After I rushed out of the library in a hurry, thirst isn't the most logical reason to leave a potential mass murder site, but it seemed the only acceptable one at the moment. Morgana, Cheryl, and I headed to Enua.
He flatly refused to be in the same room with the others. Understandable on one hand, suspicious on the other. But what can you do, everyone's nerves are frayed. Only...
He wasn't in his room.
"Hm," Morgana broke the silence first. "Things are heating up, where did he go?"
Great question. The kind you don't want a bad answer to.
"No traces of blood or anything like that in the room," I added, looking around. "So he definitely wasn't killed."
If he had been, we'd have noticed. I think. I hope.
"The only place we haven't checked is the second floor," Cheryl spoke up.
"No point," I shook my head. "We'd have spotted him right away if he was there."
"I completely forgot..." Cheryl added. "The library is on the second floor, where we just came from. The opposite side is visible too."
Such a cozy view. Sneaking away unnoticed isn't easy.
"Any guesses?" Cheryl turned to us.
"He couldn't have gone outside. It's already dark, and no sane person on this island residence would think of leaving the mansion," Morgana said.
I fully agreed with her on that. Night here isn't just dark hours. It's like it's cut from someone's nightmare and poured over the island.
"Brother," Morgana suddenly said. "Let's check the storeroom!"
"Hey!" Cheryl immediately flared up. "I asked you not to call me that during work moments. Especially around a guest."
"Don't worry," I said calmly. "It's no problem. I already know you're brother and sister."
"Yeah," she nodded.
"Yeah?!" Cheryl exclaimed indignantly.
"Probably that's why she decided she could call you that around us," Aragi added.
"When did you manage to tell him that?"
"Sorry..." Morgana replied guiltily. "I guess I really rushed and, without thinking, told Mr. Aragi..."
"You don't need to apologize for such a small thing," I shrugged. "I'd have found out sooner or later anyway. You... well, you look alike."
(Actually, no. Not at all. Not a bit, but that's not something to say to their faces, right?)
"Really?" Cheryl raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You're the first person to say that."
(Because I lied.)
"That's the kind of person I am," I said, trying not to look them in the eyes. "I always notice details."
"Alright," Cheryl took on the role of getting back to the topic. "Let's not delay. Fine, we'll check the storeroom."
"I thought we'd ruled out him going outside," I clarified.
"I still think so," he replied. "But I think I understand what Morgana meant by checking the storeroom."
"Besides food and alcohol," he explained. "There's a shotgun hidden in the storeroom with a small supply of ammo. It belonged to Gerudo-sama."
Shotgun.
On the island.
Where no one but us.
Great. Just wonderful.
"Why a shotgun when there's not a soul on the island?" I asked, pretending it was purely theoretical.
"Maybe it was his hobby, shooting seagulls," Cheryl suggested.
"A creepy hobby," I summed up. And we went.
A couple of minutes later, we reached the storeroom. Outside, it was still raining, not a downpour, but an unobtrusive melancholic drizzle. On this island, it seems that's the only way.
"He's not here," Morgana concluded, peeking inside.
"Did someone steal the shotgun?" I was surprised.
"Hard to believe," she shook her head. "No one except us and Gerudo-sama knew about the weapon. Plus, the key is only with us. No other copies."
"Then where did he go? Maybe you got the storage spot wrong?"
"The storeroom is tiny anyway," Cheryl shrugged. "All shelves are packed with food. You can't mistake it."
"Let's head back to the mansion," I suggested. "Standing here won't solve anything."
We were inside again. Same walls. Same feeling that every step leaves a trace not just on the floor, but in the air. No weapon found, no key copies. Meaning none of the participants could have opened the storeroom.
Theoretically.
"I'll check our room again, and the others while I'm at it," I said. "You go to the library and tell the others."
"And you?" Morgana worried. "I can't leave you alone, it's too dangerous."
"I'll manage, I'll run quick. And if anything, I can stand up for myself."
"Okay. Just don't take too long. I'll come back as soon as we pass everything on," Morgana said and headed off.
Well...
All that's left is to recheck all the rooms. There's a chance he's anywhere now, but the missing weapon... that's clearly not Enua's doing. I'm sure the problem is something else. The question is, who?
But I didn't make it to the bedroom.
Because I heard it.
Gunshots.
"?!"
"What was that?! Sounds... of shooting?! Could it be..."
I bolted. Ran to the second floor, straight to the library.
And...
I saw it.
Blood.
Everywhere.
Bodies of the participants. Bodies of the servants who had just arrived. All on the floor, in pools of crimson silence.
Heads blown open.
Chests torn apart.
This wasn't an attack, not a threat. This was execution, death. No chances. Zero.
I can't believe it... Who did this?!
My head spun, I swayed. I couldn't stand, everything swam around me.
What is this? What is this feeling?
In one instant, everything vanished. The world around melted. Distorted. Folded like paper into a point, into pure singularity.
And I ended up... In white space.
No mistakes. No doubts.
I was back with the witch.