Game of Fates

Chapter XVII

"You're serious, Pip?"

Amy gave her a look of surprise and shock, and it was obvious why.

Her sister, Pip... Although she seemed like the type who'd murder at first - in fact, she always sort of did - those of us who were close to her, family, friends... We knew it deep down: She'd never kill. We trusted her.

Which also meant... she was lying, for some reason.

I mean... For whatever reason, why would you want to admit to being the killer?

"I did," Pip answered, unwavering, unafraid to confess. "I killed Edward-"

"There's absolutely no way you'd kill Edward," Amy interrupted. "I don't believe you."

"You're lying, right?" I spoke.

Elise swallowed. "I really don't believe you, either."

"Why would you lie, Pip?" asked Ava.

"I'm not lying about anything," said Pip, though her tone was snarky, even if she did sound just a bit sincere, though just a little bit. Even so, I still wasn't sure.

"Man," sighed Ava. "Look, this ain't something to joke about, but since we haven't gotten anywhere, I'm gonna leave."

"Why don't you believe me?" asked Pip. "I'm just trying to tell the truth-"

"If you want us to trust you, answer me," demanded Kiara. "Ava, don't leave yet."

"Go ahead," said Pip. "What is your query?"

"Did you and Lillian autopsy the bodies yet?"

'The autopsies', I thought to myself. Well, Charlie apparently died from a heart attack, Brett was killed by Edward, Katie hanged herself, and someone slit Ed at the back of his neck. The strangest thing ever found at a crime scene was the mess in the room when we entered Katie's room a number of days ago, but even so, it didn't seem relevant.

"Yes," Pip replied. "But only those lovebirds' so far. David's not letting Lillian in the guys' side for some reason."

"Huh..." remarked Kiara. "Go on. So, what were your findings?"

"Nothing too new, really. Katie hanged herself; nobody strangled her. Then Brett was stabbed straight in the heart with his own knife."

Hold up...

"Wait, with his own knife?" went Amy. "I didn't know Brett even kept a knife on him-"

"Angel, do you know?" asked Kiara.

"All I remember is that he had a knife," I stated.

"And did Ed have a knife?"

I couldn't remember at all. But Brett being stabbed with the knife he himself was carrying was indeed weird.

"I don't recall, but things don't seem to make sense either way," I noted. "I mean, look. If Ed did have a knife, why was Brett killed with his own? And if Ed didn't have a knife, why'd he bother coming downstairs that night?"

"Hmm, it could be that he just... I dunno... he wanted a midnight snack or something?" suggested Ava. "Not that likely, but—"

"Yeah, that'd be way too coincidental," Kiara pointed. "And... unfortunate."

"What if Ed did have his own knife, and just, I dunno, dropped it while they were fighting?" I suggested.

"Angel, you really don't remember?" replied Amy. "That... That's not likely at all."

"Not that clearly, no..." I answered. "Sorry— Actually, no, wait..."

"Hm?"

I tried to remember it more clearly. Only then was I sure.

"Brett made the first move. He had a knife in his pocket from the beginning."

Ava slammed her left hand on her seat's arm. "If that's the case... What if Ed just happened to grasp the knife from Brett while they were fighting? Like—"

"Edward forcibly taking the knife from Brett?" Amy questioned. "That's..."

"No way Brettsy would lose to Edward in that regard," said Pip.

"Brett's a basketball player. Edward just... I dunno, plays video games and all," said Kiara. "I agree, that's not likely. Ed wouldn't have the strength to overpower Brett as long as he was holding the knife."

Then as we all paused again to think, Pip smiled. "I got something. No way you'd believe me, though."

"Huh? What is it?"

"You know, Brett and Ed weren't the only people in the room—"

"But Angel ran—"

"No, Ava, you dumb fuck," Pip countered. "I'm talkin' about Katie, of course."

"But Katie... She wouldn't kill Brett!" countered Elise.

"Here's what I've got in mind," said Amy. "The fight could've gone long enough for Brett and Ed to need a middle person to stop them, and Katie was that person. Of course... Knowing her I don't think she'd support anyone, even Brett, killing someone else, so she tried to stop the fight, and disarmed Brett."

"Wasn't Katie chasing Angel, though?" Ava raised.

"Nah, like I said, Brett and Ed could've been at it for any amount of time," noted Amy. "I'll also add, Katie doesn't have fighting experience. She disarmed Brett trying to stop the fight, but Ed grabbed the knife eventually and did the deed."

"I see..." commented Kiara. "Makes sense."

"Seems like a good deduction too, Amy!" I followed. "I'm glad that's over with—"

"Y'know, y'all have been wasting your time..." said a smiling Pip Hawthorne.

"I—" Ava stuttered. "What are you up to?"

"Listen up, ladies and gentlemen!" she announced. "Do you recognize this knife?"

"That's—!" I gasped. It was Brett's knife.

I didn't know why she had it, but one thing was clear: once more, she wasn't up to any good.