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“Worry not children!” proclaims Tump, picking up his phone and a flashlight. He leaves the door open, so you hear him shuffle down the hall. A bit later there is a small crash – you assume he’s tripped over something. There is no further sounds after that, but he also doesn’t come back up.
“Did the old man hit his head?” Mess wonders, looking up from its phone to glance in the direction of the door. It’s a bit odd, admittedly.
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The atmosphere grows a bit tense over the coming minutes as suspiciously absolutely nothing happens. Then, barely noticeable at first but getting louder, you start to hear something over the quiet sounds from the tv. Like fabric rustling - shuffling? Crying? Heavy breaths? You exchange a look and realize that something is definitely up.
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Mess and Cin turn from where they've been staring at the open door to Caen, who has gotten up. She slides her phone into her pocket and departs, and you hear her flick the light switch in the hall as she goes. Soon, you hear muffled talking.
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Cin puts a finger to her lips and creeps out of the room, taking care to not make the door creak as she gingerly pushes it aside. Mess grabs a flashlight and follows, apprehensive.
You arrive at the edge of the landing and crouch down against the wall. Cin peers through the banister down into the dormitory kitchen. From here you can easily make out who's talking: it's Red and Caen. At first this puts you at ease, as you assume the reason for the holdup is Red just arriving. It occurs to neither of you that you never heard the door open. From Cin's vantage point she can see Caen and Red standing over Tump on the floor, arguing in hushed tones.
"How stupid do you think I am?" hisses Caen, and Cin winces and quickly squeezes her eyes shut as Red picks up the knife block from the counter and swings it at Caen.
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You realize fairly quickly that Caen, also, is not coming back up. Both of you jump at a thud coming from the kitchen, though it is muffled by the closed door.
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Cin mutes the tv and you sit in complete silence, straining to hear another sound. After a while you start questioning whether you're hearing anything at all beyond your own heart beat and blood rushing.
Mess stands up then, a look of determination on its face. Sylvi stays put as it closes the door behind itself and listens for its steps.
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Something in Cin's eyes must silently convey to Mess what the loud 'whack' sound was, or if it doesn't at least the urgency is not lost on it. Sylvi’s hands fumble with the door lock as she tries to be as quiet as humanly possible in putting a door between them and their friends. When she turns Mess is staring at her expectantly, and so she explains. It walks agitated circles around the room, filled with energy in the face of danger, while Cin sags against the door.
"Now what!"
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Cin watches as Mess digs its heels into the carpet and turns to the door. It is clear it's come to a decision, and so Cin follows it back down the hall to the stairs.
Mess yells down at Red, who, to your horror, is occupied burying a kitchen knife into Tump's throat. They look up at you, grinning, and drag the knife around over the tile floor, spreading his blood in trailing shapes. Mess grabs Cin's hand and pulls her along as it rushes down the stairs.
Red greets them with a raised knife and the two scuffle while Cin casts around for a weapon.
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