[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/WKdecqD.png[/img][/center] [hr] It was tough for Justin to explain what he learned last night. A small part of him knew he shouldn't take what the Hound said at face value, but at the same time, he knew he couldn't let the possibility slide. However, Tuyen and Penny spurred him to finally speak his mind. "So, while I was keeping a watch last night I had a conversation with the Hound." "Why in the hell are you talking to that thing?" Kimberly was first to speak up, only for Lynette to say something next. "Kimberly, chill," Lynette said, "Let him finish." Justin shook his head as he opened his mouth, before Sharon piped up, "Justin, show don't tell." She put two fingers to the middle of her forehead right when the bridge of her nose starts. Before she said, "Just envision the moment and send it to everyone else." Justin sighed as he did the same and sent everyone into a recollection... [indent][quote][i]"... I am quite satisfied, maybe you are ready for the price," The Hound said. "Allow me to give you a very helpful piece of advice... do not trust the others." "What? They're all I have?" "But, you are not aware of something the Child glossed over in their rush to tell everything you need to know to open your mind," The Hound said as he stood up, "The Glutton's influence is in all of your minds." "Wait, what does that mean?" "Allow me to begin my explanation that by Awakening your minds are specially hardened to outside influence. It is why you managed to maintain your sanity while others haven't, and became thralls to the Glutton. However, you aren't impervious to it, merely resistant. During the first night when the Glutton tormented you, it planted its seeds in all of your minds. If exposed to too much of the Glutton, those seeds will begin to grow and it can begin to exert its influence on you." Justin patiently listened. "At worst it can enthrall you, but fortunately, by doing so, you will be cut off from your abstractions. So you can easily dispatch them." "... Yeah, fortunately." "But, I doubt you'd want to kill one of your compatriots," The Hound said, "The only way to purge its seed from your mind is to seal it back. There's a point where it'll break your mind beyond all repair. I'm more than certain you're going to lose a friend a two to it." "Thank you for letting me know..." Justin trailed off. "But, what is the price?" [/i][/quote][/indent] The recollection ended and Lynette was the first to speak. "... I've had my suspicions," She said with a shrug. After all, she was personally wondering why they weren't being controlled like the others. If they could even be. Well, they found out... but the question is; who will be enthralled by that thing first. She kept that to herself, as her eyes drifted around the room. This just got a looooot harder.