The Everlasting Oasis

Chapter 8 - Objective Mirror

"What the hell is this place...?" 

Truly, this room passes the ends of sanity. It's unlike any I've seen before. A mystery in it's own right. The whole length and width is covered half assedly in paints of any and all colours. To the side, broken canvases and boards thrown to the bin alongside dubious papers and random objects. Right in the back of the room is a chair accompanied by a canvas, facing off against a further chair by itself. Behind the far chair is an unnecessarily tall window. 

Indeed. I'm in Anthony's room. 

After leaving off with that dubious one liner, he invited me up to his room so, I decided that I might as well take him up on that offer.

Taking a strong lead, Anthony sits by the paint canvas and smiles. "Do you mind sitting over there so I can paint whilst conversing?" 

"Oh, uh, yeah, alright." 

I do recall hearing from Alex at the first day that Anthony was quite strange but indeed, I'm left without many words. I mean, he must be at least 50 and is going around with this indescribable attire and chaotic room. 

Well, I guess there's some smart colour meshing going on with his yellow earrings contrasting with his deep purple hair. 

"Is this pose alright, Anthony?" I sit with my fingers interlocked on my lap and my legs well spaced out. 

"Yes, it's perfect." Taking the brush to hand, he makes elegant, refined strokes against the canvas. 

After a minute or two passes, I try to break the silence. 

"Uh, about that-" 

"You know, Hudson, I think that you're quite a good detective, great even. But, you're yet to have reached your full potential." He continues, "Simply put, this mystery isn't a whodunnit. Not yet. It's a howdunnit." 

"Huh? No, I'm pretty sure I explained how the murder occurred just this morning." 

"Tsk, tsk, you're thinking too small. It's true that you explained how the murder happened but how could it have occurred?" 

"What do you mean?" 

Pointing at me, he says, "The five senses." 

The five senses? Even if you say that, it's not gonna be any help as a hint... 

"That's right, I'm not talking about how the murder happened, I'm talking about how it could possibly happen. At first glance, it seems like a locked room mystery, however..."

"Wait, pull the brakes, Anthony. How could it be a locked room mystery if the culprit broke through the window? There's surely no room to lock." 

He smirks. "Hearing, Hudson."

"Hearing? What are you on ab-"

Instinctually, I fall back into the chair. 

How didn't I realise that? 

It's simple, really. Much too simple. 

Why did everyone come up upon hearing my cries but not the crime itself?

Even if the murderer suffocated Anna beforehand, breaking into her room and then bringing both of them through the dining hall window wouldn't be quiet, no matter how you slice it. 

But how did no one woke up? That's strange. Much too strange. 

Especially if you consider the state of Anna's body; it was ripped into shreds. If that much damage was done, how could you get away with such minimal sound.