《IMPOSTOR》


 Lets all stay in one house

    So many kidnappings started to happen in the town called Nishille. A girl was reading the news on her phone. Suddenly she got a notification saying, "you were added to the group chat." She opened the message. Slowly, so many other people were also added to the group chat. When the group chat had 16 people, the admin changed the group''s name to ''Suspects''. Everyone was confused, then the admin started typing.


    ???: Hello. From today onwards you guys are the prime suspects of the kidnappings that have been happening around recently.


    ''Alex'': And how could we be the prime suspects when you are the kidnapper?


    ???: Well, of course I am the kidnapper, but my real identity is still a mystery and that real me''s phone number is also in this group chat. What you all have to do now is to find that one person who is behind these kidnappings and you will be out of the suspects list.


    ''Mary'': Why are you doing this and why do you want to get caught by shortlisting the suspects?


    ???: Well you see, I want to see something interesting. It''ll be fun to see you guys trying to solve the case desperately. Life is so boring without some real life adventures, after all.


    ''Donkey'': Are you for real?!


    You are only doing this because you are bored?!


    Are you a psychopath?


    ???: Yes.


    ''Coolguy69'': But why us?


    ???: Well... You guys are the smartest people in this town.


    ''Eva'': How can you say that with so much certainty?


    ???: I have your personal details, your academic details, your actions that make you eligible for this group chat, and so on.


    So your time starts now.


    ''Phantom'': Like we will listen to you, we don''t care about who the culprit is.


    We just need our peace of mind. It will be fine as long as we know that we are not the kidnapper, and what will happen if we don''t listen to you?


    ???: I will leak these suspects list to the people of this town. Plus, don''t you think it''s a little bit selfish to think about your "peace of mind" when the people I kidnapped are suffering a few miles away from you? How can you sleep well after knowing the fact that you were one of the 15 people who could''ve saved them from their sufferings?


    The choice is all yours.


    The kidnapper went offline after that.


    Everyone discussed it and came to the conclusion that they''ll investigate this. Everybody introduced themselves in the group chat.


    ''Alex'': I''m Alex, obviously as in my profile.


    ''Mary'': I''m Mary.


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    ''Donkey'': I''m Tony.


    ''Coolguy69'': I''m Vincent.


    ''Eva'': I''m Evelyn.


    ''Phantom'': Ralph.


    In the chat: Cheng.


    In the chat: Vishnu.


    In the chat: Akbar.


    In the chat: Satoshi.


    In the chat: Catherine.


    In the chat: Meera.


    In the chat: Annie.


    In the chat: Trevor.


    She introduced herself.


    In the chat: I''m Misty.


    Misty: Hey guys, can we all meet up tomorrow?


    We need to discuss a lot of things.


    Satoshi: You are right, but where?


    Misty: At the Graveyard.


    Trevor: Graveyard? Are you into some sort of horror shit.


    Misty: No, I meant the cafe Graveyard.


    Trevor: Who names their cafe graveyard?


    Anyways, I don''t know where this cafe is.


    Mary: You totally don''t go outside much, do you?


    It''s the most popular cafe out here, you will find your way.


    Btw, time?


    Misty: 12 pm, if you all are fine with it.


    The next day in the Graveyard cafe


    "So guys where were you all when you were added to this group chat. I was at home," said Misty.


    Trevor, Ralph, Catherine, Akbar, Alex, Vishnu, Satoshi, and Annie said that they were at home as well. Mary said that she was at her aunt''s house helping her aunt to make cookies. Meera said that she was at the hospital. Tony said that he was at the gym. Vincent said that he went to get the groceries. Evelyn said that she was at her Karate class. Cheng said that he was coming back from the library.


    "Okay guys, I have a plan to catch the kidnapper right now, right away. Well, it''s more like 1% chance. Anyways, to come to the point, I know that Trevor is a hacker, so I-" said Misty.


    Catherine interrupted her. "Wait a minute, how do you know that?"


    "Well, he was caught by the police for hacking into the government stuff."


    "Yeah, he''s Jonathan James 2.0," said Mary.


    "I''m not that great, which is exactly why I got caught so easily but I can do simple stuff," said Trevor.


    "Okay, but how were you so sure of that? It could have been a random Trevor. Plus you only saw him today for the first time," said Catherine.


    "Well I thought it couldn''t be any random since the kidnapper said that he picked the "smartest" for this. So I just simply asked Trevor if he''s the same Trevor."


    "Hmm, makes sense," said Akbar.


    "So what I was getting to was that Trevor will check into ours and this kidnapper''s yesterday''s location and see if these two cells were in close range," said Misty. Trevor looked into the location of these people. Everyone''s cell who said they were outside showed the exact location they said they were in yesterday. Everybody else''s locations were random since they were at home including Mary''s since she was at her aunt''s house. However, the kidnapper wasn''t anywhere near them. In Fact the kidnapper was not even in their town itself, they were at the nearest town.


    "How could it be possible?" said Alex.


    "It''s possible, if they''re a hacker as well, they could do some hacking. Not only that, there could be a helper as well," said Trevor.


    "Hacker, you say, there''s only one hacker in our group," said Meera.


    "They could be hiding that fact from us," said Trevor.


    "Could be a helper as well, since there''s a total of 5 people kidnapped so far. It''s not easy for a person to hide 5 people alone. Even though it''s not that hard it''s not that easy either," said Misty.


    "What do we do now?" said Cheng.


    "There''s so many things we could do but for now I have a proposition to all of you," said Misty.


    "A proposition?" said Cheng.


    "Yes," she glanced at everyone. "Let''s all move to one house until we find out who the kidnapper is."


    "It''s only a logical reaction considering that it will help us all monitor each other''s actions. I don''t mind it but we need a house for that," said Akbar.


    "I arranged it. Well, more like I have it, a house spacious enough for all of us. When Misty asked about it before everyone arrived, I immediately said that we could stay in my big house," said Satoshi.


    "So far, me, Ralph, Mary, Meera, Satoshi, and now Akbar agreed to this proposition. You can tell me if you''re against this, if not you don''t have to say anything," said Misty.


    Nobody said anything against it, that meant everyone agreed to her proposition. "So tomorrow we will all meet here again and then Satoshi will lead us to this house, so pack your bags and be here tomorrow. By the way, it''s my cafe," said Misty.


    "Yes, it totally makes sense. The name of this cafe is as weird as you," said Trevor. They all went back to their home agreeing to meet-up and move to that house tomorrow.

 Looking around for clues

    Since everyone has left now, she thought she should look up a little into the case. So she locked her cafe and went to the one place the kidnapper should have crossed paths with, which would be the toll booth.


    ''Luckily, a highway is followed by our town so there''s two toll booths here, and fortunately or unfortunately you have to pass through that to get back to our town after leaving,'' she thought. ''That means the toll collector must have seen the kidnapper if they left the town and came back. Even Though it''s unlikely it wouldn''t hurt to check after all.''


    She drove her car to the said destination where she saw a suspicious looking man wearing a black leather pants and jackets with a hat covering his face. ''Is he the kidnapper...? No way, that''s way too much of a coincidence. Plus he looks more like a buffoon rather than a criminal,'' she thought.


    "So you''ve finally come, I was expecting you," the mysterious man said.


    "Huh?" It was her immediate response to his words.


    "Oh forget it," the mysterious man slowly removed his hat. "I don''t know why I said it."


    "Trevor?"


    "Yeah, guess we both had the same idea."


    "Yes, I guess... So, did you get any information so far?"


    "No, I just reached here, guess we have to investigate together."


    "Okay, fine by me."


    They approached the first toll booth. "Hey sir, have you seen anyone suspicious here?" said Trevor.


    "Yeah, you," he looked behind him, "and the girl behind you looks suspicious as well."


    Misty gave an awkward smile. "I mean apart from us... Like, have you seen someone suspicious yesterday specifically?"


    "If you did see someone, please give their information," said Trevor.


    "Uhm, no, and I don''t think I can hand over such important information to anyone."


    Misty Showed him a photo of the group, which she took when they all met up. "Have you perhaps seen any of them leaving or entering the town?"


    He squinted his eyes to observe each of them carefully. "No, I don''t think I did."


    "Thank you for your cooperation, we will take our leave now."


    They got the same response from the second toll booth too. "Guess we are at a dead end," said Trevor.


    "No, now we at least know that the kidnapper didn''t leave the town that day," said Misty.


    "Yeah but I was hoping to get some info about the kidnapper."


    "Well, no worries we will definitely catch them in a few days."


    "I hope so, but aren''t you missing something?" said Trevor.


    "Yes, I suppose there could be a helper who isn''t part of the 15 suspects who wasn''t seemingly suspicious because they weren''t trying to hide anything," said Misty.


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    Trevor nodded. "I could get the details of everyone who passed through that toll yesterday."


    "No need bro, I don''t think they''re so stupid to give away any information in any way. Plus we shouldn''t focus on diversions right now, we need to focus on the 15 suspects." Both of them went back to their home after that small investigation.


    The next day all of them met up again at the ''Graveyard'' to leave for the new house. "Guys, come with me I will lead you to my caravan and when everyone is ready we will head over to my big house," said Satoshi.


    "What about our vehicles?" said Alex.


    "Well, those with a vehicle can come by their vehicle and just follow my caravan." They rode to Satoshi''s house.


    "Hmm... it''s not really a house, it''s a FUCKING MANSION," said Catherine.


    "Oh, this mansion was yours after all, huh?" said Alex.


    "You are rich," said Ralph.


    "What''s the problem with being rich?"


    "I hope it''s not daddy''s money," said Mary.


    "Stop saying such things..." Satoshi unlocked the door. "Even though it''s half true," he murmured quietly.


    "Half?" said Misty.


    "How the hell did you hear me?"


    "I have good hearing ability."


    He sighed. "Let''s just get in." They all got inside the house


    The house had way more room than 15, even though some were relatively smaller, so everybody got themselves a bedroom. Everybody was panicking about their luggage and stuff, they were exchanging conversations too.


    Misty felt as if her whole world changed in a matter of a few seconds. She always wondered how it would feel to have friends, because she never had any before. She does have a friend, but a group of friends is another thing. ''Is it finally time for me to experience that too...'' She shook her head, ''nah, I know it''s a beautiful scene to view. A bunch of random strangers making friends with each other, but I also know that all these strangers-'' she paused for a second. ''No, these "friends'''' have dark secrets that they don''t want to share.''


    "Yo, what are you thinking?" said Satoshi.


    "Nothing," she shrugged.


    "Just forget about the case for now, take some rest and relax with us."


    She talked a bit with everyone for a while and went to bed. The next day, Misty woke up early so that she could leave early for some ''investigations''. Right then, she saw that Trevor also seemed like he was getting ready to go somewhere. "Are you getting ready to kidnap more people?" she said.


    "No," he said in a serious tone, "I''m going somewhere."


    "Seems like something important, sorry I guess," said Misty.


    "Where are you going anyway, off for a kidnapping?" said Trevor in an annoyed tone.


    "I thought I should investigate a little bit," she said.


    "That''s also my second goal of the day. Okay then, you go ahead and investigate. I will go do my business and do some investigations myself as well," he said.


    "Let''s do it together then," she said.


    "I don''t really mind but it will take some time before I finish my first business."


    "It''s fine, you are also among the 15 suspects, I want to know where you are heading to."


    "Okay fine." They both got in Trevor''s car once they were both ready and drove off. "Don''t you think they''ll suspect us once they realise we left this early? We did leave a note, but they wouldn''t know where we actually went, so they''ll suspect us," said Trevor, while driving the car.


    "Let them be, they''ll eventually realise that it''s not us, I mean at least not me," she said.


    "Aye, it''s not me as well," he said.


    "It''s here," he stopped at the cemetery. "I will be back," he said and left.


    When it took him more than 30 minutes she got impatient and got a little suspicious of him. So, she just went towards the grave he was standing in front of. When she got near it, she saw the names on the gravestone, it read ''Alice Cameron'' ''Rex Cameron''. She remembered that Cameron was his last name and she took a glimpse of Trevor''s face, he had a sad look on his face. After seeing that she just went back and waited for him. He came back an hour later. Then he just got into his car and drove.


    "So, what''s our next destination?" he said.


    "Can we go to the said locations of these people when they were added to the group chat. Well, mostly their houses, going to public places is a hassle."


    "Okay, off to your house." He started driving faster. "They are my parents," said Trevor. "Hm?" "That grave was my parents'', you probably saw a glimpse of it, so I thought I should clear it for you."


    "Sorry for invading your privacy." After a while They reached her house.


    "Okay I will ask around about you and your existence that day. For some reason you didn''t even open your cafe that day." Trevor came back after a while. "Well, they said they didn''t see you around that time of the day... suspicious."


    "Hmm... Yes I guess."


    "What? You don''t even have any excuses for yourself, Ms. Kidnapper?"


    "No, I am not the kidnapper, I just agreed that it indeed is suspicious."


    "Then why didn''t your neighbours see you that day during that time?"


    "I just didn''t go out during that time of the day."


    "Hmm, whatever," he said and got in the car.


    "Where should we go next?" said Trevor.


    "Of course to your house," said Misty.


    "Well, the results will still be the same because I don''t go out much anyway." Turns out he was right, nobody saw him around, that day.


    "Trevor?" "Hm?" "Isn''t it kinda weird you don''t go out much, but you are the one who is accompanying me to look for clues. Something a culprit would definitely do."


    "I have my reasons."


    They went around these people''s said locations and went to some other places as well to gather some significant clues. They got the same reactions from most of the neighbours except Catherine''s. Her neighbour said, "oh, I went to her house around that time because we ran out of salt. When I got there, I saw that she was busy with her phone. She never seemed to be the type to be addicted to mobile phones, so I was surprised and to top it all off she was grinning at her phone."


    When they went to the store where Vincent went, they said they don''t remember seeing a guy like that. Though they also said that it''s hard to remember everyone they see everyday. The hospital staff had the same to say about Meera. Evelyn''s and Tony''s coaches confirmed that they were indeed at their said locations that day.


    The librarian confirmed that Cheng was at the library, she said, "he''s such a good boy. Having a strong passion for books at such a young age, so I''d remember if he doesn''t show up one day. He left around the same time he leaves everyday, which is about 5 minutes before the timing you said."


    The most surprising thing of all was what Mary''s aunt said. "She didn''t come here yesterday, her sister did come here though."

 Lets play truth or dare

    They went back to the house confused. They saw that everyone was sitting in the living room looking dead serious. "What''s up?" said Misty.


    "See this..." Akbar showed her a note which read, "You all are the dumbest people in existence, staying with a group that has a potential kidnapper? You guys came running right into my trap."


    "Now that I think about it, wasn''t it you who brought up the idea to stay together in a house," said Alex.


    She ignored his question. "Let''s play a game."


    "A game?" said Akbar.


    "Yes, a very childish game considering our current situation," said Misty.


    "Hey, you are ignoring my question!" said Alex.


    "I will answer it once the game is finished," she said.


    "A game you say, what kind of a game?" said Catherine.


    "To put it simply, it''s just truth or dare."


    "Huh? look at her build up for just truth or dare. I thought it was some original game she came up with," said Mary.


    "Same," said Satoshi.


    "Well, there''s a small twist to the game. I will give 5 people the opportunity to be the one asking truth or dare questions. The other 10 have to answer."


    "That''s unfair," said Mary.


    "Yes, I know, which is exactly why we''ll allow the universe to pick those 5. We''ll pick them through a lot," said Misty.


    "Oh, so in other words it''s just based on luck, huh?" said Evelyn.


    "... Yeah ... Just write your names and put it on the table, and shuffle it when you put it. I have my own way for the lot selection, we''ll do that," said Misty. Even though everybody was a bit hesitant they agreed to it eventually.


    The lots were selected and the selected ones were... Trevor, Cheng, Meera, Vincent and Misty. Everybody was annoyed but they didn''t say anything since the lot selected the people. "It''s so weird and annoying. We just got a note from the kidnapper and we are out here playing truth or dare. To top it all off, two of the possible suspects are gonna control us now," said Ralph.


    Misty grinned at him. "Unfortunately, there''s no other way to cool you guys down. You guys will randomly suspect anybody in this tense atmosphere, it''s the only way."


    "Okay then, I will ask the first one," said Cheng. "Vishnu, truth or dare?"


    "Truth."


    "You were quiet from the day you came here. Why were you so silent, are you perhaps trying to hide your kidnapper persona from staying silent?"


    "No, I just prefer it this way. Plus I don''t think a kidnapper would stay silent and attract suspicions like the one you just said, will they?"


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    Cheng was both impressed and surprised by his answer that he stayed silent.


    "Guess it''s my turn now, well I don''t have any clever or cunning questions or dares," said Meera. "Okay Annie, truth or dare?"


    "Dare."


    Meera pointed at a small cloth laying on the sofa. "Okay then, take that cloth and hit me as hard as you can." Annie took that cloth and hit Meera''s hand, shortly after, Meera''s hand started bleeding. Meera quickly took the cloth from Annie''s hand and wrapped it around her arms.


    "You didn''t hold back at all," said Ralph, while grinning at Annie.


    "That was an accident... she was the one who wanted it..." said Annie.


    "Okay Mary, truth or dare," said Trevor.


    "Dare."


    "Hmm..."


    "What hmm? Just give me my dare."


    "Well then, give me your house keys."


    "That''s terrible, why should I give you my house keys?"


    "That''s terrible Mary, even kids go according to the game''s rules."


    "Well, I am not a kid anymore! Fuck this game I am done."


    "Okay then, don''t do it but please don''t leave, it''s a game to cool down after all," said Misty.


    "Ralph, truth or dare," said Vincent.


    "Truth, I guess."


    "You are a pro stalker, aren''t you?"


    Ralph''s face turned pale for a moment but he quickly snapped out of it. "Come on bro, you are asking as if it''s a job, like seriously pro? Well of course I am not a stalker."


    "Okay, it''s the last one and it''s by me. Catherine?" said Misty.


    "Truth."


    "Catherine, you love chaos, don''t you?"


    Catherine was surprised. "What kind of a question is that?"


    "Just answer me."


    "In a way, yes."


    Everyone went dead silent. "Okay guys, you have cooled down and the game is over," Misty said cheerfully.


    "The game is over? Yes, but I am more scared now, for some reason," said Satoshi.


    "You guys are probably suspecting us because the camera footage isn''t showing anything, right?" said Misty.


    "Yes," said Mary.


    "Since there was no CCTV footage, we have no options but to suspect you guys, but I think it doesn''t make sense in a way," said Cheng.


    "Satoshi, what happened to the CCTV by the way," said Trevor.


    "It was hacked last night, it''s showing this empty living room from the time 10 pm. The reason we suspect you is also because you are the only hacker known to us in this group. Apart from the fact you guys are the only two who came to the living room before everyone woke up, at least the only people we have proof of. To top it all, the last line suggests that Misty lured us into this house, and where the hell did you leave for so early in the morning," said Satoshi.


    "Hmm, anyway I will check on that CCTV''s problem first." Trevor went inside the CCTV room.


    "Hey.... aren''t you gonna explain anything to us?" said Akbar.


    "No, just think it through thoroughly and you will know it''s definitely not us," he said.


    "Yes, he''s right guys, I have been trying to say that to you guys for a long time, but nobody was listening," said Cheng.


    "Yes, you are right, if they were really the culprit who hacked the CCTV why would they give obvious clues that it was them? About Misty, somebody is probably trying to frame her," said Ralph.


    "You''re half right, phantom," said Trevor.


    "Half?"


    "Yeah, their main goal is probably not to frame Misty. It is to convince all of us to leave this house, if it''s not Misty of course, and framed Misty in the process," said Trevor.


    "Hey, are we ruling out the possibility for the culprit to be Misty and Trevor?" said Mary.


    "No, they''re still suspects just like all of us. What I am saying is, don''t make them the culprit just because of certain events and uncertain facts. However, there''s still a possibility that they just did this to make it seem like they wouldn''t do something so risky or something like that," said Cheng.


    "Trevor pointed out half of it already, but I want to add something to it. If it''s not me, which is something I am certain of. Then that person who wrote this letter wants us all to leave, that implies..."


    Trevor interrupted Misty. "That this person is most likely harmless, right?" said Trevor.


    "Yes, harmless in a way where this person can''t kill someone no matter what," said Misty.


    "This person is definitely not a saint because he kidnapped some random people and is making them suffer. However, they are definitely not a murderer, that''s what you mean, right? Big sis Misty?" said Cheng


    "Yes."