SEVEN: Cursed Souls

CHAPTER 33: THE TRAITOR

At Skull's lair.

Some members assisted others who are injured while James and Logan are both devastated from their lost. James still hugs his best friend, Steve, indenial that the person between his arms is already dead; while, Logan looks at the bracelet he found in the room where they found the body, and this bracelet is very familiar to him because he have seen it worn by his Uncle before the fire happened just days ago.

"I know who did it," Ryder whispered to James, "But you have to calm down, I need your assistance since he may also be behind my brother's death. I'll go into his mind, give me that token from Puppeteer so that I could go into his mind!"

"You knew yet you kept silent! After all that I helped you with and you would do this to me?" James answered.

"I had to, James! Or else you could've killed him instantly and we may not even be able to know what happened or what caused this to happen!" Ryder reiterated. James breathed hard then he looked at Ryder, he is somehow hesitant of Ryder's plan but he trusts Ryder so he asked who did it and how it happened.

***

During the time that James was looking for Ryder, Ryder was some meters away from him. Ryder was left at the back so he saw all who are running away but what caught his attention was a man who was pulling a gun from his pocket while he stood away from the rampage.

Ryder picked the closest weapon he could see before he ran to the man to stop his plan. But he was too late--he was just a few steps away from the man when he was able to hold his hand but the mad already pulled the trigger. Ryder do not want to put himself in any more danger so he used the slab of wood he had picked to hit the man's head.

The man immediately fell to the floor, revealing his identity to Ryder.

***

Ryder sighed, "James, knowing that man, he might've also been the person behind my brother's death. It was Darwin who shot Steve!"

James' eyes grew wide in disbelief. "What? So all this time, the answer to your vengeance had been up behind our tails?"

"But we are not so sure of that, James! I need to know for myself and that is why I spared him his life, I need to know the whole truth from him!" Ryder said. James was still hesitant but he went to get the bracelet from Ina and gave it to Ryder. They then entered the room where Darwin is being held, Ryder did not let Ina heal him yet because he may escape if he does.

James' blood immediately boiled when he saw Darwin laying down, he wants to stab him but he was stopped by Ryder. Hope, Gav, and Logan followed inside.

"Ryder, I also feel the dense suppressed emotions within him that I feel within you," says Hope as she looked at James, "but there is also something within him," she pointed towards Darwin, "that seems to be within you," she pointed at Ryder's chest, just above his heart.

They were then told of the truth and was asked to keep the other members from getting inside the room as they try to get information from him.

Ryder wore the bracelet and put the other in Darwin's arms, he laid down another bed and held Darwin's forehead.

***

Inside Darwin's consciousness Ryder saw three versions of Darwin where two versions are tied down a well, while the other who is in control wears a dark cloak while smoke is cast around him, he looks just like the entity inside of Ryder's consciousness but of Darwin's version.

"So, you are what Hope feels that is similar between us!?" Ryder said.

"Ryder, help me," the other two that are tied begged. "I am being controlled!" they added, both speaking together.