I stared at the blue-haired burglar, my mind a whirlwind of panic and disbelief. My first thought was that I was dreaming. Surely, this had to be some sort of bizarre, sleep-deprived hallucination. But no, the smug grin on his face and the gleam in his eyes were all too real.
"Arlecchino!" I yelled again, my voice a desperate echo in the empty hallway. "There's a burglar in the mansion!"
The burglar laughed, his voice a smooth, unsettling melody. "Oh, come on, no need to get all dramatic. I was just passing through."
Dramatic? I'll show him dramatic. Without thinking, I grabbed the nearest object—a beautifully decorated vase, no doubt worth more than my entire yearly salary—and hurled it at him. The vase sailed through the air in slow motion, almost gracefully, before shattering against the wall behind him.
"Shit," I muttered, already regretting my impulsive act. "That was expensive."
"Hey, watch it!" the burglar protested, dodging the shards of porcelain. "I'm just here for the valuables, not to get a concussion."
"Arlecchino!" I screamed again, louder this time, my voice cracking with urgency. But she was still nowhere to be seen. Where was she? Probably off dealing with another crisis somewhere in this labyrinth of a mansion.
The burglar's grin faded slightly as he brandished a knife, its blade catching the moonlight and sending a shiver down my spine. "Alright, enough playing around. Where are the valuables?"
"Fuck this," I muttered under my breath, my survival instincts kicking in. I turned and bolted down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. This mansion was like a maze, but I knew it well enough to have a fighting chance.
Behind me, I heard the burglar's footsteps, a steady, relentless rhythm that matched the frantic beat of my heart. I ducked into a side corridor, pressing myself against the wall and holding my breath. Maybe if I stayed quiet, he would pass by.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," he called, his voice dripping with mockery. "I promise I won't hurt you... much."
Great. Just great. I peeked around the corner and saw him stalking down the hallway, his knife gleaming ominously. I needed a plan, and fast.
I darted into a nearby room, closing the door as quietly as I could. My eyes scanned the room for anything I could use as a weapon or a hiding spot. There—a wardrobe. Cliché, but it would have to do. I slipped inside, closing the door just as I heard the burglar enter the room.
"Now, where could you be hiding?" he mused aloud, his footsteps approaching the wardrobe. My heart felt like it was going to explode. This was it. I was going to die in a wardrobe like some budget horror movie.
But then, a stroke of genius hit me. "Hey, why don't you check the bathroom?" I called out, trying to sound calm and collected despite my terror.
"Thanks!" he replied cheerily.
I let out a sigh of relief. Maybe he was stupid. But just as I was starting to calm down, the wardrobe door flew open, and there he was, his knife gleaming and his eyes twinkling with delight. "Nice try."
"Shit!" I yelled, instinctively kicking him in the nuts. His face contorted in pain, and he doubled over, giving me just enough time to scramble out of the wardrobe and make a beeline for the door.
"You little—" he gasped, his voice strained as he stumbled after me.
I darted down the hallway, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The mansion was eerily quiet, the only sound the rapid thudding of my heart and the burglar's pained grunts. I took a sharp turn, hoping to lose him in the maze of corridors.
I dashed into another room, my eyes darting around for a hiding spot. The bed? No, too obvious. The curtains? Too risky. I spotted a chest in the corner and quickly crouched behind it, holding my breath.
The burglar burst into the room moments later, his eyes wild with frustration. "Where are you?" he growled, his voice echoing off the walls. "You can't hide forever!"
I stayed perfectly still, my heart pounding in my chest. He stalked around the room, his knife glinting ominously in the dim light. I could hear him muttering to himself, his frustration mounting.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally left the room, slamming the door behind him. I let out a shaky breath, my body trembling with adrenaline. This was insane. I needed to get to Arlecchino. She was the only one who could handle this psycho.
I slipped out of my hiding spot and crept to the door, peeking out to make sure the coast was clear. The hallway was empty. I took a deep breath and started moving, keeping as quiet as possible.
But just as I was about to turn a corner, the burglar appeared out of nowhere, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. "Gotcha!"
I yelped, trying to wrench my arm free, but his grip was ironclad. "Let me go!" I screamed, kicking and thrashing.
"Not a chance," he snarled, dragging me down the hallway. "Now, where are those valuables?"
I needed to think fast. I needed to buy time. "Okay, okay," I said, trying to sound defeated. "I'll show you where the valuables are. Just... don't hurt me."
"Smart choice," he said, his grip on my arm relaxing slightly. "Lead the way."
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I had one shot at this, and I needed to make it count. "Follow me," I said, leading him down the hallway. My mind raced through the layout of the mansion, trying to remember the fastest route to Arlecchino's room. If anyone could handle this guy, it was her.
We walked in tense silence, his knife never far from my side. I could feel his eyes on me, watching for any sign of trickery. "So," he said, breaking the silence, "how long have you worked here?"
"Not long," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "Just a few months."
"And how do you like it?" he asked, as if we were having a casual conversation over coffee instead of him holding me hostage with a knife.
"It's... interesting," I said, choosing my words carefully. "Never a dull moment."
"I can imagine," he said with a chuckle. "But you know, you could make a lot more money working with me. Just think about it."
"Thanks for the offer," I said dryly, "but I think I'll pass."
"Suit yourself," he said with a shrug. "But you might change your mind after tonight."
I didn't respond, focusing instead on getting us to Arlecchino's room. As we approached her door, I felt a flicker of hope. But when I opened the door, the room was empty. My heart sank. Where was she?
The burglar noticed my confusion and smirked. "Looks like your little plan didn't work out, huh?"
I didn't know what to say. My mind was blank, the fear creeping back in. The burglar's smirk widened as he saw my hesitation. "Now, where are the valuables in this room?" he demanded, his voice laced with menace.
I stammered, my mind racing for an answer. "I... I don't know..."
His expression darkened. "Tell me where the valuables are, or else."
"Or else what?" a cold, menacing voice came from behind us.
I turned, my heart leaping with relief. There was Arlecchino, standing in the doorway, a gun pointed directly at the burglar's head. Her eyes were icy, her expression deadly serious.