Painting the Town Red

Victim 1: First Blood

Painting the Town Red:

Characters: Mario, Luigi, Waluigi, Wario, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Bowser, Yoshi, and Birdo

Victims: 1 Toad

Killer:

I knew it would be no easy feat to wrangle up the whole Mario gang, but somehow I managed.

True, I had to sacrifice a toad, but when all my targets arrive in the same place, it will be one, two, three from there.

Now it is time to play the death game.

I'm coming for you.

All of you.

One, two, three... Can you see me?

Mario:

Hastening his step with every stair, Mario bounded into the gazebo. The sun was barely setting, and it painted the sky a magnificent orange color. Indescribably beautiful despite the situation Mario was leaping into headfirst.

When he reached the top, Mario found the whole group was waiting for him.

Mario took a look around. He knew that most of the people here were coming. People such as the Princesses Peach, Daisy, (and Rosalina for that matter), were required by law to investigate any domestic abuse. However, there were some... not so pleasant faces, specifically Wario and Waluigi. Not to mention Bowser, who claimed he had seen exactly what had happened.

Everyone was speaking in excited, yet frightened tones. Mario took a step forward, lifting his hands over his head so as to be made seen.

The group looked his direction, and one by one, they all went silent.

Even before seeing the corpse, Mario could see the poor Toad's lifeblood splattered all over the walls and the floor, as if the killer had wished to announce his or her presence.

However, before Mario had the chance to see the victim itself, Luigi grabbed Mario by the shoulders. His eyes were wide and they were glistening with fear.

"Mario! I don't know what happened. One second he was sitting there enjoying the view, and the next, he... he was..."

Bowser cut Luigi off.

"Fortunately for all of you, I saw exactly what happened." Bowser laughed and crossed his arms. The wickedly sharp spikes on his armbands and his collar glittered densely in the setting light.Mario shook his head at Bowser and looked back to Luigi, who still looked concerned. He was biting his lip and flushing, whether from the light of the sun or from sudden adrenaline Mario couldn't guess.

Mario patted Luigi on the shoulder, gently removing his brother's gloves, and sighed.

"I know, Luigi. I know you called us as soon as you could." Mario stepped towards the toad, laying sprawled out on the oak planks.

Mario crouched next to the body to investigate further. The corpse was so mauled, Mario could hardly believe it had once been a toad. The throat had been slashed open, as if without care to a quick strike. The mouth and lower jaw bore a similar mark, slashing across the cheeks to give the corpse a gruesome smile. Its lower body held little markings, save for a few scratches where the toad may have been drug around in its struggle, but the mushroom shaped bulge on the toad was completely out of proportion. The outer flesh of the head had been cleanly skinned off, revealing muscle underneath still oozing with blood. By the looks of the tissue, which was found on the chair nearby, the toad must have been a blue one at some point. Finally, as if to give one more bitter stab at any loved ones or the investigation crew, the killer had removed the toad's eyes, leaving completely empty sockets wide open in shock.