Chapter 9: And One Goes Mad

INFURIATED

Victoria had thought for countless minutes until she had decided on an ultimatum: She'll shrug it off. The experience is already weird enough and the island has proven itself to be more than dangerous, lurking in the deepest and darkest depths of the cold unknowing silence of the night. Victoria gauges herself to put the weapon back in her purse and carry it with her instead for self-defense purposes as she carries on her initial plan of taking a stroll around the mansion, only this time she had a sudden surge of courage she had never even known she had before.

Victoria steps out of her room, all dressed up, a glint of fire in her eyes. She thought of maybe informing the other guest - Adam Roscoe - of her plan and the strange events that had occurred in her purse in hopes the doctor would trust her and believe that the gun wasn't hers, because as far as Victoria was concerned, though the weapon could be useful for self-defense, she could also be framed for murder under the thought that she had possessed and 'brought' a gun to what initially was supposed to be a private birthday party - which if you hadn't caught on yet, is a wacky idea.

She walks a mere few steps until she reaches the door to Adam Roscoe's quarters and knocks gently on the door three times. Knock knock knock. The sound echoes through the large empty halls making it louder in Victoria's ears than they actually are, so hauntingly. There was no response, however, so Victoria persists and decides to knock again. Knock knock knock. As her knuckles make direct contact with the wooden door that separates the space between she and the doctor, once again, there was still no response.

This type of rude reaction was not going to go by Victoria unchecked. She felt irate. She knocked thrice one more until she decided to finally lay her hand around the door knob and twist it in hopes it wasn't locked. And to her surprise, it actually wasn't locked! She speaks in a small polite voice but venom rather glazing it from the previous teed off she had felt. She said, "Pardon me for the intrusion, doctor, but I believe I've got some interesting news to tell." Victoria takes a single step, then followed by another, and another as she slowly paces her way into the doctor's room.

She sees a sleeping figure buried underneath white sheets as she steps closer to the doctor's bed and Victoria realizes. The doctor had initially given no response to her growing brazen knocks on the door because the doctor was here, lying peacefully under white linen sheets stained with the beautiful crimson red of the his own blood all over the area that covered his stomach, violent tears evident on the blanket as the frayed stray strings of the cloth lay still, painted in a colour emanating with a haunting story yet to be told.

Victoria almost gagged at the sight, hurriedly swinging her hands towards her mouth as if covering her nose would make the horrid scene all go away. The doctor was dead. Multiples of what seemed to be stabs all too evident across the blanket and more so by the area where most of the red had painted over. Victoria tried to come closer, treading with the utmost care and the sheer thought of death hanging from the last bits of dripping courage she had unsteady in her heart.

She moved slowly but her mind filled with haste, one step after the other until she had reached the bedside of the Adam Roscoe, and oh so clearly it was then when she could see - when she could realize - how a doctor no more but a mere corpse was what now actually laid before her. She tried her best to stay calm but she knew all too well that the tears threatening to fall from the corners of her eyes were nothing but sweet sugary icing on top of the cake she held close in heart called 'fear'.

She looked around, scanning the room for the teensiest bit of a hint calling for the presence of an extra - a killer - laughing away at the look of tiresome dread decorating the pretty face of Victoria Hughes. No one was around. No one was left on the island. There was no one left to blame, and Victoria's head started turning its gears once again. Only this time she'd have no control of it whatsoever.

It was the coupled twin servants! - Victoria had thought - Victoria had assumed - no, Victoria had believed. And slowly she had started to create reasons, create connections that may have never even been there in the first place. She made whatever she could in her head to convince her soul that it was all the twins' faults. There was no one else on the island, the thought of an extra - gone from every pit and corner of Victoria's mind. It was all the twins' faults. - she repeated in her head, taking the thought into her heart. She had to get rid of the twins - or rather, what's left of them. This kill would be justified. This kill won't get me in trouble. My name will bring justice. - Victoria had confined her thoughts securely like that.

Samantha's brain was probably clouded with rage and steaming regret leading to the conclusion of revenge towards the doctor when he could have saved her brother. Yes. that's probably why. She had probably decided to take revenge on the doctor so there's no doubt she was the one who had killed him last night. Yes, so it wouldn't be wrong if I killed her too, yeah? It's only fair. She and her brother brought this upon all of us. She brought this upon herself. Yes, this is all her fault. It's all their fault! - and with no proof, Victoria had taken comfort in these thoughts.

Victoria Hughes had gone mad. With a turn of shade in anger and the softest tinge of sadness in her eyes, Victoria had marched out of the room, beelined to the grand entrance of the mansion they had once first entered in awe, remembering the memory of when they had just arrived - eyes sparkling with expectancy, treated like royalty, life was glimmering with beauty, hope, and happiness.

It was a birthday party that the three guests had attended. And now, Victoria Hughes would leave the mansion, three guests no longer, but a lone woman with a gun held tightly in her hand, hair disheveled and her black dress swaying gracefully from the sudden gush of wind taking her head-on as she takes a step outside the mansion doors.