Elmo wasn't sure what was going on. He'd let others ahead of him as he helped Elin move along. He wasn't sure if it was the emotional toll of what was happening, her excitement about the party, the dancing, or a combination of everything, but she seemed like she could fall asleep any moment while they were walking.
As such, Elmo kept a slower pace, which meant most of the guests who hadn't been by the door when they'd started leaving had passed them by. Which Elmo wasn't concerned about. As long as they didn't run both Elin and himself over, he was fine with them going past.
However, suddenly Jonas was leading several people back. Elmo wasn't sure what was going on, but he could only assume that the destination had changed. Not that any explanation had been given to him. He just accepted the change and continued on. Though, he could feel himself starting to get tired as well. Especially with bearing a portion of Elin's weight.
It wasn't that she was particularly heavy, it was more that he wasn't particularly strong himself. While he'd increased his Str stat on his system, he could only assume that it wasn't enough for this task. Especially when he had already worn himself out with the excitement of looking forward to coming to this party himself.
He also couldn't help but wonder if he'd be able to get through this without collapsing himself. Though, aside from Kim and Jonas, Elmo couldn't think of anyone who might be willing to help them out. Or at least could help them out while be willing to do so as well.
Elmo would expect Lance to help them, but Lance was currently helping his sister out, which Elmo couldn't blame him for. Nor did he hold it against the man. Elmo just hoped that he'd be able to make it and not collapse entirely.
Though, when the others had apparently doubled back for a bit, Elmo couldn't help but feel like it was a good time to rest for a moment. While he risked getting left behind, he would rather risk falling asleep while recovering what he could of his stamina. As that would at least help him go just a little longer.
To rest, he merely leaned his back against the wall and closed his eyes. He didn't expect that position to be exactly restful, but more that it helped him conserve energy. He knew that it was at least better than nothing.
When the last of those doubling back reached, and then passed, them again, Elmo took a breath and pushed off from the wall. It was slow going for him, but he could tell some of the guests were unable to move as fast as others as well, but he was sure it was for different reasons for each of them.
They continued along and Elmo couldn't say how long they'd been traveling, but he was also pretty sure that it hadn't been long. Though, with how his mind was feeling rather fuzzy itself, he couldn't be completely sure of that. It just felt like it was going on and on endlessly.
He was at least aware enough to see when they went down a stairway, but aside from that, he wouldn't be able to say how to get back to where they had been when they started this exodus. Though, he was happy to see when he finally caught up to everyone.
When he did, he saw that Jonas was looking out a window and checking outside carefully. Which said to Elmo that this had been the destination all along. Or at least since they started changing the direction they were heading. Which also made Elmo feel a little more aware of the problem they were in.
He realized that their enemies were likely watching the usual exits, and had likely overlooked an open window in a room that was rather far from where the party had been. Yet, Even though he had allowed himself to become the last person in the line of guests, he couldn't help but want to be one of the first ones out of the window. Just the thought of it filled him with energy that he knew he didn't have a moment ago.
Some of the guests who clearly weren't used to being in danger were mumbling to themselves while they waited. Elmo wouldn't be surprised if they were in denial of what was happening. If he hadn't gotten pulled out of his world and thrown into this world for this stupid competition, he could see himself in their position. Where he'd be refusing to believe something like this could be happening.
Elmo carefully made his way to where Jonas was, though he almost passed the room by without realizing it. He just barely caught a glimpse of his as he was about to pass by the room. He had thought the room they'd be heading towards was farther down the hall, but he didn't mind being wrong. This would allow him to do something that much sooner, other than look after Elin.
"…going to be difficult," Jonas was telling Lance, who was looking out the window with Jonas, most of their bodies below the windowsill, even though there didn't seem to be any light that would illuminate them to anyone looking through the window on the other side. "I suspect they plan on burning the entire manor down. That way they can claim it was because of something else."
Lance looked down and Elmo saw that Lance had set his sister on the floor. She looked like she might be asleep and Elmo couldn't begrudge her that. It would be so nice if he could just sleep through this, but he was sure that things were yet to happen that girl shouldn't be witness to.
"What do you suggest we do about that?" Lance asked as Elmo came up on them, causing both to look at him.
Jonas merely smirked in the dim moonlight. "I believe my idea has arrived now," he said cryptically. "If you would look after Lady Elin for us, we can head out to deal with those catapults. Once those are out of the way, then we can burn them down and take away their ability to burn the manor down in the method they want."
Lance glanced at Elmo then back to Jonas. "Alright. I believe you. I'll take care of her and both of you can take care of those catapults," he said calmly. "I'll wait here and keep Lady Elin safe, but first, what's your plans on getting us out of here?"
"Patience," Jonas urged. "Once the catapults are destroyed, we'll need to wait for their attention to be focused on that before we start sending everyone across to there." Jonas pointed into the darkness, almost straight out from the window.
"Across to where?" Lance asked. "I can't see anything.
"Don't worry. It's there," Jonas assured him. "It's a gate that doesn't have anyone guarding it, so we'll know that it's safe from someone stabbing us in the back as we try leaving."
Lance looked to Jonas in alarm. "Wait, that gate?" He demanded. "That gate hasn't been used in years! What makes you think it'll be operable?"
Jonas looked at Lance levelly. "Look, the only other gate is the one that we entered through, right?" Jonas asked, like he was needing to hold Lance's hand through this explanation.
"Well, there's the gate the servants use as well as those who come to us to settle disputes," Lance replied.
"And that would be a gate you would have noticed if they brought those catapults in through, right?"
Lance looked at Jonas in horror. "They've been using that gate to set this up?"
Jonas nodded. "That's the only conclusion I can come up with, otherwise they'd have had to build them here and risk discovery all through that process."
Lance shook his head in disbelief. "How could this happen?"
"Someone you trusted has orchestrated this. Before this will be over, we'll need you to help identify who it is that could have done this. Someone who wasn't at the party when the fires started. Someone who would have the authority to keep all of this swept under the rug from anyone who would actually report when they notices things that would have alarmed you and your family."
The look Elmo saw appear on Lance's face said he already had narrowed it down. "No! It couldn't be! He'd always been there for me and my sister! His family had been serving mine for generations!"
"I don't know the reasons why he'd turn against you and your family," Jonas replied sympathetically. "Only that he's somehow gotten in his mind that he has a right to something that he's willing to kill others for it, even if they weren't the ones who kept him where he is."
Lance shook his head again. Elmo couldn't help but feel like his entire world was being thrown upside down, yet again. As if the disaster of the party wasn't enough.
"Elmo, let him look after Elin and I'll show you what I'd like you to do," Jonas said, snapping Elmo's attention back to the present.
Elmo nodded, and with Lance's help, carefully set Elin down next to Samantha. Then following Jonas, Elmo hopped out the window and followed him to the corner of the building.