Chapter 11
The Townhouse
Trigger Warning: Discussion of Murder Case, Undetailed Newspaper Article about Murder, Mention of Mother Gothel and her death
Petunia and Anthony had went home for the night, Rapunzel and Cassandra heading to the townhouse. "I don't get it. Those were the suspects yet none of them were Jack the Ripper..." Rapunzel said sadly. "Hey, don't feel like you're a failure. We still have many people to ask." Cassandra put her hand on her shoulder.
"But Cass, there's so many people in Corona. By the time we narrow it down, Jack would have killed many more! I can't let that happen." Rapunzel said, Cassandra glancing at her with a sad look. "Let's just get some sleep and then we can work in the morning." Cassandra stroked Rapunzel's hair. "Okay..." Rapunzel stood up off the couch and walked off, kicking her shoes off in the process, wanting to walk properly now.
Cassandra followed, helping her to bed...
The next morning, after Eugene had left to his own townhouse, Petunia and Anthony visited the two to discuss something that happened in the news.
Jack The Ripper Strikes Again.
That was the headline for the newspaper today. "No!" Rapunzel grabbed it out of Cassandra's hand, "Not again!" Rapunzel sighed. "We know it's not Trevor though, good start." Petunia suggested. Rapunzel stared at the newspaper, fear in her eyes. What if she couldn't figure this out and Jack just continued?! Rapunzel handed it back to Cassandra and leaned in the couch.
"We need more suspects to question. There's got to be more, Cass." Rapunzel addressed her. Cassandra crossed her arms, newspaper folded up in one of them. "I'll have to study more, and with this article of newspaper here, I could try and find out more."
Petunia suggested, "While Cassandra does her work, why don't we play some chess?"
Rapunzel's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh-"
"I'd love to, Petunia! Let me grab the chessboard." She ran off.
It was in the middle of a game, Rapunzel and Petunia were tied. The two both had the same amount of pieces taken away from each other. Rapunzel bit her lip, looking the monochrome set all around. She moved a piece and smiled, "Your turn, Petunia."
Petunia thought and watched the pieces, then moved her own piece.
This went on for a while as Cassandra, meanwhile, tried to discover more to this whole case.
Anthony was watching the two play their game of chess, nothing special.
"So," Petunia asked while watching Rapunzel make her decision. "Hm?" Rapunzel perked her head up, nearly knocking one of the chess pieces over with her hair. "Why did they make you Sundrop?" She asked. "Oh, uh... Well, I don't know. I guess because of my hair." She said, moving a piece on the board. "I've had healing powers, I was born with them, far as I'm concerned." She said, eyes gazing to the pieces once more.
"Far as you're concerned?"
"Well yeah. I was an orphan and this seemingly nice old lady took me in, but uh. She wasn't very nice." Rapunzel sighed. "She was using me for my hair, and didn't even really like me."
Petunia moved a piece, "I'm sorry to hear that..."
"It's...okay, I guess." Rapunzel shrugged. "When she died, I was taken in by the Queen and King and titled the Sundrop for my hair. They said it was a blessing from the sun above."
"Blessing, eh?" Anthony raised his brows. "Mhm." Rapunzel moved a piece.
"And then there was some other stuff that happened in-between the whole my stepmom dying and being taken in by royalty but- Y'know, I just really don't wanna talk about it." Rapunzel said, fear coating her voice softly. "Hey, hey, you don't have to. Forget I asked. Let's just enjoy the game." Petunia smiled warmly, moving a piece.
"Thanks Petunia." Rapunzel sadly smiled.
Rapunzel suddenly moved a piece and looked up, almost with a serious, change of pace, look on her face. "Checkmate."
Petunia looked down and her jaw dropped. "Oh."
"Wow. That makes it...what? The 23rd game you've won against me?"
Rapunzel giggled, "Yep!"
"Hm, how about 23 out of 45?" She then smirked.
Cassandra came downstairs and clapped her hands once. "Lights out everyone! It's getting late." She said as if she was a mother. "Aw, okay. Sorry Petunia, some other time." Rapunzel smiled and stood up, waving. "Ah sure thing." Petunia grinned back at her, waving.
Petunia and Anthony headed to the guest rooms while Cassandra helped Rapunzel to her own bedroom, making sure she was comfortable. Then went back to working on figuring out the suspects... When it hit her.