I stared at the painting titled "Hunter of the Skies" for a good five minutes, wrestling with the spotlight puzzle. I tried shaping my hands into a bird or balancing random junk on the platform to cheat the mechanism, but it wouldn't budge unless the shadow matched the eagle perfectly. What a finicky gimmick for something so bizarre!
『Ugh, it's pointless. Let's move on already, or else…』
"Or else what?"
『…Lucas might show up?』
"I'm not scared of that guy anymore."
『Yeah, Lucas isn't that scary. I just don't like him.』
"Why? He's just a scrawny punk."
『He's the scariest one.』
"…Really?"
So far, Lucas seemed like a pitiful son—joking around, sure, but brutalized by his violent dad who chopped off his wrist. He might even be reasoned with.
『He's the most dangerous person in this house, Ethan. Watch out.』
"If I spot him, I'll shoot first."
『That's the spirit!』
…Eveline's usually the sensible one, so if she's not objecting and even egging me on, Lucas must be bad news. I'd better stay sharp.
"So, we're looking for the three-headed dog relief, right?"
『I'm so happy you remembered our actual goal!』
"Know where it is?"
『…How would I know where they hid stuff while I wasn't looking?』
"What was that pause?"
I pressed her, and Eveline broke into a cold sweat. She knows something. She's awful at keeping secrets.
『…Uh, one's in the living room.』
"The living room? Next to the dining area?"
『And… I forgot, but maybe the basement for another?』
"They hid them after I got here, and you don't remember?"
『I told you, I didn't see it! Someone just told me!』
"Who?"
『You, Ethan.』
"???"
I tilted my head as Eveline clamped her mouth shut, realizing her slip. Told by me? What?
『Oh, look, a shotgun over there, Ethan!』
"Your deflections suck. Fine, whatever."
I followed her pointing finger into a small room, where a headless statue clutched a shotgun. Was Jack ex-military or something? As I grabbed it, a loud clank echoed, some mechanism triggered, and the door slammed shut, locking me in.
"Trapped?!"
『Like that mansion trap Chris told me about. Good thing the ceiling's not dropping, huh?』
"What are you talking about? …Put it back?"
I returned the shotgun to the statue, and another mechanism whirred, unlocking the door. Got it—need a substitute.
『Guess you gotta find something similar.』
"There was a coat rack by the entrance…"
『What're you planning?』
"I'll carve it to match the weight and swap it."
『Seriously…?』
Eveline looked horrified, but I had no guarantee of finding a perfect replacement. Sure, her reaction probably meant there was one somewhere, but I needed a weapon now. I grabbed the coat rack by the entrance, detached the stand, and checked its weight. Recalling the shotgun's heft, I pulled out the pocketknife and started carving.
『Uh, time's…』
"Jack's dead. I don't hear Marguerite or Lucas, so we've got plenty of time."
『How are you so calm…?』
"I'd be freaking out alone, but you're here."
『Blaming me again, huh?』
I finished carving as Eveline curled up midair, hugging her head. The coat rack now looked like a spear—not ideal, but better than nothing. I swapped it for the shotgun, placing the "spear" in the statue's arms, and the door unlocked.
"Nice."
『Nice, my foot.』
"What? It's perfect. That spear suits the statue—my finest work."
『This poor statue's probably horrified, stuck holding a hacked-up coat rack instead of a shotgun.』
"Statues don't think. You're a cute one, aren't you?"
『Don't call me cute!』
Blushing and curling up again, Eveline floated after me as I gripped the shotgun and continued exploring the hall. A door with a scorpion carving, a detachable clock pendulum, and a staircase to the second floor caught my eye.
"Let's hold off on the second floor and check the living room for that Cerberus relief."
『Wise choice, maybe.』
"Why's that?"
『You'll see.』
I frowned at Eveline's cryptic words but backtracked. In the living room, past the shattered dining table, I found a space where a TV might've been and a clock missing its pendulum.
"Huh? This the spot for that pendulum?"
『Probably.』
"Probably? You're the one who mentioned it."
『It's my first time actually seeing it!』
"??"
Still confused, I attached the pendulum. A loud BONG! BONG! rang out, the pendulum retracted, and a Cerberus relief popped out.
"…What? This is… what?"
『Don't think, feel.』
"Quoting Enter the Dragon? That's my favorite movie."
『Watched it a lot.』
"Jack's taste? He had good hobbies, if he wasn't such a psycho. We might've gotten along."
『Yeah, sure.』
Eveline's monotone reply felt off as I pocketed the Cerberus relief. Getting heavy with all this gear.
"Know where I can find a bag or something?"
『Hmm, maybe the laundry room?』
"Figured you wouldn't know."
In the laundry room, I checked the washing machines I'd skipped earlier and found a worn, pink kid's backpack with "ZOE BAKER" written on it.
"Zoe's from when she was a kid?"
『Looks like it. Why's it in a washing machine…? Oh!』
"What?"
『I begged Marguerite to wash it 'cause I wanted hand-me-downs, but then I changed my mind and left it there…』
"Your fault, huh? Thanks, I'll use it."
I stuffed the relief, ammo, and other items into the backpack, slinging it over my right shoulder. The handgun went in my waistband, the pocketknife in my shirt pocket, and the shotgun in my left hand. Small bag, but one shoulder's fine—not too bulky.
"Alright, let's go."
『You look kinda ridiculous, Ethan.』
"Shut up."
Back in the hall, I looked up at the second-floor balcony. Doors lined both sides of the walkway.
"…Not thrilled, but up we go."
『Only place left, right?』
"Can't I just blast the lock with the shotgun?"
『If it jams, we're screwed, so let's not.』
"Ammo's low anyway."
『That's not the point!』
Eveline scolded me as I climbed the stairs, shotgun ready. There, in her wheelchair, was the old lady. Before I could think, I lowered the gun. …Why? I wasn't gonna shoot, but why'd I do that?
"That was close… Can't shoot someone who hasn't attacked me."
『…One shot might just be a misfire, you know?』
"Intentional shots aren't misfires."
『…Darn, no good, huh?』
Ignoring Eveline's oddly disappointed tone, I waved a hand in front of the old lady. She was breathing, shifting slightly, but didn't react. Her eyes were open, though. Pretty old.
"Is she Jack's mom? Or Marguerite's?"
『Neither, I think.』
"??? A relative, then…?"
I checked the map while we talked. A master bedroom and a hallway leading further up. The bedroom had some carving—probably like the scorpion door, needing a key. I opened a drawer in a nearby shelf on a hunch and found something unexpected.
『Wait, that's…』
"A photo…? Is this you, Eveline? Come on, it's a picture—smile a bit."
『I-I hate photos…』
"Why?"
『They only bring bad memories…』
Eveline's face darkened, clearly recalling something painful. I checked the photo's back: "05/02/2014 Eveline." May 2, 2014—three years ago. She was alive then. Seeing her distress, I put the photo back and moved to the hallway door, missing her glaring at the old lady behind me.
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