ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅɪᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ

Chapter 23: Friends for a Reason, Friends for a Season

You hadn't been in the basement before. It was cold, the concrete damp with condensation, eerie drips disturbing the tranquillity. Light scarcely peeked through a small window located in the back corner. The musty scent suited the atmosphere, the pungency forcing your face to scrunch. As per Louis' request, you brought down Marlon's mattress from his office, the side wet with raindrops. You laid it beneath the window, dumping his pillow and blanket on top. 

Battered and bruised, Marlon sat on a chair behind you, a vacant void of guilt. His barrage of apologies had ceased and he sat silent, a victim to his thoughts. He stared at a puddle on the ground, his conscience not daring him to look near you. The consequences overwhelmed him, wracking his chest with guilt and self-pity. Some leader he was. 

The blood had been wiped from his face, the open wounds briefly tended to by Ruby. Bruises began to form all over, cladding his face purple. His brow grew larger, swelling from the intense impact. 

Fixing the mattress, you said, "That should do." Standing up properly, you walked over to him. "I think there are some books in here to keep you entertained, an etch-a-sketch, and..." you saw rolled-up maps leaning against a wall, "maps." Marlon didn't reply. This interaction contrasted your others, they were full of amicability and laughter, however, sorrow loomed over this one, poisoned by the venom of betrayal. "You have no idea how much I want to forgive you; I thought you were my friend, Marlon."

"I know, I know." He was quiet. "You don't need to keep guilt-tripping me."

You folded your arms, frowning as you glanced aside in thought. "But the thing I really don't get is why would you send me after what happened with me and Louis. Surely you must've considered how he'd feel?"

"I did, but..." Marlon heaved a sigh, "I think you know what I'm going to say."

It hurt you to think you meant so little. "I wouldn't have been a big loss." Nodding to yourself, you sadly shuffled out of the basement. "I'll come get you at dinner." You hung your head low, gazing at the floor as you exited the basement. You didn't expect Louis to be standing waiting. He furrowed his brows, teeth gritted as he stared at you. "You look happy."

"I'm not." He wasn't in the mood for sarcasm. "You locked him in the basement?!" 

"Would you rather me dig him a hole? Build him a kennel?" Sarcasm laced your voice as you headed towards the Admin Building. "I could've thrown him out."

"You could've let him stay in his own room." Louis spat back, "Instead he's locked up alone in a basement after having the crap beaten out of him."

You raised a brow, "Do you wanna join him?"

"I want to see him." Louis answered, halting as you ascended the stairs. "He's my best friend. And I know what he did was wrong, I'm not excusing what he did, but... I need to talk to him. One-on-one."

Although Louis' loyalty was something you admired about him, it elicited rage to bubble within you, his naïvety to the situation's severity prodded sticks at your already foul mood. You huffed, "I'm trying to do what's best here, Louis."

"I know you are but please can you just let me speak to him?" He pleaded.

"About what?" You interrogated.

Louis rebuffed with a shrug. "It doesn't matter." 

"Yes, it does." You insisted, taking a step forward.

"You wouldn't get it." Louis shook his head, staring at the ground beside him. 

You walked down the stairs, approaching him, "Then help me understand."

"It's just..." he breathed, "it's complicated."

You deadpanned, "Well, yeah, no shit."

"Please, (Y/N), you have to trust me with this." Louis gazed at you, desperation twinkling in his eyes. 

Everything you were doing was for a reason, and you didn't want to disrupt the order because you caved for him. But he'd never looked at you like this before, and you didn't like it. "Fine," you gave in, "go see him."

Louis didn't thank you, marching off the instant you folded, yanking open the basement doors and trotting down. "Marlon?" He called out.

Marlon's voice was equally as quiet as before, "Louis?" Scurrying over, Louis wrapped him in a hug. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to make sure you were alright." Said Louis, a small smile softly tugging on the corners of his mouth.

Guilt-ridden, Marlon couldn't accept his kindness, puzzled as to why he harboured respect and concern after a brutal betrayal. "Louis," he sighed solemnly, "go back outside, don't waste your time on me."

"I'm not wasting my time." Reassured Louis.

Marlon shook his head, "You are. I'm sorry." 

It pained Louis to see him in such a state. Marlon was confident, optimistic, but now he was a shell of who he was. "You're my best friend, I'm not just going to let you sit here alone."

 Although his guilt was genuine, he carried a sense of self-pity. "I betrayed you, I betrayed everyone. I'm just getting what I deserve."

"None of us are perfect," said Louis, "we've all done things we regret. The important thing is we learn from it and try to be better."

"You don't get it, Louis. This is different." Marlon remarked.

Louis insisted, "But you're part of this group: you're family: the only one any of us have left. We're all here to look out for one another. We can fix this!"

"No. Not this time."