Chapter 12: Reasoning

"In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual." —Galileo Galilei

"The faculty to think objectively is the reason; the emotional attitude behind reason is that of humility. To be objective, to use one's reason, is possible only if one has achieved an attitude of humility and if one has emerged from the dreams of omniscience and omnipotence that one has as a child. Love, being dependent on the relative absence of narcissism, requires the development of humility, objectivity, and reason.

I must try to see the difference between my picture of a person and his behavior, as it is narcissistically distorted, and the person's reality as it exists regardless of my interests, needs, and fears." —Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving

"The most dangerous people in the world are not the tiny minority instigating evil acts, but those who do the acts for them. For example, when the British invaded India, many Indians agreed to work for the British to kill off Indians who resisted their occupation. So in other words, many Indians were hired to kill other Indians on behalf of the enemy for a paycheck. Today, we have mercenaries in Africa, corporate armies from the western world, and unemployed men throughout the Middle East killing their own people - and people of other nations - for a paycheck. To act without a conscience, but for a paycheck makes anyone a dangerous animal. The devil would be powerless if he couldn't entice people to do his work. So as long as money continues to seduce the hungry, the hopeless, the broken, the greedy, and the needy, there will always be war between brothers." —Suzy Kassem

***

Due to the intense and tight security, Grenoble implemented on the island, the killing had stopped. Many believe the reason why the series of brutal murders ceased was that Grenoble and his men had already caught the killer, Ergas. However, Xenia and his friends believe that Ergas has nothing to do with the killings going on on the island.

To the plaza, the circle of friends went. They rushed to the public market to see what was the thing about Ergas being publicly executed.

"We must stop this madness! Why are they doing this to Ergas? I bet they don't even have evidence that will prove him as the psychotic maniac!"

Every single one of them was furious. It was Xenia's friend they were talking about here. In his mind, the townspeople's hatred was nothing and could be ignored when a friend is in need of help. He does not care what they will say and how the Balmackians will respond to his presence in the market. Therefore, along with his friends, he marched to the middle of the commotion and stood in the way of the people condemning Ergas for the crimes someone else did.

"What is that brat doing there?!"

"Even Gordon's child, the Crustacea siblings, and the Hondo triplets are standing beside that killer!"

"All of you brats! Get the hell away from here!"

Surrounded by people blaming Ergas for the three murder victims, the poor kid who has bruises all over his body and is seemingly weak has a rope around his neck. His hands were tied behind him, and people were throwing a fit at the filthy sight he was in.

None of them showed empathy towards Ergas but all rage and desire to hang him.

"Ahh! My daughter's finally getting justice!"

"Keep things moving already! We can't wait any longer!"

Right in front of everyone, standing beside Ergas on the platform were Doro and Grenoble trying to calm the mass down with their gentle voices and calm approach.

"Ergas did not do anything! He is a victim! No way in hell he could kill three people!"

Franzia voiced her concern. Her unwavering will to defend her friend somehow irked the people. Their presence annoyed everyone.

"Do all of you even have something that will prove that Ergas is the killer?! Stop blindly believing what the majority says and think for yourself!"

What Jack received from the crowd was not sympathy but eggs and small rocks.

"Ow! F— stop throwing rocks!"

"Then do you brats have evidence that will prove his innocence?! If not, move the hell out of the way and go home!"

"Where are the parents of these kids?!"

It was chaotic. Grenoble's men could barely prevent the pandemonium from spreading across the whole crowd. People were eager to have Ergas executed immediately.

"Oh my! Isn't that our dear Franzia and Zeb? I knew they'd be here! Hon, quick! Take them away before this public execution becomes more chaotic!"

Mr. And Mrs. Crustacea arrived, along with the triplet's parents and the Gordon family. After receiving the news, all of these parents instantly knew where to find their kids. However, Xenia's parents were not present in the crowd. The main reason for this was that the news hasn't reached them yet.

"Jack, Mack, Pack! Come over here!"

Each of their parents pulled them away from the platform, for the chaos was about to worsen, and they might get stomped by people raging for justice and entertainment. Justice for those that lost loved ones and entertainment for those that have nothing to do with their lives. The majority of people could not think for themselves.

"No, dad! Don't get in our way! We are trying to save our friend!"

"You shut your mouth, Jack!" His father's grip tightened on his arm as he was being taken away.

"Aw!"

"Don't be stupid, son. Can't you see all these people?! They are all blinded by rage that they will even hang a kid for their fake justice!"

"But Ergas did nothing wrong!"

"It's not whether Ergas did something wrong or not!" Jack's father exclaimed through the loud crowd.

Jack's face was on the verge of giving in to his desire to cry. Not just Jack, all of them. They would not be able to handle the sight of a friend dying in front of their eyes as they watched after trying to save him.

"Then what is it, dad?!"

"Know that I am stopping you because this behavior of yours could put your life— our lives in danger!"

As Jack was being reprimanded and reasoned why he should stop defending Ergas, the faces of the people, who were raging to see the public execution, which played so slowly in his eyes, made him realize something.

"Xenia! Hey, Xenia!"

Mr. Gordon called for Xenia. Arlan has pulled away from the platform while squirming, trying to break free and go back to stand beside the steel Xenia.

"No, Mr. Gordon. I am not going anywhere."

"Xenia..."

Ergas looked so weak. He could not even show emotions because of the beatings he received. He was physically tortured, and it was all visible, yet everyone was ignoring it.

"Ergas will remain innocent until proven guilty. Unless someone shows me evidence that will prove him as the killer, I won't go away."

Painful as it may seem, but Xenia endured the hateful remarks and rocks thrown at him. Even though he was bleeding from one of the rocks that opened up a wound, he never fret. Xenia stood still.

"Shut up, bastard! We should also burn you along with your monster of a family! That's right! Persecute his family and burn them at the stake!"

Hearing these horrendous words from the people had Ergas showing worries toward Xenia and his family. Emotions filled his eyes, his mouth arching and tears raging to flow out.

"Go away!" Ergas abruptly shouted. Xenia turned to look at his friend, observing all the dark bruises on his body. "Why are you guys doing this?! You're making things complicated!"

"Huh? What are you saying, Ergas?"

"Never... Never had I... Did you and others really think I think of you as friends?! No! To me, all of you are spoiled brats that like to brag and bastards that never deserve what you have! I've had it! I was just pretending to be your friend, so why are all of you trying so hard to defend me? It was true! I killed them! Samara's daughter? Oh, she was my best victim! I didn't know that she was a virgin until I violated her! I wanted to give her a quick and painless death, but she had to run away! I had no choice but to do it!"

"I knew it! You monster! I'm gonna kill you! Let me go! I'll be the one to kill him!"

"And Jacob? Poor Jacob! Tsk, tsk, tsk... He sure was tough as hell! The bastard was still alive after his stomach was missing. I didn't stop there. To torture him even more, I made Jacob eat himself! It was the best feeling!"

"Fuck you! Monster! You soulless murderer! You don't deserve to die a quick death!"

At this point, Arlan, Franzia, Zeb, Jack, Mack, and Pack were all weeping as ugly as possible. Ergas' words have no filter to them. His detailed explanation of the murders threw all of the Balmackians in a blaze of fury.

While their kids were crying their eyes out at Ergas' shocking revelation, the parents remained stunned. Their mouths were left agape.

"Did you understand now, Xenia? Ergas really is the killer! What sort of evidence should you seek now that Ergas himself confessed to his sins!"

"No... All of this does not sound right."

~