Chapter 40: Little Victor's Cunning Ploy
As Little Victor waited, his eyes glued to the crack beneath the stall door, he prepared to unleash his Stand at the first sign of entry.
But then, a terrifying, overlooked detail flashed in his mind.
Wait...
Why didn't I hear the main restroom door open?
His memory was perfect. He had shut the heavy door when he first entered. Other passengers had come and gone since, and every single one had let the door swing shut behind them. The restroom door was closed.
To enter the room without making a sound... there was only one possible explanation.
The one who entered... it wasn't Jonas! IT WAS HIS STAND!
A jolt of pure panic seized Little Victor's heart, his face twitching. What do I do?! WHAT DO I DO?! My Stand isn't a close-combat type! It'll be slaughtered by that ninja!
As the footsteps drew closer, his pupils contracted. He was so terrified, his stomach began to cramp.
Outside the stall, [Oni] was not concerned with Little Victor's distress. It reached the locked door, braced its hands on the top, and silently vaulted up to peer over.
It saw... a flight attendant, his uniform pants pooled around his ankles, sitting on the toilet. He was supporting his chin, idly reading the wrapper on a roll of toilet paper.
[Oni] even heard the distinct... plop... of... activity.
A look of pure disgust on its featureless face, [Oni] dropped back down. It turned away, its gaze falling on a nearby window. The security grate had been broken, creating a large hole. And just outside, on the tarmac, lay a single, small bell.
[Oni] phased through the window, retrieved the bell, and, its mission complete, returned to its master.
Inside the stall, Little Victor gasped for air, his skin covered in cold goosebumps. He had... survived.
It was a stroke of genius. He'd disguised himself in a uniform he'd "acquired" earlier, faked the sounds of using the toilet, and, while the Stand was peering over, tossed his bell out the window he had broken earlier as an escape route. A perfect misdirection.
He was lucky. It was just a Stand, lacking the full intellect of its user.
But now... where was his useless brother?
He quickly pulled up his pants, dressed, and left the restroom, blending back into the crowd to find Victor.
In the terminal, Jonas took the bell from [Oni]. It was just an ordinary bell. [Oni] reported its findings via their innate connection: One person. Using the toilet. Window grate broken. Bell outside.
Jonas was mulling this over when a new wave of screams erupted.
"It's him! The man with the gun!"
"He's covered in blood! Is he a murderer?!"
"Run! It's the psycho who stole the guard's gun!"
Jonas looked up. Victor had returned. He was a horrific sight, drenched in his own blood, a wild, crazed look in his eyes. He clutched a dagger in one hand and the stolen security pistol in the other.
"Just hold on, little brother!" Victor was yelling, his voice a ragged gasp as he sprinted. "Once we're together... we still have a chance! We can win!"
He was far tougher than he looked, having shaken off a knockout blow and escaped custody in just a few minutes, apparently not without a fight.
A cunning smile touched Jonas's lips. Just as I predicted. He's back.
Victor scanned the crowd, paranoid, but he didn't see Jonas. He slowed, approaching the restroom where he'd last heard the bell.
In the crowd, Little Victor's face went pale. No, you idiot! I'm not in there anymore!
He reached for his bell to signal him... only to grasp empty air. He'd thrown it! He couldn't shout, or he'd reveal himself to Jonas! He could only watch, and pray his brother wasn't a complete moron.
Victor paused at the door. Wait... it's been minutes... maybe he's not in there. He put his ear to the door to listen.
Little Victor sighed in relief. Okay, good, he's not a total...
JINGLE-JINGLE-JINGLE...
The sound... it was coming from inside the restroom!
Little Victor's blood ran cold. WHAT?!
I'm not in there... his mind raced. So who...?
His eyes snapped to Jonas. To the bell [Oni] had retrieved. A trap! Jonas was using his own signal to lure his brother!
Little Victor panicked and started to run... but then he saw him. Jonas. Standing calmly in the crowd, watching the restroom door, [Oni] at his side like a silent executioner.
Little Victor froze. He couldn't. If he ran out now, he'd be exposed. His Stand... it needed the element of surprise. It was too risky. He... he had to sacrifice his brother. It was the only logical move. He steeled himself, turning his gaze away.
But... wait.
A new, dawning horror filled his mind.
If Jonas is here... and his Stand is here...
...Then who is shaking the bell inside the bathroom?