Coming full circle

"Is Alex doing okay?" I ask.

Chara had just got to bathing him, the bucket's water had turned dark red by the time she had gotten done washing all the blood off his body. She had started dressing his wounds, spinning the cloth around his injury was hypnotizing, I pat my face to snap out of it.

"He is fine, he just needs rest," Chara says softly.

"I see…I need to go now Chara, please take care of him." I ask.

"I will protect him with my life."

Meeting Doctor Silas in his office, he looks at me suspiciously in a way I could not imagine with a grin plastered all over his face.

"Hello, Doctor Silas?" I responded.

"Christian…."

"Yes?"

"You will be following Dominique here soon."

"To where?"

"The dungeon, you are going to learn something."

The door opens to Dominique retrieving me from the small office, down to the opened dungeon. Bloodstained the area where Alex had been tortured for a short time. I had a horrible feeling in my gut about who I was actually meeting.

Down a long set of stairs to a low illuminated room lit by candles, Steel is sleeping in the arms of Clarence. His dreadful appearance made me flinch, sunken bags under his eyes. He glances up at me to turn his view away from me.

"Clarence?"

"Christian…"

"I am so sorry…"

"You aren't…remember when I told you something and changed my mind?"

Clarence spoke slowly and calmly in the rise of the flames gradually reflecting on the walls along with our silhouettes dancing up and down. Steel dizzily sits up on the bench.

"Clarence, you are needed." Dominique interrupts.

"I will explain to you later." Clarence confides.

I watch him hobble out the door with Dominique, the look of hope has left his eyes completely. Steel curls into a ball embarrassed to even pass a glance at me.

"Everything he has done to heal is now undone…" Steel whispers.

"What do you mean?"

"Clarence…this was his home…" Steel answers.

"Home?"

"This place was meant for experiments Christian."

"Do you know how to get out of here?" I beg.

"No…but Clarence might."

"I will be back later, Steel, I promise!"

"I will be counting on you then!" Steel answers back.

Dashing back up the steps I find Mars in the hallway staring blankly down at the floor shuffling through mindlessly. He holds his hands out watching me.

"Mars?"

Two eyes were staring back at me on both shoulders before fading away, my knees felt weak from such a sight. It felt like they pierced into my soul, but now the feeling has tapered off. I quickly acknowledged it was a searching spell.

"Grandmother…" Mars whimpers.

"Grandmother? Mars…"

"Looks like he got out it seems." Dominique comments.

"Can I take him to my room, Dominique?" I ask.

"That's super creepy, why would you do that?" Dominique says.

"Maybe he needs company?" I replied.

"Hmmm…Christian, do you trust me?" Dominique requests.

"Why?"

"The other day you got really nervous…"

"That's because he knows what you did!" Gavyn shouts.

Manifesting in front of us I gawk at his appearance like a deer caught in headlights, I am unable to form any sort of coherent speech like a cat had run off with my tongue, ashamed I couldn't say it before.

He growls, swiping his hologram like the body of Gavyn's, it only holds back into place.

"You aren't denying my death I see." He grins.

"Maybe I regretted it! I didn't kill your fiance…she…she…" He stutters.

"I know what happened, Dominique, she killed herself," Gavyn said.

"What is your damage Gavyn? Is being a ghost not good enough?" Dominique shouts.

"I wanted to torture you, but you look like you are plenty tortured by my presence Dominique."

"I am stuck in this ordeal for the rest of my life…" Dominique states.

"Oh you are telling me you didn't actually want to kill me?" He smirks.

"We can't talk here, Gavyn!" Dominique yells.

"Then tell me when we can talk because I want to know why my best friend did such a thing to me and why you must hide away Alex's memories."

"You knew this whole time?" Dominique grunts.

Dominique takes Mars's hand, we all walk back to me and Chara's small room to find Alex was still peacefully sleeping. Chara gets a surprised look on her face bringing Dominique and a new guest she hadn't met yet into the room.

We all squeezed in compact on the floor helping Mars somewhere to sit, he looked okay no matter where you put him. I only felt concerned for his well-being.

Dominique clears his throat allowing his hand to reach out to Chara's.

"I want to say sorry in case I have done anything wrong to you." He explains.

"Why are you being nice now? The damage is already done…young master is okay, but…" Chara choked on her words.

"I want you to trust me…" Dominique says.

"Why should we trust you?" Gavyn laughs.

"Because this time I mean it!" Dominique argues.

"I am hardly believing it right now!" He snickers.

Dominique jumps up from his current position checking his phone, I wonder so much if this is this ploy like the first time? I step up with him to walk out trailing behind him.

"I got to check on Clarence…" He comments.

"Let me come with you please!" I offer.

We walk back to Doctor Silas's room to find Clarence leaning against the bed with his eyes closed silently breathing, his arms bundled up.

"Clarence, where is the doctor?" He asks.

"He isn't finished…come back later please." He said softly.

"What do you mean he isn't done?" I shout.

"It means I am not done, he agreed to stay. You both can leave already." He said.

Flicking us away as though we were flies, swatting us away. I watch Silas prepare an array of items on a tray unfolding his apron letting bottles drop to the ground.

"Oh Christian, if it's any consolation he said he would go in place of Mars…"

"So you will let Mars go?" I questioned.

"Not entirely, but he is free for the time being."

"I see…"

"Dominique, can you get the comfortable clothing out of the closet, Clarence will be needing that soon…" Silas clarifies.

I watch helplessly as Clarence smiles bravely at me from the distance, he lays his head gently on his hands. Dominique places his hand on my shoulder shaking his head.

Out in the corridor, I realized why Steel is so hurt….

"Ouroboros is in constant influx in our lives Christian…" The sweet soft voice cried.

"Wait…" I think to myself.

"Do you remember me Christian?"