12

The villa referred to by Misaki Suzuki is located in a desolate area. The car drives onto a narrow mountain road, and the surrounding trees grow increasingly dense, blocking out the scarce moonlight. The headlights barely illuminate the road ahead, their faint glow creating an unsettling feeling in the darkness. As the journey progresses, the outline of the villa gradually comes into view. It is an old house standing alone on the mountainside, with its peeling paint exposing the dark stones beneath. The house is surrounded by a neglected yard, overgrown with weeds, as if it has not been tended to for years. The wind whistles through the treetops, occasionally interrupted by the calls of unknown birds, making the already silent night feel even eerier.

The security guard at the entrance opens the gate, and the car tires crunch over the gravel, making a creaking sound. Misaki Suzuki gets out of the car, stands in front of the villa, and looks back at everyone with a smug expression: "We've arrived; everyone get out." Her voice carries a hint of arrogance, which feels especially jarring in the quiet environment.

A few girls hesitantly follow Misaki Suzuki, glancing around with a flicker of fear and unease in their eyes. The towering iron gate is rusted, and the chain on the door rattles gently with the wind. The dry leaves in the yard are picked up by the wind and swirl to the ground, creating a rustling sound.

"It's... a bit chilly here," one girl murmurs, hugging her arms tightly.

Misaki Suzuki pays no heed and strides directly towards the villa's main door, the key making a sharp metallic scraping sound as it turns in the lock. She pushes the door open, and the hinges creak as if it hasn't been opened in ages. Behind the door is a dark hall, illuminated only by the moonlight seeping through the gaps in the tattered curtains, barely lighting a few corners of the room.

Akira stands at the door, carefully surveying the surroundings. Misaki Suzuki walks into the hall, confidently turning on the ancient chandelier. The light is dim and weak, only managing to dispel a little of the darkness, failing to erase the suffocating oppressive atmosphere. The wall clock has inexplicably stopped, its hands frozen at some eerie moment, as if time has lost its meaning here.

"What are you dawdling for? Come in quickly," Misaki Suzuki calls impatiently. Her sharp voice echoes in the empty villa, making the strange place feel even lonelier. The others cautiously follow her inside, huddling together, afraid of getting separated.

Once everyone is inside, the door slams shut with a heavy thud, as if sealing off everything from the outside world in this cold villa. A musty odor fills the air, as if something unknown has transpired here. Akira glances down at the carpet beneath his feet and notices some dark red stains, resembling something that had been soaked in liquid. His brow furrows slightly, but he says nothing, merely standing quietly to observe everything around him.

"Why don't you all find a room to settle in? There are plenty of rooms in this villa, of all kinds, so feel free to choose," Misaki Suzuki's every word exudes endless superiority. "I'll go fetch the maid to make a late-night snack; you just wait here."

A male classmate, patting his full stomach, asks in confusion, "But Misaki, we just ate at 'Ichiban-ya.'"

Upon hearing this, Misaki Suzuki immediately turns around, raising an eyebrow, and sternly retorts, "What do you mean by that? Do you know what level of chef my family's maid is? Eating her food is a privilege you've earned from your past life, and you're still picky?"

The male classmate shivers under her fierce gaze, opening his mouth but ultimately choosing to remain silent. He knows that contradicting Misaki Suzuki never ends well.

The others exchange silent glances, their curiosity about the villa intensifying. They cautiously wander around the villa, picking suitable rooms. The interior decor is lavish, with murals, chandeliers, and antique furniture showcasing the owner's wealth and taste. Yet those once magnificent ornaments now appear somewhat dull under the ravages of time, filling the rooms with an air of decay that seems to add an eerie atmosphere.

"Help! Someone, help—!" A shrill scream shatters the silence within the villa, sharp and despairing, like a knife cutting through the stillness. Misaki Suzuki is seen collapsed on the kitchen floor, her pupils dilated, her face pale, trembling fingers pointing ahead. Everyone rushes towards her, but upon seeing what lies before them, they all stop in their tracks.

In the kitchen, the maid's corpse lies sprawled on the floor, limbs contorted at unnatural angles, blood having congealed and stained her once white apron. Kitchenware and spilled ingredients litter the floor, as if the maid had struggled violently before her death. This scene causes everyone's hearts to tighten, fear slithering up from their feet to engulf their entire beings.

"Ah—!" A girl is the first to lose control, covering her mouth as she screams. Her terror acts as a spark, igniting the emotions of everyone present. The girls scream and back away, some covering their eyes in fear, while others tremble as they attempt to call the police.

"Calm down, everyone!" A boy tries to maintain composure, but his voice trembles with tension, lacking any convincing authority. The other boys also feign calmness, but the frantic glances they exchange reveal their panic and helplessness. They stand in front of the girls, but the color has drained from their faces.

Misaki Suzuki frantically pulls out her phone, instinctively wanting to call for help. Her fingers fumble on the screen, trying to dial the emergency number, only to find "No Signal" displayed. Her breath hitches, and her mind goes blank. She looks around in fear and stammers, "How could it be... No signal! Someone has jammed the signal!"

Just as she finishes speaking, the lights in the villa suddenly go out, plunging the entire house into darkness. A sharper, more piercing scream erupts around them, fear thriving in this abyss, as if everyone is trapped in an endless nightmare. The girls huddle together in panic, while the boys fumble around trying to find the switch, but to no avail.

Akira momentarily appears dazed but quickly regains his composure, standing quietly amidst the chaos, seemingly indifferent to the surrounding panic and screams. He squints slightly, a cold smirk forming at the corners of his mouth, unnoticed by anyone else. His fingers clench at his side, then slowly relax, as if he is waiting for something.

"Misaki Suzuki, what do you mean by this? Could it be that the murderer is in your home, and you deliberately brought us here to let him take us all out?" A boy suddenly screams in hysteria. Hearing this, everyone involuntarily shudders and unconsciously backs away from Misaki Suzuki. She trembles, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately says nothing, merely shaking her head vigorously, clearly terrified by the maid's corpse.

"That makes sense; I was wondering why all her friends died, but she's still alive and well. Turns out she's the mastermind behind it all."

"Misaki Suzuki, you shameless! I'm going to settle this with you today!"

The chaotic scene reaches a boiling point in an instant. The boy, losing all reason, suddenly steps forward and tightly grips Misaki Suzuki's neck, his eyes filled with flames of anger and fear. His knuckles turn white from the force, and Misaki Suzuki's face shifts from pale to purple. She struggles desperately, flailing her arms, her long nails scratching at the boy's arm in an attempt to push him away.

"What are you doing! Let go of me!" Misaki Suzuki's piercing scream echoes in the darkness, filled with heart-wrenching despair. Her gaze begins to wander, breathing rapidly and irregularly, as if she might faint at any moment.

The onlookers are paralyzed by the scene before them, none daring to intervene. The girls cover their mouths, unable to believe this is happening in front of their eyes. Some attempt to speak up to stop it, but their throats feel as if they are blocked, unable to make a sound. The other boys, although not physically intervening, show increasing suspicion and hostility in their eyes.

"Stop! You'll kill her!" Finally, one bolder girl gathers her courage to shout, her voice trembling intensely. Her words seem to awaken the reason in the boy, who suddenly releases his grip. Misaki Suzuki collapses to the floor like a rag doll, clutching her throat and coughing violently, hoarse sounds escaping her.

She points at the boy, her eyes filled with uncontrollable anger and fear: "How dare you—have you all gone mad! I wanted to save you! And you dare to do this to me!"

The boys exchange glances, their expressions complex. The boy who acted first sneers, "Save us? Who knows what tricks you're playing? Your own friends are dead, why wouldn't we be next? There are still dead bodies in this villa, how can we trust you?"

His questions stab like sharp needles into everyone's hearts. Misaki Suzuki wants to refute but finds herself unable to argue, her voice weak and powerless, tears blurring her vision.

　　At that moment, Akira had been standing aside, observing coldly, and suddenly spoke up: "Everyone, stop losing your composure. No matter what has happened, the most important thing now is to find a safe place and then figure out how to solve the problem." His voice was not loud, but it carried a calm strength that instantly quelled the crowd's panic.

Hearing Akira's words, the others quieted down a bit. Misaki Suzuki raised her head, her gaze toward Akira filled with complex emotions—gratitude mixed with an indescribable fear. She forced herself to stand and, in a hoarse voice, said, "Megumi is right; we can't argue anymore... We need to find a way out."

For a moment, no one spoke. After a while, there were sporadic angry curses and sobs. But at this moment, Misaki was the most distressed, her face pale and her nerves so tight they seemed about to snap. The air inside the villa felt increasingly heavy, oppressive enough to suffocate.

"Ah—!!!" A piercing scream suddenly erupted from a room in the villa, slicing through the suffocating atmosphere like a sharp blade. The voice was laced with extreme fear and despair, as if witnessing a horrifying sight that could not be described in words. The scream pierced everyone's eardrums, making their hearts tighten as if the very blood in their veins froze. Those who had been arguing abruptly fell silent, as if their heartbeats had been frozen by that sudden scream, and then a strong smell of blood gradually permeated the air.

The scream lasted only a few seconds before it abruptly stopped, as if someone had forcefully covered the mouth or severed the throat of the one screaming, vanishing into the darkness, leaving no sound behind. The stench of blood grew stronger, carrying a nauseating sweetness that invaded the hearts of the crowd like an invisible shadow. The metallic scent of blood stimulated everyone's instincts, and terror flooded their hearts in an instant.

"What was that... Who was screaming?" someone asked tremulously, their voice filled with uncontrollable panic. No one answered; everyone was staring fixedly in the direction of the scream, their nerves taut, as if on the brink of collapse.

Suddenly, right after the scream, a dull thud was heard from a distance, as if a body had fallen heavily onto the floor. The sound mingled with the smell of blood, creeping up everyone's spines like a cold hand.

Everyone froze in place, and after a moment, a low, fearful whisper began to rise: "Someone's dead... Oh God, someone has died!"

"No! Kana! It's Kana!!" a girl cried out in agony, her hands reaching forward as if trying to grab her unfortunate friend, but fear caused her to abandon the thought. Tears streamed down her face, her sobs uncontrollable, her whole body shaking violently.

In an instant, the villa erupted into chaos once again. Screams erupted one after another, the girls clutching their heads and crying, while the boys completely lost their composure. Panic spread through everyone like a tidal wave, nearly drowning out any rational thought. In the pitch-black room, the chaotic figures became blurred under the dim light, and fear spread like a plague.

"Misaki Suzuki, how dare you say this wasn't your doing?" a boy who had lost control grabbed Misaki by the wrist, forcefully slamming her to the ground. Then, a vicious punch landed on her abdomen. Misaki cried out in pain, then gritted her teeth and shouted angrily, "You dare hit me? I won't let you get away with this!"

The boy had already lost his sanity, completely ignoring her threats, raining down punches on her face like a storm. Blood quickly spilled from her lips, mixed with a few teeth, dripping onto the cold floor. She struggled to resist, but in the darkness, her hands felt weak, her vision blurred, and she was unable to fight back. Her body was like a lamb to the slaughter, utterly defenseless under the boy's control.

Gradually, Misaki's voice grew weaker, and she lacked even the strength to call for help. Her consciousness began to fade, the world in front of her sinking into nothingness. However, just as she was on the brink of despair, the enraged boy suddenly stopped, letting out a grunt, his body stiffening as if pinned in place by some invisible force. In the next second, his body toppled forward without warning, crashing to the ground with a dull thud.

In the darkness, a tall figure stood behind the boy. Kawashima Akira was splattered with blood, the dagger in his hand glinting coldly in the dim light. Blood continued to drip from the blade, reflecting his cold expression. Akira's gaze held no pity, only a chilling indifference. He looked down at the boy lying on the ground, just having pulled the dagger from his body—a clean, decisive kill. In that brief moment, the boy's left arm had been neatly severed, blood gushing forth.

Akira stood coldly in place, covered in blood, like a demon risen from hell, his gaze emanating a chilling coldness. Misaki, facing this sudden turn of events, felt somewhat at a loss, lying there dazed.

The strong smell of blood filled the air, and the remaining survivors huddled together in fear, trembling, even their breathing cautious, no one daring to speak. In the dim villa, the light was faint, as if even the air had solidified, leaving only the faint sound of dripping blood in the heavy silence.

Akira stood quietly, like a statue. The darkness posed no barrier for him; his gaze pierced through the surrounding shadows, fixed on Misaki, who was collapsed on the floor. She was pale, covered in blood, breathing rapidly, her hands gripping the floor tightly, as if trying to struggle free, but unable to rise. Akira's eyes were as cold as ice, as if appraising a discarded object.

In the silence, the air felt as though it would crush everyone, the scene locked in tension. Suddenly, a faint laugh broke the silence, like thunder, exploding in everyone's ears.

"With such deftness and this familiar method of killing... I've finally found you, Miss Killer."

The laughter was deep and eerie, seemingly coming from some unfathomable darkness, imbued with an indescribable chill. The sound swirled around, drifting from every corner, making it hard to tell the direction. The remaining classmates shuddered at the laugh, drawing closer together as if seeking warmth and safety from the terrifying atmosphere.

Akira's brow furrowed slightly, his keen gaze scanning a corner of the darkness. The laughter seemed to sense Akira's gaze, growing more rampant and spine-chilling. Misaki's eyes widened in terror as she looked around frantically, her lips quivering, her voice silenced by fear, unable to utter a word.

Suddenly, the laughter stopped abruptly, plunging the air into a dead silence. It was as if time had shattered, accompanied by a piercing scream, when the first student huddled together suddenly flew out of the darkness, crashing to the ground. Their body seemed to be ripped apart by some immense force. Blood splattered everywhere, dismembered limbs scattered across the floor, and their head rolled into a corner, eyes wide open, as if they had seen an unimaginable horror before dying.

Next, a second student's throat emitted a short gurgling sound, and then their entire body convulsed violently, their neck twisted to an extreme angle by some invisible hand, accompanied by a bone-chilling "crack." Their head was turned at an odd angle, lying on their back, eyes unblinking. Blood poured from their mouth and nose like a broken vessel, instantly staining the floor red.

The third student hardly had time to make a sound before their body suddenly split in half, as if sliced by some invisible blade. Their intestines and organs spilled out, blood mixed with shattered bones spreading everywhere, the scene horrifying like hell. Their eyes were wide open, mouth agape as if to scream, clearly having experienced extreme terror before death.

Screams echoed one after another, each more tragic and desperate than the last. The formation of survivors huddled together completely collapsed; everyone was driven by fear to flee in all directions. But no matter how desperately they struggled, it seemed impossible to escape the invisible grip of the master of laughter. Each person's death occurred in the cruelest, swiftest manner, as if that person could manipulate their lives at will.

The villa's hall instantly turned into a gruesome burial ground, bodies scattered, blood pooling on the floor, the air thick with the stench of blood. The deceased students lay in various twisted and broken postures throughout the hall, like the aftermath of a brutal slaughter. The scene was eerie and desperate, enough to make one's heart race.

Misaki stood in the pool of blood, screaming madly, her voice piercing and sharp, like a vengeful spirit. She clamped her hands tightly over her ears, desperately trying to block out the horrific sights around her, but to no avail. Her pupils dilated, her face twisted in fear beyond recognition, her screams intermittent, as if something were tearing her apart. She couldn't believe the scene before her, feeling as if she were trapped in a nightmare; yet all of this was real, and there was no escaping it.

Strangely, the mysterious master of laughter made no move toward Misaki, seemingly intentionally bypassing her, as if playing with this game of death. Isolated and helpless, Misaki felt both fear and confusion; she didn't understand why she had been "fortunate" enough to be spared.

Akira still stood quietly in place, his gaze cold, as if he had long since detached himself from the situation. His clothes were splattered with blood, yet there was not a hint of disturbance on his face. Every scream and every fallen body failed to move him in the slightest. His eyes calmly observed the hellish scene before him, as if indifferent to the massacre.

In the villa, there were no living beings left, except for Akira, Misaki, and the mysterious person hidden in the darkness.