It wasn't Darcy's plan to spend another night drinking in a row especially after what happened at the MASQUERADE but what can one do when their friend quite literally forces them and drags them out of their house. They seemed to be at a cafe, slightly isolated, away from the city and specifically, Darcy's home. They hadn't been here long enough, in fact, they have just got here half an hour ago and ordered some food. Probably some very unhealthy food which would add to Darcy's misery even more and to Charles's protruding tummy.

Again, it was about to begin. THE DREADED CONVERSATION, which had been taking place since last two hours, when Charles got to Darcy's place, during the ride and here. Charles was right and had arguably the most reasonable reasons but Darcy won't comply. Like a nerve had hit wrong within him. And now, he couldn't agree to what Charles asked of him which was quite simple indeed.

Attending Colonel's wedding.

For Charles, it was as baffling as a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle as to why would Darcy, of all people, choose to not attend one of his closest friends' wedding. And when nothing seemed to work, no sentimental reasons like it was always the three of us and remember the time we three got stuck in that mess in hawaii or when Colonel's dog accidently peed on Darcy. Then, lastly, he said what he had saved for last.

Which he did save until the food arrived. And just when the waiter set their pizza on the glass table and left. Charles took a deep breath, picked up a chunky slice of pizza, the cheese still gooey and stretchy and took a mouthful bite out of it.

"I told Colonel. He's furious as hell." Charles spoke, his mouth barely opening due to all the pizza stuffed in it.

"You told him?" Darcy asked, surprised.

"Mmm hmm" Charles took a gulp of water.

"That's..." Darcy paused for a while, his eyebrows tensed, wondering about something, "that's awful. Why would you do that?"

"He was gonna know, today or tomorrow, doesn't make much of a difference." Charles blurted out casually, glancing at Darcy who seemed normal but a subtle tension etched across his face

"I mean, it didn't make to me. I know you must." Charles continued.

Darcy cut him off in a voice which was barely audible, as if he was speaking to himself, "You shouldn't have."

The meaningless banter went for a while before Charles revealed that he didn't actually do anything. No telling Colonel or anyone has always been their policy and he didn't break it. Not even for this moment. Not that it eased the tension on Darcy's face even a tad bit. And although, Charles was always free on Fridays but not today. He had a movie date with some blondie he met last weekend at a local bar. He never talked about his dates ever to anyone because they kept changing quite frequently. Only once he went on lengths at describing a woman he met at the airport when his flight got delayed. Those extra two hours he spent at the airport turned from an unfortunate experience to a life changing one when he encountered Maria. Maria with an accent.

It was half past eight and it was the third time in the last fifteen minutes that Charles had checked his watch. Now it was time for him to leave for his date, he thought and within five minutes his phone rang. He stood up and went outside to talk. He came back shortly after, sliding his phone in his pocket on the way.

"Darcy?"

Darcy seemed to look vaguely at a crowd of people towards the left or maybe at the intricate decor on one of the tables.

"Darcy..." He turned towards Charles, "I've got to go. Now."

Charles waited for him to respond but he didn't.

"I'll check on you tomorrow. And ..." Charles took a pause as if trying to recall something important, "You are coming!"

Within two minutes, Charles was out the club.

The next day when Darcy woke up, he felt different. He felt more than just exhausted and worn out. He tried recalling what he did yesterday, specifically last night and it seemed as if a chunk of memory had been pulled out of his brain. Or maybe last night wasn't anything he'd remember.

His head was spinning and all the annoying ways Charles tried convincing him also stirred in his mind. He didn't want to think about yesterday, or the conversation or anything for now. This particular morning, he didn't feel capable enough of taking up the overwhelming pressure. He was badly sick. Other than all the symptoms he had, he had inner symptoms too, or maybe triggers. The actual real triggers of sickness.

He hated it. The sickness, the triggers or his life, he couldn't decide. He couldn't remember the last time he fell sick but he was absolutely certain that it surely mustn't be as painful as this one.

He grabbed his phone and saw that he had three missed calls from Colonel and two from Charles. Does Colonel know? It could only be Charles. Who else knows? He dropped the phone to his side not wanting to explain or engage in any sort of conversation.

And then it occured to him when he checked the date that it was the 15th anniversary of their company. He got up, trying to get to the shower and put himself in fresh clothes. Not because he was planning on going but because if he didn't, then, he won't get up for at least the next five hours. Laziness was another sickness and he tried to ward it off as much as he could.

During the time he was in the shower, his phone had already buzzed like three times. Not that he could hear or know. But it was Charles and he was already on his way to Darcy's place, munching on a red juicy apple, which oddly reminded him of snow white and driving whilst humming some 90s song.

He didn't do anything of the convincing especially after he saw Darcy's face which had a weird sense of tiredness as if he hadn't gotten sleep for like a hundred years.

"You look ...the worst!" Charles took a gulp of the cold water, "Like...like you're possessed or something."

"I'll be okay in a day or two." Darcy spoke, nonchalantly.

"You didn't come. But I know, I know. And...I have something to tell you. I have news. Some good ol spicy news."

"News? About what?"

"I bet it'll drive your sickness away." Charles sounded confident.

"You remember the psychic guy?"

"Yeah" Darcy didn't feel much excitement, although, he felt like he should.

"I forgot his name. It's uh ..."

"Alejandro."

"Yeah so, this Alejandro showed up. I thought he was uninvited at first but Colonel and him seemed to know each other. Like well enough."

"Oh...then?"

"The party was boring af. But when this guy had a little segment. Where he'd pick someone and talk about their dark secret. That's when it got interesting."

"Okayy.."

"And you won't believe who else showed up."

"Who?"

"Lydia and not just her but Elizabeth too."

Darcy looked at the table, his eyes feeling slightly heavier as the story went on and he just nodded.

"This guy is gold. I'm telling you. Or maybe, Colonel was the mastermind behind it all. Cause he picked Lydia. And she was embarassed. Not just embarassed but also guilty and what not."

"Why? What happened?"

"Her dark secret. It came before everyone. All the people in the room. She's a practitioner of dark magic or something like black magic. She also had some doll. Some odd looking ..."

"Louvre doll."

"Uhh...yeah. How'd you know about that?"

"I saw it. In her living room."

"Oh, how did I not see it."

"It wasn't there the first day. Or maybe it was and we both failed to notice it. All I remember is that on the other day, it grabbed my attention. Unlike any other thing in that room."

"So, she's a witch. But there's more. The guy also said that she has done this magic on one of her best friends. Like the closest people to her."

"Has she? Is it Elizabeth?"

"Yeah it is. I think. Because the way Elizabeth behaved so distantly said it all. But...isn't that so messed up? I mean, the doll and this black magic and that too, on your friend. What is she doing and who is she really?"

"An evil witch."

"I am not exaggerating but..."

"Whenever you say this, I know whatever comes after is for sure to be a load of crap."

"Fine. I am being honest, I noticed her looking everywhere today. As if she was searching for someone."

"Really?" Darcy eyebrows raised, his eyes looking tired as ever, seeming bored.

"I even felt that she might come up to me and ask about you. Or maybe I don't know, she could be really timid to do so."

"You know, I don't believe any of it." Darcy stood up, going to get himself something to drink from the refrigerator.

"Fine. But one thing is the truth. I saw her talk to Colonel."

"You did?"

"Yes and don't give me that look. At the very end, when everything was almost wrapped up and half of the people had gone. I saw her and Colonel talk about something. I was quite far away so, I couldn't make out what they said or what she said. And she didn't seem enthusiastic or even happy. That was obvious."

"So, what do I do of it? Take it as an indirect apology?"

"No! The point I'm trynna make is that she may have had time to think and after knowing about Lydia and the entire mess she is in with her, maybe her mind switched sides... subconsciously."

"Maybe..."

After a few moments of silence in the room, Charles spoke, "So, what now?"

"What?"

"You coming, right?"

"So, this was a part of your convincing plan?"

"OH GOD! NO! DUDE! You're unbelievable!"

"I am not going to talk about it."

"So when will you talk about it? After its all over? Cool then!"

"But why now?"

"Because the departure is tomorrow, 7 in the evening."

"Yeah, I know."

"Of course you do."

"Once the sickness subsides, I'll think about it."

"I can help you pack stuff, if that's..."

"I told you, I'll be there if and only if the sickness goes away."

"Great. So, if you need anything. Just give me a call."

"Right now, I don't."

"Fine. I'll leave. I'll let you rest. But give me a call."

"Why now?"

"So that I can tell Colonel."

"Are you a messenger between us or what? I'll talk to him."

"Oh, no worries." Charles let out a chuckle, sheepishly and quickly stepped out the door.

Darcy couldn't get himself to be on board with this decision. Now, that he felt oddly a slight bit more peaceful, he could see that it was the right thing to do. And this is what every good friend will do. Regardless of it all, he just couldn't and it wasn't the sickness stopping him. But he wondered what was it that he said which made Charles convinced that he was indeed coming when in reality, he himself couldn't be sure of it. Even if Charles's assumption of Elizabeth talking to Colonel was right or not. Darcy found peace in one thing. Lydia's truth coming out couldn't provide him more peace than it already did. He went straight to bed after Charles left, crawled under the sheets and went to sleep. Hopefully, the sickness would subside when he'll wake up and so will the walls in his mind stopping him.