Thirty

In Colin’s study, Arthur surveys his shaken friends: Gwen steadies herself with tea, Van fights a hangover, Allie and Donna sit tense, and only Colin appears serene. They acknowledge the serpent marks and the memory of summoning King Sorrow. Colin admits he always remembered; Arthur presses whether they can take back what they set in motion.

Colin defends letting King Sorrow consume Jayne and Ronnie, arguing moral arithmetic: two destructive lives for many spared. Arthur resists after sharing that he, Gwen, and Van psychically experienced Jayne’s terror; he refuses to be party to her torture. Gwen notes the only formal out demands one of them die in the targets’ place, which none will allow.

Colin introduces another possibility: as an egregore, King Sorrow may have limited range tied to their collective belief. If Jayne and Ronnie get far enough away, they might slip his reach, and their pact should prevent Sorrow from substituting one of them. Arthur questions the risk; Colin believes the contract binds Sorrow to the named targets.

They consider banishment, but Colin argues sending Sorrow back would require a joint ritual including his cooperation, and the Crane journal—potential guidance—is gone. Donna erupts with fury at Jayne, while Allie sides with her roommate. Van urges action to keep Arthur from being destroyed by guilt.

With Gwen’s support, Arthur chooses to try to save Jayne. The group agrees to contact Jayne and Ronnie, warn them to run beyond Sorrow’s reach, and set a meeting with everyone present. Arthur closes on a grim note: this time, they are the monsters.