When I woke up, I made a solid decision: I was going to find Joseph, whether Yidhra would give me answers or not. I woke up Eli and Aesop, telling them my plan. I decided the best group to travel with would be like an Identity V match; 5 people (not counting me, of course). We ended up inviting Murro, because he could understand Brooke better than us, Helena, because she wanted to come (plus, she could use her cane to find Joseph), and Emily, because she’s a doctor. We all met after lunch right outside my house. “So… why are we here? Shouldn’t we be looking for him in the biggest place here?” Emily said, referring to the maps. They were all connected by a path inside the exit gates, making it the biggest place here. “I know. We’re going there right now,” I said, then revealed Joseph’s camera, standing behind me.

This is complicated, I thought, awkwardly waiting at Emily’s house. I had planned to go straight to the camera world to find Joseph, but I realized this might be considered kidnapping and went to ask everyone’s parents for permission. After quickly explaining to Emily’s family, we headed for Aesop’s house. I pretended not to notice him shivering and gripping Eli’s arm tightly. I knocked on their door, noticing the pretty designs on it. A woman opened the door. “Can I help you?” she said, obviously annoyed. She didn’t even seem to notice Aesop. “Um, I came here to ask you if I could borrow Aesop for a while. We’re, um, going on a little trip somewhere,” I said, gently holding Aesop next to me. The woman stared at him, making him shake even more.

“No,” she said. “I couldn’t care less, but you can’t take him,” she said. I gripped him tighter. “Why not? Are you gonna need him for something?” I asked, angry. The lady looked angry as well. “He’s my son. Why do I need a reason?” she said. She looked like she was expecting me to just hand him over. “What makes you think I would trust you with him while I’m gone? I know what you’ve been doing to him!” I said, ready for a fight if needed. “Come here Aesop~ you wouldn’t disobey your mother, right?” she cooed, beckoning him forth. Shaking, Aesop clutched my kimono harder. “N-no. You are not my mother. Y-you adopted me. Y-you remind me e-every d-day,” he said, terrified (:o I am shook at his bravery, I thought). The woman looked absolutely furious. “You-!” she shouted, raising her hand. Aesop flinched. Her hand came down, and she looked shocked as she looked down at her arm. Eli had stepped in, holding her wrist. “If I were you, I would back off,” he growled, pushing her arm away. “And why would I do that?” she sneered. “Because if you don't, you will lose custody,” Eli said, gesturing towards Murro, who was recording the whole thing with Eli’s phone. “Get back here!” she shouted, her voice fading away as we ran away from her home, farther and farther away until we made it back to my house.

Panting, we all rested in front of the house, the cool shade over our heads. Aesop thanked Eli for before, bowing a little. “...How long?” Emily asked Aesop, staring him in the eyes. “W-what do you mean?” he asked, though it seemed like he knew what she was asking already. “You know. How long have they been doing this to you?” she said, her voice raising a little. Aesop looked down. “Emily, it isn’t-” “Aesop! How long?!” Emily interrupted him, a little angry. Aesop closed his eyes. “...three years,” he said, practically a whisper, shocking us all. “Dude… that’s not right,” Murro said. Emily stomped over to Aesop, pulled wipes from her pocket, and started rubbing Aesop’s face. “Hey! What are you-” he stopped talking when he saw how shocked Emily was. She covered her mouth crying. “It’s that bad?” she said in a trembling voice. “Why? Why didn’t you tell us?” she asked. Aesop looked down, trying to cover his face. “Murro,” Emily said, calmer now. “Give me Eli’s phone.” Murro handed it over without protest. Emily put it into an empty box, taped it closed, wrote something on it, and asked Brooke to deliver it. “When we find Joseph,” she said, facing us. “They’ll know the truth. Aesop will be free.” She walked over to the camera, turning it on. “Well then? What are you waiting for?” she asked, smiling a little now. “Let’s go find Joseph.”