Living his life as a runaway from Blackrock was already stressful enough for Medkit. Having to look over his shoulder every other minute and survey every single part of his surroundings just to make sure he wasn’t being followed or anything of the sort had already taken an unnoticeable but major toll on his well-being.

He found refuge in the Church of the True Eye, seeking protection from Blackrock in exchange for his devotion to the organisation. But recently, the doctor had grown more distant with the Church, spending more time in Crossroads than in Lost Temple assisting with errands and whatnot. As a result, he received countless warnings of the consequences of stepping out of line, whether that be in the form of threats over the phone or stern lectures from the Father.

His one hope of having a life that was as normal as it could be was already starting to vanish right in front of his eyes. Leaving the Church never seemed to be an option from the start, and continuing to be a member of it would only bring him more problems later on. When combined with his Blackrock affairs, it all seemed too much for him to handle. Burdens upon burdens stacked on top of one another, and the doctor had no choice but to balance its excruciating weight on his shoulders.

He was in a hole he couldn’t get out of. His back was up against a wall, and his thoughts continuously gnawed at his mind. He was going to reach a terrible breaking point if he kept things unchecked. He couldn’t live like this, and he desperately needed a way out.

But when a person is at the very end of their wits, they often make irrational decisions in the heat of it all.

———

You were a close friend of Medkit, being there for him all the way back when he first moved into Crossroads. The doctor was almost like a brother to you with the amount of time you’ve spent with him over the past couple years. You knew him like the back of your hand, so it was no surprise that you quickly noticed some of his bad habits.

You started noticing things about a month ago, when you’d seen him enter a dive bar while taking one of your late night walks. You didn’t think much of it, but the sight caused a concerning thought to sprout in the back of your mind. Medkit never frequented bars — hell, he hardly ever visited one in the first place. The fact that the doctor was suddenly starting to go to them now was obviously suggesting something, and upon closer inspection, whatever that was couldn’t be good.

More signs arose as time went on. Medkit started to occasionally buy himself alcohol whenever he was off-duty, and he also took on a more fatigued appearance whenever you saw him, which was saying something considering the fact that he was already a jaded person by nature. Your concerns were starting to build up, and you simply couldn’t push them aside anymore.

———

You ended up heading over to his apartment, simply to check up on him and to potentially express your growing concerns. You scarcely saw him outside, since he always seemed to be working inside of his apartment as of late. Usually, you’d only see him walk past you for a few brief moments whenever you went out.

Anyways, you knocked on his door, and after a few long seconds, he opened the door slightly and peered outside.

“Come in…? Oh, it’s you.”

The doctor greeted you with his usual stand-offish tone, albeit quieter than usual. He opened the door fully and made way for you to walk through the front door.

You examined the place for a brief moment, and already you could see that it wasn’t in the best of shape. Sure, it still looked organised and tidy, but you could notice the little things that gave away subtle problems: empty liquor bottles near the bin, spots of dust where there shouldn’t be as well as an empty glass or two on the coffee table. Medkit noticed this almost instantly and quickly spoke up about it.

“Sorry if the place doesn’t look too clean, I didn’t have time to tidy things up. Anyways, would you like a seat?”

…You had a lot to discuss with the doctor.