The days that followed were relatively banal with nothing out of the ordinary till they got halfway into November. The casual and lively air was now replaced with a deathly silence from students rushing to classes and reading in a last ditch effort of trying to learn what they could. Of course there were some who seemed untouched with the air of the school.
*Ring*
With the bell declaring the end of the lesson, the teacher walked out letting the stream of students rush out. Some still not satisfied with the lessons as they would ask each other of topics they had mastered and inquired for tutors. Some asking for money and such, the theatrics of a college students in full effect.
"Andrew, could you perhaps go with me to the carnival? It's been a while and with the stress of the examinations on the horizon, I was hoping that maybe we could spend the time together like we did back then. Of course you don't have to go with me but I'd really like it if you did." Claire's request and tone unfitting of the stern class.
Her target Andrew was waving off a student who tried to ask for help. "Sure." His tone the flatness that Claire was used to. The two left school grounds and made their way to the carnival however this time the silence that lingered felt heavier than usual. "I hope that you still haven't lost your touch with the mini games." Claire joked however her laugh was only one way.
"I should be okay." The two walked in and similar to last time, there was no fault in his motion as he quickly burnt through the mini games with ease."Looks like you never left. Have you been here before with Brittany because I refuse to believe that you haven't been here and you're sharp as ever."
This time Andrew was more silent than usual, his focus was more on his surroundings and Claire felt it. 'Is he already suspicious of what we have planned? Did Brittany somehow tell him? But if she did then why would he accept my deal of coming here then?'Unsure of whether he knew, she quickly finished her meal. "Unlike last time, there has been a new section added, the hall of mirrors and I was hoping that we could check it out."
Andrew wordlessly complied as the two made their way to the tent.
[Hall Of Mirrors]
Getting closer, the tent seemed a bit further from the rest of the carnival. The staff present welcomed the two in and the two quickly ran into multiple distorted reflections of themselves. Some elongated, others short and others either presenting them as fat or skinny. Other than that a maze of mirrors quickly intrigued Claire and Andrew followed, expressionless as ever.
After walking to the center, a small opening was revealed. Around the pair multiple reflections stared back at the two. "Andrew….would it kill you to smile every so often? Besides, you haven't talked at all since we got here." Claire said as she inched away from him.
*Click*
The way they had come shut behind them and Connor's figure came from behind. His muzzle aimed at the back of Andrew's head while Claire was away from her to make any sudden moves without receiving a shot to his dome. "Turn around slowly and answer a few questions we have for you."Andrew did as instructed, his hands still pocketed as he turned to face Connor, no trace of fear evident on his face.
"What exactly are you Andrew and why did you take Eliot?"Connor's raised voice echoing in the small opening, gun steady on Andrew. "What is the point of your actions if they won't amount to anything?" Connor kept his distance, gritting his teeth while Claire watched it all unfold, slowly circling Andrew before eventually making it over to Connor's side. There was no rage on Andrew's face as she looked at Claire before shifting his focus back to Connor.
"What do you mean?! And where's Eliot, you bastard!" Two more figures poured into the scene, Kevin and Jason who had smug looks shot at Andrew. "You know you can't kill me so why bother? I'm sure Kevin as already given you my confession." His words though inwardly taking them all by surprise, they kept on their faces of determination and grit.
*Bang*
A shot was fired near Andrew's leg, he didn't flinch as he maintained eye contact with Connor. 'Looks like he really won't admit anything.' His other hand raising, ready to take the shot. Claire however frowned seeing this, stepping in front of the gun blocking Connor. "Claire! What are you doing? Get the fuck out of the way!"Kevin shouted from the side while Andrew watched it all unfold with lazy interest.
Claire turned around to face the predator they had captured, a look of concern now etched on Claire's face. "Andrew, you don't have to complicate this. Just tell us what we need to know and we'll let you go." Kevin narrowed his gaze, waiting to see how Andrew would react to this. "Everything will be revealed in due time." His vague words pissing Kevin off. "I'm done with you and your words, Connor just take the shot already, I've entertained him for long enough!"
His words of rage filling the room making Claire subconsciously shiver. "Andrew…you don't have to make this difficult however if you don't plan on cooperating then things may get rather ugly." Connor now moving to the side and Andrew falling in his sights. The subject seemed indifferent to the gun aimed at him, the only one as out of place Jason. 'Is he actually going to pull the trigger? It wasn't something that would happen immediately however with how Andrew's being, looks like it.' His eyes flickered from Kevin to Claire before resting on Connor.
"I'll be taking my leave now." His figure began to approach them and despite Connor's warnings of backing up, Andrew kept on walking forward.
*Bang*
The shot landed on his leg, Andrew stopped and looked at the injury. "I thought that we agreed that killing him is what we would do so shoot his head already!" Kevin urged, yelling at Connor who was reading Andrew's face. 'He's really not human, not a sign of pain on his face.' Andrew other than his brief pause kept on going with his leisure walk towards them, more so towards the exit behind them.
'i can't let him leave this place. I've been passive, watching this monster for months with nothing actually happening to him. I can't let him live with my mother!' Kevin reached out to grab Connor's gun resulting in a strife between the two men. "What are you doing Kevin?" Connor shouted, trying to reclaim control of his firearm. "Doing something that you're hesitant on doing. There's no way am I letting something like him get close to those I love ever again!"
Though Connor began to win the battle, a shot was fired hitting the ground. "Stop Kevin! Or you'll-"
*Bang*
Another followed, this time barely aimed at Andrew however it didn't hit Andrew but another figure close to him. "Claire!!" Connor shouted, his face etched in disbelief as Claire was still in disbelief of what happened in that second. She looked down to see blood staining her clothes, her hands fervently shaking before falling to her knees. Forgetting all about the gun, Connor rushed over to catch Claire.
Kevin however had a gleam as he tried to aim the gun at Andrew. "I've let you live and ruin my life for way too long Andrew! I'm not letting you walk out of here alive!"
*Bang*
The recoil was something Kevin hadn't adjusted for and being his first time with a gun, his aim and Andrew's head didn't quite land as planned but did hit his target. Andrew looked at his shoulder which was slowly pooling blood. Kevin tried once more but his hands stung from the recoil. Gritting his teeth, he picked up the firearm aiming at Andrew.
"Kevin, stop!" It was Jason who shouted from behind him, blocking him from taking his shot. "Are you blind? Don't you see Claire on the ground or is your mind blinded with the need of killing Andrew?" Kevin knocked Jason to the side with a body shove. "This time I won't miss. I have to enact justice for my sister and Andrew has to atone for his mistakes!"
*Bang*
Another shot followed, this time grazing Andrew on the neck but Andrew kept on walking closer to Kevin. Before Kevin could get another shot in, Andrew was already in front of him knocking him square in the gut. Kevin felt the pain bloom all over his senses, the gun knocked to the side. Crawling over to get it, Andrew intercepted him by landing a kick to his head locking Kevin in place. "Get your foot off me you bastard! I have to kill you for the sake of the greater good! I can't let you just walk out of here."
Andrew reached for the gun and dismantled it in a single motion, the parts falling unceremoniously in front of Kevin whose face fell. 'No, no! It can't be! I failed in delivering justice to this impostor!' Kevin shouted in his mind as Andrew looked back to Claire who was being cradled by Connor and Jason to the side already calling for an ambulance. He didn't spare a glance at Kevin before leaving the hall of mirrors, by the time he was out his injuries already healed.
. . .
The month came to an end, Claire ending up hospitalized while the rest of the supposed group ended their communication. Jason grew reclusive while Connor was busy focusing on Claire whenever he had the time. The only one who was far more distraught than the rest was Kevin, in his mind the guilt of possibly killing Claire eating him alive. What felt more like a kick to the gut while already down was Andrew.
He didn't leave, never brought up what had happened at the carnival as if it was nothing important. Kevin would have breakfasts with the same person he wanted to see drop dead each and every day. 'I can't believe I failed at my task of delivering justice at Andrew. I failed in protecting my family… mother….Lara! It's…not my fault! If it weren't for this freak's fault of not dying, I would have served my purpose.' His inner words grew more and more unhinged as time went on.
By the time December rolled in and after they were closed for school, Kevin had resigned himself to his room. "Kevin? Are you okay?" Clara asked, outside of his room. "It's been two days since you came out of your room." Her voice low and laced with concern. Andrew who happened to pass by urged her to stand back. She complied and with a kick he blasted the door open where it was revealed what had become of Kevin.
His corpse was now hanging from the ceiling, his sheets torn to make a rope now hanging from the fan and a chair lying to the side. Clara's scream was the first thing that filled the house while Andrew made his way into the room before finding a note on Kevin's bed.
[{I've failed my duty of purging the plague Andrew. I have failed you mom and sister. I hope that you don't feel any form of sympathy for me for I am a failure. I tried to kill him and yet I couldn't. I hope that my failed justice is what I'm remembered for, nothing more than a failure. Don't cry for me when Andrew's with you mother. I'm sure that he's a better son than I ever was.}]
Andrew read the letter in a second before handing it over to Clara who in her state of bereavement only teared up more. "I can't believe this….there's no way! Andrew! Please don't tell me that this is actually real!" Her throat dry as she crumpled to the floor, her mid night gown now stained with tears. Andrew looked at Kevin's hanging body, in his eyes the figure of a person who was consumed by jealousy to the point of his own undoing.