chapter 2

"Let me come with you."

"No you will not."

"You're not the one I am talking to."

"Who said I was talking to you?"

"Then why are you answ-"

"Both of you, can you please be silent for once?!" Alice uttered in annoyance.

But that's understandable. Afterall its still early in the morning, still raining heavily outside and still having their suppose to be 'peaceful breakfast' when Lady Doreen(Anastasia) and Prince Alistair started bickering at each other again.

It started when Alice announced that she will going to continue the investigation later and probably needed to see the body again so she ask Señior Victor if she can go to the basement. Then Anastasia ask if she can come with her but the prince contradict it and that's how they start arguing nonstop.

And Alice have enough.

"How about both of you will come with her?" Scholar Francis suggests and squirm when the both of them just give him a glare.

"Never." They said in unison.

"But that was a good suggestion. If you really want to come with her then might as well come together with Detective Alice." Madame Leticia said, slightly amused with how the conversation going.

"Hey how about me? I need an assurance that they will not going to kill each other behind my back." Alice stated.

"Don't worry I will come with you also." The scholar said.

"That's a deal then. The three of you will come with Detective Alice at the basement." Madame Leticia announce with finality.

"I just want you to know that don't make things harder for me then you're good." Alice said warningly to them.

"Why do you even want to come Lady Doreen?" Lord Gilbert suddenly asked her niece, also confuse on the sudden change of her behavior.

"Why I cant? I just wanted to see it in my own eyes and maybe I can help a little. And who knows if I wont come, someone will point on me again with some baseless reasons?" Anastasia said.

"Doreen Garcia, watch your words and learn how to show some respect. My temper is not too long so don't push your luck." Prince Alistair said warningly at her. Anastasia suddenly feel scared but she doesn't let it show. Never.

"Your highness, forgive my niece. She-"

"I don't care if your a prince nor I don't care on the things you can do. As long as all of us are inside this mansion, all of us is a possible suspect, no exception even you. Ah I really hate the people who uses their power to destroy someone." Anastasia stated then raise up on her seat.

"Thank you for the food Señior Victor and Señorita Laura, it was really lovely. And please just call me if we're already heading to the basement." She bowed before dismissing herself.

All of them are left speechless when Lord Gilbert also get up.

"I apologize again for my niece behavior. I will surely going to have a word with her. Please excuse me." The old man also bowed before running after her.

They were left in silence again when Alice break it by chuckling.

"That woman is really something." She said, amused.

All of them are now looking at her so she raise her eyebrow.

"What? She's actually telling the truth. All of us are a possible suspect here, even me." She said then smiled at herself. "And I like how she thinks."

.

Meanwhile Anastasia was about to head back in her room when Lord Gilbert called her.

"Lady Doreen what is happening to you?" The old man ask but she just gave him a blank look.

"Nothing is happening to me." She went inside her room but the old man is so persistent and followed her inside.

"No. Something is definitely wrong with you. Its like Im talking to another person. This is not you Doreen. Im certain that something...changes." Anastasia stopped when she heard it, but she stayed quiet so the old man continued.

"Why did you said that? How can you say it like we're not planning to kill that man originally?!"

"And that's the point! I don't even know why are we going to do that! I don't know your reasons! Im so lost!" Anastasia, with all of her frustrations since she arrived here finally snap. She notice that she's starting to burst into tears.

Lord Gilbert was taken aback. Its like its the first time she saw the lady cried like that.

"Lady Doreen...since when did you become this...soft?" The old man ask in confusion. But Anastasia just cried not minding him.

Lord Gilbert doesn't know how to react. The old man just let out a sigh, step closer to her and place his hand hesitantly on her shoulder.

"I guess it is also my fault for not telling you my reason on the first place." Anastasia stop when she heard that. So the Lord really didn't tell Doreen his reason?

"Its a personal reason. Im sorry for dragging you into this." Now that makes her more surprise. Did the old man just apologize to her?

There's a silence between them when Anastasia decided to break it.

"You became so soft." She joked.

"Look who's talking." The old man said back.

For whatever his reason is, Anastasia will leave that matter for now.

.

"With the mood of this place, I wouldn't be surprise if we suddenly see a ghost." Scholar Francis joked. They are currently going down through stairs heading to the basement. The place is so dark and the only light they have is the torch that Alice is currently holding.

"H-hey! Don't say that!" Anastasia blurted out while gripping Alice's left arm tightly.

"I cant believe you keep insisting on coming earlier but you're afraid on the thing that is not even real." Prince Alistair said in a mocking tone.

"You're just saying that because you don't see one yet. But I already did." Anastasia said.

"Really? What is it looks like?" Scholar Francis ask curiously at her.

Okay. Anastasia lied. But who says she cant improvise?

"It was really scary. I saw a lady in a white dress full of blood. Then she was so pale and her hair was so long. And when I look closer I notice that she has no eyes!" Anastasia tell them in a gloomy voice.

Prince Alistair, who's in their back stop on his track.

"You're lying...there is no such a thing-"

"Im not and its real!"

"That's impossible-"

"Y-you're highness...someone's behind you!" Anastasia then point on his back and show her most terrified expression.

The prince immediately run to Scholar Francis.

"W-where? Where?!"

And finally, Anastasia let out the laugh that she's been holding a while ago.

"Hahahaha I cant believe you actually believe that!"

"You-!"

"Hey the three of you quit playing around." Alice stated, shutting them off.

'You're dead' Prince Alistair mouthed at her but Anastasia just stuck her tongue out at him.

"But Im not doing anything." Scholar Francis whine quitely.

"But you're the one who started the ghost agenda." Anastasia reasoned.

They finally stopped when they arrived at the front door of the basement. Alice took the key that Señior Victor lent them and open the door slowly.

'Even the inside looks scary.' Anastasia thinks.

They head inside and immediately notice the body that is covered in a white cloth.

Alice step closer and open the cloth.

This is not the first time that Anastasia saw a dead body. She's a nurse ofcourse it is not. But seeing something like this, with still so much blood on its chest, she cant look straight at it.

"Base on my investigation, the cause of death is the sudden blow from his chest. I also concluded that the weapon is a knife." Alice said.

"Do you saw the weapon?" Prince Alistair asked.

"No. Not yet."

"It must be somewhere. But still inside the mansion."

"I know. That's why I already ask the servants to look for it."

Alice scan the body but made sure she is wearing a gloves.

Hearing their conversation, Anastasia analyze the body and notice something.

"Are you sure its a knife?" She asked earning a look from them.

"What do you mean?" Alice ask, telling her to elaborate.

"I mean look closely on his chest. The clothes hole looks larger for a knife. I think the weapon is much more..."

"Larger?" Alice continued.

Anastasia nod.

Alice start to think about it and knows that it make sense.

"You're right." The detective said, acknowledging the new information.

"Wait you actually believes her?" Prince Alistair exclaimed.

"Because it makes sense. I haven't even notice it."

"One more thing is...Lord Jeremy wouldn't have bleeded that much if the weapon is just a knife." Anastasia added.

The four of them stayed silent until Scholar Francis blurted out something.

"Everyone, I also notice something. Look on his neck, I think there is something in it." Alice immediately tilted the head since she's the only one who's wearing a gloves.

The four of them gasp on what they have saw.

"What is that? A sign?" The prince ask in confusion.

There is a carve on Lord Jeremy's neck. The culprit might used a sharp object to do it.

"Or a pattern?" Anastasia tried to guess.

"It is not familiar but I think I know the meaning of it." Alice stated.

"What?"

"Are you perhaps familiar with the term serial killing?" The detective ask them.

Anastasia gasps realizing what she meant.

"Its like a warning...that there would be another victim."