I remembered seeing someone being on the wrong end of a Memento Mori for the first time. It was a horrifying sight, watching a fellow survivor getting their tongue ripped out before having their head bashed in horribly. What made it more horrifying was the fact that it was Adam on the receiving end, and it was this ogre-like behemoth – one that I was sure I saw in my dreams time and time again before The Entity snatched me up – doing the killing. While it was happening, I tried run towards him to try and save him, but I couldn't break free from David and Meg as they pulled me through the exit gate.

As soon as we got back to camp, I angrily pulled away from them and stomped off to a corner.

"Yui!" Meg called out. I didn't bother turning around. I merely raised my right hand and flipped her off. I knew I was going to regret that later. Ultimately, she and David did the right thing. And Adam would be back eventually. But I was upset. So, I took a seat away from everyone else on a log with my back turned towards them. Everyone else knew that meant I wanted to be left alone.

I sat there brooding for who knows how long – there wasn't anything around that could pass for a clock. All I knew was that people came from and went to trials and, miraculously, I wasn't chosen for one during that time.

I sat there, just sulking until…

"Hey."

Slowly, I looked up to see Adam looking down towards me with a smile. I frowned. Something about him seemed off. His smile seemed a bit forced and his shoulders were a bit slumped.

"You okay?" he asked. It took my willpower not to scoff.

"You're asking me if I'm okay," I said, a little beside myself. "You got your tongue ripped out and your head bashed in repeatedly, but you're asking me if I'm okay."

"Yes." As he said this, he walked around and sat next to me. "Meg said you were upset at her and David."

"They pulled me away while you were getting killed," I said as I looked forward. "I didn't like that."

"I took that Oni's attention away from you guys so you could escape," Adam pointed out. "I told you there was going to be trials where stuff like that is going to happen."

"That doesn't make it that much better." I took in a breath. "…I didn't even know that those killers could kill us directly."

"Every now and again, they can." I looked at Adam again. Something was up with him.

"…Are you okay?" I asked.

He didn't answer at first. He merely looked towards the fire as if it would have the answer for him. I was a bit worried.

"I don't know," he finally said.

"Well how do you feel?"

He shrugged. "Tired, I suppose."

I continued to look at him. "Adam… when was the last time you rested?"

"I don't even know." Adam turned and looked at me. "I don't even know what day it is. For all I know, today is Yom Kippur."

I actually chuckled at that. After that, I frowned. "Dude, you're exhausted as all hell. You should probably lie down until the next trial – whenever that is."

"I don't know."

"Dude, rest." I softly pushed my finger against his shoulder. "…I think you more than earned it." He remained quiet. He then nodded as he started to stand. "Whoa, where are you going?"

"To the other log to lie down," he replied.

"…Stay." It beckoned towards my lap with my head. "You can lay your head here."

He raised his eyebrows. "…Are you sure?"

"Well, I'm not going to let you use my lap as a footrest." I smiled. "I'm sure. Go ahead."

He continued to stare at me for a moment. Then, slowly but surely, he lay down on his back, resting the back of his head on the lap. I watched him for a bit as he looked up at the sky. I looked back at the fire, content with staying silent. It was quiet for about a minute.

And then…

"It was the first time in a while that I wasn't the only one who escaped the trial," he said. I looked down at him. His eyes still remained focused on the sky. I didn't say anything. I kept quiet as he continued to speak. "Time after time, I ended up the last person surviving. If I remember correctly, it was about fifteen times in a row. And it started to wear on me." He frowned. "The others started to notice. Before this trial, I overheard David talking to Dwight, bartering with him for a Black Salt Statuette because, in his words, I was starting to become bad luck. I wanted to be mad, and I was, a little. But, at the same time, I wasn't sure he was wrong. Every single time someone dies on a trial that I'm on, I always question if there was something… anything I could have led to a different outcome. And having trial after trial where everyone else died except for me… It's disheartening. I thought that, maybe, if you and the others survived our last trial, I wouldn't feel so stressed about it anymore. But yet, here I am, using your lap and this log as a chaise." He sighed. He then shifted his eyes until he was looking into mine. "Sorry, I'm just rambling. I had a lot on my chest."

"Ramble all you want," I encouraged as I patted my hand on his shoulder. "Or don't. Either way, I won't stop you."

He smiled slightly before he closed his eyes. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, Adam."

It would be a long while until another trial came up for Adam and I, and I was glad for it. Adam, with his eyes closed, was at ease, as if he was just a guy resting at a normal campfire. And even though I wasn't too stressed, the break was appreciated. And save for Claudette, who only came by briefly to check on us, as she tends to do, everyone else was content to leave use be. So I was content just sit there as Adam rested. Unfortunately, the break could only last so long. We were chosen for the next trial, along with David and Meg. As we all rummaged through the chests and lockers nearby, making preparations, I looked over at Meg.

"Hey Meg," I said. "About earlier…"

"Don't worry about it," she said as she pulled out a piece of petrified oak. She looked at me and smiled. "Emotions run high at times. Let's just get this trial done and give the killer hell."

"Sounds like a plan."

I then looked towards Adam, who pulled out a key. He closed the locker, then looked at me. He smiled. It was a small smile, but it was a genuine smile. I smiled back at him. He was back to his old self.

With everyone prepared, we gathered around the campfire. David had a statuette in his hands. I looked at it, then gave David a glare.

"…Oi, what's that look for?" David demanded.

I merely rolled my eyes before I stared at the campfire, waiting for our trial to begin as the fog rolled in.