Chapter Text
“What are you doing here?”
Jon put his hands up. “Put the knife down, Melanie! This… this isn’t the way.”
“You haven’t been here!”
“I’ve been kidnapped!
“Oh…”
“And Elias didn’t give a D about even trying to rescue me! Trust me, I want that jerk dead too - ideally slowly and painfully - but not if he’ll take us all with him.”
Melanie rolled her eyes. “He’s got you fooled too?”
“It’s not worth the risk.” Jon sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. If I find a way to kill him and not kill all of us I’ll let you know. But I’m not risking Martin.”
Melanie nodded. She understood. “Yah that’s fair I guess. For Martin.”
“For Martin.”
There was a mutual understanding that if anything happened to Martin then all bets were off and they’d take a chainsaw to Elias if they could but as long as Martin lived Elias unfortunately had to as well.
Elias piped up. “Um, you do know I’m right here?”
Jon was frustrated. “Yah and if you weren’t you’d still be listening anyway. Now F off.”
“Um, this is my office?”
Melanie snorted. “Well this is our oxygen that you’re breathing.”
Jon and Melanie left Elias’ office with a slam of the door. “That guy really sucks, doesn’t he?”
Melanie nodded. “Seriously. I just wish there was a way to leave the institute.”
Jon sighed. “Yes… I’ll see if I can find anything and I’ll let you know.”
…
“Oh." Jon sat up from his dream with the piece of information he'd just pulled from the Eye. Apparently if he died… all the assistant Archivists would be released. He didn't know what to think about this - should he…? He wasn't sure.
….
“Um… I suppose you all wonder why I called this meeting today?”
There was a general chorus of nods.
“I… I found a way for all of you to leave the Institute -”
There was a chorus of cheers. Melanie jumped up. “Wait, seriously? Jon you’re the BEST!”
“- It’s just… a bit… um… I’d… I’d have to die.”
The room went silent.
“But... If I die…”
“We’re all free.” Melanie looked at him with an unreadable expression.
“Exactly.” Jon felt very uncomfortable with everyone staring at him and discussing his possible death but he thought he owed them the information.
Basira looked around. “Shouldn’t Martin be here for this discussion?”
Jon shook his head. “No. Because I already know what he’d say and I wanted to spare him the stress and possible guilt, depending on the outcome.”
There was a general chorus of agreement. Nobody wanted to do that to poor Martin. If they did end up deciding to kill Jon, there was no reason to involve him in such a decision.
Tim hesitantly spoke up. “Well, I mean… I still haven't forgiven you, boss, for last year but… I don’t want you dead either?”
Melanie sighed. “We probably shouldn’t kill Jon… I guess.”
Basira and Daisy nodded in agreement.
Jon felt somewhat relieved - it didn’t look like his colleagues wanted him dead - but they all looked so crestfallen. Why did he feel so guilty?
…
A bit over a week later, Jon was walking to the bus stop to go home Friday. Nobody had even once acknowledged him after that meeting, well nobody other than Martin. And every time he’d seen them in the breakroom or the halls they’d simply given him blank stares and looked away quickly.
Jon was dealing with some self-doubt and guilt. “No, Sims, you don’t… you don’t owe them all your death. But… it’s not safe here… and who knows how many others will die at this wretched place if they’re stuck here. If any of them die, now that you know this, their blood is on your hands.”
It was with these thoughts that he stepped out in front of the approaching semi.