===(Isaac)===
Standing on top of the Eiffel Tower was truly a sight to behold. The wind blowing on your face, the sight of Paris bustling with people….
I would be enjoying it if Neapolitan wasn't standing here with me.
He stood there with a smug look on his face as if everyone was already kneeling to him, which probably wasn't too far from the truth. It was tempting to just push him off and let him die, but there was one reason that I couldn't. The reason why I was doing all of this in the first place.
"Raphael," Neapolitan muttered. "He is a formidable foe. I honestly didn't think he would best Leonard or my forces." He pauses as he slowly turns his head towards me. "Dare I say, he might be a threat?"
I narrow my eyes. His tone may have sounded light, but I could tell that it was full of malice and anger. Still, I reply in a calm voice, "No, he won't. Even with his skills he will barely be a flea in your plan."
"Hmmm…." Neapolitan was toying with me. He had complete confidence in his plan, but he loved to test my emotions. Unfortunately, I could only play the role of the monkey while he played as the ringmaster. "Why yes, I suppose you are right." He walks past me towards the stairs, beckoning me with his arm. "Come, Isaac. There is much to be done."
"Of course my lord." I follow him, my heart full of dread for what was about to happen. Raphael. If you received my warning, then please understand. This is all for you.
===(Charlotte)===
"Charlie! For the millionth time, pay attention!"
"Ack! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
The teacher sighs and gets back to the lesson. I tried to pay attention, I really did, but it was just…. So…. Boring! I know that it was unbecoming of me to not pay attention in school when I wanted to be a detective, but I couldn't help it if I was terrible at math. Besides, I have more important things to worry about….
Salvation finally came when the school bell rang for the last time today. I quickly grab my backpack and run out the door before the teacher could give me another lecture. My house was only a three minute walk from school, making my trip home a fast one. Usually I got my homework done as soon as I got home so that I could enjoy the rest of my day. Today, however, I had different plans in mind. I threw my backpack onto my bed and changed into my work clothes, which I found to be more comfortable than my dresses. Along with my clothes I grab a satchel and put in a pair of handcuffs, my phone, a notebook with three pencils and a pencil sharpener, and most importantly, the clue that I found at the hideout underneath the louvre yesterday.
I decided not to study it just yet in case anybody came over and interrupted me. So instead, I go to the park. It was a nice place that made me feel at ease, and allowed me to have space to study the clue in peace.
Looking around to see if anybody was watching me, I carefully pull out the mysterious item that I had found: A letter. When I found it, I immediately read it, though it didn't make any sense to me. Unfortunately I had soccer practice that day and couldn't investigate it more. Right now, though, I could take as much time as I wanted to.
Settling down on a bench, I hunch over and re-read it's contents: 'I know that you're confused about all this, but you need to forget about all this. It's already too dangerous for you to be involved with all this, but if you keep meddling with this, then you'll face grave consequences. There are horrors that are beyond your imagination, so please: Stay away.
Forget about me.
Pretend that I didn't exist. Live your life. All that will happen in trying to help me will just result in pain and misery. Please, Raphael….'
It ended abruptly there. When I first saw this I was confused, but after I looked at it some more, I found that it looked like it had been torn apart. There was more to this letter, which frustrated me since I couldn't piece the rest of it. From the looks of it it sounds like one of those goons had a child. Maybe that child can lead me to answers about what happened six months ago. The events swirl inside my head, replaying over and over again like a movie. It all seemed like a movie too. None of it made any sense. When queen Elizabeth recovered, she said to forget about it all. My father may have turned a blind eye to it all, but I won't. I refuse to!
Putting the letter back in my satchel, I make my way to the police station. I know of a few people who can analyze a person's handwriting. With this, I'll be able to identify at least someone who's connecting with that incident! But this Raphael person was also involved with them in some way. The only people I know that were part of that incident was my father, me, queen Elizabeth and her daughter, and-
I stop dead in my tracks as a possibility popped into my mind. Phantom R…. Could he be this Raphael person? There wasn't any evidence to point to this, but if this letter really was addressed to him, then this would be a major lead to uncovering Phantom R. I change my walk into a run, eager to share this with father.
===(Raphael)===
"Achoo!"
I pull out my handkerchief and wipe my nose. "Man, it's cold out here, eh Fondue?" He barks in reply. After spending so much time with him I've come to understand his barks. Sorta.
Right now I was taking him out for a walk in the streets of Paris. I missed being able to walk around without the cops chasing me every few minutes. Then again, I do miss the thrill of playing tag with them. It felt like years ago, though in reality it hadn't been that long ago.
My retirement.
It was a few days after I uncovered defeated Leonard that I went searching for another lead for my father. On a whim I checked the place where I first saw a glimpse of dad, hoping to find another lead. What I found was a letter with my dad's handwriting, and for a minute I thought that I had the key to finally get dad back.
But boy was I wrong.
'...Though I can't explain what I mean, know that I have to do what I'm doing, even if it pains me not being able to be a better father to you.I know that it doesn't justify my actions in the slightest, and I accept full consequences for my actions.
Raphael, you may want to help me still, but know that I am beyond hope. However, you're free to live your life in any way you want to. You have the power to control your own destiny, unlike me. Value what you have, because at any moment, it can vanish from your life. Take it from me, I would know.
I love you my son, now and forever. You will always be in my heart.
Goodbye Raphael. Or, as you might prefer, Phantom R.'
Reading that letter nearly made me pass out. I was so shocked that I didn't even realize that the letter was missing it's top half. When I did realize this, it was too late. If I tried to go back to the hideouts, the mastermind behind all this would probably wonder why I would go back, which might put dad in danger if he ever caught wind of the warning letter he gave me. So instead, I was going to wait until this 'big plan' finally came into light. It was like having a small vacation, but…. Not.
"*Ruff!*"
Fondue's barking snaps me out of my thoughts. Looking up, I saw that he was chasing a squirrel. "Ugh, not again…." I start to go after him.
"Hello?"
A familiar voice startles me, and when I turn around, I almost say her name out loud. Standing there was Charlotte, or as she would rather prefer, Charlie.
It seemed that she saw Fondue running around, which meant that she would be on lookout for Phantom R. If she starts looking at me, she might find out my alter ego. I need to get out of here. With quick thinking, I make a plan.
"Huh?" I pull out my phone and pretend to be getting a call. "Grandma? Hey, what's up! ….Oh. Oh okay, I'll head back now." Still pretending, I tuck the phone back into my pocket and break into a jog. Charlotte called after me, but I ignore her. After jogging a few blocks, I look behind me and see that Charlotte wasn't there. Thank goodness. It would've been a hassle to deal with the police investigating my place. The question now is how I would find Fondue….
"HEY!" I try to catch up to the boy, but I trip and fall on my face. Agh, that hurts….. When I look up, the boy was gone. I curse to myself as I get up. I wonder who that boy was. He seemed familiar too. But more importantly….
I look at what he dropped. "A piece of paper?"