The Evil Within-The Final Showdown

The Truth

Quiet, rushed footsteps down the hallways of Mobius proved to be a daunting task. My low levels of stamina combined with hunger and fatigue lashed at me as I struggled to keep up with Ruvik's weaving figure. Joseph was also not faring too well, a recent beating leaving dark bruises and cuts all over his already broken body. The thought of their canes and fists barraging Joseph's fragile frame sent flickers of anger radiating through my chest. My hand wrapped around my crossbow more tightly, itching to break my promise of no bloodshed. Murderous thoughts raged through my head; a body crumpling to the floor with a fast bullet and the rush of crimson blood soaking the tiled floor, punishment for their crimes. I was shocked at myself for thinking such cruel, malicious thoughts. I looked at my crossbow, uncertainly, sweat coating its handle.

"You're a good man, Sebastian," Kidman's voice in my head reminded me.

I always strived to live true to that statement. Operating purely on my moral compass was always my solution to significant problems, mercy overriding any hateful, murderous instinct to maim and harm my rivals. Never once in any standoff with criminals had I taken a life. My only motive had always been to make an arrest, not to kill. I was hoping I was still the good man that Kidman viewed me as by the end of this experience.

"I don't like this, Seb" Joseph's sudden hushed voice interrupted my thoughts. "We're playing a dangerous game."

"We have no choice, Joseph," I tried to explain quietly. "He's our only chance of navigating this maze."

"Can I have an explanation of what is going on?" Joseph asked. "Why the mention of Myra? Did you find her?"

I struggled to answer as her name evoked choking tears in my throat, "Yes."

Joseph came to a halt, the information registering. Shooting a nervous look at the departing Ruvik, I pulled Joseph along, hastily explaining myself.

"I need to tell you something," I spoke in a hushed voice. "Myra has been working with Mobius. That's why she disappeared. It was all her fantasy to keep me safe but in the end, she jeopardised her own safety. She may be dead now, Joseph."

Joseph's expression was a mixture of disbelief and sympathy. The tears had started again and I turned away to hide my weakness. But there was more to explain. Sighing and stopping any incoming tears, I explained the sadistic game played at Ruvik's hands. With every word, the memories of the recent events became clearer, taunting me with Myra's bleeding body as the sharpest of knives pierced her skin. Sacrificing herself to save me. The thought was sickening. How I wished she had stabbed me instead. But what would guarantee that Ruvik wouldn't kill her with me out of the way? I finished my story, watching as Joseph seemed to grow angry. With shaking hands, he reloaded his gun and aimed its barrel at Ruvik. Instinctively, I forced his arm down and shook my head.

"Why not?" Joseph's voice angry but quiet. "He deserves it! He's too much of a liability to have around. What's going to stop him from making us his next targets?"

"Joseph, killing him means killing Leslie," I explained. "I don't want him to lose his life because of this sad excuse of a human being. Joseph, please. There has to be another way."

"Lovebirds!" Ruvik suddenly barked. "Have we fallen asleep back there?"

Tearing my eyes from Joseph's angered ones, I realised we had fallen behind considerably, Ruvik a good few metres from us. Pulling a reluctant Joseph, I hurried to where Ruvik was standing. His set of suspicious eyes swept over us as he took in our attempts to appear innocent.

"How are the plans coming along?" Ruvik inquired.

"Plans?" I asked, unsure of what he meant.

"Oh, don't play dumb, Seb," Ruvik began pacing around me. "Do you think I can't hear you? Planning how you will kill me?"