False Friend

The basket started to come down and as usual people started to form a group under its shadow in order to steal the food.

It felt strange to me. Why are they grouping now? No on tried to steal food from Black moon in the past 7 days when they were garding it. Are new factions are appering o is it a last desperate effect made by these people to steal food? The thought soon left my brain as i saw the Black moon breaking these groups and again making a circle around the baskets shadow. They started beating the people who were grouped around the basket shadow. These were the people who used to sit around all day blabbing when and how they were going to die. They were going crazy slowly and slowly.

Something still felt off even after the arrival of Black moon. Like i was missing something. But what? The thought echoed in my head again and again but soon it was clear when the basket came down and touched the ground. Everyone stopped moving and their voices disappear. It was like they all had gone mute.

One of the member of Black Moon(BM): The food, it's, it's less then before.

Teros went to check for himself and i could still remember the look of surprise he had on his face, it was like he had seen a ghost.

Chaos took over the cave. Everyone was screaming. They all have heard the boy. Some went into panic mode and were trying to steal food away from BM. Seeing this Teros screamed:

"People calm down, yes the food is less then before but we can still make it work. Maybe not 3 meals a day but 2. Everyone will still get their share."

People began to calm down but something still felt off. I ignored it thinking i was going crazy. The people who tried stealing the food were beaten to pulp and some were bleeding. Even i felt sorry for them. Poor kid that were brought here against their will and now had to suffer.

I was planning on telling Teros that i want to join his group but i decided to wait since he was dealing with way to much. I went to Claire and asked her to accompany me. I was a little shaken by the incident with the food and wanted to know what others think about this. She said "sure, let me grab my bag" and so we went to the edge of the cave and started circling.

Claire: What's on your mind?

Vin: It's just about the food, Teros had this wierd look on his face and i can't seem to forget it.

Claire: Yeah i know right.

We talked for a bit then she left to go check on the sick. I followed her secretly. If you ask me why? I don't know.

Suddenly she was joined by 5 kids.

Kid 1(boy): Hey Claire, you are taking a walk too.

Claire: Yeah, i mean, i had to let some steam out after what happened today.

Kid 2 (boy) while laughing: People actually tried to steal food from those muscle heads.

Kid 3 (girl): I know right, like why bother.

Kid 4 (girl) walked in silence.

Kid 5 (boy): Exactly, they're too strong.

Kid 4: That's what she said.

Claire with a concern voice: I mean they seemed desperate and i think we should give them something at least.

Kid 2: Ow Claire you are so considerate but i think they should follow the rules placed by the Black Moon.

Claire: Yeah but. What if it was me our any of us. We should try to help them. Being trapped here is affecting their mental health.

Kid 2: Claire everyone knows have great of a person you are. But there is not much you can do to help them. They have to figure this out on their own.

Kid 3: Yeah and we are as desperate as those who tried to steal the food.

Claire: Yes but what if because the lack of food they don't get to eat. What if i was next to not get food.

Kid 2: I would give you my own food if i had to even though i hate sharing it and i know you would do the same for us.

Vin was like a shadow walking behind them hiding when need be. He observed Claire and her interaction with others and a question popped inside his head. What if Claire was pretending to be this nice person so she could get everyone support?. This thought kept screaming in his head again and again. Why would she help someone if she had nothing to gain from it?. She must have realized that she can't survive on her own and will need to use others, so she decided to get them to like her inorder to use them to her advantage.

Then Vin thought of the first time they met. She gave him the impression of a kind hearted person who's determined to help others which reminded him of his Claire and so it was easy for Vin to talk to her, but if what he was thinking was right then Claire was a multifaced parasite. Everytime she talks to someone she put on her poker face and seduce them with her fake charms. But all this was just a theory. He didn't know if it was true so he tried to forget it but the seed of doubt was already planted in his head and no one could stop the wheels now.