Still Doll

An Unasked Question

The stench of blood and heavy trails of death lingered pervasively in every corner of Meniandro's mansion and assaulted Kurapika's nose as he took the first step inside the main door.

Nothing changed that much from when he went inside it for the first time; the luxurious vibes and excessive wealth still screamed aloud. Just like in his first visit, bodies of guards were all over the floor, scattered everywhere. The only difference was they were just unconscious back after he knocked them all out— this time, not a single one of them seemed to be breathing. Their heads were twisted in odd ways. Some were drenched with their own blood from severe shots on the forehead. One body was lying twisted beneath the staircase with its head squashed against the tiled floor; it presumably had fallen down from the second floor right after receiving an attack.

Holes from gunshots pierced some parts of the living room with the scent of gunpowder still fresh in the air. The amount of bullets used and the thickness of the smell would make someone assume that their opponents must have been a pack of skilled assassins, and not a single man.

'Go to Meniandro's mansion. We'll meet inside his master bedroom.' It was an instruction he received from Kuroro through text some hours later after he gave his command. A command that he didn't know he would regret giving for the rest of his life.

Kurapika expected this much as he walked along the wake of death and destruction. Anger built up inside him; his order was vague and he overlooked to tell Kuroro not to kill anybody but this was absolutely unnecessary. There were many other ways to scare Meniandro; to make him shut his mouth forever and leave them alone. Killing must be on the top of the list but that was not the only option.

Kurapika then realized how rage blinded him so much this time around. The fact that he was the reason why all of these people died tugged at the back of his mind and stung his guts, and that exactly must be why Kuroro went that far: to make him feel so bad and guilty. He should have known. He knew from the start that killing was the only method Kuroro would use to deal with this and yet, he still gave an order.

Kuroro was up to something more, he could tell. The sight of the bloody hallway towards Meniandro's playground said it all.

More bodies laid lifeless along the way; they must have all gathered here to protect the twin door at the end of it. It was dim lit and hallowed. The smell of blood was poignant and sickening. The silence was deafening and void.

Each step reverberated as he got closer to the closed room. The walls and several paintings were stained with blood both dried and trickling. A few more steps away from the door, Kurapika recognized a dead body with huge wound across his abdomen as of stabbed by a big, blunt sword. It was the fast nen-user, one of his kidnappers before. He gave it one studying look; it must be his own weapon that was used to end his life, and proceeded to the door.

He stopped right in front of it, hesitant to open and see what was inside. But he had to— it was something he agreed to pay so dearly later on. With a quick but deep intake of breath, he grabbed the knob, turned it and stepped inside.

Unlike outside, Meniandro's bedroom was tidy and free from blood. The king size bed was still there, so were the leather straps, the TV and the adult toys organizer. Even the giant bowl was still there, and it seemed to have an occupant tonight.

Bloodshot eyes brimming with tears and terror looking pleadingly back at him, Meniandro opened his mouth to catch his breath as he sobbed uncontrollably and huddled inside the bowl. He scrambled to his feet and pressed his palms against the bowl's wall in attempt to reach him out. Kurapika wasn't filled with the satisfaction he expected to feel as he watched Meniandro shaking in fear and hopelessness inside his very own sadistic chamber. He even felt pity upon hearing him began to wail almost incomprehensibly.