Chapter 11: The Thoughts and Concerns of a Former Yandere
Mayu sat in her new room, alone, feeling a fear that she could not explain. She could've been comforted by the few stuffed animals that now adorned her room, or the bright wallpaper that replaced the dark gothic paper that had been only days before. Instead, the news of Piko's death had left the whole estate in silence, fear, and worry. Those same feelings had also spread to Mayu, despite her up kept calm demeanor. Perhaps that was because she could feel something darker, uglier lurking under the surface in the manor. What are they planning? It revolves around something…something so chaotic and terrifying. Please pass over. Please pass over! Just pass over without causing a problem!
"I need to figure out what's going on…" Mayu paced around her room frantically, "The sooner I do, the better. What if, what if something happens?" She bit her lip in fear, and stared at her door.
Night had fallen over only hours earlier, meaning the rest were asleep. Well, save for Mayu who had remained awake due to her anxiety. She slipped out of her room, sneaking up to the lady and master's room up the middle staircase. She knew they were up to something, they had to be. Having been under their control previously, Mayu knew where their room was. She first entered an empty room, save a few chairs and a bed. But this room was but a decoy; The real room was behind another door inside that appeared to be painted on. Mayu quietly crawled over to the door and began to eavesdrop.
"How much longer?! You said days, but it became hours, but then months?!" Prima's Voice. The others called her Soprano, "I want an answer!"
"Our new heir is performing needed maintenance my dear, so I can't say when. Once the deed is done, and the others that fall into place, we can switch them." Mayu recognized the second voice: Frankenstein, or Big Al.
"S-switch? How?" Prima sounded puzzled, "Why not both?"
"Our dearest 'Dream' is on the look-out for those who will need to have their tongues cut," Big Al explained to his wife, "On top of those who should join our family. She will weed out the undesirables." The man was a mastermind, a genius, and Mayu had to credit him on that.
"Oh darling! You're a genius!" Prima exclaimed. Mayu puked a little in her mouth at the cheery, sick voice of her former 'mother.' Prima cleared her throat, "Ah, there you a-you are not Luka."
"I apologize, but she is busy." That sounded like Luo, "But, I can carry out what you need to have done, my lady."
"Here are your instructions," Mayu heard a strange paper noise, then footsteps. Mayu was unfamiliar with the real room, but knew it had a few secret entrances the maids used. Mayu was simply relieved few people knew of this decoy room, "That's settled."
"Now, darling, retrieve 'Dream' for me." Big Al requested. Mayu gulped and crawled under the bed. Her short stature made it easy for her to hide.
Prima entered the decoy room, unaware of Mayu's presence. She shut the true door behind her and left the decoy room. Mayu took a small, silent sigh of relief, though remained hidden. She refused to take the risk of crawling out and being discovered. Prima could enter at any time, and commence the brainwashing once more. Though, something did bother Mayu. Who was this 'Dream' they spoke of? It wasn't Una, who was still brainwashed without a doubt. Was there a mole amongst the group, but, that sounded ridiculous. Maybe a new maid? Or, did Prima and Big Al revive a Vocaloid? All were likely possibilities, but Mayu didn't want to dwell on it too long. Mayu cut her thoughts short as Prima reentered the room. Mayu could see her vivid heels. There was another pair of shoes: teal flats. They felt familiar but Mayu couldn't think of who they could belong to. Regardless, both entered the real room, so Mayu crawled out from under and resumed her eavesdropping.
"There you are, 'Dream.'" Big Al greeted the mystery girl, "And how are you?"
"I'm fine, but please, call me Nemu," The girl spoke. Mayu nearly gasped.
Yes, Nemu. Mayu vividly remembered the girl like it was yesterday. Nemu had been discarded by her former Master for one reason or another. Nemu was insanely popular amongst the other residents, thanks to her cheery ways. Nemu had even fallen in love with Len, and the two had dated for the short remainder of time. Mayu had been brainwashed sometime before she'd been last seen again, but Mayu could recall what happened because she had been in the brainwashing room. Mayu had been brought to a room with a mysterious machine at Prima's request. Nemu had been knocked out, tied and bound to a chair and hooked up to it. Prima had been kind enough to even show Nemu how the machine worked: Blue is Normal, Red is Death, Yellow is Override. Prima had set the machine to red, and a button was pushed. Nemu's eyes opened as the machine powered on, and Mayu could see the life drain from her eyes as she died. 'That junk' that Prima now referred to was thrown away by Luo.
Mayu had asked for the purpose of the machine, the purpose of killing one of their own. Prima had said something around the lines of 'destroying rebels' to 'preserve the peace' and 'to promote hope.' She had said the purpose of the estate was to refine stray Vocaloids abandoned to the streets like stray animals, and that one day they would be able to ease up as the strays stopped filtering in. Mayu had never personally used the machine herself, but she still remembered it to this day.
But, somehow, despite it all Nemu was alive! She was brainwashed, but alive! Then again, she was likely just living to replace someone, perhaps a brainwashed person. I bet they're replacing me! They might know the truth about me! I don't want to die! I have to know why! And even if it's not me, I have to warn someone… No one should be brainwashed, no one!
"Nemu," Big Al continued on with his discussion, "We're going to let you reside with the others very soon. How does that sound?"
"Really? That sounds great! And I could see Len, right?" Nemu excitedly asked.
"Of course, of course," Big Al smugly said. He didn't care about that, but it was easier to agree, "But, I have an important job for you. You must agree to it first."
"Oh, what is it?" Nemu asked out of curiosity.
"Make sure no one plans to leave, to escape," Big Al replied with a smile, "That would be a shame, now wouldn't it?"
"Yes, it would." Nemu nodded in agreement, "I'll do just that."
"And if someone does try," Prima added, "Report it to us, and we will take care of it."
"Yes, mother, I will!" Nemu cheerfully replied.
"Good, now please go to your room," Prima kindly told Nemu, "Tomorrow we'll be moving you into your new room," Mayu scurried back to the bed's underside. Prima and Nemu both left the room, and walked right out of the decoy.
Tomorrow? Oh no!
Mayu ran out of the decoy room, hurrying down the middle staircase. She was hoping to find Luka in the kitchen, but luckily bumped into her on the staircase. The two girls fell backwards.
"Ah, Miss Mayu-?" Luka rubbed her sore leg as she looked up at Mayu. The poor girl looked horrified, on the verge of tears.
"L-Luka…" Mayu trembled, "P-Please…"
"Right, Miss Mayu," Luka helped the girl to her feet, "Let us go to your room now," Luka led Mayu to her room, the safest place for the two to talk. Luka sat Mayu down on her own bed, the door securely shut, "Now, Mayu, tell me what's wrong?"
"They're…They're going to…" Mayu was on the verge of hyperventilating as she spoke, "They're going to brainwash someone Luka!" Mayu grabbed Luka's forearms tightly. She hadn't meant to, but she was absorbed in pure fear, "And then, then, Nemu…!" Luka's blood ran cold at the mention of that name.
"Nemu? Nemu?" Luka repeated. Mayu nodded frantically, "What are they planning Mayu? Did they reactive and brainwash her?" Luka desperately asked the girl.
"She'll…be a mole, and she'll report anything that's wrong…!" The words spilled out of Mayu's mouth, "They're going to brainwash someone, and then tomorrow…she'll be the mole!"
"I understand," Luka sternly said, prying Mayu's hands off of her arms. She rested her hands on the girl's shoulders, "Now, you go tell Meiko this immediately. Then tell Akari, who can tell Kaito. I was able to break her brainwashing completely last night, so I can guarantee it's safe to tell her this," Luka stared deep into Mayu's eyes, "Do you understand me?" Mayu nodded. Luka quickly left the room, whipping around the corner to meet Luo.
"Oh, Luka there you are." Luo spoke to her, "Where were you?" Luo was still under control, much like dear Macne Nana was. De-brainwashing was difficult, and having done it to Akari took a full month.
"What do you mean? Was I requested?" Luka asked her. Luo nodded.
"The lady had asked for you to retrieve Miss Rin, but I had done it in your steed since I couldn't find you," Luo explained to her in the usual calculated way she spoke in, "I don't know why however, but I wouldn't worry about it now." Luka's heart sank in horror.
"I will go apologize then," Luka mumbled, before ordering, "Please take care of the dishes, Luo."
"As you wish," Luo bowed and left for the dining room. She was distracted now. Luka made her way to the brainwashing room, determined to save Rin.
The maids had access to all rooms in the house, even the brainwashing room. It was seldom that she entered it, even while brainwashed, but that didn't mean she was not allowed to. Luka took out a silver and gold key and opened up the door. Rin was hooked up to the machine, knocked out with a purple bump on her head. Luka approached the machine, glancing at the color: yellow.
"Dammit!" Luka slammed the stop button immediately, "Oh Rin, I'm so sorry,"
The noises ceased, the machine silenced. Luka removed Rin from the machines, smoothing out the poor Vocaloid's hair. There was no way for her to know Rin's condition with her knocked out like this.
"Rin, please wake up, please," Luka pleaded in a hushed voice. Rin slowly opened her eyes, her lips slightly parted as if to try and speak, "Oh Rin! It's Luka, tell me you're okay? Please, please tell me you're okay." Rin's eyes were still glazed, as if she were stoned or maybe confused.
"She's too out of it," Luka carefully picked up Rin and made the decision to take her to Meiko.
Please don't be too late. Please, don't let it be too late.
This chapter is shorter, and only because I removed the parts with Gumi and Mikuo (since I removed Mikuo) and Lui and Merli, and only because it didn't fit the tone of the chapter… - Kingdom Mitsumi