9. The Winner

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨.

Jeremiah: LISA!

Lisa: I'm fine. I'm fine, just needed to relax a little.

George: Yeah. We could just stop for a bit; we don't know when the road will start breaking again so let's not take too long.

Aaron: Lisa, come rest your head on my shoulder.

Lisa: Thank you but I'm ok.

Jeremiah: Since it's been some time since we asked about each other and we should have regained more memories, I think we should all come clean or at least try to.

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣. 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖'𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

Jeremiah: I'll go first. Remember how I said I had two kids? With the stuff I've seen, I am actually having second thoughts about them. For some reason all I can remember about them is that they loved me very much and we seemed like a happy family. Their mother was missing, I am not sure if I killed her or not. I have already started questioning myself. Maybe I'm not such a good person. All this time I have been quietly judging all of you but I am not even sure of my own self anymore.

George: That's all you can remember?

Jeremiah: Yeah, it's almost like there's more but it keeps getting out of my head.

George: Ok. Guess I'm up next. My memories include someone here and you won't guess who it is.

Aaron: Lisa?

Jeremiah: Lisa?

Lisa: Huh?

George: Wait what? How did you know?

Jeremiah: Well it was kinda obvious. I wasn't sure before but after what N said and what you just brought up, Lisa felt like the only possible answer. All of a sudden, you want to get to "know" Lisa? Pfft

George: Guess there's no hiding it now. I think we were in love in our past lives.

𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙙

Lisa: No no no. I don't remember you.

George: I might not be too sure but that's just what I think. The tickets I had were one to a movie, The Titanic. I loved that movie. That's all I know.

Lisa: Why didn't you say anything sooner?

George: Felt no need to. I thought if we were really in love, I could get you to fall in love with me again.

𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮. 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩.

George: What are YOU laughing about?

Aaron: Nothing, it's nothing. BAHAHA

Jeremiah: Yeah bro. It's nothing to feel embarrassed about.

George: I'll kill you bastards. Not now but don't worry. Aaron, have anything you want to say?

Aaron: I guess there's no hiding it now. Since we are all being honest

Aaron begins to tell everyone the real story of what happened in his house and all he told George about himself.

Lisa: You can't be serious. You killed them because you didn't like them enough?

Aaron: It was because we weren't compatible. Didn't you listen to me?

George: Here we go.

Aaron: Lisa, how about you tell us who you are. The only reason I came clean is because none of you here have the right to judge me and to be honest, I don't care what you have to say concerning my decisions. I could have stayed quiet but we are all going to remain here anyways.

Jeremiah: Ok maybe you should stop talking, Aaron.

Lisa: He's right. We might all be as twisted as he is but we just don't know it. I'll tell you what I remember but Aaron, don't expect me... even for a second, to trust you after this.

𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩.

Lisa: So about the girl I remembered, I think I had a misconception. I think the girl… was me. Every time I closed my eyes and opened them, she was right in front of me. I can't remember us having any conversations so I probably spent all my time talking to myself in the mirror. That's all I know for now. I can't think of any point in time George fit in my memories. Maybe the girl you were with just looked like me?

George: Nah don't worry. I could just be delusional, pretty old you know.

Lisa: Pfft, you're what? 26?

George: Well I am 25 plus the two years we have spent down here

Lisa: I can't believe you're using the mess we are in as a joke.

𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙪𝙥.

Lisa: Ok guys. Let's move. We can't keep staying in this spot.

George: Wait a minute. You're smiling, aren't you?

Lisa: JERRY! Let's go

Jeremiah: Jerry? No no, wait. Before we go anywhere, I want you to come to terms with Aaron.

Lisa: And why should I?

Jeremiah: We made a pact already. We are not to judge anyone here. The first step to our peace is from here. A case where bad blood is between us will be beneficial to no one. This journey is hard enough already.

Lisa: Did you not hear the things he did to women? Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?

Jeremiah: Look, we are all disgusted by what he said but discord isn't helping anyone. Aaron?

Aaron: Yes?

Jeremiah: Is there anything you want to say?

Aaron: I honestly don't get it. Why should I bother explaining myself if I know I did nothing wrong? I strive for perfection! Well at least, I strived. Lisa, our lives are gone now. If you want to stay mad at me for all eternity because I did something that affected you in no way possible, that's fine by me. Just know that I bear no ill towards you.

Lisa: You did nothing wrong?

Jeremiah: You know what? That's enough. Let's just go.

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙧.

George: Maybe just swallow all your smart talk and say sorry next time.

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮.

Aaron: Sorry for what?

George: Don't ask me. I'm not the crazy person.

Aaron: I just won't explain myself anymore. People like you would never understand.

George: Sure.

Jeremiah: So no one has seen anything?

Lisa: If we did, we would have said something.

Jeremiah: This is getting ridiculous. This is by far the longest we have walked.

George: We'll find it eventually. Don't worry.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮. 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚, 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣. 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

George: Where are you going??

Aaron: …

Jeremiah: Slow down.

Aaron: I'll get to the door first!

𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙤. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩… 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣.

Aaron: I see it! I see the door!

Jeremiah: *Huff huff*

Lisa: *Huff huff* There it is

George: Finally, no way I'm letting this guy get in first

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙤 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧.

Lisa: Owwwwwwww

Aaron: Watch where you're going!

George: Sorry sorry.

Jeremiah: ...

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙜𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙠𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.

George: Why did we run again?

Jeremiah: We were following this chicken. Did you see him run? Heck my grandma could give him a run for his money.

Lisa: *huff huff*

Aaron: I don't even know why I started running to be honest.

Lisa: …

Jeremiah: …

Aaron: ...

Aaron: I'm still getting in first. I may be many things but a liar isn't one of them.

𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.

George: THAT WAS A LIE

𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧. 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣. 𝘽𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙥, 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨…