Photographic Memory

Pep Talk

Ironically, that wasn't the last match Joseph would play that had Aesop in it. About half an hour before dinner, there he was, sat on an armchair again, toying around with his sword.

When the game started, the Photographer was determined to end it as soon as possible so he could fall into bed. Besides Aesop, he was playing against Emma, Servais, and Freddy.

It took no time to find the Gardner. She was dismantling a rocket chair nearby. Joseph managed to give her a terror shock before she could finish.

Although the rest of them were able to decode the 5 ciphers, the hunter got all of them, except for one. When the last chair took off, Aesop was hidden somewhere around the hospital. He had become sneakier after their talk at the dungeon.

Joseph entered the building already hearing harsh breaths. Aesop hated how obvious he could be sometimes.

The last survivor was crouching behind the surgical table upstairs, shaking with pure fear. All because he had noticed Joseph's glance earlier that day, at the exit. It wasn't a happy glance.

Joseph was on the other side of the table at this point. Aesop could feel his gaze sting at the back of his head. Joseph approached him without much delicacy and slid his sword on the man's shoulder. Aesop moved back from the pain, but it only caused him to trip and hit his head on the ground. One hit and he was down.

Joseph picked him up and carried him to the basement, keeping himself quiet along the way. Aesop did the opposite. He was sobbing and burring his nails on the blue coat. The cut on his arm was deep. Inside, Joseph wished Emily would soon take good care of him.

He placed him on the chair and murmured with a sad tone "Just... don't expect more help from me."

Dinner came and Joseph didn't leave his room. He lied down lost in thought while staring at the ceiling. Then, someone knocked at the door.

"It's open!"

Black peeked through the half-opened door. "Aren't you coming for dinner?"

"Not hungry." He said, closing his eyes.

Black invited himself in and sat near his friend. Joseph rolled his eyes. He wasn't in the mood for dinner or talking to anyone, but sat up anyway, hugging a pillow for comfort.

"What happened? Got dumped?" Unlike White, Black was always in the mood for playing around. He was the type of person who laughed at their own jokes and never got tired.

"No." The other replied forcing a smile.

"Come on, you can be honest with me. It was Michiko, right?"

"What are you talking about?!"

"Oh, don't act like you're surprised, I know you like her!" Black winked.

"No, I don't! Why would I?!" Geisha was the one who had been telling him to not fall in love, why would he choose her of all people? "I'm here to win this game! This isn't Tinder, Black."

Black arched his eyebrows. He thought Joseph was kidding. "Jeez, are you serious?"

Joseph looked at him. He was dead serious.

"Look, It's not wrong to have a little bit of fun sometimes." Black placed his hand over Joseph's. "We do not know how long we're going to stay here."

The last sentence hit him like a truck. Many in the manor said there was no escape. That they were stuck here forever.

"So go and get her, Mr. Handsome Frenchman." Black gave him a pat on the back and left.

Joseph snorted and got under the blankets smiling.

He didn't know whom he should listen to, but definitely knew whom he wanted to.

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I can't even believe how exhausting this week was. It's like God heard my complains from last week and was like "Oh, you thought those days were tiring?! Well, lemme slap some sense into you, here you go :D" It's sad, I thought this chapter would turn out better than this, but I can't focus with everything going on. Sorry for the slow updates. I hope you enjoyed the chapter anyway ^^~