Prushka
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Hwan's Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
"...so they know who it is. Of course. The paper even mentions questioning the students, so they must have figured it out already."
There's nothing nice to say here. Something horrible happened and no one was able to stop it. Those who might have, didn't even know it had happened. Had I not stumbled into it by pure chance, no one would ever find out. It was a damn near perfect crime and all we can do now is pick up the pieces and make the best of a terrible situation.
"...I memorized the scent of the listening post's new occupant. If they show up anywhere, I'll know it's them. But without a way to get further into the post itself, there's no way to corner them short of camping out at the post and hoping they come back, or somehow finding them in town. And that's like searching for a needle in a haystack. I'd run out of Odic Force before making it to the diner."
We're not finding this supposed vampire any time soon, not with the information at hand. The next best option would be looking for what they're looking for.
"The scent at the listening post smelled familiar, but it wasn't any of the students. Couldn't be; they've been up there at least a month, and we haven't even been here a week. I've got the Pinefall class all memorized. Except..." Vivi, of course. Her feelings are too faint to pick up most of the time. Even when we communicated directly without words, self to self, it was like holding a conversation with the wind at the bottom of a snowy valley. But also... "Souma. He doesn't leave any traces. Like an empty void."
A heartbeat passes. Maybe two. Maybe it skipped a beat. Maybe it skipped many.
"B-but, there are other ways to fool my ESP! So we can't jump to conclusions. Most of the class seems to be connected to the Turnside one way or another. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them could magic away evidence."
I don't want to suspect Souma. Not because I know he's a good guy or anything. All I know about him is that he's got a nice, well, smile. And Ubon's warning. And his eyepatch. Okay, he's suspicious. Super suspicious. So obviously suspicious that how suspicious he is is itself suspicious. But he's also too easy of a target.
"There's a giant sewer system under the school, so it's not like it had to be one of the students... even though it seems like it. Gabi was shy and skittish, right? He doesn't seem like the type who'd agree to go out alone to the outbuilding during the middle of the night for just anyone. I know I'd bring a friend for sure if someone told me to meet them after midnight, unless it was someone I could trust." So either he had a reason not to involve others, or he felt confident enough to go alone... or he just didn't have a friend to turn to for help. "...better to focus on the other two dots. You're right, they might've seen something. We could ask around, see who was together last night. Need to talk to the others anyway. One of them could know something that could help."
This is certainly a high priority investigation. Someone died. Someone killed. Someone might die again and someone might kill again. Forget Sunday; lives are in danger right now.
The problem is, it seems like the answer is once again out of reach. Or perhaps I just can't reach it alone. Legwork needs to be done. The others who remember last week need to know. We need to talk to allies and exchange information and get a birds' eye view on this whole thing, like Hwan suggested.
Class is the best time to contact them. Hopefully too many people don't skip.
"...if that doesn't work. there's one thing we can do immediately to throw a wrench in this indiscriminate killer's plans. I was considering it for this afternoon, if Gabi didn't show up to class, but not before one, leaving behind all the info I had with someone trustworthy in case it goes wrong, and two, finding out what's in that safe in the nurse's office to use it as leverage. You know almost everything now, so... maybe it's time."
This is basically the nuclear option. But there's no better time to push that button than when death is around the corner.
I fold my arms, hands balling into fists.
"Confront the principal. March up to his office and tell him one of his students is gone. Tell him that things are spiraling out of control, and that if he doesn't do something immediately, it'll only get worse."
It's almost as risky a move as revealing the Turnside to a mortal. Because I don't know a thing about Mr. Oceandrop. I've seen him and heard him and heard the praises others sing of him, but I've never smelled him.
"Either he's serious about that goofy speech he gave on Tuesday and he'll lock everything down to protect the students... or he'll show his true colours and act to stop that information from spreading further. Either way, we'd know where Oceandrop stands."
There's no easy way forward. Perhaps Hwan will have some wisdom from experience. He's gotten out of difficult situations before, right?
"What do you think?"