image [https://i.imgur.com/0DEgza1.jpeg]

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The sound of birds is accompanied by the sound of footsteps on the leafy ground. The forest is not clearly visible, as the camera moves from left to right — proof of the young man's lack of professionalism. However, this is not the most important thing for him... nor for the young woman at his side. They move forward unhesitatingly between the trees, both silent, but the camera on the black-shelled phone is still filming. This is no mistake: if something were to happen before they got there, they'd rather be able to capture it on camera than let the opportunity pass them by. Usually, they walk hand in hand, but this time, since they both have a camera in their grip, they walk right next to each other. Before long, they arrive at the place they've been looking for, one they found a few days ago. They look at each other and nod, determination mixed with courage and a touch of fear. After swallowing hard, the young man, who must hardly be 20, raises his camera and films himself with the young woman at his side who is clearly his girlfriend. The lack of a ring around the finger, or any trace of one, makes it clear that they are not married.

- Hello or good evening, we are 'Clérine'!

In cheerful, friendly voices, they introduce themselves to the camera. The name is a play on the couple's first names: Clément's 'Clé' and Maurine's 'Rine'. The young man has very short chestnut hair, while the young woman has longer blond hair, but it doesn't reach past her shoulder blades. Since it's curly, it looks like it's shorter than it really is.

- Today, we want to show you a place we came across not long ago!

He then turns his camera forward, showing the building in front of him.

And the video continues. The young couple talk to each other, comment on the interior and visit with their flashlights in their hands. Since they're filming for 'TikTok', they can't afford to make the video too long, for fear that people won't be interested, or that they'll leave when they notice it's too long. For the time being, they visit, not really having any more information than those who watch, even if for the time being, no one can view their video, since it's not live. They both say one or two jokes, but it's not because they're having fun: it's just to lighten the mood around them. Without the light of their flashlight, it would be pitch black.

- There are a lot of insects here..." admits Clément, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

The humidity, lack of fresh air and empty, crumbling rooms don't help — the cobwebs and faint sounds of crawling insects even less. They're both reluctant to leave, but they really want to show this interior for their TikTok channel: they've promised that every Wednesday, they'll make videos like this.

- S-Say, how about a live show?" suggests Maurine.” If people look at us and talk to us, we'd go... Well, we'd be less scared, don't you think?

Her boyfriend considers her proposal, but it doesn't take long for him to nod in agreement and launch a live show fairly quickly. Their channel isn't the most popular on the site, but they still have a total of 350,000 subscribers, so within a minute of launching the live show, thousands of people are already watching.

- H-Hey, it's Clérine! We're in an abandoned building, as promised, but it's pretty... creepy.

They watch the commentaries and chat a little with the spectators, which makes them feel more at home in this strange, ruined place. They continue to walk and visit the many rooms, managing to let out one or two laughs, these echoing between the dark walls of the building.

- Oh, this room has a closed door!" Maurine remarks.

She points at it with her flashlight and Clément asks if they want to see inside. The spectators in the comments are all excited and insist that they go in, so they agree, putting their fears aside. Maurine pushes the door open, but it only moves a few centimeters despite the force she applies. Contrary to what you might think, Maurine is the strongest of the couple, given that she works out every day and even took up women's boxing when she was younger, although she has since stopped, so Clément lets her get on with it. However, seeing that she's having trouble with this door, Clément decides to help her without leaving his phone out. Although it takes some time, they finally manage to open the door, which lets out an infernal noise that would shatter the ears of even the most fragile. They both tense up, closing their eyes in pain from the horrible creaking noise. Then they peer into the room—

- !!!

Their eyes open wide. Breathless. Their hearts miss a beat.

In front of them, a corpse.

- !!!! AAAAAH!!!!

And while screaming in fear, they run off together, both in tears and leaving the audience confused.

CHAPTER 54

⎾The New Dark Rumor Shared on Social Medias⏌

- The video on "TikTok" that caused a stir on the Internet has been removed by its creators, "Clément Salno" and "Maurine Creyl".

- Some believe that the video, which was live, was a fake, a tasteless production. It would seem that a corpse can be seen in the back of a dark room, illuminated only by their flashlight, but given the rapid movement of the camera, it's impossible to be sure.

* Hey, did y’all see that the live that was quickly deleted? Some say it wasn't Clément and Maurine who deleted it, but the government itself

* Wat? Its hella shit lmaoooo they sayd themself that its them who delited it

* bro, learn to write. Besides, this conspiracy shit is bullshit. The whole thing was fake. Ridiculous staging.

* I agree with you, @Terk44. We're talking about TikTok here. You know, the app where people thought mirrors were another world.

* The egg and paper experiment? Don’t make me remember that, how stupid…

* Your talking a lot for nothing, arent you?* Personally, I don't give a damn about your writing.

* I dont give a damn bout this RATIO!!!!!!

- ... Impossible to read serious conversations on this site…

The boy at the computer sighs, tapping his desk with his right index finger. His head resting on his fist, he looks at his screen with a sigh. He wanted to know more about the 'Clérine' live show, but since it's been deleted and it's impossible to find the entire video anywhere, he can't hope to see what was filmed again. However, the boy was able to see the beginning, and thanks to this—

- ... Eh.

He looks at his calendar and observes the date.

- It's the weekend, but Monday…

He chuckles and turns around in his desk chair, standing up and then jumping into bed, looking up at the ceiling.

- Maybe it could be fun, if they accept?

Monday 3rd October has been underway for a few hours now, but the streets are crowded with teenagers on their way to school. The sun isn't shining brightly, and the sky is taking on a slightly duller hue, announcing to the inhabitants of planet earth that autumn has been well and truly underway for over a week. The air is getting cooler, the leaves on the trees are already showing more orange hues and the girls are already changing their style, short skirts no longer being an option if they don't want to suffer from the cold. Of course, some people don't need to change clothes, like this girl in the black and orange sweater.

- But you're the best!

Her best friend, the one with the long pink hair, is wearing warmer clothes than usual, including a sweater she hasn't zipped up. It's fleece and pale pink, but it suits her perfectly, even though she's not the type to wear it often.

- A-Ahah, it's nothing..." says her best friend, the one with the red hair.

- Nothing?!

Amora can't believe what she's hearing from her best friend. She shakes her head.

- What do you mean, nothing?! You've managed to understand the tricks of 'XIII', haven't you!

Deshya hadn't even had to tell her what had happened for her to find out: on Sunday, October 02, the day after Rosaline's wedding and her first 'face-to-face' encounter with 'XIII', the legendary criminal, the TV stations were talking about what had happened. With the 'FEDER' hotel affair, the discussion wasn't the main topic of the news and the internet, especially with the death of a singer much loved by young people, but the 'XIII' case still attracted a lot of attention. Shinpei has chatted a bit with Ei and 'Tom Spidernest', Lière's station chief, and obviously talked about 'Deshya Oveja', aka the fox-eared detective. ‘XIII’ himself congratulated Deshya on his Twatter…

And now it has already reached 40,000 subscribers.

- You're becoming more and more of a star!" says Amora. I bet by the end of the year you'll already have 150,000 subscribers!

Deshya smiles, but doesn't reply: maybe Amora is right. She's sure that when she gets home, she'll have even more subscribers. People will know what her Twatter is, that she sometimes posts this and that, and eventually, she'll become "famous". Her identity will no longer be a drop in the ocean, but one in a glass. If this doesn't stop, she'll become not just a star in the sky, but the moon itself. Of course, she doesn't want to get ahead of herself, but knowing that she's becoming more and more popular... How could she not be happy? Of course, she has to be careful that popularity is a double-edged sword, and what's more, she always has to hide the fact that she's a real fox-girl from people, but she doesn't expect to become as popular as a TV star, Valentino Rossi or even Minos Kiyon. In short, she shouldn't be afraid of paparazzi coming to bother her and take pictures at her place. However, if that were to happen... then she can no longer feel safe. It's because of this fear that even though she loves becoming more popular, she wonders if she shouldn't be careful. For now, she doesn't have to worry, but if she's questioned... if people try to pull off her hood for a laugh…

- After all, I already go through this sometimes at school, ahah....

The teenagers her age at school sometimes tease her like this, trying to pull on her fox tail or take off her hood, but some just don't like her style. Out of jealousy or because they find it embarrassing, they want to tease her any way they can, or get her to stop walking around like that. Not only does she like her style, she can't even pull it off if she can... Besides, if people were to learn the truth, she's sure they'd criticize her even more: being a "fox-girl" would be 'inhuman' to some, after all. They'd call her 'furry' and other names she doesn't even want to think about…

- I don't need to worry about that... yet.

How long will she be able to believe that all will be well? She doesn't know, but she doesn't want to think about that future, however near or far it may be. For now, she needs to concentrate on the present and only the present.

- Anyway, if you keep this up, maybe you'll meet your favorite detective? You know, 'Kira Miname'!" says Amora.

The two best friends walk together down the quiet street. A few students are near them, but they say nothing, talking amongst themselves or complaining about the new week ahead.

- I've already met 'Minos Kiyon', so I hope so, but…

Deshya scratches her cheek.

- Kira is more the type to work all over the world, not just in Belium. Even if 'XIII', the 'FEDER' hotel case and the fact that Minos mentioned me are big things, I don't think it's enough to attract the attention of the best detective in the whole world.

Deshya thinks that honestly, especially as Kira is not the type to reach out to others, unlike Minos. If she can meet him in real life one day, it would be as much an honor as Minos, but can she hope for that day to come? Can she gain enough notoriety to be lucky enough to be on a case with him?

- Be optimistic!" says Amora, a smile on her face.” You already thought you'd never meet Minos in your entire life, except maybe quickly at a convention, and yet you have his private number!

Deshya can't help looking at her sweater pocket, where her phone remains. Even though Deshya wants to tell Amora that it's all naivete — something she would have done before — she prefers to smile and let Amora's cheerful side contaminate her: she's right, after all. So many things have happened that she never thought possible. Meeting Minos isn't the only thing that's happened to her either.

- So I believe in it!" admits Deshya.

- ... Hihi.

Amora giggles cutely.

- I prefer Deshya like this.

- What do you mean?

Deshya blinks, confused. Amora tucks her hair back properly before explaining her thoughts.

- Even though you've always been really nice to me and accepting, I think you're... more you these days? A bit after you made friends with Raiji, really. More since you had a chance to chat with Bibi and met Korone. I feel like you're glowing more.

Deshya answers nothing, her eyes riveted on her best friend with the colorful hair. She thinks of the moment when she looked in the mirror and said to herself that her smile was more present and 'real' than before... That unlike before, she feels like... She doesn't know how to express it, but Deshya feels, as Amora has just said... that she's more "herself".

- ... I'm sure it is," Deshya finally admits.” Before, I could get tired of your energy, because you have too much and I couldn't always keep up, but lately... I really needed to pour out what was in my heart and let go, I guess.

Deshya wonders if it's really only because she's been able to chat with Korone and Bibi. Even if she's happy to have a little sister now, that's not the reason she manages to smile more often or accepts Amora's energy much more, so what is it? Nor is it because she's starting to solve crimes, so...?

- You know, Deshya, it's strange to say, but…

Amora places both hands behind her back and continues to smile, looking straight ahead.

- Since this month, I feel like you're just happier. Despite everything that's going on, even though you've almost died twice already... It's like you're tasting life more.

Deshya opens her eyes wide.

- ...that's it.

She hadn't even noticed, but Amora was right. Deshya had begun to believe that it was thanks to the kiss with Tessa after the poker game, but it wasn't even that.

Deshya had simply stopped locking herself in.

She had never been much of a social butterfly. Deshya was the type to spend time with her friends and chat with them. However, she didn't really talk to others about what was on her mind. Unconsciously, as she found herself more into investigations, she began to confess a lot more to her friends — especially Amora. With Bibi, her psychologist, and Korone, her new little sister, she can not only pour out what's on her mind, but also reveal a lot more about herself. Even if it's not related to the investigations, Deshya has started to open up a lot more and taste life a lot more.

- Do you…

The cause of all this is because she's... less afraid?

- …

Before she can answer this question, a handful of students run up to them. As Deshya suspected, they've come to ask her about the case against 'XIII'. Deshya can afford to tell them, but since it's a Monday morning, she simply doesn't have the energy to respond to all their excitement. Amora is amused by the excitement around them, but seeing Deshya's bored and tired look, she clears her throat.

- She'll tell you about it later if she has to!" says Amora.

- Are you her manager now?" teased one of the boys.

- I'm her best friend AND manager!

- A-Ah? Since when?

- Deshya, hire me as manager.

- If you want.

- I've been her manager since now!

- …

The students look at each other, some confused, others amused by the girl's behavior. Deshya can't help but giggle and stops walking.

- I know you're interested, but can we talk about it another time? It's morning, it's Monday…

- It's precisely because it's a Monday morning that we want to know!" admits one of the girls.” We'll have a better start to the day.

- What do you even want to know? Shinpei said everything about the affair..." Deshya replies, already resuming her walk.

This time, it's another girl who answers.

- How does it feel to see 'XIII' in real life?

Deshya had intended not to reply and to arrive at school ignoring them, but since Amora's joke had put her in a better mood, she agreed to talk a little.

- It was strange, especially knowing that he was disguised among us. His talent for disguise was no joke, and I couldn't believe my eyes that he was really that woman.

His long clothes made it impossible to see his weakly bent knees, allowing him to appear smaller than he really was. His whole plan of disguising conscious people and counting on the chance that they wouldn't fry themselves... Deshya still can't believe the 'madness' of this criminal. He's not 'XIII' for nothing.

- But weren't you scared?

- Not really," replies Deshya with a shrug.” Since I was invited as a detective, there was no reason for him to hit me, knock me out or even kill me. ‘XIII' is a very principled guy, so I was sure nothing bad would happen to me.

- Eeeh, I'd have been scared to death!" admits a boy with short chestnut hair.” Even knowing that, I would have been afraid he'd target me because I'd done something wrong!

- You cheated on your ex.

- What?! That's not even true, I don't have an ex!! I've never dated anyone!

- Imagine admitting it in front of everyone, bleeeh.

The boy sticks out his tongue with one eye closed and everyone — including Amora — laughs, the other boy lowering his head and blushing in shame. Deshya laughs, but soon another student asks him a question.

- How did you feel when you found out you were going to be put on a case like this?

- …

Deshya thinks about it for a few moments, but since her answer comes from the heart, it doesn't really require much thought.

- I was strangely happy. I could hardly wait. It was as if, after Minos had approved of my intelligence, it was now 'XIII' who was doing it. Since he promised we'd see each other again, I suppose he likes me... I can't let myself get too big-headed, and I'd hate to be pretentious, but I must admit it made me realize that maybe I really am a genius…

- You see? We've been telling you for a long time, you three just have to accept it!

It's the boy who's been teasing the other who shouts this. Soon after, the others join in.

- You bet! You've got incredible points, you solve investigations that almost no-one else would, and you do it in record time, and you know stuff that's sooo random!

- Even though Tessa and Maruno have repeated a year, we know it's not because they're stupid! They're too smart and all that! Especially Tessa!

- Maruno is a bg* — a beautiful genius.

(* “bg” in french means ‘handsome guy’ ; I wasn’t able to really fit the joke in english, so I keep it that way.)

- Don't fall for his charm, he's already got a girlfriend.

- I'll prove to him that I'm better!

- Huuuuuh?!

The two start arguing in the crowd and without warning, the cheerful discussions become... incomprehensible. Laughter erupts everywhere, the girl verbally brawls with the boy and Amora listens in amusement. Deshya sighs heavily, but since she's already arrived at the entrance to the playground, she figures she'll soon be able to relax. Unlike the other times, she doesn't meet any other friends when she arrives at school. She doesn't see Lam, Abdoul or Raiji around, let alone Alec or Frie. What's more, neither Tessa nor Maruno is on the usual bench. Seeing no one else, Deshya walks into the courtyard alongside Amora, the crowd of students dispersed because of the outbreak of fighting, as well as Deshya's lack of interest in responding to them any longer. The two best friends don't speak immediately, but when Amora sees Deshya's somewhat worried expression, she asks her what's going on. The redheaded girl apologizes, promising it's nothing.

- ...but I still wonder…

She thinks again about what happened on Saturday. Not the investigation against 'XIII', or Ei's injury or the strange thing Shinpei said about missing 'Devon', but what happened afterwards — about her mother…

Pera is in the hayloft beside her two daughters, her tears stopped and her composure restored. However, when Gatito returns to the room, she stands up and bows gently.

- S-Sorry…

- It's nothing. It's nothing. Are you going to rest now?

She nods.

- I'd rather... I'm not going to be able to concentrate tonight, so... So I'm thinking of reading a bit or going straight to sleep. Either way, tomorrow I'd like to get up... to chat with friends on the Internet," she admits.

Gatito nods in agreement and goes into the bedroom with her, leaving the two girls on the sofa for the time being.

- ... She reacted to the word 'Kiara', didn't she, big sister?

- ... Yep.

Deshya confirms Korone's thought by looking ahead, her eyes observing the void. The white-haired girl lets her legs sway gently, lowering her head.

- ... You really don't know what's wrong with your mom?

- I don't know, unfortunately. Dad promised me it wasn't because of my disappearance, and seeing as she reacted to the name 'Kiara', I totally believe him. Anyway, she'd already been under a lot of stress because of my kidnapping when I came back, but this is getting better, so…

So she's sure that's not what she nightmares about, nor the reason she's sometimes sad during the day. Her father seemed to know that she shouldn't have said 'Kiara', but unfortunately he hadn't thought of it in time. Deshya doesn't think the victim in this case is related to Pera, so it must be another 'Kiara'... Not the most common first name, but far from being as original as 'Deshya' or 'Gatito'. In short, she doesn't think she'll find any information about Pera's 'Kiara' by Googling it.

- Why react like that?" wondered Deshya.” What's happened to this 'Kiara' to make her scream...

- Red... Stop... Kiara…

Korone repeats the words she heard Pera say at dinner. Deshya also wonders what it all means. Red' can mean so many things that it's impossible to think of anything in particular, while 'Stop' is far too vague to understand. Could this Kiara have... done something to her mother?

- Don't bother her.

While they're both deep in thought, Gatito comes back and stops beside them, not bothering to sit down.

- It's possible that even tomorrow she'll struggle to get well, so if possible, stay with her. If you have too much to do Deshya, then—

- My homework alone will take me five minutes maximum, I already know the subject," she admits.” In any case, spending time with my mom is not an ordeal for me — quite the opposite.

- I want to spend time with Pera! In fact, I already spend most of my time with Pera!" Korone grins.

Gatito lets one smile decorate his face and blows out his nose, pleased with what he hears.

- Two girls who are too smart and too special, but two good girls. Thank you for your time.

- Will you be busy tomorrow?" asks Korone, blushing softly at the man's compliment.

- We had two murders at the end of August that are still unsolved, and since I was on the case, they want me to follow up on a certain lead we have.

- I'll come and help you!

Korone sticks out her tongue gently, but it's clear she means it. Gatito stares at her for a few seconds, then sighs, shaking his head.

- I appreciate the enthusiasm, but no, I'll be fine…

- Then ask your daughter, Deshyshy!

- The crime scene isn't exactly the same as it used to be, and even with photos, it won't help. Anyway, no, Korone.

- Maaaw, I just want to help!

She crosses her arms, pouting, but Gatito smiles again and strokes her hair.

- I know you're mostly trying to cheer me up with jokes, but I'm fine. I've been seeing your mother like this for a while now.

- ...but…

- No buts, don't worry. She'll get over this depression in no time. A shrink comes to see her sometimes, every month or so, and she assures me that she's getting better, albeit gradually. At some point, she'll overcome this inner fear and…

Gatito closes his mouth and turns his gaze weakly to the left, no longer watching his two daughters. Pausing in his sentence, he clenches his fist, something that Korone and Deshya notice, but say nothing about.

- ... I hope you will never come across…

- ... ?

Gatito, once again, doesn't finish his sentence, and finally sighs.

- No matter. Don't mention it to your mother and try to be there for her tomorrow when I come home from work, I'll go for a little walk with her in the village.

- Okiiiie.

- Okay, no worries.

The two girls approve and Gatito walks out of the room, leaving them together on the sofa.

- ... Red... Stop... Kiara......

- What's on your mind, Deshyshy?

The redheaded girl turns her face to her best friend and apologizes for her lack of attention. She confesses that she was just thinking about her mother's crisis and Amora lowers her gaze weakly.

- Oh yes, that…

The girl in the fox sweater didn't hide the truth from her and discussed it a little in her voice yesterday morning, as it bothered Deshya. What's more, there was no need to hide it: Amora had already been to her best friend's house several times and had therefore already noticed Pera's 'depressed' state. When Amora decided to ask Deshya what was going on, the latter agreed to tell her the truth, even if in the end it wasn't much: after all, Deshya doesn't really know what's going on with her mother, which is still true. Even though she has two new clues — the first name 'Kiara' and the word 'Red,' including 'Stop' — it's not enough to understand anything. What's more, Deshya doesn't want to start sticking her nose where she shouldn't: it wouldn't be respectful of her. Deshya continues to talk with Amora until the bell rings, going to class and noticing that Tessa and Maruno are chatting with a small group of upperclassmen a little further on.

Classes run smoothly. Deshya hands in her homework, along with everyone else who has done it in class — even those who don't necessarily like to work. They start with the 'French' class, which tells them about several novelists of the 1900s and their influence on French literature, a subject that doesn't interest everyone, but which intrigues Deshya a lot. Even though she knows all the names pronounced by the teacher, she still learns more about their lives.

Then comes the 'Religion' or 'Morale' class. As always, the teacher is very energetic — though nowhere near Amora's level — and talks about her experiences in life. Like most of the time, she doesn't talk about any particular subject and just wants the students to understand certain experiences they'll have as adults, which some of them don't care about at all. However, she's well-respected at school and most of the classes love her, so everyone listens to her and interacts with her. What Deshya really appreciates about Tetazo High School is that most students are respectful of teachers and listen to them. Some subjects are less interesting, more complex, or the teachers talk about them in a way that's less interesting. But this is rare. Deshya doesn't have to be afraid of troublemakers in the classroom — except when the teachers aren't there — and therefore doesn't have to go through hell in the classroom.

After 'Religion' comes 'Geography'. Since they're in 4th grade, they no longer talk too much about all the cities of Belium, but go a little further and even talk, albeit briefly, about geopolitics. This time, they discuss the continent of Inakunia and the city of the horrific situation it currently finds itself in. Although it should calm down in the coming weeks, the political corruption and murder of the 13 young people in the bar by a terrorist organization has created a real monster ruckus down there. The organization has been arrested, but given that they were shot by the police, some locals have revolted. Even if they talk about it in geography class, they can't come to a conclusion today, as the subject is too long, too vast and the students are asking questions. However, Deshya loves learning more about the world like this. She may be a 'genius', but she doesn't know everything about everything, and the world of politics is so complex that there's always more to know.

After the playground, it's two hours of 'Science'. They talk about space, supernovas and gamma rays, interesting but rather frightening things. Knowing that, at any moment, their planet could be eradicated by such a ray without anyone being able to react... The odds are so slim that it should never happen — at least, not in the next few hundred years — but at any moment, it could… be possible. However, if it were to happen, no one would know and there would be no survivors. They focus mainly on supernovas, but also talk a little about the next exploration on Mars.

After all that, it's lunchtime at last. Deshya walks alongside Lam and Amora, but as she descends the stairs, a boy approaches them.

- Yo, Deshya, can we talk a little bit?" he asks.

With messy black hair and 'NY' clothes, it's 'Raiji Harmony' who comes to address her. Deshya looks at him and asks what it's about, but he drops her a wink and promises to explain in a few moments. Deshya looks at Lam and Amora who tell her to go, so she accepts. Her two friends head for the cafeteria, while Deshya follows Raiji into the playground.

- I just want to talk to you three about something!" he confesses.

- The three of us? You're talking about—

Before she finishes her sentence, she sees who Raiji is talking about: Tessa and Maruno are both on a bench, chatting to each other. The girl with the long purple hair and pink streaks is eating a large baguette, while Maruno is devouring a cold salad of fruit, ham and mozzarella balls. Their bags are at their feet, and when they notice the arrival of Raiji and Deshya, they stop chattering and turn to them

- Ah, Deshya's here!" remarks Maruno.

- We didn't wait for you to eat," admits Tessa, biting into her chopstick.

- I can see that..." says Raiji with a smirk.

- I was going to wait for you, but Tessa wouldn't let me," Maruno told them, food in her mouth.

- Am I allowed not to really believe you?

Maruno starts laughing with Raiji, and Deshya sits down next to Tessa, taking out a lunch box from her bag. The purple-haired girl leans into it, curious to know what's inside, but as she expected... simple cheese toast. Deshya questions her with her eyes.

- What's wrong?" she asks.

- Nothing, I was just wondering if you were going to bring out any special toast," admits Tessa.

- Oh? Why?

- I'm curious for no reason. Don't look!

Tessa bites into her wand and Raiji clears his throat, standing before them. The three 'geniuses of Tetazo' look up at him, waiting to see why they have been called here. Even though Raiji is friends with Deshya, he doesn't know Maruno and Tessa that well, after all.

- Sorry to take up your lunchtime like this, but I wanted to talk about it as quickly as possible, hm hm!

- Ya think you're Barack Obama, talking like that?” !Tessa asks, her gaze fixed on him.” Tell us quickly what ya want so I can sigh, say ya've wasted our time and I'd rather watch a frog eat a grasshopper than hear ya talk.

Tessa bites into her wand again, everyone looking at her with surprise — rather, shock. She turns her face towards them all.

- Wha’?

- I-It was uncalled for..." admits Deshya.

- I didn't sleep well because I played too much last night. One of the people I was playing with broke my ovaries talking for nothing, so I'm bitter. I only half apologize for this," replies Tessa.

- ... O-Okay…

Raiji's enthusiasm seems to evaporate from his body, along with his upright pose, which destroys itself. Deshya and Maruno wave their hands, asking him to continue without paying attention to Tessa's words, which he can’t really do. He finally sighs and speaks.

- Anyway, I just wanted to talk quickly about something I saw on the internet and wanted to ask you if you'd like to come along. Sorry to take up your time again…

- You're not bothering us!" admits Maruno, shoving the fruit into his bowl.” Besides, it's fun to eat outside. Often, Deshya stays with Amora, Tessa on her side and me the same, or with buddies, so it's cool to be all three — well, four, with you — together.

- I couldn't agree more!" admits Deshya.

- I approve," Tessa said simply.

Raiji smiled, regaining some of his enthusiasm.

- Perfect, then! Anyway, I'll keep it short. I don't know if you've seen the famous rumor that some people are sharing on social networks, but for the time being ?

- Rumor?" asks Tessa, now intrigued.

He approves with a quick nod of his head.

- With a live broadcast from the 'Clérine' channel on TikTok.

- Ah, TikTok... I don't feel like eating anymore," Maruno admits with a sigh.

- No, I didn't see, what are you talking about?" asks Deshya.

- Same here. TikTok doesn't interest me at all.

- Honestly, the same," says Raiji," but a friend of mine saw part of the live show and she told me it was horrible. If you haven't seen it, I'll sum it up very quickly.

Raiji cleared his throat again, placing a fist in front of his mouth.

- Basically, a couple of young adults who go by the name 'Clérine' on their TikTok promised to go to abandoned places sometimes to make videos of them. However, as the place they had gone to scared them, they started a live and there, in a room where the door was hard to open, it seems they discovered a corpse, which was also the reason the smell was pretty foul," he explains.” However, due to the camera's rapid movement and the lack of light at the time, this same corpse was not really visible.

- It can't all be fake?" asks Maruno.

- That's what most people think, but given their reaction and the fact that they've deleted the live feed and aren't talking about it at all, some people are still wondering about the veracity of their discovery.

- Let me guess…

Tessa swallows the piece of wand in her hand and waves the rest at Raiji.

- Ya want us to check if there's a body out there, don't you?

- ... Eh, caught…

Deshya blinks in astonishment and turns to Raiji, who was looking at Tessa.

- Really? But when was the live show launched? Besides, it's probably just a way of getting attention…

- I'm not saying otherwise, but I think it would be interesting to check it out! I wasn't able to see it live myself, but it seems that those who did think it's true!

- Why would ya want us to check it out, huh? Besides, I don't know when all this happened, but I bet everybody's been there, so if there's a body... it was found.

Tessa snatches the last butt end of her wand with her ferocious teeth, chewing hard as if trying to intimidate Raiji. The latter shakes his head.

- No, I don't think anyone's been there.

- Why?" asks Deshya.

- The location was not revealed to anyone. Even though the live feed can't be found, 'Clérine' has posted what happened before, when they were heading to the location. However, we see nothing but the forest floor, a bit of the building and hear them talking, so we don't know where they're headed. What's more, even if we know who they are, there's nothing to say they didn't go to the other side of the country to film, given that they both like to travel around Belium and other countries.

- Do you want us to try and find out which forest they went to? We may be smart, but right now…

Maruno says what Tessa and Deshya are thinking, but Raiji quickly shakes his head again.

- No, there's no need for that, I already know where it is!

- ... Huh?

Tessa tilts her head to the right, almost touching her bench-mate's hood.

- How could ya know that?

- The sound of birds.

- ...?

The three friends question him with their eyes and Raiji smiles.

- The crested tit.

- Wait…

Maruno rubs his eyes, waving a hand in front of him.

- Are you telling us that you recognized the sound of one of the birds on the video and that you know where it is, so...?" he asks.

Raiji smiled broadly.

- Yuh-uh!

- But birds like that can be found anywhere, can't they?" asks Tessa, not knowing much about the subject.

- Crested tits aren't really sociable and you don't see them much, except in coniferous forests," explains Deshya.

Raiji approves, crossing his arms with a clearly proud look on his face.

- Yuup! I searched a bit online and I was right: that's the sound of this bird. After a bit more research, I learned that there aren't many places in Belium where you can observe them. However, there are several forests, so I had to look around a bit... I soon found the place, though.

- How did you do it?" asks Deshya, intrigued.

- In the north of Sléron, there is a rather large coniferous forest. In researching the area, I learned from a friend who lives there that there's an abandoned building in the middle of the area, although nobody really goes there because there's not much to see. However, he confessed to me that it's very possible that Clément and Maurine, the couple I was telling you about, went there.

- ... And if it's not there?

- Low chance. I'm convinced it's there.

- Ah, I see. Can't we see the video, then?" asks Tessa, having just finished her wand.

Raiji shakes his head.

- It's been removed from their TikTok, they don't reply to any posts about it, and what's more, if anyone tries to put it back online, it's deleted straight away. Some say the government is preventing it from being published again, but maybe that's going too far, don't you think?" he replies.

However, the three members of the Associated Foxes don't respond. Raiji remains silent, but finally sits down next to Maruno, taking out his lunch in turn. Deshya turns to the two boys, tilting his head forward.

- What if it's not there?

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

- ... Then it'll be a fun adventure, won't it?" says Raiji, with a little hesitation in his voice.

- …

- …

- Do ya really wanna go?" asks Tessa, chin on her right fist.

The question remained unanswered for a few moments, but Maruno spoke first.

- I have no problem with that. I've got nothing to do today and even if my parents ask me to be careful, if I'm with you three, I'm not too scared. Raiji is a madman who did everything he could to save Deshya.

- A-Ah?!

- Tessa's the kind of girl who'd smash the shit out of anyone who messed with us.

- Lol.

- And Deshya is far from weak.

- I confess!

- Anyway, it should be fine, if we go. However, you just want us to check if there really is a corpse? And why that?

Raiji munches on his toast, but answers despite his mouth full.

- If there really is a corpse, maybe it's murder, right? If so, maybe people like you can figure out what happened.

- ... S-Seriously? That's your reason?" asks Deshya.

- Yep.

- ... Well, if we find a corpse there, we'll just have to call the Sléron police.

- Is the Sléron police force not... weak enough? Well, they're often helped by Lamur's or Shiru's, aren't they?" asks Maruno.

- Yup, right," admits Tessa.” My mom goes there a lot for work, and when she got involved in a robbery, it was the Shiru police who got involved.

- Eeeh, I see…

- That doesn't change the fact that we'll have to call the police if there really is a corpse there. For now, let's assume that it's just a tasteless attention-grabbing prank, and that nothing special is going on.

Deshya crosses her arms as she says this.

- Although I don't think we all need to go together, we promised Lam we'd hang out more often, right?

- Ya don't need a promise for the three of us to be togethar," admits Tessa, rummaging around inside her own bag.” It's just that she's opened our eyes to the fact that we're not really together anymor’, or at least we're not solving much of anything, the three of us.

- I mean, we shouldn't be sticking our noses into police and criminal matters and all that..." says Maruno.

- I heard a baby talking. Can you imagine that, Deshya?

- I'm not a baby!

- Weeeeh, weeeeeeh!!

Tessa starts mocking Maruno by pretending to cry, which makes Raiji laugh. Deshya shakes her head, puffing in amusement. Despite Tessa's teasing, Deshya is currently thinking along the same lines as Maruno... Yet she comes across criminal cases or they attract her. Sure, she's the one who went to see what was going on in the 'Beleza Verde' hotel, but she's not the one who wanted to solve the case of 'XIII' or 'Sleeping Little Beauty'. Thinking of that site, Deshya remembers that it was also started by a rumor on the internet… However, it turned out to be a terrorist organization behind it. The subject of this site has already been lost in the millions of conversations on the internet, even though a rather popular video saw the light of day on 'Sleeping Little Beauty' last weekend. She didn't watch it, but it seems that her first name was mentioned two or three times in it, although it was mostly Minos Kiyon who was mentioned in it. Deshya can understand: he's the one who solved most of the case. Even without Deshya's help, he would have figured it all out in time, as the girl knows perfectly well.

- Anyway, I'm fine with it," admits Tessa.

- No worries with me too," Deshya finally replies.

- Perfect!" says Raiji.” The four of us can hang out together, it's great!

- I don't know if hanging out together looking for a corpse in a dark place in a forest we don't know is the best activity in the world..." sighs Maruno.

Tessa agrees, and the four of them continue chatting until the end of the lunch break, when classes resume.

For all, classes end at 3:25 p.m. with the optional 2-hour Spanish course for class 4B. After greeting Amora, Deshya heads for the small group that has formed outside the school. Joining Raiji, Tessa and Maruno, Deshya correctly puts her bag back on her back and tells them she's ready. Maruno asks if she's told Amora where they're going, but she replies that she hasn't said anything yet, in case it's best to keep it all a secret. Amora is certainly her best friend, but there's no need to tell her every detail. Deshya thinks that even if she's going out with a boy or a girl, she's not going to tell him everything... With that, the four of them head for Tetazo station to catch the train to Sléron. Admittedly, Sléron is the town just north of Tetazo and they could all walk there without any problem, but they prefer to take the train as they all have a subscription and, what's more, it's to the north that they have to go, where the forest to which they want to go also continues within Lamur's borders. So they board a train and head off together.

- The journey will take thirty minutes, as the train has to stop a little before," explains Raiji.

The boy sits next to Maruno, Deshya next to Tessa. The latter pulls back the hood of her 'NOMOR KINGS' sweater and shakes out her hair, scanning the surroundings.

- As long as this train isn't bombed, the ride should be fun," she says.

It's hard to know whether she's saying this seriously or just joking. Unlike Frie, Amora or even Deshya, Tessa wasn't greatly affected by the situation they all found themselves in, during the unstoppable train affair. That's not to say she wasn't afraid for her life or the lives of others, but it's clear that she wasn't traumatized — not in the slightest. She was also the calmest person on the train, along with Annie, who has been a policewoman for years. That says a lot about this girl's mind…

- I don't think so," admits Maruno.” In any case, if it does happen, we'll arrest the criminal right away!

- You're going to jinx us..." sighs Deshya.

Raiji chuckles as he hears them talking and then looks out of the train window, where the landscape is slowly beginning to move.

- It's impressive that you can talk about all this so calmly…

- What d’ya mean?" asks Tessa.

- Well, you ended up on a bombed-out train, Deshya was kidnapped and nearly killed, and Maruno had to endure a whole week being watched and held against his will, with his girlfriend and one of his best friends nearly dying in a hotel... Especially you, Deshya, I don't know how you go on living this... quietly.

Deshya says nothing, especially since Raiji doesn't even know the truth about her 5-month disappearance. Maruno and Tessa look at Raiji and then turn to the girl in the fox sweater, thinking that deep down, he's right... Noticing the looks on her face, Deshya smiles.

- Let's just say I'm getting better. Anyway, as long as no one around me dies, everything's fine, right?

She scratches the side of her sweater, but her answer doesn't suit anyone. Deshya is well aware of this and looks down with a smile.

- Well, my life is full of surprises and I feel like wherever I go there's an investigation waiting for me, but at least life has already proved me wrong..." she confesses.” I've been mostly quiet after the 'FEDER' hotel case, and during the week of 'Sleeping Little Beauty' I've felt really good, especially as I've met one of my idols. My life isn't horrible and I even have Korone by my side now, so I have no reason to suffer, isn't it?

This time, her answer is convincing and comes from the heart. Seeing the expression on Deshya's face gradually take on a rather unpleasant air, Tessa crosses her legs and closes her eyes.

- I don't know if you know, but if a bomb goes off not far from you, or something explosive, one of the things to do is open your mouth wide," she blurts out without warning.

- Really? Why?" asks Maruno.

Tessa points to her own right ear with her index finger, one eye now open.

- So that the pressure of the explosion doesn't shatter your eardrums, but also so that your lungs don't get compressed in the shock wave. Of course, plugging your ears protects your eardrums, but since it doesn't prevent the excess pressure from escaping, it's not enough. What's more, without opening your mouth, you can damage your lungs as I said, and blood vessels can explode, resulting in suffocation which is probably fatal.

- Eeeh, I believe you. Did you two know about this?

Maruno and Deshya agree.

- My mother used to work in explosives," Maruno explains succinctly.

- My father is a police inspector," Deshya says simply.

However, she feels that this information is only good to know for her lungs: protecting her eardrums would be much more complex, given that putting her hands in front wouldn't be entirely helpful. Besides, given that her ears are more fragile than those of humans... She wasn't sure how it would go. However, despite the few explosions in the hotel, her ears weren't damaged. To be said, the bombs were much lower than where she was, but it was still an explosion.

- I still have to learn to be at your level..." expresses Raiji, rubbing his chin.

- You don't have to be on our level," admits Tessa, keeping her eyes closed and her hands behind her head.” We're a trio, we don't need to become a squad.

- I want to be smarter!

- Whatever you say!

Tessa smiles, showing her teeth, but quickly returns to a neutral expression. Raiji turns to Deshya.

- And you, do you have something like Tessa to say? I want to learn more!

- L-Like this? Hmmm…

Deshya thinks hard, but eventually came up with something.

- That the largest mountain known to man comes from an asteroid called 'Vesta', and that it is twenty-two kilometers; in other words, three times bigger than Mount Everest?

- Aaah, I already knew that!

- A-Ah, so... the sunrise on Mars is blue?

- Why?

- Because the majority of red waves are filtered out, the sun appears blue. This is due to the particles in Mars' atmosphere, which are generally CO2 and iron-rich dust. That's also why the sky over there looks red.

- Something I didn't know! And you, Maruno, do you have a fact like that to share?

- We're not in school anymore, and yet we're taking a surprise test…

Maruno scratches the top of his head, thinking in turn.

- Um... It's thanks to Jennifer Lopez that we have Google Image...?" he offers, unsure of what else to say.

- W-What?

Raiji is completely confused by what he's just heard, but even Deshya and Tessa don't know if he's serious or just said something really stupid.

- Don't look at me like I just lied! It's because of her particular dress during the 2000 Grammys, so many people were looking for her picture that they decided to add Google Image! I'm not lying, you can check on the internet.

Maruno crosses his arms and Tessa opens both eyes, albeit faintly.

- We've gone from me giving real advice to nobody giving a damn…

- Arf, my heart! It's not something anyone cares about! Right, Raiji? Deshya?!

- Oh no, I appreciate it!" admits Raiji with a smile.

- I like learning things like that," replies Deshya.

- In your shitty face, Tessa!

- If we don't find a corpse there, I'll make sure there is one.

She closes her eyes again.

- Of course, I'm talking about ya, Maruno.

- What are you gonna do when my girlfriend's crying her eyes out? You like her, Aya, don't you?

- I want to tease you, but you're so much in love that even with my bad mood, I don't want to make fun of your couple.

She crosses her arms and continues to rest, her head against the seat.

A few minutes later, the four of them arrive at Sléron station. They quickly head for the main street and follow Raiji, since he's the one who knows where this famous forest is. They're still not sure he's right, but they trust him — especially Deshya. As they said earlier, even if this trail leads nowhere, at least they'll have had some fun hanging out together. Admittedly, other activities might have been preferable, but as long as they can spend time together, who cares?

Six minutes later, they were in front of a coniferous forest, just as Raiji had told them. There are no houses left around them, and they find themselves on a long path leading into the forest. They are walking along it when they notice something ahead of them.

Four adults.

Three men and a woman, to be exact. They're all chatting away, but the group of teenagers aren't really paying attention. However, Deshya's canine ears pick up their conversation.

- Do you even know where it is?" asks the woman with a tone of boredom in her voice, but mostly friendly and calm.

- It's in the forest, I think in the center..." admits the man beside her.

- If not, we'll go and find it. The forest isn't as big as you think," says the other, standing close to them, opposite the woman.

- The ruined building is there, for sure!" says the other.

His cry is heard by all, and the teenagers turn to the group just behind them. Noticing their gesture in chorus, the adults watch the teenagers in turn.

- What?" asks one of the men.” Would you like something?

- You mentioned a ruined building... Are you here because of the 'Clérine' video?" asks Raiji, his eyes wide.

- W-Wait, you too?

The woman gently pushes the man in front of her and approaches the group of teenagers.

- Are you here because of this video?" she asks.

If they don't answer, she intends to keep on asking until she gets a sincere answer: they can feel it. Deshya is the one who speaks up.

- Yes, that's exactly where we're going.

- Do you know where it is?

The black-haired man walks over to the group and puts his phone in his pocket. Raiji is the one who nods.

- I asked an acquaintance who lives not far from here," he replies with sincerity. Anyway, you just have to go a little deeper into the forest and the building can be found quickly. It's not like it's hidden or anything.

- See, I told you so!" smiles another man.” You gotta trust me.

- We don't really know each other and I didn't want to get lost…

- Getting lost in the Sléron forest? It's not a desert or the Amazon rainforest, is it! Retrace your steps or go straight ahead and in thirty minutes max you'll be back in town.

- …

The dark-haired man prefers not to answer, turning his attention back to the group of teenagers.

- It looks like we're all going to the same place.

The four adults are now in front of the four teenagers and vice versa. Tessa has part of her head hidden under her hood, as does Deshya — as usual. One of the three men decides to break the sun by pointing at himself.

- My name is 'Rayan Silvagre', good evening! I wasn't expecting to run into other people going to see the abandoned building that was in Clément and Maurine's video, especially teenagers!

With a normal build, dressed in nothing special, with colors of little saturation, including mountain boots, the man had black hair rather short on his head. However, he's not the man who came forward to chat with the teenagers. His light-brown eyes show a certain childlike side, and a few wrinkles here and there prove that he's already past thirty, but clearly hasn't reached forty. On his right ear, a small jewel decorates the lobe, but none on the left. This is a man who cannot be considered incredibly handsome, but is by no means ugly.

- What are ya doin’ here?" asks Tessa, half interested in this group of adults.

Rayan replies without the slightest hesitation in his voice.

- Like the three with me, we're videographers for 'TikTok' too! My channel is only followed by a little over a thousand people, but I don't mind growing too fast, as I just want to visit strange places for fun. Whether it's abandoned places, so-called haunted houses or even ruined buildings, I'll take it! I plan to visit the park said to be home to a ghost in northern Izambar one day!

His enthusiasm is palpable and his childlike smile almost contagious, even if Tessa maintains a neutral air throughout. However, she listens attentively to what he says and drops sharp glances at the other adults.

- How did you find the place...?" asks Deshya.

- Ah, we're not all together. For example, I don't really know the three behind me, but I think it's worth a shot for them too. Well, except those two, who are a couple.

He points with his thumb at the other dark-haired man currently holding his wife's hand — Deshya can see their rings.

- Personally, I understood that the place was here because I was watching the live show and I knew that the building was in this forest, since I live not far from here, but above all because when I was younger, I had already seen it when coming to this forest. Well, I never went in, since my parents forbade me to visit a dangerous, dark and almost scary place like this, so I never really forgot it. Well, it was in a corner of my mind, anyway, heh.

He rubs the back of his neck with a somewhat embarrassed smile, blushing faintly. What Tessa and Maruno take from this is that the building must have been abandoned for some time, if it was also here and in this state when this man was younger. They don't really know if it was ten, twenty or even more years ago, but who cares: it's information that interests them. Deshya and Raiji understand it too, but they're a little more focused on the man's story. The girl in the fox sweater has her attention drawn to the key-ring she sees attached to the man's bag.

- A chess piece?

To be more exact, a white pawn. Rayan touches it with a smile.

- I'm a 'national master' of chess and the game that enabled me to achieve such a title was thanks to a move with my white pawn, so I keep it as a good luck charm. I keep all the chess pieces, both black and white, in my bag in case I get the chance to play against someone I meet in a bar, on a terrace or wherever.

- Eeeh…

Deshya opens her mouth wide in awe. Even if this title doesn't seem to be the most prestigious, it's not that easy to achieve. You need a certain level of chess, have been playing for a while and understand the game well. Even if it's not as impressive as a grandmaster, it would be a shame to underestimate the title of national master.

- I see! It's great!" said Deshya sincerely.

She really enjoys chess, after all. Rayan nods with a big smile, clearly happy to hear her say so. Realizing that this presentation is over, the woman then takes the floor.

- I'm 'Léa Lotus'!" she introduces herself.” As Rayan says, that little man next to me is my own man, 'Marc Réti'!

- Oh, Reti?

Deshya smiled, amused by the family name. After the other man had mentioned chess…

- Hm, as Rayan also said, we're both videographers for TikTok, but we clearly don't have the popularity of 'Clérine', to be honest…

She admits it with embarrassment under the gaze not only of the teenagers, but also of the three other adults at her side. Her chestnut-colored hair flows elegantly to the end of her shoulders, streaming like a calm waterfall. Her few curls add beauty to her already existing charm, with oddly reassuring light-blue eyes. Her face is wrinkle-free, but to think she's not close to thirty would be naive. With earrings that dangle from lobes, long black eyelashes and an appreciable, yet inconspicuous figure behind her long clothes, it's clear to anyone around her — especially her man — that she's a beautiful woman. Some might say she'd look better with longer hair, but that depends on taste.

- Also, Rayan, we'll have to play a game later!" says the woman's husband.

This man with fairly short black hair is also an undeniable beauty. His dark green eyes are charming, and his eyelashes are the same length as his wife's. He wears fairly sturdy shoes, yet is clad only in shorts and a t-shirt that makes you think it's still summer. Unlike Léa or Rayan, there are no earrings visible, nor any holes to put them in, but it seems that he has a tattoo on his right shoulder, but it's not entirely visible. Like the huge tattoo on Tessa's left arm, invisible because of her sweater, it appears to be made of a beautiful black, but the teens are unable to tell what it's supposed to be.

- We'll make one!" agrees Rayan.

- How did you find this place?" asks Raiji, addressing the chestnut-haired woman.

- Oh, us? It's with the sound of birds! We were lucky enough to see the video being replayed, and since my mother adores birds, she recognized their song straight away!

- Oh, just like us!

Raiji quickly explains that this is how he realized it was here, which impresses the woman, but she continues her explanation.

- What's more, since I know Clément and Maurine from the school I went to, despite our age difference, I know they don't live far from Sléron, so I figured they'd probably come here. When I spoke to my husband's brother, he told us that there was indeed a place like the one on their video, so we tried our luck by coming here, but we didn't know exactly where to go in the forest, so we hesitated to wander between the trees hoping to find the abandoned building…

- I went with my wife as it would be better if we filmed together, especially as we want to prove that this story about the corpse is false!" explains the man, turning his attention back to the conversation.” And then…

Ashamed, he lowered his gaze.

- I can’t lie, we hope to find something very interesting, because if we can prove that there really is a corpse here or something intriguing…

- Ya will gain in popularity, won't ya?" asks Tessa.

They both nod awkwardly, but Tessa doesn't think they need to act like this: it's not a problem to try to gain popularity like this. They're not hiding it either, so she doesn't see the problem with any of this. The last man introduces himself, although he doesn't seem as enthusiastic as the other three.

- My name's 'Balthazar Kriken', and I live in the next village. I'm not into chess like them, but more into music.

- I don't really know anything about chess neither..." admits Léa.

- Well, like the other two guys," Balthazar corrects himself.” I'm also a videographer, but I'm starting a new channel on TikTok, as my old one wasn't working too well. I gave up for a while, but now that I've found this place, I figure I can make a good start, if I can prove or disprove that there's a corpse here. I won't hide the fact that I'm here mainly to gain popularity, but that's how it works, with social networks.

Something no one would deny. The oldest of the group, his shaved beard already growing back, with a fluffy mustache that appears under a rather large nose. His blond hair is only slightly shorter than the woman's chestnut, but it's far from styled. It's clear that he takes good care of it, but no comb has been run through his locks — that's also a certainty. His dark brown eyes don't have too much life in them, but they're not aggressive either, just slightly menacing. Despite all this and the lack of enthusiasm in his voice, Balthazar, at first glance, doesn't seem like a bad person. His long-sleeved t-shirt is half-hidden by the black sweater on his body, with dark brown pants and black and red shoes shod on his feet. His style is almost too 'young' for someone like him, probably 37 or 38. However, it still suits him.

- Since I live nearby, I know the place. I heard about it from my sister this weekend, and since I was busy yesterday, I couldn't make it, so I decided to come today after work. I came across the three of them chatting together," Balthazar finishes, pointing to the group of adults next to him with a wave of his chin.

The woman takes out her phone, observes the time, and then looks up at the teenagers.

- Anyway, what about you?

Quickly, everyone introduces themselves in turn, with Deshya last. Then the woman asks what they're doing here. Raiji is the one who comes to answer her question.

- We'd like to know if there really is a corpse here or not," admits Raiji.” We're not videographers like you, though.

- Ah, I see.

She stretches before taking out her phone.

- Why don't we get going? It's cool to talk, but we shouldn't arrive and leave too late either.

They all nod and so they enter the forest. Raiji is the one acting as 'leader', in front of everyone, as he knows exactly where to go. Admittedly, he's never been here before and only knows that the abandoned building is in this forest thanks to an acquaintance, but since she quickly explained how to get to the place he's looking for, he'll have no trouble finding the building.

The sound of their footsteps is clearly audible in the forest: leaves and twigs crunch under their shoes. The view is magnificent, especially now that autumn has begun, and the ambient temperature is pleasant. Tessa is beside Maruno and Deshya, while the four adults are together, the married couple holding hands. Balthazar takes one or two photos of nature, a smile now on his face. Léa is already filming a little of the surroundings, while Raiji hums softly to a tune he listened to a lot yesterday’s evening. What's more, he's happy: being able to go rumor-hunting like this, especially with Deshya, Maruno and Tessa, he loves it! At first, he'd thought Deshya wouldn't agree, let alone Tessa, but he's glad to see he was wrong about that. Birdsong is music to their ears, some wild animals quickly show themselves on tree bark or behind bushes, but quickly flee. The ambient noise of the forest, the warm atmosphere and the landscape of the green and gradually orange forest make the walk more than pleasant. Deshya occasionally looks at Tessa's hand at her side, but taking it from her is beyond her abilities. Admittedly, she doesn't think Tessa would mind, given that she's agreed to kiss her without a care in the world, but Deshya would die of joy if she could hold her hand... She hopes that one day this will happen, but that day is surely not soon.

- …

She's thinking about the school trip that's coming up soon: next week, in fact. Amora has suggested she confess her love there, but is that wise? Can she really do it? If Tessa doesn't feel the same way as she does, Deshya will have to endure the rest of the trip, by her side, unable to really 'escape' because of the shame and sadness... Plus, Deshya is afraid of rejection. She doesn't want to keep her feelings inside her indefinitely, but she'd rather never get a 'Sorry, it's not reciprocated' and never admit it than feel her heart break in her chest. At some point, however, she intended to tell him the truth... whether on this school trip or later, she couldn't wait months and months.

- Oh!

Raiji lets out a startled noise and everyone looks up to observe ahead. The black-haired boy runs through the bushes and the seven others follow close behind. Before long, they arrive at the famous building they're all looking for.

- Here it is!

Ruins of an old building that clearly wasn't a house.

The building stands up well, but the roof isn't very high. In fact, it could be completely missed on an early morning walk, given all the surrounding trees and its puny height. The main entrance no longer has any doors at all, and broken glass serves as an unattractive decoration in the holes of the building. From here, the interior is entirely dark, contrasting strangely with the bright autumn colors of the forest. Tessa takes two steps closer to Deshya.

- Tessa?

- Just in case.

The girl squints, turning her face discreetly towards the adults.

- There's nothing to say that any or all of them are bad people," she says.” We'd better watch out.

Deshya blushes softly, but approves and her hand trembles, but once again, she simply can't catch Tessa's hand. Raiji approaches them both, leaving Maruno to observe the building with the adults.

- Need my protection too~?" he asks with a teasing smile.

- You'll be our decoy if we have to run.

- I-I'm just a guinea pig or something..." says Raiji.” No wonder I'm still single…

- Don't let Tessa's teasing get to you like that, Raiji!" chuckles Deshya.” She's just teasing you, so that means she likes you. You know, who loves well chastises as well!

- Nyes, I believe you.

Tessa doesn't confirm what Deshya has just said, but it's precisely this lack of response that proves her right. Raiji shakes both hands, smoke rising from his nose.

- We'll be able to prove whether a corpse is really in the premises or not!" he says excitedly.

- You're really energetic for a guy who might see a horrible sight in this building," Tessa says.” I thought it was strange that I didn't feel so bad about seeing people die on the train, but you…

- It's probably a prank and we won't find anything, so…

Raiji shrugs, which surprises Deshya.

- You're not more certain than that? But, when considering what you said at school…

- Yes, it's possible, but on second thought, I don't think we'll find much. However, we'll be able to disprove that there's a corpse there, and hey, it’s perfect! It's a good project too, ahah!

Raiji turns back to the building and observes, but Tessa frowns.

- Just because we won't find a body doesn't mean there wasn't one there..." she thinks.

Deshya thinks the same, and deep down, Raiji isn't so naive as to believe it's not possible. However, they'd rather not think about such fantasies without seeing the inside of the building.

- Is it true you didn't feel bad when you saw the corpses on the train?" asks Deshya, addressing the girl next to her.

Tessa lowered her gaze without moving her head, but quickly raised it again.

- They were strangers to me, so I couldn't have felt that bad. Afterwards, maybe I'm exaggerating... I just don't think I was as sensitive as Annie or you," she replies sincerely.

- ... I see, it's okay, I understand!

- ... Hm.

Tessa gives a discreet nod and then watches Maruno walk back towards them.

- So, what's this building all about?

The two girls shrug, and when all three turn to Raiji, he replies that he doesn't know. However, one of the adults approaches them, photographing the spot with his phone, and explains what he knows:

- It's an old laboratory that was used in the 1990s, but was closed in the early 2000s. I think around 2002, but I can't say for sure…

- Why a laboratory in the forest? Plus, it looks... small, for a laboratory," asks Maruno.

- I don't really know any more than that, you'd have to ask some of the people from Sléron who've been here a long time. If I'm not talking nonsense, it was a laboratory doing research on their own, not really belonging to any particular firm, but go figure. On the other hand, I can assure you that the laboratory is bigger than you think, given that most of its floors are actually in the ground.

- You know a lot, Rayan," admits Marc.

The two men look at each other for a few moments, but finally Rayan smiles again.

- I used to come here when I was younger and my father told me a bit about it, but I didn't listen too well, as I don't remember all the details…

While the adults talk amongst themselves, with the teenagers listening in, Deshya stares intently at the piece of laboratory she can see on the surface of the earth. While admiring it, she wonders:

- Was I in a place like this when I was abducted...?

It's a question that crosses her mind, but one that will stay with her from now on. Had she been in a laboratory to be experimented on? After all, she had to be taken care of, to keep her alive. When she returned to her parents, she was still in good health, lacking little — if a little thirsty — and contrary to what one might think, nothing was wrong with her body. Her fox ears and tail were well integrated into her, not being rejected by her body itself. The doctor she went to even admitted that this was normally impossible. Deshya had asked if it really was, given that you can transplant a vagina or a penis onto the other sex, but the doctor admitted that it wasn't the same thing at all. Deshya also wondered how her body could accept such 'foreign bodies', especially as a human isn't supposed to be able to hold such attributes... Surely it would be possible to graft ears and a tail without too much trouble, but for these to work so perfectly? This is worthy of science fiction. Maybe years from now — tens, hundreds or more — this will be totally normal and no longer astonish anyone, but in their time and age, it's only possible in the dreams of those who'd really like to have animal attributes.

- ... Am I... unique?

She wants an answer to this question. Is she the only person with animal attributes? Is there a girl or boy in the world with a cat's tail and ears? A dog's? Maybe even attributes of birds, fish or insects like a mosquito or even a cockroach? She thinks perhaps too far, but since she knows what she is, Deshya wonders what is really science fiction and what is reality…

- Shall we?

Tessa taps her arm with her elbow and suggests they go inside. She accepts, but before they all go in, they get ready. Marc and Léa are already filming the ruined building with their phones upright, Balthazar is holding his horizontally, also capturing the vegetation, while Rayan hasn't taken it out yet. However, he grabs a flashlight and twirls it in his hand.

- Do you have flashlights?" he asks.

Raiji takes four out of his bag: he'd planned it. Each of his friends receives one, with Raiji himself keeping one and also waving it in his hand, albeit more awkwardly than Rayan.

- We've got everything we need!" said the dark haired boy.

- Ahah, perfect!

- I have one too," admits Balthazar.

- We have a perfect app for that on our phones, no need," admits Léa.

Her husband nods in agreement, and noticing that they're all ready for their 'exploration', they approach the entrance to the building. Before entering, however, Marc asks if they're all going together, or if they're going in groups of two or three.

- I suggest the four of us stay and the four of you stay," Tessa quickly replies.

- Is it really the best solution? Like, is it really... 'safe'?" asks Marc.

- I've got nothing against you, but we don't know each other. Yes, we might be safer with adults, but I think we know how to defend ourselves and look after ourselves, especially as we have quite different goals. If we stay together, then all eight of us stay together, but we'll take longer to find stuff and if one of us is horrible, we're all in trouble together.

- ... Young people these days..." sighs Rayan.

He turns on his flashlight and shrugs.

- You can do what you like, but I'm fine with bands like that. After that, we're not in Scooby-Doo looking for a ghost, separating isn't going to kill us, so who cares. Just don't disturb other people's videos and everything's fine.

- So that's how it's done?" asks Léa.

They all approve, and so enter the dark building, the teenage group to the left, the adult group to the right. Quickly, they come across staircases leading to the floors below, as well as an elevator whose shaft is nowhere to be seen, probably deep down in the dark abyss they can see from the first floor.

- Why don't we visit the first floor of the building first?" suggests Raiji.

- I'd rather start with the worst, so the bottom, especially since I bet that's where your Clementine or whatever was," replies Tessa, already turning back towards the stairs.

Even if the elevator shaft wasn't destroyed, the lack of electricity would prevent them from using it. With no choice but to climb down the marble steps, they all descend together, flashlights in hand. Maruno is the only one filming the scene, in case something happens or they need proof to show the others. Deshya keeps her phone in her hands to take photos and send them to her father at any moment, but she doesn't know if 4G will work in the depths of this laboratory.

Their footsteps echo against the dark, dilapidated walls. Pieces of marble, stone and glass litter the floor, some crushed by their footsteps. Apart from their flashlight, there is no light in this laboratory. The bulbs are either blown, broken or removed. The long corridor doesn't even show its end, a fog of darkness waiting for them at the far end. Pieces they can see left and right are often generally similar, rarely interesting and no longer have much furniture: thugs must have squatted on the premises and 'borrowed' — in short, stolen — what was left of the place. Deshya inwardly wondered whether a homeless person might be living there, but she didn't hope so: if they came to disturb him, who knows what he might do to defend himself... However, with Maruno, Raiji and especially Tessa by her side, she doesn’t need to be too afraid... Though, the darkness of the place, the strangeness of the rooms which are repetitive and the walls with scratched and decayed paint don't make the place... friendly, let alone reassuring. She doesn't want to run away right away, but she'd rather not be there at all. At least Tessa and the others are by her side.

- Nothing yet. We can't even tell what kind of lab it is..." said Maruno, looking inside a room that was still empty.

- Yeah…

Raiji sighed, scratching the back of his head.

- I don't expect we'll find much anyway, most of the stuff here must have been taken before they closed the lab or people must have come in and stolen everything," he admits.

- I think so too," says Tessa, stepping up to Deshya's side.

The latter jumps over a door almost not damaged on the ground, its life and purpose extinguished from it. Nothing here makes you want to stay, with the smell of decay, mixed with piss and something else indescribable entering their nostrils — unpleasant is too weak a word to express the feeling. The cobwebs are an oddly cheerful decoration in such a place. A few insects crawl along the ground, but none of the four has any reason to be afraid of them, although at any moment, a larger animal may appear. Moving forward, they reach the end of the corridor, where more stairs are visible.

- I guess we'll have to go deeper into the laboratory..." sighs Maruno.

- There are still three rooms here," remarks Raiji.

So they go to see what they can find, but this time it's not just empty rooms: a few pieces of furniture have remained. Deshya walks over to one of them alone, noticing that it's a perfectly normal desk, its wood having lost its beauty and its drawers impossible to open, facing the floor. A frame can be seen on the opposite wall, still intact, with a photo of a woman next to a smiling man. Given that the photo is in black and white, as well as dusty, Deshya can't really tell who her two people are, but a note is legible next to it:

"Thank you all! - Lisa 1997"

Deshya assumes that 'Lisa' is the woman she can see in the photo... However, to inscribe this by scratching into the wall? If the laboratory really closed its doors around 2002, then this message came into being while the place was still active. Deshya wonders if this is really allowed… Given the date, the chances of someone writing this later are slim. Deshya scans the surroundings, admiring the ceiling too, hoping to find something.

- Aaah!

Suddenly, a scream rang out — Raiji's. Deshya frowns and runs out of the room, quickly making her way to where she sees her three friends and asks what's going on. She looks first at Tessa, the latter staring straight ahead with squinted eyes. Not only is the smell unbreathable, the atmosphere here is frightful and terrifying. The look on Tessa's face is one of disgust, but also... a kind of 'fear'. Strong concern. Deshya turns her face and flashlight to her right, inside the room…

— and open your eyes wide.

- W-Wh…

The room is completely empty... except for one thing.

They found their corpse. However…

The corpse has a hole in its belly, and its eyes are missing from their sockets. The size of the corpse, its build…

It was a young boy. Probably twelve years old. But that wasn't the worst of it.

- What the fuck...?" blurts out Tessa.

In fact, a dozen corpses with holes in them lie before them in this filthy room.