Major spoilers! Be warned. Guys this chapter really does give away a lot so-
"So what do we know?" Yakov asked
"Bernard Shultz was brutally murdered." I responded
"How?" Helga asked
I showed them the photo of Bernard Shultz's body. The body had a cloth around his eyes, blood coming out of his mouth onto a cloth that was shoved inside. Slices were cut into his skin, pants torn and bloody. Next to him was a gun, probably why his head was surrounded by a pool of blood. Next to the body was an alchemy sign.
They passed the picture around to everyone except Elias. I feel bad that Elias probably feels left out of conversations.
"Are we sure it's not someone who pretended to be him? The General could be alive." Yakov asked
"Why didn't you share your ideas before?" Yakov's question actually made me wonder
"Have you asked me about them?" Yakov looked at me
"Let's focus on the investigation." Elias cut into the conversation
"Speculation is a part of investigation." Yakov replied
"Everyone knows that it was Bernard Shultz that was killed though." Elias sighed
"Everyone could be wrong." Yakov persisted
"So the victim really was Bernard Shultz?" I asked
"Yes Nemo. Don't listen to Yakov, he's trying to make this harder than it is." Elias said
"What if Yakov is right?" I asked
"Yakov needs to write detective stories, except that his plot twists confuses even himself." Helga replied
"Give me one reason that it doesn't make sense?" Yakov asked her
"Bernard Shultz had an open casket, if it wasn't him people would've known." Helga rolled her eyes
I looked at Yakov waiting for his response. He looked back at me and tilted his head.
"Why are you looking at me? It's your decision to investigate this." Yakov chuckled
"I think it really was Bernard Shultz." I replied
"So why do you think they murdered him?" Yakov questioned further
"It was revenge." I said
I pulled out the sheet of paper that I found under Yakov's bed. It showed alchemy signs and their meanings. The meaning of the one near Bernard Shultz body is revenge.
"How can we be sure that it's accurate?" Yakov asked
"Because you would know better than anyone." I replied
"Where did you find this?" He questioned further
"Among your belongings." I responded
"Among... Yakov's things?" Wolfgang asked
"I was told to look for evidence." I shrugged
Yakov grabbed the paper from my hands and shoved it in his pocket. Everyone stayed silent and seemed confused. As if they were lost in thought. Most likely found out I looked through their things and felt betrayed.
"What do our things have to do with the crime!?" Ruf yelled
"Wagner said one of you was involved. I tried to find out who the person is." I explained
"Do you think... there's a murderer among us?" Wolfgang asked
"I don't think so..." I responded
"So you'll do anything to achieve your goal? Have you always been like this? Oh wait, you don't remember." Yakov seemed disappointed
His words held some sort of venom to them. Venom that was ripping through my heart. But I couldn't deny what he said.
"N-Nemo didn't mean to d-do it t-to be mean!" Hans stuttered
"He could be trying to steal our stuff!" Yakov replied
"Y-you're talking nonsense! N-Nemo is a g-good guy!" Hans stuck up for me
"Hans, this won't be the last time people around you disappoint you." Yakov looked me in the eyes, sadly
"Let's n-not have a g-grudge against N-Nemo. The c-culprit probably has no c-clues a-anymore." Hans responded
"Do you have any interesting thoughts Nemo?" Yakov asked
"Are those alchemy signs real?" I asked
"I don't remember, maybe it's someone else's." Yakov replied
"You promised to help! All you're doing is spilling lies which confuse everyone!" I felt like I should just give up with him
"Do you think I'm the killer?" He spun his revolvers on his fingers
"Not yet... But I need to know about these alchemy signs." I said
Is Yakov hiding something? Maybe that's why he wanted to help the investigation. To change my thoughts and judgement. Perhaps he was a witness to the murder, or helped.
"I'm not the traitor here." Yakov sounded sincere
"We're all traitors in your eyes! Of course you aren't." Ruf laughed
"I'm a victim." Yakov said but the revolvers made it seem otherwise
"N-Nemo wants t-to continue the i-investigation." Hans stuttered
"Yakov where did you get that sheet from?" I asked
"I really can't remember, maybe I wrote them down when I was trying to memorize them." He shrugged
"Once you said you wanted to create your own alchemy signs, this isn't it?" I asked further
"Those are just plans." He responded
"So this is a real sign?" I questioned
"Maybe, maybe not." He hesitated
"You had an expression like you wanted to say something else." I said
"As if I was going to say I killed a man?" He sighed
"Nobody knows alchemy like you do." I replied
"So? That doesn't mean I was at the crime scene. There's a lot of other people who are interested in alchemy." Yakov seemed annoyed
"So you're like most people?" I asked
"No, I'm one of a kind." He smirked
"Let's get back to the point you two." Helga said
"Is there a chair around here? My legs hurt from standing." Oliver looked around the room
"General Bernard Shultz was murdered, the motive was revenge. But revenge for what?" Yakov asked
"Revenge most likely because he was cruel." I responded
"How was he cruel?" He asked
"He wrote something about how to raise an ideal soldier." I explained
I gave the packet to Yakov. He opened it looking through the pages. Everyone surrounded him looking at it also.
"What's this? Where did I Omen get this?" Doris asked
"From the secret room behind Wagner's office." I said
"Yakov never said anything about a secret room." She said confused
"We had to use a key to get there." Yakov replied
"So that's where my key went." Oliver sighed
"Oliver always believes us! You shouldn't have listened to evil gossip Omen." Doris seemed upset
"If two ordinary soldiers can find it, it's not very secret." Helga lit a cigarette
"As far as I know, he was hiding important documents in there." I shrugged
"Why didn't he just keep the papers at headquarters?" Helga asked
"There's always many people there. He probably didn't want anyone seeing them." Ruf replied
"I th-think I k-know why he kept them h-here." Hans stuttered
"Why?" Helga asked
"B-because the General l-lived here s-several years ago." Hans explained
"You sound like an anxious sheep, can you speak clearer?" Ruf is always mean to Hans
"If you keep insulting him you'll sleep in the hallway tonight." Helga threatened
"T-thanks Helga." Hans had a happy smile
"You've been studying that document for a while." I turned to Yakov who was still reading the ideal soldier document
"That's because I'm looking for flaws." Yakov replied
"What did you find?" I walked closer to him
"A lot. What about you?" Yakov asked
"I read something similar from a different source. I know which one of you participated in the experiment." I said
Yakov raised his eyebrows in surprise. Everyone looked at me in shock. They probably never realized I would find out their secret. That some of them here were test subjects for this "ideal soldier".
"Helga you were one of the test subjects. Wolfgang's diary talked about you resisting some type of experiment." I announced
"You... You've actually read my diary!?" Wolfgang asked
"I also read it. Also, are you sure you're Wolfgang?" Yakov questioned further
"This diary says it's owned by Wolfgang... Maybe I'm not him." Wolfgang started thinking
"You've been Wolfgang for as long as I've known you." Helga rolled her eyes
"Is that long?" Wolfgang asked
"Very." Helga replied
"I trusted my comrades and they took a look at all of my precious memories." Wolfgang's lips started trembling and eyes glistening
"Sorry Wolfgang, I know it was wrong of me..." I said
"I am disappointed and... Hurt." He replied
"Why do you think I participated in the experiment? Did Wolfgang specifically say that?" Helga fiddled with her hair
"Yes, that's what he wrote down." I replied to her
"Well you're right. I participated in an experiment..." Helga started talking
"Are you sure..." Ruf was about to question her
"If I stay silent there is no point of this investigation." Helga sighed
"How did the experiment go? Did you personally know Bernard Shultz? And you weren't the only one?" Many questions ran through my head
Helga didn't reply probably trying to give me time to think. The others had nothing to say.
"I've suspected these experiments since the very beginning. The training... remind me of you guys." I eventually became shocked and looked around me
Again they all stayed silent. All looked at the ground except Wolfgang who was confused and nervous. Yakov stared me right in the eyes.
"You guys were in the peacemaker squad!" I said
"What makes you think that?" Yakov asked
"Your guys behavior is unusual, I think the experiment left an effect on all of you." I replied
"What experiment were we all apart of?" Yakov asked further
"Am I supposed to say it out loud...?" I asked him
"Of course." He said
(Before I spoil more I want you guys to guess who was experimented on. Only 6 out of 8 was tested on, Hints are the photos. Also who do you think is the killer/killers?)
"Yakov, they wanted you to gain resistance to poison. Maybe that's why you like alchemy, to keep yourself safe."
"You based your decision on me liking alchemy?" Yakov questioned
"Mostly yes." I responded
"Oddly enough you're right, but I joined the peacemakers squad long after I liked alchemy." Yakov smiled
"So you knew a lot more and didn't tell me? You said you would help!" I asked
"I had to see what you were up to." Yakov shrugged
"You've been lying to me!" Tears brimmed in my eyes
"I've been really trying to help, Nemo. The secret room was even a surprise to me." Yakov had sympathy in his eyes and walked towards me
"I thought you finally started trusting me. I believed you!" I walked further back from him
"I needed to make sure you were honest!" Yakov grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug
"It doesn't work that way. You completely shattered my trust." I pushed him away
Yakov stayed silent which made me even more disappointed. I looked away from him.
"Elias your experiment involved flashes that's why you lost your eye sight, right?" I asked
"Unfortunately, yes. I never really forget about it, never even got a moment."
"Why did you agree?" I asked
"Nobody really knew the outcome, we all were told that we would be greater and stronger." Elias looked down
"You believed them?" I asked further
"No, but I was hopeful. I didn't want this, I had too, we're soldiers after all." Elias replied
"You were taught to bear the pain, right Helga?" I asked her
"How did you find out?" She asked
"You put the cigarettes out on your palms and don't even blink from pain. You have many scars." I explained
"You're quiet observant, Nemo. I don't even realize this habit anymore." She looked at her palms that were filled with pinkish spots
"Doesn't it hurt at least a little?" I asked
"I feel nothing." She replied
"Are you saying your sense of touch is broken?" I questioned
"It's broken, impaired, blocked. It all means the same." She shrugged
"So the experiment worked." I said
"Successful? I don't think they meant to make a soldier who can't feel where she has a wound. Although they wouldn't feel that they are dying." She replied
"So why did you join the peacemaker squad?" I asked
"I had many reasons." She lit a cigarette
"You also participated in an experiment Hans. They tried to have you gain resistance to cold." I said
Hans looked around the room and nodded at me hesitantly. His eyes held a bit of worry.
"Why did you agree?" I asked him
His cheeks became a bright pink. He pointed at Helga and quickly glanced at her.
"Why did they offer you to join the experiment?" I questioned
"Bernard Sh-Shultz th-thought my status was a g-good fit." Hans stuttered
"Did he choose the candidates?" I asked
"I w-would assume." Hans shrugged
"How did you get good at being a radio operator?" I asked further
"I learned d-during my time w-with the peacemaker s-squad." He replied
"Seems like only the people in the peacemaker squad was selected." I said
"T-the General wanted h-his own army. H-he recruited people w-when they became 14." Hans explained
"I was 16 when I was recruited." Oliver chimed in
"They tested hypnosis on you. That's why you're cheerful all the time, right Oliver?" I asked Oliver
"I think I've always been like this." Oliver replied
"Not always. You used to understand people's difficulties, you were a completely different person." Doris told him
"Just a little different. I like how I am now." Oliver continued
"Why did you join the squad?" I asked
"I could've rised in ranks and eventually not have to fight in the front lines." Oliver sighed
"Is that the only reason?" I questioned further
"Uh... I guess the level of life there was better than an orphanage." Oliver began to sweat
"Orphanage?" I never knew he was once in an orphanage
"My parents died in the war." He replied
"What happened to the squad?" I asked
"Most likely disbanded after Bernard Shultz death. Lots of people didn't want it to be split up." Oliver shrugged
"What happened to you after the experiment ended?" I questioned
"A lot happened, I don't remember everything." Oliver seemed nervous
"You don't remember or don't want to talk about it?" I started wondering about how he's acting
"I don't remember." He wiped his face with his handkerchief
"You're the last experiment, Doris. They wanted to create determination and obedience." I said
"They made me do terrible things Omen." She looked at me fearfully
"Did you comply?" I asked
"I had to!" She squeezed her eyes shut
"I don't understand." I replied
"I repeatedly refused but they never listened to me. I was forced to follow instructions." She explained
"Did they make you kill?" I asked
"Mice. I'm weak. It's easier to inflict pain on myself then others. And..." She trailed off
"And?" I questioned further
"They said it was just the beginning! Who would be next? I couldn't ask for help. We were only able to communicate to each other." She sighed
"It's cruel! Do your allies have no heart?" I was surprised
"I don't think having a heart can change anything. I guess the desire for victory can destroy ones views of life." She pressed her hands against her chest
I put my thumb against my lip there was only Ruf and Wolfgang left. They weren't in the packet of experiments.
"Were you guys also experimented on just not written down?" I questioned
"Why do you need this information?" Yakov asked me
"I need to find out how they are related to Bernard Shultz." I replied
"What will it change?" Yakov questioned further
"Are you trying to interfere with the investigation?" I asked
"I'm actually trying to guide you and combine the received information." Yakov chuckled
"I can handle this myself." I said
I remember what Wolfgang wrote in his diary. He was Bernard Shultz secretary.
"Wolfgang was Bernard Shultz secretary." I said
"Why do you think that?" Yakov asked
"It states it in his diary." After I said that Wolfgang starts searching through his diary
"It's Wolfgang we're talking about, he writes down anything he thinks." Yakov replied
"It's not nonsense I'm sure of it." Wolfgang says
"You don't even remember what you wrote." Yakov sighed
"I'm always sincere with my writing." Wolfgang said to Yakov
"Why do you think Wolfgang was the secretary to Bernard Shultz?" Yakov asked me
"Because on the leaflet Wolfgang stands next to him." I replied
"When we were in our cells Wolfgang asked about our state of health. Which was part of the observations." Elias chimed in
"So the observation diary was written by him about you all..." I looked at the cover of the packet
"Only as time passed we decided he was reliable." Elias smiled
"What if he was pretending?" Yakov asked
"Back then you thought differently." Elias basically shrugged Yakov off
"I don't always voice my thoughts." Yakov said
"After everything he's done for us, I think he was truthful." Elias replied
"What did he do for you?" I asked
"It doesn't matter anymore, you need to learn about Ruf." Yakov changed the subject
I pulled out the page that Wolfgang wrote about Helga and Ruf. It has to be about Ruf visiting Helga during the experiments.
"This story was written when everyone was enduring the experiments." I said
"Don't tell me it's another dirty scribble of me and Helga!" Ruf crossed his arms
"It just talks about you visiting Helga." I replied
"So what if I visited her?" Ruf frowned
"You weren't in the experiment." I explained
"That's right." He replied
"So we're you helping Wolfgang?" I asked
"I was his fiancee. My old life was very different." Ruf rolled his eyes
"B-back then Helga and Ruf w-were just f-friends." After Hans said that Ruf leapt at him
"Shut your mouth! Nemo is my friend stop trying to get him on your side!" Ruf was mad
"This is not what we're trying to figure out!" I said
"So Ruf you visiting Helga while she was a test subject?" I asked while Ruf went over to Helga
"Yes." Ruf nodded
"So everything was because of Bernard Shultz."
"What do you mean?" Elias asked
"Everything was caused by him, the peacemaker squad, experiments..." I explained
"Yes, there was even rumors he would change history." Elias replied
"Did you like Bernard Shultz?" I asked
"I didn't agree with his views or methods." Elias said
"Well done Nemo, what will you do next?" Yakov asked
"What do you mean?" I asked
"Do you think our past can help you find the culprit? Nothing else that seems alarming?" Yakov asked further
"You're right Yakov, I have 2 questions." I said
"Why did all test subjects stop talking on the same date?" I asked
"There's an answer in the document." He replied
"According to the entrees, the last test subject was executed." I said
"Who was the last test subject?" Yakov asked
"That's...Doris." I took a breath
I looked at her and her hand covered her mouth. Her eyes were filled with fear.
"Why is it written that you were executed? What's wrong!?" I asked
"D-doris tell him." Hans stuttered
"Tell him if why you're still alive." Yakov replied
"Omen... I was executed for real." She sighed and looked at the floor
"How did you survive?" I asked
"I was saved by accident. I didn't expect for me to be forced to kill things." Doris replied
"And you agreed?" I questioned further
"Well clearly." Oliver said
"You too?" I asked
"I had to that was the condition." He said
"What do you mean?" I asked
"What do you mean "What"? The con..." Oliver was cut off
"Doris is speaking not you." Yakov cut in
"What happened after you agreed to the experiment?" I asked Doris
"I failed it. I really tried, but my efforts were never enough." She seemed upset
"So how are you here? Did Wolfgang save you?" I asked
"No Omen, I was really shot to death." She said
Suddenly I remembered when Ruf was shot in the back. The blood was black and I remember I was so sure he was dead.
"I was revived, I was only dead for a few hours. My heart and blood was replaced." She smiled
"Nemo doesn't look too good." Oliver said
"Nemo are you okay? You're extremely pale." Yakov grabbed my shoulders
"Are you... Messing with me?" I said out of breath feeling like I was about to pass out
"Those are what my pills are for." Doris held sadness in her eyes
"Sorry for all the questions." I gulped
"It okay Omen! I was very scared at first too." She smiled
"Are there side effects?" I asked
"I won't live for more than 15 years." She sighed
"That's very soon." My breath became shaky
"Nemo you need to calm down." Yakov hugged me
"Omen stop frowning! Everything will be fine!" She smiled again
"Can we continue?" Yakov asked
"Yes." I nodded slightly
"What does the death of Doris show you?" Yakov asked me
"The death of Bernard Shultz is because of Doris being executed. Revenge." I replied
"What's so special about Doris that someone would want to avenge her?" Yakov asked further
"The only one who would have that strong of a feeling is her brother..." I looked at Oliver
"How do you know?" Oliver asked
"In the packet about ideal soldiers it states that blood relatives need to participate in two test, which you guys did." I explained
Was Oliver the killer? The facts were going against him but I couldn't believe it. If Oliver is a criminal, who really is he? Has he ever been sincere? I sat on the ground holding my head. The silence was killing me. Oliver stepped closer to me. When I looked up my blood ran cold.
"You're right that Doris is my sister. And you're also right that I killed Bernard Shultz." Oliver held a creepy smile on his face
His voice made my whole body shiver. I couldn't respond to him. Doris had her hand on his shoulder. Elias was a few steps away looking worried for me.
"How did you kill him!? Why did you do it the way you did!? How did you manage to do it all by yourself?" I asked getting dizzy
Yakov came closer to me and picked me up putting me on my feet. He looked me over carefully.
"The crime still isn't fully solved." Yakov said
"I told you Oliver is the killer!" I replied
"Do you think that's all?" Yakov asked
"Oliver how did you kill Bernard Shultz? And how weren't you sent to prison?" I asked
Nobody in the room said anything. Oliver looked at Doris but said absolutely nothing. I was still confused about the torture on the corpse.
"Why did you inflict so many different injuries on him?" I asked further
"It's a long story-" he began
"The wound... They remind me of something." I said
Foaming at the mouth, poison
Corpse with no eyes, blindness
Cuts on arms and legs, pain
Burns hands and feet, temperature
Bullet in the middle of the forehead
"They are like your guys experiments." I explained
"You will get scared if I explain." Oliver said
"Let him figure it out himself." Yakov told Oliver
"I don't understand..." I trailed off
I looked at all of them. An idea popped into my head which was once blurry but now perfect. I took a step back, then another and turned to the exit. I dashed toward the door but Oliver got in front of it. He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me roughly. Yakov caught me before I hit the ground.
"What do you want!?" I was now scared
"If you understand everything tell us." Elias said
"You did it. You all killed Bernard Shultz." I felt alone while being surrounded by everyone
"Omen I swear I didn't kill him!" Doris had tears in her eyes
"I'm not sure about that." I replied
"Doris wouldn't lie." Oliver said
I didn't want to listen to any of them. They all betrayed me.
"What do you want from me?" I asked
"We want you to trust us." Elias said
"How can I trust you now!" I yelled
"The crime had nothing to do with you." Helga replied
"How have you not been caught?" I asked
"Figure it out yourself." Yakov said
"The only way to not be caught is this happened on the enemies side." I explained
"Where's your proof?" Yakov asked
"In this photo there's a cross in the background." I showed them
"Ever since you guys killed him your new General has kept you close and safe..." I mumbled
"Do you want to know the details?" Elias asked
"Yes." I replied
"We are called black apostates because our blood is black and we don't believe in God. Almost everyone here has black blood." Elias explained
"Wolfgang has memory problems because of the crime, he wanted to forget it." Doris said
"I should tell you more about our crime." Elias said
"All six of us gathered for the experiments. None of us thought about it being inhumane. Only scientists probably looked at our complaints. For months nothing changed, there was no success. Nobody knew where we were. We all started losing hope thinking we could die at any moment. Every night ended with us being in despair. This happened for 10 months, until Doris was sentenced for execution. Then we realized we were soon going to face the same date if we didn't leave. Oliver dreamed of revenge, nobody agreed until Yakov came up with a plan. Wolfgang made copies of keys while Ruf distracted the guards so we could get out. Oliver knocked Bernard Shultz out. Killing a man wasn't as easy as we thought. Yakov found a paper about us being executed in 4 days. Oliver shot Bernard Shultz first. We took our pain and anger out on him. After we were finished we returned to the cells and never spoke of the incident again. Maybe things would've turned out better if we weren't scared. Oliver spoke up and put all the blame on Yakov. They both fought and the whole truth came out. We were caught rather quickly, even Ruf and Wolfgang we're sentenced to death with us. A young scientist came to us, and we would then be part of another experiment." Elias went silent
"What happened next?" I asked
"They i-injected a serum and all I remember is we w-were then an apostate." Hans stuttered
The killers I was looking for the whole time had been in the exact same room. Oliver was the one that really killed him but everyone was still involved.
"What will you do to me?" I asked
"We aren't as bad as you think." Helga said
"You can do whatever you want. Tell the commander, or stay silent." Ruf replied
"Listen Nemo, help us. You might be the only one who can." Yakov put his hands on shoulders
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Thank you for reading and voting! I hope you enjoyed and look forward to the next chapter.