Who's The Halloween Slasher
Nite 003: After Image
"Well, clearly we're in way over our heads." Snake declared to the group. They were sitting haphazardly spread about the main part of Marth and Roy's room. Snake and Ike were at the table by the window, Pit was lying on the floor, Link was sitting on the bed, and Marth and Roy were curled up on the couch.
"Not necessarily Snake, for all we know this is just a prank." Ike said, not terribly convinced by his own explanation.
"I don't think so Ike, they left that note in our room. Our locked room!" Roy said, hugging his lover sitting next to him. The redhead who was usually the very image of confidence seemed awfully shaken up.
"Well, couldn't Marth have left the note as a prank? Or maybe he wanted to get back at you for staying out all night?" Link blurted.
"Really Link? You're gonna do that to me?" Marth spat, craning his head towards the blonde in disbelief.
"Well, it is possible, right? I'm not saying you did, but it would be impossible otherwise, wouldn't it?" Pit added quietly. Clearly the brunette was uncomfortable with accusing his friends of anything. The boy turned so that he was on his side and looked Marth in the eye's.
"Pit, I'm not the prank type, and I hate Halloween." The bluenette stated aggressively, folding his arms across his chest. It was true, Marth wasn't particularly festive this time of year. Everyone at the mansion knew that the prince's stance on Halloween was that it was as frivolous as it was obnoxious.
"Yeah guys, I don't think Marth would do this. He knows I scare easily, and besides, this is going a little too far. I mean sewing needles? That's screwed up, even for a prank." Roy muttered, still rattled. Marth rubbed the redhead on the shoulder to calm him down
"Still though, then how did he get into the room? Not like he could be a ghost." Snake said offhandedly. A hush fell over the room as soon as the mercenary finished talking. The thought had crossed everybody's mind at least once. Link let out a long sigh and made the decision he was hoping he wouldn't have to.
"I think we're gonna need Soren's help." He said, dreading the thought of involving his boyfriend in things.
"Link, that's a bad idea. Soren hates when we waste his time, and this is definitely something he'd think was a waste of time." Ike replied, familiar with the tacticians cold nature.
"But he could figure this out Ike. You know he could." Link said quietly. The mercenary thought this over for a second.
"Fuck, you're right! He probably could. Damn! All right, go get him then. You know he's gonna have both our asses, right?"
"Yeah I know." The Hylian replied sullenly. Standing up, the blonde exited the room and jogged off down the mansions halls towards his and Soren's room.
"Oh crap! I was supposed to go pick Pike up like an hour ago! Ganon's gonna kill me!" Pit exclaimed. Standing up the cherub immediately bolted out the door.
"So the door was locked when you left Roy?" Soren asked, giving the note on the wall a quick glance before dismissing it.
"Yeah, I used my key to lock it." The redhead replied.
"Did you hear it click?" The black haired boy asked flatly.
"Huh? God Soren, I don't know! I can't remember." Roy responded.
"Hmm…whatever then. Probably doesn't matter. But the chain couldn't have been in place if you locked the door behind you. What about you Marth, did you put the chain in place when you went to bed?"
"I was already asleep when Roy left. I had a migraine, and knew today would be an early one, so I wanted to get enough sleep." Marth answered. Soren appeared to have not even paid attention to the response.
"No chain… locked door…" The red eyed tactician mumbled to himself. Walking over to the door, he opened it and carefully studied the side of the door, particularly the bolt. Poking his finger into the hole that contained the retracted bolt. Then, arching his whole body, the red eyed boy examined the slot where the bolt would go when the door was locked. Suddenly he yelped in delight, mashing his fist into his palm.
"How simple!" Soren exclaimed.
"What's up babe? You figure something out?" Link asked, perking up. He hadn't seen the youth so lively in a while. He knew the boy loved puzzles and such, but not this much. Running over to his lover, Soren pecked the blonde on the cheek.
"I need a few lucky pennies, anybody have any?" The raven head asked, positively beaming. Confused, the whole group checked their pockets.
"Here wait a minute, me and Roy have a coin jar." Marth said, scampering of to fetch some coins.
"Is ten enough?" The bluenette asked, producing some pennies. The black haired boy swiped them from the bluenette without even saying anything. Arranging the pennies in a stack he placed them into the socket in the doorframe where the bolt would go.
"Soren, I get what you're thinking, but that wouldn't work, the key wouldn't turn." Snake said, following the tacticians logic.
"Just watch." Soren pleaded, backing away from the door.
"Try to lock the door from this side." Soren offered, gesturing to Marth. The bluenette hesitantly walked to the door and tried to turn the latch.
"It can't turn all the way, the pennies are blocking the bolt." Marth stated, knowing that was what Soren expected.
"Exactly, but now lets step outside." The group followed the red eyed boy's instructions closely, and filed out into the hallway behind him.
"You want me to try the key now?" Marth asked, skeptically.
"Is there a point to this?" Snake asked, starting to doubt the mage.
"Nope, you try your key Roy." Soren ordered, ignoring the brunette. Puzzled Roy walked over to the closed door and slid his key in, turning the lock, the redhead heard a gentle click as his key rotated.
"It locked, but how? The pennies-" Roy tried to say before Soren cut him off. Turning the handle the black haired boy easily opened the door.
"It wasn't locked?" Link asked, dumbstruck.
"I don't get it." Pit chimed in, equally confused.
"The pennies were to stop the bolt, the trick is making it so that the person would think the door was locked. This doesn't work whey you lock the door from the inside but, when you use the key, its almost impossible to tell."
"But I locked it, the key turned in the lock, I heard a click and everything!" Roy retorted, clearly lost.
"The click was the sound of the bolt hitting the pennies. And if you'll notice, the key didn't turn all the way, but that would be easy for someone to miss. These locks are what really make it work, they're old, the constructions shoddy. Look how the bolt is receded into its frame." The group bent over Soren's shoulder to get a better look. The raven head actually had a point, the bolt was sunk into its socket almost a quarter of an inch.
"So when I turned the key, the door didn't lock because of the pennies?" Roy asked, unsure of whether he followed.
"Right, try it now." Soren ordered, removing the pennies. On command Roy tried his key again. It turned just the same as before, the redhead thought. He tried it again, and then he noticed the difference. The key turned three quarters of the way when the pennies weren't in the lock, but only turned halfway when they were.
"I barely noticed!" Roy exclaimed.
"Am I good or what?" Soren bragged, basking in his victory.
"How'd you know?" Ike asked, amazed.
"Simple, there are scratches on the bolt, and if you look at the wood inside this socket there are notches where the pennies dug into the wood. The Slaher could have used dimes too, but I don't think it matters." Soren explained.
"So the kids the shit after all!" Snake said, giving the frail tactician a hearty pat on the back.
---
"Thank you Ganon for watching him today, are you're sure you don't mind if he spends the night?" Pit asked, not wanting to impose. The redhead grinned and laughed deeply.
"Are you kidding? Of course not, I love having Pike over!" Ganon replied.
"Yeah, he loves having Pike over!" Pike bellowed, trying to imitate the man's deep voice. The dark skinned king laughed and scooped Pike up, resting the small boy on one of his massive shoulders. The small cherub giggled, his tiny wings beating in excitement.
"Well, if you're sure he's not a bother…"
"Sure I'm sure!" Ganon laughed, patting Pit on the shoulder. Lifting his son off of the larger Gerudo, Pit gave Pike a hug and kissed him on the cheek.
"You make sure to behave while me and daddy are gone. And don't you wear Ganon out, it was very nice of him to watch you for us."
"I promise dad, I promise." Pike grumbled. Adjusting his sons laurel, Pit brushed the boys long blue hair off of his face.
"I love you Pike."
"I love you too daddy." The boy chirped. Turning, Pit left the mans room, closing the door gently behind him.
"Well, says here on Ike's instructions 'make sure Pit eats his vegetables at dinner'. Too bad, I don't think that there's any vegetable's on pizza!" Ganon exclaimed.
"Yay pizza!!!" Pike exclaimed, jumping up and down.
"I thought you'd like that, it should get here in a few minutes. But don't tell your dad's, it's our little secret"
"Hey Snake, where are you? This is your hunt and we were about to leave without you." Link inquired, talking into his cell phone. The Hylian had his other hand shoved deep into the pocket of the emerald parka he was in.
"Sorry I can't make it. Samus is in the 'mood', if you know what I mean." The mercenary whispered, sitting on the toilet of their rooms bathroom.
"What do you mean 'in the mood'!? I don't care! This is your stupid hunt you moron!" The Hylian exclaimed.
"Sorry Link, I've never said no to her before, it'd seem odd if I did now. Especially if I can't give her a reason. Thanks for the help though." Before Link got the chance to yell at his friend over the phone, Roy grabbed it from him.
"How is Samus lately? Is she still-" Roy inquired.
"I wouldn't push it Roy, because yes, she's still mad at you." Snake interjected.
"Crap."
"Gotta go, she's getting antsy. I'll see you tomorrow." The mercenary said apologetically.
"No Snake, you can't just-" He heard the brunette hang up the phone.
"Bastard!"
"Lets just get this thing started already. First thing first- we need to split up." Ike said, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
"Well, it looks like me and Roy have the warmest jackets, we should probably search the pumpkins in the courtyard, and around the grounds." Link said, studying the redhead who was wearing a thick brown leather bomber jacket.
"Sounds good, me and Pit will search the North and West wings. Soren, you and Marth should search the South and East wings."
"Why am I even part of this stupid search party?" Marth asked cynically.
"Yeah, I don't get why we-" Soren tried to say.
"Just search please" Link pleaded.
"Oh, before I forget, I got the sick ass walkie talkies!" Roy exclaimed, reaching into his messenger back and producing a walkie talkie in each hand.
"Why?" Pit asked, cocking his head sideways.
"Yes, why indeed. We have cell phones." Marth added, face palming.
"But walkie talkies are cooler!" Roy said passing them out to the group. As each person turned the knob on their individual device. A loud squawking sound could be heard coming out of each persons individual communicator.
"They're all set to the same frequency already, so don't worry about that." Roy said over the ear splitting static.
"When do they stop making this noise!?" Pit cried, trying to cover his ears.
"Oh, that's just because they're close together." Roy yelled over the deafening chaff.
"You're a complete dumb ass Roy!" Ike called.
"What!?" The redhead asked, leaning closer to the bluenette so he could hear.
"I said lets split up!"
"Fuck! Shit! Where are you now Marth!?" Soren called into his walkie talkie, running down the corridors in the South wing of the mansion as fast as he could.
"I'm not sure, Somewhere in the- I'm at the library! I just passed Library 1!" The bluenette panted into his walkie talkie.
"Okay, wait for me in the library! Shit, I knew splitting up was a bad idea! You guys heard that right!? Marth's got the Slasher right on his tail at the library!" The raven haired tactician exclaimed into the communicator.
"Soren, that's impossible. Me and Link are following the Halloween Slasher now, he's on the roof again!" Roy replied.
"Shit, there he goes Pit, we can't lose him! What are you guy's talking about!? We just spotted him in the West wing!"
"What the hell is going on!?!" Soren roared into the mic, his adrenaline surging.
"Soren, hurry up! I locked the door but I think it's gonna get in! I don't know what the fuck he is! Superhumanly fast, stronger than anything I've ever seen, it's like he's not human!!!" Marth exclaimed into the walkie talkie, Soren could hear the fear in his voice.
"Just stay calm Marth, I'll be at the library in like five more minutes!" The red eyed boy replied.
"Fuck, I think ours just got away!" Link yelled into the mic in frustration.
"Hang on Marth, We're near the library now! We just need to find a way down!" Roy called into the walkie talkie, concerned for his lover.
"Yes! I got him!" Pit called into his own communicator.
"Got him? You caught him Pit?" Soren asked, feeling a tinge of excitement.
"No, not yet Soren, Pit shot him in the face with an arrow. Hit him right in the mask! We're gonna move in now that he's stunned and- Pit! Look out!!!" Ike screamed, cutting himself off. Soren could hear the sounds of banging and chaos through the speakers. Then he heard the sound of footsteps from the other end.
"Son of a gun, isn't this fun?" A raspy voice grumbled into the walkie talkie.
"Who the fuck are you!?! What happened to Ike and Pit!?" Soren yelled, a sense of dread spreading through the tactician.
"Having fun, you son of a gun?" The voice grumbled again. Horrified, Soren could only imagine that the worst had happened. Frantically the tactician yelled anything he could think of at the person talking through the radio.
"Soren, don't worry. Me and Ike are fine." Pit interrupted. "The Slasher guy knocked me and Ike over, he got Ike's talkie too!" Pit's voice cried out of Soren's communicator. Soren breathed a sigh of relief, but was still shaken from the sudden chaos.
"Soren, Marth was right, this guys a tank! He plowed right through us!" Ike said into Pits radio.
What is going on? There are three of them!? How can this be happening? There's gotta be a trick, there can't really be three!
The black haired boy rounded the corner and found himself at a set of double doors against the wall next to him. He had to go by the gold placard which read 'Library 1' next to the doors, the mansion looked completely different at night.
Trying the handles on the doors, he found that they were locked from the other side. Jiggling them furiously, the red eyed tactician called into the room for Marth to let him in.
"Marth it's me, Soren! The Halloween Slasher is gone now, so you can open the door!" There was no response from the other side. Fearing the worst the raven head backed away from the door and slid his tome out of his robes.
"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Link asked once more, eyeing Roy skeptically. The redhead was holding onto Link's hookshot who's head was lodged in the stone grout of the ceiling.
"For the thousandth time Link, I'm positive the Library 1 is right below us. Now I'm gonna repel down and open the giant window that's in the library. Then, I'll send the hookshot back up for you.
"Roy I don't think that window open-" Before the blonde could finish the boy had already kicked away from the wall with his feet and was free falling. Descending about fifteen feet, the hookshot's chain reached its maximum length, and the redhead swung back towards the wall. Suddenly the Hylian heard a loud crashing sound, followed by the noise of glass shattering and several other loud thumps.
"Falcon one to falcon two! I'm in the library!" Link heard Roy shout into the microphone.
"Roy, why are we falcons now!?! What was that noise!?" Link cried, feeling a lump building in his throat.
"Um… I may have crashed through the glass window of the library. I may also have broken a table." The redhead stated apologetically. There was a long pause from the Hylian.
"I may have just pissed my pants Roy. Do you know how screwed we are?" Link mumbled into the radio.
As the doors to Library 1 burst open, nearly flying off of their hinges, Soren immediately scanned the room for any signs of Marth. Looking at the massive shelves of books and numerous tables, everything seemed undisturbed. The black haired boy could hear the clack of his own footsteps echoing through the study as he walked across the cold marble floor.
The tactician could barely see anything, the only source of light was the pale orange glow of the moon through the massive widow of the library.
"Oh that's great Roy, that's just great! Lets break the door too! Because Zelda won't kill Link if you just tear the whole mansion to the ground! She'd never do that!!!" The Hylian screamed at the redhead, who was lowering the leg that had just kicked down the door of Library 1.
"Well, it wasn't opening, what was I supposed to do? Looks like somebody jammed a pipe through the handles so it wouldn't open. Wonder why?" Roy asked as he examined the pipe on the ground. The redhead was unsure if he was thinking aloud, or if Link was actually going to answer him."
"Roy…this isn't Library 1."
"What are you talking about? Of course it is!"
"You retard! This is Library 2! Look at the placard!" Link exclaimed, pointing to the golden bronze placard on the wall.
Ike and Pit reached Library 1 only minutes after Soren had forced the door open. They saw the dark haired tactician sitting at one of the tables, his head in his hands.
"Soren, what's up? Where's Marth?" Ike asked, looking the room over.
"Did something happen?" Pit asked worriedly.
"He's not here guys, I can't get him on the radio, or his cell. Marth's gone you guys." Soren quietly answered, his head still in his palms.
Next time on our show-
Marth missing? Oh the humanity! What can the gang do, with the Slasher now picking them off one by one? With only a day to go before the Halloween masquerade, the clock is ticking faster then ever!
Tune in next time!