Day 3, Part 1

Seadragon woke up feeling uneasy. Flower Isle had seemed great at first, but the death of Lyric had frightened everyone. Was this place really to be trusted? Who was the murderer? And who could they be after next?

Seadragon, deep in thought, finally got up when Flora called everyone down for breakfast. She came down, realizing that she was the first one down. She sat in the closest chair and waited as the seats were filled up by the rest of the CBers.

Immediately, everyone realized that something was wrong. Instead of 1 chair empty, like it was yesterday, there were 2 chairs left unfilled. And it seemed that everyone also made the same conclusion, as a worst case scenario, hopefully.

It was Pangolin who eventually realized it and said, “Hawkstar’s missing! Where’d she go?”

Silver and Celine volunteered to check Hawkstar’s bedroom, while the rest of the group sat eating their breakfast in silence, though none had much appetite left to finish it. 

Eventually, they both came down and announced that Hawkstar was not in her bedroom. Since no one had another idea about what could’ve happened to her, they finished their breakfast. Flora stood up for an announcement.

“Now that we’ve finished, why don’t we go on a walk outside around Flower Isle? I know everyone’s in low spirits right now,” she added as the group started grumbling. “But this will be good for us to cheer up and enjoy this escape as much as we can.”

Reluctantly, Seadragon got up and followed as Flora led the way out of the cabin. It was beautiful, and despite the events that had happened so far, Seadragon had to smile at the beautiful sight. Beside her, she could see that everyone else also had smiles on their faces as they gazed at the rolling green hills of grass, with flowers blooming everywhere, and a fresh breeze in the air, all bathed in a golden yellow from the sun.

The group hiked through Flower Isle, taking a trail that they hadn’t been through yesterday. It went past the Lake of Eternity, so Flora warned them not to stray too close to it, and to stick together.

Suddenly, as they were walking towards the Lake of Eternity, Seadragon heard a gasp coming from Luna. Everyone turned to look at them.

Luna was pointing at the place where the ground began to become muddy, leading up to the lake. No one noticed anything at first, but as Luna continued to point, Seadragon leaned in, and saw footprints.

Everyone else looked, and it became clear that there were footsteps leading towards the lake, but right before it, the footprints disappeared. And it seemed that whoever made it had slipped into the lake.

“C..could it be Hawkstar?” Pangolin stuttered, sounding horrified.

It became quite apparent that what Pangolin said seemed to be the likely answer of what happened to Hawkstar. Flora immediately stopped the hike, and a funeral was set up for Hawkstar. Even though there wasn’t a body found, there was still a grave set next to Lyric’s, with a rose the color of a sunset placed on top. 

No one had the heart to do anything else for the rest of the morning, so everyone went back into the cabin. But it didn’t seem at all long until Flora came up with another activity for everyone to participate in.

“How about a scavenger hunt?” Flora suggested.

Alive: 8

Dead: 2 (Lyric, Hawkstar)

oh… dear. I'm dead. How disappointing. Well… I SHALL HAVE MY REVENGE

This is really amazing!

Day 3, Part 2

“A scavenger hunt…?” Celine said, their voice trailing off as she processed what Flora had just said.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Pangolin asked worriedly. “I mean, there’s a literal murderer out there!”

“But don’t you think we need to relieve the tension here a little? I can feel all of your gloom, and I think you could do with a little fun activity!” Flora replied cheerfully.

“Okay, I see what you mean,” Reuby said. “I think it would be a good idea to at least have a little fun. We shouldn’t let the murders get to us.”

One by one, the others agreed. Eventually, it seemed like the scavenger hunt would indeed happen. Flora split them into two groups, Sam, Luna, Pangolin, and Reuby Moonnight in one team and Seadragon, Avara, Silver Crystal, and Celine in the other team. 

“Alright, so now that I’ve split you into teams, let me explain. There are 17 golden roses hidden throughout the island. Whichever team finds the most golden roses wins. Got it?” Flora waited until everyone nodded. “Okay. 3, 2, 1, go!”

Immediately, the teams were off. Celine scurried over to the place where they had hiked to see the sunset, and spotted a glimmering golden rose laying on the grass. Smiling, she picked it up before going off to find another one.

Meanwhile, Luna and Reuby were working together, searching in one clearing and instantly finding a golden rose. 

Silver was looking around the Lake of Eternity, keeping well away from the edge, of course, when she spotted a golden rose laid on top of a bush across from her. But beside her, Sam had spotted it as well. Silver tried to rush towards it, but Sam got to it first, holding it up triumphantly. Suddenly, Sam stumbled on a nearby rock, almost falling into the lake, but luckily, Silver helped them up just before they fell in.

“Be careful next time!” Silver said.

“Thanks, Silver,” Sam said breathlessly. “But don’t think I will give you the golden rose because of this.” Grinning, they sprinted away, looking for more golden roses.

The scavenger hunt was chaotic but fun, and certainly lifted up everyone’s spirits. Flora watched contentedly as Avara and Pangolin hurried to a bush as they both spotted a golden rose, trying to reach it first before the other person.

Eventually, the teams were tied, both having 8 golden roses each, meaning that there was one more left. A few tried to ask where it was, through bribery and such, but Flora wouldn’t give it away. So everyone continued looking for the last rose, hoping for their team to win.

Celine walked through one of the trails that led from a meadow and winded into a rather large forest. They wandered, looking for the last golden rose.

“Are you looking for the golden rose?” a voice asked. 

Celine whipped around to look at them, but couldn’t get a good look of their face, since the shadowy forest covered it. “Yes,” she said, still feeling a little startled.

“Mind if I look with you?” the person asked, their voice sweet.

“Oh, of course!” Celine said.

“Thanks,” the person said, as they both continued looking around in silence. Suddenly, the person said, “Hey, do you see that?”

Celine looked at where the person was pointing. “I can’t quite see what it is.”

“It’s a butterfly,” they explained. “It’s rather pretty, I think. Here, let me show you.”

In what was a sort of odd gesture, the person placed their hands on Celine’s neck and tilted it up, towards where the person was pointing before. But unexpectedly, they began to squeeze, as hard as they could. Celine tried to scream for help, but they couldn’t, and knew that it was the end. Finally, Celine dropped down, lifeless.

The murderer smiled. “This was a rather nice scavenger hunt,” they said, their voice perfectly calm as if they were talking about the weather.

Alive: 7

Dead: 3 (Lyric, Hawkstar, Celine)

Sorry this part is a bit short!

@everyone, thank you for all the comments so far! They really make my day 🙂

Day 3, Part 3

Pangolin was walking through the forest, looking for the golden rose, when suddenly, up ahead, she spotted something that made them stop dead in her tracks. 

It was the lifeless body of Celine. Visible bruises were on their neck, and at once, Pangolin knew that it was the murderer. 

Tearing out of the forest, they raced back to Flora, breathlessly announcing what they had just seen. Soon, everyone but Silver heard the news. 

As everyone was in a gloomy state, discussing who the murderer could be, Silver walked over, a golden rose in her hand. "I found the last one!" she exclaimed. She looked confused when no one responded. Luna quickly filled her in about what had happened to Celine.

Eventually, Flora finally announced that the scavenger hunt was over, and that the second team had won. However, no one was really paying attention. A funeral was then held for Celine, an assortment of flowers planted on top of her grave. There was much more subdued silence now instead of crying, since everyone was becoming worried that they would be next. Everyone, except for the murderer, who was rather content, and thinking about their next victim.

After a quiet dinner, everyone went straight to bed, none in the mood for free time. Pangolin laid awake in bed, wondering who could've killed Celine. But after laying awake for hours, sleep eventually caught up to them, and Pangolin drifted off to sleep, not knowing whether or not she would be still alive the next few days, or even tomorrow. 

Alive: 7

Dead: 3 (Lyric, Hawkstar, Celine) 

Day 4, Part 1

It was a lovely morning, with a clear blue sky, flowery meadows, and butterflies fluttering about. No one would suspect that any tragedy at all could happen.

After breakfast, Flora took everyone on a walk outside, as she knew it would cheer them up. Everyone was in low spirits, but as the sun rose up in the sky, it seemed that they were more comfortable and content.

Flora introduced them to the many different flowers they would see on the trail. There were daisies, roses, mountain laurels, pansies, lycorises, thistles, peonies, hydrangeas, and hyacinths. There were also many unrecognizable names of flowers that could only be found on the island, which Flora explained was because they were magical. But there was also one flower, which Flora called the Dawning Nightshade, and warned that whatever they do, do not try to eat it. 

Of course, this gave the murderer an idea. After they were done with the walk, the murderer went out on the pretense of going on a short walk outside. They then put on gloves and carefully took a Dawning Nightshade berry, hiding it in their room. They let it dry and crushed it into powder, pouring the contents into a small vial. Then, the murderer watched as Flora prepared lunch, conjuring sandwiches and pouring out orange juice and tea for everyone. When Flora left to go to the kitchen briefly, the murderer quickly poured the powder into one of the cups before going back upstairs, making sure no one saw.

~~~

“I’m kind of scared about this island now, knowing that there’s a murderer somewhere in here,” Pangolin said. 

“Me too,” Reuby agreed. “I wonder who the murderer could be?” 

“Well, we could make a list,” Silver suggested. “And slowly eliminate those who it couldn’t be.”

“That’s a great idea!” Pangolin exclaimed, as Reuby nodded in agreement.

Silver tore off a sheet of paper from her notebook and laid it on her desk. She slowly wrote down the names of every guest here, and crossed off the ones that were killed by the murderer.

“So,” Silver said when she had finished. “Any ideas?”

“We could start with Lyric,” Pangolin said. “Were any of you awake at the time?”

Both Reuby and Silver shook their heads. “I’m pretty sure everyone was fast asleep,” Reuby said. 

“Then let’s talk about the next murder,” Pangolin said. 

“But that one was at night as well,” Silver said. “And unless someone was out in the middle of the night, we don’t have any clues about who it was.”

“Then the third one,” Reuby said. “It was the scavenger hunt, in which Celine was killed. Anything you saw that might be useful?”

“Well, I didn’t know anything, since I was the one who found the last rose,” Silver said. “It couldn’t have been me.”

“Then we can finally cross someone out,” Pangolin said, sounding relieved as she took a pen and crossed out Silver’s name.

“But that’s all we have so far, isn’t it?” Reuby said. “Do you think there’s any other clues-” Her voice cut off as they heard Flora calling them down for lunch.

The three guests went downstairs and took a seat, waiting as the others came down to take their seats as well. The dining room looked even emptier than before, with three empty chairs. And no one, except the murderer, knew what was going to happen during this particular lunch.

Alive: 7

Dead: 3 (Lyric, Hawkstar, Celine)

Short part today! ty for everyone who commented so far, it really helps 🙂 Also, tell me if you want anything changed

Day 4, Part 2

Luna chatted casually with Sam, swapping details about certain experiences and trips they had before, when suddenly, Sam started having convulsions. Everyone looked over at them as they began choking out what looked like bits of a black berry. Immediately, Flora led Sam back to their room, where everyone else stared in silence, exchanging small whispers now and then. 

Meanwhile, Luna stayed as still as a stone and didn't make a sound. They were still processing what had just happened. After what seemed like hours, Flora came back, and a small shake of her head was all that everyone needed to know that Sam was gone.

One by one, people were talking to each other in what sounded like accusing tones. Eventually, it was Avara who called out, "Luna was sitting right next to Sam when it happened. Could it be Luna?"

Everyone began turning their heads to stare at Luna, who shrank back, scared. Already Luna knew what was to come. They could hear loud voices, each one angrier and more accusing than the last as they found logic in Avara's words. 

Finally, Flora shouted, "Enough, everyone!", abruptly stopping the voices.

"But what are we to do with Luna?" Silver asked. 

"Yeah, I'm a bit scared, to be honest, having a…murderer in our midst," Reuby added.

"Anyone have any ideas on what to do with them, then?" Flora asked.

"Get rid of them, somehow," Avara said.

"Somehow," Pangolin repeated in an amused tone.

"How about we seclude them?" Seadragon suggested. 

"Not in their room, because she could escape," Reuby said.

"Then a cell, maybe?" Silver said.

"We'll do that for now, then," Flora concluded. "But first, we should hold a funeral for Sam."

She led everyone out, where a hydrangea was placed on top of their grave. All the guests were silent, not only out of respect, but also because they were thinking about Luna. Would it still be safe with Luna around them, even in a cell? Meanwhile, Luna felt miserable, knowing that even if she tried to prove that they were innocent, no one would believe her.

Eventually, Flora conjured up a makeshift cell, where Luna was led in. For the afternoon, the guests either tried to guard Luna or read some book to keep their minds off the murderer. 

When it was time for dinner, Flora took extra care to make sure the guests' meals weren't poisoned, while each guest cautiously checked the food themselves. 

Then, it was time for bed. A few people suggested holding a guard, but most people were too tired to really care, and so the cell was left unguarded. But Flora put on an enchanted lock on it, so everyone was reassured that they were safe.

Alive: 6

Dead: 4 (Lyric, Hawkstar, Celine, Sam)

geez… The murderer is brutal! this is great, you're doing such a wonderful job 🙂