The air was thick. Sweat ran down Shiria’s forehead as she witnessed the final turn of her vacation on the Elysium.

The passengers stared at each other, Kaeron’s words hung in the air like a guillotine’s blade, big enough to chop them all.

“What the fuck is going on?!” Lan’en burst first, looking at everyone with an outraged face, “Who the hell refused? Why?!”

“Are you slow? Kaeron literally just said why,” Azrael scoffed, “One of us is the murderer who killed Noir in cold blood. And I’m pretty sure she is going to kill other people. It’s a very...simple whodunit situation.”

“How can you chuckle in a situation like this?!” Youma retorted. Behind her back, there was a long katana...she armed herself as well.

“What else can we do? We are trapped here with a murderer! Azrael is just making things less heavy,” Lilin sighed, shrugging.

“This is crazy! I can’t believe this!” Servalia put her hands on her head, looking utterly terrified, “Why?! Why would someone try to harm people on a cruise?!”

“Murder has many motives,” Youma said, “the important thing right now is that we find the vile woman who did this and punish her.”

“That’s right, we should really start getting serious on Noir’s case and find who may have killed her,” Alicia nods, “I don’t wanna end up killed because you all can’t come to terms with the situation. Be adults.”

“So, are you sure you still don’t want to point fingers, Tsukasa?”

Lilin bit the bullet first, smirking at Tsukasa, who immediately smiled nervously and cleared her throat in response.

“What do you mean, Lilin?” She asked, crossing her arms.

“I mean, whoever was outside their room during the power outage can be the murderer. Azrael and I were together all the time, Servalia, Youma and you could be the killers.”

“And why would you point your finger at me first?”

“Everyone calms down! Right now!” Shiria intervened, “Are we seriously doing this?!”

“Yes, we are, you stupid stowaway!” Lilin suddenly shouted, her expression annoyed, “Stop trying to defuse hostility! You are so fucking annoying!”

“Leave her alone, Lilin!” Lan’en retaliated.

“Oh? Her girlfriend is going to protect her now?” Lilin suddenly giggled...her annoyed tone vanished completely.

Azrael chuckled with Lilin, “So, Tsukasa, just admit you killed Noir.”

“I didn’t kill Noir,” She calmly replied, keeping her firm expression, “I confessed what I did. I left her alone after the power outage. I got scared.”

“What about Servalia and Youma? I wonder if they were together all night long...” Alicia suddenly mused, holding her chin.

“We weren’t,” Servalia sighed, “Youma left to investigate the power outage and never came back.”

Youma looked at Servalia with a betrayed frown, “Yes, that’s true. I tried to figure out what was going on. However, wandering in the dark isn’t my strongest suit... so I just settled in the turned-off arcade room in one of the sofas. I slept until morning.”

“Hm...kind of hard to believe, Youma the hunter,” Lilin snickered again, “how can a hunter not see in the dark? And how wasn’t your dutiful goddess asking you to protect everyone during the power outage?”

“I didn’t sense any danger at that point in time. I didn’t believe in Noir’s prayers either,” Youma crossed her arms defensively.

“Now that I think of it...that katana you have behind your back...maybe its blade is able to make cuts like the one Noir has, haha~” Azrael added.

“What about Servalia?” Youma suddenly glared at her, “How do we know it wasn’t her?!”

“Hagea’s follower. Healer. She just...brings her guitar around all the time. What kind of murder weapon is a guitar?” Lan’en muttered, reluctantly joining the debate.

Kaeron looked like she was ignoring everything, thinking on her own. And so, Lilin decided to play with her too.

“So, detective Kaeron...what do you think? Who should we behead?”

“We will not behead anyone! It’s just wrong!” Shiria shouted, “We can’t be sure it actually was one of us, right? Maybe the form refusal was caused by some other reason! Maybe Azrael or Lilin refused because they thought it would be fun!”

“And why would we want to remain in this cesspool with a murderer?” Lilin retorted, her upset expression appearing once more.

“Well, I think the stowaway is right though,” Azrael, amused as ever, smiled at Shiria, “we shouldn’t really stay here pointing fingers. Other people will be offed...and then we will eventually shrink! It will be easier figuring it out then.”

“ENOUGH AZRAEL!”

Lan’en stepped forward, her fists clenched.

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“This isn’t a game! Noir is dead! We are in danger! Why don’t you two help us instead of just standing there, laughing and snickering like two little bitches?!”

“Oh yeah? You want me to help?” Azrael’s smile gets darker, “Sorry, your majesty. Your pale knight’s armor shines so bright in this situation! You are right! I should help.”

Lan’en looked at Azrael with a confused expression. She stepped back, almost regretting stepping in and raising her voice.

“But, well, I am not really the kind of person who grabs a stupid magnifying glass and tweed coat. Detective work isn’t my suit. I’ll do things on my own!”

image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/87n7efbx5bjlteqgmjeh8/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-dark-background-s-2860751408a.png?rlkey=9xc36rdvy0n3wv48mj4xgqm1c&st=c8sf08n3&raw=1]

“Tsukasa! I saw you last night! You’re the culprit~”

image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/olx2de74d0re8ccwi09ss/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-black-backgroun-s-4171009448.png?rlkey=x8aflp7es0e29gi28uha8dfuj&st=l8bqeryd&raw=1]

“What? What did you even see?”

“Lilin and I did say we were together all the time! But...Lilin is a heavy sleeper! I lied! Haha...I never fell asleep!”

“Ohh! That’s why I thought I heard someone moving around in my deep sleep!” Lilin giggled, “You naughty girl! Where did you go, Azrael?”

“I went to the lobby! I saw Tsukasa transform into a big, ferocious fox youkai...and she mauled Noir’s body! I was so...so...so scared! I wanted to escape as soon as possible!”

“Oh! That’s right! Azrael is telling the truth!” Lilin exclaimed, “She came back and she muttered something about Tsukasa! But I was too sleepy and drunk! Hehe…”

Everyone looked at Tsukasa, shocked. Everyone except Alicia and Kaeron, who looked on the floor, thoughtful.

“Tsukasa...is that true?!” Shiria backed off Tsukasa, who was right beside her.

“You...truly don’t believe those witches’ words, right?” Tsukasa facepalmed, shaking her head, “This is great. Not only we have a killer to deal with, but also with two liars.”

“Why would we lie for each other? In such a situation? We are stating facts!”

“This is just a stupid game to you two, that’s why,” Youma sighed, “I don’t like Tsukasa being pinned like this. You two are truly despicable.”

“Well, who else was it, then? Who killed Noir? You, Youma? Or Servalia?” Azrael asked.

“Why are you ruling out yourself and Lilin? Didn’t you just say that you two got separated at some point?” Tsukasa bit back as hard as she could, “I’m not the only one who could have killed her now that you put up this silly little story about you wandering around alone, right?”

“Oh, that is just preposterous! How would a classy woman like me-”

image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6284fij2l11crs6v9k6kt/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-black-backgroun-s-2654298253.png?rlkey=mm5hdboiqhweb1gpqtyxxb8qp&st=he6cmpfw&raw=1]

“Everyone shuts up! Right now!”

Kaeron suddenly rose her head, looking at everyone after taking a calming and deep breath.

“Youma, Tsukasa, Servalia, Azrael, and Lilin...you’re not the only suspects,” she suddenly stated, “because…”

image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4im3jr2o7j4h93zwcjngc/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-dark-background-s-2577364609.png?rlkey=7fgwoan2c52y2j55bwhyu1ac9&st=v5un64to&raw=1]

“The doors of the dorm weren’t locked during the power outage.”

Alicia finished Kaeron’s sentence.

“What?” Lan’en furrowed her brows, “but me and Shiria couldn’t open it!”

Lilin chuckled, her arms crossed, “Good job, Alicia and Kaeron...you figured it out too, didn’t you?”

“You two, shut up. You didn’t bring it up because you’re absolutely despicable,” Kaeron violently pointed her finger towards the two. “yet you clearly knew. I noticed that since the start."

“Kaeron, Alicia, what is this about?” Youma asked.

“There is an emergency button that releases all the hydraulic pressure of the door and opens it from the inside. It’s on the top corner of the door, covered by a sealed lid that can be torn open with mild force. It can be easily missed, but the killer could have noticed it and they could have acted while being locked inside their own room,” Alicia explains.

“When I went to ''think'' alone, I simply tried to find Alicia. She is an engineer, she must have known about the button. We both knew this was going to happen...so, we decided to keep it secret because I genuinely wanted to see what the people locked outside would have said and done after being accused. I gathered a lot of information out of this...utterly ridiculous and useless ‘’trial’’. First and foremost, Azrael and Lilin...you two are pathological liars and you will not cooperate with us any time soon. I suggest everyone else to stay away from them and to never listen to their words. Second...Youma, you should be more dutiful. We are fellow hunters...I cannot have you letting death win because you can’t see in the dark. It’s not an excuse. Third...Tsukasa...you did well. Hiding made you survive and now you’re still alive and well. The killer would have picked two birds with a stone if you didn't leave Noir alone. You’re a smart woman and I don’t think you’re the murderer, for now.”

Everyone looked at Kaeron with surprise, each one of them expressing it in different forms.

“Woah. So...it could be anyone,” Servalia covered her mouth, “Unbelievable.”

“The only unbelievable thing here is how Lilin and Azrael knew about the emergency button and kept playing against Tsukasa! This is just plain evil!” Shiria shouted, hugging Tsukasa’s arm.

“Do not worry...I knew this was coming. Kaeron would have accused me first if things were really as they were,” Tsukasa shrugs, wearing a smug smile.

“Careful with your words, kitsune,” Alicia retorts, “the people who were locked out still aren’t ruled out. One thing is clear though,” she scoffed at Lilin and Azrael, “these two, hah…they are here to make things worse. I agree with Kaeron. Do not trust them.”

“Oh, come on. Just because we like to play with chaos doesn’t mean we’re that bad...at least we didn’t kill anyone, right?”

“Nobody can know. You could have done it and Lilin could be covering you,” Youma said, “maybe there’s an accomplice.”

“Let’s slow down for now. We can’t figure the killer out. Not for now. Let’s not stir up more paranoia.” Kaeron said, stopping Youma with a gesture of her hand.

Servalia looked at the floor, clearly rattled. “So, what do we do now? If anyone could have opened their door and gone out, how do we figure out who it was?”

“Using the good old method of survival. We stick together, never leave blind spots for the killer to act,” Alicia explained.

“Why don’t we ask Chronos if it can call the authorities? This ship surely has a comms bay, right?” Servalia suggested.

Kaeron’s expression darkened. “That’s a good thought, Servalia, but unfortunately, there’s a problem,” she sighed, “I tried to contact the closer space stations available when I was investigating by myself. Chronos...conveniently told me that the power outage damaged some components of the cruise and that one of those components was responsible for communications. It also added a very nice and flowery sentence about how we are safe and we don’t need local authorities anyways. Repairs are underway...and I asked it to tell us as soon as they’re back online.”

“Oh wow. That’s just great,” Lan’en shook her head, her chest heaving with anxiety, “Destiny truly wants us all dead.”

“As Alicia said, nobody dies if we stick together. Even if we have to endure a week and a half…I bet we’ve all been through worse, am I right ladies?” Youma straightened her back and put a hand on her blade’s sheath, “This isn’t my first rodeo.”

“Oh wow, so heroic,” Azrael clapped her hands in amusement, “you actually remind me of a girl I met in a world I destroyed. She survived but lost everything in the process! Will you be that girl?”

Youma ignored the evil witch’s remark and looked at the rest of the passengers, who looked at her and nodded.

“Whoever is trying to harm us, won’t have it that easy from now on!” Shiria exclaimed determined, “I am not strong, but I will never let my friends get hurt! You hear me, monster?!”

A silence fell on everyone.

No matter how friendly they wanted to be to each other...

One of them was lying.

It was very hard to choose who to trust.