(VERY VERY RUSHED PLOT, SORRY I JUST REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO WRITE THIS PART. TOWARDS THE END IT'S A BIT BETTER. AGAIN, SORRY.)

           You hastily shuffled into the mansion, storm raging in the pitch black night. It was decently warm inside, with red-orange candle flames illuminating everything you could see, which was quite a lot to your surprise. Melany slid your drenched coat off with a welcoming smile. "I'm so glad everyone could make it! I hope you know I'll be cooking tonight," She pleasantly explained, sounding a bit proud of herself, "I thought my servants deserved at least a week off." Melany had a kind heart yet she was often.. out of touch. Not everyone lived in such luxury, especially not you nor most of her other friends, which you had conveniently never met.

           As she led you to the two gigantic wooden doors you couldn't help but feel small. You were well respected and well paid as a detective, but here on your vacation you were no more than an average citizen.

           Inside was an enormous dinner hall lit by a candle chandelier dangling probably twenty feet above the table. It was beautiful, but there was something about the table in particular. Something was already laying on it, and you now noticed the silence from everyone gathered around it. You rushed over, ditching Melany in the process. The body of a short young adult was sliced open at the rib cage. It still dripped scarlet blood onto the bystanders shoes. Everyone wore a horrified expression, before Melany collapsed to her hand and knees in distress.

$£¥🌘¥£$

           "Tell me what happened here." You asked trying to keep the situation under control, long after the panic calmed.

           A woman adorned in pearls and splatters of blood spoke up. "Well, erm..." she paused, regaining her composer, "The lights went out and we had to relight the candles." You eye a large window off to the side, it was cracked just a bit and had clearly been opened. "Before we could finish, there was a loud scream and I was coated in blood. I mean, sure, so were seven others, but I wouldn't call that MY problem!" She huffed as you jotted down notes in your notepad, which had practically become a habit to carry around.

           Scanning the room, you counted twelve people, eight splattered with blood and four completely untouched. You turned to Melany.

           She was curled up on the floor, silently sobbing. "If you're comfortable," you prompted softly, touching her shoulder just barely, "could you tell me the names of everyone here?" She lifted her head, sniffing and wiping away what was probably gallons of tears. She pointed to everyone as she said their name, frequently stopping to process her voice breaking. At the last one she gestured to the table, barely able to say "Gwen."

You want to interview them all, but who first?

[Carlos]
[Jenny]
[Honey]
[Mark]
[Ray]
[Sam]
[Landon]
[Ellie]
[Donn]
[Tsana]
[Layana]
[Harmony]
[Melany]
[Gwen...?]

COMMENT WHO YOU WANT TO TALK TO FIRST. (Voting ends May 20th 2023)