Pandemonium

Elevator Three

A friend of mine made some fanart of Pandora c': look how cute it is guys. Thank you so much Citrus_Bubbles

. . .

Claude hasn't said a word since we've been on this elevator. He just sat in the corner and stared at the ground. His silence bothers me but I've got bigger things to worry about, I suppose, with Faust cradling Hyde so closely. Everyone else has been gathering food and taking a few showers. Setting up sleeping-bags like it's all a simple routine. It's crazy that we've actually gotten somewhat used to this messed up game. I hate that. I hate that this is our life now. But, what else are we going to do? There is still no other way to escape.

"Faust?" I scoot over to Faust and lean up against them. I want to make sure they're okay even though I know they aren't. They're just holding Hyde in silence, occasionally shooting a glare or two in Claude's direction.

"Hm? What's this? Have you come to whisper sweet nothings to me? Even though you've already got a lover?" Faust snickers but I can tell it's forced. "I thought I told you I would be your sibling, nothing more."

"Faust..." I repeat. "Are you okay?"

"Me? I wasn't the one in the chair," Faust stares down at Hyde, holding them closer. "Or in the cage... for so long." I see their eyes start to fill up with water but no tears escape. Nothing falls and the wetness barely lasts. A quick smile replacing it.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask but I know Faust will likely refuse. They just tried so hard not to cry. I doubt they're willing to let any real emotions out anytime soon. Even if it's just to vent to me.

"It's not that I don't want to," Faust begins, lifting Hyde a bit to make the position more comfortable. "It's just.. I can't." What does that mean? Is there an outside source keeping Faust from saying anything? Or does Faust themself have issues with speaking about it? Not wanting to admit their own failures or short-comings? Then again, all of those things could be the case. I can't force any information out of Faust. Not that I would want to drag it out by force anyway.

I try to piece together everything I can on my own without Faust's help. I know that from the beginning Faust seemed to know more about this place than us. I also know that Faust isn't the Traitor but has tried very hard to act like one. But those comments, about being a ruler... no one else but Claude has even remotely acted like the King so does that mean...

"Faust are you the K-"

Hyde slaps a hand over my mouth and stares up at me. I never realized that they were awake. They stare, with their black eyes as soulless as when in the cage. They lower their hand and mutter, "Faust is trapped in a cage of the mind." Hyde moves their hand carefully to their head, pointing it at their temple. "You must not mutter such things, even as a guess, because announcing the King is just as bad as falsely accusing the Traitor."

"What do you mean?" I ask, but Hyde closes their eyes again, snuggling up to Faust. Apparently cuddles are more important than any questions I have in my mind. I mean, that's fair, I suppose, but it's still not very helpful. I can't get mad at Hyde, even if I wanted to, their face right now is too content. I would feel guilty getting angry.

"Hendrix," Faust stares at me. "There is only one way the rules say you can be saved."

"By finding the Traitor."

Faust nods. "So, what do you think happens if you find the King?" Their eyes lack any hints but they look down at Hyde and close their eyes, resting their head against the wall.

I glance back and forth between the two, trying to figure out what it is they mean. Only one way to win the game, according to the rules, but the rules don't state what happens or what it means to be 'saved'. Does that mean all other ways outside of 'saved' mean doom? Finding the King won't save us? It'll be the same as mistaking the King for the Traitor? Then, by that logic, doesn't that mean making it to the tenth floor is useless? Because the only way to be 'saved' is to find the Traitor? But what happens to the Traitor if you announce them? Do you really have to kill them? My head swarms with all of these questions but I don't know if I'm getting any closer to the truth. Floor seven is fastly approaching and not many of us are left.

"Hendrix," Faust places a hand on my head. I look up at them and they smile down at me. So much sadness in that smile. "You should be spending time with Hector." Faust gently pushes me away and towards Hector, sitting a few feet away from me with a basket of food, looking through it and sniffing it as if it might not be safe.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I ask Faust but they don't reply. They just go back to leaning their head up against the wall and closing their eyes. Hyde sleeping soundly in their lap.

"Did you find anything interesting?" I ask Hector he looks at me and laughs.

"It's the same stuff as usual. Nothing really exciting."

"That's sad," I say, leaning my head on his shoulder. I'm extremely tired all of the sudden. Being with Hector really calms me. Maybe that's why the wave of fatigue hit me so quickly. I could finally let my guard down. Maybe this is how Hyde feels snuggled up against Faust like that. I think I get it.

"Hey, Hendrix?"

"Yes, Hector?"

"Do you think we will really make it to the tenth floor?"

"I don't know," I reply honestly.

"What happens on the tenth floor?"

"I don't know," I repeat.

"Hendrix," Hector grabs my hand and I open my eyes. I sit up and look at him, tears falling down his face, and pull him close.

"Yes, Hector?"

"I don't want to die."

"It's okay," I say, trying to calm him down. "It's going to be okay..." But do I really know that? Or is that just something I feel like I have to say? I want it to be okay. I want more than anything to forget this whole thing ever happened and go back to our normal everyday lives.

"It's okay," I repeat, wishing with every fiber of my being that it isn't a lie.