Chapter Text
Chapter Two
I tilt my head back, facing the ceiling to stretch my aching neck. It’s only 4am. I had slept early, so it makes sense that I woke up even earlier.
“Oh gods and goddesses, my throat hurts.” I complain.
I get up and sit down at my desk, slouching forward. I place my head in my hands.
“Please, please. No deaths today. Yesterday and the day prior was enough.” I groan. My mental capacity couldn’t handle anything else at that point. I breathed in. Hold. Breathe out. Involuntarily, tears start forming on my waterline.
“I hope somebody else is awake now.” I say. I don’t expect anybody to actually be awake. Koishi figured that the breaker was a fun little edition, and decided to fix it for ‘us’. Maybe, probably, for the chaos of it.
Anybody currently awake would have their lights on, now that it was no longer a full moon. I turn to my window, the green curtains can’t block the moonlight. Little splotches of light draw patterns on the wooden flooring.
I get up and open my door. There was no light other than the light from the moon and Rudie’s room. Rudie’s nose glowed bright, maybe he’d be awake. Then it flickers. Then the light flickers.
I’m tired, too tired. I’m too tired to register anything properly, to feel anything, but even more tears start pouring down my face.
I rush to his room. It’s on the other side of the floor. If I could just get there before-
I crash into the door. The flickering stops, and all I can hear is my own sobs, the sounds of panicked rustling and a low, loud snap sound.
Rudie was dead.
I bang on the door, once. Then twice. Then take off my necklace. I fumbled with the clasp at the back of my neck, then I inserted it into the lock.
And why didn’t I use the clasp last time with Gourdy? The lock clicks. Maybe I didn’t care enough, maybe it’s because I care about Rudie more. Maybe, it’s because I couldn’t think of anything, I was only thinking about comforting Eclipse, and I was being selfless, helping the wrong person.
I wipe away my old tears, the saltiness stung my skin. I don’t cry this time. Not like before with Flyte. I don’t just stand there like with Gourdy. I scream. Then I scream louder, louder. My voice cracks, but I keep screaming. Louder, louder than I did when this all started. Until my voice was lost. And then the tears returned.
The others rush out. Eclipse the first to, she turns the knob to the door that I had closed hoping to muffle the sound, despite the scream being to alert the others. I lean against the door. She isn’t ready to see this. Rushed footsteps from the others filled the hall. My screaming had stopped, but all that was left of my voice was throat-hurting silence.
“Bassie, what happened?” Soulvester asks, his voice muffled from the closed door.
“Rudie, he’s…” I cough, my voice comes out dry and scratchy.
I can hear a gasp from Eclipse. “He was killed”, I think; unable to spit out the rest of my sentence. Now I can only imagine how Eclipse and Cocoa are feeling.
“Dead? Is he dead, Bassie?” Eclipse asks, small sobs between her words.
“…Yes. He is.” I mutter, loud enough for them to hear. I curl up against the door. I can hear everybody else mumbling about the fact that there was already another death, or the fact that I won’t let them in.
I hear a loud shattering sound, something or someone has broken in through the window at the front of the lodge.
I recognize that voice. “Guys, guys! I’m finally back! Koishiinu sent me to the middle of nowhere! What? Rudie’s dead? Bassie, why won’t you open the door?” It’s Sekitan. I can feel the handle of the door shake. “The investigation can’t begin unless at least three people see the body!” She yells.
I figured it was that. I won’t let them in if it means staying in this room. I don’t want the investigation to begin. It wasn’t even five in the morning yet. I couldn’t.
“Bassie, please… Just open the door. If it’s the gore or the investigation that’s stopping you, I’ll investigate for you. We only have twenty-four hours to find the culprit.” Cocoa offers, and just like that I falter. I get up and move to the side so that I wasn’t blocking the door anymore.
“Thanks, I-” Cocoa freezes in shock, placing her paws over her mouth. “A body has been discovered!” plays on the speakers. One of Rudie’s antlers are broken off and he was stabbed in the eye with it.
Eclipse nearly walks in the room, but Cocoa pushes her away. Eclipse gasps, not at the sudden shove, but because she saw the body. “Rudie… Wh- How? I-” she stumbles over her words. “It hasn't even been a day since Ribecca died….”
Cocoa walks up to me. “Hey, want me to investigate the suspects, you investigate the rooms this time? I think Soulvester can investigate the weapons. He seems like he’d be better at that than me.” Cocoa offers.
“Yeah… Thanks.” I reply, nodding.
I reluctantly snap a photo of Rudie’s body. He’s resting in a praying position. That’s cruel. It’s like he’s pleading for mercy.
“Hey Cocoa, how’s researching going?” I ask.
“It’s alright, but I’m finding it really difficult to prove these alibis. Everybody was asleep to each others’ knowledge besides you, Rudie, and the culprit, so nobody could confirm each other's innocence. You’re the only one we know was awake, but I know you aren’t the killer.” She says, holding up the sheet of paper in her paws towards the rising sun.
“How can you prove I’m innocent? I’m the most suspicious, again.” I question.
“The glass from the window was on the floor, which means it was broken into from the outside. If you killed him, you would have a bunch of cuts from the glass.”
“That makes a lot of sense. You’re pretty good at this. Also, don’t worry about not being able to prove any alibis, I got all the photos.” I hand her my phone.
“Hey, you’re a life saver. Go get some rest, I’ll remind you to continue investigating in 45.” Cocoa smiles, despite her body being stiff, her voice was still soft.
I smile back. “I appreciate it. Tell me if you get stuck on something.”
I stare at the ceiling. How does Eclipse feel? How does Cocoa feel? How did Rudie feel? How do I feel? I wasn’t crying, I felt more disappointed than sad. Disappointed that someone would already kill again, and in such a cruel way. I feel like we got over our classmates’ deaths too quickly. We were forced to rush from mourning to arguing because of the trial.
I knock on Eclipse’s room door. It creaks open. “Hey, wanna chat?” I offer, sitting beside her, on the edge of her bed. “I can’t believe someone would do that. It was just yesterday that we were having fun talking and joking around with each other. Took that for granted huh?”
Eclipse sits up, she rests her paws on her knee. “Yeah. I didn’t want to talk about the possibility of being next to die at first, but it’s way too big of a concern to ignore. People kill at the chance of not being killed, it’s not selfish, it’s realistic. We stick around people who make us happy because it benefits our mental health. It’s weird, you should know.” She rants.
“I completely understand. I feel like the word selfish is a somewhat sensitive topic. If not realizing your wrong and not doing anything about it is selfish, then why is realizing your wrong and being unable to do anything about it also wrong? Sometimes it feels like philosophy is what we were made for. Mankind is supposed to simulate alien civilization, so the higher beings can know what they’re doing wrong, but they only make more conflict that they then have to figure out how to solve again. The world is complicated, and our situation we’re in doesn’t make any sense. Feels kind of like a simulation to be honest, not just me?” I pause to take a deep breath.
“The endings of conflict always feel so wrong, like the endings are forced. Someone is pulling the puppets on the strings, but they’re bad at puppeteering.” I place a hand on my forehead.
Eclipse stares at my hand, not into my eyes searching for an explanation, searching into my palm for creases maybe starting to suspect I’m not even real. “It does kind of feel like a simulation if I think about it. I feel useless, but it’s not my right to speak when I have nothing to add.” She explains.
“What if we’re doing something wrong? And the people who caused it all have made their bed, but refuse to lie in it. They’ll sleep anywhere but on it, afraid to ruin the blanket.”
“You know, I never really got metaphors when I was younger. They felt so random, but that’s the charm with them. You have to understand to understand.” I say.
“I still don’t get metaphors, but I make them a lot. A ton of things I do are pure irony, and it feels embarrassing to speak unless I know I’m right.” Eclipse laughs.
“Do you laugh at the concept of dying? I feel immortal sometimes, even though there seems to be more than a fifty-percent chance of me dying in every situation. Like there’s someone out for me.” I ask.
“I’ll laugh at anything.” She responds. She gets up and heads towards the door. “I’ll get some water, see you whenever.”
“Yeah, see you whenever.” My smile fades as she leaves. I had maybe thirty minutes left for my break, but I could be investigating in that time and have the rest of the time for free time.
It’s all really abstract, up for interpretation. No instructions are straightforward if the person you’re directing can’t hear. Maybe I shouldn’t have started that conversation, it’s useless
I look down at the printed photos of different angles of peoples' rooms. It feels like vandalism to annotate them.
“Hey Bassie, how’s research going? You were there right after the crime, I need a bit of your input, if that’s comfortable enough to say. I know it’s hard to talk more about the crimes-” Cocoa states. I cut her off.
“I don’t mind explaining what happened. I want to solve this mystery. If anything, it’d make Rudie proud, right?” I say.
“Yeah. It would.” Cocoa answers.
“So, what woke you up?” Cocoa asks.
“Nothing in particular, I just woke up early because I went to sleep early. It was pure coincidence that I happened to wake up at the time of the murder.” I respond.
She nods, and notes it down.
“You know, this isn’t a therapy session.” I joke.
Cocoa snickers. “Who knows, it could be! Anyway, can you confirm if the information in the files are correct?”
I take out my phone. All the information is correct, other than some missing information about Rudie. “Yeah. It’s at least ninety percent accurate from what I know.” I say.
“Good to know.” She comments. “God I hate this place. I’d rather be at school right now.”
“I don’t think anybody else feels any different. If somebody genuinely liked this scenario I’d be really freaked out.” I reply.
Cocoa nods and looks down at the docs. “Any idea about the cause of death yet?” She adds.
“Not yet. I’m going to recheck Rudie and the main suspects’ rooms. Any leads?” I ask.
“I have absolutely no idea. This is going terribly. How about you?” Cocoa answers.
“I have my suspicions…” I respond.
Chapter Two Part Two…
Chapter Two Part Two
First, investigate Rudie’s room. Second, question the three Cocoa hasn’t questioned yet, and report the information back to her. Three, investigate the main suspects’ rooms when Cocoa comes up with those.
I slowly open Rudie’s door. The room is the exact same as before, no tampering. That’s nice.
I leap to the far corner of the room—where his desk is. It’s clean, too clean for it to be Rudie’s work, but it couldn’t have been the culprit either, they left too quickly. Unless cleaned it between breaking in and killing Rudie? That could be a possibility, but why would they linger in the room? Was Rudie in the room while they broke in or not?
I wish I had woken up earlier, then these questions may have been answered.
I open the cabinets, just a bunch of empty boxes, fairy lights, and old wrapping paper. I crouch down to check beneath the desk.
There’s a small drawer on the left of the right of it. There was nothing in it, but by the wear and damaged walls of it, there used to be.
I should tell Cocoa. It would be right to do so, surely. It could be a clue you know.
I squint my eyes. Cocoa is downstairs. “Hey C, how’s the problem solving going?” I shout.
Cocoa turns to the front door then looks up to where I am. “Oh you’re up there!” She laughs. “It’s going pretty good, really confusing still. It’s difficult to solve when most people were assumed to be asleep. I mean, all their alibis are the same! I just have to find inconsistencies in the timeline I guess. How’s your research going?”
“Oh you know, same as always. Right, uh. I found something that’s interesting in Rudie’s room. It seems really small, but I don’t want to risk missing something important.” I state.
“New information? Why didn’t you just start with that?” Cocoa chuckles. “I don’t know why you keep asking how the investigation is going every time you see me.”
“Okay- It’s important to check in on your friends, right? Anyway, there was this drawer beneath Rudie’s desk, and I suspect there was an important object in there that was taken out, and it could possibly be a weapon.” I explain.
Cocoa looks confused, but her expression quickly turns to excitement. “A piece of evidence? That’s possibly a weapon? It’ll help us solve the mystery? Oh my gods, finally another clue! I’ve been dying reading through these suspect information documents for the thousandth time with no idea what I’m doing.” She jokes. Her ears flopping. “I’m so sick of making hundreds of theories about what could’ve happened!”
“Woah, chill out. Let’s go investigate it, and let’s also hope nobody messes with those papers, or you’ll have to look through them for the actual thousandth time.” I smile, rolling my eyes.
I push open the door. I had left it open, nobody had come into this room after I left.
I open the drawer. “Look, there’s erosion on the sides. That can’t be from bugs or rodents. Plus, if Rudie had mice in his desk, he would’ve complained to us.” I say, pointing to the circular dents on all four sides of the drawer.
Cocoa nods. She places a hand beneath her chin. “Strange. Must’ve been some sort of coil or roll. Just any large circular object squeezed in there, unless a squishy material, wouldn't have dented it. There had to have been a force pushing outwards from the center and indenting the walls.” She contemplates. “Maybe something like a rope or a belt?”
“One of those would make sense. You’re really good at this, you know? Natural talent, or maybe a skill developed from your own hobbies.” I respond smiling while uttering the compliment. “I wish I could do it without effort.” I add.
“Hey, we’re both good at this whole investigation thing. Just different parts. I have almost no progress on suspect stuff.” Cocoa replies. She places a paw on the inside of the drawer that’s now out of the desk and on the floor.
I look into the drawer. “What do you suppose was in there?” I ask.
“The grooves feel slightly rough. I think it was some sort of rope.” She answers. “Have you already looked through the cabinets?”
“I looked through them once, then I found the drawer and decided to tell you. Still haven’t rechecked the rest of the room, thanks for reminding me! I’ll start with them then.” I exclaim. Still, there wasn’t anything out of the usual in the cabinets. It felt weird investigating so close up this time. Especially right beside our dead friend. I feel sick.
“When do you think—if ever—we’ll get out of this place? Everything is so unusual–surreal.” I ask.
“Huh. I never really thought about that. I mean, this place was always eerie to me, but it seems straight up cursed now.” She sighs.
My face falls as I remember my promise to teach Soulvester about debate and law. I wanted to go help him, but I couldn’t leave Cocoa with a thousand responsibilities, even if she said she could carry the world for me if I needed a break from working. This is a want, not a need. “Nothing in the cabinets.” I finally tell Cocoa, reminding myself what I was currently up to.
“Got it. I should go back to investigating the others’ stories now. Those alibis won’t prove themselves.” She groans, placing the drawer back into its spot underneath the desk.
I nod, moving on to searching beneath the bed. “A rope huh? Well, we have no proof it was involved in the crime. It could’ve been used earlier I suppose.” I mumble to myself.
Around the room was a whole bunch of absolutely no evidence. I wonder if she’s got a suspect yet. In the meanwhile I guess I should investigate the threes’ rooms I haven’t investigated yet. Maybe after a break.
I walk past Cocoa, waving to her as I pass. Upon opening the door, cold Autumn air hits my face, or maybe it was already winter. It’s hard to tell.
My classmates are talking in the fields, acting like everything’s normal. Maybe for them, but not for Cocoa, Eclipse, or I. I know they don’t feel that unbothered about a death though. They’re trying to cope.
“It’s kind of cold out here.” I state. Bobette looks up from staring at a poppy.
“I think the weather is pretty nice! The warmth from the sun balances out the cold of the air in my opinion. Do you need a sweater?” She responds.
“Probably.” I admit.
Bobette smiles. “So, what brings you outside? Everyone else is out here besides Cocoa and Eclipse now, even Sekitan.” She asks.
I ask myself that question. “I don’t really know, I just needed a break I guess. Well, actually, I was requested by Cocoa to investigate your, Ginger’s, and Eggson’s rooms. Now that I’m counting how many students are here, I’ve realized there’s only seven of us here, including myself. Small class, huh.” I answer, grimly.
“Yeah, I’d like to have more classmates here. Not that I want more people to be in our awful situation, I wish there were more people to talk to, knowing it’s a non-zero chance that none of us survive this.” Bobette sighs.
“You’re usually pretty enthusiastic, Rudie cheered up everyone here I suppose. It’s no longer true that killers go for the weakest first. If they did, I think Rudie wouldn’t be targeted.” I say. Bobette was so energetic last trial. She was also close to Rudie, it makes sense. “Are you okay if I interrogate you right now, or should I ask Ginger first?”
“It’s alright if you interrogate me now, I’d rather rip off the Bandaid.” She replies.
Chapter Two Part Three…
Chapter Two Part Three
“That’s all I was told to ask. Thanks for answering! I’m gonna tell Cocoa before I forget, then I’ll ask Ginger for information. See you whenever!” I wave. Bobette waves back.
I let out a sigh of relief as I walk back into the lodge. It wasn’t a comforting place, quite the opposite actually, but it was warm.
“I got Bobette’s input, want me to write it down or just tell you?” I question.
Cocoa is annotating the documents, heavily. She scribbles down three lines underneath a sentence, then she looks up.
“Tell me. It’s more efficient if I write it down, since I already have the supplies to.” She says, a soft smile on her face. She places a bracket beside half a paragraph. Then an asterisk with a note.
I sit down on the chair across. “Got it. Makes sense.” I pick up a note mentioning Bobette and pretend to read it. “Bobette told me that she was workshopping, like making presents, at around twenty thirty to twenty-one, fourty-five. She then went to sleep at ten, before waking up at two to get water.” I yawn.
“Mhm. Anything else?” Cocoa asks, humming an unknown tune as she jots down what I say.
“She went back to sleep around two twenty, then she woke up to my scream. Not much detail, that could be suspicious. The killer would have to make excuses for the time they were committing the crime, so they panic with something as sudden as that interrogation. Like Ribecca was to Gourdy, Bobette’s close to Rudie. Be wary.” I stop. “That’s all, plus my input. Any comments?”
Cocoa scratches her neck. “I also think she has a high chance of being the killer, along with Ginger. I know they were great friends when younger, like elementary school type young. Unlike with Ribecca and Eclipse, they stayed friends.’Till now I guess.” She says.
“Speaking of Eclipse, she’s still in her room, right?” I ask.
“I saw her go outside after the others did. She could be outside or in her room, why?” She answers.
“I was just getting worried about her health. Great to know she’s going outside and talking to others!” I explain. Cocoa nods in understanding.
I walk back outside. It’s warmer this time. I look around for Eclipse, then I spot her, sitting in the sunflower–daisy field. The place we were just playing around in with Rudie two days ago.
“Hey ‘Clipse! Wanna chat again?” I shout awkwardly.
She turns her head towards me and smiles, walking towards me. “Of course, as long as it isn’t an interview or something!” She exclaims.
I laugh. “I should actually be checking in with Ginger right now, but what’s the fun in that?”
“That’s so true. So, what do you wanna talk about?” She asks.
I think about it. “You know what, don’t really know. I just wanted to check in I guess.” I shrug.
“Well, I don’t know what to talk about either, so just say if a random topic pops in your head again!” Eclipse says. She takes a ballpoint pen out of her pocket.
“What’s that for?” I question. She snickers, and grabs my hand.
“I’m gonna give you a ‘tattoo!’ Elementary schooler style!” She replies, biting the cap off the marker.
I watch in silence as she draws a little star in the palm of my hand.
“What’s your favorite writing utensil?” I ask.
“Damnit, I messed up. I like multiple, so I guess I’ll just name one from every category? My favorite type of pen is ballpoint, blue ink, for writing, felt tip is good for drawing, not writing, and gel pens are just icky.” She pauses, maybe to think about it. “I prefer alcohol markers over paint markers, but that’s only because paint markers are too opaque. And I just prefer normal wooden pencils over mechanical.” She says.
“Why not mechanical? They’re the only pencil that gives me nice handwriting” I joke.
“I really don’t know, just uncomfortable to hold and annoying to refill I suppose.” She responds.
“Hm. It looks like it’s nearly eleven now. Do you think I should go question Ginger already?” I ask. I feel a bit guilty about asking to leave so soon.
Eclipse finishes scribbling little details onto the now pentacle in my palm. “Probably. I’d prefer a greater chance of catching the culprit, thanks.” She laughs, stating the obvious.
“‘Kay, catch up with you later, see you whenever!” I hesitate. I feel sort of dizzy. I believe it’s strange how someone being missing changes things.
Chapter Two Part Four…
Chapter Two Part Four
“Ginger, you’re comfortable being questioned about last night, right?” I ask.
Ginger nods.
“You were in your room, asleep, from my knowledge. What were you doing before heading to bed?” I say, looking down at my blank paper attached to a clipboard.
“I was in the kitchen making myself a sandwich.” She goes on to talk about what she put on the sandwich. Just smile and nod.
“Do you have any information about Bobette? I don’t want to ask her again.” I quiz.
“Hm. I actually woke up at two because my throat was hurting. I went down to get some water, that’s when I saw Bobette talking to Rudie. They looked sort of panicked, probably talking secretively.” She says. Was everyone having a sore throat last night?
“Uhm, Bassie, you’re sort of silent. Got something on your mind?” Ginger asks. I immediately snap out of my thoughts
“No, uh, I was just thinking about how I also had a sore throat last night. Strange huh?” I answer somewhat truthfully, but I was also thinking about how Bobette was talking to Rudie. What if she worked with Rudie and planned out his death with him?
After getting the rest of the information, “Well, that’s all the info I needed. See you whenever, Gin!” I finally head back inside.
“Good luck in trial Bassie!” Ginger shouts back. The class trial is at fourteen, so I still had about two and a half hours.
Cocoa is pouring herself a cup of water. “Co, have you figured out who the culprit is yet?” I ask.
“I’m still thinking about it. You figure it’s Bobette too, or do you have suspicions on somebody else?” Cocoa responds. She takes a sip of the water.
“Yeah, I’m also thinking it’s Bobette.” I say, not saying the rest I know. “I think I’m gonna go investigate Rudie’s room, for the fourth time. Just want to try and look for the rope, or whatever it is, that was in that drawer.” I state. “Do you wanna hop along?”
Cocoa places the paper she’s holding beside the other stack. “Of course! I already have a suspicion on Bobette, which means I basically already have found the culprit. No duh I’m gonna want to try to find out what actually happened!” Cocoa shouts excitedly.
I recoil at Cocoa jumping up out of her seat. “Take a chill pill. We’re solving a crime, not getting ice cream.” I laugh. “Anyway, Ginger told me she saw Bobette and Rudie talking at 2 in the morning. Suspicious, right…?”
I carefully open the door. Again, nothing unusual. Nothing had been tampered with.
“Yeah, very. But do we have any evidence it was actually her?”
I shake my head. “What are the chances there isn’t even anything here?” I ask, jokingly, but it’s still very much possible. Cocoa walks over to the desk.
I look around the room, then I look down at Rudie. I’ve not yet actually investigated the corpse close up, I probably should, I suppose. If I find anything, that could serve as a clue.
Cocoa looks over at me. “You good?” She asks. Then she turns back to the drawer.
“Yeah, just thinking. I’m pretty sure I haven’t searched Rudie’s body yet. I probably should, hm?” I reply.
I crouch down and examine Rudie’s antlers. They look sawed off rather than snapped off. But then what was that snap sound I heard?
“Yep, you should probably check. You got it.” Cocoa responds.
I lift Rudie’s head out of the praying position. The sight wasn’t any less cruel or grueling. In fact, it’s actually worse now.
Between his legs and torso is a noose, a hangman’s knot. It’s broken at the end. That must’ve been the snap sound.
“Cocoa. Take a look at this.” I say. There’s a difference in my voice now.
Cocoa kneels down beside me. “What is it?” Then she goes silent.
I pick the rope up. It’s partially stained red. The mid-section of the rope has been stretched. That wouldn’t really make sense considering it had already snapped at the end, but it for sure has been weighed down by something, maybe someone.
I stand up. “What do you think it means?” I ask, thinking about the possibilities.
“He was either choked, or…” She replies. “I mean, it could’ve been framed as one?”
“If it was a red herring, they wouldn’t have done this.” I place a hand on Rudie’s antler.
Cocoa sighs. “Do you think they were trying to frame it the other way around? A murder instead?” She asks. I look closer at the rope. He was definitely hung, whether he was killed or not.
“Possibly. They probably put the rope there to hide it. I mean, they couldn’t have just put it back in the drawer. Unlike Ribecca, they anticipated this more. They knew we would find the drawer.” I say. “Do we still think it’s Bobette? I wish I didn’t have the right to believe she’d stoop this low.”
Cocoa nods. “I think I have another reason to suspect her now, actually. You said she was talking to Rudie, right? I’ll tell you my theory.” She turns and whispers to me. My face drops. This might be even more complicated than before.
“That may be the case. That’s… actually insane. Should this even count as a murder?” I whisper-shout.
Cocoa sighs. “Koishi considers it one.” That’s true. But maybe we’re lucky it’s considered one. Otherwise, there might be even more kills occurring.
Chapter Two Part Five…