It got darker a bit sooner than usual. Most likely due to the heavy mist and the lack of moonlight. The day was almost over. The trio sat atop the lighthouse. With no light-hearted subjects left to talk about, they started touching on the questions that weigh heavily on their minds and over their destiny.

"He never returned ... " said Leah, with eyes wide open, staring at a small fire they managed to make by disassembling some of the remaining furniture and spilling petroleum over it.

"Yeah ... and the ship ... " Annabella started her thought.

" ... never came," Smythe finished it, staring at the ocean or whatever was visible through the mist.

"Did you ... lie to us?" the doctor turned to Smythe.

" ... " the professor remained silent.

"I asked you—"

"I don't even want to grace that with a reply, dear doctor," said Smythe calmly, "Blame me all you want. It's all over now. If it will make you feel better, blame it all on me. Why I don't see a single flaw in that logic."

The other two remained silent.

"The evil professor had this planned all along. His invitation was a golden trap, a money-filled pit to lure us, poor souls, in. He killed us off one by one, enjoying our struggle and confusion, reveling in the chaos that it brought us, all the while intoxicated by the sheer perfection his plans have unraveled. He summoned up a storm and enraptured a village! No, the whole island must have been bought with his endless reserves of gold. He infected a mansion with poisons to cloud our judgment and orchestrated a forest come to life!"

"Alright, I get it," said Leah in quiet defeat.

"He bloated a jellyfish to—"

"I SAID ALRIGHT, I GET IT!" the doctor stood up.

Smythe lowered his arms and calmed down, staring again at the ocean.

"Please ... " a sob could be heard behind them from the third chair, "Please don't ... anymore ... I can't stand it anymore ... "

"I'm ... sorry," said Leah.

"Yes. My apologies, miss Annabella, I only wanted to lift your spirits," Smythe said softly, "No, I didn't lie to you about the icebreaker. I am ... ", he sighed deeply and leaned back," ... indeed distraught at its tardiness, perhaps even more than you are. You see ...  not only did I pay for it to be here in time. I paid for its crew."

The duo was looking at him, listening to what he was saying as he put his hands on his tired face.

"I've invested in its construction. It was made with a new type of engine developed in the Vapeur Republic and its interiors were designed by the best Toukoku engineers and built by their best craftsman. The hull was made in the forges of Gradopolis in Emnikatia and the ship was to be unrivaled in exploration. But you know what was the most fascinating thing about it?
It was made by humans in its entirety."

He removed his hands and looked at them both.

"It was supposed to be our own achievement for once, and this expedition was supposed to be its first triumph. You ... were supposed to be the honored few I picked among the rabble.
And now ... "

He turned toward the sea again.

"It's all went to SHIT!" he threw his cane in a fit of rage and it rolled toward the edge.

"No!" he threw himself after it but couldn't grab it in time.

"Got it!" said Leah that managed to catch it just before it went under the railing and over the edge.

"Thank you," said Smythe, letting out a breath of relief and then opened his palm, and waited for the cane.

"What's ... " the doctor rotated the handle.

After it made two more clicks it felt as if it fell into place. He pulled it and revealed a hidden blade.

" ... this?" Leah finished his thought, now staring at Smythe.

Annabella's eyes widened as she covered her mouth.

Smythe rolled his eyes and lowered his hand.

"It was a gift. I chose neither the design of the top nor to have a tool of murder inside," he said calmly.

"Oh yeah? A gift from whom?" said the doctor.

"Does it matter?"

"Just answer."

"It's none of your—"

"It is my business now. A lot of things fell into place when I saw this," said Leah Eris.

"Like what?" Smythe crossed his arms.

"Like how would a limping, defenseless man be able to murder anyone, for example."

"Leah ... Smythe didn't kill anyone. Why would you say that?" said Annabella.

At that moment a knock could be heard from the bottom of the lighthouse. The trio froze and listened in order to be sure they heard right. And surely, another knock came from down below soon after.

"Pickman," said Leah and rushed down, still holding the cane.

Smythe took a small torch, since he didn't have his cane, and followed after them, as he was the slowest to descend the circular staircase.
Before he could catch up, he heard a scream. A familiar voice of Annabella was coming from the bottom floor. Smythe hurried so much that he almost lost his balance and fell.
Stumbling down after what seemed an eternity, he would finally see what frightened the woman so.

"Get behind me!" bravely shouted the doctor, swinging the bladed cane awkwardly in front of him.

At the door was a tree, much like the ones from last night, it was moving slowly but surely, with some of its branches already inside, and so the door was impossible to close anymore.

"Look out! Make way!"

Smythe shouted and did the only thing he could think of and threw his torch at the tree.
It started shaking and twitching frantically. Its branches curled up toward the trunk as its bark started to catch on fire.
Then ... it started talking, but not with a voice, but with thoughts that penetrated their minds. Their eyes widened and faces paled at what they were hearing.

Why ... Why? ... burn ... Why burn? ... Mr. Smythe ...

Ivan ... lie for Mr. Smythe ...

Ivan ... kill for Mr. Smythe ... why burn Ivan? ...