The Witch Hunt of Mineral Town

Chapter 3: Turned Tables

A/N: So, the witch has killed Kai. Robin has to find the witch before the witch strikes again. Only Jack and Rick remain as suspects. How much help will Amon provide when he shows up as backup? All will be answered in this chapter.

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Kai's body had been taken to the Clinic. The Inn was still a madhouse of activity. Gossip flied from the mouths of the worried villagers. Some claimed that Kai had been slain by someone called the Harvest Goddess. Others pointed accusing fingers at Rick, saying that he had finally snapped against the egotistical jerk that was Kai. There were even a couple of people that were suspicious of Robin, claiming that the newcomer had been acting very suspiciously.

Robin was seated at the bar, carefully sipping at a cup of coffee. Her partner, Amon, was already on his way to Mineral Town. Once he got here, he would examine the body of Kai. Amon always had a way of convincing people to let him do something that probably wasn't allowed.

She had only a short length of time to look over the body with the other villagers. His shirt had been torn away revealing numerous cuts. Kai's stomach and face were covered in black patches that closely resembled burn marks. Robin had seen marks like these before. When she used her fire craft against opposing witches, they were often left with burn marks matching the ones that Kai bore.

This arose a slight problem. Had Robin caused these burns without knowing it? After all, she had attacked Kai earlier in the day. Maybe, the anger and desperation that she felt at the moment had spilled into an accidental fire burst. If that was indeed the cause, then surely Amon would have to capture Robin. She shuddered at the thought of being sent to the dreaded Factory.

Someone had taken a seat beside Robin. She looked over her shoulder, smiling when she recognize the person as Jack. He had been there when she had been so upset over her meeting with Kai. But, there was still one thing about Jack that had Robin worried. Right before he had left her, he had said that he was going to go meet with Kai and the two of them were going to have a little chat.

"Did you manage to talk to Kai before he was attacked?" Robin asked.

Jack shook his head as he took a sip from his drink. "I was never able to find him. I looked all over town without any luck. Then I overheard someone say that Kai had collapsed over here. Looks like that was true. Unfortunate." Jack added a shrug of his shoulders with that last statement.

This was odd. Jack had seemed like a completely normal, likeable guy earlier. Now, he was acting like he was glad that Kai was dead. What was with this sudden turnaround? "Why is it unfortunate?" She inquired.

Jack smiled evilly. "Too bad that I wasn't the one that got to kill him. He deserved everything that he got. I'll never forgive him for what he did to my Popuri."

Robin stared at the farmer in amazement. She had never expected that one who appeared so nice would have such a strong personal vendetta. Suddenly, she didn't feel that safe being right next to Jack. "Please excuse me. I need to get some fresh air."

Now what was she going to do? Both Rick and Jack had reason to hate Kai because of his treatment of Popuri. Robin could only imagine what Kai had put Popuri through. If his actions on the beach were any hint, Kai could get a little possessive and overbearing.

Robin needed to figure out who the witch was and fast. Once a witch learns how to use their power, it isn't long before they start attacking innocent people. Witches take pleasure in the pain and suffering that they caused. Mineral Town was going to become a very dangerous place.

Prior knowledge of the witch's powers serves as an essential edge if this hunt came down to a fight. Maybe if she got another look at the body she might be able to understand the powers of the witch. Robin found herself standing before the entrance of the Clinic. This was where the body had been taken and it would serve as the ideal place to start her study.

"You shouldn't be by yourself at night. It's dangerous." A familiar voice commented from behind a nearby tree.

"Amon?" Robin wondered aloud. Sure enough, the tall dark haired man with the 'I don't care' attitude, showed himself from his hiding place. "How did you get here so fast?" She asked him when he walked past her.

"I knew that you couldn't handle this assignment by yourself. I was already in town before Michael called me." Amon explained, pushing himself past Robin and into the Clinic. "He always has an air of arrogance surrounding him." Robin thought as she followed her partner inside.

Amon was already working on convincing Doctor Tim to let him see Kai's body. "I'm part of the Tokyo Police Department. I've heard that someone was murdered today. Can I take a look at the body?" Amon lied right into the face of the doctor.

Tim looked skeptical. "How'd you find out about Kai's death so quickly? Tokyo is quite a distance away."

Amon looked over his shoulder at Robin. "We at the Tokyo Police Department have our sources."

The doctor looked over at Robin. He seemed to buy Amon's story, pulling the curtain aside, allowing the fake policeman inside. Robin made to follow Amon, but Tim quickly shut the curtain. "Sorry, only police are allowed inside." He stated.

"But… I'm with him!" Robin attempted to explain.

Tim merely laughed at her statement. "Yeah right. I'm sure that they recruit teenagers for the police force."

Robin turned her back, upset that she was being excluded from such an important aspect of her own investigation. She was about to leave the Clinic and return to the Inn when she noticed the secretary. The young girl appeared to be very upset over something. Robin decided that she may be able to get some information out of the girl. "Excuse me, Miss, but are you all right?" She asked in the friendliest voice that she had.

The young brunette haired girl jumped a bit when she was spoken to. She must have not been expecting that anyone was going to talk to her. The girl had been crying, for a sole tear still remained on her cheek when she turned to face Robin. She tried to match Robin's happy expression, but couldn't muster the strength. Instead, the girl broke down into a uncontrollable sob.

"I'm sorry for intruding. You must really miss Kai." Robin quickly apologized for her intrusion and was about to back away when the girl held out her hand to stop Robin.

"No, it's alright. My name's Elli and just to let you know, I'm not upset about Kai's death. I'm glad that disgusting pig is gone. He was such a pervert. One time he faked an injury just so that he could try to act out one of his nurse/patient fantasies." Elli had wiped away the tear from her cheek and was now smiling.

Robin nodded her head in understanding. "I know what you mean. He put a move on me this afternoon. I ended up kicking him in between the legs."

Elli laughed at Robin's tale. "That's exactly what I did to him too. I'm surprised that Popuri liked him for so long. It wasn't until Jack came to town that she realized her mistake. Ever since then, Kai and Jack have been heated rivals for Popuri's affection."

Elli's story added to the ever increasing amount of evidence that was mounting against Jack. The longer this day became, the more guilty Jack was looking. Robin had to tell Amon about her hunch about the identity of the witch. "If you aren't upset about Kai, then why were you crying?" Robin inquired, her curious nature still not satisfied.

"Oh, that…" Elli hid her face for a few seconds, as if to hide the obvious redness in her cheeks. "Tim didn't let me help him with the initial examination of the body. He said that I couldn't see the results of the craft. Whatever that means." Elli shrugged her shoulders and returned to the stack of papers that marred the desk top.

A sudden wave of fear swept over Robin. "If Tim has knowledge of the craft, then maybe… He could be the witch! I have to warn Amon!" Robin thought to herself. She bolted across the Clinic floor, heading for the curtained area where Tim and Amon were examining Kai's body. Robin pulled open the curtain and found herself face to face with two gleaming pistols.

"What's the meaning of this?" Robin asked, frightened. She stared down the two symmetrical barrels and into the eyes of the two gunmen. Tim appeared angry, while Amon maintained his collected composure. Robin found herself backing away from the two guns, but the men slowly advanced after her.

Her heart pounded. At any second, Amon and Tim could fire their Orbo bullets into her. Orbo was a special chemical that the STNJ had created and used to paralyze witches. Robin had seen many witches fall to just one single bullet. She was faced with two full clips, ready to be deployed.

To her surprise, Amon lowered his gun. "I'm going to give you a ten minute head start before I start your hunt. Consider it repayment for saving me on your first mission." Amon stated coldly.

Tim looked at Amon in complete confusion. "She's the witch that killed Kai! We have to subdue her before she kills any of the other villagers!"

Amon shook his head. "I wouldn't worry about that. Her aiming is horrible. It's more fun when they try to escape."

Robin stared at Amon in disbelief. He had betrayed her so quickly, without even the slightest hint of remorse. Was this what had happened to the hunter that Robin replaced? "But… why?" She managed to ask.

Amon took a look at his watch. "You're down to nine minutes. Run!"

Robin didn't need another warning. She turned on her heels and bolted towards the door. The first thought that ran through her mind was to return to the Inn. She had to collect the keys for her Vespa. She might stand a chance if she could get driving.

She bolted through the Inn door and up the staircase, totally ignoring the inquiries from Doug and the other villagers. Her room was just the way that she had left it. Robin quickly pocketed the keys for her scooter and was reaching for her communicator when it rang. Robin clicked on the phone as she exited the room.
It was Michael on the other end. "Robin. I found out some important information! Tim is part of the American branch of the STN! You should contact him to help you with your investigation."

Robin was already out of the Inn doors and making her way towards where she had parked the Vespa. "That explains why Amon and him are hunting me." She stated sarcastically as she ran past the buildings and into the trees.

"Pardon? I thought you said that Amon and Tim are hunting you." Michael laughed.

"They are!" Robin yelled into the communicator.

She heard Michael let out a surprised gasp. Then, he called out what was happening to the rest of the office. It sounded like every member of the STNJ picked up their phones, joining in on the conversation. "Are you sure that it isn't a mistake?" Her boss demanded.

The clearing where she had parked her Vespa was just visible ahead. "Apparently the evidence points against me. The victim was covered in burn marks."

There was silence on the other ends of the device. Suddenly, every other hunter began speaking at once. "Nice knowing you." "Sorry, Robin." "Goodbye, Robin." All that remained was a few clicks as her fellow hunters terminated the conversation.

Robin burst into the clearing. There was a black car parked between her and where she had parked the scooted. How could she forget? Amon had his own vehicle. Her chances of escaping had fallen drastically. Robin slid across the hood of the car, closing in on the getaway vehicle. What she saw forced her to stop in her tracks.

All that remained of her Vespa was a pile of charred ashes. "Leaving so soon?" A voice asked from behind her. Robin raised her hands into the air, in a gesture of surrender. She slowly turned to face her pursuer, expecting to see Amon or Tim with a gun pointed at her. Instead, Jack stood before her. But, Jack had changed since she saw him at the Inn. He no longer wore the pair of white gloves. His hands were now two glowing balls of fire.

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A/N: Robin's sure in trouble now. The witch has been identified as Jack. Now, she is face to face with a threat that has powers just like hers. Plus, Amon and Tim are hunting after Robin. How will The Witch Hunt of Mineral Town end? Find out next time, in the thrilling conclusion.