Kenopsia

Scene Eight: "Exulansis"

Exulansis (n.) The tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people can't relate to it.

Fell sat at the dining table, staring at his food. He didn't want to eat. There was no point anymore. He was just going to die, right?

His children and friends had begged him to eat but he ultimately dismissed the request. He stopped eating, conversing, and sleeping. He overall just stopped doing the regular things one needed to do. There was no point in anything. Without his parents and Lanie, he felt empty. Sure, he had Star and Rem, but it wasn't the same without the whole family.

Rem, Star, Gogy, Zo, Aria, and Quinn were always with him. They took shifts sleeping and watching him. Fell never knew why, but he guessed they didn't want him to do anything.

———

Quinn sat by the desk, oil lamp illuminating a nice, yellow glow. Everyone but Fell were asleep, as per usual.

"Fell, would you like me to get you food?" Quinn knew they could defend themselves, and surely the killer would be somewhere else. They could use the opportunity to grab food and run swiftly back to the room.

Fell looked at Quinn with tired and rueful eyes. He exhaled, and nodded, turning to face his side and look at the waning gibbous shining flawlessly outside the window.

Quinn smiles and nods happily. Skipping out of the room, she makes her way to the hotel's kitchen. Quinn made it there rather quickly as to not be slow enough for the killer to get her. She needed to be fast.

Once Quinn got quite a bit of food for her and Fell, she left swiftly. She didn't want to be caught, now did she? A sound comes from behind her but she doesn't stop. She has to get back to the others. She wasn't going to die like this.

Suddenly, the floor was swept from under her feet and she hit the floor harshly. There was food spilled everywhere, and Quinn was in quite a panic. No no no, this can't be real, can it?

"My my, Quinn, you've spilled all your food. Tsk tsk. What a clumsy individual." The voice ran out and bounced on the walls surrounding the two.

"That voice... no. It's you...? ꖎリ╎ᒷᔑ?" Quinn's voice was laced with fear and disbelief.

ꖎリ╎ᒷᔑ chuckles and smiles at Quinn eerily. Their smile showed no happiness, but no sadness either. It was just- there. The killer, ꖎリ╎ᒷᔑ, sits on the middle of Quinn's back. The sound of a knife being taken out of a sheath sounded out.

"Wait-! Please no! I have to get back to Fell and Rem and and- and Aria! And all of them! Please..." Quinn managed to choke out. The killer paused, breath hitching, for a moment; but only for a moment.

"That's not going to make me stop. You're not doing anything, only wasting your breath. I suggest you be silent." ꖎリ╎ᒷᔑ states as they put the knife to Quinn's throat.

"Did you write a note? And is it with you?" ꖎリ╎ᒷᔑ askes as they dig just a little bit into Quinn's neck. Quinn lets out a gasp but nods anyway.

The killer chuckles. The chuckle turns into a full on manic laugh as they slowly slit Quinn's throat. After they complete their task, they take an apple and take a bite out of it, disappearing into the shadows of the building's forlorn atmosphere.