The Evil Within-The Final Showdown

Plans

An unwelcome chill rose throughout my body, threatening to choke me.

"What d-do you m-mean?" I managed to ask. "Got out?"

"When we saw Leslie being........disintegrated by Ruvik," Kidman slowly explained, "that was Ruvik exiting STEM via Leslie."

I started shaking my head as she spoke, refusing to believe it. "No, it couldn't be. I killed him, Juli! He transformed into........

I wasn't able to finish my sentence as the reality sunk in. She had no reason to lie about this. I sat down, trying to focus on controlling my shaking.

"Sebastian," Kidman began again. "What you fought was your representation of Ruvik. When Ruvik left STEM, you were in complete control of the environment. Wasn't your battle with him a little too convenient?"

I thought this over for a moment. It was true. The battle was a little too easy. Weapons capable of significant destruction simply fell into my hands and I never questioned it. My very own fear of him had transformed him into such a beast. When I had finally escaped his mind, I had caught a glimpse of Leslie wandering away from the hospital, giving me a final look over his shoulder. I thought it was only my cruel imagination but for once, I had been seeing things right. And I thought I was the big hero. In reality, I was no hero. This was all my fault.

"Ruvik got out because of me, didn't he?" I asked.

"Sebastian, this isn't your fault," Kidman tried to ease my remorse but deep down, she knew I was at fault judging by her unsure tone of voice.

"I should have just let you kill Leslie," I rambled on. "It would have been easier that way. Now, everybody is in danger because of me."

"Sebastian, you were only doing what was right," Kidman told me, sitting next to me, "You didn't want to see an innocent life taken away. I admit, I had mixed feelings about killing Leslie. I was thinking twice about pulling the trigger. Ruvik got him first though."

Suddenly, I felt anger rise up. "So, you thought twice about killing Leslie but you seemed to have no problem killing Joseph. He was innocent too, Kidman!"

"Sebastian, just wait a minute......"

I cut her off, not wanting to hear her excuses. "You killed him! Shot him right in front of me! Without another thought! He had a wife and a child!"

"Sebastian......."

"No! Shut up! I don't want to hear any of it! You're a murderer! You killed him! I......"

"He's not dead!" Kidman suddenly yelled, shooting straight to her feet.

He........ wasn't dead? Kidman seemed to know I didn't believe it  because she repeated, "He's not dead, Sebastian. The bullet wound didn't kill him. He's currently housed at Mobius' headquarters, our organisation. While he is being held prisoner, he's alive."

I almost cried with happiness. He was captured but alive. Joseph was alive! The ghost of a smile spread across my face. He was alive!

"Please tell me you're telling me the truth," I almost begged Kidman.

"Every word of it is true," Kidman confirmed. "I have gone to speak with him to check up on him for you."

"How is he?" I immediately asked.

Kidman didn't answer straight away.

"Kidman?" I questioned.

"To tell you the truth, he could be better," Kidman explained. "As expected, he wants to be free. But trauma has settled in and it's our belief that he is experiencing hallucinations. He's not mentally sound. It's gotten worse ever since I........"