Stepping into the second-floor hallway, I found a quiet, oddly tidy space—a stark contrast to the house's usual decay. I checked the map: a kids' room, a bathroom, a rec room, and… a grandmother's room, accessible from the rec room. The old lady's room? The kids' room was closest, but it was locked with another weird key. Guess I'll try the outer hallway.
『Ethan! A light! Maybe the deputy called for backup!』
"He's a deputy, not a sheriff… and no, that's not it."
Eveline bounced excitedly at a moving light outside, but it was just Marguerite patrolling the yard. Great, even if I reach the front door, she's trouble. I slipped into the nearby rec room to avoid her. It was bright and spacious, with a bar-like counter, a TV stuck on static, and a billiard table cluttered with overturned chairs—no playing today. Hope I find that Cerberus relief here. I glanced at a memo on a small desk.
"'To Marguerite: Take the captured hippie to the processing area from the hall as usual.' …Not exactly a normal couple's note. They're insane."
『Hippie… maybe Travis?』
"Who's that?"
『Someone like you, kidnapped to become 'family.'』
"…Better not ask what happened to him."
I checked the map for the processing area—some room in the basement. Eveline mentioned a Cerberus relief down there, so I'd have to go eventually. The map showed it was behind that scorpion-carved door, but where's the key?
"Grandmother's room… another scorpion carving. Same key as downstairs? …What if I break the glass?"
『If Marguerite hears that, she'll come running. I think.』
"You don't know? …Fine, I'll pass."
Marguerite's the scariest in this family, hands down. Angering her would be a mistake. I turned to the bar-like counter and spotted something—a video tape labeled "Mia"?!
『…Um, who's Mia?』
"My wife. Missing for three years, then I found her here. She attacked me, and I… shot her in self-defense."
『How'd that even happen? This might have clues.』
"Yeah, let's watch it."
I popped the tape into the TV's built-in VCR. The screen displayed: "JUL.19, 2017 09:28 PM, Mia Winters, Old House, Stf452 kp-26mx Njtl, 'Mia,' Ethan, please watch this, S-VHS." Then Mia's frantic face appeared, filmed with a handheld camera.
"July 19, 2017, 9:28 PM… If I was out for half a day, that's today, after I shot her! Is she alive…?"
『Looking pretty lively.』
≪"Ethan, if you're watching this… you probably won't believe me after what happened, after what I did."≫
"So this is Mia after that…"
『What'd she do?』
"She stabbed my hand with a screwdriver, cut my wrist with a chainsaw, and kept coming at me."
『…M-Mia, huh? You hate her?』
"No way. I'm worried something's wrong with her, and I feel awful for shooting her, even if it was instinct."
『Are you a saint or something?』
Eveline fidgeted nervously. What's with her? I tilted my head as the video continued.
≪"But please, believe this: that wasn't me. I don't know what happened, but I have so much to tell you…"≫
『Oh… right, Mia was…』
≪"You're here! You scared me half to death, little missy!"≫
Marguerite appeared, holding a lantern. Is this filmed past the yard, in that old house? The video turned into a chase through a dilapidated building, distinct from the main house. At one point, Mia solved a shadow puzzle like the one downstairs, shaping a spider to unlock a gimmick door. Another one of those? Eventually, she found a photo of herself and a girl who looked like Eveline, only to be caught by Marguerite. A close-up of Marguerite's face made me jump, and Mia was dragged off, dropping the camera as the tape ended.
"Mia… what's going on?"
『Marguerite said something about her being 'chosen' by that girl.』
"There's a mastermind controlling the Bakers? They did this to Mia… unforgivable."
『Eep! …Y-yeah, something like that?』
"Why're you looking away? …That photo—was that you with Mia? You know her?"
『Know her? Kinda, sorta…』
"Got it. You were the kid Mia babysat for her job, right?"
『Huh? Oh, yeah, that's it!』
I knew Mia had done some babysitting gig, so Eveline must've been that kid. But who recovered this tape and left it here? Marguerite, maybe, after finding it? Whatever—Mia's alive, and that's a win.
"I'll find Mia and escape together. That's the plan."
『Right. Let's save her and get out. I'll help full-on!』
"Awfully fired up, huh?"
『I'm the big sister, after all!』
"You've got a sister?"
『Yup. Unlike me, she's a super cute, angelic kid!』
Eveline beamed, arms wide, brimming with pride. Her love for her family warmed me a bit.
"Nice. I'd love to meet her."
『You will, I'm sure of it. Definitely.』
"'Sure' or 'definitely'? Pick one."
We laughed and resumed searching. Splitting up, I found a handwritten note in a drawer—Jack's diary.
"'10/2: Forecast says a big storm's coming. Last one caused flooding; cleanup was a pain. Better reinforce the roof and windows. Maybe get Lucas to help.' …Sounds like a normal family, unlike that other note. '10/9: Water's finally receded. Main house is fine, but the old house took a beating. Lucas is freaking out about a big ship washing up in the swamp. If it's real, I'll need to report it to the county. I'll check tomorrow.' That's where it ends… Something happened after this. The old house—where Mia was running in the video? This farm's stupidly huge."
I tucked the diary away and kept searching. Eveline found a thick book, and inside was the second Cerberus relief. I stuffed it in Zoe's backpack.
"Alright, just one more in the basement."
『Nice! But you'll need a key for the basement…』
"No more leads in here. Bathroom next?"
I exited through the opposite door, heading down a dim hallway to a grimy bathroom. The central bathtub was filled with black, moldy water. Nothing else stood out, so I pulled the plug. The water drained with a rush, revealing something inside.
"…What's this? An object… a statuette?"
『Looks like a bird from here!』
"No way. This is for that shadow puzzle!"
I tossed the wooden statuette into the backpack, excited to finally crack that gimmick. As I turned to leave, completely off-guard, I opened the door and came face-to-face with a blood-smeared, grinning giant—half-naked, gripping a spiked roller. He seized my neck, lifting me with one hand.
"Jack?!"
『Gah?! He's back?! And way faster than I thought!』
"Surprised? Thinking that'd kill me? I'm insulted. I'm the patriarch, the pillar of this house. I don't break easy."
"Oh yeah? How's this!"
"Guoooh!"
I swung my right leg, nailing him in the groin. Monster or not, that's a weak spot—he screamed, dropping me into the filthy tub. Gross, damn it.
『I don't get it, but that looked painful…』
"Not 'looked.' It was painful."
"You bastard, Ethan!"
Jack raised the spiked roller with both hands. I dove out as he smashed it down, shattering the tub and kicking up a cloud of dust. Eveline and I rolled toward the exit, and I fired the handgun into the dusty bathroom.
"Go back to hell, Jack!"
The shots sparked a dust explosion, engulfing the bathroom in flames and swallowing Jack.
"No way he's dead, but let's move!"
『That was straight-up diabolical. I'm kinda horrified… Please, just move on to the afterlife.』
As we fled, I caught Eveline clasping her hands in prayer. …Eveline's Buddhist?
📖 Enjoying the story? By joining my Patreon, you'll gain early access to new chapters and exclusive content available only to supporters.
🌐 Find me here: pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ
I, Tomoya Aki, Will Not Be a Simp (45 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: Summoning Furina and the Genshin Gang to Reality (33 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd: Stranded in Another World, Surrounded by Valkyries (33 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: I Refused the Path of Betrayal and Chose to Rewrite Fate (66 Chapter)
I Only Wanted to Fix Machines, Not Help Conan Solve Murders (63 Chapter)
One Piece: I Brought Piltover's Tech to the Pirate Era (75 Chapter)
From Diablo to Marvel: The Barbarian Who Crushes All Heroes (96 Chapter)
Resident Evil: Ethan's Epilogue Is a Road Trip With a Dead Girl (65 Chapter)
Date A Live: Kurumi Rebuild (65 Chapter)
Harry Potter: The Lion of the Serpent House (76 Chapter)
I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?! (145 Chapter)
The Irregular at Magic High School: Everyone Loves My Brother?! (130 Chapter)
Runeterra: Prince of Demacia (17 Chapter)
Love is War: What If Kaguya Ha (10 Chapter)
Blue Archive: One Last Memory (36 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.