It’s raining outside the window. A welcome change to the stale scenery I’ve gotten used to over the past five days, not that I’ve ever had anything against the rain. That’s not to say I’m particularly fond of it either, though. In all my memories, whenever it falls, it seems it never means anything good.

“If you could choose to, would you stay ignorant forever?”

With a look over my shoulder, I find Priscilla, gazing out the window as well.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s just a question.” She says, pushing herself forward to my side. “You don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to.”

“That’s great, but my problem isn’t so much whether I want to or not.”

She listens to my concerns, but then return her gaze back outside. The sounds of rain begins to set in once again. A familiar scent lingers in through the breeze from the small opening in the window. It’s the scent of smoke, the scent from that day.

A sharp ringing hits my ears as the fire alarms in the halls goes off.

Through the vents on the walls, a thick gray haze leaks into the room.

“Open the window all the way. We’re staying here.”

I do as I’m asked without a second thought. As I’m doing so, Priscilla reaches under the seat of her wheelchair, brandishing her weapon. The visibility in the room quickly decreasing, she stands from her seat, giving one final command before disappearing into the fog.

“Switch places with me.”

The air becomes more tense to breathe by the second, but it’s not suffocating. The room warms, and my skin feels moist. It’s just steam.

There’s a click at the door, and the wailing of the alarms becomes suddenly louder. Then, a someone yells over the noise.

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“Walk towards the door Klaus.”

I know the voice well.

A sudden gunshot rings out before I can make out the situation.

“Drop your weapon, it’s over.”

It’s Priscilla’s voice this time, followed shortly by the clatter of something falling to the floor. Then, a long pause. The fire alarms drown out, as the door is closed shut again.

He’s right behind me. Just like Priscilla said he would. After all this time, that liar is standing within a few steps from where I am, and yet, I can’t seem to move at all.

“Why?”

The liar’s tone is honest, pleading for something he truly doesn’t understand.

“Why are you siding with them?”

There’s no reply.

“You saw what they did, the people they’ve killed. Mom, and Dad, did you forget? They made us starve in a hole in the ground. They give you a room and a bed to sleep in and suddenly you’re on their side? If you like Conservatory so much, then let’s do it their way, tell Klaus everything you’ve done. Let him decide who’s right.”

Priscilla doesn’t waste a breath acknowledging his comment.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not me. The world is already changing.” He continues. It feels like he’s talking to the air.

“Please, just look after Klaus for me.”

My old friend’s voice is defeated. I close my eyes and await the following gunshot. But a second passes and it doesn’t come. Then another, and another, until finally, the floorboards shake, just every so slightly, as a body collapses to the ground.

I remain still in my seat. The alarms continue wailing behind me, but I can no longer hear them. Slowly opening my eyes, the fog is beginning to clear, and as it fades, there’s a soft weeping taking its place.

“I guess I couldn’t do it in the end.”

It’s Priscilla’s voice. More quiet and frail than I’ve ever heard it before. I look behind and make out two figures in the clearing mist, one in the arms of the other.

“The steam was a smart idea,” She mutters weakly.

There’s no reply from Ciel. It’s only now I realize that the tears belong to him.

“You know what will happen if you continue down this path?” Priscilla asks. Ciel nods. I catch a glimpse of Priscilla’s final smile.

“Leave me be.” Priscilla says. “I’ve called Emile off. You can leave from wherever.”

Ciel doesn’t move from his spot. With the last of her strength, Priscilla pushes Ciel’s arm, though it doesn’t budge.

“You have to go now. They’ll be here soon.”

Reality slowly washes over, and after another moment, Ciel rises to his feet. He looks me straight in the eye. Without a word, I stand to join his side.

He heads for the door. But my attention is stuck on the girl on the floor, breathing her final breath.

At the doorway, Ciel stops, with a single last word for his sister.

“Thanks.”

He opens the door, having never looked back.

I follow behind. Priscilla’s eyes close for the final time as I shut the door behind us.