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17: Alone

Mark's POV

We had heard two cannons go off, and it spooked us quite a bit. Jack had been with us, so Wade kept quiet about those deaths in particular, claiming that other players had run into one another. Other than that, he continued to call the Irishman out for murder, and I had tuned out their arguments long ago. I couldn't listen to them scold one another for very long, and I did my best to ignore it. Wade seemed to have taken everything Yami said to heart, and Jack was trying his hardest to defend himself, but it wasn't enough for Wade. Even as we sat down for lunch, they kept at it.

"If Yami wasn't telling the truth, then why did he die after calling you out?" Wade demanded, and I looked over at Jack who gaped at the accusation. I was still on the fence about this entire situation, and I was only growing closer and closer to falling off as Wade brought up new arguments and Jack stopped trying to find new ways to defend himself. It was hard to trust anyone now, but I knew one thing for certain above all. Jack and Wade were both my friends, and they were both kind, humble men who were practically family. I would not give up on either of them, and I had to keep and protect them both. It was becoming increasingly difficult now, and I was trying to hold on to those thoughts with everything that I had.

"You just can't let this go, can you?" Jack demanded, and Wade narrowed his eyes.

"You're avoiding the question!"

"So are you!"

I had to tune them out again as I was eating, and instead looked around and focused on our surroundings again. We were under the shade of some trees, out of the blazing sun whose rays never seemed to know an end. It was always so warm, save for the storm that had suddenly appeared and passed. I knew that there was a good chance that people were being murdered by someone who was going out of their way, but I couldn't think about that while my two friends sitting next to me screamed at one another about it. Instead, just in case it wasn't one of them or they didn't catch something, I kept watch all around us, waiting for someone or something to pop out of the trees and attack us. Part of me hoped that someone did so I could prove that Jack wasn't the killer, but I didn't think that I could handle anymore death.

"You know what, Wade? I have tried keeping my cool about this the majority of the time. You are making me angry, and I'm going to go relax since you've pissed me off!" Jack snapped, and I whipped around at this. I didn't even get to say a word to stop him as he stormed off into the woods, huffing and red faced, angry. I watched him go, my mouth open slightly' no noises came out despite my wanting to warn him. Wade snorted next to me.

"Good riddance," he muttered, turning back to his food as I set my own down. I felt rather sick as I watched the Irishman disappear. I hadn't wanted my friend group to disband like this, at all. We had already lost Bob and Yami, and I didn't want to lose anyone else, especially to something as stupid as this arguing. I clenched my teeth, debating on whether or not I should go after Jack when Wade spoke up a second time. "Well, what do you think, Mark?" I stiffened at this. What did I think; overall? I turned to my friend, swallowing and looking at him.

"If I'm honest, there is a lot of what you and Yami have said that would point to Jack." I admitted, and Wade nodded vigorously, but I put a hand up to stop him. "On a side note, I know Jack just as much as I know the rest of you. He is humble, and one of the kindest people that I know. He is straight to the point when needed, and too noble to go around murdering people, especially our friends and then lying about it." I told him, and I saw Wade's jaw lock. "So, if I had to decide, I'm going to say that Jack is innocent." Wade scoffed at this, staring at his hands for a few moments before standing abruptly.

"I'm going to get some air too," and then just like Jack he wandered off into the forest, leaving me to sit, surrounded by everyone's things, alone in the woods. I swallowed, keeping my eyes and ears open as I continued to eat. This argument, this petty fighting, it was going to be the end of our friendship. I loved both Jack and Wade, and I hated even having to decide between them, especially with something that has been carried out for several days without reason. I knew that if Wade was going to accuse Jack, then I would have to stand up for what I believed, and the better part of me knew that Jack was not the kind of man to go killing people. Yet, another part had seen what the games were doing to Wade, and what they'd done to Yami. Maybe they had corrupted Jack too...? No, I decided that I couldn't afford to think like this. l knew better.