After walking for some time, they arrived at a clearing near the cemetery.
At its center, a large, flat stone served as an improvised altar. Smaller stones alternated with wildflowers atop it, forming a careful, almost ritualistic circle.
Some of the town's people were already there, gathered on one side. The sheriff, Kristi, and the priest stood at the front of the group, forming a line of silent authority.
Donna greeted them with a nod and took her place on the opposite side. The Colony House residents spread out behind her, without organized rows, just a loose cluster that rejected structure.
Daniel noticed the looks. Some were merely curious. Others... there was a faint hostility directed specifically at him.
Rick had friends, apparently.
Tom, the bar owner, was among those staring at him with poorly concealed disapproval.
"You stay here," Father Khatri instructed, gesturing for the newcomers to position themselves in the space between the two groups.
Daniel, Julie, Jim, Tabitha, Ethan, and Jade formed an uneven line in front of the stone.
"Thank you all for coming," the priest said, waiting for complete silence before continuing. "Today, our newcomers will choose where they wish to spend their days here with us."
He gestured toward the central stone.
"If you choose to spend your days with the people of the town, living under our rules for the good of the community until we find a way home, you will take a stone.
"If you choose to live with the people of Colony House and enjoy the present, because the future is an unknown... you will take a flower."
Khatri paused solemnly, his eyes sweeping over each of the newcomers' faces.
"Whatever you choose, that choice will be final."
Boyd stepped forward, raising a hand in a gesture asking permission to speak.
"Before we continue," he said, his voice sounding tired, weighed down by hours without sleep, "I need to talk about Frank."
When the name was spoken, a visceral discomfort fell over the crowd. People shifted their weight. Others exchanged looks, silently communicating what no one wanted to say out loud.
"Many of you know what happened. What he did. What he... lost because of it." He chose each word carefully, as if walking on glass. "And you know we built the Box to deal with situations like this."
Daniel kept his expression neutral, but inwardly he already knew where this was going. It was exactly what he needed to convince Sara to reveal the voices to others.
The sheriff continued. "But there's a thin line between punishment and savagery. Between justice and—"
His voice died when a figure emerged from the trail.
Frank.
Everyone turned. Murmurs erupted instantly.
"He got out?"
"The sheriff let him go?"
"What's going on?"
The man walked slowly, but with purpose. He didn't look defeated. He looked... at peace. Like someone who had made a final decision and found comfort in it.
"I'd like to say a few words, if that's okay."
The sheriff was too surprised to respond immediately.
Finally, he nodded, stepping back half a pace.
Frank stopped at the center, between the two groups.
"The time I spent in that cell, I thought a lot. About who I was. Who I became." He looked down at his hands, turning them over as if he no longer recognized them. "I was a good father, folks. Sure, I wasn't perfect... but I wasn't like this. I let this place change me. Break me."
He paused, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
"And because of that, what happened was my fault."
"Frank, don't—" someone tried to protest.
"It was my fault," he interrupted firmly. "I didn't board up the window. Even after all the warnings. I was too drunk to care. I forgot what really mattered."
"So," Frank said, his eyes sweeping over the faces around him, briefly resting on the newcomers before returning to the longtime residents, "stay strong. Don't let this place steal who you are. Don't do what I did. Protect each other."
He walked up to Boyd and extended the talisman.
"I appreciate what you tried to do for me, Sheriff. But the only things I love in this world are gone. And I want to see my family again."
Boyd took the talisman reluctantly, his fingers closing around it with painful slowness. He didn't say anything because he saw the determination in Frank's expression. There were no arguments that would work against that.
"Frank, you don't have to do this," a woman stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Don't make important decisions when you're depressed."
He shook his head gently, but firmly.
"I've never made a decision as clear-headed as this one."
[Beautiful speech. Ten points to Gryffindor for courage, zero points for survival rate. He basically just ordered the monsters' tasting menu.]
Julie and Ethan were the only ones who didn't fully understand what was happening. Still, sensing the tense atmosphere, they didn't ask questions.
"This is a fucking bad trip," Jade muttered.
Tabitha glared at him. Jade immediately raised his hands.
"Sorry. Kid present. My bad."
You could say anything about him, Daniel thought, watching the man who seemed at peace after making his decision, but not that he lacked courage.
"All right," the sheriff finally said, slipping the talisman into his pocket with a mechanical motion. "Since you've made up your mind."
"Let's continue with the ceremony," Father Khatri announced, trying to regain control of the situation and refocus on the newcomers.
"There's another matter that needs to be addressed," Boyd interrupted before Khatri could continue, turning to face Daniel directly. "Several town residents asked me about Daniel's actions. What he did left Rick with a broken arm. And if we start resolving things with violence, everything will spiral out of control."
"As Daniel himself said, actions have consequences."
Daniel remained impassive, curious to see where the sheriff was going with this. There was no tension in his posture. Just interest.
"But Rick started it!" Dale exclaimed from behind Donna, genuinely indignant.
"Didn't we agree the matter was settled, Boyd?" Donna said sharply. To her, it was already resolved. Rehashing it was a waste of time.
The sheriff raised a hand, calling for silence.
"If he wants to live in town, he'll have to do community service for a week," Boyd said firmly, without direct hostility. "Of course, once Rick's arm heals, he'll do it too. And since he started it, his sentence will be a month."
The townspeople behind him nodded and murmured in approval. They wanted to see the "troublemaker" put in his place.
Donna just shook her head, but didn't protest.
"I don't think that's fair," Julie said before she could stop herself.
"Julie!" Jim immediately scolded her.
Tabitha placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder in a gesture that clearly said: Not now.
Julie shut her mouth, but indignation bubbled visibly as she crossed her arms tightly. I can't even share my opinion, she thought, frustrated.
Daniel turned to her first and winked, a silent 'calm down, I've got this', then faced the sheriff.
"That's fine," he replied casually, as if the matter didn't involve him.
People stared at him oddly. Even Boyd had expected protest, arguments, maybe more defiance.
[New mission accepted]
Lamb to the Slaughter: Accept the sheriff's conditions and choose the town.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: 5 attribute points, 5 skill points, 1 skill, 500 silver coins.
[Show humility for the first time in your life. Consider it a miracle if you manage.]
Daniel analyzed the offer in half a second.
In truth, he had no intention of staying in town. He preferred the freedom of Colony House. Of course, if he didn't have his motorhome, he'd choose the town without hesitation. He wouldn't stay in a crowded place where anyone could snap and open a door or window.
Even though the windows were boarded up, he didn't trust that one hundred percent. He'd seen enough human behavior under pressure to know that physical protections meant little when psychology collapsed.
His plan was simple: choose Colony House for the freedom, but live in his fortress on wheels. Best of both worlds.
Not even for five thousand coins would he trade his autonomy. He wasn't taking a mission that put him on a leash for a week.
"System," he sent mentally with disdain. "Cancel this mission."
The notification vanished without ceremony.
Daniel stepped up to the ceremonial stone. He completely ignored the pile of stones and, with a deliberate motion, picked up a flower. His fingers brushed against the soft petals.
He felt a strong urge to provoke Boyd, maybe make a comment about 'freedom versus benevolent fascism,' but restrained himself. He didn't want to irritate the sheriff further, at least not before dealing with Sara.
He walked toward Donna, who was smiling broadly, while the sheriff wore an unpleasant expression, finally realizing why Daniel hadn't argued against the condition.
He never planned on choosing the town, Boyd realized, irritation prickling at him.
"Am I welcome?" Daniel asked Donna, extending the flower.
"Of course you are!" she replied cheerfully, taking the flower and giving his shoulder a friendly thump. "Everyone's welcome at Colony House. The more, the better."
The people behind her agreed. Ellis nodded approvingly. Fatima smiled widely.
Julie watched from beside her family, her expression unreadable. Her fingers tapped nervously against her thigh.
"I guess I'll be next, then," Jade said, stepping forward. He took one of the smaller stones. He was smart enough to see that Colony House, despite its relaxed appearance, wasn't safe. Zero privacy, excess substances, and too many people in shared space was a recipe for disaster.
Jim followed immediately, picking up a stone without hesitation. "We choose the town." He made the decision for the whole family.
"Jim, I'm sorry," the priest said gently, "but everyone has to choose individually."
"Oh, no problem," Jim replied, though he clearly found it unnecessary. He stepped back.
Tabitha made the same choice. Then she leaned toward Ethan, pointing at the pile. "Take a rock, honey."
The boy obeyed, picking the smallest one he could find.
When it was Julie's turn, she walked forward without looking at her parents. Her fingers closed around a flower.
The shock was immediate.
Tabitha's pupils dilated, her mouth falling slightly open. Jim froze, processing.
Daniel raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected that. Especially after the conversation they'd had on the way. I warned her about the downsides, but it seems suffocation from her parents is a bigger monster than the ones in the forest.
Julie walked to his side with firm steps, holding the flower with a determination that accepted no questioning.
"The girl has made her choice," Donna declared, clearly pleased.
"She can't make that decision!" Tabitha began to argue. "She's a minor!"
"I'll be eighteen in two days. I can make my own decisions," Julie replied.
Tabitha and Jim started trying to convince her to change her mind, their voices overlapping in a desperate cacophony of parental arguments. Safety. Responsibility. Structure. Rules exist for a reason.
But Julie was resolute.
And it didn't help that Donna, happy to have two new Colony House members on the same day, spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Julie, you don't have to obey. Here, you're free to make your own choices!"
"Family drama was all we needed," Jade commented beside Kenny, his eyes darting between them like he was watching a reality show.
Boyd tried to calm the situation, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
"Julie," he called, waiting until she looked at him, "are you sure you want to live at Colony House?"
"I am," she said without hesitation.
Growing desperate, Tabitha turned to Daniel, her eyes shining with something between accusation and maternal fury.
"This is your fault. She's only doing this because of you. You influenced her!"
Jim placed a hand on Tabitha's shoulder to calm her.
Great, Daniel thought as all eyes turned toward him. Now I'm caught in the crossfire. Excellent. Always wanted to be the scapegoat in family drama.
Julie, who had only been irritated before, now became truly angry. Her face reddened, fists clenched at her sides.
"YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT MY OPINION!" her voice echoed through the clearing. "You treat me like I'm wrong! Like I can't think for myself!"
She paused to breathe, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"I didn't choose because of Daniel! I chose because I'm tired of being treated like a child! Tired of you deciding everything for me without listening!"
"Did you ask what I wanted? No! You already decided we're living in town and that's it!"
The silence that followed was excruciating. Some people stared at the ground. Others looked anywhere but at the Matthews family.
"Let's calm down," the sheriff tried to regain control. "My son lives at Colony House. He can keep an eye on her." He pointed to Ellis, who nodded uncomfortably.
"You need to talk. But not now. Nothing gets solved with hot heads."
Tabitha wanted to protest, but Jim held her arm, shaking his head. It was pointless.
Father Khatri, realizing the ceremony had officially collapsed, cleared his throat.
"I thank everyone for coming. Please return to your homes safely."
The crowd dispersed immediately, splitting into groups. Some cast sympathetic looks at the Matthews family. Others whispered among themselves, already turning the event into gossip.
Donna placed a gentle, maternal hand on Julie's shoulder.
"Come on, dear. Let's go home."
As they walked, Daniel fell into step beside Julie, keeping a respectful distance.
After a few steps, she finally spoke.
"Sorry."
Daniel looked at her. "For what?"
"For what my mom said." She exhaled slowly. "It wasn't fair to blame you. I chose on my own."
"I know." He shrugged, keeping his tone light. "Parents panic. It's what they do. I don't take it personally. You're their daughter. And this place..." He gestured vaguely around them. "It's not exactly a summer camp."
"You actually have some pretty reasonable thoughts, kid," Donna said.
"People say that a lot."
Julie rolled her eyes, amused, and was relieved that he didn't blame them.
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