The air was still. Lungs seemed to halt as two pairs of eyes met with lightning between them. Words were unneeded, their gaze alone spoke everything that needed to be said.
Vincent patted his uniform to fix the slight crease that Jeffrey's head caused. "And why do you want to know?"
Jeffrey's hand moved to his belt bag, wordlessly pulling out his wrench. Vincent's eyebrow shot up, and his lips cracked a grin.
"And what do you want to do with that? I didn't expect the honor student to be such a thug."
Jeffrey took a deep breath. "Just tell me where you were," footsteps echoed behind him, but he dared not to turn his head.
When the footsteps halted and rough breathing entered his ears, he continued. "All three of us are Innocent. That leaves you unaccounted for."
Vincent snickered. "Fine~ You win this time, detective. I was with Adrian and his sickly bitch. We were in the garden, happy?"
Jeffrey narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip around the wrench. "You're lying."
"Oh?" Vincent's grin grew wider. "And how are you so sure~?" He took a step forward, but Jeffrey stood his ground.
"Take another step and you will regret it," the purple-haired boy warned. Vincent placed his hands in his pocket and kept his grin, but his feet obeyed.
"We were just in the garden. We didn't see anyone there."
"Pfft," Vincent couldn't help but scoff. "What, do you think you have eyes at the back of your head? We arrived just as the three of you left, it's that simple~"
He averted his gaze. "Here I thought you were clever, haaa~"
"Besides, what would I get for lying?" Vincent turned around and spread out his arms, his words echoing around them.
Jeffrey adjusted his grip on the wrench, sweat making his palms slick. "You get to eliminate everyone, that's what."
"And how would I be the Seeker?" Vincent chuckled.
Jeffrey straightened his knees and stood tall. He lowered his hand, and with his free one, he plucked the notebook tucked in his back. Vincent glanced back to see it.
"This is a diary that allows me to know who's been marked. Everyone can open it, but if the Seeker touches it, it won't open," he raised the notebook in front of him, lying through his teeth.
"Open it. Prove you're not a Seeker."
Vincent turned to face the three of them, his gaze stuck on the diary. His smirk was long eaten away by a frown.
"And why should we believe you?"
"Yeah, why should we believe you," Cel chimed in from behind, before Michelle silenced her with a look.
Jeffrey smiled at her words, though he never once looked away from Vincent. "Because you and Michelle will try to open the diary after Vincent touches it. If you don't believe me, then I'll tell you now. Croniel has been eliminated."
Michelle's eyes widened, and she stared at Vincent with a reddening gaze. Jeffrey couldn't see it.
"He was marked around 1:28. Once Vincent touches the diary, it won't open, and neither of you can open it either because Vincent is the Seeker. To prove I'm not lying, we just have to look at the digital board in the garden," he locked eyes with Vincent.
"So? Open it. I dare you," he grinned. Of course, if Vincent took the diary, he wouldn't be able to open it. He'd just opened it a moment ago, so no one can open it for another ten minutes.
No one knew that.
Vincent took a deep breath, then sighed. With a helpless shake of his head, he reached his hand out. "Fine, give it to me."
Carefully, Jeffrey handed the notebook over. Vincent smiled. He held the notebook with both hands, each placed on one half of the notebook.
"Wai—"
Pages were ripped apart, and the sound was sharp in the three's ears. Vincent tossed the torn papers into the air and made them rain down, the words written naked for all to see.
"What will you do now, detective~?" Vincent chuckled and watched as Jeffrey took several steps back. The boy's face was slick with sweat, but his gaze never wavered from Vincent's face.
"You're the Seeker," Jeffrey held his wrench tighter. So tight that his hand trembled.
"So what if I am?" Vincent shrugged and walked toward Jeffrey. With each step he took, the latter stepped back. "Sory, but you have been found~"
His eyes shifted toward the two girls behind Jeffrey. "And the two of you too," his lips stretched, his smile soft.
"You really shouldn't have tested me like that buddy~" Vincent turned his eyes back to Jeffrey, who almost flinched. "At least, you wouldn't be so pale now, right?"
"I—"
"RUN! HIDE!!!" Cel yelled and ran past them, shoving Jeffrey toward Vincent. Michelle gritted her teeth and chased after her.
The two girls quickly disappeared, leaving the two boys behind. Vincent shoved Jeffrey away, only for his head to jerk back when a fist landed on his mouth.
Vincent stumbled back a bit. He raised his hand, wiping off the blood on his lips. "You… you're annoying."
Jeffrey held his wrench in front of him, his arms brought high to shield his face.
.
.
.
[1:33]
"Haaaa," Jeffrey sat on one of the seats in the theatre, his face bruised and bleeding.
"HSSS—?! That fucking hooligan," he rubbed his jaw. Vincent punched him twice in the face; One straight to his nose and one uppercut. He felt woozy right after.
Luckily, Vincent left him behind to chase the two girls. Meanwhile, he stumbled his way toward the theatre.
"Well, I hope I'm not the Watcher. It's just getting eliminated, no biggie," his chest rose slowly, and a long sigh came out of his nostrils.
He glanced at his watch, seeing the hands move closer to invite his fate.
[1:34]
"Heh. It feels nice to bash that guy's skull," he tossed the wrench held tightly in his hand and caught it mid-air. It had blood on its surface.
"It'd be perfect if…" He winced. "—if he fainted." With a light chuckle, he closed his eyes, trying his best to ignore the throbbing migraine.
His vision darkened. But for a moment, it felt as if an angel caressed his face.
"So soft…"
[1:35]
He felt weightlessness settle in, and for some reason, his heart remained calm. Like all the weight in his mind had just vanished. The headache was still there, but quieter this time.
'Is this what being eliminated is like? This is…' He melted in his seat.
[1:36]
'Am I in heaven?'
He opened his eyes.
"Huh?"
He was still at the theatre.