Artifice - The Copycat Killer

Chapter 11: Loradsey Island

Flames cast long, eerie shadows across the cavern walls as a couple of subordinates dragged in a heavy crate.

"Here's the uh...'killeranium' you wanted," one of the lackeys grumbled, a strain in his voice. "Now are we done?"

"Not yet," the leader replied with a sharp grin, "I thought it'd be a lovely thank you gift for you to stay and participate in the main attraction."

He forced back a frown. "I broke you out of jail. We've helped you too much. We're even; once Peko gets back, we're leaving."

She stood. Her eyes were dark and she brandished her slender weapon with conviction. "No, you're not! There's still so much to be done. So, so much. I hope for your sake Peko Pekoyama can finish her part of the job."

He fixed his suit, a final attempt to scrape up his pride, and nodded. Surely she couldn't hang onto the collateral now. "Whatever. You're the only one getting anything out of this, though."

"Don't get the wrong idea, eye-patch. Wait and see who we're dealing with."

"And you expect me to care because...?"

"Because... if you want to find out where Natsumi is, you'll reconsider your stance on the situation. Yeah?"

He opted for silence.

"You wanna know why it's more fun to be the bad guy, Fuyuhiko?"

Again, silence.

"It's obvious. Some people like heroes," she cackled, "but everyone loves a villain."

-

The boat arrived at the dock, sparkling sapphire waves lapping against it to bid them farewell. Kaito, Maki, and DICE had already dragged their luggage from their rooms and were ready to leave, excited smiles stretching from ear to ear like the sun shimmering over the horizon. Rantaro leaned over the side of the boat, admiring the scenery.

Shuichi's eyes scanned the group. Still no Kyoko or Ava. Where could they possibly be?

Kokichi tugged his sleeve, "What's the matter, Shu? You're making that face again. The one you do when you're thinking really hard!"

"Have you seen Ava or Kyoko this morning, Kokichi?" He turned his attention back to his boyfriend. "I haven't seen either since last night. Kyoko should be ready to leave by now. I know I shouldn't worry about her, but there's something about Ava that I really don't trust," he confessed with a hushed voice. Shuichi couldn't tell him about the sabotaged maps yet, but the knowledge that Ava might not be as reliable as he hoped sent shivers down his spine.

Kokichi shook his head, an oblivious smile pinching his cheeks. "Nope. Ava must've been steering the boat, though. Do you want me to look for Kyoko? You know I'm a prodigy at hide-and-seek!"

He was right, Ava would've been in control of docking the boat. But she hadn't come to say goodbye - it was strange; the Captain had been such an excellent host. But if Ava was nowhere to be found, and neither was Kyoko..."No, it's fine, really. You stay here, OK? I'll go get her." Something must've happened during the night.

Kokichi didn't have an opportunity to reply when Shuichi darted off to find the women. First, he checked the rooms. Kyoko's room was untouched, bags packed neatly on the end of her bed, which meant she was definitely still on board. Besides, she wouldn't have left without Rantaro. Kyoko disappeared during the night.

He checked the dinner hall, the lounge, and the pool, but it was to no avail. When he briefly reunited with the group, neither of the girls was there either.