Chapter 448: Be Patient (and Be Therapist)
Your poll results show interesting dynamics in your relationship with Froid.
You might resent some of his control over you, but you also rely on his guidance so that your impulsivity, sociopathy and fear (because you do live in fear, with Death breathing down your neck like a conscious entity) can be managed enough for you to live as you wish, with minimal disruption and countless delicious minds.
This is why you don't dare try to tell Froid what to do. He is your anchor. You need him.
You may feel smothered by his leash, but you don't dare actually kill him. Or get him killed. You'll indulge in petty revenge like the falling bucket, but while you enjoy a fantasy of sending him down the booby trapped staircase, you don't dare actually do it.
You are, however, not above getting your digs in when you can. "Why Froid, aren't you an unmanned aerial vehicle that should have no trouble navigating in this shaft?"
Froid seems nervous every time you do something a little bit culturally unacceptable. "I don't see why we're...."
"Because the prey has delusions of fighting back."
You reach out to touch the minds of that prey.
Idiot 1--the one whose guilt and cowardice you first tasted--is hiding at the top of the staircase, ready to set the falling-cart trap in motion.
Idiot 2--the other one you chased--is outside trying to ascertain the nature of the big metallic ball at the entrance to the crypt.
Getaway...seems to be sleeping, and the grandiose nature of his dreams means he really should be Froid's patient, not his boss.
And idiot 3 is satisfied because of something recently done to the container Getaway is in. You make a note of this as you begin climbing down the elevator shaft.
But your mind is on the soft hiss of static coming from the lowest level. It draws you like a beacon. Calling to you.
