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“What would you do?” Jenny asked me.

She stood there, arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to keep warm, biting into her bottom lip.

I didn’t even have to think about my response. “Me? I’d confess. The last thing I’d want to do is spend my final days locked up with this lot. Mind you, I’d probably give a long speech about how they owed their lives to me and how much they didn’t deserve it. Make them feel as shitty as possible. Gratitude is fleeting, but shame lasts forever.”

Jenny’s body sagged. She closed her eyes and and took a deep breath. “It was me. I took the knife. You can all go.” Her voice was steady, but she was shaking. She sank down into a crouch, arms hooped around her knees and rested her head in the little divot between her kneecaps.

“Okay, everyone,” I said, “let’s go.”

They hesitated, looking at each other for support, for permission. I think they knew abandoning Jenny would be a death sentence for her. Even if she had stolen the dagger, they didn’t want to be responsible for that. Guilt kept them from moving. They didn’t want to be the ones to condemn her. They wanted someone else to do it.

I bent down so my head was about level with hers. 

“Aren’t you coming?”

Jenny looked up at me, tears in her eyes. “What do you…” The watery sadness in her eyes flipped into confusion, and then tumbled into something far sharper. “You fuck!”

“You were very noble,” I said. “You didn’t make them eat shit or anything.”

Jenny sprang up like a jack-in-the-box. “You fucking fuck.” I had to step back quickly to avoid being headbutted.

“Wait,” said Claire. “So, she didn’t have to confess?”

“Nope. Why should she? She didn’t do anything. Although, it was impressive how you turned on her like that. You guys are some heartless motherfuckers.”

They all looked at each other. Outrage or shame? Place your bets.

Claire’s mouth went from frown to grimace to open bomb bay doors.

“You know,” I said, cutting in before she could start, “she only just managed to get away from her last bunch of ‘friends’. Imagine how she feels now, thanks to you.”

Claire faltered. Her eyes swung away from me and towards Jenny, who was still shaking with rage. I mean, she was shaking with rage at me, but Claire was in her line of sight, too. I didn’t mind sharing.

All four of my original party bowed their heads as they took collective responsibility.

Claire slowly inched towards Jenny. She didn’t make eye contact and her voice was low and mumbly. “Sorry, Jenny. I know I was out of order and there’s no excuse for how I acted, but—”

Sure, there’s no excuse, but… Classic.

“—the truth is after you spend as much time with Colin as we have, he starts rubbing off on you.”

Wait a minute…

“Snapping and lashing out at people feels like the normal thing to do. I didn’t even think about what I was saying, I was all wrapped up in myself, just like him.”

How did this become my fault?

“The truth is...” Tears fell from Claire’s eyes. “I was scared I’d led everyone to their deaths and I just wanted to blame someone else, the way Colin would.”

And what do you think you’re doing right now?

“I... I need help. I know that. If I start acting like him again, please punch me in the face.”


The Carpenter’s Guild

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