Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 12: New Game Launch [Complete]

1403: An Unfalsifiable Psychological Problem

Elizabeth turned her head to look at the empty floor, her expression hidden from Marigold's view.

The pair of bare feet had vanished the moment they entered. No one could have hidden deeper inside the house in such a brief span of time, at least not without Marigold hearing hurried footsteps. The air in the room felt stagnant, only disturbed when they stepped in.

"Really?" Elizabeth responded softly. "That's unexpected."

"What's unexpected?" Marigold pressed. Had Elizabeth not claimed to be a psychic, Marigold would never have mentioned seeing those feet beneath the curtain. Even a fake psychic wouldn't dare claim that seeing ghosts indicated mental illness. In this respect, Elizabeth needed to maintain her reputation.

"I'm surprised you saw it," Elizabeth said, shaking her head as she guided her further into the room, taking a seat by a dining table. "But I'm even more puzzled that you saw it in a place it seldom visits."

"What did I see?"

After a pause, Elizabeth said, "There are things better left unknown to ordinary people."

"Do you know... what those feet were?"

The psychic poured her a cup of tea, seemingly calming herself before saying with a smile, "Of course. You could say it's an old friend of mine. It follows me wherever I go."

'Could it be that Elizabeth isn't a fraud?'

Maybe this game had settings involving spirits, which was why there was a psychic character.

Marigold realized she had only two choices: either start believing that Elizabeth truly could see ghosts or assume she had experienced a severe hallucination. She knew her mental state was sound, and she had clearly seen those bare feet beneath the curtain, as real as she saw Elizabeth and the table before her. If she began doubting herself, wouldn't Jetson unquestionably win?

If Elizabeth genuinely had psychic abilities...

"I'm very scared," she blurted out, instantly regretting it as her words echoed in the room.

Elizabeth remained silent for a while, then gestured to the tea. "Drink it."

Marigold glanced at the cup, hesitated for a second, then downed the lukewarm tea. "Here," she said, pushing the cup now holding a small residue of tea leaves back to Elizabeth. She decided not to speak another word, still skeptical about Elizabeth's claimed abilities. If Elizabeth truly had them, let her read the tea leaves.

"You believe someone intends to harm you, and the danger... comes from a place that should be safe."

Yes, home should be a safe place. Marigold's heart fluttered, watching Elizabeth lift her cup, slowly saying, "It seems like it's your home? You want to take action, but... something is holding you back."

Action? She did have a plan: to prove during the neighborhood gathering today that she's mentally sound. Nothing was holding her back. If her husband wanted to harm her, she would resist. There should be no hesitation.

Was Elizabeth making all this up? Her words were vague, and considering the information she'd given away, it could be enough for Elizabeth to weave a narrative.

Elizabeth seemed very perceptive, her gaze briefly sweeping over Marigold as if realizing that her words hadn't immediately caught Marigold off-guard. A subtle frown formed on Elizabeth's face. Perhaps some expression had given away her feelings, prompting Marigold to touch her face self-consciously.

Elizabeth lowered her eyes, gazing at the cup. "Oh, I see something new... your marital life is about to undergo a significant change. No, perhaps it has already started."