3. Protective Measures

There were no knives in the kitchen.

"Well we know Tomo's not the killer," Torako muttered. "They planned ahead."

Kagura wordlessly went to the broom closet and got out a broom. As the others watched, and raised it over her head and slammed it into the floor.

"Kagura-san!" Chiyo shouted. "My broom! My floor!"

"I think we have more important things to worry about, Chiyo," Yomi said.

Kagura slammed the broom down again and the head finally broke off, cracking diagonally along the shaft and leaving behind a very crude spear. As she hefted the makeshift weapon and felt the end she looked at the others.

"All right, Kagura!" Tomo said, pumping her fist. "You're not a complete idiot after all!"

" . . . Er, thanks."

"Has this place got a tool shed?" Torako asked as Yomi and Tomo began smashing apart a couple chairs and Osaka stood there staring into space.

Chiyo shook her head that no, it didn't.

"Have you got anything in your car?" Oikawa asked Torako.

"No." She looked around the room. "There's gotta be something with an edge around here."

"I don't like weapons . . ." Sakaki said quietly. Everyone ignored her.

Oikawa looked at the windows. "Have we got any tape?" she asked.

Osaka reached under the sink and took out a frying pan. "I found a knife!" Everyone ignored her, too.

Chiyo reached into a junk drawer and handed Oikawa a roll of duct tape.

Torako and Yomi both must have realized what she was thinking, because they immediately began using chair legs to smash through the windows, ignoring Chiyo's cries of protest. "I didn't know you were so resourceful," Torako said as they picked through the broken glass for suitable pieces.

Oikawa just shrugged. "I just hope you still know how to fight," she said.

"So do I."

The night found them gathered in the living room. It was nearly three in the morning, and those who hadn't already fallen asleep were fighting to stay awake.

"Somebody should keep watch so the others can rest," Yomi said as she yawned and looked at the slumbering Chiyo and Osaka.

"I'll stay awake," Torako raised her hand. "I'm used to not getting much sleep anyway."

Yomi nodded and closed her eyes. If anything happens, give a shout," she said. Kagura began to snore.

Torako nodded and lit a fresh cigarette.

Four in the morning. Everyone else had fallen asleep, and no sign of a killer. _Maybe they've taken off,_ Torako thought. Though if they'd just wanted to bump off two of them they wouldn't have smashed their phones and slashed their tires. _Why the hell are we staying here?_ She yawned. This was stupidity almost beyond comprehension.

She was reaching for her rapidly-depleting cigarettes when she heard a creak on the porch. Picking up her glass shard by the duct tape handle she took a tentative step towards the open window. Outside she saw only their useless vehicles in the darkness beyond the porch railing. She was almost to the window when she heard another creak of someone stepping on a loose floorboard. This time it was behind her.

Torako turned just in time to see the hammer descend. Then there was a blinding pain, the world flashed white, and then there was nothing.

When she was finished dragging Tomo's chain-smoking sister into the woods she returned to the house, this time with knife drawn. Stepping quietly, she crossed the room to where the girl with short hair and glasses sat sleeping in her chair. A quick thrust drove the blade through her neck, severing the carotid artery and the vocal chords in one motion. Oikawa's eyes went wide and she made a sound like a strangled goose through the hand clapped over her mouth as hot blood spurted from her gaping neck. Within a few moments her struggling weakened, then stopped. Then, taking care not to make any noise, the body was carried awkwardly out the front door.

Four down.