You lie down

Chatterbox: Inkwell

You lie down

You lie down on your bed, opening up your favorite book to re-read for the twentieth time, when you hear a knocking on your house outside. Curious,you go to your window to see what the matter is. You see a kingfisher with a letter tied to its back pecking on your wooden wall, then flying in fromt of you expectantly. You open the window, and the bird flies in. You untie the letter and read its contents:

Dear Letter Recepitent,

Congrats! We at White Oak Lab & Motel have picked a handful of lucky younguns to live with us, and you are one of the lucky few! We will give you all a complete tour of our grand institution, as well as showing you our top-secret lab. Our scientist work all day to harness the powers behind superstitions, for we at White Oak believe that the magic behind these can be used for both good and evil. Rest assured, we have taken all known precautions to prevent any bad luck from cursing our beloved guests. In fact, we promise to treat you with utmost care, giving you gourmet food and first- - class bedrooms! If you wish to attend, please fill out the form below:

Name:

Gender:

Personality:

Appearance:

Are you a part of Black Cat Establishments, associated with Black Cat Establishments, or are in any way connected to Black Cat Establishments *On this section, there are the words "Say No or Die!" in messy handwriting:

Favorite Food:

Favorite Superstition:

How you would like to die:

please have any companions (no maximum) fill out this sheet as well. 

We look forward to seeing you,

Estella O. Opafru

What an odd invite, you think to yourself. How could something be both superstition-centered and scientific? Were these people mad? And most importantly, why send such a superstition - centered letter on Friday the thirteenth?

submitted by Estella O., White Oak Lab & Motel
(September 13, 2019 - 6:10 pm)

Well, this isn't where I found out the name of AW/Fleet's phone, but it fits the description, Transcript. (Admins please link.) http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/chirpatcricket/node/423000 But I wonder what it has to do with "What's wrong with Nyx? You ponder in mind name your phone ace and answer you'll find..."

 

submitted by Nyx, age 13 years, earth
(February 22, 2020 - 11:31 am)

You're so close! One more hint to shed light:

Find the response from red mixed with white. 

submitted by Transcript
(February 23, 2020 - 4:55 pm)

HOLY-

I just saw this today and yikes... 

Still a good story though.  Maybe I need to come up with a ski lodge later this year... hmmm

submitted by Alex, age 11
(February 22, 2020 - 12:11 pm)

If you need inspiration Alex there are many good ski lodges on Pudding's Place. My personal favorite is Vansix and Lila's Dragon Ski Lodge, which they (YEET) have revived! Here, I'll link it (that's more linking in one day than I've ever done throughout my almost year on the CB!):

http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/puddingsplace/node/425784

submitted by Nyx, age 12 years, earth
(February 22, 2020 - 3:08 pm)

XDDDDD

Thanks!

submitted by Alex, age 11
(February 23, 2020 - 12:09 pm)

Transript!!!!!! You and Estella are driving me bonkers! But this is what I found from the combination of your two clues, on that thread:

 

You cannot trust me.

submitted by Pink
(January 19, 2020 - 8:08 pm)

Fleet found this out long before any of you.

submitted by Pink
(January 20, 2020 - 4:46 pm)
submitted by Nyx, age 13 years, earth
(February 24, 2020 - 5:02 pm)

An excerpt from Estella's folder titled "The Ski Lodge's Happenings."

 Atlantis, Apollo, and I found Spring's corpse near the mirror maze. Wren soon came over with a crowd of drenched guests: Ameri, Maddox, Nyx, Alice, Naomi, and Dusk. Ameri tackled Apollo, drenching him too, but the tacklee screamed at him and pointed to Spring's body. 

 "All White Oak guests report to the entrance, our trip is ending early. All White Oak Guests to the entrance, our trip is ending early." Wren stated over the portable intercom. She hesitantly added after receiving my signal, "Spring has been murdered."

 Per my expectations, the ride home was silent. When offered dinner, most guests politely refused and excused themselves to their rooms. Those who did eat either sat by themselves, with their 'Family' or awkwardly conversed with the scientists. About half left early to eat in their rooms, and the amount of waste tonight was insurmountably high. One fight did erupt between Ameri's and Alex's group. I kept a close watch on them, however, and was able to defuse the conflict in an efficient manner. 

 Hall Checks: numerous guards broke the rules by comforting Summer amid her grievous sob session. Upon rethinking the event, I may not reprimand them; this could provide some invaluable data about human emotional reactions. For now, I must prepare. Tomorrow's experiment will cost about [REDACTED], and I can only hope [REDACTED] will keep her promise and pay the tab. This experiment is imperative: if it exceeds my expectations, we could end the test now.

 I must admit that I have become a bit stressed through [REDACTED]. I know, I know, it's unreasonable: frankly, I don't understand it either. Everything is going according to plan, and the only major issue is cost. Maybe it's just my guests' uniqueness.

 I do know that in the wake of tragedy, conflict is to be expected...but a food fight? On the first death? It's foolish, I know. Still, I can't help worrying. 

***************

 "Y'know," Ameri grinned as he skipped into the dining room, "Maybe Ms. Opafru's not that bad!"

 "You're only saying that because of the banquet," Alister rolled his eyes. In the light of recent events, Estella was holding a banquet to lift spirits. It would include all of the guest's favorite foods, as well as worldwide delicacies.

 "Can you blame me?" Ameri snatched a loaf of bread off the counter and cracked it open, "Free food is free food, man! And it's even better when it's a deligh-delik-delili-"

 "Delicacy." Alister plopped onto a chair.

 "Yeah!" Ameri hopped into the one next to him, "Whatever the heck!"

 "Ameri!" Kanib tapped the boy's shoulder, "You're it! Alex is playing too!"

 "Alex, huh?" Ameri shoved his chair in, "Wonder what she'll have to say when I CORNER her!" 

 "Good grief," Alister picked up his brother's loaf and split it in half. He noticed a huge bubble in the left half but shrugged it off.

 "May I pour your tea, madam?" La'Crosse asked haughtily, spilling a bit of tea on her plate.

 "But of course, monsieur, but of course," Summer snickered. La'Crosse poured the tea but nearly dropped the pot when Ameri jammed into her. Summer finished off her cup and filled La'Crosse's, who was scolding the male AE. 

 "Yeesh, what a headache..." The motherly CBer plopped into her chair, holding her head.

 "Yeah, but at least you..." Summer's face dropped, "...have one..."

 La'Crosse slapped her buddy on the back.

 "Hey, long-face," She smiled, raising her cup, "Let's just make the most of right now, okay? I have no idea what you're going through right now, but I do know that mulling over it won't make her come back." She leaned back in her chair, "Like the great La'Crosse once said, 'Live your best life, because you never know when it'll end!"

 "Cheers!" The girls clinked glasses. Summer finished hers before realizing her friend wasn't doing the same.

 "La'Crosse," She turned to the right, "You're supposed to drink after-"

 She stopped. Her head pounded. She coughed, unable to breathe. Her pupils dilated, heart raced, pulsed quicked, arms shook, her whole body began to convulse and panic before-

 THUMP.

 "SUMMER!"

 The shriek shook Wren out of her trance. She grabbed Estella's arm and rushed to the banquet room. The elder questioned her actions and struggled to keep up until-

 Oh no.

 Estella quaked, her veins burning and pulsing with red-hot fury. She had everything planned perfectly, she finally had a way to get all of these fund draining nuisances away from her so she could sort the notes, but then this has to happen, of course, she expected a rest, how silly of her!

 "Estella, are you okay?"

 "NO, I'm not okay!" She screeched, "Do I LOOK okay?! This is supposed to be calm, organized, and orderly, but I have CHILDREN starting FOOD FIGHTS and throwing SLING BAGS out of WINDOWS, which cost us God knows how much in property damage combined! Not to mention, all these guests seem to do is cry in their bedrooms instead of doing anything USEFUL! Gosh, this whole experiment is nothing more than a migraine-"

 "EXPERIMENT?" Dusk screeched. Estella stopped. The room fell into silence.

Step.

Step.

Step.

 "Ladies and gentlemen," Alister sneered, "You heard our wonderful host. This is all just an experiment! We're nothing more than test tubes, pawns adjusted to fit requirements and collect data." He paused. His fellow guests shrunk when he paced near them.

 "And that's just for starters!" he laughed, "That'd be a better fate than this hellhole, 'cause at least experiments have order and structure! At least the conductor knows the music she's conducting! But she has no control. That's right. Miss Estella Opafru is just like the rest of us." He stopped right in front of Estella, leaning in to deliver the final blow.

 "Powerless."

 "Alister, that's enough." Wren grabbed Estella's arm.

 "What's wrong, m'lady?"

 "Alister, stop."

 "White flag got your tongue?"

 Estella lunged for Alister, grappling onto his shoulders. Someone dove into Estella's side.The staff rushed the guests out, but they saw the flashes of light and blackened strings. Amidst all the chaos, the one person who should have felt in control was lost as well.

 They didn't plan to kill anyone today. And they sure didn't kill Summer. There was only one answer to the constant barrage of questions plaguing their mind:

 Someone was playing dress-up with bloody clothes.

 

 

 

submitted by Estella Opafru, White Oak Lab & Motel
(March 1, 2020 - 2:24 pm)

DANGGGGGGGG..... I wonder who the murderer is...

submitted by Alex, age 11
(March 1, 2020 - 5:08 pm)

Sooooo... it was all an experiment? And someone who was not the murderer killed me? Oh, and I'M A DEAD BODY NOW??!

I love the chaos! This is brilliant!

Also, thank you, Estella, for honoring mine and Spring's wishes regarding our deaths.

It was quite interesting. Honestly, I would have preferred not to die, but... oh well. This was fine. 

submitted by Summer, age tau, Nowhere at all
(March 3, 2020 - 7:37 pm)
submitted by Top
(March 1, 2020 - 4:54 pm)

Ok so I was just looking though the story and I think I found something.  I think Nyx is the murderer.

Ok ok let me explain.  So in the puzzle it was said that in Ace's phone you'd find pink. (I think?)  When Fleet (or AW. however her name is in here.)  fainted or passed out (I just re-read the first part of the story when i realized this. So i'm mixing stuff up sorry XD)  They knew she was alive when she muttered "Pink... pink... pink" afterwards she went to Nyx and called her a traitor.  

Now when Estella gave everyone keycards, Nyx's was the pink dolphin. 

Estella, you don't have to say if i'm right.  Since it would ruin the story. 

submitted by Alex, age 11
(March 2, 2020 - 7:22 pm)

We got a nee Sherlock Holmes on our hands..

submitted by La’Crosse
(March 5, 2020 - 11:26 am)

Yup. Honestly, it would be kinda cool if I was the murderer. 

submitted by Nyx, age 13 years, earth
(March 5, 2020 - 1:15 pm)

your a good detective, Alex! good thinking... i need to read the ending. if you were right, wow.

-PIIIIIINE

PINE! STOP  TAKING MY COMPUTER! SERIOUSLYYYYYY 

submitted by HOO's Æ Pine, age eternal, somewhere-everywhere
(May 15, 2020 - 4:51 pm)
submitted by top
(March 12, 2020 - 10:41 am)