Annie Forever

The three men who guided Annie to the Knife and Dime stand and talk amongst themselves.

"Somewhere along the way I lost my hat," the Man with the White Hair says. "Didn't even notice until now."

"I should apologise to Annie," Eddie says.
"What for?" the Man with the Bandaid On His Nose asks.
"I didn't mean to—"
"Let me rob you of that illusion, Eddie. We are nothing but tools of the quest. All you did you meant to."
"I don't know," Eddie says, "It just doesn't feel very heroic."
"A hero is just—"
Then, a voice from the other side of the room demands, "The statues are people?!""

The crowd murmurs -- "What?" "No, they can't be." "Who said that?" "I never did look at them up close."

"Annie..." Aquila asks, "do you know this person?"
"We... had a weird encounter in the store, earlier today. Knowing what I know now... She must have failed her quest."