💡 Murder in the Moonlight

chapter nine - alone?

Now, if you're a witness to a murder and the killer doesn't flee immediately, you should take the first action and run far away. 9 times out of 10, you'll be dead within a few seconds should you choose to stay put.

However, in this wretched game, the Murderer can only kill one person a night. Their person of choice tonight was Alab. As upset as I now am, at least I have secured safety.

"How COULD you?" I screamed at the mysterious figure in front of me. Alab's lantern is nowhere to be found so identifying any features is simply impossible. I can only barely make out their presence.

"Aw, dear Indah. You knew this was coming, didn't you?" a female voice speaks out. It's sinister, mocking my misery even. I try to control my anger and keep myself from lashing out at her. That, unfortunately, only works for a few seconds.

"How... why? Why would you..." I want to scream so loud that somebody shoots me for being disruptive. Wouldn't that be better than this? However, my voice breaks. Tears form in my heavy eyes.

"I know! I could've killed somebody else... Melodie maybe? Or even you! But what fun would that be? Watching you now even, sobbing over some stupid guy who never even cared about you? It's far more entertaining than anything I've done all game!" she cackles, her voice echoing in the trees.

"I- I healed him though?" I mutter. I did heal him, how come he's dead?

"God, you disgust me, Indah. Take his damn journal and get out of here before I kill you too," she spits. She doesn't let me do anything after I grab hold of his journal. Instead, she demands for somebody else to take my hands and bring me back. I don't protest seeing someone's taking care of a difficult job for me.

"I'm really sorry Indah. Just... read his journal," a second voice whispers. She's much less forceful than the first girl, as if she doesn't want to be doing this. It must've been a second of vulnerability though because she shoves me towards the fire and runs away.

The fire crackles in front of me. It's so jarring that I impulsively move to avoid the sparks. I take a seat on a vacant log then place Alab's journal down.

And then I finally let myself cry.

I think back to the very first night, feeling Mateo's freezing body collapse in my unprepared arms. I think of Mila's lifeless corpse dangling from that blasted tree. I think of Thiago, who only wanted to survive with his friends. I think of Adanna, floating aimlessly down the polluted river, then Chidi, who was likely poisoned to his death. I think of Quinn, who was incorrectly accused for poisoning Chidi then faced the consequences of it. I think of Lara, Elizabeth, Colleen and Odette as well as the first night Alab and I found them alone and how none of them deserved to die. Even if they were complete assholes. I think of Marley, oh Marley, and her meaningless accusations that were built in a failed attempt to help us survive. I think of Omar and his innocence that hid behind his cruel attitude.

And then I think of Alab and I cry even more.

His warming smile, his glistening brown eyes, his comforting touch. He cares- cared for me. Even if that stupid killer doesn't believe it, he did. He did!

I feel sick. I want to throw up enough that I choke and even die. Or maybe I'll give myself a Marley-style death and burn to my end. But I don't. Instead, I pick up Alab's journal and open to the first page.

witch. sorry for not helping out, some people are worth more than winning.

Wiping my tears with my arm, I force myself to resist the urge to sob again.

if anyone apart from indah even cares to keep reading, stop. this isn't for you.

but if it is indah, i'm so sorry. i can't even tell you how sorry i am because i'm probably dead now. i had to block you because you would've died instead. you can win this game though, i know it. you have everything you need to survive and with a detective brain like yours, i trust you'll be fine. tell your story and live the life you deserve.

You've got to be kidding.

Had he said a word of this even last night, I doubt he would be dead now. But he didn't. And now he's gone and I'm alone, sobbing, with only the warmth of the campfire to keep me from the cold.

"Indah!" Melodie's voice calls from somewhere.

Footsteps.

"God, I'm so glad to see you. Where's..." she trails off, realising what had happened.

She wraps her cold arms around my neck, just like Alab had no longer than an hour ago, and says nothing more. Is she crying? I can't tell.

"I'm really sorry about Alab," she breaks the silence after a few minutes.

"Don't be." I respond instantly. My miserable tone is gone though, because I'm sitting next to a killer.

"You aren't very slick, Melodie," I stand up, backing away from her.

"Indah? What are you saying?" Her face displays an expression of fear. I think back to the mysterious unidentified person who killed Alab and remember a flicker of blonde hair. Maybe it was when she turned around to leave her sidekick to drag me away but the picture of her is crystal clear.

"You're the damn killer. How couldn't I see it before? You never really cared about anybody here. You barely even cared for Marley and look how she died! You had the means to kill, you'd have plenty of motives to kill and you had the opportunity nearly every night." I state coldly.

"Listen to me Indah! You're going insane, you haven't slept in days. Please, just hear me out-"

"I'M NOT HEARING A MURDERER OUT!" I yell at the top of my lungs.

"Indah, please!"

"You killed the only person I really did care about. I can't forgive you for that! Get your damn vote in, I'm not waiting any longer to get out of here alive." I pull out my journal and tear out what will hopefully be my final voting slip.

M...E...L...O...D...I...E.

"Hurry up!" I yell. Her face has turned pale, which is unusual considering her standard light complexion. She writes somebody's name as fast as she can and hands her paper to me.

I unfold it.

Rosalie.

I look over at Melodie and she's staring at me like she's being held at gunpoint. Her breathing is abnormally fast for a safe situation like this.

"Well Melodie. Since you've voted somebody that isn't in the game, I guess that means only my vote is valid. So you're officially voted out," I state as I cross my arms.

"Indah."

"Yeah?"

"You're going to die right here if you don't vote out Rosalie."

"Listen to yourself! There isn't anybody called Rosalie here."

"YES THERE IS!"

"No there isn't! Besides, it doesn't matter anymore. You've been caught red-handed and you're out now. Stop fighting."

Tears start to fall down Melodie's pale skin.

"You're making a mistake Indah. It'll cost you your life."