...kyahaha. [After putting so much practice into belting out Beatrice's cackles mostly for Maria's benefit, it takes effort for Sayo to restrain her laughter and keep it leashed under her breath instead. But the sinister intent of the chuckle is clear to Chara.] If you take away the idea of a mystery as a puzzle for the reader to solve, it really is the same as horror. The slow build of tension, planting seeds of doubt into the audience's mind... the only difference at the end is if the culprit is something that the characters can understand. And if that's the case, it makes no difference whether it was truly something beyond mortal ken or simply a clever human who was never caught. To all outside observers, the latter is the same as the former.

[This rambling about genre isn't only to match Chara's slightly disconcerting vibes, but to ground Sayo after spending so long wandering in the marshes of this place's delusion. Going on pseudo-intellectual rambles gave her the same experience that breathing exercises did for most other people.]

I admit, I've never written a twist like this into my own tales; but they were created to provide a challenge, not the catharsis of a happy ending. [Sayo wishes that she had her trusty Winchester, or one of the Seven Stakes, or even just a good ol' fashioned gold bar she could put in a sock. But maybe...] Still, you're right. Any fantasy or illusion leans on narrative; and we should be able to take advantage of that kind of horror. Now...

[Sayo grabs her chin and cracks her neck to the side, slipping an ice pick into her sleeve with the other hand. When her expression settles, it's all smiles and the perfect complacency of prey unknowingly caught in a web.] Ah, I didn't catch your name... I don't suppose you'll accompany me inside? I'm told today's drink menu is particularly refined. We might as well enjoy it together!