After I rushed out of the library in a hurry, thirst, of course, isn't the most logical reason to leave a scene of mass murder, but it seemed the only acceptable one at that moment. Together with Morgana and Cheryl, we headed to Enua.
He flatly refused to be in the same room with the others. Which, on one hand, is understandable, and on the other, suspicious. But what can you do, everyone's nerves are at their limit. Only here's the thing...
He wasn't in his room.
"Hm," Morgana was the first to break the silence. "The situation is heating up, where did he disappear to?"
Excellent question. The kind you don't want a bad answer to.
"I didn't find any traces of blood or anything similar in the room," I added, looking around. "So he clearly wasn't killed."
If he'd been killed, we would've noticed. I think. I hope.
"The only place we didn't check is the second floor," Cheryl spoke up.
"That's pointless," I shook my head. "We would've noticed him right away if he were there."
"I completely forgot..." Cheryl added. "On the second floor is the library, which we just came from. The opposite side is also visible."
Such a cozy view. Escaping unnoticed isn't an easy task.
"Any theories?" Cheryl turned to us.
"He couldn't have gone outside. It's already gotten dark, and no sane person in such an island residence would think to leave the mansion," Morgana stated.
In this regard, I completely agreed with her. Night here isn't just a dark time of day. It's as if cut from someone's nightmare and poured over the island.
"Brother," Morgana suddenly said. "Let's check the storehouse!"
"Hey!" Cheryl instantly flared up. "I asked you not to call me that during work moments. Especially next to a guest."
"Don't worry," I said calmly. "There's no problem with that. I already know you're brother and sister."
"Yeah," she nodded.
"Yeah?!" Cheryl cried out indignantly.
"That's probably why she decided she could call you that in our presence," Aragi added.
"When did you manage to tell him such a thing?"
"Sorry..." Morgana answered guiltily. "I probably really rushed and, without thinking, told Mister Aragi..."
"You shouldn't apologize over such a trifle," I shrugged. "I would've found out sooner or later anyway. You're... well, you look alike."
(Actually — no. Not at all. Not one bit, but that's not something you should say to someone's face, 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 returning to the topic. "Let's not delay. So be it, we'll check the storehouse."
"I thought we ruled out the version that he went outside," I clarified.
"I still think so," he answered. "But I think I understand what Morgana meant by checking the storehouse."
"Besides food and alcohol," he explained. "Hidden in the storehouse is a shotgun with a small supply of shells. It belonged to Gerudo-sama."
Shotgun.
On the island.
Where no one but us.
Excellent. Just wonderful.
"Why would he need a shotgun when there's not a soul on the island?" I asked, pretending this question was purely theoretical.
"Perhaps it was his hobby — shooting at seagulls," Cheryl suggested.
"Eerily strange hobby," I concluded. And we went.
After a couple minutes we reached the storehouse. Outside it was still raining, not a downpour, but so, an unobtrusive-melancholic drizzle. On this island, it seems, it's never otherwise.
"He's not here," Morgana summarized, looking inside.
"Could someone have stolen the shotgun?" I was surprised.
"That's hard to believe," she shook her head. "No one except us and Gerudo-sama knew about the weapon's existence. Besides, only we have the key. There are no other copies."
"Then where did it go? Maybe you mistook the storage location?"
"The storehouse is tiny anyway," Cheryl shrugged. "All the shelves are packed with food. You can't mistake it."
"Let's return to the mansion," I suggested. "Standing here, we won't solve anything anyway."
We found ourselves inside again. The same walls. The same feeling that every step leaves a mark not only on the floor but in the air. Didn't find the weapon, no key copies exist. So none of the participants could open the storehouse.
Theoretically.
"I'll go check our room again, and the others while I'm at it," I said. "And you go to the library and inform the others."
"But what about you?" Morgana worried. "I can't leave you alone, it's too dangerous."
"I'll manage, I'll run through quickly. And if anything, I can stand up for myself."
"Alright. Just don't delay. I'll return as soon as we've passed everything along," Morgana said and headed off.
Well then...
All that's left for me is to double-check all the rooms. There's a chance he could be anywhere now, but this weapon disappearance... this clearly isn't Enua's doing. I'm certain the problem is something else. The question is, who?
But I didn't make it to the bedroom.
Because I heard.
Gunshots.
"?!"
What was that just now?! 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 participants. Bodies of servants who had just arrived. All on the floor, in pools of crimson silence.
Shot through heads.
Torn apart chest cavities.
This isn't an attack, this isn't a threat. This is execution, death. Without chances. Zero.
I can't believe... Who did this?!
Everything in my head started spinning, I was swaying. I couldn't stand, everything around me swam.
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 found myself... In white space.
Without errors. Without doubts.
I was with the witch again.