Fiona, Remy, Casper and Jade had the idea to "visit" the mayor – well, not exactly visit. They planned to sneak into his manor. But how were they supposed to do that if they didn't even know the layout of the building…?
Remy: "Are you ready?"Fiona: "Mhm…"
She aimed the pistol at herself and pulled the trigger.
(Bang!)
Remy: "Ghhh…"
She turned into a ghost.
Remy: "Hm… Huh… I can see you."Fiona: "Of course you can. Humans can see me as a ghost if they know magic."Remy: "I see…"Fiona: "Back in a bit."
She slipped through the wall. They were standing in front of the mayor's manor and waited for Fiona.
Fiona: "Hmmm… This is the first floor…"
She looked around: photos and paintings.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Photos of buildings and paintings. Several people. Mostly women…
Fiona: "Hmm… Okay… Second floor…"
On the second floor, several kitchens, full of people cooking. Next to them, a room with a sign: "Relaxation Room." Fiona drifted through…
Fiona: "Let's see…"
But she came right back out.
Fiona: "No… no… that was too much… So many women agreeing to that… or maybe not all of them… Third floor."
She went up to the third floor. That was where the art pieces were.
Fiona: "I see… so this is where he keeps his expensive stuff… hmm… hmm…"
Right at the end: his office.
Fiona: "Hmm… There's his office… third floor. I can't touch anything unless it's photographs… nothing else. I have to go back… Remy and Casper are waiting. And Jade too…"
She headed back. While she was scouting, Remy and Casper were still waiting outside, while Jade was watching from somewhere behind the manor.
Fiona: "Ghhhhh!"Remy: "Oh, there you are."Fiona: "Hahhhh… Anyone have water?"Casper: "Oh yeah, here."
Fiona: "Thanks."
She took the bottle and drank.
(Gulp!)Fiona: "Hhhhahhhh… His office is on the third floor… it's chaotic… but there are several desks and locked shelves. I didn't see the mayor himself."Remy: "Got it…"Casper: "That's really dangerous…"Remy: "So. The plan stands – we need something to prove that Mayor Bernard Boneparte is working with the Thorn Mafia or at least taking bribes from them."Fiona: "Then we should get started. I'm ready."Remy: "We should move now… before Jade shows up."
(A few minutes later)
Jade: "I'm here."Remy: "Good. Fiona and I go inside. Casper, you take care of the guards. Don't kill them. And you, Jade, warn us if something dangerous happens."Jade: "Mhm."Fiona: "Okay."
The two of them crouched down to sneak.
Remy: "Ready?"Fiona: "I'll say it again: I'm not very good at… sneaking."Remy: "No problem. Just follow me."Fiona: "Okay."Remy: "Let's go…"
They moved forward. It was quiet. Three guards stood at the front. Remy looked up to the roof: Casper was there. Remy gave the slightest nod, and not even five seconds later, Casper had taken out the guards – only knocking them out.
Remy: "Good. Continue."Fiona: "Not bad…"Remy: "Hmm."Casper: (nods)
They went on.
Remy: "Shhh… there's someone in there…"Fiona: "There are guards stationed elsewhere too."Remy: "You could at least check how many."Fiona: "I can't stay in ghost form that long… I can only stay a ghost for about an hour, and I already used it for about 50 minutes here. That'd be too risky."Remy: "Okay… I'll handle this one."
He snuck up behind the guard. Fiona hid behind the staircase. Remy pressed a cloth over the man's mouth.
Guard: "Mmm… (passes out)"Remy: "Come on, Fiona."Fiona: "Okay…"
They moved on.
Remy: "Where exactly on the third floor?"Fiona: "Third floor, all the way down, then left. That's where his office is."Remy: "Okay…"
They whispered as they went. By now they were on the second floor.
Remy: "Hmm…"Fiona: "Hmm?"Remy: "So you do smell like cherries after all."Fiona: "(Sweats) Focus, please… Ghhh… Your breath smells like garlic… or what is that?"Remy: "Oh, that? A sandwich with spinach and ketchup."Fiona: "What? (Bbbb) Wow… your taste is… terrifying…"Remy: "I just threw it together, didn't have time to cook… (Grrr) My stomach has hurt for three hours."Fiona: "(Sweats) Be glad you're still alive if you eat like that…"
They kept going. There weren't many guards on the second floor – mostly supervisors and kitchen staff. They slipped into the kitchen.
(Cooking sounds)(Humming)
Fiona: "Hahh… that's the kitchen… Remy…"Remy: "Mmm… the food smells good…"Fiona: "Ugh… Remy…"Remy: "Here, try some."Fiona: "No."Remy: "Then at least taste the soup."Fiona: "Nugh!!! Are you crazy? They'll notice!"Remy: "Nah…"
Cook: "Who touched the soup…?"Remy: "Ghhh!"Fiona: "Hhhh… Shhh… Put it back on the table… when he looks away… okay?"Remy: "Okay…"Fiona: "Go… now."Remy: "Hmm…"
He put the bowl back and they quickly hid behind another table.
Cook: "Oh, there it is… Weird, it was full… maybe I tasted it…"
Fiona: "Pheww…"Remy: "Huh…"Fiona: "Can you please stop taste-testing the food while we're sneaking?"Remy: "Mmm… sorry, what?"Fiona: "(Sweats)"
He was holding a plate of noodles.
Remy: "I'm hungry…"Fiona: "No time for that…"Remy: "Here, just try."
He stuck the fork into her mouth.
Fiona: "Mmm…"
Remy: "And?"Fiona: "It… tastes good… but did you really have to eat it?"Remy: "Like I said, I'm hungry."Fiona: "Hahh… Fine, take it with you but don't you dare drop it."Remy: "Okay…"
They moved on. Remy was already ahead of Fiona, near the door.
Remy: "Come on."Fiona: "Okay."Remy: "Hmm…"
Remy slipped on some spilled tomato sauce on the floor.
Remy: "Ugh!"
(Thud!)
Fiona: "Remy, what—"
(Swoosh!)
She slipped too.
(Thud!)Fiona: "Ghhh…"Remy: "Ouch…"Fiona: "Oh no…"
They quickly ducked behind cover. Fiona dragged Remy close to her.
Remy: "Mmm."Fiona: "Shhhh…"Cook: "What was that…? Hmm…"
He came closer and touched the floor. Right beside him, behind the door, Fiona and Remy were pressed together.
Fiona: "Ghhhh…"Remy: "Mmm…"Cook: "Must've fallen when someone took the food…"
He went away.
Remy: "Mm."Fiona: "Hahhh… You cannot be serious… we almost got caught sneaking because you just had to eat… Remy…"Remy: "Mm… mm…"Fiona: "Hahh… we have to hurry now…"Remy: "Mmmm…"
Remy waved his hands – Fiona was still clamping a hand over his mouth so he couldn't breathe.
Remy: "Mmmm…"Fiona: "Oh – sorry…"
She let go.
Remy: "Ohh… hahhh…"Fiona: "Okay, now be quiet. You're supposed to be a professional thief… well, you were."Remy: "That was years ago… anyway, come on."Fiona: "Okay."Remy: "Up there – the stairs…"Fiona: "Mhm. We go up, then further down, then left. That's where his office is."Remy: "Got it."
They walked on until they could see the office door at the left end of the corridor.
Fiona: "There."Remy: "Well done, Fiona."Fiona: "Hurry, before someone comes…"
They went to the office, but the door was locked.
Fiona: "Hmm."Remy: "Locked, as expected… no problem."
He took out a lockpick and started working.
Fiona: "Hmm…"Remy: "And… done."
(Click!)Fiona: "Oh…"Remy: "Okay…"
They went in. He closed the door and locked it again from the inside.
Remy: "Good. That way no one notices it was opened. Let's search the room."Fiona: "I'll start with the desks and shelves."Remy: "I'll check the cupboards."
They rummaged through shelves and cabinets – Fiona under the desks, Remy in the cupboards.
Remy: "These are some really expensive artifacts…"Fiona: "Like this, for example – a cup made of diamond and gold… That's insanely expensive. Where did he get the money…?"Remy: "Suspicious…"Fiona: "Mhm."Remy: "Hmm… Wait a second… behind this cabinet there's something…"Fiona: "Hmm?"Remy: "Fiona, come look."Fiona: "Okay, wait…"
She got up and they both put their hands on the tall cabinet.
Fiona: "Behind the cabinet… the wall…"Remy: "There's a room there… right?"Fiona: "Hmm… hang on…"
She knocked along the wood; it sounded hollow.
Fiona: "There's definitely a room in there… don't you think?"Remy: "That's why I wanted you to check. I felt it when I touched the wall."Fiona: "There has to be a button somewhere, or some way to open it… maybe behind the desk…"
She checked behind the desk, then underneath it.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
A red button. She pressed it.
Remy: "…Hm… Huh!!!"
The floor opened under Remy and he dropped down out of sight.
Fiona: "Remy? Are you okay? Remy…"
She whispered.
Fiona: "Hey."Remy: "I'm fine…"Fiona: "I'm coming, hang on…"
She pressed the button again properly so the opening stayed open, then climbed down.
Fiona: "Remy… hey… ugh…"Remy: "Hahhh… I don't know much about mayors, but I'm pretty sure they're not supposed to have creepy things like this…"Fiona: "Hahhh… something's definitely wrong…"
She touched one of the statues. There were statues everywhere – made of multiple bodies, heads and limbs… statues of animals, human-like statues, everything.
Fiona: "Hahh…"Remy: "Hmm…"
They both touched them.
Remy: "Hmm…"Fiona: "Do you think… they're made of stone?"Remy: "I don't know… I… I hope so…"Fiona: "Hahhh…"Remy: "Ghhh…"
Remy touched something, then jumped back and fell to the floor in shock.
Remy: "Urghh…"Fiona: "Hey, Remy, what's wrong…?"Remy: "This… this isn't a normal statue… what the hell is this…?"Fiona: "Hahh… hmm…"
She went to where Remy was and touched it too.
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
Blood oozed out.
Fiona: "Hahhhh…"
(Thump) (Thump!)
Fiona: "They… they're not statues… these are people!"
She pressed her ear to it. She could hear a beating.
Fiona: "Hahhh… They… are alive?"
Suddenly a hand burst out.
(Crash!)
Fiona: "Huh… ugh!!"
She fell backward.
Fiona: "Hahhh…"Remy: "Ugh…"
Remy was lying behind her.
Remy: "Do you see that?"Fiona: "Hahh… they're… moving…"
The statues started to move.
Fiona: "Ugh…"Remy: "I'll take pictures."
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
He snapped two photos.
Remy: "Let's get out of here."Fiona: "Hahh…"
They got up – right then they heard the office door opening above them.
Fiona: "Huh!"Remy: "Damn!"
They looked around.
Remy: "Maybe he won't come down here."Fiona: "I hope so…"
But the door to the secret room opened as well.
Remy: "Ugh… quick, into that chest…"Fiona: "Hahh."Remy: "Hahh."
He grabbed her hand and they squeezed into a large chest.
Remy: "Hhh…"Fiona: "Ghhh…"Remy: "Hahh… something's wrong…"Fiona: "Ghh."Remy: "Do you feel that?"Fiona: "Feel what?"
They whispered. Fiona looked down but it was dark. Still, she could feel something under her hand. She looked at it.
Fiona: "Ugh!!!"Remy: "Ughhh… Is that… blood?"Fiona: "Hahhh… Are you bleeding?"Remy: "No… it's coming from the chest."Fiona: "Hahh…"
She reached further down to the bottom, while Remy took out a small light and shone it.
Remy: "Ugh!"Fiona: "Huh!!"
Inside the chest… was a collection of organs.
Fiona: "Hahhh…"Remy: "No, Fiona—"
He clamped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with fear.
Fiona: "Mmmm… mmm…"Remy: "I know, it's horrifying… but please, hold on… he's still here…"
Fiona: "Mmm…"
Bernard Boneparte: "(Humming)… The statues moved? Maybe because of the ghost curses… hehehe…"
Fiona: "Mmm."
They heard Bernard Boneparte's happy little noises.
Bernard Boneparte: "Hehehe…"
Then he left the room.
Remy: "We'll wait a bit longer."Fiona: "Mmm…"
(A few seconds later)
Remy: "Now."Fiona: "Mhm."
They climbed out of the chest.
Remy: "Ghh."Fiona: "Hahh…"
Fiona jumped over the chest in a hurry.
Fiona: "I just want out of here, okay…"Remy: "Shhh, calm down…"Fiona: "I touched human organs… that bastard… he's playing with people… Hahh… I want to get out of here."Remy: "Shh."
He held her cheeks gently.
Remy: "Hey… hey, Fiona, look at me… ugh…"Fiona: "Hahh…"
Her eyes were full of fear, and of pain too. She wasn't used to seeing that much blood.
Remy: "Look at me. Please."
Fiona: "Hahh…"
She looked at him.
Remy: "Calm down, okay…?"Fiona: "Hahh… those people… why… are they here…?"Remy: "I don't know. But there's a chest full of organs where we just hid. I get the feeling they weren't very happy here."Fiona: "Hahh…"Remy: "Come on… we have to go."Fiona: "We still haven't found anything solid about the Thorn Mafia…"Remy: "Wait… hang on…"
Fiona: "Huh?"
He peeked through the secret door. Bernard Boneparte was there, talking to someone… to Hugo.
Remy: "Ugh… Hugo."Fiona: "What?"Bernard Boneparte: "What do you want, Hugo?"Hugo: "Boss, the factory – some creature, a mutant, supposedly attacked it… Cossette is missing. That means she's still alive."Bernard Boneparte: "Hahh… mutants?"Hugo: "I saw the bodies… One of the survivors said there was a mutant, and that Cossette escaped right when they were busy with it…"
They talked on the other side of the door.
Fiona: "Hmm?"Remy: "They're talking about the factory and the mutant that attacked you, Fiona."Fiona: "Remy… we should go…"Remy: "Mhm… Let's just use the window… Casper should be nearby."
They went to the window, opened it and jumped out.
Fiona: "Ghh…"Remy: "You okay?"Fiona: "I just want to get away from here…"Remy: "Okay…"
(Clack!)
Remy: "Ugh."Fiona: "Huh!"Casper: "It's me, Casper. Relax."Remy: "Hahh… It's just you, Casper…"Fiona: "Hahh…"Casper: "What's wrong, you two look terrified."Remy: "We'll talk about it later…"Fiona: "Hhhahhh… Let's just get away from this place."Casper: "Okay…"
They hurried away. Jade was waiting for them.
Jade: "There you finally are."Fiona: "Oh, sorry."Remy: "We found a lot. For example, that the mayor is a complete monster who turns his victims into 'statues' made from their dead bodies. And that he has a chest full of organs – a chest Fiona and I had to hide in so we wouldn't get caught, and only then we realized it was full of organs. And the most important thing… Mayor Bernard Boneparte is the boss of the Thorn Mafia. He's le chapeau – the Hat."Fiona: "Hah…"Casper: "So that's why you looked so shocked…"Remy: "Let's go. Quickly."Fiona: "Yeah… I want to be anywhere but that manor."Jade: "Okay… I'll take you back to Remy's office."
She summoned a phone booth. They stepped inside and arrived in Remy's office.
Remy: "Go get some rest, Fiona."Fiona: "Mhm…"Remy: "The room upstairs is free as always, for you. Get some sleep…"Fiona: "Thanks…"Casper: "Hmm."
She went upstairs and lay down on the bed, while Remy, Casper and Jade stayed below.
Casper: "So he really is the boss of the Thorn Mafia!? The mayor of Roux!?"Jade: "Hmm… That's even worse than I thought. I expected he just worked with them a bit or took bribes… but that he's the boss…"
(Meanwhile)
Cossette: "Hahhhh..."
(Back to Fiona)
Fiona lay on the bed but could hardly sleep.
Fiona: "Cossette… I hope you're okay…"
(Meanwhile)
Hugo: "Cossette is still alive. I'll find her… and capture her myself."