Kings Gambit

Chapter 31 - Distrust

Annies' broken body lay against the wall in the hellscape of this room. Her left eye had seemed to be cut, and runny blood fell down her lips, dripping down to the cold hard stone floor below. Her hair was tangled and pulled, and bruises lined her body. Around the room lay thirteen other dead bodies in a much more rotted state, one of them being Tyrone, the first victim of this horrendous killing game. The smell and sight caused me to hold back puking. However, the most shocking of all came from the living, Hank. He seemed to reach his hand out as we opened the door, his eyes had heavy bags, and his clothes were torn and stained. That's when Oracle's voice confirmed our fears.

"Good morning, everyone, long time no speak. As you all might know by now, a new victim has been found in solitary confinement-"

"Yeah, we fucking know! This is absolutely disgusting!" Matt exclaimed in pure rage.

"I-I think I'm gonna puke" Claire held her hands over her mouth and stomach. Her eyes twitched.

"Right, well, you will now have time to investigate. I will call you when it is time to go to trial." Oracle finished. Jasper cut ahead of us and walked up to Hank.

"What the fuck do you know?" Jasper grabbed the old man by his tie. But he didn't speak a word.

"Well? Say something, asshole!" Jasper pushed him back with black eyes, but he didn't speak again.

"You're being rather hostile towards him," Tristan commented. He seemed to be a bit shaken by the sight.

"He was found in the room with the victim! So naturally, he had something to do with this," Jasper scoffed as he turned back to the rest of us.

"H-Hank? Why are you being silent? Say something..." I whimpered. I couldn't focus my eyes anywhere else besides him. Yet he stood emotionless like a statue. Not even expressing any kind of response verbally or non-verbally,

"It's no use," Elizabeth jumped in with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" Leo asked in a quiet tone. His face was pale from the sight of his dead friend. Elizabeth walked in and socked Hank, causing him to fall. Yet no verbal response was given.

"This was just like Matt at the first trial." Elizabeth crossed her arms.

"You didn't have to punch him like that. Since when were you so aggressive?" Leo stared down at the ground to avoid the dark sight.

"I see, so it's a role? Well, that's quite inconvenient, isn't it." Jasper grunted. He seemed unusually bothered compared to the last two investigations.

"A role like a blackmailer, but for the investigation phase. Why hasn't it been in use earlier?" Tristan questioned.

"That's what I was wondering. With the blackmailer dead, it has to be from a different role. Yet why would there be two very similar roles, and why only now?" Elizabeth questioned.

"I-I'm sorry guys... b-but this is a bit too much for me to handle... I'm going to search the rest of the prison f-for clues." Claire's face was white as a ghost as she sauntered away from the crime scene.

"Wait, Claire! Alex could be anywhere, so please don't go alone." I spoke in a calm yet dire tone.

"Alex won't be an issue... Don't worry about me." Her voice croaked before walking out into the cafeteria.

"Leave her be. We need the most people here to find out what the hell happened to her. We don't have much time" Leo grabbed my shoulder. I felt his fingers tremble. He's right... Dammit, he's right.