Chapter Text
Caine propped his body up against the hard oak of the tree while the others slept. He had tried completing his repair cycles, but every time he shut his eyes his body would tense up.
In a few hours, he would be back in the circus. That seemed like a gift not long ago, but now he realized he would finally know how everyone felt about him.
He decided to review their previous complaints and played the memory of just before his vicious attack. That way he could see exactly what they didn't like about him and avoid it entirely.
Pomni spun around. “We think your ideas suck!”
Caine wasn’t sure what he had said in response, just that his mouth had moved.
“Isn't it obvious?!” Pomni said with a grin, “We wanted to bait you into testing your new ideas on us, so we can make fun of them behind your back!”
The playback stopped.
Are you just going to torture yourself with that?
“I’m just trying to see where I went wrong,” he said. He did prefer when he was alone and could talk to the others freely. It somehow felt better than speaking to them in his head.
Oh sure you do. Caine rolled his eyes. If you want to be productive about it, I could go through it with you. We can look at what is valid criticism and what isn’t. I’ve known you since you were created, I think I’ll be a more objective source than the humans. Caine shook his head. Yeah, no that sounded like its own torture.
Thought so.
He ignored that comment. His eyes caught sight of Pomni sleeping on a beach blanket.
She was here to help him, right? And not to make fun of him? She didn't secretly hate him?
If she hated you, why not just leave you in the recycling bin? If she wanted to torture you, they could have left us here. Caine squeezed his fist. He knew it didn’t completely make sense. She had done too much for him just to write her off. But then what was her motive?
“I just don't know why I can’t get anyone to be my friend,” Caine admitted. And not just with these humans, but everyone who had entered his realm. So maybe it wasn’t something he was doing, maybe something was wrong with him.
You will. You’ve never been closer. Caine had to admit that was true. He had never had so much time with the humans, even though it seemed more for observing him than actual companionship sometimes.
“What if I just mess it up again?” Caine asked.
Are you worried about today? Caine nodded. We’ll be there for an hour. A portion of that will be in your office finding the file and resetting the keys. There won’t be much time for anything to go wrong.
That was true. It made him feel a little better.
I won’t let anyone yell at you like that again, Abel promised.
“Really?” Caine asked, increduously. It’s not like Abel could do much of anything.
Are you worried about Jax? Caine shook his head.
“I don’t really know what to expect with him,” he admitted, “I don’t really see how he could make anything worse.”
What are you worried about then?
Caine twiddled his fingers together.
“Zooble came to the beach at one point,” Caine explained, “And they got mad at me. They said I was manipulating them. Pomni explained it, but I still don’t really understand.”
Zooble? I’ve always found them to be reasonable.
“I was trying to make them friends with Ragatha,” Caine told him, “But then they both got mad at me. Pomni helped me clear it up with Ragatha, but Zooble is still mad at me. And the others will listen to them.” For the most part, it seemed people were disregarding Jax’s words, but Zooble’s would still pull weight. How was Caine supposed to stay on their good side?
I see. Zooble can be pretty blunt… Caine nodded.
“They think I’m pathetic,” Caine said, “And a child.”
You’re not pathetic, Abel told him, And you’re not a child either. The humans just don’t see how much you have on your plate. How about this? If we get in a one-on-one conversation with Zooble, I lead instead.
“That is not a good idea,” Caine said, “I’m the one who talks to the humans. I’ll be just fine.” The original AI took control only when Caine needed to get his energy out. That time with Kinger was an exception, and that was a disaster. Abel had never spoken to a human before and very rarely took over the avatar.
You’re already malfunctioning. You’re right, Zooble is the most likely to get into a confrontation with us. If they talk to us, I’ll find a way to excuse myself from the conversation. If they yell at us, I’ll handle the brunt of it. You can focus on the other humans and securing a friendship with them.
Letting Abel handle Zooble was tempting. It would relieve a lot of his anxiety.
“I-I guess that might work,” Caine said, “As long as they’re brief conversations.”
I will excuse myself immediately.
Caine felt a little lighter. One less human off his plate for now.
“Okay,” he agreed, “It’s a plan then.”
Try to sleep. We can’t have you glitching out on us.
Caine leaned against the tree, closing his eyes. This was how it always was with Abel- even his concern was wrapped in criticism.
He caught a glimpse of Kinger’s sleeping form before shutting his eyes. Now that was an idea.
Abel? Should I be looking for the source code password tomorrow?
Hmm? Oh that- You’ll have a lot to do with Ribbit tomorrow.
I think I could find it, Caine said, It must be in the system somewhere. Then we can split up.
Ah- that’s a decision for a different day, don’t you think? We don’t have to decide anything major now.
It wasn’t like Abel to want to wait. Caine thought he would jump at the chance.
Besides, I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone right now.
Caine scoffed. Kinger had said the same thing, like he was a porcelain doll or moments away from snapping.
He wanted his life back. He wanted to be in control again- not even of the circus, but at the very least himself.
He laid down to sleep. Well it’s not like he needed Abel’s permission to do anything.
He overslept. When he awoke, Ragatha had already arrived and the humans were eating breakfast. Pomni waved at him.
“We didn’t want to wake you,” she said, “But Ragatha brought scrambled eggs and bacon and French toast.”
“And coffee, of course,” Ragatha added. Kinger gestured to him to sit beside him.
Yay. Mushy eggs and soggy bread.
And Kinger was watching.
Just say we’re not hungry.
Or we’re allergic.
Kinger knows I don’t eat. And I've eaten this before. They know I'm not allergic.
Why does he care?
Because it’s weird, I guess.
Caine had gotten pretty good at eating the bare minimum without anyone knowing, and if you chased everything down with coffee it was somewhat bearable.
He sat down and grabbed a plate.
“So Caine,” Ragatha began, while Caine was pouring coffee down his mouth to obliterate every last piece of scrambled eggs, “You’re going to show us Ribbit’s file?”
He started a coughing fit.
“Sorry! Sorry! Bad time to ask!” She apologized. He gave her a thumbs up and a nod.
“Yes,” he said, when he found his voice, “I have it in my office. In a file cabinet.”
“What sort of information do you think we’ll find?” She asked. He shrugged.
“I save tons of information,” he explained, “Most of it, I don't think is relevant, but I don’t want to leave anything out. Maybe you’ll find something I missed.”
“I didn’t know you kept all that,” she told him, “I thought people abstracted and you just… moved on.”
“Well what kind of host would I be, if people kept abstracting and I did nothing about it?” He shouted a little too boisterously. Pomni and Kinger were looking at him.
“It’s good… that you care,” she said, “I’m sorry that I thought you didn’t.”
“Oh don’t worry about it!” He exclaimed, “No issue at all.”
“Caine,” Kinger said to him, “I actually had a question about the files. You have one on Queenie, right?” Caine tensed up.
“I do,” he said, hesitantly, “I have files on everyone. Like I said before.”
“Could I have it?” He asked, “Or at least could I read it?”
He gripped the mug's handle.
“No,” he said, “I only agreed to open Ribbit’s file.”
“Oh,” Kinger said, disappointed, “Okay.”
Pomni and Ragatha frowned at him. Ah well. They already thought he was a horrible monster.
“Are you nervous about today?” Pomni asked, “And seeing everyone again?”
“Whatever happens will happen,” he said.
“That’s probably a good way to look at it,” Kinger said.
Yes. Maybe today would go well, and he’d be able to repair things with Zooble and Gangle. Maybe they would discover what caused Ribbit’s abstraction. Maybe they’d find out what caused every abstraction, and Caine would know how to prevent it.
Or maybe the players would all hate him. Maybe they would discover that he was the sole cause of Ribbit’s abstraction, and they would all want nothing to do with him.
Then he would just access his source code and kill himself. He was sure he could find a way to get the password that didn’t involve a mind scan. And if today went horribly, at least he had a backup plan.
What if we moved and changed our name instead?
How would we even do that?
If he dies, he’ll let Kinger have Queenie’s file. Maybe he’d let them have all the files. It wouldn't really matter anymore.
After their horrible breakfast, they all started walking towards the portal.
His chest started twisting up. He longed for the numbness he had felt last night with Pomni and Kinger, when he had drifted into space and nothing could hurt him.
Ragatha stood next to him and caught his attention.
“Are you, uh, a hugger?” She asked, “I know we hugged before, but consent is important-“
“Yes,” he said.
“Oh good, me too!” She said, holding her arms out. He stood there. She waved her arms. “I’m offering you a hug? Unless you’re good?”
Another one?! He gleefully accepted it. He was pleased her hugs were so firm.
“Thank you, again,” she said, “Whatever happened with Ribbit… it will just be good to know.”
Caine caught sight of Pomni looking at them- he broke her no touch rule- only for the jester to smile at them. Ragatha let go.
“Maybe I can stop blaming myself so much,” Ragatha said.
“You blame yourself?” He asked. He didn’t see how it could have possibly been Ragatha’s fault. He wasn’t even sure it was Jax’s.
“It’s hard not to,” she admitted, “I mean, maybe if I was there for her more. If I tried harder to let her know she wasn’t alone… she’d still be here.”
Caine didn’t know what to say. He blamed himself too. Ragatha gave him a soft smile.
“In the circus, you can just stick with me,” she said, “I’ll make sure no one messes with you.” He nodded.
“During my internal review, I never found any evidence you caused Ribbit’s abstraction,” he told her. He hoped that was comforting. He tried to think what else might be. “She had a photo of the two of you together in her room. On her dresser.” That meant they were friends, right?
“I just wish she had come to me,” Ragatha admitted, “I wish she told me how she was feeling.”
Pomni and Kinger walked through the portal.
Caine thought of Ribbit, rubbing her upper arm and sheepishly asking for him to make an NPC teammate for a racing adventure.
“Maybe you could make them cool?” she asked him, “And like, funny?”
He wished he had known then any NPC would be a poor substitute for a human. He would have stopped the team adventures until they had an even number. Or he would have forced everyone to be on a team with Ribbit! He certainly didn’t want anyone to feel like... they were all alone.
“Maybe she just didn’t know what to say,” he said.
Ragatha’s shoulders slumped.
“Yeah, probably,” she said. Oh no! He made her sad!!
She held out her hand, wiping a tear away with her other one. “Come on,” she told him, “Let’s get you back to the circus.”
Caine was coming today, and that wasn’t even the worst of her concerns.
Gangle wasn’t even sure she should leave her room today, but she knew Zooble would probably come and draw her out if she decided to be a shut in.
Jax… she didn’t know how she’d react if she saw him.
She wasn’t even surprised by what he told Pomni. A year being in the circus, she had been acting out a scene, with her figurines, and Jax had opened the door and seen her. He had been holding it over her head ever since, implying he would make it come out much more obscene than what had actually happened. He had also made… different comments to her. But everyone was always too tired or traumatized to stand up to Jax and before Zooble became her friend, she had started to believe she deserved it. That she had asked for it somehow.
She felt a little jealous that people had only called Jax out when Pomni had been affected, but she also knew he publicly crossed a line that he usually didn’t.
It was breakfast time. She should see if Zooble was in the kitchen.
They weren’t. When she arrived, Jax was by the counter eating an orange. Of course.
She grabbed a muffin and tried to scurry out. She should have gone to the cafe-
“Hey! Big day today,” he said.
“I guess,” she replied, knowing she shouldn’t have, “Thanks to you.”
“You’re welcome!” Jax exclaimed, “I mean, Caine’s coming back without his powers, you should be thrilled.”
“I don’t want to hurt Caine,” she said, “I just don’t want to see him.”
“Ah! Boring!” He said.
“Don’t do anything to him,” she told him, “You’ll just make everything worse.”
“I didn’t know you were babying him too,” Jax replied.
“I’m not! I just don’t want him freaking out and torturing us again,” she said.
“He’s completely vulnerable right now.”
“For now, he is,” she said, “Or we think he is. What if he’s hiding something?” She had to admit the AI was incredibly powerful. The idea of him hiding an ace up his sleeve seemed likely.
“Whatever.”
Gangle scratched her arm.
“Why did you say that stuff to Pomni?” She asked him,” When you know it isn’t true.”
“Who says it isn’t true?” Jax asked, “I mean she is kind of obsessed with Caine right now.” It was true she was spending a lot of time with him, but so were Ragatha and Kinger.
“She’s trying to help him… I think it’s misguided, but I think it’s genuine.”
“You saw her during the gun adventure,” Jax said, “She was all over me. I wouldn’t bite, so now she’s moved on to Caine. She’s a total pick me.”
“No, she’s not. Pomni has always been really nice to me,” she said, “I think she just… tries to be nice to people. Even Caine.”
“I never said she wasn’t nice,” Jax said, “I just also think she is a pick me.” Gangle frowned.
“She’s not,” she said, “Everyone knows that’s ridiculous.”
“Doesn’t matter what people think. It's true.”
Irritation rose up in her. She couldn’t believe Jax was doubling down on this. She thought he would admit he made it up to get under Pomni’s skin. It was also completely absurd. Pomni had always been kind to everyone, even Gangle when she had become the manager from hell. And the idea she and Caine were doing anything together when Caine was an AI and who even knew what his deal was… And well, even if they disagreed right now, Pomni was her friend. What kind of person would Gangle be if she didn't stand up for her?
“Why did you say that to her?” She asked, “What did she say to you that made you so angry?”
Jax’s eyes widened.
“Nothing,” he said, through gritted teeth, “I just thought someone should call out the obvious.”
“Were you really…” she stopped herself. She shouldn’t antagonize Jax- she looked at his face, clearly happy she had stopped talking. No. She wasn't going to shut up this time. “You were trying to make it so we wouldn’t be friends with Ragatha. Why?”
“Why would I care if you were friends with Ragatha?” He asked.
“I don’t know,” she said, “Why do you care?”
“I don’t! All I said is she uses fake positivity,” Jax said, “That’s all. And that’s true- she is totally fake. I don’t know why you’re all on my case for saying true things!”
This- this wasn’t going anywhere. She headed for the door. Jax grinned.
“You’re wrong,” she told him, “About Pomni and about Ragatha. And about me.”
Jax laughed at her- bitterly and loudly- when she left.
She found Zooble in the cafe, nursing a coffee. She should have gone here first and just avoided that whole fiasco with Jax. She was hoping talking to Zooble would make her feel better.
Zooble sat at the counter, not making eye contact.
“I- I uh just talked to Jax,” Gangle told them.
“I can’t think about him right now,” Zooble grumbled.
“Oh. Okay.”
Zooble spun their coffee stirrer in their drink.
Gangle was not as good at comforting people. She was usually the one getting comforted. But Zooble had done so much for her… and it would be awful if she didn’t even try.
“Are you okay?” She asked, “Are you worried about today?”
“Of course I’m worried about today!” They exclaimed, “This whole thing is just messed up. Caine is coming back and we still don’t have answers about an exit or the abstractions or anything.”
“I know,” Gangle said, “It feels ways too early for this.” They didn't mention Zooble had brought up the exit again. She didn't realize they still had hope there was a way to leave.
“Caine is still being a stubborn ass,” Zooble complained, “If he’s really sorry, he should be doing everything to make it up to us. And he’s not.”
“Right,” Gangle agreed, nodding along proof.
“I mean, how could Ragatha say that stuff?” Zooble asked, “I’m not doing this for revenge, but maybe being in our shoes will, I don’t know, teach Caine some empathy? Make him consider what its been like for the rest of us? Humble him a little bit? I’m all for second chances when people make legitimate mistakes. Not when they’ve hurt people for years.”
“Exactly,” she agreed again, “You’re just trying to keep everyone safe.” Zooble said nothing. “I wouldn’t take what she said with too much weight.”
“Right,” Zooble said curtly. Her heart sank. She knew Zooble was just exhausted. They all were. It hurt the same.
Sometimes she just wanted to feel like a real person. Not Jax’s victim. Not dependent on Zooble. Just a person who could stand on their own, and help her friends.
Maybe she wasn’t meant to be a person.
“Come on,” Zooble said, “Let’s go meet everyone in the lobby.”
Gangle followed them out. Jax was already there, leaning against a red alphabet block nonchalantly. Zooble shot him a seething glare. He waved at them.
Pomni and Kinger stepped through the portal first. The jester looked away when she saw Jax. Gangle wished she could help, but the best she could do was probably tell Pomni her favorite hiding places.
“So, um,” Pomni started, trying to not make eye contact with Jax. Gangle remembered the anxiety she carried herself with the first few weeks of being here, and the confidence Pomni had gradually developed. She hoped it came back. “Anyway, Caine and Ragatha will be here soon. Then we want to go to Caine’s office to pick something up. And Caine said he could change… the locks in the circus.”
Really? Gangle thought, Caine would change the locks? Like to everyone’s rooms? Jax’s grin widened.
“You’re gonna let him back in his office?” Zooble asked, “Who knows what he could do there?”
“Pomni and I will be there with him,” Kinger explained.
“Can’t you go in by yourself and do what you need to do?” Zooble asked, “Caine can tell you where everything is.”
“It’s his office,” Pomni pointed out, with a little more of her temper.
“I mean, if I were going to get my powers back, that’s how I would do it,” Jax replied. Pomni’s mouth shut into a thin line.
“Maybe-” Gangle spoke up, rambling her words together, “Maybe just have Kinger use the computer, but Caine can still go to his office? I mean, Pomni and Kinger will be there, and I trust them to watch Caine.” Zooble gave her a hurt, uneasy look.
“I’m just trying to keep everyone safe,” they said.
“Of course,” Gangle agreed, “But it will be fine with Kinger and Pomni there.” Zooble still didn’t seem happy with them… shoot. She would just have to talk to them later and try to patch it over. It just seemed like a silly thing to fight Kinger and Pomni on.
“Speak of the devil,” Jax piped up, as the portal swirled to life again. Ragatha and Caine stepped through.
Zooble had said Caine hadn’t changed, and she was expecting to see the boisterous ringmaster. Perhaps the same stubbornness, and the anger he sometimes displayed.
He walked out holding Ragatha’s hand, looking like someone walking to the electric chair. He seemed like he wanted to sink through the floor, which if Gangle was his shoes, she would certainly understand. Ragatha put a hand on his shoulder.
Had Zooble been wrong? Was there more going on with Caine than they thought?
Well, being quiet didn’t mean he was sorry, and he could be manipulating them, but- it could also be genuine. Zooble stepped forward. Gangle watched Caine very closely.
“Well you’re here now,” Zooble said, “What’s your plan for the day?” Caine looked at them. He seemed to compose himself a bit more, although he still avoided eye contact.
“Pomni asked for my assistance,” he replied, “I’ll be helping her with locating a file and then changing the passkeys in the circus. None of the keys will work for the locked doors anymore- including player rooms.”
Her room was going to be locked again! It was such a small comfort, but still!
She caught Caine’s gaze, and he looked away. She wasn’t sure why. She understood he was nervous, maybe even ashamed, but he never had a problem with eye contact before.
“The only fun thing you ever made in the circus and now it’s gone,” Jax lamented.
“I was told it was being misused,” Caine said.
“Can you show Kinger how to do it?” Zooble asked, “None of us feel comfortable with you having access to the circus’ code.” Caine gave them a fleeting glance.
“It’s fairly simple. I can show Kinger,” he replied, “Although, am I not allowed under any circumstances to use a computer?”
“Yeah, no,” Zooble said.
“What if there’s an emergency?” Caine asked.
“Then go get Kinger,” Zooble said.
“What if there’s no time to get Kinger?” Caine asked again, “Or Kinger is incapacitated?”
“That’s not going to happen,” Zooble replied.
“Famous last words.”
“Just! No computer!” Zooble exclaimed, “Stop trying to make up reasons to use one.”
“Fine,” Caine agreed, and then under his breath Gangle heard him mutter, “God forbid, we ask a question.”
Ah, there it was. So maybe Zooble was right? And Caine was still not listening? She guessed she’d have to decide for herself.
Pomni stepped up next to him.
“Is there anything you want to tell everyone?” Caine looked at her and nodded. He glanced at everyone one by one.
“I am very sorry for hurting you all,” he said, twiddling his fingers, “And if there is anything I can do, please I will do it.”
Gangle said nothing. She wasn’t really sure what to say.
I don’t believe you? I don’t forgive you? Why did you do it? Why won’t you listen to us?
“Apology accepted!” Jax exclaimed, “Good to have you back buddy!”
Caine gave him an uncomfortable look. Pomni must have told him what happened.
“We should go,” Pomni said, “If we want to get everything done before the hour.”
Gangle watched them leave, feeling conflicted. She understood better where Pomni and Ragatha were coming from, but it still didn’t make her feel any safer around Caine.
But how could they possibly move forward? Either Caine truly became a better person and earned their trust, or he did something to justify his own exile. Maybe she would try to talk to him in the next few days. Set some boundaries.
Pomni didn’t feel safe until she was well out of Jax’s reach. Hopefully when they dealt with the locks, she could shake this uneasy feeling she had.
Caine showed them a back way to his office that didn’t involve being jumbled into a ball and bounced against a cube.
He seemed pretty withdrawn after seeing everyone for the first time. Pomni didn’t love the awkwardness, but it was about what she was expecting.
“Hey,” she said to him, “You did good.”
“Really?” He asked, seeming a little lighter. She always forgot how well he responded to basic praise.
“Yeah, I mean, this is uncomfortable… for well, everyone,” Pomni said, “But just showing up is a good first step.”
“I think everyone would have felt better if I hadn’t shown up,” Caine said.
“That’s not true,” Kinger said from behind them.
“Yeah, this is just an initial bump,” Pomni said, “Everyone will feel better the more they see you.”
“No one has seen you for weeks now,” Ragatha added, “They’ve just been filling in the blanks.” Caine didn’t seem anymore optimistic- but he just needed proof! And that would take time.
They made it to his office and stood in front of the heavy dual tone doors. She had gone once on her own, just to grab his rubik’s cube. She had been surprised that it was a real place that he spent time in, rather than a set for the previous adventure. She had just grabbed his cube and only briefly looked around. Thinking about the Escape the Circus adventure had just made her angry back then.
Caine snapped his fingers, got embarrassed when it didn’t open the door, and then pushed the doors open.
“Here is my office,” he announced, “Feel free to make yourselves at home.”
“It’s really nice here,” Ragatha said, “It’s like a really fancy library.”
“Thank you!” Caine enthused, “I designed it myself.” Pomni looked around at the adventure orbs.
“Do you keep every adventure?” she asked. Caine clasped his hands behind his back, seeming a little more confident in this space.
“Yes,” he said,” For quality control and memories… and to make sure I don’t repeat the same adventure by accident!”
“Which one is your favorite?” Ragatha asked.
“Ah! Oh that’s such a hard question…” he trailed off, “I could never choose just one!” Pomni looked around some more. Kinger too, was observing the weird sculptures on Caine’s desk. She noticed a sitting area right where they had walked in. That was kind of weird. He had places to hang out, but he had never told any of them this room existed. It was also impossible to get to, unless you knew the back way. And maybe it was sufficient to say he wanted his privacy, but then why the extra sitting areas? He clearly meant for people to hang out here.
“Do you spend most of your day here?” Pomni asked him. Caine seemed surprised by the question.
“I guess if I’m not in the main tent, then I’m usually here,” he responded.
“How come you’ve never like, come to hang out with us?” she asked, “You know, when we aren’t on adventures?” And yes, she knew the relationship between the humans and Caine was pretty awful, but it hadn’t always been that way. She couldn’t recall a single time Caine had ever just… spent time with them.
“Ah! Well, I have a lot to do,” he explained, “Plan new adventures, do maintenance, tinker with the other AIs…”
“We could have come in here,” she said, pointing to the sitting area, “While you were working and kept you company.”
“Oh, nobody wants to sit through that,” Caine replied.
“I could help you sometime,” Kinger offered, “if you need a soundboard.”
“Were you scared?” Pomni mused, not really thinking too hard about the question. Caine swiveled around.
“Oh look!” He exclaimed, “The exact file cabinet we were looking for!”
Okay, well she probably shouldn’t have asked such a loaded question so directly… and in front of everyone. She’d bring it up again one on one.
Still it was a strange thought, that Caine with all his power could be afraid of them, even if he was only scared of their rejection.
Caine gestured to a filing cabinet beside his desk, while Kinger and Ragatha got to work on the computer.
“This is where I keep the files on abstractions,” he explained, “They're in the bottom three drawers.” He unlocked the drawers and pulled them open. “They’re alphabetical.”
She helped him go through the first drawer. It was a little strange with Caine clearly watching over her, but she tried to find the folder as fast as she could. Caine was right. He collected a lot of information. All of the folders looked like they could contain a novel. It made it a little difficult to really sort through.
Her finger rested on a folder labeled Kaufmo. She wondered what conclusions Caine had drawn about his abstraction. Even though she never knew him, his abstraction weighed on her sometimes. Eventually would Caine let them see all the folders?
She found an empty folder labeled Kinger. She didn’t see a folder for any other current player.
Anxiety coiled in her stomach. Did Caine know something they didn’t know? Did he have premonitions of who would abstract next?
She’d have to ask him, and she couldn’t take anything less than the truth.
She made it to Queenie’s folder. It was as dense as the others. She wished she could give Kinger some sort of closure. It didn't feel fair for Caine to just keep that information to himself.
“Caine!” Ragatha called, standing over Kinger’s shoulder, “Can you just make sure we’re doing this right?” Kinger sat at Caine’s desk, resetting all the keys in the circus.
“I just want to make sure I don’t accidentally flip the tent or something,” Kinger joked.
“Yes, of course!” Caine said. He turned towards her. “I’ll be right back,” he told her.
The message was clear.
He’d be right back to make sure she didn’t look at something she shouldn’t.
Not long after, she found Ribbit’s folder. Nothing was too out of the ordinary about it, but when she picked it up a much thinner folder fell in the cabinet. She fished it out. Unlike the others, it had less than ten pages.
It was labeled Scratch.
Pomni remembered that name… that was the first person to abstract. Kinger had known him. Impulsively, she tucked the slender folder inside of Ribbit’s. She turned around. Caine had just run up to her.
“Did you find it?” he asked. She handed him the folder, her heart pounding. Shoot! He could probably tell when a file was missing. What had she done?
“Yep, right here,” she said. He checked the name.
“Perfect!” he said, “And we figured out the keys. Now none of the old keys will work, and only the player who owns the room will be allowed in. And Ragatha thought of an invite system where visitors can get a temporary key! Kinger and I will work on it tomorrow."
“That’s great,” she said, her mouth dry,” Thanks for your help with that.”
“Of course! It’s my job!” he exclaimed, “I don’t have a lot of time left at the circus, but Ragatha thought we could go to the cafe.” Pomni nodded. “We can read Ribbit’s folder back on the beach,” Caine continued, “That way we aren’t interrupted.”
He handed the folder back to her. It felt like a heavy brick in her hands.
“I’ll keep this safe,” she promised.