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*Takes another step away from Nihil* Wait, I forgot and am too lazy to go back and search – am I dead yet?

*Is watching intently* I'm being mentioned rather a lot here… That means either I'll die soon or – *Smiles, eyes glinting* I'm the murderer.

*Takes yet another large step away from Nihil* Murdered by your own CAPTCHAE… Imagine that! 

Day three, part five

Lunch was fairly enjoyable that day; Marigold started a game of Twenty questions with the majority of the guests (Levana, Alex, Nymph, Nihil, Wendy and Far opted to eat in silence) and the game took a rather hilarious twist when Devin chose a blobfish for the others to guess (it lead to questions such as “Is it uglier than my CBer?” and “Is it covered in slime? Why is it covered in slime?”). Mor made Darkking laugh so hard milk came out of his nose, and another food fight erupted at one point. Though it stopped when someone tried to throw a piece of watermelon at Jwyn but missed and hit Nymph instead. She went a little berserk and spewed out a number of threats (Sea Glass was almost in tears and xe didn’t even know why). 

About thirty minutes later, Quill and Autumn Artist died of poisoning.

The other guests and instructors had feared the worst when the two CBettes didn’t show up for lessons. Ingus and Aqua sent one student from their class to look for the missing guest of their element (Mor from fire and Viola? from water). Both found the CBette they were sent to search for dead. 

These findings did not start magic lessons off on a good note. However, the instructors were not going to give up the chance for a magic lesson- they were, after all, the whole reason behind the vacation. So when Mor came back and said “Atum dead!” and the other students began to gasp and shout and whisper, Ingus only gave the group a few seconds before she shouted, “Okay, okay.  Focus on the lessons now, idiots- I mean, my wonderful and positively delightful students! Or I’ll set your hair on fire!”

Nobody in the group doubted it Ingus would really do this- they had learned from yesterday’s lesson that she was the kind of person who would make you pay if you messed with her- so they quickly decided to discuss the matter later. 

“Right. Today we’re still focusing on the basics. Produce a small flame from your finger. Don’t burn anything or I’ll personally see that you’ll be punished brutally, this is my furniture,” Ingus instructed forcefully. Mor, Sea Glass, Devin, Artimerrx, and Wendey stared at their own fingers, eyebrows furrowed and faces screwed up in concentration. Well, Wendey not so much- her eyes kept gliding out of focus and wandering around the room. 

The same began in all of the other rooms- they all went quiet as the CBeings concentrated on producing their elemental object. There was a little more progress than the day before- Night Vision and Dewy both grew small sprouts from their palms, Rogue made a breeze ripple through Caeli’s hair, Leeli and Catsclaw procured pebbles from the floor, and Mor and Artimerrx made small flames blossom from their fingertips. However, most of the other guests became rather dejected by the sight of their classmates’ success. The instructors encouraged them not to give up- okay, well, maybe not all of the instructors- but that was the only progress made that day. 

Simul sighed. Magic lessons just got over. She was tired, even though it was only day three and she had had four cups of coffee.

“Dear me,” she said to herself, “I seem to be following in the footsteps of Lorelei Gilmore.” She chortled a little bit at the reference.

Her laughter was stifled, however, when her walkie-talkie crackled with static and the murderer’s voice. “Simul.”

Simul paused, closed her eyes, inwardly cursed, then picked up the walkie-talkie. “Yellow. By Coldplay. Weird song. I don’t know what I’m saying. Nevermind. What’s up, other than the sky?”

“You need serious help.”

“Noted.”

“Are you mentally stable?”

“What do you need.”

“Autumn Artist and Quill are dead, Simul.”

Simul stopped. Not only at the news itself, that two more guests were gone, but also that the murderer didn’t sound remotely happy about it. Indeed, they had a small lilt of sadness in their voice. Like they couldn’t help but regret what they’d done.

“You had to, you know. And you know the truth,” Simul said in a comforting tone.

“Yes, I know,” the murderer sighed. They were tired too. “I just wanted you to know.”

Simul bit her lip. She wanted to tell them how awful it was that they had to be chosen. That they didn’t deserve it. That the horrible things weren’t their fault. That she was sorry.

But then the walkie-talkie went silent. The conversation was over.

She sighed once more.

Simul felt bad for the killer.

~~~~~~~~~~

Top!

*Morphs from the shadows* May I help you with this ski lodge? It has been quite a long time since I wrote. *Smiles sinisterly*

Day three, part six

The hardwood creaked as Catsclaw plopped down on the floor, legs crossed, forming the third point of a triangle with Leeli and Jwyn. Leeli closed her eyes and shook her head. “How many are gone now?” she asked. Jwyn did a quick count.

“Five. In three days.”

Leeli groaned. “Does everyone else know?”

“I don’t know, I just told you guys,” said Catsclaw. He shook his head. “Who do you guys think it is?”

“I bet it’s one of the instructors,” Jwyn informed them firmly. “I mean, it’s them or Simul… right?”

“Let’s think back to that letter,” said Leeli, “What did it say? ‘I am your murderer…’ What does that even mean? Your murderer?”

“Beats me,” shrugged Catsclaw.

“We don’t know if it’s Simul, the instructors, or…” Leeli hesitated. “…One of us.”

At that moment, Caspian entered. “Oh! Hello,” he said, “I just came for my-”

“Quill and Autumn Artist are dead,” Catsclaw interrupted. Caspian froze.

“Oh.. oh dear.” He gulped. “I… didn’t know.”

“I think I’ll go tell everyone who doesn’t know yet,” Jwyn decided, getting up and brushing off the backs of her thighs, walking purposefully towards the door.

She passed the Fire room, where she could hear soft discussion about their late classmate. A small pang hit her stomach. She continued on, eventually reaching the heavy pair of oak doors leading to the main hall. She was reaching for the handle, but stopped when she heard a harsh voice. A voice she knew. A voice that was talking about doing something undeniably evil. 

Jwyn stumbled away from the door, dazed and eyes wide. She had found out who the murderer was.

Secret after secret tumbled into her mind, explosive and shocking, sending waves of screaming panic through her body. She fell to the floor, gasping and dumbstruck.

It was all completely crazy. All of it. But… it made sense. She could believe the words that had been pounded into her unsuspecting brain. It explained certain things. Others, though,  made things seem dark and sinister, threatening and dangerous. But they had always been there without making a sound before now. But this time… when they were chosen… things got messed up. That she could see. In fact, she could see everything. 

She also knew that she had to keep all of these secrets to herself.

How was she going to manage that?

~~~~~~~~~~

Leafy couldn’t sit still. She was totally restless, with a desire to avenge her CAPTCHA burning inside of her. She had a sort of idea of how to get some form of organized revenge, attained by logical means. She could make a group with some of her fellow guests working against the murderer.

It could be simple. They could brainstorm ways to work against the murderer and keep themselves and the others safe. Gather clues. Be on the lookout. It was a rough idea, with hardly any detail, but Leafy didn’t wait to jump to action. She jumped up and started combing her way through the mazelike halls of Magicae Palace, looking for the place where Simul lived. As she did, she passed several strange things, such as a sign covered with swear words, a sculpture of a Yeeting Ferretgoat eating toast, and Nymph in the form of an eight-legged, emerald green Gryphon with an elephant’s trunk. 

Finally, she found the room- an arched oak door with a rusty brass handle and a piece of paper taped to the front that said, “Simul’s dwelling, please knock, boogerface”. Leafy was certainly not a boogerface (or was she?), but she knocked anyways. Simul answered immediately, her face inches from Leafy’s.

“What’s up, buttercup?” Simul singsonged. Leafy blinked.

“Um. I had an idea for a way to work against the murderer?”

On the inside, this hit Simul with an emotion that didn’t quite fit- panic. If they figured out who the murderer was, everything would be in danger. It would all collapse. But on the outside, Simul played it cool. She said, “Coolio. Tell it, sister.”

Once Leafy left, Simul looked both ways, retreated back to her room, grabbed her walkie-talkie, and told the murderer all about Leafy’s plan.

“This isn’t good,” the murderer said, their cool attitude gone.

“Right,” said Simul, “So, I hate myself right now, but maybe it would be a good idea to… you know.” The murderer paused.

“…Okay. I will. But right now I just excused myself from a crazy game of Monopoly that probably won’t end any time soon. After dinner, I will.”

~~~~~~~~~~

 Later, at dinner, Viola? watched Jwyn with curiosity- she appeared strangely fidgety and nervous. She watched as Jwyn jumped as Mor tapped her on the shoulder, then how she relaxed when she saw who this was. Viola? pondered this strange behavior while she ate her salad and half-listened to Rogue talking about dragons.

Jwyn herself had been scared out of her own skin when Mor tapped her on she shoulder- though she had relaxed when she realized that the murderer was not coming after her at the present moment. She was inwardly freaking out, not sure if she would be able to keep all of the secrets that had been forced into her innocent mind. 

But what could she do about it? She didn’t have the option to continue the vacation as though she knew nothing- because now she knew what the “vacation” really was… unless she…

No, she told herself firmly, I won’t do that. I can make it through without spilling the secrets.

Right?

Down the table, Leafy stood up, clearing her throat authoritatively. “Everyone?” About a third of the guests looked at her. She pursed her lips and called again. “Guys! I have something… to say.”

Leafy looked around the table, making sure she had captured everyone’s attention, took a deep breath, then continued, “I’ve decided to do something about the murderer.

“So, as you all know, this is the third day of the vacation, and five of our own have been murdered by someone here in the castle. I don’t know about all of you, but I don’t know how much longer I can stand this, knowing that somebody could be murdered any second, or that the murderer could be right next to me. We need to avenge Ha- er, all those who have been murdered, including my own CAPTCHA Hazel! 

“So, I propose we form a small group of our own working against the murderer. We can be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Interrogate people to see if they know anything.” (Jwyn’s heart lurched unpleasantly at this.) “Gather clues. Come up with strategies to protect ourselves and others from the murderer.

“I need about five to seven volunteers to be on the team. Any questions before I start recruiting?”

“Yeah, I have a question!” Rogue shouted, “How do we know that you’re not the murderer, Leafy?” Leafy narrowed her eyes.

“Are you accusing me of murdering my own CAPTCHA?” Leafy growled.

“I’m just saying. This doesn’t rule you out.”

“I am not the murderer.” Leafy was livid at the suggestion that she killed her own Hazel. “I. Killed. No-one. Okay?” She turned away. 

“Any questions that don’t accuse me of anything?” The hall was silent. “Okay, great. Raise your hand if you want to be on the team.”

Leeli, Marigold, Mor and Artimerrx’s hands flew into the air. Leafy scanned the room. “Okay, we need at least one more person. Anyone else?” Dewy and Wren nervously raised quivering hands. Leafy clapped her hands briefly together. “Great! Meet me in the library by Earth room when you’re done eating.”

As the meal recommenced, the murderer watched Leafy with a critical eye. They really should have quit Monopoly and just gotten her out of the way… she had good intentions, they knew, but her little anti-murderer team was more hurtful than helpful, ironically. They had to put an end to this… before it put an end to everything. 

CAPTCHA says duet. Hmmmm… 

Day Three Part Seven

~

Simul stared at her walkie-talkie, debating whether or not to check on the murderer. After a few minutes, she turned away from it, going back to searching through security camera footage, checking to see if any murder scenes had been recorded. None had, to her relief.

"I regret to say that Leafy has succedded in gathering accomplices." Simul leaped out of her chair at the sound of the murderer's smooth, cold voice. It wasn't scratchy, like a walkie-talkie. A bead of cold sweat slid down Simul's neck. "She must be disposed of at once, and her gang with her. I have an idea." Simul turned to face them, trying to appear calm. She apparently failed, because the murderer stalked over to her and mopped her face with a nearby paper towel. "I won't kill you, Simul," Simul breathed again, "Not yet." The smile on the murderer's face shone in the dim light. They swept out the door, the glint of a knife shining momentarily through their fingers.

—

Leafy scanned the hallway, listening for any irregularity in the silence. She didn't have to wait long. A yell ripped through the air, and Leafy ran around a corner, finding Nihil, wounded badly on her back. Black blood dripped down the wall to the floor, poolling around the CAPTCHAE, who was in her Undershade Canine form.

"Oh my gosh, Nihil! What happened??" Nihil reared, her huge Undershade Canine bulk pressing away from Leafy.

"Youu! Youu!" THe CAPTCHA gasped. "Youu…!" Nihil fell to the floor, her silken fur clotting with the blood. Suddenly, Artimerrx came flying around the same corner Leafy had.

"LEAFY!! Rogue – OH MY GOSH WHAT HAPPENED HERE!"

"Nihil was hurt, possibly by the murderer! What's with Rogue?"

"I just found Rogue – dead!"

~

TBC 

I WANT TO AVENGE ROGUE BUT I'M NOT IN THIS SKI LODGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Wow, vowels in the CAPTCHA–I've been having trouble typing these five-letter ones in. Let's see…e! o! f! u! c!