The Monster's Room - Chapter 9
<Astonishing, Delightful, Chilling!>
The voice that echoed from the old-fashioned gramophone near the door sounded as if it belonged to a vintage television. It played alongside the rhythmic music that was booming out.
<Before entering the Marionette Show, there will be a brief inspection!>
A person appeared in a theatrical manner. He was a man who wore a frock coat with a model-like elegance, and a long, flamboyant hat that resembled something out of the Hatter from ‘Alice in Wonderland’, pressed down to his chin.
He greeted Marie with a graceful and exaggerated flourish using his long limbs.
Marie immediately sensed something.
‘This man is an SCP.’
He exuded a chilling aura that was beyond the reach of a regular human. Sure enough, as he bent deeply at the waist, the only part of his face visible—the mouth—was stitched up with visible seams.
<May I see your ticket, Lady?>
The voice from the gramophone mimicked the man’s speech. Marie alternated her gaze between the gramophone and the man before presenting her ticket. The man took it carefully, examined it from various angles, stamped it with a seal from his pocket, and then returned it to Marie with an exaggerated gesture.
<Inspection complete! Please come in!>
“…Thank you.”
<You’re welcome!>
“…”
Having experienced numerous things beyond common sense, Marie realized that the voice from the gramophone wasn’t pre-recorded but was being generated in real time. It was odd to think that this organization, which seemed so dedicated to science, was dealing with such unscientific entities.
<I will guide you!>
Marie followed the man, observing her surroundings. The theater was grander and more opulent than any ordinary opera house, with a stage sparkling like jewels. On the stage, three individuals were playing musical instruments.
<Ensemble, play with even more excitement!>
Or rather, three anomalous entities.
The musicians, dressed in elegant evening wear, moved their fingers gracefully over their instruments. The hands, tinged with a reddish hue, were human, but the heads were not.
Mannequins.
Their heads, devoid of hair and features, moved in an unnerving manner, with their stiff wooden texture on full display.
<The performance will begin shortly! Guests, please be seated!>
The gramophone’s voice rang out loudly.
Marie took a seat in the audience, following the man’s directions. It was a seat close enough to the front to give her a good view of the stage.
“Thank you.”
<You’re welcome!>
At Marie’s casual thanks, the man exaggerated his bow even further, adding a comical flourish.
<Now, the performance will begin!>
With that voice, the lights dimmed.
* * *
The first performance featured the elegant classical music of the musicians in their fine evening wear, while the second was a dance drama set to the music of the same performers.
“Wow.”
Marie was genuinely impressed.
The first performance was incredible. To her, who had only thought of classical music as something for the wealthy or as a boring school subject, the live performance was a revelation. It was so delightful that she pinched her thigh several times to check if she was dreaming, but the pain confirmed that her admiration was real.
The second performance was equally impressive. The dancers with their hard steel-like bodies moved with a grace and beauty that seemed as light as air.
<How do you find it?>
After the second performance and with the final show approaching, the man with the stitched mouth, now accompanied by lively jazz music, asked Marie through the gramophone.
<Did you enjoy the performance?>
“It was fantastic.”
Though his face was obscured by his hat, the man with the stitched mouth fixed his gaze on Marie’s flushed cheeks. His gloved fingers rhythmically tapped the seat in front of him.
<I’m so glad you enjoyed it!>
“Yes.”
<It’s rare for someone, aside from young guests, to appreciate our performance so purely! I’m so pleased!>
The man suddenly stood up, expressing his joy with exaggerated gestures. The movement of his long limbs reminded Marie of the dancers from earlier.
<Musicians! Music for our guest!>
The orchestra burst into a new, vibrant piece.
<Dancers! Dance for our guest!>
The dancers, who had retreated backstage, re-emerged and performed a swirling dance. They didn’t stop there; they leapt off the stage and began jumping through the aisles among the audience.
Clack. Clack. Creak. Clack clack clack.
The noise of what sounded like a stick hitting the floor grew closer. Marie, now aware of the unsettling noise that had been masked by the orchestra’s music, felt a shiver.
The eerie creaking noises grew louder and more pronounced as the dancers’ poses became more exaggerated and their joints twisted grotesquely. The sound was unmistakably unnatural.
<And for our guest—>
The man with the stitched mouth extended his hand towards her.
Creeeak.
Had someone made a mistake?
As one musician played a flat note (♭), the other instruments followed suit, and the piece grew increasingly dissonant.
<To the stage for more excitement.>
Creeeak. Thud. Creaky crack. Thud thud.
Before long, the dancers had encircled her in a tight circle. With their graceful poses and their blank faces fixed on her.
Under the pressure, Marie had no choice but to place her hand in the man’s.
At that moment, a male dancer came close and lifted her like a ballerina, holding her by the waist. Marie was startled—his warm touch felt like it truly belonged to a living person.
The stage was dazzling with its lights, making it difficult to see the audience. Marie shielded her eyes from the bright lights with her hand.
<An extraordinary performance you won’t see every day!>
