Interactive Story: The Wicked Among Us [Part Two]
Whodunnit?
[Part One] Six friends assembled at mysterious Loch Kaille for a 25th birthday celebration. When one of them was found dead after a violent storm, accusations began to fly.
Midday and Max still hadn't returned to the campsite with the police. I was sitting on a log bench, staring at Aaron's tent. I was thinking of the Antler Figure I'd seen by the lochshore and the Hag Stone in my pocket. Could they be related to Aaron's death somehow?
Leon: “Kate.”
Leon had been hovering over the camping stove at the edge of the clearing. Now he was approaching me with two steaming mugs.
Leon: “I boiled some water and made some sweet tea.”
He sat down and handed me a mug. I took it without taking my eyes off Aaron's tent.
Leon: “I can't believe he's gone.”
Me: “I know. I hate the idea of him lying cold in there.”
We each raised our mug and drank a sip.
Leon: “I don't think we should have let Max leave.”
Me: “Why not?”
Leon: “What if he killed Aaron?”
Me: “Leon, you're letting Max's attitude problem get to you. Max had no reason to hurt Aaron.”
Leon: “You don't know that. Aaron just landed that huge client, didn't he? What if Max was gunning for that action? Would you really put it past him?”
I didn't answer.
Leon: “And I can't stop thinking about Mona either. Why was she even in Aaron's tent this morning?”
Me: “Leon…”
Before I could finish what I was going to say, Coll emerged from the two man tent he shared with Mona. He came and sat on the bench next to ours.
Me: “How's Mona?”
Coll: “She's cried herself into something resembling sleep.”
Leon: “I've just boiled the kettle. Would you like some tea?”
Coll: “I feel too sick to drink anything.”
There was a rustle from the trees surrounding the clearing. Instinctively, all three of us stood. After an apprehensive moment, Max emerged from the pines. He walked into the campsite alone.
Me: “Where are the police?”
Max: “They're not coming. The river is a raging torrent, I couldn't get across.”
Coll sighed.
Coll: “The storm last night.”
Max: “I tried further along the river from the crossing too. It was even worse.”
I turned to Coll.
Me: “Is there any other way down?”
Coll: “No. Well, beyond the loch, there's no river at the bottom of the hill's north face. But it's basically a cliff edge, I'm not sure we could get down without specialist gear.”
Max: “But it might be possible?”
Coll: “I don't know. I haven't been that way in years.”
Leon: “There's no reason some of us can't go and have a look. It's not like we have anything better to do.”
Max: “I say we go right now. Who's coming?”
Coll: “I'm not leaving Mona on her own.”
Leon: “Coll, I can stay and look after her. You're the outdoorsman, you have the best chance of finding a way down.”
Me: “I'm coming as well. Outdoorsman or not the more eyes looking for a way down the better.”
Leon didn't look very happy about it, but I wasn't going to let Max and Coll head out alone. They'd probably throttle each other long before they ever reached the north face. I packed my rucksack with supplies and then the three of us were gone.
Me: “How long will it take to reach the north face?”
I was walking beside Coll as we made our way along the lochshore. Max was trailing after us.
Coll: “The best way is through the pines on the other side of the loch. But it's still quite a trek.”
Me: “And what happens if we can't get down? How long until the river recedes?”
Coll: “It could still be a couple of days. More if it rains again.”
I grimaced and we ambled on.
It was a long hike, but eventually we circumnavigated the loch and made it a good way into the forest on the other side.
Me: “The trees are starting to thin out. We must be getting close, right Coll?”
Coll: “I think so. We should—”
A noise from the trees interrupted him; a few fast footsteps to our distant left.
Me: “What was that?”
Coll: “Sounded like a person.”
Max: “If there's someone else up here we need to know who it is.”
Max moved off in the direction of the sound. I was set to follow but Coll grabbed my wrist, stopping me. I turned and looked at him. Coll slowly shook his head from side to side.
Next, we heard the sound of more footsteps. This time to our right hand side.
Me: “Max has gone the wrong way.”
I tore from Coll's grasp and headed off in the direction of the new sound.
Coll: “Kate, wait!”
But I was already gone.
Minutes later I found myself walking alone in a new part of the forest. There were less pine trees and more broad-leaves.
I halted as I heard something. It sounded like a low moaning, quiet at first but it soon grew louder. Then the tops of the trees began to shake.
I took an anxious step backwards. The sound grew louder still and my heart raced. Then branches in the canopy started to thrash, like something huge was scrambling through the trees to get at me.
I turned and ran.
No matter how fast I moved I couldn't escape the sound and the shaking trees. The commotion had become violent, desperate even.
I burst out of the forest and had to throw on the emergency brakes as a cliff edge loomed ahead of me. I teetered dangerously on the precipice before regaining my balance. The sound had gone and the trees behind me had become still.
I looked down over the edge. The drop was sheer, punctuated only by sharp rocks and the odd soggy plant clinging onto the hillside.
There was a rustle from the tree line. I turned to see Coll appear.
Coll: “Kate, are you okay?”
Me: “Barely. That noise, I almost went over the cliff running from it.”
Coll walked to my side and looked over the edge.
Coll: “Thank God you didn't. No way are we getting down there safely.”
Me: “Did you hear the noise too? It sounded like something was chasing me.”
Coll: “We're high up here. It was probably just the wind.”
Before I could disagree there was another rustle and Max emerged from the trees.
Max: “You found the way down. How does it look?”
Me: “It's sheer. I don't think we can get down.”
Max joined us and peered down the drop. His pained expression said he agreed. Then Max reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Coll: “I told you, we won't get any signal until we're out of the hill's shadow.”
Max looked back at him, incredulous.
Max: “I don't trust a word you say. Those footsteps, I wouldn't be surprised if you have an accomplice up here.”
I groaned.
Me: “Don't start, Max. Let's just, I don't know, go around these big trees and get back to the campsite. Then we can figure out our next move.”
When we made it back to the campsite Leon and Mona were sitting on a log bench. Mona was wrapped in a blanket, staring at the ground.
We walked into the clearing and Max made straight for a pile of bottles left out after last night's party. He pulled a half-empty bottle of vodka from the heap and took a swig.
Leon: “Did you find a way down?”
I shook my head. Mona stood wordlessly and started walking towards her tent.
Max: “Where are you going? Disappointed your accomplice didn't finish us off?”
As Mona disappeared into her tent I gestured towards Max's vodka and glared at him.
Me: “Is that a good idea?”
Max ignored me and took another swig.
Leon: “Did something happen out there?”
Max: “We heard someone in the trees. Kate saw something rushing towards her.”
Leon: “What?”
Me: “I didn't see anything. I just heard a weird noise.”
Coll: “There are deer up here. They make weird noises.”
Leon looked from Coll to me.
Leon: “But yesterday, you saw someone by the loch too. Someone else might still be up here.”
Me: “I don't know what I saw.”
Max: “Whatever any of us heard or saw, the bottom line is that we're all staying up here for another night.”
The notion sent a shiver down my spine.
Leon: “Okay. I'll go and get some firewood. It's already starting to get chilly.”
Me: “I'll come with you.”
I dumped my pack and followed after Leon. As we left the campsite Coll called out to us.
Coll: “Stay close to camp!”
We walked down the trail that led to the river crossing, but only for a couple of minutes. Then we stepped off into the pines. The sun was sinking towards the horizon but there was still enough light to see by. We roved amongst the trees collecting sticks and broken branches.
Me: “Leon, there's something I haven't told you.”
Leon stopped what he was doing.
Leon: “What?”
Me: “When I saw that something by the loch, I was looking through a Hag Stone.”
Leon: “Huh?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my Hag Stone. I showed it to Leon.
Me: “Remember what Aaron told us. Witches look through the hole to see hidden truths and peer into other worlds.”
Leon: “Kate, that spooky cave, I was as creeped out as anyone. But you can't seriously think…”
Me: “Do you really believe that one of us is a killer?”
Leon: “We don't know these people. I don't entirely trust them. Especially not Max. If there's been foul play, there's going to be a normal human person at the centre of it.”
Me: “You didn't hear what I heard at the north face. I really don't think it was a deer.”
Leon gave me a sympathetic look.
Leon: “Come on. Let's get back to camp and start a fire before it gets dark.”
Back at the campsite we built a fire and everyone except Mona gathered around it as day turned to night. We ate what little we could stomach and watched the moon slowly rise over the clearing. All whilst Max steadily made his way through the leftover vodka, finally passing out against a log bench.
Around midnight I tossed our last branch onto the campfire and it seemed to spark some conversation.
Leon: “What about using a rope to get down the north face? I know Aaron had some cord in his rucksack.”
Coll: “That cord was for a washing line. It's not long enough to get us down.”
Me: “We're just going to have to check the river in the morning. Hope it's low enough for us to cross.”
A few minutes later we heard the sound of a zipper and Mona emerged from her tent. She was still swathed in her blanket.
Coll: “Mona, come and sit by the fire.”
Coll helped Mona over to the benches and they both sat in front of the fire. The commotion caused Max to stir.
Leon: “Would you like some food, Mona? We saved you some.”
Mona didn't answer. She seemed entranced by the flames. By his bench, a drunk Max had fully awoken.
Max: “Awake are you? You gonna tell us why you murdered Aaron now?”
Me: “Max, shut up. Mona's been through enough without your stupid accusations.”
Mona: “It was our last camping trip before Aaron left for university.”
Coll: “Mona, you don't have to explain yourself.”
Mona didn't seem to hear him.
Mona: “I went into Aaron's tent on the final night. I gave him my…”
Mona pulled her blanket tight around herself.
Mona: “I loved him. But he didn't want a long-distance relationship. And missing out on university was never an option. I had to look at pictures of him having the time of his life without me, I had to see him with other girls.”
Mona went quiet and I wondered whether she'd lost her train of thought. But eventually she continued.
Mona: “Then he didn't come home after graduating like I'd always hoped he would. He moved to London. But he said that he wanted to have his twenty-fifth birthday here. With us. With me. This morning, I went into his tent to see if he wanted to…”
A tear trickled down Mona's cheek, glinting in the firelight.
Mona: “But I – I'd already lost him. All over again.”
The clearing fell silent.
Poor Mona. And to think that she poured her heart out so bravely whilst in a state of such vulnerability and grief. But, I wonder, did you believe everything you've just read?
We didn't stay up long after Mona's story. The fire died down and we all retired to our tents. I slept in fits and starts. Never for more than an hour, never far from an anxious dream.
Sometime in the early hours I gave up. I turned on my phone and examined my Hag Stone in the paltry light from the screen. I couldn't decide whether the Stone was a danger to me or whether it was something I needed to keep close. That's when I heard footsteps in the darkness outside. I clasped the Stone in my hand and held my breath as the sound drew closer. I watched in horror as a shape passed by my tent canvas. Then as my tent zipper slowly opened… and Leon entered my tent.
Me: “Jesus, Leon. You scared the crap out of me.”
Leon: “Keep your voice down. I need to show you something.”
As Leon re-zipped my tent I realised that he was carrying Aaron's action camera.
Me: “Where did you get that camera?”
Leon: “I took it from Aaron's tent.”
Me: “What the hell, Leon? That tent is a crime scene.”
Leon: “That's exactly why I had to take it. Aaron recorded the entire night before he died on this camera. I wanted to see if it captured anything incriminating.”
Me: “For heaven's sake Leon this isn't some click-bait listicle we're working on, this is a serious situation that the police need to investigate.”
Leon: “Listen, this is important. I started by checking who went into Aaron's tent to see if someone drugged his water or something. But we all go in at some point, I forgot that there was a load of booze in there.”
Me: “So taking it was pointless.”
Leon: “No. During the party, the footage shows that Coll disappeared into the woods on his own for half an hour. He only just gets back in time for midnight.”
Me: “That doesn't make him a killer, Leon.”
Leon: “But you've got to admit that it's pretty suspicious. He doesn't go towards the loch, or take the trail back towards the river crossing, he goes in a different direction.”
Me: “Which direction?”
Leon pointed over my shoulder, through the back of my tent.
Leon: “That way.”
Me: “And, let me guess, you want us to go and see what's out there.”
Leon: “If we do it now, whilst everyone's asleep, no one will see us go.”
I gave Leon a disapproving look.
Leon: “Please, Kate. It might be nothing but I still think we should go and check. Just so we have all the facts.”
Leon gave me the puppy-dog eyes and, stupidly, I conceded.
Me: “Fine. As long as we make sure we're back by sunrise.”
We wandered the dark forest behind my tent using our phone torches to light the way. As we passed a crooked pine the sudden sound of a spooked bird taking flight made us jump. The fright seemed to jog Leon's memory.
Leon: “Almost forgot, I found this in Aaron's tent as well.”
Leon reached into his pocket and pulled out a camping knife with a closed switchblade. He held it out to me.
Me: “What do I want that for?”
Leon: “Protection. It has a pretty decent blade.”
I hesitated.
Leon: “It would make me feel a lot better knowing you had it.”
Reluctantly, I reached out and took the knife.
Me: “So how much longer are we going to look around before we give up and go back? It can't be long until dawn now.”
Leon: “Until we know— wait, what's that?”
Leon's torch light had fallen upon a small cairn; a stack of stones with something resting on top. We approached the cairn and I shined my light on the feather doll wedged between the topmost stones.
Me: “It's that doll Aaron took from the cave.”
Leon: “Coll could have taken it from Aaron's tent before he came out here. He could have built this stack of rocks and left the doll on top.”
Me: “Why?”
Leon: “Your guess is as good as mine.”
I crouched down and examined the little structure more closely.
Me: “You don't think this is some sort of mark?”
Leon: “What? Like we're cursed?”
Me: “I don't think we should leave this here.”
I plucked the doll from the cairn and slipped it into my pocket.
Me: “Let's get back to camp before the others wake up.”
We arrived back at the campsite just as day began to break. With the sun peeking over the horizon we crept back towards our tents. As we neared the log benches the front of Mona and Coll's tent unzipped. Leon and I both froze. After a long moment Coll emerged fully dressed, a concerned expression on his face.
Coll: “Have either of you seen Mona?”
Me: “She's not in there with you?”
Coll: “No. I woke up and she was gone. Didn't you see her leave our tent?”
Leon: “No, we've only just got up too.”
As Coll eyed Leon suspiciously, Max's tent unzipped and Max appeared looking badly hungover.
Max: “What's happened now?”
Me: “Mona's gone.”
Coll: “I need to find her.”
Coll moved off towards the pines.
Me: “Wait, we'll help.”
Leon and I followed after Coll. Max stayed put.
First, we searched among the trees leading to the lochshore. No sign of Mona. Then we searched the lochshore itself. Still no sign of Mona. Then we made for the trail leading to the river crossing. No sign of Mona near the trailhead so we started down the path, all three of us shouting Mona! as we went. As we searched around a pair of felled pine trees near to the trail Coll suddenly cried out.
Coll: “No!”
Coll rushed off into the forest. Leon and I clocked his diversion and chased after him.
Coll led us to a giant broad-leaf and sank to his knees. Mona was hanging from a thick branch, a length of cord tied around her neck was her noose.
Coll: “Mona…”
Leon: “God. Because of Aaron?”
Coll: “She loved him.”
Leon: “Is that – is that Aaron's washing line?”
Coll: “I should have seen this coming, I should have been more vigilant.”
Me: “It's not your fault. You couldn't have known this would happen.”
Leon: “Should we cut her down?”
I was looking at scratch marks around Mona's neck. Had Mona changed her mind during the attempt? Could the noose have been forced upon her?
Me: “No. We have to leave her like we left Aaron. No one can touch her.”
And then there were four. But how, dear Reader, did it come to this?
[Part Three] — Follow the link to read Part Three.
Brilliant. Can’t wait for next instalment.