Black Box Society Day -6 Memory
A lone man wanders through a moonlit corridor of Kokoro Academy's third building. He is not lost, he has done this before more times than he could ever count. Even if he was lost, all he needed to do was follow the smell of decomposition. It permeated everywhere in the building by that point. He opened a door to a classroom and stepped inside. In one of the aisles of desks sat two figures. One on their knees like they were in prayer, and another laying on the floor with their head propped up on a desk chair. The man had a briefcase and a small box this time. He opened the briefcase when he was near the laying girl. It contained a set of cleaning supplies, a can of insecticide, and a small flashlight. He removed his engagement ring and strapped on plastic gloves. He then placed the handle of his flashlight into his mouth and turned it on by pressing the button at the end of the handle with his tongue. With a quick glance at the poor girl's face he began to work on cleaning the dried blood on the floor around her.
It took some effort but the smears came off the tile floor. He then grabbed the can of insecticide spray and started spraying it in the girl's openings: ears, mouth, eyes and then moving down to her stab wounds. This was pretty much the only form of preparation her corpse would get so he made sure he was as thorough and respectful as reasonably possible. After his preparation, he removed the gloves and discarded them. The wedding ring returns to its spot. He removed his flashlight from his mouth then turned to the small box. He opened it to reveal a small jade Buddha statue and a prayer book. He placed the statue on the desk across from the girl and opened the book. The man started chanting softly as he knelt. He did this for a while, time didn't matter much at that point. No one ever came to check before, why would they start now?
When he was done he gave a small eulogy. This was done so many times he was able to say it in his sleep. Didn't really make things any easier on the emotions as he spoke it every time however. He finished his speech and gave the girl a small kiss on her forehead. Like the girl's mother did. An otherwise worthless endeavor but any display of warmth is good from the man's perspective. The man regained his composure and started to pack up his miniature funeral equipment. Before he left the room, he turned back to the figures and gave a bow. He then wished the girl safe passage to her next life. He had nothing to say to the boy on his knees with a bloody knife in his hand. Nothing nice to say anyway so he didn't bother. The man opened the sliding door again then went back out to the hallway leaving the two bodies behind him.
I hate Second Week. Thought the man as he started walking down the corridor, his green aviator shades reflecting the pale moonlight. This sentiment is shared by everyone in the town, but it is more so when you have to give a lonely funeral to someone who only crime was trying to connect to someone. He went down the stairs to the bottom level then turned left from the entrance to the hallway past the aisles of lockers. Classrooms lined this hallway as well but the man was more interested in the plain white door in the back.
Reaching the door he materialized his key ring and inserted a gold key into the lock in the knob. The door opened to a series of dormant pipes and heating apparatus. On the wall to the right was a large gray box affixed to the wall. The box was opened to two long rows of switches. Like the efforts above him, he knew what to do to get rid of the smell. A little switch here and there and the room hummed to life as the ventilation fans started their dancing. The man raised his sleeve to a well-crafted watch. An heirloom from better times. It'll take a while but at least people can function tomorrow. He then sighed in anger. I know you are in the middle of something, but I hate being lied to Obe-ni. He didn't dwell on thought that too much, he had to do part 2 of his Second Week Culture Festival preparations. He needed to have a level-head for it.
With the white noise of the boiler room singing in the engineer's ears he left the room and went out the way he came. He left the building and the campus for the parking garage with his items. After a few minutes he reached his truck and replaced his funeral arrangements for a takeout tray, and a two bottles filled with cold brown liquid in a large plastic bag. He left the truck with this bag and headed to Building 2.
Lights from the buildings across the street from the campus and the Moon pouring saccharine light into the Recreation Room as the man reached his target. A girl was sitting on the floor propped up against the wall next to the stool for the piano. Her skin was pale and her hair was a mess. Her head was drooped over a composite notebook on her lap. The pages were wrinkled and the ink was completely smudged. A failed attempt to placate the snarling beast it seems. Her mental state is decaying faster now then ever before. Maybe it really is time to end this crusade. The man pondered walking to the girl. He went down to a knee and poked the girl's arm.
"Monika," The man spoke in soft tones. "Are you still here?"
The girl groaned then slightly lifted her head to meet the man's gaze. She looked like she was in pain. Her eyes were glassy but they haven't shown signs of darkening so that was a lot better than expected given her posture. The owl eyes were less pronounced than they should be at this stage of the illness. "O-Obe?"Monika spoke weakly. "I wasn't expecting guests this early. Usually the festival doesn't start till 9."
Obe laughed and removed his glasses to show glowing cobalt eyes. "I got pasta, you look like you haven't eaten in days."
Monika smiled meekly and gave a small laugh. The eyes and sleep deprivation signs were immediately abstracted out from her face. It took too much energy to return color to her cheeks. "Knowing my luck, you're probably right. It's been a rough couple of days."
"I bet," Obe placed the tray onto his charge's lap. The warmth of the tray felt great against the cold spikes shooting down her legs. "I keep forgetting what vegetarians can or can't eat so I got spinach ravioli and soy protein shakes."
"You did fine," Monika cooed as she slowly moved her plastic utensils. After a few coordination mishaps she was able to start eating. Obe took a seat beside her on the wall. After a few bites she laughed. "I must look intoxicated fumbling like this."
"I won't tell if you won't," Obe joked. Minutes passed as the sounds of the city underneath them filled the room with muffled ambiance.
"I guess you already gave Yuri her last rites?" Monika lowered her head as if waiting for Obe to behead her.
"I guess Moniker's eyes make it too obvious," Obe mused wiping them with his sleeve. "He's strong though, he made it through the ceremony. Others would of passed out from the scent before I even started cleaning."
"How long was he boxed? He seems pretty stable for someone fished out of the river." The president asked as a sauce pocket was skewered. Her strength was returning as evident by more "imperfections" disappearing from her body. She then picked up on what the man said with a little fear in her voice. "Wait, what scent?"
"Onzai-san thought he was slick turning off the ventilation the day before yesterday," Obe frowned. "And to answer your first question, Natsuki's babysitting him after the club ever since she found him. Cutest thing really."
"Hmm," Monika was intrigued. "That certainly explains some inconsistencies happening the past few runs."
So she is aware. Obe's ear pricked up. "Inconsistencies?"
"Ahaha~ got you interested did I? Mr. I'maboveallthattalk" Monika winked. The protein shakes were the next to go as color returned to her skin.
Obe gave a guilty smile. "Ok you got me, I'm a simple man who needs to eat a thousand needles when I get home."
"I'm only telling you this if you put a muzzle on that weasel after this," Monika's eyes flickered as her benefactor comes into play. "I can't have any distractions."
"You will not hear a peep from him today," Obe swore his oath. "Abe-san will make sure of that. He and Keichi have been feuding recently. Mostly about some File-less ideology."
"I'll never understand that guy, why would someone as sweet as Sayori be related to that jackal is beyond me," Monika mused as she finished her shakes. Her presidential confidence is back in full force.
"People do desperate things in this town, I tell you what," Obe replied with a sigh. "But you are aware of Abe's track record. You know how effective he is."
"Unfortunately," Monika stated flatly. "I also know how unpredictable he becomes when Yuri passes away."
-static-
"If we aim it right, it won't affect your special day at all I can assure you that," Obe placed his hand on his heart.
-static-
Monika tried to scan Obe's host in a attempt to see a tell. This didn't turn up anything to say he was lying. This didn't turn up really anything because of the Box. "This may be the one Obe." Monika spoke with an air of desperation. "I'm losing time."
-static-
"You can trust me," Obe smiled. "By this time tomorrow, you will finally be with the one you love."
-static-
"Sarah?" A voice called out softly as another Obe poked his head through the door.
That was then, the Literature Club president started to feel her throat start to close.
And the impostor smirked.
-static-
The box closes and locks. Eddy was sedated for his own protection, he fell asleep with a girl holding his hand, telling him to try to think happy thoughts.
...He didn't.