I heard what had happened a few hours later. Can't say I was surprised. But I still felt terrible. Test Tube wasn't allowed to leave her lab anymore, and she had to stay there until Fan could be revived. Lightbulb would bring her food and water so she wouldn't die too, but everyone else was worried about her taking that job, even Test Tube herself. But Lightbulb's insistence is practically impossible to get past. For how ignorant she is, I can't stop wondering why she isn't scared.
I was also told that Fan's body was being buried out behind the hotel, as requested by the Bright Lights. Not like he'll be dead forever. At least, I hope not. Thinking of him being gone already made me think of season 3. Both here and there, he was the second to leave. Coincidence, I guess. But that also led me to think of the other new objects that were here because of that season. Some of them could easily get me caught. I didn't want The Floor to catch me in the act, Clover lucking her way into finding me, or Candle using her psychic powers to figure out who's behind this. I need to tell Taco. Now.
I rushed to grab my scarf and run out the door, but I was stopped by Knife. Of course it was him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Geez, calm down Knife. I'm just going for a walk."
"Really?"
"...Why do you have to be like this?
"Well, you could have killed OJ! You're one of the top suspects, for God's sake!"
"I guess I do have a lot of evidence against me...but I still wouldn't kill him!"
"Oh really? Then why weren't you in your bed the night he died?"
I wouldn't be getting out of this one easy.
"...Why were you in my room?"
"I...your door was wide open!"
"Dude, don't go snooping around in my room. At least ask. Next time, I might actually kill someone."
"You still haven't told me why you're leaving."
"I'm just going for a walk. Nothing special. Now get out of my face before you lose yours."
"You don't have a reason to be going out there in the middle of winter and when some of us are being murdered without being able to be recovered. Now fess up."
"..."
"Well?"
"I'm just...scared. I just don't want to be next. Both of the objects who died were inside when they died. I figured being outside would be safer. Besides, I'm not a fan favorite. Whoever the killer is might get rid of me so the popular ones get the spotlight. I have no idea anymore. I just want to live through this. Now go before things get physical."
I pushed open the front door and went back into the cold outdoors. I looked back and saw Knife standing there, processing what I had said. But I had more important matters to attend to. So, without another word, I dashed to the Perilous Forest when I knew no one was watching. I walked the same path once again, ignoring the snow starting to fall in the gaps of the trees. I could see my breath in front of me as I went to Taco. Soon enough, a scarf won't be enough to keep me warm. Not like I was right now anyways.
I got to the campsite after some more running, once again. But something felt...off. Taco wasn't here. Surely she was just out...getting something? I was very puzzled. The pile of masks seemed untouched, the weak fire still barely blazing. It was like she just stopped existing. But I looked to the log and that was disproved. Sitting on the tree remains was a note, with Taco's signature handwriting. I figured out it was here's after OJ put me on mail duty one day, and I snuck a look at one of the many letters that Taco had sent to Pickle. The note was slightly brief, and had specks of blood dried into the paper.
Assistant, please excuse my absence. This hideout has been discovered, and I have been injured whilst it was being searched. My life has not been discovered as of yet, but my injuries are too severe to stay. I will relocate soon. For now, your next target will be the mansion, and the objects that reside there. Use the mask of Paintbrush and take advantage of their ability and burn it to the ground. I want to see the smoke before the sun rises, or there will be consequences.
Sincerely, Taco
Oh good lord. Didn't think she would just nonchalantly have me commit arson. But, I've murdered 2 objects already, this wasn't much better. Not like it was. I would have to burn down the place, with Marshmallow and Apple in it! I barely even knew them, but this was...I can't even explain it. Well, at least it's less objects to find me out. So, I hesitantly picked up Paintbrush's mask, and headed for Purgatory Mansion.
It felt like the air grew even colder as I drew near the mansion. Like something beyond the supernatural existed there. Whatever it was, it gave me the chills. Figuratively and literally. Anyways, time to do the deed. At least no one would see me this time. I put on the mask and felt myself become Paintbrush.
It felt...weird, to say the least. The memories came in, and my body became the wood they were made out of. Then I realized how horrible they thought I were. Least that taught me to never call them "Gender Freak" again.
Now that the transformation was done, I felt something inside me. Something telling me to stop, run back to the hotel while I still can. I could stop all this and just run back, but that would only make me the next victim. Besides, Taco probably doesn't need me. She could do all this herself. Part of me wanted to just sit there and cry out every single drop liquid inside me until I was just a rotting corpse. But I had to do this. I didn't want to die. But no one else did either. Why do I value myself over all of them?
I was getting a headache from all of this. I just need to do this and get out. I just need something to make me mad, so that I can get this over with. Well, I already had enough anger built up inside me, so I le it all out. My bristles burst into flames, hitting the back wall of the mansion directly. The fire didn't do much at first, but the eerie building quickly went ablaze, the flames spreading quickly. I ran put of there as quick as I could. I tore off the mask on the way back to the campsite, which threw off my balance a little, but bot enough to trip me. After a few minutes of running, I made it back. I threw the mask onto the pile and could only hope that the fire didn't reach the forest. I couldn't go back to the hotel now. It's obvious that I did this. So I just sat there and cried. Cried until I had no tears left to cry. The silence of the woods and distant crackle of fire were the only things I heard until I fell asleep from the sadness.