Horologium: part 4
James
Well?
Is there something you should tell me?!
Mitski
…
I wonder…
Is there something I should be telling you?
James
ENOUGH OF THE ACT!
What's the deal with the sudden fires that erupted from your barn the other day!?
How is your barn still standing!?
James brings out Lacerta
Mitski
Mitski glares at James
The time is 7 pm.
Perspective change to Will
Will
(Wow, Auriga makes this so much easier!)
(This is great!)
(How could this have downsides?)
?
Will stops
Will
(W-what is this feeling?)
Ughhh
(I-I feel like I'm gonna hurl…)
(What is this?)
(Why do I suddenly feel like crap?)
Will turns over and looks at Auriga
Will
Are you trying to tell me I pushed my ability too much?
Auriga
…
Will
You really aren't a talker, huh?
?
Are those the footprints from before?
I guess I must've passed whoever was–
Huh?!
Are-are those footprints moving on their own?!
H-how are they forming on their own?!
Is that a Manifesto?!
But…who would the user be?
Where would they be?
(Is the user using their Manifesto to hide themselves?)
(If that's the case, I shouldn't be talking aloud right now.)
(I should try to locate the user as quickly as possible…)
Auriga, I know I was pushing you before, but I need you right now to help me out!
Auriga appears
Will
(What should I do in this situation?)
(Should I use Auriga's ability to look into the past again to try and catch a glimpse of the user?)
(Or should I just use Auriga to attack the user directly?)
(I don't know what they look like, but I know where they are…)
(Assuming they're average height and they have an average build…)
(Then I should be able to hit them!)
Auriga!
Attack!
Auriga goes in front of Will
Auriga
VI!
Auriga throws a punch towards where the footprints are coming from…but it connects with nothing…
Will
Uh
Auriga!
L-let's try that again!
Auriga leaps out in front of Will again
Auriga
Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi!
None of the punches connect
Will
Wha-
H-how do none of them do anything?!
The footprints just keep moving!
What am I supposed to do if I can't land any attacks?!
(Ok, ok, calm down William.)
(You got this, just think about this, process everything as best as you can!)
(Use the resources at your disposal to help you…)
(This is the same as journalism…)
(It's all about gathering information…)
(Information is power.)
Auriga, use your ability and show me back in time an hour in the past.
(even if I still can't land any attacks with them, if I look back an hour, I should be able to at least eavesdrop on their plan…)
The world eclipses
The time is 7:25
Perspective change to James
Mitski
…
James
What?
Cat got your tongue?
Mitski
I have the right to remain silent.
I don't have to answer any questions I don't want to.
I welcomed you as a guest onto my property, and yet you're accusing me.
Sir, you are currently trespassing on my private property.
Please leave.
James
(Damn, I lost my temper.)
(I shouldn't have done that.)
(I got too ahead of myself…)
(I need to slow down and think more about this…)
(If this guy really is a Manifesto user, then I shouldn't be provoking him…)
!
(If this guy is a Manifesto user and doesn't know it, then he'll probably bring out his Manifesto if he feels threatened…)
(No, that can't be the case…)
(I have Lacerta out right now, he should be able to see it…)
(I guess that wouldn't necessarily mean he doesn't have a Manifesto…)
(It could be he's trying to play his cards right…)
(He's gonna keep up the old man ruse for as long as possible…)
James points a finger at Mitski
James
Aim.
Mitski, you're running out of time, you're gonna need to tell me sooner or later what's going on.
I can't waste all my time here with you.
So, make it easy for both of us and just surrender.
It will make both of our jobs easier.
Mitski
…
It's rude to point, you know…
Youngsters these days…
Even my no-good grandson has better manners than you.
James
You can see it. Can't you?
Bring it out.
Mitski
What?
What is it you want me to do?
James
Bring out your Manifesto.
You can see Lacerta.
There's no point in acting like you can't.
I already know he was here.
Though, I guess he wouldn't have told you what they're called.
But that's besides the point.
If you don't bring out your Manifesto, I won't hesitate to shoot.
My Lacerta already has its aim set on you.
All it needs is a single word from me.
Not even a word, the moment I even so much as think about pulling the trigger, you're as good as gone.
Mitski
Now what in the world are you talking about?
Did you hit your head?
Or did my grandson put you up to this?
This seems like one of his so called "jokes"
James
Well, you'll just have to see, won't you.
Mitski
…
James
…
Mitski
Detective, I'm not finding this to be very funny anymore.
James
Lacerta.
Mitski
…
James
Ready?
Mitski
…
James
Aim.
Mitski
…
James
…
Sigh.
Just let me inspect the barn and then I'll be on my way.
Mitski
It's unlocked…
Mitski leaves for towards his house while James stays outside of the barn
Mitski leaves
James punches the wall out of frustration
James
DAMNIT!
(I swear, he's a Manifesto user…)
(...but on the off chance that he isn't, I can't just be shooting innocent people, no matter how suspicious they are.)
(I guess I'll investigate the barn and then call it quits.)
(I was probably being too paranoid…)
(All of the Manifestos lately have had me on edge.)
(I need this chance to try to call down.)
(I can't blame every strange occurrence on Manifestos.)
James enters the barn, the time is 7:40
Perspective change to Will
Will
Auriga!
The world eclipses
Will
This an hour ago, same exact spot.
I'll just retrace my steps to try and find where the user was before he went invisible.
?
Is that a person?
Is that the murderer from before?
I wonder, is that the same person James was referring to when we got here?
James did seem pretty certain that he would be here to watch his "experiment" to see how it played out…
Hm?
Hey, that guy, he looks kind of familiar…
But where do I recognize him from?
He's really different from the man from earlier…
Wait a minute, that guy…
…he looks…
…he looks like…
Chuck!?