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Fayth turned around and walked out of the suite, leaving Lexis by the window.

When she looked around again, she found herself in the F.A.I.T.H. wing, where she found Vivian.

When did I get here?

"Vivi." Fayth called.

Vivian turned her head around and looked at the zombie version of the Fayth she knew. She loved it when Fayth called her by her nickname. It reminded her of their childhood, when things were simple and fun. 

"I heard you were the one who told Charles about the birthday mishap."

So numb. I've never been this numb. I like it. Is this how many candies I needed to take?

Vivian walked closer to Fayth. She nodded.

Fayth smiled. "I guess you don't hate me all that much."

"Don't smile." Vivian insisted.

Fayth smiled anyway. "Why?"

She knew why. Vivian had always thought that Fayth looked the most tame when she smiled. Like she could do no wrong. Like she never did.

Fayth closed the distance between the two and took a hold of Vivian's face. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm so sorry for everything I did."

Tears began to puddle in Fayth's eyes, pulling at Vivian's heart's stainless steel strings. 

Fayth wrapped her arms around her and hugged her close. "I'm so sorry." Fayth breathed, feeling faint. "Please forgive me. I will never be sorry enough."

Vivian's tears smeared Fayth's shirt black and blue as she hugged her back, and she firmly held back the urge to sob like a child.

"I don't understand..." She didn't. Vivian didn't understand why the Fayth she knew was crying right now. Why she was wasting her tears on Vivian. She didn't know. 

Lexis' eyes opened a slit bigger as he remembered the words he had said to his sister a few years ago when his sister used to pester him many times telling him to get a girlfriend. That he'll get more gentle if he does. He'll understand people better. 

Who's going to forgive me? Even if I was the best person, who's going to ignore one wrong thing I do? If I'm a white, empty canvas, anyone would notice the blotch of dark paint at the edge of it. No matter what I do, what I did. I need someone who'll be quick to forgive me if I end up blotching my own canvas. Even if it's on purpose. 

He had said that to his sister back then.

He never expected for Fayth to understand what he needed precisely and give it to him at the exact moment he needed it. It hurt how good it felt to have these words said to him.

Where did her fear of me go? 

It confused him that in his most vulnerable evil, she'd allow him to find solace in her words. How can she be so forgiving? How can she mindlessly ignore such a horrid thing he did?

Gritting his teeth, he took out his phone.

A wild card, but one that he needed. 

He dialed the number of the person he had been hesitant to engage with for weeks now. 

"Hello?"

"Hello Vincent, this is Lexis Ellis."

For a long moment Vincent didn't say anything. Clearing his throat, he answered. "Lexis. I didn't expect a call from you."

"I didn't expect myself to call either. I'd like to meet with you."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Vincent said. "I've been meaning to talk to you too actually. When would you like to come?"

"Now if possible."