Each time he wakes up, Dust's situation changes.
In the blink of an eye he is back in this room, where the whole group took refuge.
His body fell on the carpet covering the floor.
His cheek pressed against the colored wool, he looks at those around him.
His brain stalls when he notices that some are missing.
There is no longer Handsome, Princess and Purple-belly.
They disappeared as if they were just a mirage.
The old man spasms a little in his sleep before regaining consciousness, he is slumped against a sofa right next to Potatoes who is still sleeping soundly.
Gray eyes scan the room and inevitably fall on Dust's brown ones.
There are no remarks regarding the boy's lies for the Ferryman's rules nor even an insult. No, there is just silence and a frown. Then the elderly man looks away, visibly concerned about the health of the person who gave him his place in the boat.
Dust slowly gets up.
His hands rest on the ground, his fingers diving into the tufted wool and one of his hands at the same time presses the red hair of his companion who is still in the arms of Morpheus.
This movement does not bring him any pain. He is neither thirsty nor hungry. And he is no longer sick.
The taste of the meat is still discernible in his mouth, that of the meal in the castle.
Everything that happened in the swamp seems to be just a bad dream.
But, under his fingers clenched between the fine red strands he still has his knife. and in his pockets the blue stones of the mine do not leave him.
Red stretches, then gets up quite quickly too.
He doesn't have time to say anything as Pony screams as soon as she comes to.
It is not a long cry, but a sharp and heartbreaking one. As soon as she stops screaming, her expression horrified and without paying any further attention to Charismatic who stands up, frantically touches her legs and manipulates her arms in all directions, her face pale.
Dust is lost.
He doesn't listen to what they say to each other. Before they can turn against him, he flees.
He flees but with dignity, with trembling legs, he gets up and walks towards the exit.
He hears someone following him.
At first he doesn't look back to find out who.
Once he leaves the room he quickens his pace.
He doesn't know where to go. Or take refuge.
A time passes, he thinks he is walking at random but his legs finally take him in front of the immense double entrance door to the castle. At the foot of the engraved wood the boy feels immensely insignificant, weak and cowardly. To see the summit he must tilt his head back.
he swallows.
The wind howls again, a whistle that could pass like indistinct voices
.
He places his free hand on the cold, dark wood, feeling the indistinct curves and spirals as he slides it up to the bronze handles that gleam in the light of the candlestick.
The metal is even colder than wood.
Dust can't open the doors.
He tries once without believing it, and a second time out of desperation.
Then he just stands there.
The cold seeping from his skin to his bones.
The wind sneers like a living being on the other side that mocks him and behind him a calm and steady breathing demonstrates a presence that is far too close.
Slowly he turns, first he sees the clock as big as him which remains frozen in time and then he sees Red.
Red who looks at him persistently.
Dust swallows again with a lump in his throat. Every word he manages to get out seems to tear his throat:
-I didn't know that it would be enough for just one of us to get in the boat for us all to survive. If I had known I... I wouldn't have lied.
The rest is not said. Dust swallows his saliva before the man's eyes.
He thinks "If I had acted differently, if I had told the truth Handsome would not have died"
The blue irises are difficult to bear but during the split second when he maintains eye contact, he perceives neither guilt nor judgment.
The red-haired man states his findings without further comment:
-It seems that immutable rules exist: The first to succeed allows all those who have survived until then to succeed with him, all the injuries, sickness or even hunger felt during these worlds are removed once we return to the castle.
Dust listens and nods.
But don't add anything more.
He looks at his feet, then at the tiles on the ground.
Red approaches, Dust avoids him by going around him.
The boy walks back up the stairs until he reaches his room. The one he first woke up in. The one where there should be no one else except him.
Before returning he turns around again, this time shooting an irritated look in the direction of Suspicious.
-Why are you following me?
The man being questioned raises both his arms, his lantern still in his hand, as a sign of appeasement.
- After everything that happened, I think it would be better not to disperse .
Dust can't argue with him, but he wants to be alone.
so he responds with a simple "okay" before closing the door to isolate himself.
Three seconds later, he heard someone move into the room next to his.
It takes another three minutes for Dust to wake up from his torpor and check that there really isn't anyone in these apartments before curling up under the covers.
Eyes wide open.