Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Siren blared, a bunch of people wearing white coat snapped their heads at the speaker.

“Old man, what’s happening?” One of the scientists asked his senior. The senior shrugged, clueless as well.

As if answering, a robotic voice could be heard from the speaker, “To all personnel, may I have your attention, please. May I have your attention, please. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. An emergency has been reported. Evacuation to be done instantly. Evacuation to be done instantly. Leave the premise now.”

Another siren blared, piercing everyone’s ear. The voice followed by the siren, was equally piercing,

“Alpha 3 here! This is code 1903!  Everyone must evacuate and find shelter outside! I repeat, Evacuate and find shelter outside!” His voice was disconnected for a few seconds. A broken radio statics before he continued, “Starting the three minutes countdown. Take shelter, we’re about to blow this place down.”

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Dazai sighs, pleased as the ocean breeze tickled his skin in a gentle manner, almost caressing him. “I wouldn’t mind staying like this forever.”

Kunikida scoffs, “Of course, you wouldn’t.” He says, as he sunbath on the beach chair, glasses placed aside. Though, he agrees with the sentiment. No matter how workaholic he is, a break would be nice, away from the bustling city and never-ending case.

“But I already miss my scalpel…” Yosano stares blankly, looking forlorn. A pina colada substituting her usual wine in her left hand. Like Kunikida, she is also sunbathing in her bikini by the beach, enjoying the clear sky.

They’re on a week vacation in a private island, fully sponsored by Fitzgerald, a billionaire that Dazai helped once. His daughter was kidnapped and murdered without no trace of the culprit. Even after a month of investigation, the detectives were met with only a dead end. By recommendation, the businessman seek after Dazai.

It took Dazai only one day to solve.

Feeling indebted, the billionaire paid a large sum of money to Dazai. Enough to last a lifetime should he use it wisely.

He was also offered few spots for the trip and Dazai being Dazai, invited his entire friend group, not without making them go through hell for it. How gracious of him.

Yosano gazes at the children playing volleyball on the coast.

“I’m still going to blame you for making them skip school for one week.”

Dazai chuckles. “I asked and they agreed. I denied and they insisted.” He shrugs his shoulder, nonchalant. “Blame is on them.”

“You even managed to drag Ranpo here.” She glances over a figure laying in a hammock.

“It’s my charm.” He smiles smugly.

“Pretty sure it’s the desserts but whatever floats your boat, I guess.”

Atsushi, Kenji and kyouka approach them for a breathing after an intense match.

“Had fun kids?” Yosano asks, looking dejected upon seeing no injuries on them.

“Yes!” Kenji answers giddily. They had a nice workout playing.

Atsushi leans on the seat, enjoying the sea breeze on his skin. The crystal-clear sky mirroring the blueness of the sea paired with soft whistle of the wind do wonder for his mood.

 “It is so calming here. I don’t think anything can ruin it for me.” He sighs dreamily.

“Don’t jinx it, kid.” Ranpo mumbles from his hammock.

“Not even a tsunami?” Kenji adds with a concerningly bright eyes.

“An alien invasion?” Kyouka says with an equally concerningly straight face.

Atsuhi shakes his head, “Nope. Not even that.” The white hair teen claims with confidence.

Dazai decides to jump on the train. “Not even the island blow–”

Before Dazai could finish his words, they were startled by a loud explosion coming from somewhere on the island. Experienced, they quickly lay on the sand and cover their ears when another explosion happens, causing a mini earthquake.

“Fuck, I told you not to jinx it!” Ranpo curses from his spot near a coconut tree.

“No cursing in front of the children.” The former teacher coolly reprimands the senior detective despite being rudely awaken after only a few seconds of unconsciousness, lulled by the soft breeze.

After waiting for a full minute for another possible explosion, Yosano quickly stands up, brushing off the sand sticking on her exposed skin. “Anyone knows what the fuck is that?”

Kunikida sighs exasperatedly as his words were ignored.

“No, but it surely wasn’t on this premise.” Dazai, already on his feet, casts his calculating eyes towards the dense trees that cover a wide area in the middle of the island. Ranpo is also mirroring his action.

“Let’s go.”

The lobby is packed with different races of tourist but one thing is similar, the panic in their eyes.

Even the staffs and workers can’t seem to hide the anxiety in their face as they are trying to control the situation.

The Tanizakis approach them as they step inside.

“What happened? We’re just chilling inside the room when something blowed up.” Naomi panics.

“No idea.” Kunikida eyes scanned through the crowd full of humans. “Seems like even the staffs doesn’t know anything.” He turns towards the receptionist, in full blown panic while trying to answer calls and equally panicking customers.

“Where’s Dazai?” Yosano looks around, pointing his absence.

The rest also look around trying to find him, equally clueless.

Kyouka hurriedly informs, “He said he’s calling Mr. Fitzgerald.” She was told by Dazai himself before the man disappeared among the sea of people.

As if on cue, the bandaged detective walks towards the group, his face tense. “Pack your bags. He said we can follow him in his private plane.”

“We’re leaving?” Atsushi dumbly asked.

“Yes, we’re leaving. Now, hurry.” Dazai’s seriousness compelled them to move.

Roughly ten minutes later, they stealthily regroup in a hidden spot at the back of the hotel, waiting for Kunikida and Dazai.

A small van approaches them.

Yosano raises her eyebrows upon seeing Kunikida, who is driving said vehicle, and Dazai, who is waving at them from the passenger seat, A question at the tip of her tongue but she holds it back as there is more pressing matter.

Kunikida parks in front of them, “Hope in. It is a few acres into the jungle.”

“We’ll meet them there.” Dazai informed.

The ten minutes long journey was accompanied by anxiety-filled silence of not knowing what to come., not even Dazai –the most unserious man in most serious situation– makes his usual joke. Each of the detectives and the apprentices were tense and restless, making their own theory and conclusion of the mystery explosion in their head.

A feeling of foreboding danger casts shiver on their bones.

“What…” Kunikida mutters as soon as they arrive, shock to see an empty taxiway, void from any supposedly private jet or any automobile that can fly, really.

The rest litters out of the van to see for themselves, staring widely at the vacant place. No soul, no nothing.

“Fuck, did they leave us here?” Yosano stares at the empty road while the rest are speechless.

“We didn’t.” A voice came behind them.

Fitzgerald stood with his wife, his assistance and few other people, presumably from the controlling tower.

“I thought you have a private plane, sir?” Dazai asks with a gentle tone, eyes sharp on the billionaire.

“I had.” He corrects Dazai, the blonde middle-aged man seems troubled with something. “Someone hijacked them and took off.”

A few jaws hang open, not believing their ears. What sort of shit show are happening right now?

Kunikida recovers first, fixing his glasses as he inquires more information. “Do you know what happened earlier, sir?”

“Fortunately, I do.” Fitzgerald answer, “A private research sanctuary just blew up. It was located in the middle of the island, away from civilisation. Though I am not sure what exactly happened but a distress code has been sent to evacuate the island.”

“Evacuate the island.” Ranpo repeats while Yosano asks, “For what?”

“That, I do not know. Something must have gone wrong. I suggest to just follow the order and leave here immediately.” Fitzgerald calmly answers, trying his best in choosing his words as not to add anymore distress.

Kunikida frowns, the detective in him wants to investigate more but there are children with them with possible unknown threat on this island. “Then, do you have any other way to get out of here?”

“None.” Fitzgerald shakes his head solemnly, “We have to use the ship but we must hurry, the hotel should receive the same evacuation notice 10 minutes ago.”

After wasting another nerve wrecking ten minutes back to the hotel, they move in hurry in order to not be left behind. As they step out of the van, Dazai’s voice halts their movement.

“Don’t move.” Dazai suddenly orders.

The children look at him questioningly while the adults exchange a look with each other, none saying anything.

After a few seconds, “Something is not right.” Yosano says as she stares at the tinted entrance to the lobby.

“It’s too quiet.” Ranpo fixes his hat.

Fitzgerald slowly climbs up the stairs, “Both of you come with me,” he points towards Dazai and Kunikida, “The rest of you stay here.”

The three of them climb on the stairs warily and walk slowly into the hotel. Painfully aware that there’s not a single soul in sight.

The glass door automatically slides open with their presence.

…Dazai has calculated lots of things that might happen resulting the dead silence and among them, only one has the highest probability, only one makes him wish he is wrong…

The three men look with horror from the entrance.

Dazai is right.

Beside him, Kunikida turns pale. “I’m going to throw up.”

Dismembered limbs and heads thrown across the room with blood pooling everywhere. Red splattered on every surface available, it was on the walls, the furniture, the ceiling and the door.

The navy-blue carpeted floor is no longer visible as it is covered with pools of blood and bodies.

Chapter Text

“What the fuck happened here?” Yosano appears from behind, almost causing Kunikida to faint right on the spot. The man might be a detective that had seen a lot of crime scene and victims in many horror circumstances but all of them pale in comparison.

Dazai’s quiet voice echoes in the lobby. “Look for any survivor.”

As they spend almost half an hour, turning ever corpse and tries to search for any sign of life, none of it is fruitful.

“I’ve never seen something like this before.” Yosano assesses one of the dead bodies. Both of his hands had been sliced off, followed by his head.

“Seems like our murderer used a very sharp weapon to be able to create this clean cut.” She concludes as the doctor motions on the bone peeking out from the neck. “I must say I have never seen one sharp enough to do this.” Not even one chipped bone. Either it was a new technology, a weapon she had never seen or the culprit behind it has a superhuman speed.

“And to be able to do it in short amount of time too.” Fitzgerald crouches near a bloodied footprint, unknowingly voicing Yosano’s thoughts. “Did you see that?” He points on the crimson marks.

“There’s only one foot size.” Dazai suddenly appears behind them. He was making sure the women and children are safely hidden from any possible danger lurking around them. “It’s not humanly possible. Right?” He looks behind his shoulder.

The rest of them glances behind the brunet, following his gaze. Ranpo is leaning on the only clean wall with a contemplative look.

“Then, what is it?” Fitzgerald demands an answer from the detectives, probably feeling fear for his people’s safety.

However, none of them can offer an answer.

“Whatever it is, we need to get away from this island.” Yosano speaks after a few seconds of heavy silence enveloping them. Whoever– Whatever behind this is not something they can handle, not when there are children with them.

“Dazai, did you find anyone?” Kunikida turns towards Dazai however the man only shrugs his shoulder.

“Not a soul. Either they’re gone from the island, or…” His words trail off as he glances at the cold bodies.

The rest of them immediately understand.

Or dead.

“The sun is setting.” Fitzgerald reminds them, pointing outside. “We need to settle in one of the rooms. It’s the only choice we have for now.”

“He’s right. We’ll figure something out tomorrow.” Yosano agrees.

Kunikida jumps behind the receptionist desk and searches for any empty room with keys on the first floor. Easier to run if something happens, well, he hopes nothing will happen.

“Ranpo,” Kunikida throws a key card towards the senior detective, “You’re staying with the boys.” He tosses another two towards the doctor and the billionaire, “Yosano with the girls and you with your men. I will take watch with Dazai for the night.”

Dazai whines in laziness but all of them can tell he isn’t being serious. In fact, he seems quite delightful with the arrangement. His curiosity is probably killing him.

“Remember to not turn on the light. We don’t want to alert any unwanted visitor.” Kunikida warns before they disperse.

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“It’s so dark in here, I can’t see a thing.” A crimson haired girl whine. She had introduced herself as Lucy Montgomery, former baby sitter for the Fitzgerald’s household.

“Silent, Lucy.” Zelda Fitzgerald snaps at her. “It is also hard for everyone else.”

“Yes, madam.” The girl mumbles an apology.

The girls were scattered around the room, waiting for the night to end.

Yosano glances at her watch. 9 p.m., it won’t take long until morning. She had opened the curtain so that the moon could cast enough light for them.

The environment is eerily silent, save for a few insect noises that can be heard all the way from the jungle a distance away behind the hotel. However, they can’t help feeling small tingles behind their neck. Like someone something is watching them.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” Naomi quietly announces.

She tries being extremely careful while manoeuvring inside the bathroom and successfully so. However, while heading out, as she moves silently with a small candle as her source of light, Naomi accidentally knocks off a glass from the sink counter.

The glass collides with the marble tiles, producing an ear-piercing shriek as it shatters and echoes in the silence.

The girls flinch while Naomi freezes.

Silently cursing, Yosano is about to check on the teenager when a loud bang surprises her. She snaps her head towards the door, straining her ears.

It is from the hallway.

Another few seconds goes by when another loud bang echoes from the hallway. It takes a while for the doctor to realises that the sound was likely made by doors smashed with a strong force.

“Shit,” Yosano curses. “it’s searching us.”

“It?” Louissa, Fitzgerald’s PA parrots her. They weren’t informed of the speculation that has been made earlier by the detectives and her employer.

“Doesn’t matter.” She brushes her off, her brain working fast trying to find a way out of this mess, alive. “Fuck, quickly hide now.” She motions hurriedly, making them move. “You two can fit inside the drawer. The others go under the bed. Naomi, stay inside the bathroom, I’m coming.” Yosano orders in a hushed voice.

They scramble to hide themselves as the sound, door by door is coming closer to them. Only a few distance left.

Yosano tiptoes towards the bathroom, avoiding the shards on the floor. She presses her finger to her mouth, signalling Naomi, who looks like she’s about to cry, to be quiet.

They wait silently, praying for their fate when finally, the door to the room busts open, pieces of wood flying into the room.

The girls hold their breathe with fear if a slight change in the air might cost them death. As it was dead silence, Yosano could hear footsteps entering the room. The steps are heavy, the doctor notes, and another sound accompany them. It sounds like something is dragging on the floor?

The steps continue further into the room and as it moves closer to the bathroom, the moon offers enough light to cast a shadow.

Yosano grips tight the fork she picked up in a hurry while trying to hide, eyes burning on the shadow she can see. Hm? she frowns.

As the shadow moves closer, the doctor readies herself, in case she needs to use all of her strength to fight. Though she doubts it will be enough to comes out of this, alive, at least she can distract it while the rest escape.

The thing almost reveal itself in Yosano’s sight when something explodes outside. Yosano looks with horror and disbelieves as the shadow crouches down and… changes its body?

As it leaves the room, Yosano is still processing what she saw when loud footsteps merge from the hallways and runs into the room.

“We need to get out of here, now!” Kunikida urges the girls to follow him. The car they exploded won’t distract that thing for long.

“Where’s Dazai?” Yosano heaves out while running down the stairs.

“He is grabbing the rest of us, should be there already.” Kunikida manages to respond while running as fast as he can.

They are almost out of the backdoor when another explosion can be heard from the hotel’s driveway.

“Shit, what the fuck was that?!” Yosano curses out, feeling frustrated and shock at the feeling of unknown.

“I don’t know how but Dazai exploded those cars.” Stopping as they finally outdoor, Kunikida squints at the surrounding until he sees a blinking light from a distance away. “We’re almost there.”

They run into the jungle and hide among the trees, there they find the rest of the group, crouching on the grass, presumably waiting for the girls.

“Zelda!” Francis instantly hugs his wife, feeling relief washer over him upon seeing his wife arrives safely. “What will we do now?” He turns towards the two male detectives leading them.

The rest follow his gazes and look towards Dazai and Kunikida with a mix of helplessness and fear.

Dazai grins at them and steps aside to reveal someone standing behind him.

“Who is he?” Yosano asks, looking warily.

On cue, the man bows at them respectfully, “Hi, my name is Ango and I am the manager of Lupin’s hotel.”

“We found him while patrolling the ground.” Dazai adds.

“I know a place to hide.” The manager simply says as he turns around and disappear among the trees.

Time passed by slowly as they tried their best to not make a sound as they walk on the ground lightly. Occasionally, someone would step on a branch and the whole group would flinch and froze. After a few seconds of confirming they did not alert any dangerous being, they continued walking.

“Where is this place, sir?” Atsushi asks after some time.

Not even a glance towards the boy, “We’re almost there,” The manager mutters.

And soon enough, a cabin appears in their sight. Looking sturdy among the trees.

“This is where we keep our self-brewed wine and unused stuff. A store, if you may.” He explains as they walk closer.

He opens the door, prompting them to move inside. They look warily at the pitch-black darkness inside. Yosano pokes Dazai, prompting him be the first one to move.

With a defeated sigh, the bandaged detective takes a cautious step and move closer when suddenly, a hand appears from the darkness and twirls him around. The hand pulls his face aside, straining his tendon while another hand is holding a knife on his throat.

“Don’t scream.” The attacker growls from behind, face can’t be seen.

While the group tenses at the threat while a few are ready to fight, Ango sighs tiredly.

“They’re the hotel’s guests.” He speaks calmly.

However, the assaulter doesn’t move or release Dazai.

With another tired sigh, Ango fixes the glasses on his nose. “Put down the knife, Nakahara.”

Chapter Text

Kunikida and Yosano moves, ready to fight if it calls for it when Chuuya finally pulls his hands away and not so kindly pushes Dazai towards the group. They can finally take a good look at the sudden attacker.

He seems foreign and …quite small to say the least.

“Small but pretty.”

They turn their head towards the speaker, Dazai, who’s looking at the man who almost kill him with… heart eyes.

Yosano looks at him judgingly. “He just tried to kill you.” She reminds him, voice flat.

“I know right.” Dazai replies, not even looking at her, eyes on his attacker. “Hot.” He adds a wink towards the man.

Yosano fakes vomit.

The man looks at the bandaged detective like he belongs in the mental ward. “Seriously?” He turns to Ango, unimpressed. “With this many people, you might as well serve us all on a silver platter to that thing.”

“What thing?” Lucy repeats. Louissa smacks her shoulder making her yelp. The PA sends her a look, reminding her to be quiet.

Chuuya glares at Ango, proving his point. He turns around and walk inside, disappearing into the dark.

Ango sighs for the umpteenth time before turning back towards the group. “I apologize for his behaviour, Nakahara is quite… paranoid after what happened.” The manager gestures inside, “Please, do come in.”

The group follows him inside albeit still feeling wary but at the same time, aware the choice is safer than being outside, exposed to the danger lurking around.

Once inside, Ango lights a single candle.

It takes them a full minute to adapt their eyes to the darkness. Soon enough, they can finally see the entire room. Multiple white cloth can be seen, seemingly covering unused furniture. Some painting leaning on the wall as well random trinkets. All look old and untouched for a long time.

And all windows covered, leaving no cracks.

The man, Nakahara as the manager called him, is already seated on the floor, head leaning on the wall, his eyes closed. He is wearing a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up with a few buttons undone, his black slacks were also rolled up, revealing his fair calves.

“Stop fucking staring at me, you freak.” He says, eyes still close.

Almost all of them turn towards Dazai, who is already sitting not too far from him. His palm on his cheek, admiring Nakahara with stars in his eyes.

Atsushi swears he can almost see Dazai’s tail wagging around, if he ever had one.

Taking a deep breathe, Dazai opens his mouth, “Would you do the honour and be in a double sui-”

Kunikida is quick to clear his throat and sits cross-legged next to Dazai, not before smacking the back of his head along the way. He is followed by the rest.

As they naturally create a big circle, Ango places the candle in the middle and sits in between Dazai and Chuuya.

To avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

They sit in silence, trying to process what had happened to them in the past few hours.

What should be a nice vacation was turned into a bloody massacre, two unknown explosions, hijacked plane, piles of slaughtered corpses, chased by an unknown thing, meeting a manager they’ve never seen in their one week stay, encountering an aggressive ginger who can passed as an assassin with his bloodlust and finally, sitting in a big group inside an old cabin in the middle of the woods.

Can it be any crazier?

“So,” One of Fitzgerald’s men, John, speaks up, “Have any idea what that thing is?”

Yosano is the first one to respond, “No. We were hiding in the bathroom when it came. What about you guys?” She directs the question at the pair who manages to distract it while they hid in the room.

Kunikida pulls the collar of his shirt, giving himself a room to breathe. “We couldn’t see it clearly. It was too dark.” However, his eyes are telling a different story. They look aghast.

The adults immediately understand, too much information can cause major panic. One that they can’t control, not in a situation that they might be hunted by an identified thing.

Unidentified means no information, no weakness, no way of subduing let alone defeating it should they be subjected as a prey as the girls were, a while ago.

Yosano throws a dirty rug she found on the floor to Dazai’s face.

“Can you stop acting like a 13 years old boy with his first crush?” She looks at him incredulously, Dazai is still staring at Nakahara but with a more…curious look in his eyes. She rolls her eyes, “You blew up the cars, see anything?”

Dazai takes his time in answering, leaving them anticipating, only to disappoint them as he shakes his head. “Nope,” he says, smiling as the doctor looks annoyed. “It was dark, doctor. How can I see anything?” His colleagues know he could see just fine with his sharp eyes but none points it out, making the silent decision to discuss it better when there’s less people.

Still, Yosano throws another dirty rug towards his face.

As silence envelopes them, Ranpo finally speaks after a long time. The senior detective was seemingly deep in his thoughts ever since they discovered the mangled bodies. One might think he was deeply traumatized but his fellow detectives know he is thinking, solving. “So,” He starts, “How did you escaped, mister manager?”

If Ango slightly flinches from the question, only the detective agency’s members seem to notice.

He takes a moment to answer, trying to arrange his words. “Well, after the loud noise, I was on the phone with the board’s, trying to figure out what happened, when I heard a scream. One scream turned many.” He closes his eyes, probably replaying the scene in his head, of how scary it was. “Thankfully, I was close to the exit door and I did what one would do. Run and hide… here.”

To leave his customers behind without a second thought, one would look at him with judging look. But with what was left from the guests, they could only look at him with understanding. The man narrowly escaped his death.

“After almost an hour, I came back. It was too late, then. No one survived.” He straightens his back, trying to refresh his head from the scene in his mind. “Some of them managed to run outside, I found few bodies by the beach.”

They wince, imagining the situation in their heads. Clueless people, scared out of their mind while still trying to escape, to survive. And failed to do so.

“They didn’t make it.” Kenji points out the obvious.

“It seemed so. And when I came for supplies, I saw these two gentlemen.” He motions towards Dazai and Kunikida. “It was a relief to know there’s still people on this island,” He pauses for a few seconds before correcting himself, “Alive people. You know what happened next.”

“And you, shortie?” Dazai oh so politely asks Nakahara, who still hasn’t move from his previous posture, with a giddy smile.

He narrowly avoids another rag thrown to his face, only this time, the rag he missed was thrown with a force that seems to be able to break his nose. Few jaws hang open as the rag collides with a furniture with a very loud bang. The furniture is pushed backwards with the force.

“Call me that again and I’m punching your windpipe.” Eyes still close.

“Kinky.” Dazai casually replies, smirking as the man twitches his mouth in annoyance.

Ango answers on his behalf, eager to end this. “I met him–”

“We met here.” Chuuya answers, ignoring Ango’s sigh. He straightens his back and open his eyes. “Had a fight with my girl.” Chuuya pointedly ignores Dazai’s comical gasp, “She went back to the room while I stayed at the beach, smoking. Got distracted with a puppy and it led me into the woods to the cabin. The explosion happened. I was trying find my way back when it happened again. Figured I should just wait here instead and smoke a few cigarettes.” His voice is notably flat, as if he’s reading the weather forecast.

“One of the staff must have kept their pet here.” Ango adds.

However, Atsushi is looking at the ginger incredulously. “You… chose to smoke rather than saving yourself, sir?” Why wasn’t he running to save his life? Wasn’t he at least curious? The teen wonders.

“Chuuya’s fine.” Nakahara, well, Chuuya then mimic the teen’s expression, “Well, I’m still alive, aren’t I? And even if I’m dying, might as well finish my cigs. They’re expensive.”

The rest of them just nod at his words, somehow it makes sense in their heads. The agency members are also remembered by the fact that most of the guests are– were wealthy people.

“I was chilling on the steps when I met glasses here.” Chuuya continues, “He was as pale as a corpse, almost thought he’s dead. After a while, he told me what happened, refrained me from going back. Told me he’ll be back with my girl if she’s alive though.” Chuuya scans the group in one look, as if looking for someone. He then shrugs his shoulder, “Rest in peace, then. We were toxic anyway.”

“Was it because of the heigh–”

Ango has to physically hold back Chuuya from actually suffocating the man to death.

Ignoring Dazai, they feel a bit bothered with how fast the man accepted his partner’s death but then again, as they observe his face with the light provided, he does seems quite pained with the way his eyes sunken deep and the barely noticeable downturned lips. Maybe he is just too prideful to admit it.

Fitzgerald glances on his wife, looking tired with her eyes droopy. “Do you have any room for the girls here? It’s quite late into the night.”

“Sure,” Ango gets on his feet and motions to follow him, “We already looked around. There is one bedroom, less dusty than the rest. The girls can settle in there.” He opens a door on the left side of the room.

The girls move to settle in, all except for the doctor. “I’ll join you later.” She reassures them.

The group becomes notably smaller as Yosano orders them to huddle closer. She turns towards the two teenager who have been listening to them quietly. “There’s something the adults want to talk about. You sure you wanna be here?”

The two boys eagerly nod, interest piqued.

“Fine. Then, let’s get real.” She sits comfortably, her legs crossed. She starts with, “That thing is not fucking human.”

Atsuhi flinches.

She continues, “I was inside the bathroom when that thing came. I couldn’t see the exact thing but the silhouette was more than enough.” She frowns, remembering what she saw, “At first it was a human figure with… thin hands.”

“Thin hands?” Kenji has a hard time imagining it.

“When it moves, I can see it was something wide but flat. A weapon?”

“You’re right.”

They turn towards Kunikida.

“That thing looked like a man with machetes, replacing where arms should be. Dazai saw it too.” He nods towards Dazai.

“I wasn’t finished yet.” The doctor hugs her knees. “After you baited that thing, the shape changed.” She says slowly.

By now, everyone in the room is hanging by her words. Even Chuuya is paying full attention on her.

“I couldn’t see the exact thing. But I’m sure it turned into an animal. Like the whole body, you know.” The doctor motions around, trying to shape what she saw.

“Like a tiger or something?” Fitzgerald questions with his face serious, considering everything.

Atsushi looks positively traumatized already with his wide eyes. “Weretiger?”

Yosano shakes her heads. She doesn’t know. “I don’t know.” She voices it out. Before she could risk a peek, it had already left.

“Blade arms and shapeshift.” Fitzgerald’s man scoffs, “No offense but it sounded straight out of a movie.” He tries to laugh it off but almost everyone in the room can see the slight tremble on his skin.

As if on cue, a howling echoes among the silence of the trees. Creating instant goosebumps on their skin.

“Why is everyone keep jinxing it.” Ranpo says, exasperatedly.

Ango immediately blows out the candle to avoid from somehow being seen.  None of them dares to move, looking around in the darkness.

The first thing they hear is a deep growling, circling around the cabin. The second thing is sniffing around the front door. The third is loud scratches.

Atsushi and Fitzgerald’s men are already trembling on their spot.

Chuuya quickly gets on his feet and signals Yosano to get the girls. “There’s a backdoor through the kitchen, run as soon as I say so.” He whispers, looking at Ango pointedly to direct them.

“What about you?” Atsushi asks while the other stays silent, aware of Chuuya’s intention.

The redhead barely glances at Atsushi before slowly removing the cover on one of the windows. “On my count–” A hand suddenly grabs him.

“You have nothing to prove.” Dazai stares him down, daring him to change his mind and to think of a new plan.

Chuuya scoffs softly before reaping his arms away from Dazai’s hold. “I don’t know what the fuck are you talking about.”

“Chuuya–”

Another howl, only separated by the wall, the front door is almost displaced as it is forcefully pushed from outside.

“Don’t die.” Dazai says sternly as Chuuya yells, “Run!”

The redhead smashes the window and run the opposite direction from the rest, baiting the creature.

Kunikida screams, “Let’s go!”

Chapter Text

“Where are we heading?” Fitzgerald heaves out the question as they run for their life. The billionaire had pulled his wife of her feet and carried her the moment the new guy, Chuuya, yelled to them to move. Ever since their child got murdered, coldblooded, her health had been deteriorating and he had brought her here as part of her therapy. Who could have known this would happen?

As they dodge past trees and bushes, they can hear animalistic growl as well as Chuuya’s loud grunt and curses from the distance.

“He sure is loud.” Dazai jokes flatly as he ducks down to avoid a tree branch.

No one makes another comment on it, praying the man survive. Though unlikely.

After running quite far, Ango makes a swift turn, directing them to what looks like a village with bunch of small houses. He immediately breaks down one of the doors and push the group inside. They stumble into the dark space and immediately stand on guard while as the last man in, the manager quickly pushes the door close and grabs any furniture to barricade the entrance. The rest help him in stacking as many as they could.

“This is the residence for the staffs.” He explains after calming down, his voice trembles as he tries to catch his breath. Ango then slumps down the nearest wall as the rest of them who are currently trying steady their breathing while staring off spaces, the realisations finally kicking in.

Atsushi hugs his knees, staring blankly as he speaks quietly, “He sacrificed himself for us.”

The silence that follows are deafening.

Even though it has barely been an hour since they met him, hell, it hasn’t even been a full thirty minutes and the first impression was horrible yet to think that he would do something so noble.

Louisa sobs quietly as Lucy sniffles on her shoulder. The two are hunches on the floor side by side, finding comfort between each other after hurriedly awakened by Yosano and were forced to run for their life.

Zelda is not doing any better. She’s leaning in her husband’s arms, despite being carried all the way, her declining health is starting to strain her body. She can only rub her husband’s arms pitifully as he had to deal with such a big liability.

As if sensing her thoughts, Fitzgerald pulled her even closer, leaning his head on her thin shoulder.

“Will we be safe here?” Kenji whispers in the quietness. His usually cheery voice turns dull under fear.

None of the adult can answer him.

They stay in the silence, barely moving. The moon shines through the crack of windowsill, providing them enough light to see their surrounding clearly as their eyes adjust in the darkness.

It is now midnight.

The forest has gone quiet. Not even a sound from other animals, as if they have also turn in their hiding spot, fearing the being.

Kunikida takes off his glasses, rubbing his eyes using the hill of his palm. Despite being scared shitless of something outside his knowledge, he knows he has to calm himself and think rationally in order to safe the younger generation. He sighs heavily, turning towards Ango. “Are there any locals here?” They might be able to gather more survivors and more manpower possibly.

Ango shakes his head solemnly. “This island is only eighteen in square kilometres.” He wipes the dried sweats on his forehead, “And it was commercialised as a private vacation island only around twenty years ago. It hasn’t been that long.”

“And the research sanctuary?”

Ango looks at the speaker, eyes growing wary for a split second but quickly turns thoughtful. He answers Ranpo’s question carefully, “It was placed on the other end of the island. I was told that the resort is also owned by them but beyond that, can’t say I know anything about it.”

Ranpo hums pleased as if the answer is what he had been looking for. “Then, this island itself is belong to them.” He concludes.

Several heads turn towards him, mainly the detectives, having a moment of clarity.

However, Ranpo is looking towards Dazai with a knowing smile. The other detective simply shrugs, looking back with eyes fill with a knowing mirth.

Yosano huffs, rolling her eyes. “Care to share it with the rest of us?” She says sarcastically. And when the two geniuses avert their eyes from her, she is ready to plunge both of their heads into the floor when there’s a knocking on the door.

The temperature drops as they stares at the door with horror filled eyes.

A few seconds after, the knocks persist.

Ango stays rooted in his place nearest to the door while Kunida is already grabbing random things on the floor as a weapon. Yosano is ready to pull back the kids, mind high on alert.

As their full attention are on the front door, waiting for any attack, the knocking suddenly comes from one of the windows, near Dazai, nearly giving them a heart attack.

“Open the fucking door.” A flat voice follows.

Before they can stop him, Dazai is already on his feet to open the window. Based on the sound, what they expected is Chuuya, or maybe his ghost but what greets them instead is a man, covered in something dark to the point they can no longer see his feature.

Lucy almost screams when they make eye contact.

Chuuya sighs heavily, “Can you open the door? I’m injured.”

"Doctor here~"

Yosano is already on her feet, eager to greet a potential patient however not all shares the same excitement as her. Kunikida pulls her back warily while Ranpo stares sharply at the man still standing outside, only his upper body can be seen from the window.

“How are you alive?” Kunikida asks, his eyes behind the glasses moving rapidly all over Chuuya’s body, trying to find something off. Unfortunately, the substance covering him leave nothing to see.

Chuuya rolls his eyes, feeling exasperated but understand the suspicion is needed in order to survive, with another heavy sigh he replies, though not kindly, “I don’t know if you can fucking tell but I’ll actually die without any medical attention right now so save your fucking questions after that, will ya?”

Dazai hums playfully, “Hm? Is that a dog yapping, Kunikida?” He makes a show to look around, as if trying to find it. “I can’t really tell since I can’t see it, must be a small do-”

“Why you?!” Chuuya reaches inside and grab his collar. However, his movement causes his injuries to strain. He moans in pain, his grip on the collar grows lax.

As he knees lose their strength, Chuuya braces himself as he collapses but Dazai has already sweep him off his feet, carrying him inside through the window using his strength.

“For someone carrying so much anger, you’re awfully light.” Dazai scrunches his nose as he lays him down on a couch. “As light as a–”

Chuuya groans, “Another fucking dog joke and I’ll fucking kill you and myself.” He says flatly.

Dazai, of course, looks at him with starry eyes and gasps dramatically, “Oh my, Chuuya!” The way the name rolls on his tongue is as if they’ve known each other for a long time. “I’ve longed for a double suicide–”

Chuuya drowns out his voice as the wounds on his chest flares. “Can’t I have a peaceful death at least?” He mutters, eyes still close as Dazai still hasn’t stop listing reasons why Chuuya as a dog can make do the beauty he has in mind.

“Not on my watch, loser.” Yosano finally approaches him. After a sniff, she frowns, “Mud?”

Chuuya hums, not explaining any further.

“I need light.” She declares and Ango immediately searches around the house until he found a flashlight. With the light provided, Yosano directs Kunikida to find a piece of wet cloth. “Where does it hurt?”

Chuuya’s already seems feverish though he doesn’t look pale from the blood lost. “Chest.”

Yosano frowns and lightly pat his cheek, “Open your eyes and give me your knife.” When Chuuya finally do as he was told, the doctor grabs the wet cloth from Kunikida and gently wipes the area. She hums when the injuries are finally visible.

Some of the people that starts crowding them to see, gasp at the wounds.

“What… did those?” Fitzgerald’s man, John, asks slowly.

On Chuuya’s chest is three long gashes, starting from his collarbone down to his ribs area. One in the middle is longer than the others.

“This one’s deeper than the other but the bleeding has stopped.” Yosano assesses and turns towards Ango, “Can’t find it?”

The manager shakes his head solemnly. The doctor had tasked him to find any first aid kit however, there’s none he can find.

The doctor shifts her eyes from is face towards his hand, she nods approvingly once she recognizes the object he’s holding. “Good. That will do.” Ango hands her the wine.

Taking a swig herself before pouring the liquid all over Chuuya’s chest without a word, catching the man off guard.

“Fuck!” Chuuya screams, “A warning would be nice!” He glares at the doctor, wide awake from the sudden pain on his wounds.

Yosano looks at him wordlessly before signalling Kunikida to hold him back. “Please lower your voice, Nakahara, we don’t want any unnecessary attention.” Kunikida lightly reprimands him, feeling partially guilty to be the reason he doesn’t get faster treatment.

Chuuya huffs.

“I suppose you don’t have any extra bandages on you?” Yosano asks Dazai nonchalantly as Chuuya cries out, “Hell no!”

Clearly a bad move as the man now looms over him with both of his hands on his waist like a scolding mom, “Hey! I’ll let your chibi head know that my bandages are the best of the best and they stayed in their pristine state even if I don’t change them for a week–”

Chuuya is practically sobbing, “Please just kill me, doctor.” He begs as he eyes the bottle of wine beside her. Yosano huffs, handing him the bottle.

The rest watch the scene amusedly, almost forgetting the circumstances that led them here.

“Here.” Ranpo throws the clean clothes he found after ransacking the rooms towards Yosano to be use as a makeshift bandage. “You’re gonna pay me with lots of lollipops after this for my hardwork, Mr fancy hat.”

Chuuya makes a confused noise. “How–” He looks at the man suspiciously, “–On earth did you know that?”

Ranpo tilts his head, “That you always wear a hat?” He shrugs, “Figured you’d prefer to hide the bald spot on the top of your head.”

Chuuya’s eyes twitch murderously while the detective and his fellow bandaged detective hunches their shoulder over laughter.

“Ah~ That’s a good one, Ranpo-kun.” Dazai says as he wipes the tears that leaked out.

“Ranpo-san, please.” Kunikida sighs as he tries to hold down the injured man from choking the two.

Ranpo smiles smugly, “Hm, let;s see. You always reach for something only to stop halfway since you remember it’s not there. Even as you almost collapse, you reached out. To stop ‘something’ from hitting the floor, I assume. Can’t be your hair since it’s always there. What else would you wear frequently but light enough to fall if it’s not a hat?” He grins at the way Chuuya’s jaw hangs open. “And looking at the fancy materials you’re wearing,” He eyes towards Chuuya’s slack and his torn-up shirt. “Silk. That it must have been as fancy. Fedora?”

After a few seconds of silence, Chuuya scoffs unbelievably. “Ya’ll lunatics.”

“Actually, we’re detectives.” Dazai corrects him. By now, Yosano has already finished shredding the clean material to be used as bandages.

He grunts softly as the doctor wraps his torso to prevent the wound from opening. “Detectives?” He asks in between.

“Yes. We’re here for a vacation much like you.” Kunikida supplies as no one else is answering.

Chuuya says nothing.

“I’ll stitch it properly with the right equipment once we have it.” Yosano speaks after doing her job efficiently without making any noise. “Do you think you have it back in the hotel?” She asks Ango.

The manages nods, confirming.

“Can I sleep now, doctor?” Chuuya asks, looking a bit delirious.

Yosano sends him a strict look, albeit reluctantly. “As much as I want to prioritize my patient, we need to hear how you escaped.”

The others sit straight up, looking at him with rapt attention.

Chuuya shifts his body to find a comfier position as he lays on the couch facing the rest. He starts to speak, exhaustion evident in the way his speeches slur. “I don’t know where I was heading to but I led it into the forest. That thing…” He pauses, trying to find the right words. “It looks like a deranged wolf but bigger. The nails are sharper too.” He gestures tiredly towards his chest.

“I was running like crazy when we reached a clearing.”

Ranpo eyes snap up to him.

“I climbed up a tree and jump to another but that son of a bitch is fast so he pulled my feet down. When he tried to bite down, I really thought I was gonna die. It should’ve bite when it has the chance. heh.” Chuuya chuckles, amused himself. “So I swing the knife first to its eyes and that bastard clawed my chest.” He motions again towards his chest again.

Chuuya takes a deep breathe, finding more energy before continuing. “It was screaming in pain and in the moment of distraction, I took the chance and ran away. Found a swamp mud. Dived in and hid and boom, I’m alive.”

“How did you find us here?” Fitzgerald asks, in his arms, his wife is sleeping.

“Glasses there mentioned this place and I saw footprints.” He then glares at Dazai, who’s surprisingly listening intently. “I walked a long way here while bleeding out and your bitchass face was what greeted me first, you fucker. I really was about to die.” He grumbles as Dazai grins amused.

“Mn, Chuuya, are you sure it’s not from the smell?” He then pretends to sniffs around and proceeds to… bark, “Woof woof.” And cackles so hard when Chuuya gives him a middle finger.

“I can smell your fucking sliminess from miles away, that’s what.” Chuuya retorts weakly.

“Ha??? But you’re the slug here! Look at all the muds!”

Chuuya gives a look to the rest of the detectives that’s screaming, really? You put up with this every day? They just shrug at him that may means, we’re used to it. Or, he actually escaped from the fucking psych ward. Chuuya’s not sure which one.

“Mister hat, how did you climb a tree so fast.” Kenji suddenly asks, pure amazement bleeds from his words, from his spot beside Atsushi, the poor boy had already fell asleep from exhaustion much like the girls.

“I was in the,” Chuuya’s already half concious at this point, “I was in the military.” And he passes out, cold sweat forming rapidly on his skin.

It was silence for a while before Yosano speaks,

“He’s lying, wasn’t he?”