The Unfolding 5

When she turned the key, the lock made a weird creaking sound, but even after Risa had waited for a minute or two, she couldn’t hear any sounds that might have meant that Meisie had heard her and woken up. So the Detective entered the room and switched on the light. What she saw was different from anything she had expected to find. Risa didn’t even know what she had expected in particular; she just knew that it was anything but this. In the dim light, she could see big knives, a few old - fashioned guns, shovels and axes, even a bucket that looked like it was big enough to fit someone’s head inside to drown them. Taking a second glance, she thought she could also see one or two swords leaning against the wall behind all the other tools. A cold feeling overcame Risa when she saw all this, “No…” she mumbled as it dawned on her - what had probably happened to all the people who had disappeared here, NO, I don’t have any proof. Maybe they’re not dead, maybe all of this has nothing to do with the disappearances. But It felt like a plausible explanation. Staggering ever so slightly, Risa took a few steps back out of the room. She made sure to switch off the light and lock the door again, placing the key behind the tapestry where she had taken it from. Then she hurried up the stairs and started making her way back to her room. She was already almost there when she heard a voice -- a male voice talking. ‘She’s been here for too long, she’s finding out too much.’ ‘You’re right. She should disappear.’ Another male voice. Risa silently wondered where they came from all of a sudden. She stopped in her tracks and tried to move closer to the dining room without making the floor creak too loudly, And then ---- ‘Don’t do that to her.’ Meisie. Did she let those men in? Or were they hiding in one of the rooms she didn’t show me? But …for days? Risa’s thoughts started racing as she tried to make sense of this. ‘Don’t do that to her,’ Meisie repeated, and it almost sounded like she was pleading. ‘She didn’t do anything wrong.’ ‘It’s not about doing something wrong, Meisie,’ the first man reprimanded her, his voice sounding sharp. ‘The gods must be asking for a sacrifice again.’ Meisie started sounding more tense with each word she said. ‘Leave Risa Alone, She’s just trying to find out what’s going on, she’s just trying to help those people’s families,’ ‘Then how about this --- you disappear instead.’ For a few moments, it was silent in the room and Risa tensed up slightly. ‘Dad…’ Meisie’s voice was weak when she spoke up again. ‘Are you serious …?’ ‘Yes.’ The mayor, he’s here. Risa had to force herself to stay where she was, not wanting to burst into the room and put both herself and Meisie into danger. She’d have to find him somehow on the next day. ‘Then…’ Meisie’s voice was shaking ever so slightly.’ …then I’ll disappear. IF that means you’ll let Risa go. I don’t want her to see that kind of thing.’ ‘You have two days. Once those are up, we’ll do it regardless of whether she’s still here of not.’ Those words rang in Risa’s ears as she slowly moved backwards, trying to go to her room in a way that wouldn’t make the floorboards creak. She’s going to disappear. She’s going to disappear for me. That night, Risa had nightmares. She dreamed of Meisie’s head being chopped off and then being dropped into a bucket full of blood. ‘Risa?’ Meisie had just come in to wake her up, but her voice alone was enough to make Risa sit up rapidly, letting out a hoarse cry. ‘Uh, are you okay…?’ Risa could only stare at her with wide eyes for a moment. ‘MMM- Meisie…you’re alive…’ ‘Yes… why wouldn’t I be?’ Eventually, Risa shook her head, letting out a shaky sigh. ‘I just …had a nightmare, don’t worry.’ She brought one hand up to rub her forehead with a quiet groan. ‘I…I’ll be ready for breakfast soon, just give me a few minutes.’ Meisie simply stared at her for a moment, the she nodded. ‘Alright, let’s meet up in the kitchen then,’ she suggested, and Risa nodded. They met up in the kitchen a bit later; Risa had gotten dressed and put on some makeup, feeling like she at least looked like things were fine now. For a while, they ate in silence, until Meisie cleared her throat and spoke up. ‘Something urgent came up,’ she started, and Risa immediately knew what she was going to say next. ‘… I’m sorry, but you need to leave within the next two days.’ Risa remained silent for a moment. ‘What is it that came up?’ she then asked, even though she already knew the answer to that question. ‘Why can’t I stay?’ ‘Risa, please don’t ask any questions.’ Meisie averted her eyes, her hands clenching to fists on top of the table. ‘I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are some things going on here that I don’t think you deserve to be involved in. In two days, I won’t …have time for you anymore, so…’ ‘I’m not leaving.’ ‘Risa…’ ‘No, listen to me.’ Risa’s eyes narrowed. ‘What happens to you in two days?’ ‘I told you, I …’ ‘NO’ Risa leaned closer to the younger woman. ‘Will you die?’ Meisie’s eyes widened slightly. ‘I …no, how did you get that idea? OF course I won’t…’ Risa let out a heavy sigh, burying her face in her hands for a moment. ‘Meisie. Who were the men who were here last night, and what are the tools in that room in the basements for?’ The younger girl stiffened, then she looked away. ‘…my father and one of his friends,’ she eventually admitted, her voice quiet. ‘They’re kinda…the leaders of the village.’ ‘And they’re going to make you disappear…so, does disappearing mean ‘dying?’ At this point, she was pretty sure that was the case. Meisie bit her lip hard enough to make it bleed. ‘How did you figure that out? Or is all of this still just an assumption?’ ‘The Room in the basement. The one with all the axes an knives and so on; I went in there last night. Were those tools used to kill all the people who disappeared?’ For a while, Meisie remained silent. Then, she got up. ‘Come with me,’ she’d said quietly. ‘I’ll tell you what’s going on here.’