HEARTS IN DARKNESS: THE BODY

[yourkeepers]

The body glimmers as the light spreads over its features, like a statue of precious metals stained with blood. Golden hair soaks in a pool of red that paints the floor like a canvas, extending out around the head and shoulders of the victim, still lazily seeping and expanding.

It's the body of the the oracle, and she is very much dead.

Her entire throat and chest is a mess of gore. The blood coats the skin and cloth so that it's hard to make out details, but there is one thing certain - something has cut deep into her chest cavity, as it carving something out from inside.

The body is still warm, but you never heard her scream.

Comments

[manelesscatking]

"Alright then," Huǒ says, planting their feet firmly, "I'll call you Vigil until you tell me otherwise."

They furrow their brow. "Oh, I just assumed. It's a magical dagger, and the whole 'replacing organs' thing smacks of a ritual. Do you disagree?"

[grotesqueobserver]

"Vigil," he repeats, a smile creeping over his face. Having a name, temporary or not, made him feel oddly...complete. "I like that."

But there are more important things to discuss. "I didn't know about the weapon. How do you know it's magical?"

[manelesscatking]

The page gives a slight smile at Vigil's approval.

"Well, I didn't see any special colors or anything, but those who held it reported feelings of paranoia and nausea, and I doubt those were imagined."

Huǒ's eyebrows dart skyward. "In fact, the paranoia lingered - I'll bet the murderer feels like they're being watched, even while they're not holding the dagger."

[grotesqueobserver]

"...which could make them paranoid and even more dangerous." Not good. Not good at all. "Could it be exerting some sort of influence on whoever's using it? I don't know anything about magic." He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.

[manelesscatking]

"Nor do I, and I've spent DAYS studying it," the page grimaces. "At any rate, it might be a good indicator of the murderer, if we see someone acting paranoid."