Where I learn about my enemy's past

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As we were walking out the Senate Palace, and my spirits were already low, I couldn't help but notice a bush of roses. They were incredibly colourful and beautiful and that diverted my attention.

It reminded me of my adoptive mother --- red roses were her favourite flower. Weirdly enough, there had been a time in my life when I had loved her fiercely. She had admirable qualities --- she was tough and clever. Even though the two of us never got along, I tried to.

I was just a child, back then. Over time, I found out I could only be truly happy when Evelyn Barnes wasn't there to ruin it, and the realization shattered me. I didn't want our lives to be spent apart. I didn't want to admit I was happier without her. It made me feel guilty.

But Evelyn always wanted to have the upper hand. She would simply never lose a fight. She was manipulative, twisting all my words until she made it seem that I was the one who always got angry at her --- making me feel guilty even when I knew I had no right to be.

And, what's more, she always wanted me to feel down. If I wasn't sad about my life, she would tell me it sucked. She would tell me time and time again, until gradually I began to feel it too. It seems she was only ever fulfilled when I was gloomy, always feeling as if I had a cloud hanging over my head.

Maybe Daniel Johnston's words reminded me of her too. I was used to people making me feel guilty about things I hadn't done. I was feeling responsible for Alice already. I should have looked for her for a longer time, I shouldn't have gone to bed.

"Don't beat yourself up," Edgar said. He always tried to cheer me up. He couldn't even understand how many different things I was feeling. I had never exactly told him the extent of the abuse I went through in my childhood.

"Yeah," I commented sarcastically. "I have just been blamed of an homicide that hasn't even happened, yet, and I'm looking for a baby who's been held hostage, hoping to find him still alive. But yeah, I shouldn't beat myself up."

"Do you think the baby is already dead?" Edgar asked me. He almost looked like he was pleading.

"I hope not," I said. 

We followed the instructions Thomas Johnston had given us, until we found an abandoned shelter. It was outside of the centre of the underground city.

"Thomas Johnston is even crazier than I would have guessed. A truly evil person," Edgar commented. "With no regrets at all. Almost makes you wonder if there's something going on."

"Do you think there's some sort of magic messing with him...?" I asked.

Edgar shrugged. "Who knows," he commented. "Something's definitely wrong with him."

"Some people are just born wicked," I replied.

"Yeah, well, I'd rather not think about it that way."

Edgar found the light switch, and light invaded the little shelter. A baby was there, in a cradle. His hair were the shades of pale yellow, gold and a cold light brown. His eyes, though almost closed, were heavy lidded and his pupils were light blue. He was an incredibly cute baby. I could not believe someone could have been so evil to kidnap him.

"Now," I said decisively. "Let's get the baby out of here."

I sighed. "I just wish I knew a way to help Alice too."

Edgar smacked his forehead, as if he just had an idea. "I know a way to make sure she's alive!"

"Well, what is it?" I asked. I shuddered at the thought of Alice not being alive --- but, perhaps, it was better to know the truth.

"An Emphatic String," he said.

I had already heard about the Emphatic String. Agnes and Raegan shared one.

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