Sophia is getting angry! Why won't he admit that he's the one who killed her! If only she had a witness or something. Someone that knew exactly what happened to her since he won't say anything.
She thinks back to Mr. Hobbleton's words "I don't want to watch another young lady die." He also must have witnessed it! She hates to admit it but she's going to need him. But he left? Is he even still here? Will he come back? This is a predicament.
She turns to her teacher, "Ms. Ipruk, I don't know if you'll be able to bring back our little friend but if you could…"
She winks. "Miss Fauve. Nice to see you again. Even though is only been like an hour or so."
"Ack! When did you-?"
"You didn't think I'd just leave? Nah, I just hung back in your mentor's consciousness. She didn't mind. I had a little breakdown but I'm good now. I think… I remember. I think I'm ready now."
Mr. Johnson has finished his breakdown as well, "Hey, what are you two mumbling about?!"
Fury flashed in his eyes, "You!"
"Me?"
Seems like Mr. Hobbleton knows exactly who this is. What do you say to your former boss that probably got you killed? Apparently, words weren't needed.
He rushes to him and lifts him up by grabbing his throat!
"You ugly bastard. I'll kill you for doing this to me!"
When he finally remembered and accepted the truth all that he felt was pure rage, built up over the years.
He's trying to move his arms from his throat but it's no use, Mr. Hobbleton has a death grip. He's starting to turn purple! Sophia has to stop him.
"Wait! Mr. Hobbleton don't kill him. The body isn't his!!!"
After hearing that his eyes clear up and he lets him go. Mr. Johnson falls to the ground coughing trying to breathe again.
"You're such a bastard. Stealing your own son's body to stay alive? I hope you rot."
"…Same as… me..."
"HA! Don't make me laugh, you piece of shit!" Then he drags him back up and puts him in a headlock.
"Mr. Hobbleton! Please don't break him! Like I said that's not his body!!!"
"Pfft. This won't break him but what I'm about to tell you will though."
Mr. Johnson remains silent.
"You remembered what happened to Ms. Farona? How she died?"
"More than that. I wasn't wrong though. I didn't see her death. She wasn't killed…"
"No… don't…"
He sighs, "I don't remember what I was doing exactly. Probably organizing some of the inventory in the backroom of his 'secret evil lair'. He was doing his shady shit. Then… she came in the room."
"Ms. Farona?"
"No. It was… Madame Johnson."
"Stop! Stop!!!" Mr. Johnson pleads.
Sophia doesn't like where this is going but nonetheless urges him on.
"She came rushing in, tears in her eyes. She was shaking horribly, like she would fall apart. I was confused on how she found the room but maybe she always knew. I don't think she noticed my presence but anyways, I think he tried to comfort her but she pushed him away. She was screaming at him. She… said that she was leaving. For good this time. She wanted a better and safer life. She wanted a partner that would listen to her. She wanted what this bastard couldn't give her."
"Shut up!" Mr. Hobbleton ignores him but grips him tighter so he shuts up.
"He was also hysterical. He was begging her to reconsider. He was telling her he came up with a breakthrough and that he would do better. But she said it was too late. He grabbed onto her wrist. I wanted to intervene but before I could she grabbed one of the vials on the table…" he pauses, he looks so distraught but nevertheless continues with, "I think she wanted to throw it at him so he could let her go but… Her grip must of been too strong or the glass was too fragile. It happened almost instantly. It shattered… A black horrifying mist surrounded her… It was almost like she was being consumed… I couldn't do anything, all I could do was watch her die."
"It was Mrs. Johnson who died back then!? She's been dead longer than… we thought. If she died back then how was she still alive until recently. Was she an impostor?"
"Yeah. This shit gets worse and worse I swear to gods. After that accident that took Madame Johnson's life. Almost nothing remained of her… I don't want to describe it. Tho the weirdest thing was that her face was intact except for her eyes-"
Mr. Johnson speaks up, his voice quiet but filled with bitterness as he says, "She didn't die. I brought her back. I reconstructed her body perfectly."
"You gonna tell, Miss Fauve here how ya did it?"
"He doesn't need to. I can connect the dots. You used Darmae Farona. Didn't you?"
"No use in hiding it anymore. That maid. That fucking maid. It didn't take long for her to realize something was wrong. I was in a bad place and I was trying desperately to figure out how to fix everything. When she asked me where she was I told her the truth. I mean like what did I have to lose anymore? It's not like anyone would believe her. She was devastated. I think she died on the inside. The next day I found her in my wife's room, mourning. I told her that there was a way to bring her back…"
"You… You horrible beast!"
"She wanted to. She wanted her back as much as I did. I think that's the only thing we ever agreed on."
Mr. Hobbleton sighs, "I didn't even know she sacrificed herself until... I saw 'Mrs. Johnson'. Again. She was like, alive but she wasn't really. He fucked up. He fucked up so bad. And I couldn't do shit. You wanna know why? Because I was under his debt. I had to watch this bullshit and I couldn't say shit otherwise my family… "
Sophia is trying so hard not to shake from fear or anger? Both possibly. "What do you mean by she was alive but she wasn't?"
Was Ms. Farona's sacrifice in vain?
"Her body was restored but her soul was unstable. No matter what I did, I couldn't get her soul properly restored."
"Is that why you wanted Ms. Ipruk's help all those years ago?"
"Yes. But how could I tell her to contact my very much alive wife's soul? It was stupid. I was getting even more desperate."
"After that he read something about the red eyes. And that was my death. I died giving him those cursed eyes. I dunno what he did with him exactly. I assume he thought they would bring her back."
"..."
Before he can say more Mr. Hobbleton looks dazed. He throws Mr. Johnson to the ground again and clutches his head. "Ah. I think I'm done here. Miss Fauve, I think I can move on now. Only, because I know you're here to end this ugly trash. Please tell everyone that I'm sorry for being a coward… " He turns to 'the ugly trash' who's lying on the floor, "It took being dead to be free from your bullshit. I don't owe you shit anymore. I'll see you in hell, boss."
A small light leaves her body and fades away. He's finally moved on. Somehow Ms. Ipruk doesn't collapse and she steadies herself. Sophia is right by her side asking her if she's okay.
"I'm fine, dear. I just need a moment."
"What are we going to do now Ms. Ipruk?"
"We have to restore Bradley. That hasn't changed at all. Maybe then we'll be able to put these souls to rest."
Mr. Johnson starts crying and laughing, it sounds so horrible, so broken Sophia wants to cover her ears.
"Mr. Johnson I try to see the best in people but you're making it difficult. It really looks like you've played me for a fool. You never needed me at all! Why!? Tell me why. Why did you get me and my dear Sophie into your madness."
She's right. Why are we here? Just being here would be risky for him. All of this was revealed because of them. The ghosts won't hurt him. Not really. The only ghost who's hurt him was Mr. Hobbleton and that because of them. He could have healed his son properly by now too. None of this makes sense.
He laughs even more now.
"Oh, Cecilia Ipruk you're the person I need the most! I didn't want you to find out the truth. It would have been easier. Much easier for you, Sophie dear." he mocks.
'What!?" They both say in unison.
"I did lie about almost everything but I was honest when I said that I wanted my family back. I will do anything."
"Anything?!"
"I'm sorry Sophia. I really am. Because things turned out this way. You won't be able to leave."
"And how do you plan on stopping us!? Don't tell me you put something in that horrid food?"
"The answer is all around you."
//Around me?//
He says something under his breath but Sophia can't be sure what it is. Ms. Ipruk does know though.
"SOPHIA DON'T BREATHE IN THE AIR!"