken. Now!"
"…What–"
I hit my brother's temple lightly with the gun's butt, and put it to his head again, all in a split-second. I wouldn't give him space or time to put a barrier up.
"Kgh!" A shocked grunt escaped him.
"You'll speak when I say you do! And comply with what I order you to do! If you understand, grab your phone slowly right this instant!"
James's breath stopped. My gaze didn't yield. After a few seconds, his hand slowly moved to his pocket.
He took out his phone, typed in a code, and held it towards Ken.
"Is it unlocked? Speak."
"Y-yes."
"Ken, grab it," I said, my eyes never leaving my brother's through the mirror.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him hesitate and tremble a little, but eventually he grabbed it.
Thank god he trusted me and hadn't declared me insane.
"Willow, your phone too."
"…Take the gun off-"
"No."
She fell silent. We were stuck. I needed her.
"You understand, right?"
"…He's–"
"I trust you. I need your unbiased opinion after I'm done interrogating him. …Please."
"Then take the–"
"Can't. Too dangerous. Your phone."
"…Why."
"Evidence. I need to cross-reference."
"…I don't have a phone."
"Why?"
"The Grace of–"
"Hestia. I believe you. Ken, get out of the car and circle around to open my door."
Ken opened the door and got out. I couldn't see either his reaction or Willow's.. I had to stay hyperfocused on James, catch everything, react instantly. He was still staring at me, hiding his panic.
Willow spoke again just as Ken got out.
"Jack, he–"
"Quiet! It goes for you as well. Only speak when I ask and answer only what I want answered. Don't say anything unnecessary. Say yes if you understand."
"…Yes."
The door on my side opened.
"Grab the other phone from my bottom-left jacket pocket."
My brother's eyes flickered with shock.
"The code is 2-5-8-0-4-6. Open it, move to Willow's side, open her door and stand next to her."
…Ken's hand moved into the correct pocket and took out the hidden phone. He then moved toward Willow's side and opened her door.
I could begin. I commanded James.
"Speak."
His gaze sharpened. He didn't respond.
"I already have evidence. Speak."
He didn't bite. He was focusing on his breathing.
"Should I explain, or should you?"
No response. He was just staring back into my eyes. He was trained well.
But I knew how. Don't give anything, only what they want to hear.
"What's your power? Explain."
"…"
I hit him again. A bit harder this time.
"Explain!" I yelled, having the gun pointed at his temple again in an instant.
"…"
Still no response, only a slight increase in his breathing.
Though Willow had let out a squeak. She cared about him, after all.
"Willow, you explain then. What's his power?"
"…C-copying other abilities."
"How many?"
"Five… *Gasp*"
I heard her gasp in realization.
And my brother heard it too.
Now I saw a seed of doubt enter his eyes.
I spoke to him again.
"What are your powers?"
"…"
"How did you know five was your limit?"
No response. Faster breathing.
"You said it was a feeling, but Willow and I both know you're not a feeling person."
Now I could practically see his chest heave up and down.
"After all, you can only control a single clone."
His eyes went wide.
"Clone, barrier, flying, duplicating guns…"
My brother was sweating.
"Tell her what your fifth power is."
Now the panic hit him.
"Or I'll show her on my other phone."
His eyes shifted between my cold ones and Willow's as I heard her breathing louder too.
"I'll count down from three. Three…, two…, one…"
My brother's mouth opened.
"Jamming."
"…"
I didn't react at all. My brother's eyes moved to look at Willow.
And he froze again.
Because Willow wasn't looking at him in shock…
But at me.
And next to shock…
She was also confused.
That was the moment I swung my executioner's tongue.
"I don't believe you."
My brother's eyes went wide.
Surprise. Disbelief. Confusion.
Because he had spoken the truth he had hidden, the one we wanted to hear, but nobody believed him.
And he didn't understand why, and therefore couldn't steer the narrative anymore.
He couldn't read me, but Willow was an open book for him.
Too bad for him that Willow and I were completely unsynchronized.
"It's true! You figured it out, right!? You even had another phone! You stole it from someone in that building!"
"I knew you were hiding something, after you killed those hostages right in front of me. You've been acting suspicious the whole time. Tell me the truth!"
"What do you mean, acting suspicious! Why do you–"
I hit him again. Harder still. Gun to his head.
"TALK!"
"I-I can't tell you what I don't know!"
"What more powers do you have?"
"What are you talking about!"
"You've been hiding one of them. Why should I believe you can only have five at a time?"
"It's true! It's true! Why don't you believe me!"
"So now it's not a feeling anymore."
My brother froze again.
"…Willow, what do you think? Is he hiding something?"
My brother's eyes shot to her, and he was stunned.
Because her trust in him had disappeared.
"…James. Tell us…, please."
"I-I don't understand! What do you want to hear from me!?"
I answered.
"I'm done talking to you. Stay quiet!"
"You don't–"
Another hit. Hard. Muzzle to his head.
That got him quiet.
"Willow, when did James first discover his power? Explain every detail you can, please."
"…When the Whiteout hit, I was in my dorm in that building. …My friends, some of my friends had discovered a superpower, and based on feeling, I discovered my clones too. James had a lecture, but when he got back, maybe an hour after the Whiteout, and saw my clone ability, he copied it."
"And that barrier and flight, where did he copy that?"
"…Like he said. When we were rescuing everyone, two people had that ability. He copied them."
I dug the muzzle in James' temple.
"How did you know you could copy Willow's clone?"
"It... it was a fee–"
"I don't trust your feelings anymore. Tell the truth!"
"I am telling the truth!"
"You have an unaccounted-for hour. Explain everything that happened on your side before you went back to Willow."
"What!? What do you want me to explain!? You won't believe me anyway!"
"…Ken. His phone. Search through the call history, texts, messages."
"Yes," he said immediately.
I kept my eyes on my brother as I have been when Ken started searching.
But I saw that my brother didn't panic further.
"He… he's deleted it all," Ken said in disbelief.
"...Even my call just before we entered the building? It didn't go through? Nothing's showing up now that the jamming is gone?"
"N-no. There's nothing."
Having made sure, I focused on my brother again.
So he covered his tracks and deleted everything, maybe removed or destroyed his SIM card so nobody could contact him anymore, most likely even before Ken and I entered that building.
Of course. My brother wasn't that stupid. Maybe I could recover the evidence of who he had been in contact with somehow from his phone, but if I had the smoking gun on hand, my brother would always be on guard against me. And we needed to trust each other for the future.
I wasn't a detective anyway. I didn't need indisputable proof. A confession from my brother would be enough for Willow.
"Smash the phone on the ground. The jamming might just be one effect. His power might affect it in other ways too, since my call is still not going through."
Ken complied and I heard the sound of destruction.
And my brother focused on me again, his gaze having regained his sharp edge.
Of course, I deliberately made a logical fallacy. There were three other phones still here that he could theoretically affect if my argument held true. But he would get desperate if I seemed omnipotent. He needed to have a way out of my interrogation.
The way I was steering him toward.
"Father."
James stiffened again. And even more as he saw Willow looking surprised too.
Bingo.
"He called when you were with Willow. He ordered you two back home, but you refused because of that assembly. Is that correct?"
"…Yes."
"Willow?"
"Y-yes."
I looked my brother straight in the eyes.
"James, we all know you can't refuse orders."
His panic returned.
"You deleted your phone history. What did Father order you to do before he called you and Willow?"
His eyes were full of fear.
And when he looked at Willow's…
Hers were too.
I stayed silent for a second… really let him wallow in it.
Until I saw that his desperation was sufficient.
I deliberately strained my expression and gaze slightly.
Then I handed him the rope.
"I already know some of it. Father sent me, after all. But I need to know everything. I need to know about that shadow. Speak! What did he order you to do in Philadelphia!"
My brother studied me again, but this time, the look in his eyes changed.
Because he noticed that I was bluffing. He thought I didn't know anything.
Like I wanted him to.
Confidence grew in his eyes again.
He recalled everything we had talked about, and then he regained focus.
Because he now saw a way to lie himself out.
"I discovered what my power was almost immediately. Everyone's phones were suddenly jammed during the lecture, and when I tried, I could copy it. …I knew something was off, soI left the lecture with a lot of others, and went outside the range of the jamming, because people wanted to figure out what was going on. Meanwhile, I went to talk with other students about what we should do, and during that time, father called me. He–"
"How long after the Whiteout did he call?"
"…40 minutes, maybe?"
…Around when I hid my mother's ashes. When he discovered I was competent enough and not easy to control, my superpower taken into account, since I had rushed at the shadow with superspeed.
"Continue."
"Yes. We discussed my power and what I should do. He–"
"What's father's power?"
"…He never said."
"Didn't ask?"
"No."
"Alright, go on."
"…Father said I should quickly get as strong as possible."
So that there was an additional asset to keep me under control, I thought immediately while James was talking.
"So that's where the assembly came in. I could gain a lot of opportunities to copy powers when things were discussed and demonstrated in the open, but… everything went wrong…"
"Did father place the police there? To escort you back afterwards?"
"…Yes."
"Why keep Willow in the dark?"
His eyes shifted to hers in the mirror.
"Father was scared that you would insist on wanting to return to your family immediately if we told her the real reason. That's why he told you to stick with me and wait until he made arrangements."
"…Willow, did they tell you about the [Grace of Aeolus]?"
James' eyes went wide as the new information clicked in his head. That airplanes had ceased functioning and only non-motorized ships still functioned for travel between countries separated by sea.
But I could imagine Willow's face right now.
"N-no, I…, Damian just said it would be difficult. Fuck, I–"
"Don't worry, we'll figure out how to get you back to your country."
She fell silent. Of course, any expedient return to her country now sounded suddenly impossible.
But that's for later.
"Why did the assembly go wrong?" I interrogated James again.
"...As I said."
He hesitated. Lies. But it was okay. I'd get the truth about the riot and the rest out of him when it mattered.
"What about afterwards?"
"…"
"You called father again, didn't you?"
His gaze sharpened. I had given him another lead to go on.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"…The violence was growing, and the police escort was dead. I contacted father about what to do and he… he ordered me to stay there, saying that the riot was a perfect opportunity to strengthen myself, until he could send someone to escort us back."
"Who did he say he would send?"
"He didn't say."
"How did he know where you were in the city?"
"We discussed beforehand that I'd stay in or near my dorm."
"Why keep the area jammed? Why not contact father again after the shit that went on in that building?"
"The jamming works on all communication technology. If I didn't keep it on permanently , bystanders could call for reinforcements, and more violence could move near us."
"You even kept it on the entire time your building was being massacred?"
"Yes."
"Willow, did James sleep?"
"H-huh? Y-yes he did."
She sounded deep in thought. Good, figure it out.
"How could you keep the jamming going while you slept?"
"Because I kept my clone on watch. I continued jamming through that."
"Explain."
"I… the clone is, like, in standby mode while I sleep, continuously carrying out the last given task. That's the best way I can describe it."
"Willow, is this true?"
"…Yes…, I think so. I kept one on watch too while I slept."
…Shit, he managed to weasel his way out. …No matter, getting Willow to realize the truth can come later. Instead of pushing it, I should let James have the false victory here so that I can hit him where it's really important later.
"Then, James, when and why did you remove the jamming again?"
"…Just before your friend was about to text your girlfriend. It was safe."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"I wanted to get out there as soon as possible, not delay any further."
"…Why did you keep delaying Willow then before we arrived?"
Willow gasped.
The one truth that would make the whole thing blow up. But James would lie his way out. Still, it would plant the idea in her head. That would make it easier for her to realize the truth later.
"I was waiting for the escort in that building. I… if Willow and I would deal with it too soon, she'd want to leave, and I'd have to explain why father made me wait there in the first place. I… father is Willow's best chance to return to her country. I didn't want her to stop trusting him, so… I kept her in the dark because of that. Willow, I'm sorry."
…*Sigh.*
A complicated sigh of resignation came from Willow. I couldn't see her expression, so I could only imagine all the emotions she was feeling.
…But I didn't hear or imagine the ones that would indicate that she had realized the truth. That James had sent those armed men into the building and likely helped start the riot.
"Okay. So… the armed guys there were just a coincidence?"
"Yes."
"And why did you kill everyone, even with me in the crossfire?"
"…I… it's like I said, I thought you wanted to keep them alive, and… I found it too dangerous. I wanted to get out of Philadelphia as soon as possible, not waste any more time to risk danger."
…Willow didn't react. He got through. I saw it in his eyes too when he was looking into Willow's. He had gotten their confidence back.
…Time to break him then.
"…Okay… okay. And… your power. You wanted mine and then Ken's, right? What would have happened if you had gotten them if five's your limit?"
"…I have to replace one of them," he said, not realizing the danger of the question.
"How do you know? Did you test that out already?"
"N-no."
A stutter.
"Another feeling then?"
"…Yes."
His gaze was sharp again. And worried. He had realized that he wasn't out of the woods yet.
But it was already too late for him.
My brother had hanged himself with his own lies.
"Willow, I asked you before for your unbiased opinion. Do you believe him?"
Then… I saw realization dawn in James's eyes.
And his terror grew.
Because he would have convinced Willow if he'd only had to cover for Philadelphia.
But Willow wasn't only looking at my brother to determine his judgement.
She was also looking down at my phone, at the shadow's sketch.
Something James knew nothing about and couldn't defend against.
"I… I… I don't…" Willow stammered.
And I went in for the kill.
"Seems like neither of us believes you, brother. "
Absolute fear filled his being.
I hit his head. Very hard.
"Ah!"
A high-pitched squeal. He felt that one.
The gun was pointed at his head again before he even made the sound.
"I'M GIVING YOU ONE LAST CHANCE! "
"I-I-I spoke–"
"I'm going to ask one last question! You're going to answer with yes or no, and you'll speak the truth!"
"I al-already–"
"Because if you lie again, I'll pull the trigger with no hesitation."
My brother froze completely. He could only stare into my eyes, the source of his horror.
What I was emitting from them.
My hatred for my father.
"Willow, show him."
"I… I…"
She was breathing heavily.
"SHOW HIM!"
"Y-yes, just don't shoo–"
"Three…, two…,"
"Al-Alright!"
Willow leaned forward, and she finally entered my vision again.
She was drenched in cold sweat.
She extended the hand holding my phone.
She held it in front of my brother's face.
His eyes immediately scanned every detail, looking for understanding.
And his eyes found the shadow's sketch.
*Guh!*
He could only gasp in a breath, because he immediately saw…
That it looked like father and himself.
I asked the question that would start burning down his religion.
"DID YOU KIDNAP MY MOTHER!? YES OR NO!?"
*Guh!*
"Three…"
James started shaking.
"Two…"
Hyperventilating…
"One…"
James closed his eyes.
He couldn't answer.
"Ze–"
Willow screamed.
"James!"
His eyes snapped open.
Now the truth!
"YES OR NO!?"
"No…"
James squeaked it out.
The first act of sacrilege.
"…"
Everyone fell silent. Only James's and Willow's breathing and panting could be heard, along with Ken gulping outside.
…I was the first to speak again.
"Willow."
Her head slowly turned towards me.
And I was now looking away from my brother, for the first time since I started interrogating him, and into her brown eyes.
"I won't shoot him..."
I took the gun away from his head but let it still hover next to it.
My brother sounded like he could finally breathe again.
"I would need him to tell me where he's keeping my mother, but I want to hear from you… if you believe him."
Her breath stopped. Her eyes went wide. She slowly looked between James and me.
…Her gaze started to linger longer and longer on James, who was still a panting mess.
And then… I saw the answer come to her.
She looked me straight in the eye again. Full of conviction, zero hesitation.
"I believe him."
I held her gaze for a few seconds.
She didn't yield.
I gave a nod, and looked at James again.
I already had my answer.
"I believe him too."
And then my strings snapped.
I finally let go.
"Thank god. Thank god it's not you."
I leaned back into my seat, gun at my side, while letting out the greatest sigh of relief I'd ever given.
"James, I'm so sorry. I had to make sure. I'm so sorry."
My brother started to look up again, his breathing more regulated.
His gaze slowly sharpened into mine.
But before any could speak.
"Ha…haha…hahaha…"
Nervous laughter, as Willow fell back into her seat too.
"I… haha… I… can't believe this, you asshole. You… you almost gave me a heart attack."
"…Well, you did say I shouldn't hold back on account of you guys."
"Yeah… well, fuck me then, if this is you being serious. Just, hahaha, just give me a moment."
While Willow was slowly getting her composure back, I looked at my brother again. The tension had somewhat drained from his face.
But his gaze was still sharp. Of course, I had put a gun to his head. Now, I needed his trust back.
And finish this.
"I'm sorry, but you understand, right? Why I had to go this far."
My brother looked at me silently.
And Willow stopped laughing immediately.
Because she sensed that this wasn't over yet and tensions were growing again.
"I understand. Because it looks like me."
"No."
My brother froze again.
"What's your shoe size?"
"…Eleven."
"The shadow's is estimated to be twelve from a footprint he left behind."
My brother didn't understand. He could never allow himself to understand.
"The same size as father's."
His eyes went wide again. We both remembered he had big boots after all.
"He… he's really setting up father then, shit."
"…There's another possibility."
My brother looked at me again. In denial.
"What?"
"Don't you see?"
"Just fucking tell me!"
So he could deny me. But I wouldn't allow him.
I looked at Willow. She was serious again.
She had realized.
"I asked for your unbiased opinion. Let him hear it, please."
"…James."
Their eyes met. I saw his heart racing.
Willow was keeping a poker face, but beneath I saw only sadness and pity.
For what my father had made of my brother.
"It could have also been your father that kidna–"
"NO! He would never!"
"JAMES!"
His angry eyes met mine.
"Why are you so scared of him?"
"You're trying to set him up! For all–"
"You recognized him immediately when you saw."
"What have you got against this family!?"
"And you couldn't even say a simple no to save your own life."
*Guh!*
He inhaled sharply. The terror of that moment had overwritten his denial.
The first crack in his religion had appeared.
For me to tear open.
"Think for yourself for once! Our childhood, everything he has done to me and my mother! To Jane, to you! What he made you do in Philadelphia, to Willow! Everything he's capable of! All his suspicious behavior since the Whiteout! All the secrets he's hiding from you! After all that, can you still with absolute certainty say that he isn't capable of this too!"
"I… I–"
"YES OR NO!?"
"No… no…"
He slumped forwards, breathing heavy again. And I sighed in relief again.
He admitted it. Finally, I got through to him.
I looked at Willow again. She was looking at James… with pity and empathy.
And Ken, still standing outside, looking silently at my brother, almost in disbelief.
It's understandable. It was almost inconceivable for them that I had to go this far.
And how inconceivable it was that my father could make someone into this.
"James."
We looked each other in the eye again. He looked completely lost.
"I love you, and I need my brother's help, not my father's son."
He regained focus.
"Whether it's father or not, when we get back to town, we'll hunt for the stalker first. Father and I are sure the stalker is still in New Freedom, that's why he ordered us to stay there. He needs to stay close to the police after all. And if it's Edward, he'll attack us, and me, Willow, no-one on our side is strong enough to defeat that shadow. Except you, with your power."
He didn't react. He was completely drained.
"We'll go and search throughout the town for him. And during, we'll get you a set of abilities that lets you stand your ground. But I cannot allow you to freeze and get us all killed because it looks like father. …Can you do it?"
I saw him search deep within himself. And when he found the answer…
He nodded.
"…And more importantly, if it's not the stalker…, then father is next. And if it's him…, I need you to be able to refuse the order to kill me and Willow. I need you to promise me that."
His eyes were once again wide. And I saw in them…
Denial. His suspicion of me grew again.
Of course. All those years of conditioning that made James what he was wouldn't disappear in a single moment, but it was a start.
"…I still can't believe it's father."
Willow froze next to me, but I had my answer ready.
"You don't have to believe me. But promise me then that if the moment comes, you'll listen to Willow."
The shock of what I had said made him look in her direction , and her shock made her look me in the eye.
I spoke while her brown stared into hazel.
"I'm biased about all this, of course. We'll first get that stalker, but once that moment comes, he might deny everything, trick us, or point us toward Damian. I doubt we would get a simple and clean truth out of him. So we'll all have to discuss it together, and I believe you have the most unbiased perspective of us all from what I know about you thus far. I trust you. So… can you promise me… that you'll stay unbiased no matter what ends up happening, and keep telling us what you really think and believe."
…She looked between my brother's eyes and mine. And I saw her conviction slowly grow, until she found her answer.
"You want my unbiased opinion? I thought my childhood was special, you two's childhoods are truly fucked up in comparison."
A grin involuntarily escaped me. And she had a grin again too.
"I promise," she said with unshakable conviction.
"James… can you promise to listen to her and the rest of us before you make your own decision or blindly follow what father wants?"
He looked between me and Willow.
Confused. Lost. Unsure.
But… slowly… although it was still very distant… I could see in his eyes that a new way was emerging.
That he could get certainty from other people too instead of only from his father.
"I… I promise."
A smile now spread across my face. I flipped the gun in my hand and offered the grip to my brother.
"Then I trust you. And I'm sorry for everything. If you want, please take the gun and ask me whatever you need to let me regain your trust. And please…, help me get my mother back. I… I tried to save her on my own at first, but I stood no chance by myself. You, Willow, Ken, Elise, everyone else, please help me get her back. Please."
The light in my brother's eyes changed again. His dark blue suddenly looked slightly less dark to me.
Ah… he really does care, even after all that.
And his eyes also shot toward Willow. One of the reasons why there was still darkness in them.
Guilt for what father had made him do to her. That he was still lying to her.
The next thing I needed to work on, to truly free him.
"Keep the gun. I… I want to ask a lot, and… I still don't… I need to think for a while."
"Alright. I'm glad to have my cool brother back."
"Sh-shut up!"
He looked forward again. Embarrassed.
"Shall we drive again? I'm sure that girl of yours needs you by her side right now too."
"Yes, please. Can you still concentrate? Do you want to switch with Willow?"
"I'll manage."
"Alright."
I looked at Willow, who gave me a nod, and then looked past her at Ken, who was now looking me in the eyes.
"Thank you too for trusting me through all this. It must have gone as quite a shock to you."
"…Well, it was, but of course I trust you. …I'm just glad Elise wasn't here to see you pull this stunt."
I stiffed. Willow immediately reacted.
Ah, shit! I let my guard down! K-Ken threw me under the bus again!
"You're right! We definitely have to tell her about this! I'm sure she'll be very amused!"
"Pl-please let me tell her myself. I–"
"Oh no, I definitely want to see her reaction. You almost gave me a heart attack here, after all."
"Th-then let me explain it with you carefully! You heard her on the phone, she'll deafen us all!"
"Oh, I think that would be a small price to pay."
"U-ugh…"
I had no words left. The teasing devil laughed at my defeat.
When we started driving again, she was still laughing.
The devil that would tempt my brother towards atheism.
***
We were driving again. James and Ken were silent.
A lot had happened. It was understandable. I was dead tired too, as well as starving.
Because my stomach contents had once again left me in that building…
Luckily, I still had a little bit of food from that gas station, so I was eating that.
Normally, if we were all normal people, eating sounds would have been the only thing that filled the car.
But Willow was apparently far from a normal person.
Unfazed, instead of asking me to explain privately later, she asked why I had done everything I did during the interrogation.
While casually stealing my snacks! Read the room! She didn't even ask! I had to use superspeed to get my fair share!
…I was so tired, which I said to her, but she completely ignored me nevertheless.
Why was she so interested in my… capabilities… anyway?
I was too tired to think about it, but nevertheless, I answered the less sensitive questions while dismissing the damning ones.
I left Ken's seat empty, with him standing next to Willow. If James had that shadow as a power, there was now room for him to summon it, and Willow could take Ken hostage. Neither did, so that was also additional information that made me trust them.
As for the interrogation itself, I only went into the jamming and things related to phones
I said I had a hidden phone to communicate with everyone despite the spying. I could use my power to type with it in my pocket, nobody being the wiser.
Like, for example, me immediately texting Elise and William, whose number I had gotten before I left, about the new status quo after what happened in this car. And to prepare Elise by saying that I needed to be a bit rough on my brother. I wouldn't give Willow the satisfaction of exposing me. I didn't text all the details, of course. That's not easy to do over text and can easily be misinterpreted. I can tell her everything once we're together again.
Nobody in the car realized I had texted her about that, of course , since I had done it in my pocket. But regarding my discovery that James had his jamming up in that building, I mentioned I had sent Elise a text immediately after all the armed men had died, and that the jamming was still up then. She had only received it after my brother deactivated it, indicating that it was his power. The evidence was the message's sent, delivered, and read timeline =, with Elise's response. I had shown it to Willow, visibly impressing her.
That's when I explained that this was why I had become suspicious of James's actions in Philadelphia, and why I was also interrogating him about that.
James's gaze sharpened on me again, of course, because he was still lying about it all. But didn't go any further into it, so he relaxed again.
I also apologised for destroying James' phone, also adding that I had really done it because the police might be tapping phones if that Edward guy has such connections, and that was also the reason I had a hidden phone, with it also being a way to secretly communicate despite the shadow's surveillance. I also mentioned that it might be the reason my father had made James delete his phone history. My brother bit on my false understanding and said he understood.
Of course, the real reason for deleting his phone history was very likely to prevent anyone from linking my brother's actions with my father's role in starting that riot. And also to hide his communications with the armed men that killed Willow's connections.
I also needed my brother to be unable to communicate with father again, and the other way around. James needed to stay isolated before he could think for himself again.
Also… Willow really didn't have a phone. Apparently, since she was a foreigner, the [Grace of Hestia] didn't even allow her to communicate with her American or foreign contacts, no matter which phone she used. The only thing she could do was search the internet for information and news. But since she had James to look things up for her anyway, she had given her phone away to someone she had helped escape the building who had lost theirs and desperately needed one.
Once we came to that part, I saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. It was understandable. She was truly stranded, with no way for her to contact her family or travel to them, and no way for them to do the same in return.
I could only reassure her that we'd figure it out, even joking that James would carry her and fly her all the way to her country, which, of course, improved her mood when she immediately started teasing my brother about it.
As for the rest, about all the specifics of what was said during my interrogation of James, when father called, and my actions in that building, I just said that I was tired and asked her to please think about it on her own. She still insisted, but I deflected and redirected anything.
To free my brother, she had to realize the truth on her own. If my brother thought I had manipulated her, he could only remain in religious denial. Willow herself needed to water the forbidden fruit that would free James from religious paradise. And because of that, the fruit couldn't have any Marwood contamination, even from me.
Speaking of food… when I had eaten the small amount that my still-painful stomach could endure, and after I had survived Willow's interrogation, I told her that I wanted to sleep a bit. She finally reined herself in after she saw that I was really tired.
Finally…
I looked at the navigation. A bit less than two hours. I told everyone that I would use my power to fall asleep and accelerate my sleep, and to not be worried if I instantly zonked out or moved a bit weirdly.wondered what I looked like while sleeping to someone else when I had accelerated it.
Then, after having said my piece…
I slept.
Gray. Red.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
"Jack! Jack! It was a nightmare! You're in the car! Calm down!"
My head snapped to the one talking and touching me.
Brown eyes.
"*Guh…ha….guh…ha* W-Willow?"
"Yes. It's me. We're still driving. Just a minute or two before we're at the hospital."
I looked around in panic, breathless.
Car. Ken shocked and worried. James stiff, driving.
I… I slowly felt the tension drain from me. I leaned back in my seat and slowly calmed down.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked me.
"…I… yeah… shit… what… what happened?" I said between panting breaths.
She looked at me, even more concerned.
"You slept peacefully, although you breathed rapidly. But at the end, you started tossing and turning almost violently for a few seconds. Then you suddenly woke up and screamed."
"I… fuck…"
"Was it a nightmare?"
"I… I think so. Don't… don't remember."
"Well, you've been through a lot. I understand."
I just kept breathing. My heart was beating rapidly. My mouth was dry. I felt cold.
"At least you're wide awake now. Elise just texted you and Ken that she was in the emergency room reception, still waiting her turn. Ken texted back that you were asleep and that we're almost there. Actually, we're already here, see?"
I looked. And I indeed saw that we were already on the grounds of the hospital in York.
"I'm sure Elise will kindly comfort you, and you can comfort her too, of course. You've both gone through a lot."
"Yeah… Elise. …Elise… yeah."
The thought of her face somehow calmed me down.
But… I… why was I still breathing heavily?
"Do you want me to drop you in front of the emergency room before we park?" James asked from the driver's seat, concerned.
"…Yes… please." I managed to get out.
My brother drove us to the entrance where Elise was waiting and stopped.
"Leave the gun here. The police are protecting everything. We were already stopped and briefly inspected at the entrance while you were still asleep," he said to me.
"Ye-yeah."
I took it out of the holster with my unbroken left hand and placed it next to me on the back seat.
Then, I grabbed the door handle…
…I couldn't open it?
"What's wrong?" Willow asked.
I flinched.
Because… I didn't… I still felt terrified.
I… I followed my instincts and looked into Willow's eyes.
"Can… can you come with me, please?"
Her eyes went wide but instantly regained their clarity as I saw something click for her.
"Of course. James?"
"Yeah, go with him. Ken and I will park and then come find you."
"See you soon. Give her a hug from me too immediately. You both need it," I heard Ken say.
"Yes… I will… thanks," I muttered to everyone.
I placed my hand on the door again.
And now I could open it.
I stepped out of the car, walked around it, and walked towards the entrance.
Toward her.
Left step. Right step. Left. Right. Left. Right.
Every step felt heavy. I could barely breathe. I needed to focus, or else I couldn't move my legs.
I… I could only keep on walking because I barely sensed Willow next to me.
Before I knew it, the automatic doors parted before me.
I stepped inside past some officers and a detector of sorts.
The room was packed. Lots of puppets in red.
I swallowed.
My eyes darted across the room.
No Elise.
…Huh!? Wh-where was she!?
Something moved.
My breath stopped.
A puppet stood up from a bench near the entrance.
I looked.
I froze.
My eyes had caught sight a single blue one.
What I found most beautiful about her.
Where was the other one?
My heart stopped.
Because the puppet with that eye was not Elise.
'Well done.'
Father spoke in my head.
My thoughts looped.
Sparring ring. Red. Broken Puppet.
It was her. It was Elise. It was both.
Both of them I ruined.
Both faces destroyed.
Because of me.
My heart broke.
And through her only eye.
I saw another heart break.