Photographic Memory

Between Us

Looking on the bright side, at least the survivors let Aesop have dinner outside his room. He never thought being in the manor could be so boring. Some of the residents came to keep him company sometimes, yet he couldn't restrain himself from thinking of what had happened earlier that day. Just the thought of Joseph's hand on his nape made his cheeks burn without an actual explanation.

Of course, Joseph was attractive, there was no point in denying it. But there was someone hidden behind those eyes, and the desire to know him better was growing and growing.

Whys and what-ifs made him navigate away on his sentiments, distracting him from the real world. It was likely for him to stay up during dawn, kept awake, high on his dreams.

In the morning, when some of his strength had returned, he shook the strange feelings out of him with a well deserved hot shower. Still, it felt like the last match was haunting his mind. He could keep lying to himself all he wanted, he wasn't ready to face Joseph again. But he had to. If he wanted some clarifications on his odd behaviors, he had to have the courage to take the first step. He had to speak to him, and more importantly, find a good opportunity to do so.

Sadly, there wasn't a way for survivors to know which hunter they would have to confront. This meant Aesop was going to take action blindly.

"Oh, so you want to play the first match of the day? Why am I even surprised?" Emily sighed with her fingers in her temples. "Ok, let's make a deal, if you finish all your breakfast, you can come with us."

The look on Aesop's face was unbelievable. His eyes were half-closed because of the smile behind his mask.

Ever since his first 2vs8 match, everyone was giving him more care and attention. He had escaped when the Hunters least expected in such an incredible way. Not really, but that was what they thought.

The match he was about to play was also a 2vs8 match. Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), Joseph was not one of the hunters. He was reluctant because of yesterday's 2vs8 match, why would he sign up for another one of those?

After a long game against Burke and Michiko, and a long pause for survivors to recover with Emily's help, Aesop was ready for a brand new round of knockouts.

That day, he played against Violetta, Leo, Jack, Wu Chang, Bane, and Yidhra. His patience was running low. His friends told him so many times to take a break he already knew what they were going to say before they even opened their mouths.

At the very last match of the evening, at The Red Church, Aesop finally discovered the object he had been looking for the whole day. A camera, right next to a cipher.

He had a plan. He would summon his coffin and save his teammates without being spotted, decode ciphers and hide until the dungeon was open. None of his friends could know about this.

Later, Freddy, Kreacher, and Kurt were sent to the manor by rocket chairs. Words couldn't express how bad Aesop felt when the last chair took off. He didn't move an inch to save them, except for the time when he embalmed Kurt.

He walked his way to the dungeon feeling his heart beating in his throat. He sat on the metal corner, his legs hanging down the passage. He wouldn't jump just yet, he needed to have a word with a certain someone first.

Light footsteps and heavy breathing got louder as Joseph got near him.

Oh, God, if you do exist, wish me luck.

He looked up.

Joseph looked much taller than usual from this angle. It made him look intimidating, and he wasn't sure if the sudden eye roll helped with that.

If the Hunter attacked, Aesop would still be able to get away. If he surrendered, an entire match would go to waste.

So he turned his back at him, heading to the gate, hoping the survivor would escape sooner or later.

"Wait!"

The Photographer sighed. He had no choice but to hear what he had to say.

He turned around. "Make it fast."

Aesop was caught off guard. He himself didn't know what exactly he wanted to ask. So he went for the most obvious question.

"Yesterday... Why did you let me go?"

Joseph was avoiding eye contact. A shame, really. Aesop could spend all day admiring those blue orbs.

"You were really close to getting away. It would be unfair to not let you do so."

"When is this game ever fair?"

Find survivors, hunt them down, win, wait for your reward. A reward you don't even know when or if you're going to get.

"Look, I shouldn't have talked to you, alright? I thought if I helped, you could leave this in the past."

It took a few seconds for Aesop to process the sentence. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make sense out of it.

He broke a rule when he saved him from Hastur. What was the point?

"So you tried to redeem yourself from breaking a rule by... breaking another rule?"

Aesop arched an eyebrow. Joseph was even more disoriented than him.

"I did what I had to do. Now, drop it. Please."

He sounded aggressive at first, but Aesop got the hint. He was probably going too far with the conversation.

The Embalmer pressed his palms against the edge of the dungeon and prepared to give impulse so he could get down.

"And Carl..."

He lifted his head up so he could see Joseph, who had his back turned to him again.

"This stays between us."

Aesop agreed, moving his head even though the Hunter couldn't see him. He jumped and started his route back to the manor.