Chapter 108 Part 3The Serolds House.
Sophie and Fiona were on their way to the Serolds mansion. Rosika and Siegfried secretly followed them without being noticed.
Sophie: "Hmm... this is the forest..."
Fiona: "The forest inside the forest."
Sophie: "Yep."
(Meanwhile)
Rosika: "Come on, hurry."
Siegfried: "Mhm... I'm coming already."
They hurried ahead...
Siegfried: "Ugh..."
He covered Rosika's mouth and hid with her behind a tree.
Rosika: "What... is it?"
Siegfried: "Shhh... over there... that's the guy with the mask."
Rosika: "Ugh..."
They looked. Rosika was right. Siegfried recognized the bandage of the Dark Umbrella. It was the symbol of the Dark Umbrella.
Siegfried: "Hahh..."
He watched the man continue walking while pulling out a pistol. Several people were with him.
Rosika: "Huh..."
Siegfried: "Okay... we have to hurry. Let's take another route. I have an idea. Rosika, climb onto my back."
Rosika: "Huh?"
Siegfried: "I'll jump across the trees."
Rosika: "Oh... okay."
He carried her on his back and began leaping from tree to tree.
Siegfried: "What does this mean...?"
Rosika: "No idea."
Siegfried: "That reminds me... Sophie mentioned Einsenheim and Jose. Do you think one of them is behind this?"
Rosika: "Yeah... I think so. Sophie said most of the Crows can't stand him, especially Marcus and Fiona..."
Siegfried: "Okay... then Jose is probably our guy, at least from what Sophie told us."
(Meanwhile)
Sophie: "Hmm..."
Fiona: "Hmm..."
Sophie: "Hey... I heard something."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Sophie: "Or maybe I'm imagining it... I heard footsteps."
(Patch)
Fiona: "Mmhh!"
She moved close to Sophie.
Fiona: "Shhh... something isn't right. You're right. Someone's here... several people. Let's hide."
They hid behind a pillar.
(Patch!) (Patch!)
Masked Man: "Alright... search for them. Make it look like they were kidnapped by the Hunters or the House of the Cursed Children. You may kill the boy. Leave the women—Sophie, Fiona, and the blind girl—alive. Though I doubt our master cares about the blind one..."
Unknown Dark Umbrella Member: "Yes, sir."
They searched.
Sophie looked at Fiona, and Fiona looked back at her.
Sophie: "Those... bandages..."
Fiona: "Yeah... I know... they're ours... but they're not on our side."
Sophie: "Is it Einsenheim?"
Fiona: "No... I don't think so. I don't think he's stupid enough to do something like this."
Sophie: "Ugh... Jose."
Fiona: "...That, however, is possible."
Sophie: "What is he planning?"
Fiona: "We'll find out soon... Try not to kill them, okay?"
Sophie: "Yeah..."
They quietly climbed the stairs. Fiona suddenly covered one man's mouth and held him tightly until he lost consciousness.
Sophie: "Ugh... there's another one..."
The man approached. Sophie stomped on his foot, covered his mouth, and held him until he fainted.
Sophie: "Huh..."
Fiona: "Good... three left."
Sophie: "Mhm."
Sophie took away their pistols.
Sophie: "Just... in case they wake up."
Fiona: "Shhh... that masked man's voice... it sounds familiar."
Sophie: "Yeah."
Masked Man: "Hahh... come out. We know you're here... Sophie and Fiona."
He removed his mask.
It was... Steven. Someone who should have been dead.
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Steven... you're still alive?"
Sophie: "How is that possible? I thought you died... you were with Marcus."
Steven: "Come down, please... I'd rather not use violence against my former classmates."
Sophie stepped out, and Fiona followed.
Sophie: "...Okay... okay... fine."
Fiona: "Hahh... you got us."
Steven: "Good. Behave yourselves..."
Sophie looked out the window.
Sophie: "Fiona..."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
She looked outside.
Sophie: "Do you see that?"
Fiona: "Hehe... they're here. Looks like they followed us."
Steven: "Hey... don't lo—"
(Crash!)
Steven: "Urk! What the hell?!"
The roof collapsed onto him.
(Crash!)
Siegfried: "Oh... oops... sorry."
Rosika: "Was that really necessary?"
Dark Umbrella Member: "Master!"
Sophie seized the opportunity, struck him in the throat, then slammed him into the wall.
Fiona: "Hey, you!"
The Dark Umbrella member turned.
Fiona punched him in the stomach and threw him downstairs.
(Crash!)
Dark Umbrella Member: "Urk..."
Sophie and Siegfried had already finished their opponents.
Rosika and Fiona simply stood there.
Sophie: "What are you two doing?"
Rosika: "I remembered him... because he touched me..."
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Touched...? How exactly?"
Rosika: "Hmm...? Well... the masked man touched my leg too."
Fiona: "Ugh..."
Fiona walked downstairs.
Steven: "Help me, Fiona."
Fiona stepped on his face.
Steven: "Ugh."
Fiona: "...You dared to touch Rosika...? Steven...?"
Sophie: "What an asshole."
She stomped on his leg.
Sophie: "Now tell us who sent you."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Steven: "Hey... be nice... we ate together. We were classmates."
Sophie: "Shut up and answer!"
Fiona: "Answer... or we'll kill you... The choice is yours."
Steven: "You wouldn't do it... I'm a Dark Umbrella member."
Sophie: "Fiona killed Lady Natasha, her former commander. Are you aware of that?"
Fiona: "And you're just an ordinary agent... Nobody will come looking for you. So answer... who sent you?"
Steven: "...They'll kill me if I tell you."
Sophie: "Hahaha... look at that. He thinks we'll reward him with cotton candy if he stays quiet..."
She pulled out a pistol and shot him in the foot.
(Bang!)
Steven: "Aaaaargh!"
Sophie: "So... are you going to answer now?"
Fiona: "Wow... Sophie..."
Sophie: "Oh sorry... that went a little too far."
Fiona: "You should've hit the hand that touched Rosika."
She stomped on his hand.
Steven: "Aaaaargh!"
Fiona: "ANSWER!!"
Steven: "Jose... it was Jose!"
Sophie: "I knew it."
Fiona: "Hahh..."
Sophie: "Why would he do this?"
Steven: "Because... because... he's leading the election right now... He wants... Marcus and Fiona... kidnapped."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "I see... Marcus too?"
Sophie: "Should I call him?"
Fiona: "If you want."
Sophie: "Okay."
Steven: "Heheh... We sent our strongest people after him."
(Ringing)
Sophie: "Hello, Marcus."
(Aaaaargh!)
Sophie: "Um... Marcus?"
Marcus: "Oh... sorry... someone else was still here."
Sophie: "Oh... so they targeted you too."
Marcus: "Yeah..."
Marcus was sitting on a sofa. Several corpses lay on the floor.
Dark Umbrella Officer: "Urgh..."
Marcus: "Are you all okay?"
Sophie: "Yeah. Let me guess... you killed them?"
Marcus: "Well... not... all of them... only a few... They belong to Jose, right?"
Sophie: "Looks like you already know."
Marcus: "Who else would operate like this?"
Fiona: "True. That guy has always been strange."
Sophie: "More like a fool."
Marcus: "I'm coming to you. Where are you?"
Sophie: "We're on vacation... or at least we thought we were."
Marcus: "Oh... you're at that mansion in the forest. Sure, I know the place... I'm coming."
(Half an hour later)
Sophie: "Oh, Marcus... there you are."
She walked over to him.
Sophie: "I'm glad you're okay..."
She hugged him.
Marcus: "Hey... what's wrong...? Hahh... never mind. Oh, Fiona... are you alright?"
Fiona: "Hahh... You should ask Steven."
Marcus: "Steven?"
He looked at him.
Marcus: "Well, look at that. You're alive... and you've become a fool... Some people... should stay dead. At least then they'd still have their honor."
Sophie: "Want to kill him?"
Fiona: "Better not. We still need someone who knows Jose's plans."
Steven: "Huh... what...?"
Sophie: "You don't have a choice, my friend."
Fiona: "Either you help us... or we'll be forced to kill you. And this time... don't think you'll escape death."
Marcus: "I saw you burn in the fire..."
Steven: "Hahh... damn it... I didn't have a choice, okay?"
Sophie: "Didn't have a choice when you touched Rosika's body either, you bastard!"
She kicked him in the face.
Steven: "Urk... okay... I'm sorry... really..."
Sophie: "Does that monster belong to you?"
Steven: "What... monster?"
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Hmm...? Wait... the monster wasn't yours?"
Steven: "No... I can use my Arcane Ability... but that wasn't it."
Sophie: "Then what is it?"
Marcus: "Hmm... I understand... Looks like someone doesn't want this case solved. Anyway... hand him over to me. I'll deal with him. You all should rest. You're on vacation."
Sophie: "You sure?"
Fiona: "Yeah... are you sure?"
Marcus: "Of course."
He grabbed Steven by the suit and took him with him.
Marcus: "If I find anything... I'll come to you."
Sophie: "Yeah... okay."
Fiona: "Sure."
Marcus: "See you."
He left.
Rosika: "Ghh... let's go."
Siegfried: "Yeah..."
They tried to sneak away.
Sophie: "Hey, you two."
Fiona: "Where do you think you're going? Hmm?"
Sophie: "Hehe..."
Siegfried: "Um..."
Rosika: "Oh dear..."
Sophie: "You two really didn't have to surprise us like that."
Fiona: "Yeah... but hey... you helped us, so let's call it even."
Rosika: "You're... not angry at us?"
Sophie: "Angry?"
Fiona: "Huh?"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Sophie: "Hehehe... you're so adorable. Why would we be angry over something like that?"
Fiona: "Yeah... no reason to be angry."
Rosika: "Oh..."
Fiona walked over to Rosika and gently patted her head.
Fiona: "Alright, you two... let's head back, okay?"
Siegfried: "Yeah... I'm tired anyway."
Rosika: "Oh dear... was I heavy?"
Siegfried: "No... it has nothing to do with your weight... it's just really dark."
Sophie: "(Yawn)... Yeah, I'm tired too... but... what about the monster?"
Siegfried: "Right."
Fiona: "Hmm... should we go upstairs one more time?"
Rosika: "If we do, then all of us are going together."
Sophie: "Yeah."
They went upstairs and looked around.
But...
The painting by the staircase...
...was gone.
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "That would explain why the monster didn't attack Steven and his men..."
Sophie: "Hmm... And... who took it?... Or did it simply disappear?"
Fiona: "I don't know... It's also possible Steven was lying to us... Either way... the painting isn't here."
Sophie: "Hahh... let's just go back."
Fiona: "Yeah."
Rosika: "(Yawn)... Yeah... that's probably for the best."
They left.
(Patch!) (Patch!)
The Finger: "Well, well..."
The Joker: "Hehehe... amusing, isn't it?"
The Finger: "And... what are we going to do with the painting?"
The Joker: "We can sell it... I have the tape."
He pressed play.
Serold: "...Something wasn't right... with this house. Someone has been following us... ever since I bought this painting... I hear screams... footsteps... and the crying of a girl... Even after I broke the painting... even burned it... it always returned... to the wall... I don't understand... Where am I supposed to sell it?... Nobody wants it... I thought the stories about it being cursed were just rumors... I can't sleep... And for days now... even worse things than the painting have happened... Someone is following me... I'm sure of it... My wife said she saw someone staring through our window... He stared... with a wide smile... a smile so wide... it almost reached his eyes... I saw him too... yesterday... when I got up to drink some water... but he was gone... though... I found footprints... Now I know how the people in the Hinterkaifeck case must have felt... Hahh... Anyway... I tried to buy a new house... but I don't have any money left... I spent it all on that stupid painting... and on this house... I want to leave... My family wants to leave too..."
(Bzzzz...)
Serold's Wife: "...My husband... and I... have decided to accept our fate... and simply wait... We brought our children... to a safe place... But we... we can't leave with the baby... For some reason... this painting has cursed us... Our daughter and son never saw the painting... so I hope they aren't cursed too... Serold is slowly losing his mind... and I... I can't sleep... Whatever... no... whoever is watching us... is truly after us... Even now... I can see it staring at us... And it's getting... closer... slower... and slower... The door is locked... and the windows are made of glass that's hard to break... But... it's only... a matter of time... until... that figure... gets us... If anyone hears this... my advice to you... never buy a painting that's rumored to be cursed. And never buy a house deep inside the forest... The woods are so deep... that even if we call an ambulance... or the police... it'll already be too late... I'm sorry... Jane... Bern..."
(Click)
The Joker: "Creepy."
The Finger: "Indeed."
The Joker: "Well, we have what we need. Let's head back."
The Finger: "Okay."
(Meanwhile)
Marcus: "I want you to spy on Jose for me."
Steven: "Hahh..."
Marcus: "Steven... I don't want to kill you."
Steven: "Fine... but what about you and Fiona?"
Marcus: "Hmm? You mean him trying to kidnap us?... Let's put it this way... You tried to kidnap us... but we found out. Go back to Jose... Don't tell him you failed... Tell him the people who attacked me revealed it."
Steven: "Okay."
Marcus: "...Hahh... it's a shame, Steven... Right now... I wish you really had died... You were once an honorable member of the Dark Umbrella... Don't worry... there's still hope you won't be executed."
Steven: "Okay."
Marcus let him go.
Marcus: "Now leave before I change my mind."
Steven: "Okay."
He walked away.
Marcus: "Hahhh... What a day..."
(Meanwhile)
Sophie: "(Snore)..."
Fiona: "(Zzzzz)..."
Lina: "Oh dear... The four of them fell asleep... on the sofa?"
Violet: "Hehe... Well... should we get them some blankets?"
Lina: "Sure... Oliver and Hosenträger, go get the blankets."
Oliver: "Sure."
Sophie was sleeping soundly. Fiona was asleep on Sophie's shoulder, Rosika was sleeping peacefully on Fiona's lap, while Siegfried slept in the middle with Sophie resting on his shoulder.