(You should know by now, I do not own Professor Layton! I wish I did though...)
Chapter Three
Searching
Luke and Flora seemed to sense there was something wrong before the Professor had even started to tell them. Now that they were closer to the rides, they could see the peeling paint and fragile structures.
"What are the tokens for then?" asked Luke nervously, glancing around the deserted rides.
"I think they act as payment, my boy." Layton began to explain slowly, "We need to search the area, and in order to gain access to the areas we need to search, we must pay a token."
"B-but we only have ten."
"And far more than ten areas to search."
Flora swallowed, glancing over her shoulder.
"Does anyone else feel like they're being watched?" she asked quietly.
The trio started to make their way through the assorted rides, but were stopped dead in their tracks as they saw a figure crouched a short distance away.
"Professor..." whined Luke, tugging on his mentor's sleeve, "There's someone-"
"I do have ears y'know." snapped the shadow.
Flora and Luke yelled out in surprise and stumbled over each-other in an effort to back away.
"Oh, that's right, run away why don't you?" he continued to grumble, "Everyone does nowadays, nobody thinks that ol' Jackie might have feelings."
"I'm terribly sorry, sir, I'm sure Luke didn't mean to cause any offense."
"Damage is done now, ain't it?"
"Would it be possible for us to ask you a few questions?"
"I s'pose."
"Were you also gifted with these...tokens?"
"I was indeedy. People'd gone missing, see? And I, Jackson Lake, famous detective and whatnot, thought I'd play 'ero and go see what was up with this place."
"Did you say Jackson Lake?"
"Heard o' me?"
"I'm afraid not, but I believe your name is now featured on the list of the missing."
"I 'spect it would be. Been 'ere for weeks now."
"What did you eat?" piped up Luke.
"What d'you fink? Cotton-candy."
"For weeks?"
"Gotta problem with that?"
"N-no, sir."
The Professor straightened up and frowned, touching the brim of his hat as he thought deeply.
"Hrm..."
"What is it, Professor?" asked Luke brightly.
"It seems that particular people have been targeted. In particular, detectives."
"Why would they try and get all the detectives here?" asked Flora.
"Precisely what I'm wondering, my girl."
Flora flinched as a chilly breeze swept over the assembled group, making Luke glance over at her.
"Not scared are you Flora?"
"N-no. I'm cold, that's all."
"In that case, perhaps we'd better head inside." suggested the Professor, gesturing at the various rickety structures which stood at the back of the fun-fair.
Agreeing, Luke and Flora gave muttered goodbyes to Jackson Lake and followed the Professor towards a crooked building bearing the sign 'Hall of Mirrors'.
As they reached the door, the Professor frowned.
"It costs one token to enter." he said aloud.
"I'm n-not that c-c-cold!" protested Flora, shivering.
"Nonsense, a gentleman would never make a lady stay outside in the cold."
He broke off a token and inserted it into the small box on the door. Almost instantly, the door swung open.
The trio walked cautiously inside.
A long, narrow corridor was ahead of them, the walls lined with oddly shaped mirrors, reflecting them in distorted shapes.
As soon as the Professor stepped inside, the door slammed shut. For a moment, everything was dark, then a faint light was visible from the far end of the corridor.
"This way?" suggested Luke, failing to hide the fear in his voice.
The Professor nodded and made his way slowly down the long corridor. Flora followed, jumping at her own reflection in the various mirrors. Luke was anxiously scampering along behind them, forcing himself not to look anywhere but where he was going so as not to cry out in fear.
The room opened out into a chamber of mirrors, lining the ceiling and walls. Sitting in the middle of the floor, was a flickering lantern.
"Someone's been here recently." noted the Professor, "In fact...they can't have left."
"Very clever." came a voice, and the room was once again plunged into blackness.
(Teehee, dramatic ending. Now; THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING! I owe you both a cookie!)
