Part 20: The Origami Figure

_{content warning: mention of suicide}

[BGM: Silence]


I decided to keep searching on the first floor. It was a little unsettling searching by myself for the first time. I had previously felt some safety in the presence of others. That being said, I couldn't even say for certain that searching with others would even make me feel better. The introduction of those horribly unfair rules had completely destroyed any atmosphere of camaraderie we previously had.

Were things really going to be alright? I couldn't help but think that the existence of this 'traitor' was going to make things go horribly wrong. But thinking about all of this was pointless. I needed to focus on my search for Trinkets. Unfortunately, that wasn't exactly going great either.

Room after room, I diligently searched, but there was nothing to be found. There would be times where I was almost certain I had looked everywhere in a room, but I couldn't bring myself to leave. My experience in the gym showed that while Brian wasn't looking to be completely obscure in his hiding spots, they also wouldn't always be obvious. If I internally marked a room off as 'clear' and there was, in fact, a Minor Trinket in there, the results could be catastrophic.

No, a slow, methodical search was for the best.

[BGM: Dog Days]


Eventually, I reached a weird-looking boiler room. After a bit of looking, I stumbled across what looked to be a back-up generator. What was this doing here? While that alone was strange, I only became worried when I realized that its charging cord had been cut off. Why? Who would want a plug that lead to nothing but an exposed wire? And who cut this off? Brian? Or someone here?

I kept looking in the room, but I wasn't able to find anything else noteworthy. I checked my tablet, and it was getting close to the end of the round. It was probably a good time to input a move and gather back at the cafeteria. Looking at my tablet, my eyes were drawn to the ACT button. If there was someone I suspected, I could use my ability on them. After all, if they stuck to the plan, then there would be no difference. It was only logical then to use it... right?

No, I couldn't. Using the ability in and of itself signaled my distrust. The last thing I wanted now was to disrupt the tenuous peace we had achieved. I clicked on RUN and made my way to the cafeteria.



It appeared I was one of the first ones there. The only other person there was Tiger.

Hey Mouse! How'd the search go?

Ah. I hate to admit it, but I wasn't able to find anything.

Yeah, me neither. It's a real shame. But hey, maybe the others will have fared better!

Let's hope.

Right as I said this, Dragon ran in.

[BGM: Silence]


Oh no. She looked panicked.

Tiger! Quickly, give me your key to the weapon closet!

What? I can't do that, I was entrusted this!

Fine, then come with me!

Wait, what's going on?

Just hurry!

Dragon started rushing out of the room, and Tiger left with her. I had a bad feeling about this. I decided to follow behind them. They made their way to the recording studio. There, Snake was waiting in the intermediate room.



Did you get it?

I brought her.

Yeah, why am I here?

Look at that!

[BGM: Rat's Awakening]


Dragon pointed at the figure lying against the wall through the window. The figure of Sheep, lying limp. She didn't look injured, and yet...

What is she doing there?

Hell if I know! Tiger, open the chain!

On it!

Tiger opened the door and pulled on the chain lock until the lock was close enough. She then unlocked it, then pulled open the door. Dragon pushed past her and ran over to Sheep's side. Tiger, Snake and I ran in after her.

No, no, no, this couldn't be happening. Things would be fine, right? There was no need for everything to go completely sideways, right? Then why did it feel like I had swallowed a ball bearing made of dry ice? Then Dragon spoke the words I had been dreading.

She's warm, but... I can't feel a pulse.

No... NO!

[BGM: Weak Pig]


Round 4 ended soon after we discovered her. Apparently, everyone just RAN. ...Everyone except Sheep. Others made their way over here, and the news of her death spread amongst the participants. Most had gathered right outside the room, and were anxiously discussing things. The only ones actually in the room of the crime were me, Snake, Dragon, Tiger, Bunny, and Dog.

The whole time I just stood there, feeling empty. I had done so much to try and make sure no one would die. And yet, for Sheep, such a fragile and innocent soul, to end up like this! Whoever did this would pay. I would make sure of it, no matter what it would take. I said that, and yet... I couldn't stop myself from standing there, empty, while others discussed the situation.



Fuck. FUCK! Why the fuck did this... Who would do this, and to Sheep of all people?

Fucking bastard! Show your face!

How could this happen?

How indeed. Tiger, you had your key the whole time, correct?

Of course!

Then what about the other key?

Dragon bent over and fished through Sheep's pockets. Before long, she pulled out a key.



This is it, right?

It appears to be.

Over here, the window's locked.

Duh. We checked that back when we found the scene.

Then does that mean...

Indeed, this appears to be a locked-room murder.

What the fuck? Damn it! Who could do something like this!



Is it even a murder, though? How did she die?

You didn't see? Right here on her neck, there's an injection mark.

She gestured to the body, and sure enough, there was a hole in Sheep's neck.

That makes sense.

What? Why?

I've been checking the weapon inventory, and the poison's gone missing. I looked at the label on that earlier. The poison's supposedly incredibly lethal, and instantly active.

If she was stuck with a syringe of that, she'd be on the floor in seconds.

Where the hell would someone even get a syringe though?



There are several science labs on the third floor, right? It's likely the assailant got one from there.

Hey, what's that on the windowsill?

Bunny pointed to the windowsill, not to the intermediate room but to the outside.



Sitting on it was a folded piece of paper making an origami cat.

I believe it was there when we first came across the scene.

Yo, Snake! Is this your work?

Why would you think that?

It's origami, right? You're artsy and shit. Seems like this'd be up your alley.

True, I have an appreciation for the arts. However, I must confess that origami was always one medium that evaded me.

But why would this be here? What, is this supposed to be a calling card or something?

A calling card? What a frightening idea.



Why's no one explaining the fact that everything was locked! That's super weird, right?

Indeed.

You don't think Sheep... killed herself, do you?

The hell? You're really saying that shit?

A logical thought to have. However, there is an issue with that theory. Where did the syringe go? It is not here in this room.

Right, right. Sheep wasn't the type to kill herself anyways!



It was definitely some evil psychopath! Well, what about this- what if the killer attacked her from outside?

Huh?

Think about it. There's a bit of a gap in the door thanks to the chain, right? The killer could've stuck their arm in and got her from here.

Nah. No way.

What? Why not?

The poison was fast acting, yeah? Then how did her body get all the way over here to this wall?

Plus, it looks like it was deliberately placed there. She looked like she was just sitting down, like she could be sleeping. If she was really stabbed through the crack, she'd immediately start writhing around, then pass out in a pained looking position right by the door.

[BGM: That Pesky Rodent]


That's it. I couldn't just stand around blankly. I needed to help. I needed to find whatever monster would do this.

Okay, okay, stop. Before we talk about this any more, I'm going to need to be brought up to speed. Could someone give me an exact rundown of how things went leading up to finding this body?

Right, right, that would probably be helpful.

Fine, whatever. Snake and I ran into each other around here.

Yes, we were both searching in this area and happened to run into each other. We decided to keep looking as a pair, just for efficiency's sake. Very shortly after that, we walked by here, and Dragon noticed something through the window.

I wasn't sure, but I thought I saw someone in the studio. I decided it was best to check, so we entered the intermediate room.



And it was then when we saw Sheep in this sorry state.

It was a fucking outrage is what it was.

To be clear, we weren't sure she was dead or even hurt then. We just saw that she was sitting down in the studio by herself.

I do believe the origami cat that Bunny found was on the windowsill at that time.

Immediately, I called out to her. No response.

I tried to pull open the door, but as expected, the chain was locked and preventing me from opening the door fully. Then I tried to see if I could get in through the window, but that was also locked.



It was then that I suggested that Dragon try and find Tiger so we could enter the room and see what was happening.

Then I ran over to get Tiger, and I guess you saw the rest.

I will say, it does seem a rather impossible crime.

If we assume that there were only two keys to this lock. However, if there were three, then there'd be no mystery whatsoever.

Hold on a second, are you accusing me? I told you, there were only two keys!

Hold your horses. I was not, in fact, accusing you.



Rather, I was pondering if it was possible that the Jade Emperor expected that we may use that bike chain for something. If he did, he may have taken a spare key from that chain for himself.

Then what, are you saying Brian's the killer? I thought he said he was staying out of this mess, that he was just a host or some shit.

He did indeed say that, I must admit. I wonder then... ...Perhaps this was a pointless theory.

There's no such thing as a pointless theory, Snake! We all gotta do our part to try and bring the villain who did this to Sheep to justice!

I'd advise against that.

What?

Don't get me wrong. I'd love to figure out the killer just as much as everyone else. But the more time we spend on that, the less time we're spending looking for the Minor Trinkets.

So what, you're saying we should just ignore this and keep searching?



It may sound crass, but pretty much. The longer we stay here, the worse things will get.

The best way to ensure our safety would be to finish the race.

It's sad, so so very sad, but Dog's right.

We need to move on.

What fucking bullshit. You expect us to just move on like that?

I don't expect it, but I hope you can.

Tch.



So what should we do with this extra key?

Let's give it to Tiger. After all, the killer overpowering someone who had a key was the reason we got into this mess in the first place.

It's unlikely that'll happen to Tiger.

Damn right it won't.

Was that right? Something seemed off in Bunny's statement there...

I don't like this. But fine, here you go.

Dragon gave her key to Tiger.

We should leave Sheep in here to rest peacefully. We'll avenge her by getting out alive!

[BGM: Silence]


Despite her best efforts, even Tiger wasn't encouraging. We left the room and locked the chain again. The others who were just outside the crime scene had all dispersed. Apparently Ox had been on the same wavelength and gotten them to continue the search.

Was that the right call? Just ignoring this? I didn't think so. Everyone was acting so casual, but a person had just died. A friend had just died. No, a friend had been murdered. And we return to what we were doing like nothing had happened? It wasn't right. Even if we had more important issues...

It wasn't right.