Eddie was fairly certain he had just witnessed a murder. How was he taking it? Not good. For almost a year, Bundi had been the one who raised Eddie. They had been the one who took him under their arm and assured them his powers were normal, that he was just a normal kid. They had been there through the sleepless nights and the self-defense lessons. They were always there, the parents that none of the kids on that island had before. Now he didn't know is Bundi was even alive. It was terrifying.

"Tend to Felix, I'm turning in for the night." Apophis ordered him offhandedly, as she slipped off her coat and disappeared into the tent she had set up for herself.

Eddie nodded numbly, he usually took care of Felix, she didn't trust anyone else with him but Eddie. Which was fine, Felix usually didn't say much so Eddie did most of the talking. That was their usual dynamic. He took Felix's non-dripping hand and dragged him into the small lean-to Apophis had provided them. Then he slowly and carefully wrapped up the infected arm where the goop met his skin, watching the bandage get soaked within seconds. Apophis claimed it would slow the corruption a little, until what? Eddie didn't know. Apophis never shared her plans with him, not unless it concerned him.

"Did I tell you I saw Craig again a few days ago?" Eddie started, trying to take his mind off Bundi's lifeless expression.

Felix didn't' answer, he never did.

"He was worried about me." Eddie tied off the bandage.

Felix's gaze was just as glazed over as Bundi's.

"He shouldn't really, I've done nothing to deserve it. He's here with the other guy... you know that one he likes... as in... not me." Eddie sighed. "I hate him."

Felix's eyes twitched, it was almost like he was saying no you don't.

"Shut up, what do you know." Eddie frowned at him. "You and Kai are both awful."

Kai blew a few bubbles from her flask in amusement.

"Where's your mutt gone off too?" He asked, glancing around for the skinny wolf that sometimes followed them.

Eddie felt something breath on the back of his neck and turned to see the wolf was creeping past him. He slunk towards Felix and rested his head in the boy's lap. Felix slowly and quietly lifted up a hand and stroked the wolf gently. It was the most communication Eddie had seen out of him in days.

"You probably miss Craig too." He sighed.

Felix looked up at him, and Eddie almost jumped. He wasn't expecting that at all. Felix's eyes were unsettling, to say the least. One of them had faded considerably since he had joined them and it both worried Eddie and creeped him out at the same time.

"Felix?" He blinked.

Felix didn't answer, he looked back down at his world, who shared his distracted stare. Eddie brushed away the chills that were running down his spine. He was curious now.

"Craig's okay," He started. "Or at least... he's... he's got people around who can protect him."

Bundi was one of those people. Eddie swallowed the rings of nausea rippling through him and covered it up with the fact that now Felix was looking at him again. Eddie had talked to him a lot about Craig, had he always payed attention? Eddie wondered if her could actually hear him, he didn't think so.

"I will protect him." Eddie promised, he wasn't sure who he was talking to now.

He glanced over his shoulder at Apophis tent, then lowered his voice. "I think... I think I would join his side if it weren't for my debt to her."

Kai tilted her head at him, like she wanted to ask a question, but never did.

"I think whatever she's doing with you," Eddie glanced up at Felix, "I think she needs Craig's powers for it to work. She needs more people like her, but Persephone keeps them under lock and key. I... if it came down to it... if she orders me to go after him... I'm not sure what I would do?"

Eddie stopped paying attention to Felix now, he'd never said that out loud before. He'd never given his deepest insecurities the life of words and speech before. The fact scared him. Eddie was never scared. His entire persona relied on being recklessly unafraid of everything. He wasn't scared of loosing his life, but he might just be scared of other people losing theirs now that he had gotten... attached.

"You alright?" Kai asked quietly.

"I don't think I've ever cared about a person like this before, Kai." He realized, holding his forehead in his hands. "What's wrong with me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you. It's called love." She explained. "It's a good feeling."

  "It... It hurts." Eddie frowned. "I don't think I like love very much."

"You will," she promised. "It gets easier with time."

"Ah- I-" Felix gasped out.

Eddie glanced up at him, startled. Felix's mouth was open and he was pressing down on his throat, like he was trying to push past something and speak. He glanced over at Eddie, and the other boy noticed with surprising clarity that Felix was looking at him, it was like he had woken up.

  "Felix?" He asked, again, scooting forward.

He coughed into his hands and Eddie noticed the came away from his mouth covered in black slime, oh Kosmos. He immediately starting patting Felix's back as he coughs some more, unsure of what else to do. Felix grabbed onto one of his hands and looked up at him with weak, tired blue eyes. There were tears in the corners of his faded corneas.

"What is it?" Edie asked wondering if he should wake up Apophis.

"L-love." He gasped out, "you... you l-" He succumbed to another coughing fit.

"Me? I love... Craig? Is that what you're trying to tell me?" Eddie felt a blush rush to his cheeks and combat the cold night air.

Felix stopped coughing, and his eyes drifted off into the horizon again. Eddie's heart sunk, that was it. Whatever... that was. A single tear fell off of the other boy's chin and hit Eddie's palm. He uncurled Felix's fingers from around his wrist and paused, unsure of what to do now. For a while he just sat there, staring at the voiceless boy whose scars marred his face.

Whatever that meant.