Episode 13 Continued - Curious Kitten
“Now where is that stupid pillow of mine?” Sam said as he shuffled through the mattress above us.
I held my hand over Yumi’s mouth, currently huddled under Sam’s bed as she remained fuming.
“Goddamn back issues,” he said then, “if I don’t have that pillow, I’m going to have a helluva time tomorrow at the performance.”
My eyes narrowed at his words.
That’s… peculiar.
Sam kept rummaging through the room. “Seriously… where is it? And I still have stuff to do tonight! I just need to find that pillow before I leave.”
Yumi poked my shoulder.
I gazed over at her.
She just pointed to a thin, square like pillow that rested under the bed with us, just above my head.
I then glanced to my right to find his back turned to us.
Keeping my hand over her mouth, I caught the pillow and slid it slightly out from the bed, just enough so he could see it, grab it, and not look under.
I then shrank back into the darkness with her, holding her tightly to me.
“Ah!” Sam said then, leaning down to pick it up. “There it is! Couldn’t show up sooner, could ya?”
He then tossed it on the bed, letting out a sigh. “Now that that’s found, I have some business matters to attend to.” He groaned then. “Bear-proof trashcans. Ugh. They should’ve been delivered today.”
His footsteps then padded away in the opposite direction, and I heard the trailer door close.
When I sensed no souls—defeating the hint that he never left—I gracefully slid out from under the bed, pulling Yumi with me.
She just angrily brushed off her clothes after I helped her stand.
“Master, we need to stop for the night,” I told her gently. “It’s too risky. We might be better looking around when he’s gone for more than a couple minutes, and we know when he’ll come back.”
She just narrowed her eyes. “And when will that be? Never?”
“Tomorrow night, actually,” I stated then, smiling a little. “I snuck a peek at his schedule. He’s going out tomorrow night, and then we’ll go from there.”
Her eyes just narrowed. “Fine, but we need to go now before he comes back. I’d like to discuss what you found.”
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“The same image was in Clarice and James’ tent?” Yumi said as she paced the room. “That’s so peculiar… I sensed that they were all related in this matter, but…” she gazed up then, “other than that old man. Did you find any other evidence?”
“Well…” I said then, gazing up, “I found many images of them together. It seems as if Sam, Clarice, and James are closer than siblings. They lived together it looked like, in one mansion.”
“Are they siblings?”
I shook my head. “No, from the looks of it, Sam and James are related, but Clarice was taken in later. That’s why she and James were in an actual relationship together.”
“You’re hiding something,” she stated then.
I gazed up. “No, I just find something odd.”
She nodded, gesturing for me to continue.
“On his schedule, Sam has to go to another city tomorrow to get belongings and food for the carnival staff, but… he mentioned that he had a ‘performance’.”
Yumi’s brows drew together. “And that’s odd?”
“Yes, because tomorrow there’s no scheduled performances. It’s just a ride day, just the carnies and the rides are active. There’s no shows.”
Yumi sank onto the bed. “That is oddly peculiar, indeed.”
She shifted her position, looking over at me sternly. “Any evidence or indication of where the teenagers went?”
I shook my head.
She stared off into space then, narrowing her eyes. “We need more evidence. This isn't enough for me to go off of.”
“We can search tomorrow night, master. That, I can promise.”
She gazed up then, teeth gritting. “We’re running short on time. Those victims be gone soon, if not already.”
“Whatever they’re doing, I do not believe they are in a rush, master,” I said then, lashes lowering. “With how calm and collected Sam, Clarice, and James are, I seriously doubt they’re rushing anything. In fact, they’re taking their time and collecting. They don’t intend to kill those teens anytime soon.”
Yumi just sighed angrily and shook her head. “I don’t like this. It’s giving me bad feelings.” She then looked up at me. “I have a job for you.”
I blinked, sitting up straighter. “Yes?”
“Once we leave here and I’m no longer being hunted with chloroform. Figure out who that… old man is. The one in the photo with Sam, James, and Clarice. Oh, and figure out who that other teenager is. Those mystery people are connected to this somehow.”
I bowed before her then. “Yes, my lord.”
“No matter what we find here tomorrow night, we’re leaving.” She clenched her fists. “I cannot stand this place much longer.”
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