Before I could even say a word in my defense, Quentin took over. "Do we really need to do this? Jerome killed them. It's plainly obvious."

I growled under my breath. "No, Quentin, it's not. I was a freaking witness to who murdered them, and it wasn't me. They literally killed each other."

Quentin crossed his arms. "Do tell."

I rolled my eyes. "I went up there because I was going to bring something down to show that I knew because I knew if I didn't tell of my own accord, you guys would find out some other way, thus ending in not trusting me more than you already have. So, I was going to go in when I heard talking. I peeked in to see Seto talking to Ross, who had been the other one to find the room. I'm...not sure how Seto was there. Ross was planning on poisoning all our food to kill all of us, but Seto was trying to stop him. Ross threw what I believe was a potion of withering at Seto. Seto shot Ross back with some kind of lightning or fire spell or something. Ross died, and Seto said something that I didn't understand. Something about a previous life. Then he died. I jumped down to talk to Mitch when you walked in, Quentin."

"If that's the truth, how are we supposed to vote out the killer? They killed each other, making them both the killer and the killed." Sky said.

Sub, who I just realized never spoke...well, written, anything during these was writing something. He handed it to Quentin, who was on his right.

He read it out loud. "'I believe Jerome. He's done nothing but help us or get hurt himself.'"

Ian and Crainer looked down at their podiums.

Quentin handed it back. "...I suppose you're right, but what do we do about voting?"

MonoKirby, who had been standing on Jess's (Jess'? I can't ever tell which is right) podium, giggled. "You don't worry 'bout that, boyo. I'll just take verbal votes on this one if you think there's no killer. Think hard before choosing, though, boyo."

Quentin shook his head. "I still think Jerome did it."

I frowned. "There's no killer alive here."

Mitch nodded. "There's no killer. The killers are Ross and Seto to the other."

Sub wrote and showed it to MonoKirby. MonoKirby nodded.

Sky thought hard. "...I think Jerome's telling the truth. The killers are dead."

Ian and Crainer looked at each other. "Jerome is too kind to have killed anyone." Ian answered.

"Agreed." Crainer said.

Barney crossed his arms and sighed. "I...I thinkings that Jerome is tellings the truths."

MonoKirby looked around. "Well...."

He stuck his tongue out in disappointment. "Y'all are right, boyo. Jerome didn't kill anyone. The true killers of this were Ross and Seto. Ross killed Seto and Seto killed Ross, boyo."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

Mitch came over and hugged me. It still felt strange.

"You're ok, biggums. You're safe now."

MonoKirby sighed. "I guess you guys can go, boyo."

We filed out of the room. Once we entered the hallway, I raked my paws through my fur, sighing.

Quentin spoke reluctantly. "I suppose I owe you an apology, Jerome. It's just...that first day made me kinda bias."

I shrugged. "It's ok. I understand. Seriously."

Everyone else spoke for a little bit about what happened before dispersing to do whatever.

Me and Mitch decided to pick up our dusty sword and axe and have a little PvP in the parkour room.

We did this for a while until we noticed that the clock said 5 PM. We were both sweating.

Mitch flipped his sword in his hand and sighed. "Go ahead and toss me Bob (the wooden axe in case you forgot). I'll put them up."

I tossed Bob to him and headed down to the Grand Hall. It had changed back to its original look of a huge table and 16 chairs.

I went and grabbed my usual fish and water.

I went and sat back down, looking at the fish before biting the head off.

As I ate, I looked around.

Sub sat next to Sky, and they seemed to be conversing.

Ian and Crainer were huddled together, whispering.

Barney and Quentin were talking, though it was clear that Quentin was having a hard time understanding Barney.

I was just sitting here eating my fish, and Mitch...just walked in.

He went and got his usual food and sat next to me.

"You ok, biggums?" He asked as he ate his steak.

I shrugged. "We nearly lost everything today. If they had accused me...yeah...."

"That would've been bad." Mitch said.

I took another bite of my fish, thinking.

"We're so close. I can feel it. The evidence showing who the mastermind truly is has been here, but it has just been so hard to put together. It's like finding puzzle pieces around the world and then coming back to see a couple pieces have been taken. We have evidence. It's just scattered throughout the cha---I mean, throughout the past 3 lives."

"What do we know?" Mitch asked hesitantly.

"Well, MonoKirby seems to have a deep connection with the mastermind as does the mastermind to MonoKirby. The mastermind is 'always among us' as MonoKirby said the past three lives. Does that mean it's one of us? None of us seem like the mastermind at all."

Mitch put his baked potato down. "It could be you, you know. I'm not accusing, I'm just saying that you could be the mastermind and have no recollection."

I shook my head. "I am most definitely NOT the mastermind. If I were...geez. Why would I let myself be tortured like that?"

"True."

I finished my fish and stood up.

"Hey, Mitch, I...I'm gonna go to my room, but I want to be alone, k?"

He nodded. "I understand. If you wanna talk, let me know."

He got up and gave me a hug before sitting back down.

I put my plate up and walked back to my room, closing the door and locking it.

I sat on my bed and thought.

Something is definitely off about Mitch. He would never even suggest such a thing as me being the mastermind. He also asked about evidence about who the mastermind was very hesitantly. ...As much as I hate to say it...Mitch is probably the mastermind. He is just...acting too different.

...What am I going to do...?

~~~~~~~~

Whoa, Jerome, that's a very weird accusation.

Do you agree?

Could Mitch be the mastermind?

Or is it something else?

Please tell me your thoughts! I love reading your theories!

Smash that vote button at hyper speeds, Hyperfans!

-Becca <3