Hey, does anyone watch game theory? It's just on my mind since I just watched the latest episode. If you don't know what it is, it's a youtube channel infamous for over analyzing games. It's super fun, if you're into that. It got me wondering how much of the community is into that sort of stuff. I mean, obviously there are people who write fanfictions on video games, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're interested in game theories. Anyway, this is the last chapter. I knew from the start it wouldn't be very long. It is a mini series, after all. If you've yet to read it and you're interested, go ahead and check out my story Never Meant to. The story there has a lot more meat in it than this one.
Well, read away.
Her aqua eyes widen, her mouth hanging open in shock. "Wha….what do you mean? What do you mean it was me?"
"It wasn't Anna!" Diane states in disbelief, clutching the trembling girl to her protectively. "Ya know it couldn't have been 'er! She can't even stand blood! Ya saw her when I gotta papercut the other day!"
"She never had to see any. She's killed all of her victims without having to see a drop of blood."
"But I...I didn't...how could you think…" Anna stutters, her small frame shaking. Diane hushes her, standing and petting down the younger girl's white blonde hair.
"It wasn't 'er." Diane's voice has steadied, confident. "When Ella died, Anna 'as eight. She couldn't a pulled a murder like that off."
"What're ya trying to pull over us?" Bennet demands, his expression gone dark.
"Like that tiny a girl could be a serial killer," Victor scoffs.
"She's the only one with the motive," I elaborate, preparing myself to delve into details. "Of all the people in your families, Ella seems a bit of a strange choice unless the one choosing was Anna. Actually, considering Anna's position, Ella was the optimal choice. Had she knocked off Bennet, Ronnie would have taken his place. Had she taken Ronnie, she would have lost her place in the line of succession. Diane's marriage to Ronnie is the only thing putting her in line to the boss's chair. Therefore, Diane would have been a detrimental choice as well. Julian's death would have just put everyone on edge, accomplishing the least. Killing off Victor would have been ineffective, as well, but would have taken out a possible opponent. Ella, however, caused her absolutely no disadvantage. Her attachment to the main family remains intact, and the girl in line before her vanishes. After the marriage between Diane and Ronnie, she could pick them off however she liked and keep climbing closer to Bennet until some unfortunate accident claimed his life. If she didn't eliminate all those in line in front of her, she could never even be considered for the boss's seat. She's so young, after all, a girl, and is renowned for being timid."
"She 'as eight," Ronnie emphasizes, siding with Diane. "Ya tellin us an eight year old kid coulda come up with a plan like that?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Are you telling me she couldn't? Clearly, you haven't been paying much attention to your future sister-in-law. In the past year, she's displayed to me intelligence I've yet to see in anyone else in the mafia. She tries to hide it with a nervous facade, but there are subtle hints. I must say, Anna, you're a natural at acting. Unfortunately for you, I've met better. Despite what others may think, though, you're right at home in the underworld in this town. As for you, Ronnie, haven't you at least noticed her speech is much more refined than yours? If you've noticed her at all, that clue is the most obvious."
"Oh, please," Julian refutes. Even as she does, however, her eyes flicker to her future daughter in law, uncertain. "I've seen her grades. If anything, they're below average!"
"On purpose," I explain.
"Why?" Anna's lips quiver. "Why are you...doing this?" Tears overflow from her eyes and Diane does her best to comfort her, still trusting in her conniving little sister.
"Why am I doing this?" I stand from my seat for the first time, snapping my fingers back at the guard I'm sure the others had forgotten about. "You! Restrain Diane from Anna." When he doesn't move, I whip my head around and feel my eyes begin to burn red. "Did you not hear what I said, human? Are you deaf?"
He startles, dropping his head and scuttling past me to obey. "Yes, Ma'am."
Diane begins to scream as he wrenches her away. Outside the door, a commotion begins. Just by hearing their voices, I conclude that a concerned group of guards have gathered in the hall. I order the man restraining Diane to silence her, to which he forces her mouth shut. Then, I once again steal the pistol from the guard and open the door just wide enough so the men standing outside can see my entire body.
"I understand you're worried about your boss, but you mustn't interrupt. They're mourning the loss of a precious family member, and cannot be disturbed."
"Who're ya?" one questions, lifting his gun. Whoever it is next to him whacks his hand down scoldingly, identifying me as Diane's friend Katrina. I can't wait to be free of that name. After I'm finished with everything, I want to return to the shinigami realm to live out the rest of my days. I want to return to just being Kezu.
"So," I finish, "if you would be so kind as to leave them to their memories…."
"But why 'as there screamin'?"
"Because they're in pain. Haven't you ever lost a loved one?" I reason, watching their faces carefully.
"I'm sorry, little lady, but I think we should really come in and-"
"Take one step to disturb them and I'll fill your head with lead," I threaten, leveling my stolen gun with his nose. "There is punishment for being disrespectful. I'm sure you realize this."
The man jerks back a bit, then reads my face. What he finds is the utter lack of problems I have with ending his life. As any sensible human would, he backs off. I shut the door and throw the gun to the ground, not caring to have its weight in my hands.
"Now then," I return to the topic at hand. I approach Anna before she can realize I'm closing the distance between us. When she realizes how close I've gotten, she flies backwards into a wall. "You want to know why I'm doing this? I'm doing this because I loved someone I wasn't ever supposed to. He was the only human to hold me in the palm of his hand, the one who tamed me. I loved him, and then someone like you came along. Someone like you, a genius at acting, found a Death Note belonging to a lowly god of death and wreaked havoc. When I met L, I came to know a heart I was never meant to have and that man killed it. Since then, I have been searching for something of mine you have. For the past four years I've searched every inch of the earth so I can kill the man who killed me. The man who murdered him! I haven't thought of a single other thing except for that! I haven't the leisure of sleep like you humans, so for twenty four hours of every day I've dreamt of killing that bastard. You want to know why I'm doing this? For revenge. So I can watch that pathetic human be ground into dust for what he's done to me."
Anna stares at me, hiccuping as she cries. My eyes scorch hotter than any desert, flaming red with hatred. My hands shake as I rein myself in, my eyes cooling gradually and my muscles releasing their sudden tension.
"So now you know why I need it. Return to me my Death Note, Anna."
"I…" she gasps, "I don't...know what you're talking about…"
"Leave 'er alone!" Diane screeches, having momentarily broken free from the guard. She's back in his hands within seconds, though. Seeing this, Julian attempts to step in. Even as she does, though, her voice wobbles, unsure.
"Katrina, maybe you should rest a bit. You're just stressed out-"
"Of course I'm stressed out, human! The man who killed the man I love has been achieving his dream for the past four years, while I've been scrambling to find my Death Note and crush him under my foot! You, a mere human, would never understand! The pain of finding someone and losing them! The pain of not being able to cry! All I can do is tear the bastard from his high and mighty pedestal! Don't you dare say that I have to calm down! Shut up and let your god work as she will!"
I bang my hand against the wall beside Anna's head, causing her to whimper. "If you don't hand it over, Anna," I hiss, "I won't be pleased. You know I've been in Japan for the past few years, yes? I'm sure you also know who Kira is, don't you?"
At the mention of Kira's name, her gaping mouth snaps shut and her body ceases to quake. Her voice comes out uncertain, but stable. "What about him?"
"Who do you think I'm going after?"
She soaks this in, face blank. Then she bursts into laughter. All eyes in the room, save for mine, gawk at her. When she eventually lifts her face to meet my gaze, all signs of the coward from before are gone. Her icy eyes meet my scorching ones with arrogance, her pale shoulders squared. In seconds she's gone from a pitiful pale child to a hazardous haunted doll. Now, more than ever, her kimono resembles blood. Ronnie had been right to say she looked like a doll from a horror film, but back then she'd had an air of innocence. Now, she looks ready to drive glass into her victims.
"Of all people, Kira? You knew Kira? Do you think I'll feel threatened to know you're going after him? You have yet to actually kill him, so why must I feel afraid? And besides, where is your proof that I'm the culprit. You're assuming the motive, when in reality, it could be an infinite number of other things. It's just speculation you're using. Diane is right, I was only eight when Ella passed. Would I really have had the understanding to be able to piece together that plan?"
"If you were as good as Kira, you wouldn't have broken your mask," I tell her, a twisted grin warping my lips as I step back.
"So what if I snapped? I can't go on crying forever. Leave us alone, Katrina. Go back to Japan or whatever, and good luck with your revenge."
"I will, just as soon as you hand over my Death Note."
"I have no idea what that is," she lies smoothly. Yes, she's despicable. I could say she's like another Kira, to a bit of a lesser extent.
"If you don't tell me, I'm sure I can find it. I'm already certain it's somewhere in the house. I can ask around, find exactly where Greg went on his last visit. It'll be in one of the rooms he went to, of course. He found it and saw everything written inside it. He knew it was you. I doubt you moved it afterwards, considering the only person to have found it was him. Perhaps you put a little more effort into keeping it hidden, but it's still within the same room."
"You're loony, Katrina."
"I'm afraid Katrina was never my name, Anna.
She tilts her head so her hair falls out of her face. "Then what is it?"
"I could tell you," I say, "but then I'd have to kill you."
"I'm tired," Anna shakes her head, shoulders relaxing as if the threat is gone. "This is too much for one day, I need some time alone. Can I leave now to take a nap?"
"Thank you. I'll go have a look in the piano room." Anna is known throughout the household for taking naps. For all of them, she locks herself in there.
Her eyes narrow, "What are you-"
Her lips freeze, red the same crimson as her dress trickling down over her cheekbone. Her legs fold under her and she crumbles to the ground. Her head hits the carpet with a heavy thud as her one intact, crystal eye glazes over, frozen in confusion.
Julian pants, gun shaking in her hands. Again, she fires. This time the bullet isn't as accurate and lodges itself somewhere in Anna's back. Three more times she pulls the trigger, until the clip is empty. Each bullet finds itself a place in Anna.
"That's for my brother," Julian whispers, dropping her gun and collapsing in tears. Both Bennet and Victor kneel down to help her, Diane bawling all on her own. The guard releases the girl and she stumbles to her sister's side, throwing herself over the body in grief. Ronnie sits immobile in his seat, head between his hands trying to block out the clamor of his mother's and fiancee's agony.
Calm, I pick up the off the floor that I'd discarded earlier and offer it back to the guard. He blinks a few times, then takes it back. Then his eyes shift back to the horrific scene before him.
"Thank you for your help," I thank him passively. I doubt he even hears me. When I open the door and walk out, guards pool in behind me as I make my way to the piano room. My jaw tightens as Diane's screams fade. Even after I've gone too far to hear them anymore, they echo in my ears, unwilling to leave me alone.
THE END
This was new for me to write. A whole cast of original characters, a mafia scene, and a murder mystery. Although I love a good mystery, I have a ways to go with writing one, don't I? Thanks, everyone, for reading this. I hope you enjoyed it. I personally had Anna as my favorite character throughout this. She was a joy to dream up. The descriptions with her and her dress were bits I got really into writing. I wanted to convey a girl of gentle, fragile beauty, who could also be terrifying to look at. Therein lies the reason for the stark contrast between her complexion and her outfit. Ah, well, this whole story was kind of an experiment on my part. All criticism is welcome.
Till next time, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!
