The Sonorous Timer

Chapter 42 - Back and forth

We were touching a sensitive topic, and as though Shane first realised that now, he withdrew from sharing his story with ease. Running his hand through his hair, he bit his lip in what seemed to be sincere regret. "There's a reason why I brought you here, and that reason does not include sympathy. I'm doing just fine managing my work here in America, but they are currently developing further plans for the evil cycle. Those plans include expanding to China, and they want me to be the main leader there. I'm sure it's obvious that the second this evil cycle expands, I will lose control completely," he said, ignoring the question about his daughter. "China? How could you possibly be the main leader in a country where-" I started. "I don't only speak Japanese and English, Elaine. I know Mandarin too. I studied a lot before I became a participant," he said, interrupting me. "I'm sorry, I take it for granted that you've always been like the Shane I've gotten to know." "You're not entirely wrong. It's not like all I am now is an image I'm keeping up. Losing the ones close to you does things to you, and so does being put through torture. You should know."

A short-lasting tension grew between Shane and I as he tried to open up to me. Quite obviously, he wasn't used to talking normally anymore, and that became an issue. I realised it was a bit ambitious of me to think he'd managed to keep himself the same through everything. Naturally, they had affected his thinking and him as a person altogether. I mean, how could they not have? He'd gone for years without his wife, and I still had no idea what happened to his daughter or why Sage stayed away from him.

"You think you know those around you, Elaine," he suddenly said, not looking in my direction. The atmosphere had stiffened, and I felt weird in such a sense that I couldn't explain it. Honestly, the way his mood shifted from being openminded and somewhat vulnerable to being relatively cold and straight-forward confused me and put me on edge. "One of them is among us, blending in perfectly. I can't tell you who it is because then you'll avoid that person and make it obvious that I told you, even if you say you won't do so. Trusting people is often a given, but jeez, Elaine. Pay attention to your surroundings. Don't blindly trust whoever seems reliable because realistically, you have no guarantees. Take Akira as an example. She placed her trust in me; a leader obliged to refrain from empathy and relationships. You see where that got her in the end."

The mention of Akira made me all the more curious about him and her. She'd always been vague about the two of them, and now my curiosity had been revoked once more. I decided to ask Shane himself about his thing with Akira both because I was genuinely curious, and because I felt bad for asking about his daughter. He didn't seem as hesitant to talk about Akira as opposed to his family, though I asked differently this time. I didn't want to seem intrusive, so instead of asking several questions, I just listened to him talk.

"I'm sure Akira has told you a lot about me, weighing heavily on the idea that I have devilish tendencies. Giving vague responses to people about her connection with me seemed to be a hobby of hers toward the end, and I suppose that's where you got particularly confused. Well, having a daughter opened for me to get a better understanding and perspective of others as my daughter used to share a lot. Despite being young and impressionable, she was smart and lively. I could tell Akira was lost as she gradually worsened, and ultimately, I couldn't stop thinking that she's someone's daughter. I decided to help discreetly, though without breaking character. She misinterpreted the situation, thinking it had some romantic undertone to it. While I looked at her in a fatherly way, she looked at me completely differently. In the end, I realised I couldn't help her. She was looking for emotional support and a way to escape reality. Neither of us could or can change the fact that Akira's parents are dead, and so's my daughter. Two died in a house fire caused by the leaders of the chosen ones, while Acadia died to them. This is the exact reason why I never step out of character outside this apartment. They never came here due to Sage being a chosen one, and it seems they act out of old habit still." My mouth had opened and my eyebrows arched, staring in shock at Shane. It all made sense now, and the logic behind the system was as horrible as one could imagine it to be. It wasn't Shane who had no limits; it was them. "Disobedience is a forbidden trait, remember that for the sake of everyone, Elaine. You don't want to find your loved ones on the third floor. I was trapped for ages in that fucking building."

Facing the photos of Shane's daughter, the horrible curiosity of how she was killed came to mind. Judging by the look of it, she was younger than Sage, though not considerably younger. "We have to go. Phoenix needs assistance in the building as Austin can't fulfil the requirements set," Shane said, clearing his throat. "Just like that," I whispered under my breath. Shane arched a brow as he grabbed his keys to the apartment. "I forgot about Austin's existence for a while. Of course they need help," I said, nodding faintly.

Shane and I skipped the small talk in the car and focused on the work we'd both been forcefully hired to do. I still viewed it all to be surrealistic how I went from being locked in a room with a Spanish guy to working for those who got me there in the first place. All the more surrealistic was it that I'd abandoned everyone I trust in order to do better as a leader. My thoughts might be misleading as it seems I strive to reach the ultimate goal of becoming an evil leader. I've never played with the idea of being in domineering control over other people, and never would I ever stay like this long enough to fantasise about the ideals of the malicious. My focus has long revolved around the goal of fooling them well enough to put an end to all that they stand for. In reality, more than anything, I wanted to go back to being a student and nothing more.

The building looked as horrendous as before, but somehow it had gotten even colder inside. It was clear to say that Phoenix had worked hard on his own as his face and hands were dirty while Austin wasn't. "Will you just stay around if we need help? I'll help Phoenix alone for now," Shane said. I nodded, pursing my lips together as I started walking away. I purposely avoided the corridor I went to the last time so that no memories of Caldwell would come rushing vividly through my mind. I hadn't killed him, but witnessing him die in such a brutal way had impacted me strongly. Besides, everyone except Shane was convinced that I'd prevailed over him in the end somehow, and keeping that lie alive was beyond challenging.

I wanted to sit down against a wall and daydream about something not including murder, blood, maliciousness and anything related to the evil cycle. However, the walls were off-limits as they were covered in the substance that causes a severe reaction when it comes in contact with skin. I sighed deeply, staring at the traces of the substance reaching down to the floor, creating a tiny pit at the very end. I could see by the trails that someone had placed their hand on the wall and fallen down, spreading the substance even further. Bending down, I saw drops of blood mixed with the substance; this person hadn't managed very well through the endless sets of traps.

Without realising, I'd begun imagining what kind of person had desperately attempted to escape and whether I knew the person or not. I first realised that I'd gotten distracted when I heard steps approaching me. No voice followed the footsteps, so I assumed it was another leader. Getting up from the floor, I kept my back turned. Participants generally aren't quiet or non-violent when faced with leaders, so who else could it be?