He climbed up the ladder and went through the first two rooms that had puzzles already solved. He entered the third room and was surprised to find an all to familiar merchant standing there with the smiling frog mask hiding his face.
"What are you doing here merchant?", The Batter asked with his monotone voice hinting a speck of curiosity.
"Why Batter, you should already know. I'm always one step ahead of you. That's just how the game works.", Zacharie says followed by his familiar short laugh. The Batter slightly glared at the merchant from the response.
"Now now Batter, don't give me that distasteful look. I am a merchant and you have credits, this connection seems to be proof enough that you should buy my useful wares.", Zacharie says. A smile no doubtfully spread under his mask.
That mask. How it bothered Batter. He just wanted to see his face.
"Zacharie, take off your mask", The Batter commands.
" That's off limits dear Batter, for what lies under my mask is something that no one should wish to see.", Zacharie says with a grim self deprecating laugh.
"I want to see.", The Batter says and Zacharie can't help but feel confused by the reply.
" Why ever would you wish to see dear Batter?", the merchant asks while looking up and tilting his head to the side a little in confusion at the sportive man's response.
The Batter stays quiet. Why was he suddenly so interested in seeing the merchant's face? He shouldn't care at all.
The Batter frowned slightly, hating the feeling he got when the short man tilted his head to the side like that. He hated this new found feeling so much that it made him want to reach inside of him and just tear out his heart.
The Batter walked up to Zacharie and bent down, putting his face close to the merchant's.
"B-Batter what are you doing?", Zacharie asks while squirming a bit under the man's gaze. He felt his face grow red under his mask.
The Batter simply stood up straight again and walked as quickly as he could out of the room and didn't stop until he reached the nothingness.
He couldn't help but think that Zacharie was cute when he was flustered.
