Friendship

Eddie made his way back to the Mayor's office. Contrary to his usual self, he looked a little more serious. That was because, all the while, he thought of what he and Mallory talked about in the hospital.

He never thought that his friend was actually thinking about his well-being all this time. As he told Mallory, he thought he wasn't someone who anyone should be worried about. Why show concern for someone who didn't give any? Those smiles? That carefree demeanor? Fake.

Did Mallory think that his show of being a friend was real?

As far as he knew, all he was good for was obeying someone when anyone asked anything of him. ANYTHING. That was it. No questions asked.

"Could you carry this for me?"

Of course.

"Hey, spray-paint this wall for me."

Will do.

"Help me steal this piece of jewelry."

Sure.

"Kill this man for me and make sure no one sees you."

Okay.

He was aware people could think that some of the things he did for others were wrong. He believed them to be wrong as well. But his body didn't care. No matter how dirty the deed was, he did it out of compulsion.

Eventually, his mind didn't care much either. And heart? What was that?

It was partly due to a curse that was passed onto his family. And he couldn't tell anyone about it as no one might believe him.

Part of it was the possibility that maybe he really wanted to do those things. He just blamed something else for it.

He didn't really know.

He hid many of these thoughts and feelings from the doctor that Mallory wastes his money on every session. Who would believe that things such as curses and fantastic creatures actually existed? He would surely be locked away inside that hospital if he told anyone about it.

But then again… There was his friend.

----------

Mallory started his walk back to the Spiritbooks office. He didn't bother trying to see if he could catch up with Eddie, as he knew the latter was a fast walker. Much faster than he was. Also, he didn't think that his friend would be up for seeing him for more conversation today, considering what happened in the hospital.

He didn't quite anticipate that Eddie would react in such a way. He was usually someone who would take things in stride. He expected his friend to actually agree with what he was going to suggest, much like how he would do pretty much anything that anyone asked.

Why choose this time to disagree?

But then what was that he disagreed with?

"Why are you so worried for me all of a sudden, huh?"

"I've always been worried about you."

"You don't have to worry. I'm not someone you should be worried about."

"… I will still be concerned about you."

He didn't think he was worthy of concern? Mallory thought, tears building in his eyes out of anger. That unfair idiot! How could I not worry for him when he's like that?

It was just like when he was younger.

He was just taken in by Eddie at the time. He had lost his family and home and was found by this man. He didn't speak much, so he couldn't ask properly. But this person, who was now his friend, gave him shelter, food, and clothing, and even taught him various things without demanding anything in return.

Now, he had an awareness of the concept that whatever you do would come back to you. If anyone did anything good, they would also experience something good. If anyone did something bad, they would also experience something bad.

There was one time in which Mallory decided to do something for him so he would feel better when he went home. He read about it in one of the books that laid around and wanted to try it. However, it was met with some hostility.

"Please don't… The next time I see you do that, I will kill you."

It was cold, but there was also no malice.

Was it to protect him?

He wasn't a child any longer.

----------

Soon, Eddie reached his destination - the Mayor's Office.

The staff who worked there recognized him and greeted him, but none of them registered on his mind. He simply walked straight towards Frank's room, ignoring all the noise. Once there, he simply opened the door.

"So, Mallory found you?" asked the Mayor.

"Yeah," he answered. He had to adjust his voice at the last second.

"I see… Why didn't you tell me you were taking a leave?!"

"Sorry, I forgot," he said with a chuckle.

Frank sighed in frustration. "If only major problems could be solved by doing that, I swear, I…"

"I really did, though."

"Just… Don't do it again."

The office was still a public place, so there was not much that Frank could do in terms of disciplining a subordinate. The most was shouting at them, but he doubted its effectiveness.

"By the way, I have another favor for you."

"What is it?"

"Kill Mallory. And make sure people don't find out that it's you or me who killed him. Got it?"

In his head, there was no asking 'why,' but at least he could stall or negotiate with himself in his mind. If there was something that the sessions with Doctor Thomas have helped him achieve, this was it.

So, he was to kill Mallory. But it didn't have to be the one he knew.

And he had to make sure that people wouldn't find out about him or Frank killing this Mallory. That could be done in several ways. Examples would be killing him when he's alone and burying him, or killing any witnesses and hiding them. If the situation presented itself, he would take it.

All right. Conditions are set.

"Okay."