Chapter VIII: Rest In Peace, Peacekeeper
The search that the remaining teammates put up proved to no avail. And strangely, everytime they entered that mirror to the island, they went from their usual attire to the colored jumpsuits. They were terrible reminders of whoever was murdered.
And then, the terrible moment came.
"Ahhh, we can finally begin!" An annoying, German voice said.
"Richard..." Carl groaned angrily.
"Back to the round table sie Kinder ..." Richard said in a playful tone.
They all sighed in disappointment and sadness as they started to trudge back to the round table. One of them however was smirking to themselves as they walked back to the mirror, through it, and gathered at the round table.
They never found the hut that Carl mentioned so vines as rope really was their only option.
"I want you all to debate and deduct. Right here, right now. With all the proof that you've found."
"Now?" Ryan whined like a child.
"Ja. Yes, now. Now don't be such a Kinder and get on with it." Richard huffed angrily.
They all sat on seperate chairs on the round table. The chairs they all sat in when they ate tohether once. But one empty chair already seemed to affect them heavily.
"Mars died. Sadly. On an island, after helping us through a plane crash, and being choked to death. With no witnesses, and little clues." James said.
It was once again, astounding to see James talk for himself without Ryan telling him anything. But that seemed to mean that James was more greatful for Mars' help during the plane crash even if he didn't tell her or any of the others at first.
"We only found scratches on her and her lycra suit," Carl began.
"Thick rope marks around her neck," Tyler then said.
"And the fact that they chose to hide her on the roof of the tent." Selene sadly finished.
Tyler nodded at those words.
"So... We think that she's been choked." Jin said firmly and a little fiercely. "By twined or twisted vines. Not by the ropes for the tent like what we originally thought."
"And that she probably wrestled with her killer." Geoffrey said managing to sound discreet and smart. "That's how we think she got all her scratches.
"And she had a bruise..." Carl then said sounding less disappointed but more or less, confused.
"A bruise on her leg. That means the killer struck her there." Tyler then said sharply but swiftly.
"The bruise on her leg?" Haley then asked. All attention was then on her. "I saw it but... Who would hit her on the leg? To knock someone out easily, wouldn't they hit her head?" She asked timidly but with little confidence.
"That does sound more rational..." Selene said.
"I saw the bruise on her leg." Haley said disappointedly.
Carl and Tyler then gave each other a look of concern and suspicion.
"Haley," Carl started.
"Y-yes?" She then replied seeming a little frightened.
"Why did you think she was knocked out?" Carl asked.
"Sh-she looked too calm to have been choked to death." Haley stuttered.
"But you told Selene earlier that you didn't like seeing a dead body." He finished.
"Stop picking on me!" Haley yelped.
"Admit it, you killed her!!!" Ryan exclaimed and Haley gasped.
"I didn't kill her!!! I just said that I saw her expression, her bruise and thought that the killer knocked her out!!!" Haley yelled almost close to tears.
"Okay, please. Quit it. Haley, you always want us to keep the peace. So don't start up a riot." Geoffrey said concernedly.
"But... Wasn't Chelsea the one who said something about Mars' scratches?" Haley whimpered.
"Pinning the blame on me now? You have the gall to do that." Chelsea huffed. "I know how much you hate me Haley."
"I don't hate you..." Haley said close to tears.
"I only stated what I saw. I'll be homest, she's a pest and I just might want her gone. We all know how annoyed Celeste is with her." Chelsea said angrily.
"Celeste would never." Selene said defensively. "Do stop your accusations about Celeste or don't start any about me right this moment. Neither of us have bad intentions towards any of you."
"But Marco would." Ryan then pointed out. "She sadly chased after him once. Perhaps they fought?"
"But sir, they might have but... Even you hated her insulting names and her rowdy attitude towards you." James said.
"But I wouldn't let my precious fingers allow themselves to be the fingers of death!!! I don't allow it!!!" Ryan said dramatically.
Tyler had heard enough. He was ready to make a choice on who the killer was. He had statements from everyone already. What they had against her, their thoughts on her, their amount of defense.
"Guys." Tyler started.
Everyone looked at Tyler in confusion.
"Do you know who killed her?" Jin asked Tyler.
"Okay. Who here inspected the body? Only me and Carl did. But Haley states that she did." Tyler continued to say.
"And she said that she saw the bruise on Mars' leg." Carl then said as he gave Tyler another glance. "And stated that it would be easier to knock Mars out. But the truth is, the bruise was never on her leg. It was on her head. Which proves she was knocked out."
Haley looked speechless but then shook her head slowly while her eyes widened. "That proves nothing."
"But why insist if you've never seen that bruise?" Jin then asked.
"Maybe I did lie about that because I wanted to be seen as innocent..." Haley whimpered as she cried. "But I didn't kill her."
"But you also did your best to pin the blame on Chelsea and get everyone's opinions on Mars and each other. To throw us off. Here and then." Selene said defensively as Celeste was gobsmacked at the sharp tone her sister took.
"But, Haley killing Mars would never seem likely. Especially since Tyler saw her being bullied by Chelsea." Celeste then said taking her voice back.
"But she could have staged that." Geoffrey said. "But none of us knew that we would have to kill until after the plane crash. So that doesn't seem likely."
"But it would prove her cover." Marco agreed.
"Are you all suspecting me?" Haley said with wide eyes just streaming with tears.
"We don't really have much proof-" Geoffrey started.
"Not much proof?" Haley asked in bewilderment. Practically screeching in shock.
Tyler was already of sick her pretending and her stupid innocence. She practically confessed it. She's trying to lie through her teeth. Even Carl and some of the others wanted her to commit. To take responsibility.
But what if Haley isn't the killer then... Wouldn't they all... Die? And the real killer would be free?
"Haley! You're a peacekeeper! So settle this right instant!!! Tell us the truth!!!" Ryan then demanded.
"I didn't kill Mars!!! I didn't wring her neck with twined vines, I didn't give her a bruise by knocking her out, and I didn't leave her ontop of the tent in attempts to hide her!!!" Haley insisted angrily.
"I've heard enough!" Richard then yelled. "I think you've all had enough as well. I want the remaining of you to write down who you think killed Mars. Jetzt. Then we'll see the results in a moment." Richard said calmly.
Papers and pens then appeared in the hands of all the remaining teammates. Haley trembled as she wrote down her answer while all the others were surer than sure about their votes.
They all placed the papers on top of the mirrors that were embedded into the table from their seats.
There was a moment of silence and suspense. And finally, the result came.
"Haley is declared guilty of murder." Richard said calmly. "You'd have to state why tou killed her now."
"What?!" Haley gasped.
"Majority wins sie wund Verlierer... Well then Peacekeeper?" Richard said.
"Fine! I killed Marie." She said through gritted teeth.
"I wonder who here voted for Carl..." Richard said innocently while receiving an angered grunt from Haley.
"I killed her then. Fine. Deduct me from your petty game Richard." Haley said furiously. "She's the girl. The one who's bullied me and abused all throughout highschool and lied through her teeth about me! And to see her smile at me and talk to me like she forgot me?! Not even saying sorry?! I'm the Peacekeeper alright!!! Right now, she's resting in peace because of ME!!! With the demons where she belongs!!!" She yelled angrily as she slammed her fists on the ornate wooden round table.
Everyone was stunned.
Haley? The one who acted as the most innocent? One of the less likely to kill... Well... Her angst got the best of her...
"Haley. You didn't have to kill her to make her apologize. It's been a long time since you've seen each other. Of course she'd forget." Carl said while clenching his fist yet trying not to punch her.
"Oh she didn't forget. From the second we met, she laughed and said, 'You seem familiar. Someone I once called Hazelnut.' With a wide smile. Hazelnut! I immediately snapped. I couldn't take it. But I tried to." Haley started as she clenched her fists as she looked down.
"And do you know what she said next after the plane crashed?! 'Hazelnut... It is you isn't it? What the heck brought you here after I told you to die? I thought I pushed you off the school balcony.'!!!" Haley yelled angrily.
"She almost had you killed?!" Carl exclaimed.
"She tried to kill me with that same rope of vines I tried to kill her with while we gathered firewood!!! And suddenly, there she was, I struck her on the head with a rock. And then, before I knew it, I killed her." Haley then said turning somewhat calm.
"Mars wouldn't try to kill anyone!" Carl retorted.
"Well she did. Then and now. It was self defense actually. And before I knew it, she was dead. From my hands!!!" Haley said. And suddenly, a maniacal smile began to form on her face. And she laughed maniacally as all the others stared at her gobsmacked.
"Haley. The Peacekeeper. Wrath." Richard then stated. "It was nice to work with you Wrath, now you must follow Mars to your demise."
"Fuck you Richard. Nothing would happen if you didn't try to finish our damn project." Haley swore angrily and laughed manically once more.
"Hmmm..." Richard simply said and then Haley turned into particles and Tyler stood up from his chair.
"Where's Haley?!" Tyler exclaimed.
"Check the mirror room." Richard simply replied.
All remaining teammates rushed to the mirror room and one of the walls had become a whole mirror! And from behind it, was Haley. Inside of a room built entirely of mirrors and a metal floor.
She was moving around and punching the glass as if trying to escape.
"Haley! Haley?!" Celeste shouted as she shoved some of the others to see better. Haley couldn't hear or see them at all. But they could see her but not hear her. As if she had gone mute.
And then, Haley was grabbed by a claw by her neck. She opened her mouth as if laughing maniacally but no sound came out. Her pupils had shrunk and she looked more like a killer than she ever was. Glasses and all.
Tyler could then see that the metal floor opened up a little and that metal knives emerged from the floor.
Celeste gasped in horror as Haley began to look like she was choking and the knives began scratching Haley. Haley laughed determinedly as the knives continued to slash and slash as crimson red blood dripped from her scars.
And then, Haley looked up and then the hand clutched... and then Haley stopped moving and laughing. The machine then let her go... Or... let go of her head, rather.
Most of the group screamed as Richard's hysterical and booming laugh echoed throughout the hallways.
The glass wall then dulled into a dark grey and then flashed whute and began replaying Haley's death. Over, and over... and over again...
"You monster!!!" Celeste screamed as salty tears ran down her face as Selene held her close. Selene almost was close to tears as well and was paler and wide-eyed.
Chelsea looked stricken and she shook in fear. Chelsea felt as if her own karma would come back to haunt her. And that she might've been next.
"I don't feel all to well!!!" Ryan exclaimed and then ran out the room. James instantly ran after him as the ones who remained in the room trembled.
"Don't count on a fast and painless death here. Choking someone? That was a pathetic murder. And she didn't even cover up her tracks properly. Useless Wrath was."
"She was all too peaceful to be Wrath." Marco said while also looking a little pale.
"She was a failure. Some of you are amongst my past failures." Richard tutted.
Some of the others gave each other nervous looks. And after what happened to Marie and Haley...
Their lives will never be the same again.
And maybe...
They won't have a life to continue to live.
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