After I hurriedly jumped out of the library, thirst, of course, is not the most logical reason to leave the place of a mass murder, but, it seems, 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 the one hand, is understandable, and on the other, suspicious. But what can you do, everyone's nerves are on edge. Only now...
He was not found in his room.
— Hmm, — Morgana was the first to break the silence. — The situation is heating up, where did he disappear to?
A wonderful question. A question of the kind for which you do not want to get a bad answer.
— I did not find any traces of blood or anything similar in the room, — I added, looking around. — So he clearly was not killed.
If he had been killed, we would have noticed it. I think. I hope.
— The only place we haven't checked, the second floor, — Cheryl spoke up.
— That is pointless, — I shook my head. — We would have noticed him immediately if he were there.
— Completely forgot… — added Cheryl. — On the second floor is the library, from which we just came out. The opposite side is also visible.
Such a cozy overview. To run away unnoticed is a task not an easy one.
— What assumptions will there be? — Cheryl turned to us.
— He could not have gone out. It is already dark, and a sane person on such an island residence would not get the idea to go out of the mansion, — Morgana spoke out.
In this regard, I was in complete agreement with her. Night here is not just a dark time of day. It is as if cut out from someone's nightmare and poured over the island.
— Brother, — Morgana suddenly said. — Let's check the pantry!
— Hey! — Cheryl instantly flared up. — I asked you, don't call me that during work moments. And especially in front of a guest.
— Don't worry, — I said calmly. — There is no problem in that. I already know that you are brother and sister.
— Aha.
— Aha?!
— Probably, that's why she decided that she can call you that in our circle, — added Aragi.
— When did you manage to tell such a thing?
— Sorry… — Morgana replied guiltily. — Probably, I really rushed and without thinking told Aragi…
— You shouldn't apologize for such a trifle, — I shrugged. — I would have found out sooner or later anyway. You… well, you look alike.
(Actually — no. At all. Not a drop. But that is not something to say to one's face, right?)
— Really? — Cheryl raised his eyebrows in surprise. — You are the first person who has said that.
(Because I lied).
— I am just that kind of person, — I said, trying not to look them in the eyes. — I always notice details.
— Alright, — Cheryl took upon himself the role of returning to the topic. — Let's not delay. So be it, let's check the pantry.
— I thought we excluded 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 pantry.
— Besides food and alcohol, — he explained. — A shotgun is hidden in the pantry. With a small supply of cartridges. It belonged to Gerudo-sama.
A shotgun.
On the island.
Where there is no one but us.
Great. Just wonderful.
— Why would he need a shotgun when there is not a single soul on the island? — I asked, pretending the question was purely theoretical.
— Perhaps it was his hobby to shoot at seagulls, — suggested Cheryl.
— A terribly strange hobby, — I concluded. And we went.
A couple of minutes later we reached the pantry. Outside it was still raining, not a downpour, but so, unobtrusively-melancholy drizzle. On this island, it seems, it is not otherwise.
— He is not here, — Morgana summarized, looking inside.
— Did someone really steal the shotgun? — I was surprised.
— It is hard to believe, — she shook her head. — No one except us and Gerudo-sama knew about the existence of the weapon. Besides, the key is only with us. There are no other copies.
— Then where did it go? Maybe you made a mistake about the storage place?
— The pantry is tiny as it is, — Cheryl shrugged. — All the shelves are packed with food. You can't mistake it here.
— 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 as if every step leaves a mark not only on the floor, but also in the air. We did not find the weapon. Copies of the key do not exist. So, none of the participants could have opened the pantry.
Theoretically.
— I will go check our room again, and the others along the way, — I said. — And you go to the library and inform the others.
— What about you? — Morgana became worried. — I can't leave you alone, it's too dangerous.
— I will manage. I will make it quick. And if anything, I can stand up for myself.
— Alright. Just don't be long. I will return as soon as we deliver the message, — Morgana said and headed away.
Well…
All that remains for me is to double-check all the rooms. There is a chance that he could be anywhere now. But the disappearance of the weapon… that is clearly not the work of Enua. I am sure. The problem is different. The question is different. Who?
But I did not manage to reach the bedroom.
Because I heard.
Gunshots.
— ?!
«What was that just now?! Sounds… of gunfire?! Could it be…»
I tore off from the spot. Ran to the second floor. Straight to the library.
And…
I saw it.
Blood.
Everywhere.
The bodies of the participants. The bodies of the servants who had just arrived. All on the floor. In puddles of crimson silence.
Shattered heads.
Torn-apart chest cavities.
This is not an attack. This is not a threat. This is an execution. Death. Without a chance. Zero.
«I can't believe… Who did this?!»
Everything in my head spun. I was staggering. I could not stand. Everything around swam.
What is this? What is this feeling?
In one instant everything disappeared. The world around melted. Distorted. Folded like paper into a point, into a pure singularity.
And I found myself...
In a white space.
Without errors. Without doubts.
I found myself at the witch's again.