Author Note: I editted the previous 4 chapters that i posted as updates, so check them out before reading this.
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"Hah… hah…"
We'd finally reached the top. I'd speed-walked as fast as possible here, in part to avoid any suspicions, and in part to maintain my dignity.
"How do you even get winded from such a short walk?"
Ayo looked at incredulously.
'Not doing a very good job at the dignity part.'
I took a deep breath before shaking my head and looking at her.
"Easy for you to say."
"Probably easy for anyone to say. It'd be especially so if you let go of my hand."
"Ohh…"
I let go of her hand.
"Sorry about that. I was in a bit of a rush."
"Yeah, I figured…"
She rubbed her wrist, looking down the empty corridor and at the single door at its center.
"Mind telling where we are?"
"Take a guess."
She was smart enough to figure it out herself; after all, there was only one office at the top of this building.
Sure enough, it only took her a mont.
"Wait, is this Alic—"
"Yes."
Her face perked up imdiately, a silly smile spreading across it. She very quickly composed herself, however, after rembering I was watching.
However, she couldn't fully hide it, and rather unfortunately, I'd have to dampen her excitent.
"Before you get ahead of yourself, I'll be the only one eting her today."
I doubted Alice would be excited at the thought of a fan et-and-greet, especially with the current ergency on her hands.
As expected, Ayo turned gloomy almost instantly.
"Tsk… What a waste…"
I could only sigh.
"You're still head of the clubs departnt; you'll et her eventually."
It didn't do much to improve her mood, but then again, I couldn't really give much of a damn.
In no ti, we reached the front of the door. I contemplated knocking on it, but considering what had happened last ti, I thought better of it.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for her to call out to .
"It's open; you may enter. Not you, though, Cadet Ayo."
Ayo looked almost visibly depressed at that.
'Poor girl…'
As I pushed the door open, Alice's voice continued.
"You may et regarding club matters on Wednesday."
She needn't say more. Ayo gave a deep bow.
"O-of course, Lady Alice."
She briskly walked away right after, unable to hide the hop in her step.
'Well, that solves that… on to more pressing issues.'
Alice's office remained largely the sa: warmth still emanated from the fireplace, books still lined the shelves, and the only thing that had changed was the positioning of the dolls.
And, of course, they were still staring at .
Alice, on the other hand, had a serious aura around her. Perhaps it was even slightly grim.
Closing the door, I gulped before following the gesture of her hand and taking a seat right in front of her.
She began calmly.
"I suppose you have heard the news of the missing student."
I nodded.
"Yes. I assud it was because yo—"
"It wasn't ."
"What?"
"I haven't done anything to that skinwalker."
"Oh, no."
Quite possibly the worst-case scenario.
'If it wasn't her, then what changed?'
Had the skinwalker begun suspecting sothing from when we t? Or was it sothing else entirely? My mind could only race in circles.
I glanced back at Alice.
"What about the other ones? Are they missing, too?"
An easing look appeared on her face.
"You can calm down, Cadet. I apprehended the remaining suspects the mont I noticed irregularities. They are currently detained."
I let out a sigh of relief. The situation hadn't completely deteriorated.
Alice watched intently for a few monts before continuing.
"I began monitoring all related suspects after receiving your tip on Friday. Most behaved normally—training, partying, things you'd expect from a normal cadet. That was until that very evening."
Alice tapped her desk, making multiple holographic screens pop up from it. They displayed security cara footage of the cafeteria, the hallways, and the hostel corridors.
One recording of a hostel corridor enlarged, showing a group of students led by Ramona Simons walking into a room.
The clip fast-forwarded, and soon enough, those sa students stepped out, but without Ramona. The screen froze there.
"She hasn't left her room since then."
The video continued, still fast-forwarding, showing multiple students at different tis walking up to her room, knocking, ringing the doorbell, and even calling her. All to no avail.
The video finally stopped when the date reached Monday.
"At first, I assud it to be a result of her teenage temperant; after all, her identity as a skinwalker still hasn't been confird yet. But then she didn't leave this morning either. The guards I posted around the other suspects noticed them behaving strangely in response, so I gave the go-ahead to capture."
I lowered my head in contemplation, trying to piece it all together.
'Okay… it's not all gone. I can still fix this; the suspects are already captured, and the only anomaly's location is known.'
I shifted my gaze back to her.
"Have yo—"
"Yes. The periter around her room is secure."
'How did sh—never mind.'
What mattered now were the skinwalkers.
There was still one thing I couldn't wrap my head around, so I asked.
"Then… why did you call for ? You seem to have everything handled, and I reckon there isn't much I can do against a skinwalker, especially one strong enough to cause this much trouble."
Alice nodded, giving a light smile.
"That much is true. But you've been rather valuable to this case, so I thought it only fair you saw the end of it."
"What do you an, Lady Alice?"
"We'll be heading into Miss Simons' room to understand what's happened to her."
"We?"
"You'll find that I'm not a fan of redundancy, Cadet."
Alice stood up, her figure looking towering from my seat below. Then she clapped her hands, and a fog materialized around her, slowly swirling round and round until she was completely engulfed in it.
By the ti it dissipated, I found myself staring at a beautiful, doll-like teenage girl with dark hair and dark eyes.
"Shall we leave, then?"
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