Day 5 continuation

~~~~~ 

The final 6 participants spilled out into the hall, groups one and three hastily retreating back into their rooms for safety. However, the members group two stared, stunned at Codesmith's seemingly holographic avatar fade away.

"How?" Whispered Kitten, "We were all just here. Besides, everyone else was still in their rooms with the rest of their group, a solid alibi!"

"Yuppari (I knew it/As I thought)." Jaybells muttered. "Well, I don't suppose that the groups will do a whole lot of good, as demonstrated by this incident."

Kitten nodded in agreement, proceeding to tell the remaining Chatterboxers that they wouldn't have to stay in groups if they so pleased.

"At the same time, I wonder," Jaybells worried, sinking her front teeth into her lip, "Maybe we gave up too easily? What if that was just a clever ploy set up by the culprit. Perhaps-"

She was cut off by Conan's amused reply. 

"Maybe you should calm down and think of something even more clever. I wouldn't put it past you." 

"Jouto (wait)..." Jaybells realized, her eyes suddenly widening, "The host..."

"Huh?" Came the confused detective's voice.

"The host!" Jaybells exclaimed, " It's just a possibility, but it is plausible! That the host is staying here, right Kitten? He might know something!"

Frowning, Kitten inquired, "What makes you think that?" 

"Just a hunch, I suppose." She sounded crestfallen, "Perhaps some sleep will do the trick." Agreeing, eveyone headed back to there rooms.

"It's not 'just a hunch,' is it, Jay?" Conan began.

"Ma ney (well), no. For one, on the first day, remember how the host stopped announcing until everyone was quiet?" 

"Mochidone (of course), so you deduced all that just from an announcement?" His eyes sparkled.

"Not entirely," she corrected, "I also caught a glimpse of someone hurrying up the stairs, within seconds of the final arrival, but they seemed very familiar with the building." She reasoned alound.

"Soka, soyu kotoka.(I see, that's how it is.)" Was the standard response, earning a grin from the elder of the two.

"Besides, last time I went to explore, there wasn't anything indicating that the closest room to the grand staircase on the 3rd story had been used. Now there is evidence that proves otherwise." The speaker appeared troubled.

"What are we doing here? We should be investigating, then!" Conan jokingly scolded her.

"If you insist." She grinned. Maybe, just maybe they could stop the culprit before it was to late.

I'm dead!? Creepy! Myst Eri E. are you S. Clockwork?

Day 5 continuation

~~~~~ 

Kitten paced the floor of room 6A, worrying. Where was Jaybells? She still hadn't come back, and Kitten preferred not to enter a room without its owner. Peeking outside from her own room, she saw nothing but the empty velvet-adorned halls and neatly stacked, closed doors. Finally losing her patience, she darted to the room next door. Knocking, there was no reply, so after hesitating for a split second, she swung the door open to reveal.... nothing. The sudden pitch-black darkness that engolfed her caught Kitten off guard, in contrast with the well-lit corridors she had just emerged from. Confusion quickly manefested itself in Kitten's mind before panic struck. Normally she wouldn't get so spooked, but she had had a terrible feeling about this. Her discovery had only added to that feeling.

"No. No, no, nononono...." She whispered, voice slightly rasped. "Oh, no... Luna! Estelle! Amira? Anyone?" She timidly fumbled forwards, unable to find a light switch anywhere near the door. "Jaybells?" Sharply drawing her breath in, she turned on her heel, dashing towards her own room. Upon reaching it, and locking herself in, she allowed herself to catch her breath and think the situation through. I should probably tell the others. She thought, gulping. Glancing over at the next room down, MJ's door, (Which is where Leo, MJ, and Twirlgirl were staying) she felt a chill run down her spine. Maybe I'll just go across the hall. Besides, they already have a group of three, whereas the other group just has Nighthawk and Darkking! She though nervously. Heading over to Nighthawk's door, she silently composed herself before knocking, for the second time that night, on another CBers door.

~~~~~

For several hours before Kitten came to door 9A, Nighthawk and Darkking had been discussing the dire situation. Eating only from Nighthawk's personal stash, provided by the house, they hadn't paused their research or discussions for even a brief period, instead focusing entirely on the task at hand. They were actually making some progress, and finally began to understand, or get what they thought was, the entire picture. They had to admit, there were still little issues that remained unaccounted for, but for the most part, they decided it was complete.

~~~~~

Kitten again began to get anxious, Nighthawk and Darkking still hadn't answered to her knocking. Biting her lip, she debated whether or not to go in. Deciding to check in, just in case, she pushed the door open. Sighing in relief, Kitten's worries were dismissed, as both CBers were slumped behind laptops, and Darkking's AEs (and CAPTCHA), Harlequin, Mor, and presumably Will, were flopped over on matresses in the adjoining room, plenty of food lying out in front of a Tv. So everything was fine. They probably just fell asleep and hadn't heard her, she figured, turning to leave. Looking back at them, she paused just before she closed the door. Something seemed, off.... She came back into the room, getting a glimpse off the AEs just in time to witness them beginning to glimmer, slowly dissappearing. Kitten watched in horror, then turned, to see the same happening to the CBers. She rushed over, No stab wounds... no strangle marks.... Oh, why did she have to be the one to be here still? Why couldn't it be Jaybells and Conan? They had handled all the previous incidents, plus they had beforehand experience, as she had learned by talking to them for the short time they had had. On the other hand, she wasn't sure what to do. Think like they would, think like they would, think like they would! Hurry, they're dissappearing. Kitten thought desperately. As the avatars blinked out of existence, she caught the faint whiff of something strange.... Then it hit her, she remembered Conan explaining, with some chastising from Jaybells, about some of the cases they had been on. He had gone into surprising detail for such a young child about some things, and it occurred to her that he had made a comment about cyanide it gave off the scent of rotten... oh what was it.... Almonds! And it worked almost instantaneously! She began piecing it together with the other methods, and absent mindedly wandered over to room 8A. Explaining what had happened, to the other 3 remaining CBers, but keeping her deductions to herself, Kitten was led to a door with in MJ's room. There she found a room very similar to her own, except it had a large aquarium on one wall, like the others in (or connecting to) MJ's room. Finding it a relief to finally get some rest, she immediately crashed out on the bed on the opposite side.

~~~~~

A few hours later, Kitten was awoken by a crushing sensation in her chest. Attempting to turn over, she was rather alarmed when she was unable to, and within a few seconds she learned that she also couldn't make any sound. Feeling the air slowly being squeezed out of her, she could do nothing but wait helplessly.

~~~~

A few hours later, dawn was just breaking on the 6th day. A screech rang out, wrecking the beautiful scene, and quite rudely awakening Leo. Leaping up and sprinting to the door, with a sense of dread growing in his chest, he ran head first into Twirlgirl, knocking her down. They got up, and hurried to MJ's personal chamber, exchanging a worried glance. When they entered, nothing initially seemed wrong, and they didn't see MJ anywhere. Turning to face the huge aquarium in the wall next to the door, Leo gasped.

"M...MJ....MJ's in there!" He stuttered, terrified.

Whirling around, Twirlgirl's eyes widened as she took in the scene.

"Kitten!" She growled, "It's gotta be her. She's the only one who's not here, plus she was the only witness to the other two murders yesterday."

Leo nodded, and they raced to the little room they had left her in the previous day. 

When they saw the enormous block that basically covered Kitten's bed, they both ground to a halt in shock.

"Impossible!" Twirlgirl hissed, "She's the only one-"

She whipped around, to see Leo slowly back away, eyeing her warily. Gritting her teeth, she tore off past him to her sub-room, yet still within room 8A.

It was unnerving to be in the same room as a murderer, Leo decided. Technically, these "rooms" were more like apartments, but still, it was less than ideal to be in the same apartment as a murderer, all the same.

~~~~~

Taking a deep breath, it crossed his mind that he could just leave, and return to his "apartment," but that might be even more hazardous, so Leo decided to stay put. He felt bad for Étoile and Miza, as he had left them behind in his actual room, and he hoped that they were getting by. As he was engrossed in his thoughts, he didn't notice the figure slipping behind him, or the thin cord around his neck. In fact, he didn't notice anything until the cord was already pulled tight, and by that time, it was, of course, too late. 

Nooo!! Of all the ways to die, I had to die slowly by suffocation? 

Oh no, I died! Great writing though! I can't want to see what happens next. 

Okay, to everyone who participated in this round, or has reserved: I am going to start a new round, but with a brand new thread. It will be a sort of continuation to this ski lodge, but you can still join if you have not previously been involved. Sorry about the cliffhanger, but there are clues that are just a tad vague, and therefore leave room for interpretation. Thank you! Hope to see you in the next round!