Chapter 34: Chapter 32
"Ahhhh!!!"
With the current situation becoming even weirder, I can't help but be more confuse. With the train suddenly stopping and the lights turning off, this current trip of ours has now leap the bounds of a normal train ride. Adding the fact that someone is currently screaming from the other cart, definitely doesn't help the case.
"What was that?"
Confuse as I am, Evee can't help but question what's currently happening. Seeing how we won't receive any sort of answer if we stay in our seats. Evee readied her hidden sword and prepared to head out to the other cart. But just as she tries to leave the current cart, she was momentarily stopped by Null.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm trying to investigate what's currently going on"
"Are you already forgetting our mission? We're here to protect miss Katherine. Leaving here now, will just lessen our forces"
"But..."
"His right Evee. With how little information we have about the situation, investigating the situation by yourself will not only risk your safety but also miss Katherine's"
"But if we stay here, then we won't know what's happening with the train. Won't that also risk our mission"
"I understand your concerns, that's why I'm ordering you to stay here and protect miss Katherine. While I investigate the situation instead"
"Goddammit... I'm surrounded by idiots"
"That was very rude of you, Null"
"Shut up! None of you are going to investigate anything"
"Are you stupid Null, we're currently in an unknown situation and you're saying that we do nothing"
"I didn't say that! Both of you relax will you. I agree that we should investigate our situation, but our current objective is to protect miss Katherine herself. So, leaving her will only risk said mission. That's why I'm proposing that none of you leave this cart, because both of you are the only people in this team that can properly protect miss Katherine from any danger"
"Wait, so you're saying that you'll investigate instead?"
"Compare to both of you, I'm the weakest when it comes to combat expertise. So, I'm the perfect candidate to investigate our current situation"
.
.
"Fine... I'll allow you to investigate what's happening, but I'm not letting you go alone"
"Try using your brain will you Pebble. We can't risk our current mission by minimizing our forces. Me alone should do the job"
"I agree with Pebble here. You investigating alone, is pretty risky. You should have someone that accompanies you"
"Are you even listening Evee"
"I am, that's why I'm asking you to send Bruce along with you"
"Send the new recruit... Right...?"
"I agree with Null here, Evee. Sending junior who's still new and inexperienced might be risky"
"Please trust me on this one. He might not look like it, but his very reliable and can hold his own"
Seeing their argument unfold, I can't help but join in their discussion. With how much they're having trouble on what to decided, my perspective might be able to help.
"U-uumm.. I know that I'm still new and inexperienced. But I don't mind helping with the investigation"
"That essentially is the problem junior. Your inexperience might endanger you and we're not going to risk that"
"Come on Pebble, we don't have much when it comes to what's happening. And you said so yourself, risking our mission is something that we must avoid"
"..."
-Sigh
"Help me on this one will you Null. You're the one who suggested that both of us should stay here"
"As much as I would like to get this over with, I will agree to Pebble on this one. Sending the new recruit will just be a risky move. We don't know what's currently happening to this train, so lessening any risk is something that we should prioritize"
"That's what I'm currently suggesting! Do you think that by going by yourself, you're lessening any risk that we'll encounter?"
I can't believe how chaotic this argument is going... Are they even aware that someone just screamed just now...
Seeing how they're still undecided on what to do. I can't help but get impatient. With the amount of time we're wasting, different things might currently be happening on the other side.
.
.
Goddammit...
Not wanting to waste any more time, I quickly dashed out of the current cart and made my way to the other.
Due to my sudden action, Null wasn't able to stopped me from moving. Seeing my figure dash away from the cart, Null can't help but get pissed at my decision.
"Fucki- Goddammit, stop! New recruit where do you think you're going!"
Surprised at what I did, Null quickly made chase which was soon followed by Evee. But before she can even run, she was immediately stopped by Pebble.
"Stop Evee, your current task is to protect miss Katherine. I'll go and stop both of them from making any dumb decisions"
"B-but"
-Sigh
"Could both of you please stop"
"Miss Katherine..."
"Seeing all three of you argue on what to do, was somewhat frustrating. It's like seeing a scene of my students arguing play out. I was kind of getting nostalgic for a second"
.
.
"Sorry, miss Katherine"-2x
"Well... in any case. Just let both of them handle the situation for now. I'm pretty sure that both those boys can handle whatever is happening"
"But one of them is inexperienced, isn't it a bit risky to let junior investigate"
"Let me ask you this Pebble... whenever you're on a mission that you don't have much knowledge, do you consider backing off from said mission just because of the risk?"
"... N-no..."
"Exactly... life consist of many risks. Some are somewhat hidden and some are pretty obvious. Yet despite it, we still take said risks head on. Failure or success, taking risks is a part of life. And in those choices, we as a being grow and form our characters"
"...I understand..."
"Please don't let my words get to you, I still think that your decision was wise. But with how you performed just now, you were very lacking in a certain aspect that one should have"
"I know... We were too busy with the mission, that we've forgot that people are as confuse and helpless in this situation. We essentially are lacking in concern of other people in this regard"
"Good for you to understand that. But considering that we have nothing much to do in this situation, both of you should just relax for now. If any chaos does occur in this cart, that's when both of you are able to move"
"Understood"-2x
With nothing much to do. Both Pebble and Evee sat beside Katherine, to ensure her safety. With no knowledge of the chaos from the other side, they await for both Bruce and Null to find out what's happening. While hoping that they also resolve the current situation.
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Finding out that the loud scream came from the 1st cart, I quickly made my way to said destination. After entering the place, I was immediately stopped by Null who was chasing me from behind.
"Stop right there, new recruit! Don't you understand how dangerous your actions were"
"All of you were too busy arguing with each other, so I've decided to take it upon myself to investigate what's currently happening"
"Are you even thinking right now! There are risks that are involve in this situation, yet you retardedly just dashed through here, with no consideration of your safety and our mission"
While busy arguing to each other, a sudden voice from the crowd averted our attention for a moment. Which momentarily stopped our arguing.
"Please! Are there anyone in this train that can help!"
Seeing the situation in the cart, we're shocked to see a crying woman holding a body of a bloodied man. From what I'm currently observing, it seems that woman is pleading for anyone to help her in regards to the person she's holding.
Making haste of the situation, Null swiftly made his way to the pleading woman. And check the situation of the bloodied man.
"What's happening here?"
"P-please my partner.. H-his bleeding a-and, and..."
"Please calm down for a moment. I won't be able to help you, if I don't understand what's going on"
"I-I beg of you, h-help him please... I-I don't know what's going on..."
Seeing how the women seems to be in shocked to answer any question, Null quickly assessed the man whom the woman is holding. Scanning through his body, it seems that bloodied man is currently bleeding from a stab wound in his back. And the cause of said case, is the knife that is sticking from him. Checking the man's pulse, Null soon finds out the bloodied man has no such thing. Which conforms the ill fate of said man.
-Sob-Sob
"P-please save him..."
"Before I do that, can you please answer some few questions"
"W-what.. But..."
"What is your name and who's the person you're holding?"
"U-umm..."
"Please answer"
"M-my.. n-name is Christina and this person here... is my partner David"
"I see... Then can you please tell me what happened before this"
"I-I don't know... the train just suddenly stopped after which the lights turned dark... The next thing I know is that, after the lights went back David was suddenly in the ground, bleeding... So, p-please save him..."
"Thank you for your cooperation, but I would to apologize. As much as I would like to help, it's too late to save your partner now... For his already dead"
"H-huh...? W-what do you mean? I thought that you were going to save him? Isn't it the reason why you've asked me those questions? H-hey.. Please answer me, aren't you going to save him?"
"...Sorry, but your partner has been long dead"
.
.
"Ahahah-ahahahah... you're wrong, David's not dead. His just bleeding from his injuries. Stop lying will you, his not dead! You're wrong! Hey David please hang in there; I'll find someone that can help you.."
"Sorry..."
"Stop! Get away from me! His not dead, you're lying to me... H-he made a promise to me... he said that we'll be together, live our life together and create a family. So, please.. stop lying to me... H-hey.. Are there anyone here that can help.. please I beg of you"
Despite the tearful plead of the woman, the train crowd just silently sat in their seats. Ignoring any plead that came from the woman.
Seeing how there's nothing much that Null can do, he quietly leaves the woman behind and made his way to where I was.
-Sigh...
"I'm sorry that you have to experience that"
"It's fine... I'm used to things like this. I don't know about you thou"
"Well you got me... to be honest this is my first time seeing someone like this"
"Good for you, at least one of us is still somewhat pure"
"So... what happened?"
"We're still lacking on things that can solve this case. But from the looks of it, this occurrence is definitely a normal old murder"
"I see... then any leads?"
"Well... the murder weapon is definitely the knife that is sticking out from the victim and from the testimony of the victim's partner, the murder most certainly occurred when the blackout happened. This makes figuring out the culprit much harder, for anyone in this cart are potential suspects"
"Does that mean, we're going to investigate everyone?"
"Not quite, we still have the mystery of why the train stopped and the blackout. Plus, we're not really detectives, so we don't have the legal authority to arrest anyone, even if we find out who the culprit is. So, our first priority for now, should be to find out what happened to the train and call for help"
"Wait... so we're not going to do anything with the murder?"
"Sadly yes. For our authority is not bound to resolve any criminal cases unless we were ordered to. Let's resolve the train case for now and then call the authorities. With how the murder is conducted, there's something very fishy with what's happening in this place"
"O-okay..."
Leaving the murder case for now, we made our way to the Train Conductor who's very shaken with what's happening. Judging from his look, one can assume that he's just as confused as we are.
"Hello"
"U-umm... sorry. But I think that you should go back to your seats, for now sir. We're currently dealing with some slight problems a-and I assure you that everything is going to be fine"
"Right... everything is going to be fine. I'm pretty sure the dead guy over there is the indication of such"
"I-I'm sorry..."
-Sigh
"What the hell is seriously going on, In here? And why did the train suddenly stop?"
"I-I don't know anything about that sir, I'm just a Train Conductor"
"How many workers are there in this place"
"A-ahh.."
"Answer me!"
"There's only two people who works in the train, that would be me and the Train Operator"
"I see... two workers and one of them has no idea what's happening. Let's see who's this other worker is"
"U-umm sir please, only the workers are allowed in that area"
Entering the other cart, we began making our way to the operator room. With the hope of the operator's presence, we might be able to find some answers of what's really going on.
Scanning the place, I find nothing of particular that exist in said place. It just looks like a very normal train room. Which I assume is where the workers take their rest.
"Hmm... Just tables, chairs, and a lamp?"
"U-um.. The power supply of the train lights is just in the locked room of here. It's a pretty dark place, so we normally use the lamp to see"
"Can we see the power supply room?"
"The room is currently locked and the only key to it is hold by the Train Operator, so if you want to enter the room then I advise you to borrow the keys from the Operator himself"
"Well let's see the Operator then, I for one have many questions that needs answering"
Continuing our search, we quickly enter the supposed Operator Room. Entering the place, another unexpected development has greeted us once more. For not far from where we are is the Train Operator sitting in his seat, with a bloodied neck. Judging from his injury it seems that his throat has been sliced open, probably killing him in a quick and silent way.
With the amount of mystery just stacking to each other, this weird train trip is definitely getting more eerier and eerier.
-End of Chapter 32
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