It seemed that the same pair would be escorting Lily to find Stella. The boy Rufus stayed behind to discuss things with the professor, while Lily and Jaime headed back downstairs.
Now that she was out of there, she suddenly thought of all the questions she wanted to ask... How did this world work exactly? Where were they? Why did everyone care so much about making contracts? What was up with the plants?
It was also bothering her about how they had talked about Stella. As if she were an adult who knew what she was doing here. Couldn't they have seen that she was just a kid? An unstable, damaged kid at that.
...
Hey, Lily. Everything okay?
Oh, yes.
...
Um, why did you even say anything?
Hmm?
If you support Stella in making this contract, why tell us that she's doing it? You must have known that this "Royal Society" would decide to stop her.
...
You're missing a lot of context.
Until you came along, there was no such thing as stopping someone. If they couldn't leave this place, they had only two options. Make a contract, or die.
That's how I thought it would be for Stella as well.
I liked Stella a lot, ever since we met. She's a smart kid. She came and talked to me for "research" - said she wanted to get different perspectives on Forfeit. I felt we had a similar way of thinking.
The terms of my contract let me get my hands on machines - like my car. There's no car manufacturing plant here, but I can find 'em. I don't know anyone else that can.
Let me guess, she asked for her own motorbike or skateboard or something?
Not exactly. She was interested in the limits of what I could get, both in size and complexity... but she did ask me if I could find a skateboard deck.
Anyway. Out of those two options, death or the contract? I wanted her to live.
Now you're a third option.
Maybe you can save her from dying just as well as a contract would.
That's why I spoke up.
But why would she die?
If she really is dedicated to not making a contract, she can make that choice.
But why can't she just not make the contract, and live!?
You can't... Eventually, the call becomes too strong; you have to obey.
People come here when they can't bear reality any longer. But this place can be unbearable in its own way.
I guess you'll feel it yourself soon enough.
...