Dancing The Waltz
DGM
Chapter 4
Running With Time
Everyone stared at him and the bodyguards got inbetween them, Nella and Ciarra, and their hands were on their guns. Nella tipped his head to the side a little, obviously amused and humored by their actions. "Who are you?" Ciarra asked, standing behind all of her bodyguards, but not frightened and drinking champagn from a glass, her red lipstick smudged on it to show she drank from it.
"Do you have to ask that question? I'm confident that you know exactly who I am." Nella said casually, sitting down in a chair at the table, putting his feet on it. "But if you must know, people have been calling me the Twilight Jester."
"I thought so. I've been expecting you Jester." Ciarra said coolly.
"Have you? Then you know why, don't you Maxwell?" Nella responded calmly,although several guns were pointed at him.
"Yes, I do." Ciarra answered.
"Tell me Ciarra, what do you do? Why did you decide to take the position of mayor?" Nella asked, reaching for something in his pocket, but not taking it out.
"Because of the Earl. I am a colleague of his and I do supply him at times. Make trades, sell him artillery, and set aside all his crimes. Not only do I get his money, but his apraisal." Ciarra replied.
"You just admitted your partnership with a criminal, mayor." Nella stated.
"Like anyone is going to know. Soon you'll be dead. You speak so carelessly, but in these circumstances, you should watch you tongue. I have the advantage here." Ciarra told him.
"Is that so? How would you get away with allowing your men to kill me?" Nella inquired.
"No one will ever know. I'll just keep your body in here until the party is over and get rid of your body later. If someone does discover you before then, all I have to say is that you attacked me. You were planning on killing me. So it wouldn't be a total lie. Everyone wants you right now anyways. Dead or alive. Peferably alive, but whatever works. The police are here because they thought you would come for me because I'm the mayor. So they'll protect me. I'm safe. You, on the otherhand, are not. Once I kill you the Earl will praise me." Ciarra rejoindered and laughed.
"You're an akuma. I see now. That's why you're doing this. High status with the public and you get what you want by doing the Earl's biddings. Tell me, how many crimes have you comitted and how many people have you killed?" Nella responded.
"The numbers don't matter. I lost track a long time ago. All I know is that it's over eighty- five, combining them both." Ciarra said.
"You're a killer. You were before you came to this city and to keep yourself safe you worked for the Earl. You also changed your name, Sherry- Dawn Turner." Nella said.
"You are clever Jester. I don't know how you solved that because not even the professional detectives can. I did have work done on my face to hide that fact. Too many people knew what I looked like." Ciarra said.
"I have my ways." Nella whispered.
"Enough chit chat. It's time to die you son of bitch." Ciarra said.
"Wait a minute. Before you start shooting, I want to show you something." Nella said, pulling a tape recorder out of his pocket. "Do you think the police will protect you once they get their hands on this?"
Ciarra's eyes widened. "You cunning bastard."
"You're ignorant." Nella said and pushed a button.
"Because of the Earl. I am a collegue of his and I do supply him at times. Make trades, sell him artillery, and set aside all his crimes. Not only do I get his money, but his apraisal." Ciarra's voice said.
"You just admitted partnership with a criminal mayor." Jester's voice rang.
The Jester's voice came back on after a few seconds. "Tell me, how many crimes have you comitted and how many people have you killed?"
"The numbers don't matter. I lost track a long time ago. All I know is that it's over eighty- five, combining them both." Ciarra answered.
"You also changed your name, Sherry- Dawn Turner." Jester said once a few moments passed.
"You are clever Jester. I don't kno- . . . . . .Silence . . . . - Have work done on my face to hide that fact. Too many people knew what I looked like."Ciarra confessed.
The last sentance had been messed up, Ciarra realized. She noticed a lot of words missing too. He only recorded what he wanted to. He didn't plan on her adding that one sentance he cut off so he had to stop it. "You're hiding from the police. Keeping your own words a secret along with your identity. You're a coward." Ciarra told him.
"No. I'm smart. If you hide your face you wouldn't be here right now. You wouldn't of needed a remodeled face. Lastly, you wouldn't of made the mistake of helping Adam." Nella said.
"Adam? You know the Earl's real name?" Ciarra questioned.
"Indeed I do. I'm not the only one hiding. He is, you are, and so many more. This world is full of lies and imposters. We all lie. It's the natural sin of life." Nella told her.
"You confessed to hiding." Ciarra stated.
"Did I? My bad. The reason I hide is to keep myself out of jail. I'm not going to jail just yet." Nella said.
"Just yet?" Ciarra repeated questionably.
"I shouldn't of said that." Nella sighed, a smirk crept on his face. "Anyways, I won't let anyone catch me. They never will." Nella said, putting the recorder back in his trusty pocket and standing up. "Now, let's begin."
"Kill him!" Ciarra shouted.
Nella took his gun out and shot one of the bodyguards' hand. The gun flew up in the air and he caught it. He shot the bodyguard's knee and he collapsed, holding his knee, and crying out in pain. The others started shooting, but Nella got out of the way before they could shoot him. He managed to get behind them and shoot each of them. They all fell to the ground and Ciarra backed up, pulling a gun out of her dress. "If you want something done you gotta do it yourself." Ciarra said, anger lingering in her voice.
"Do you really want to do a showdown? Drop your gun and I will make this painless." Nella said dully.
Ciarra looked at his eyes. Silver-gray orbs. They held no emotion. None, except anger. He had killer eyes as they put it, but what was with the anger? There had to be something more about the Twilight Jester that nobody else knew. For example, why he was doing this? For fun? "Why so angry?"
Nella's frown turned upside down. "I can grant you that answer, but I rather not."
Ciarra was not impressed. That was not what she wanted to hear, but even so, agruing with him about that was pointless. "You want to kill me because I work with Earl, but what does it matter? You want to get rid of him. So why are you after me?"Ciarra asked.
"I thought you said you knew why I'm here?" Nella replied.
"Not entirely."
"It's not just because you work with him. There's more to it." Nella told her.
Ah, so she was right. "Then what is it?"
"Avenge." Nella answered, his voice cold, his anger rising unbeliavably. She couldn't see, but he slanted his eyes and tightened his grip on his gun as he thought about it. This was what he wanted. To avenge Mana.
"Revenge? I did nothing to you." Ciarra said.
"How would you know? You have no clue who I am." Nella said flatly, eyes dulling again.
"Tell me. Because I don't remember doing anything to anyone with white hair." Ciarra told him.
How typical. Thinking of the present and not the past, thinking not of the possibilities. He wondered how this bitch ever got away with any of her crimes. When she was a part of that he didn't have white hair. It was because of them it turned white. Bastards. "I can't do that." Nella said.
"Why? You're going to die here in a minute. I'll make sure you get a proper burial. I do have to admit I respect your work from what I've seen. You have so much talent, so much potential. Your skills are remarkable. I'm sure, if you lower your gun, we could make a proposal. What the hell, Earl might forgive you and take you in. You could be his new favorite assassin. Seeing how you're better than his current ones. You already killed a handful of them after all." Ciarra offered, smiling at her idea.
"Not bloody likely." Nella seethed.
Thinking of even working for Earl was despicable. He couldn't stand the thought. "Very well. It's your funeral. At least I'll be able to finally see who is behind that mask once I kill you." Ciarra said.
"You're too confident. Too impudent and I mean way too imprudent. You're overwhelming yourself with self-reliance and overdosing yourself with assurance that you're correct, that you're able to kill me. If I wanted to, I could kill you with both eyes closed. You're overlooking the facts. Don't overrate yourself because I can easily overpower you." Nella told her.
"You're overdoing it." Ciarra said.
"I'm sorry about that. I'm just statng the facts."
"If you're going to kill me then why aren't you shooting? You talk way too much." Ciarra studied the Twilight Jester. He was only talking to her with his ugn pointed at her. NOthing was happening. Maybe he wasn't the great assassain she believed he was.
"The same goes for you. You're going to lose your chance to kill me."
"So I do have a chance."
"No. I'm just trying to boost your arroagance and naiveness." Nella told her.
"I suppose if I say I'm sorry it wouldn't help?" Ciarra questioned.
"What happened is indelible. It's not worthy of forgiveness. I can't forgive that." Nella explained.
"Too bad. You would've been a great asset to us and a superb, a fabulous, ally." Ciarra replied.
"Why? So you can betray me?"
"Any last words?" Ciarra queried.
"Have a nice time in hell." Nella said and kicked her gun out of her hand. Ciarra shrieked a little and pulled her hand to her chest and Nella figured he broke it by accident because of how it looked. She stepped away until her back hit the wall and Nella's grin widened. "Farewell Sherry-Dawn."
Moments Earlier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The ballroom went silent after they heard a few gunshots and agonizing screams of pain. The police shoved through the crowd to the conference room and took their guns out. Lenalee and her friends watched the police officers move around as the crowd backed up towards the wall, keeping distance from the conference room and for safety. Her group, on the otherhand, got in the middle of the room. They weren't huddled together though. They were scattered around the empty space, waiting. "You know, there's only one person I see missing." Lavi said, his hand grasping his own weapon.
"Aloysius?" Alma suggested.
"Yes."
Lenalee watched the officers stalk over to the conference room. The people inside gave no signs of knowing they were crashin gin our their parade. "That's not his real name." Lenalee informed.
"Didn't think it was." Lavi confessed.
"Take a look around. Who else is missing?" Kanda asked.
"The mayor." Lenalee answered.
"You don't think he killed her?" Krowley asked.
"Major possibility. It seems we're doing a lousy job with work tonight." Lavi said.
Nella heard the door open and his finger stopped, the trigger pulled half way. The bullet didn't come out yet. Ciarra looked at the police officers who had taken their masks off. The bodyguards crawled out of the way the best they could because of where they were shot. "Drop your gun now!"
"I can't do that officer." Nella mumbled, glancing at the new distractions, but remembered to stay focused on Ciarra, inching closer and closer to her, step by step, very slowly.
"Drop them!" she ordered.
Ciarra smirked and Nella's arms dropped, but they guns stayed. The cops came in and circled him, guns aimed at him. "Nella, can you hear me?" Sy asked.
Nella sighed. Surely they heard the ruckus. "Yes." Nella murmured.
"Good. Sorry about the lateness. Power outtage for some reason. Anyways, how many coppers?" Sy asked through the chip.
Nella inspected the room again, counting the officers who were ruining his clean cut kill and get away plan. "Right now, eight." Nella whispered.
"Can you take them out?" Sy queried.
"Maybe." Nella said with humor, chuckling lightly as he heard the humor in Sy's next question.
"Is it risky?"
"I might get grazed by a bullet, but I can succeed." Nella muttered.
"By what means?" Sy asked.
"Does it matter?"
"I dunno. As long as you don't get thrown in jail or killed."
"You're paranoid."
"I have reason."
"Touche friend."
Nella quickly grabbed Ciarra, spun her around, and pressed her back to his chest. Using one arm to keep her in place, he pointed a 45 calibur at her head. The police took a few steps back and they suddenly became unsur eof how to react to this. Icily, Nella leaned in and whispered in Ciarra's ear, "One more thing mayor, there's a difference between revenge and avenge."
"Let her go." a cop ordered.
"Or what? Are you going to shoot me? Would you be willing to risk your own mayor's safety?" Nella retorted.
"Don't be rash now. We can work this out."
"Leave the room." Nella watched them all gave each other a look and nodded. Reluctantly, they walked out of the room, keeping their eyes on him and Ciarra, guns still raised. "Walk Sherry."
Ciarra took small steps and Nella walked at the same pace, not pushing her, but letting her walk herself. They entered the other room with all the party guests and definitely noticed the large space they left by grouping near the walls. "So much for fast and unnoticed." Nella told himself. "Should've come after the party ended."
Lenalee felt rage flame in her. She could've stopped this. Lavi felt foolish for thinking there was nothing to be suspicious of with Aloysius, if that was his name, which he doubted. Everyone knows how Kanda felt. THere's never a time you never knew about him. "It's the Twilight Jester." someone said.
"I heard none of his targets ever survive. He's been around for three years now and he's still on the loose."
"He's here. We're in danger."
"Sir, listen to me, put the guns down." an officer said. He looked like the captain.
"Jester will be fine." Nella told him.
"Twilight Jester?"
The Twilight Jester closed his eyes with frustration. That was a stupid question. So damn stupid. When he opened his eyes, he clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. "It would be annoying to say Twilight as well. Jester alone will be fine as we speak to one another. Unless you prefer Clown, Phantom, or whatever. I honestly don't care." Nella said.
"Why don't you tell me your name? Let's start there. I'm the captain of the police department. My name is Curtis Lee John."
"I'm no fool captain. Call me whatever you like, but you will not receive my name." Nella responded.
"Fine then. To make this easy, we'll call you Jester." Curtis said, sighing wearily. "Put the guns down right now. You don't want to do anything rash. We can talk this over."
"Talk what over? You would just throw me in jail. After you put me through some silly interrorgation and do a examination with a special routine and all that. I don't feel like obliguing captain." Nella told him
"What is it you want? Money?" Curtis asked, furrowing his eyebrows togeteher.
"If I wanted money I would steal it. Not create a havoc situation like this Curtis. It would be much simpler. Although, I guess I could get more money using Ciarra, wouldn't I?" Nella said casually.
"Were you hired to do this?" Curtis asked, taking a small step closer.
Nella pointed his second gun, a regular revolver, at him then lowered it to shoot the floor, causing Curtis to jump back. His arm remained locked around Ciarra's frame. "Don't try to get closer to me. I prefer to keep distance. And no, I'm not a hitman." Nella told him flatly.
"Then why are you doing this? Were you forced?" Curtis asked.
"For three years? I don't tihnk so. No, I wasn't blackmailed either, but why do you care? Why are you asking these foolish questions?" Nella responded.
"I don't want to believe someone as young as you is making this decision on his own." Curtis said.
"How young do you think I am captain?" Nella asked.
"A teen or a young adult. The exact age can't be guessed." Curtis said truthfully.
"Life is not perfect. Sorry to disappoint you." Nella said softly, almost sincerely. The man was foolish if you asked Allen. Being a police officer he should know all sorts of kids making mistakes like this. Seriously.
"Why don't you release her? We can create a proposition." Curtis said.
"No can do. Drop your guns." Nella said, pressing the callibur against Ciarra's head, moving her hair a little.
Curtis stared at Jester's face and he hesitantly bent down and put the gun on the floor. "Captain!"
"Drop them."
The rest of the cops did the same and Nella eyed the people behind him. The security guards and more bodyguards for other people had their guns raised and pointed at him. "All of you. I want them on the floor and away from you. Kick them away if you must. Better yet, disarm them." Nella ordered, being wise.
Nella watched the men and women do as told, but there was three that did not. Lenalee, Lavi, and Kanda. The famous trio. Nella figured they knew what he had planned. "Did you not hear me? I meant everyone. I wouldn't think twice about killing her let alone shooting any of you. Which I rather not. I do not like to kill nor shoot those that are not my objective, but if I am left with no choice I will. Even if you are a pretty little girl. Though I do not like to get rough with women. Or hurt them in any way." Nella said.
"Then why are you trying to kill the mayor?" Kanda asked, irritated.
Nella let a small smile adorn his face as he tipped his head to the side, pressing it against Ciarra's. Kanda grew angrier at this and Ciarra tensed, the calibur now touching her head and she could hear it click, echoing in her ears. "That's my very own secret. It's only a need to know baisis and it isn't need to know, thank you." Nella retorted.
"Shoot him!" Ciarra ordered.
"Don't Yuu." Alma said, knowing Kanda would.
"Damn it, Nella, get your sorry ass out of there. More police are on their way. I can hear the sirens from here." Maria said, almost shouting.
"What? Already?" Nella asked quietly.
"YES!"
"Why are you talking to yourself?" Ciarra asked, looking at him the best she could.
Nella's smile vanished and he looked out the window. He was careful, but dragged Ciarra to the window and looked out it. Sure enough, the front area was already surrounded. He could hear the sirens as well. They were well prepared for him this time. He cursed under his breath and looked back at the people. He did have many hostages, but if he lost Ciarra, he was as good as dead. Unless he acts quickly. He needed a stragedy. They may have disarmed the guns, but they can easily replace the bullets. It also doesn't help that he has only five bullets left in the calibur and three in the revolver. Maybe less. The revolver wasn't his in the first place. "I see you're going the extra mile to catch me this time captain." Nella said, smile reappearing.
"You can do whatever you want this time, but you're not going anywhere. Just hand the mayor over and turn yourself in." Curtis said.
"And spend twenty or more years in jail? No thanks. This doesn't concern me even the slightest." Nella said, going back to his last spot. "I'll accept the challenge."
"Shoot him! Now!" Ciarra shouted.
Lenalee tried to find a good spot to shoot the Jester, but not a single spot would help. He probably wouldn't let her go or she would miss. Lenalee might miss him and hit Ciarra. "Hmmm, I think you would like to hear something first. Before we start the chaos." Nella said, putting the revolver in his pocket and pulling out the tape recorder.
Ciarra's eyes widened and she started to struggle, but he held her firmly. He pressed play and threw it in front of them. Then he put the revolver back in his hand as the recorder played. "Because of the Earl. I am a collegue of his and I do supply him at times. Make trades, sell him artillery, and set aside all his crimes. Not only do I get his money, but his apraisal." Ciarra's voice said.
"You just admitted partnership with a criminal mayor." Jester's voice rang.
The Jester's voice came back on after a few seconds. "Tell me, how many crimes have you comitted and how many people have you killed?"
"The numbers don't matter. I lost track a long time ago. All I know is that it's over 85." Ciarra answered.
"You also changed your name, Sherry Dawn Turner." Jester said once a few moments passed.
"You are clever Jester. I don't kno- . . . . . . Silence . . . . - Have work done on my face to hide that fact. Too many people knew what I looked like."Ciarra confessed.
Curtis stared at Ciarra, now known as Sherry Dawn, and she panicked. "He made that. That was not me! I swear it's true! He must've used some kind of technology to make that!" Ciarra exclaimed and rambled on uselessly.
Nella sighed. "We're going to have to sort things out and even still, that gives you no reason to kill her Jester. Let her go." Curtis said.
Nella stared at him. Smile , out of nowhere, with no warning, he pulled the trigger and shot Ciarra (Sherry), killing her. He let her go and she fell to the floor, limp, bleeding, and dead. "Oops." Nella said.
Four bullets left, but then, after that, he shot the tape recorder, leaving him with three in the calibur. He's going to need to make a miracle happen tonight. He wasn't worried. This was a sticky situation, but he's been in worst. "Nella, RUN!" Sy shouted.
"I know what I'm doing Sy. I told you to keep quiet until I asked for your help and I did not, but I thank you for the police warning. Still, I have to cut our connection off right now. I'll see you later. Bye." Nella said, taking the chip out of his ear and putting it in his pocket after turning it off.
Nella ignored the gasps and screams. He just ran while he had the chance. Before everyone regained consciousness of what happened and started to come after him. He hadn't planned anything. He was just going to have to wing it. Kanda aimed and tried to shoot him, but he was faster than he thought and missed. "Chase him!" Lenalee ordered, running off.
"I thought she was in a gang. Not with the police." Nella whispered.
Nella left the room and ran down the hall. He was going to have to find another exit on this floor. He couldn't take the elevator. Too many risks, that is if his opponents are smart. He wasn't going to take any chances. It was a good thing he looked over the blueprints before he came here. So he took a turn and opened a door. He closed it and looked out the window. No one came by yet. He might get away with this. He got on his knees and felt around and found an air vent. He opened and entered it, closing it before he started to make his way out of the building. "By the looks of it, this thing is pretty sturdy, but only Miss. Lee would be able to follow me. The boys would be too heavy. That is, if they find out which way I went." Nella told himself, crawling through the place.
Nella could hear a fan and went the opposite direction from it. He came to a stop within a minute, but did crawl far. If he were to crawl any further he would fall. The vent went downwards now. There was three possible ways to go, excluding downwards, but the 'hole' was too big. He would fall. He looked down to see how far down it was and came up disappointed. It went down four floors before the metal vent came back. If he were to jump, he could mess up and break his leg or the vent. He didn't know what was underneath the vent either. So if he were to fall through he would be put in danger. Maybe. "Perfect."
Nella didn't bring too much gear with him. All what was necessary or what he thought he might need. Normally he could get through the night with them, but he never had more than three cops on his trail. Plus, they never get a good look of him. This time they did. He'll get through it. The question is, how? He can't be caught and he won't allow himself to be caught. Nella got on the edge and put his hands on the edge to his left. He held that edge with all his might and slowly slid off the ground his knees were on. His feet dangled and he used his arms to pull himself up. He got onto the vent then began crawling through it again. "I have nothing to worry about. If this is the best they can do then they have much to learn." Nella whispered.
Lavi, Lenalee, and Kanda ran down the stairscase, but they didn't see nor hear the Twilight Jester. Still they ran. They just had to get to the bottom floor. If they could do that then they could catch him. Lavi still felt completely stupid for believing they didn't have to be suspicious of him when he did match the describtion of the Twilight Jester, but he never saw him before, so how was he supposed to know then? The only time they were called in to support is when things get too hard for the cops. They may be detectives in training, but they've been training for a long time. They were more avanced and they did have a choice. The reason why they trained so early was because they wanted to be detectives since they were kids. So they trained their body, passed their limits, and went on to extraoridinary levels. All which paid off for this. They were gathered together to become the Black Order. Which was formed to get rid of the gang wars, put more criminals behind bars, and not having to worry about losing their only undercover cop because the whole gang were cops. Lenalee, Lavi, and Kanda, they were what they called exorcists. They showed exceptional skills and became special detectives. Though they're still learning, when compared to a regular detective, they went far beyond their capabilities. So, with this kind of status, they should've suspected this. They should've known! How did he mess this up?
Lenalee felt the same. She did suspect something, but did nothing. She didn't distract him long enough. She didn't stop the murder when she could've. How could she let him slip away? But with this guilt and blaming herself, she was relieved he didn't kill Lenalee. She was close to death by dancing with him. If not for the guests around them, would she had been killed? It was a scary thought, but it did not disturb her much. She felt confident. She had confidence and she had faith in herself. "Is there another way downstairs besides taking the stairs or the elevator?" Lenalee inquired.
"Well, I dunno. I can't tell you really." Lavi said.
"Anything Lavi!"
"Uh, maybe, um, there is a possibility that someone could travel through the air vents, but you would have to be slender or you would have to be a kid. A woman might fit in it, but the Jester is a boy. He was slender, but not enough. He would have trouble going through the air vents. He would barely fit. Unless he knows exactly what he is doing and if he's done this before, he couldn't use them, but there's another thing. The air vents are small on the twentieth floor up to the twenty- fifth. Once you get past those floors, you're a free man pretty much. The air vents get bigger from then on. If the Jester were to manage to go that far then he could make it to the bottom floor with ease. Most likely, before us as well. If he knows his way through the vents. I think that's the only other way." Lavi said.
"Was there more than one elevator on the 25th floor?" Lenalee asked.
"Several, but the elevator... I can't believe this! I'm so stupid!" Lavi said, hitting the side of his head. "The elevator we took was only for workers or the police. He wasn't a worker because he wasn't dressed like any of the male workers for the party and I could tell he was not an officer."
"What's your point?" Kanda asked.
"He had to have one of the entry cards to get to that elevator. Only workers, important people, and the owners have them aside from us tonight. That means he somehow stole a card or found a way to create one just like it. A third option would be he has some connections and a fourth, he would have to know someone who worked here and took their card." Lavi said.
"Where's the point?" Kanda asked with annoyance.
"It means he doesn't have to go through the front door or the back door to leave. The fire exits would be stupid and that leaves the door to the parking lot attached to the side of the building. He doesn't have to take that one either because he has the card. So, he can leave unspotted if he leaves the way he came in. Aside from the doors I named off, there's three more. The one I came in with Marie and Kanda, another one on the side of the building, and another one in the basement. That one leads you up some stairs to the alleyway near the back of the building. That card will let you enter or exit those doors." Lavi explained.
"So he is heading to one of those doors." Lenalee mumbled.
"He didn't enter through the door Kanda and I used. We would've seen him." Lavi told her.
"Then we have two plausible exits. He might take the one I entered through. On the side of the building." Lenalee responded.
"What did I miss?" Alma asked, jumping beside Lavi.
"How did you catch up?" Kanda asked.
"I cheated. Instead of running down all these stairs, I jumped over the side, over the railing, and down onto steps repeatedly. It's much faster you know." Alma said casually.
"Is anyone else behind you?" Lenalee asked.
"Everyone split up. Most of them took the elevators to see if they could catch up to Mr. Twilight. Since we have no idea which way he went. I believe officer Jenny and Curtis is behind us. Other policemen are coming in through the doors and searching the building. Many are still outside." Alma informed.
"Sheesh, did the captain ring the whole police department?" Lenalee asked.
"There's too many." Kanda stated.
"But it means it's harder for him to get out. Also, they do have some S. W. A. T squads here. Not just regular officers. It seems they're getting really worried about the Jester. Everyone wants him gone more than most criminals. We should put him on the most wanted list, if he isn't there already." Alma told them.
"Jeez, you make it sound like there's a thousand men here trying to capture one guy." Lavi said.
"No. It seems like a lot, but there's no more than fifty men here trying to catch the Jester. The S.W.A.T squads are the ones inside the building. Everyone else is outside waiting. Then there's those that were at the party. That's all." Alma said.
Lenalee ran faster and passed Kanda. She bit the inside of her lip and tried to think of a way to find the Jester. "Where did he go?"
Nella slid downwards and into a basket of clothes, exiting the vents. He climbed out of the basket after making sure no one was around. He wiped dust off of him and made sure he had his guns. He was relieved to know they didn't fall off when he got in that laundry basket. He walked around until he got in a hallway and started walking down there as if he wasn't being chased. He was so calm. This situation didn't faze him. Not even a bit.
Nella rounded a corner and found a door to the staircase. He stared at it and an idea came to mind. Since he was on the first floor now, and by the elevator he took up, he figured someone would come this way. He took a knife out of his secret pocket and put it in the lock carefully. He moved it around a little then flicked it. He heard a small click, knowing the door had locked. He grabbed a fold up chair, which had been on a cart nearby with forty more, and put it under the handle (knob) and made sure it wouldn't move. He walked over to the elevator and used the knife to take the metal panel off, the one with the buttons, and went through the wires. He found a blue and green one hook together and used his knife again, to cut it. He put the panel back on and then started walking away.
He then did something no one would expect. He went into a small room, but had to use the card to do so, and found a small table. Gently, he hopped on it and pushed a ceiling tile up. He made no sounds and he climbed in it. Watching out for the wires and machines, he put the tile back down and crawled around. Occasionally, he lifted another ceiling tile until he found a safe place to come out of. It was hard, but he managed to put the tile back. He found himself in a room with many clothes and went through them. He found some clothing he could put over his, but made sure he was able to get his guns and knife. He found a hat to wear and put a sweater on. He zipped it up then put the hoodie over the hat, hiding his white hair. He took a few steps and punched the glass that covered the firealarm. Without a second thought or hesitation, he pulled it.
Minutes ago. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lenalee went to open the door at the bottom of the staircase, but she couldn't. It was locked. Lavi came over and pounded his shoulder against it, but with no luck. He tried to break the small window with his hand, but almost broke his hand and whimpered, shaking it to get rid of the pain. "You're foolish." Alma said, smiling and snickering.
"Ohhhh, stuff it. Now isn't the time." Lavi said.
Kanda raised his gun and shot the wall and the door. He hit the lock and it broke, but when he went to open the door, it still wouldn't move. He looked out the window and grumbled. He had to waste one more bullet and shoot the window, watching it shatter. He put his hand through it and moved the chair. "He was here." Kanda said.
"No duh." Lavi responded.
The door swung open and Lenalee immediately ran off, but then jumped ten feet in the air once the fire alarm went off. It was loud and hurt their ears, red and white lights could be seen; water came out of ceiling. "It's a distraction." Kanda said.
"He's still in the building." Lavi told them.
"Check the rooms!" Lenalee ordered.
That they did, but they were all empty. They met up again in front of the elevator, Kanda angry, Lenalee serious, thinking, Lavi in thought, and Alma was confused. "None of the fire alarms were pulled in this section of the building. All the rooms that need the access card is just like the way they were." Alma said.
"He was here! How could he be gone?" Lenalee shouted.
"He might not have been the one to pull it." Lavi said.
"Do you think there's a fire?" Alma asked.
"Possibly."
"But then where did he go? Did he leave already?" Lenalee asked.
"I don't know." Lavi answered.
"We should go outside and inspect. People are going to be coming out of the building." Alma said.
"If he is still here he'll be in the crowd." Kanda told her.
"What if he isn't?" Lenalee inquired.
"Then we messed up our mission and we were tricked." Lavi said honestly.
Nella opened the door and got in the crowd with the people that were hurrying outside. He followed them, but took his mask off and hid it in his sweater. Pulling the hood down to cover his eyes. If Lenalee caught him, he might be interrorgated or searched. Rushing through the crowd, he made sure he was nowhere near any cops. He managed to get to the front doors and left the building. Plenty of people were outside already and the cops were confused by all means. Some of them were smart and started to check the people. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Lenalee, Lavi, Kanda, and Alma running his way. Quickly, he pushed through the crowd like a knife. He got to a police car and looked inside it. Still walking, he gazed at a woman officer and she was talking into a radio. She caught sight of him and paused, trying to get a good look of him. Nella turned his head away and hoped the lights hadn't flashed on his face. If she saw the mark on his left eye then he would most likely be found and forced to answer some questions. Or worse. They might assume he is the Jester because of his white hair.
Nella looked down at his feet and got onto the sidewalk. He fastened his pace now that he was out of the crowd and crossed the road. He looked back and pulled the hoodie down. He was in a safe distance from the building and from the police. "Too easy." Nella muttered.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review! I would appreciate it. Thank you!
