Chapter 7: The Architect of Lies
The fire burned in a fury, its flames cracking the firewood and popping the stones. John stood there, filled with regret. Mark and John were beside the fire, where Frank slept. Mark applied a bandage to Frank’s waist, heating his hand over the fire before gently resting it on the wound.
“Will it be fine?” Frank asked softly.
Mark whispered. “It’s fine for now, but we can’t say for sure. It’ll slowly kill you from the inside if it’s not treated properly. You might… you might be infected from Enora Virus.”
“The IFA’s agents will join us. One of them is a doctor.”
Mark turned to John, who came forward. As Frank saw John, his face changed from exhaustion to anger.
John said slowly, “ A doctor? Neither they would come nor they know how to cure the virus. Even if they could cure, they won’t come. They want power, but we don’t have that. If we had Patrick, they would have come, but not now. We need to go the other way. The place where I got cured.”
“Traitor,” Frank shouted, “it’s all because of you. You killed Patrick. You wounded me and now you’re manipulating me.”
John looked at Frank, very sad. “ If you think I killed him, then yes I did.” He exhaled slowly still staring Frank. “I deserved your curse, Frankie.”
“Easy, Frank,” Mark said calmly.
“Don’t stop me, Mark. Not this time.” Frank tried to stand. Mark came closer, but Frank raised a shaking hand, shaking his head, and stood himself despite the pain. He stared at John with anger. “I need to talk to him.”
“Frankie…” John muttered.
“I’ve always looked for a friend in you, and I’m always far from finding one.”
John was acted like he first wanted to hear Frank and get all the blame.
“Today, I won’t ask you why you killed Maria or Patrick. I know you’re a psychopath.”
Mark could feel the anger inside Frank. That wasn’t Frank talking, that was his anger.
John muttered, “Yes… yes I’m a psychopath. Happy now?”
“Give me my Locket back, Johnny.” Frank said with anger.
“I don’t have your locket.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
John stared at Frank like he always wanted to tell that. “Maria never loved you, Frank. She never gave you that locket.”
“What the fuck you want to say?”
John took out the locket outside, holding in his hand. He kissed the locket. “This belongs to me. And you have stolen it from me.”
“A lie.” Frank shouted
“Jealous? Is that what you’re. You loved her, but I slept with her.”
With a howl of rage, Frank lunged at John, grabbing him by the throat. Both of them crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. “I’ll kill you, motherfucker.”
“If you kill me, you’ll die here helpless, Frank.”
Frank roared in grief and fury. He slammed his fist into John’s face. Then again. He raised his arm for a third strike—but Mark grabbed him. “Frankie! Stop!”
Both men stood. Frank panted heavily, his fists clenched.
Mark stepped in. “The IFA will punish him if he’s guilty. You shouldn’t fight. You need rest. Please!”
Frank didn’t answer. He just stared John for a while and grasped the locket from the ground. And he walked away, his shoulders stiff with rage.
Mark turned toward John. “You’re the worst kind of man I’ve ever seen, John.” He stepped closer. “Frank trusted you, and you shattered his trust. You tried to kill him.”
“I didn’t. You were there.” John pushed himself up. “Don’t be blind. You’re not like Frank or Maria.”
“You wounded him intentionally to shield yourself from him. Well played, John.”
“Are you blind or chose to be blind like them?”
“Ok. Then tell me how can I cure Frank.” Mark asked flatly
“I already told you that I can’t tell you unless we go beyond Walton.”
Mark realized that John was manipulating. “I got my answer, John.” Mark stood.
“Ok. I’ll tell you.” John said slowly, looking at Mark. “Sit down.” John moved to a side for Mark to sit. “There was a scientist beyond Walton. He created the Vaccine. I was wounded and infected by virus. He experimented on me, and the vaccine worked well.”
“Then why they aren’t using the Vaccine.” Mark asked.
“He wanted to provide the Vaccine for free, but IFA wanted to sell it in high price. But he didn’t agree with them. So IFA marked him as a traitor with his fellows and order us to take them to the headquarter.”
“What happened to the scientist?”
“The president told me that we’re transporting the scientist because he didn’t agree to provide the Vaccine for free. When one of his fellows told me about where the vaccine was, I told president about it. And then, they order to kill them all. No trial, no question. Just kill.”
“Maria killed them?”
“Yes. And she had planned to kill the other fellows of the scientist who weren’t with us. I couldn’t believe that the women I loved did that. So, I chose to protect the others.”
Mark turned to him. He said firmly, “I just don’t get it. Why would the IFA kill prisoners? They’re not murderers.” He snorted. “Killing is not an easy job.”
John's voice grew low. “Killing isn't easy.” He took a deep breath and turned to face Mark. “I told you earlier my father died in Maldir, but I never said how.”
Mark blinked.
John continued, his voice steady. “He was killed by Nick Wilson. Your father.”
Mark froze, then roared. “That’s impossible. My father… he believed in saving people.”
“I was with the Armendis,” John said softly. “It’s possible.”
Mark’s voice cracked. “The Armendis were monsters.”
John stared at him. “And we believed the same about you. But are you a monster, Mark? No. It’s all just politics. They pit two castes against each other, keep us fighting while they stay in power. That’s how the world works.”
“My father isn’t a killer. Even if he did, he did it for peace and justice.”
“And do you find any peace here?”
Mark grabbed his head with both hands. “I don’t… I can’t process this… I’m dizzy.”
“We have to return beyond Walton. If we wait for the IFA, we’ll die of starvation. And Frank will die. We need to return.”
“Frank is your friend. Go and convince him,” Mark said softly.
John exhaled. “He is a broken man. He won’t be able to hear the horrible truth. We need to return, Mark.”
Mark said skeptically, “Do you think I trust you even now?”“Don’t trust me. I’m just showing you the way. The choice is yours. Choose everything carefully, Mark. Don’t be dumb. And remember the consequences of it.”
“So, the unlucky one is Frank.”
“Not if you convince him.”
“So, IFA have the Vaccine?”
“Yes. But they won’t give Frank.”
Mark couldn't understand what to do. He felt a wave of nervousness. After that, he went into the camp. Frank was sitting there, staring at that locket. and he noticed Mark as Mark entered.
Frank whispered, “I’m sorry, Mark. I’ve disappointed you many times.”
Mark accepted his apology with a quiet smile. “I’ve disappointed you too.”
Frank looked at him. “Can I trust you, Mark?”
Mark didn’t respond for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. Why not?”
Frank exhaled, his eyes glistening. “You know… when I was a kid, my father used to work in the mines, and my mother served the scientist who tried to invent the vaccine.” Mark noticed Frank’s eyes were scarcely open, lost in his past. “I was alone in the house, wishing one of them could have been with me. At least my father. I loved them both.” A bead of tear appeared in Frank’s eyes. “After, my mother decided to leave her work and stay with me. That was the happiest day of my life, or perhaps the saddest one.” His voice began to tremble. “That was the day my father killed my mother with a dagger in front of my eyes. I couldn’t believe it then, and I don’t even want to understand it now.”
Mark looked at him, stunned. “Oh, I’m…” he felt tears in his own eyes. “I’m sorry, Frankie.”
“She was everything,” Frank whispered. “After that, the IFA raised me. They became my family. I found John there. Then Maria…” He trailed off, his voice cracking. “I loved her. More than anything. More than I did my mother. She was hope for me. And now… it’s all gone.”
“It’s okay, Frankie,” Mark said, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. “But now you have to forget and move ahead.”
“How?”
“Forgive John.”
Frank shouted. “Impossible! He stabbed me! He killed Maria! He steals the locket. He threw away the food!”
“The food was not a part of the mission.”
Frank hesitated. “I was wrong about that, Mark. But I can’t forgive him.”
“We’re going to die, Frank. The IFA isn’t going to join us. If you really loved Maria, then you have to forgive him.”
Frank narrowed his eyes. “You’re trusting him?”
“No. But I don’t want to betray him. Not like how my father killed his.”
Frank was confused. “But your father was a hero.”
“No, he wasn’t. And I don’t want to do the same, Frank.” Mark said, even though it hurt him. “We have to go beyond Walton for your protection.”
Frank shouted. “What do you think I care about myself? My mission is going to complete tomorrow. And I’ll rest in peace.”
Mark turned and asked, “Frank…” He looked at Frank’s eyes. “Did you know John was an Armendis?”
Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me they weren’t monsters?”
“They're all monsters, Mark. Look what John did to Maria. Look what he did to me, to Patrick. He proves what they are.”
Mark understood he couldn't change Frank. And he went outside. He had a doubt either John was lying or not? He dialed IFA from his phone, and they answered. “Hello!” someone muttered from the phone.
“You have the vaccine of Enora Virus?” Mark asked.
But no one answered from the phone. And after a while the call ended in that silent. Mark moved his eyes around thinking and he realized the truth as he saw John sleeping in the ground.
Chapter 7: The Architect of Lies
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