Who Really Did It? The True Story of the Ski Lodge Murder Mystery

by anisama and his pet, Altrus

Hello. My name is Altrus and I am the Mutant Kacheek that was seen in the tube in the Secret Lab at the Terror Mountain Ski Lodge.

It all started when my owner, Justin, dropped me off at the lodge for a long holiday. We had been training for a long time and I needed a vacation. I just didn't know my vacation was going to be this long.

The NeoPets staff arrived at the lodge shortly after me and I ended up having to sleep in this tube since the lodge had become quite crowded. The staff was pretty cool and I met some interesting people, but one of the staff, Number Six, kept his distance from the group as if he were hiding something.

Later on that week, the staff member known as Electric Blue Monkey was brutally murdered in the hallway. I caught a glimpse of the whole thing except for the murderer. As the weeks went on, I saw more and more people fall to the Ski Lodge Killer and started to fear for my own life even though Justin taught me how to fend for myself. I watched as some of my new buddies like Pop Tart, Dom Dread, and Mr. Plaid all kick the bucket and I was powerless to do anything about it.

One day about 15 weeks later, all the storms had cleared up and the snow that covered the lodge was starting to melt. There were only 3 of the staff left and they were all so happy to be leaving the lodge. This day had been an eventful one though so they all decided to stay one more night. I was a little tired so I stayed as well.

I went down to the kitchen to grab some dinner. After eating, I went up to the Library to read a book. In the library, I saw Number Six reading a book entitled, "The Worst Case Scenario Survival Guide." I grabbed a book off the shelf and started to read. After a while, I asked Six, "What made you decide to read a book like that one?"

Six looked at me and said, "I find that reading calms the soul and during this troublesome time, I need all the help I can get!"

It was getting late at that time and we decided we should head to bed. As I was leaving the library, Number Six asked, "Hey Altrus, do you mind if I come with you?"

I said, "Sure, Six! We can talk some more on our way down." We then headed down to the Secret Lab.

When we arrived at the lab, we bid each other good night and I crawled into the tube to get some sleep. Little did I know I wasn't going to get much sleep that night.

Just as Number Six was about to leave, Maverick came running down the pathway to the lab and hid in a shadow. I shouted, "Six! Watch out!" However, it was too late. Maverick bolted out of his hiding spot and grabbed Number Six by his right leg and walked over to the edge of a cliff. After an exchange of a few impolite words, Maverick dropped Number Six off the cliff.

The Beader heard what was going on and ran to the Secret Lab. She ran up to Maverick and exclaimed, "Maverick, you monster! You're the one who murdered all those people!" Maverick was shocked and pleaded, "No! It wasn't me! It was Number Six all along! I saw him do it! You must believe me!" At that time, Maverick didn't know that Number Six caught an outcropping rock on his way down and pulled himself back up.

Number Six slowly climbed the cliff wall and reached the top. He scowled at Maverick, "So, you knew it was me after all. Too bad you won't live to tell about it!" He raced toward Maverick, grabbed him, and knocked him unconscious.

Six then dragged him to the edge of the cliff and exclaimed, "So long, Maverick," and threw him off the cliff just beyond the outcropping rock that had saved Six's life.

The Beader, shocked beyond belief, was frozen with fear. She yelled at Number Six, "You're the killer! I should have known! Who could trust a prison escapee?"

Number Six glared at The Beader and said, "Well, you're the only one left. I'm afraid it's time for you to meet your fate."

Six lunged toward The Beader. The Beader, out of sheer panic, dodged his attack and tripped over a hidden lever on the ground. Number Six got up and prepared for his next attack when suddenly a cage fell from the sky right on top of Number Six. The Beader was still shocked and ran upstairs to find a phone hoping that Six wouldn't escape. I climbed out of my tube to guard the cage that held Number Six just in case. I guessed I dozed off though while guarding the cage.

The next morning, I awoke to see the Neopian Police haul Number Six off in the paddy wagon. The Beader and I were so glad to have gotten rid of him and we left the Ski Lodge that morning. Later on when Justin came to pick me up, he had heard what went on at the lodge. As we rode off, he said, "Gee, Altrus, you must've had some vacation!"

I replied, "Justin, if only you knew half of what went on there."

The End