"It's Parsifal!" accused Dave over Chris' recently found remains, "I'm sure of it."
"That's a bit hasty," said Vindictus through squinted and skeptical eyes.
"Hold," cautioned Roundy, "What's that in his hand?"
"A note," said Jack rounding the party sent to investigate at four.
"A note?" asked Vindictus. "Can we disturb it?" he looked to Roundy, the local Clergyman, for answers.
Roundy hesitated for a moment, it was against custom to take items from the dead. "We must know what it says, he could have named his killer," Roundy decided as he pried open the the severed arm's fist.
"The beast are wolf," Roundy read quizzically noticing the blood-ink.
"What the hells that mean?" asked Jack perplexed.
"I think Chris was trying to tell us that the beasts are wolfs," clarified Vindictus.
"Well, I guess that's something," said Dave. "Now we can set traps around Parsifal's hovel."
"How are you so sure it's Parsifal?" asked Jack.
"I don't know, I just feel it is," answered Dave.
"You're awfully quick to accuse, Dave," said Roundy as his thoughts shifted. He wasn't the only one.
"He's just a pedantic little sundial maker, I say we go cut hit throat," Dave said unsuccessfully rousing the small group.
"Where were you last night, Dave?" asked Jack.
"Sleeping, why? Wait, what?" asked Dave as he realized what was going on. He slowly stepped back to pin himself on the exact tree Chris had met his demise just hours before.
"You've got evil in you Dave," said Roundy dropping seamlessly into his sermon-voice. "You are literally the Devil."
"What?! Me?! NO!" squirmed Dave as Jack and Vindictus straddled him. "I swear, it's Parsifal! This is insane!"
"We do have a test for such things," said Roundy with a slight smile.
"No..." whispered Dave as the blood ran from his face and his eyes widened. He knew at this moment that his fate was sealed.
"To the lake!" shouted Roundy. Jack and Vindictus pulled Dave kicking and screaming through town to water's edge. The commotion drew a gathering of cheering onlookers, all of who assumed that Dave must be the killer.
Roundy took a long block of wood and broke the ice covering the lake. "Tie him up!" Roundy ordered.
Dave fought all the harder breaking free with a left hook to Jack's jaw and a swift kick below Vindictus' waist. However, Roundy quickly quelled him with a sharp club to the head. Jack and Vindictus continued their bindings and then stood him up and gagged and weighted him.
Vindictus squared Dave up and kneed him hard in the crotch. Dave, with his head still spinning from the blow and the pain raking his body from Vindictus, fell to the ground dully moaning in pain.
"The gods have given us the gift of deciding each of our own fates," screamed Roundy beginning his impromptu sermon. "Most of us, the good people of the world, live lives of peace and prosperity, but some of us choose to walk a darker path," he said voice darkening and motioning to Dave. "Luckily, the gods have also given us the ability to determine who among us communes with the unholy! If he floats he's been marked by The Beast!"
With that, Jack and Vindictus picked up and heaved Dave into the freezing waters with the support of a cheering crowd.
"May the gods have more mercy than us," spoke Roundy softly.
Dave plunged into the chilling water. The shock from the icy lake cleared his mind. He struggled against his bindings as the weights slowly pulled him deeper and deeper. Water began to fill his lungs as he continued to struggle in panic.
"It wasn't me!" he tried to scream through his gag. "It was Parsifal!!!"
The frigid water began to darken around him, perhaps from the depth, perhaps from the lack of air, perhaps both. After a moment or two of weak struggles, Dave's body fell silent and his mind soon followed.
On the surface, the villagers waited and waited, but Dave never broke the water. After a few minuets the calm lake water began to refreeze, burying Dave in a watery grave.
"It appears he was not cursed," said Roundy seriously. "May he walk with the gods."
------------------------
It is now night, Wolf Argon, send my your kill. Psychic, send a guess.
Night ends at May 16, 2012, 12:00:00 PM