Short one for now. Don't worry. It'll get longer.


As the bartender walked back in, Layton was in sobbing hysterics. His eyes were red frm the saline in his tears.

"So, then, what happened? You don't seem finished yet..."

Layton looked up with forlorn, tormented eyes.

"That's just it. He didn't stop there...." He clenched his teeth.

"Who?" Layton's fist tightened around the shot glass with such a grip that it shattered, shards and alcohol flying into the air, and deep into his palm and fingers. Blood seeped between the cracks in his fingers, dripping onto the glazed bar counter.

"It was him..." Layton growled, an almost animalistic rage all throughout his tone. His head was low, the wide brim of his had silhouetting his eyes. His lips twisted with disgust. "...Don Paolo."

The bartender's eyes flickered. "I've heard that name before. Heard he's got it out for ya. Any clue why?"

The Professor scoffed. "Not even a hint. It's a puzzle even I haven't been able to solve." the bartender's fingers twitched slightly.

"But yes, he didn't stop there. In fact...That fire...I know it was him...the fire was a mere child's game compared to what followed."

As I was dragged from the flat, I continued to fight from the grips of the firemen. We were no more than 10 feet away before the house collapsed.

"No!" I screamed out. Not that it would change anything. Luke was gone.

Dead.

The gash in my shoulder was bleeding profusely. Mixed with all the excitement, I soon lost consciousness.

The next thing I know, I woke up. Fluorescent lights blinded me at first...Breathing felt strange...

I then realized there was a tube down my throat, and a mask covering my face. An oxygen mask. The foreign object caused me to slightly gag...

At once, the doctors turned to me. There was a flurry of voices...

"Good, he's awake..."

"Make sure he doesn't move too much..."

"Is his arm bandaged securely...?"

I groaned, and looked around the room. It's strange being in a hospital, with no one you love there...

Wait a minute... Flora....where was she...? Did they take her to another room? They did see here as she ran out of the house, right...?

"Excuse m-," I let out a hacking cough. The smoke from the fire still burned in my lungs, and I realized that despite the tube down my throat, it was still a bit hard to breathe. Fortunately, the doctor noticed me.

"Do you need something, sir?"

"During the ho- *cough* -use fire, a girl ran out of the house. Where is sh- *cough* -e now?"

I watched the doctor consult with the others. Finally, one walked up with me.

"Are you by chance speaking of the girl in the orange dress?" he asked me. I nodded slightly. "Why, a man came over as soon as she left. He said he would take care of her for now, and left a note explaining everything, saying you would understand who he was and you would come to take her home once you left here."

My eyes widened. "Hand me the note."

I unsealed it, and read it to myself.

"Dear Layton,

You must be shocked to find your dear Flora in my hands, hm? Don't worry, she's being taken care of...for now. However, I suggest you hurry and get out of there... The poor girl doesn't seem to have much time left, and...well, that hospital isn't very stable at the moment.

Nyeh heh heh!

Don Paolo.

PS: Look outside the window."

My eyes shifted to the left...and my throat tightened in fear around the tube. Strapped to the wall of the building was a bomb. With 2 minutes set on it. I looked back down at the letter. Something was written on the back.

"PSS: That seal on the envelope triggered the countdown, by the way. And trust me, there's no puzzle to solve on this one."

"Good luck!"

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ONOES IT'S A BOMB NOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IT'S NOT LIKE LAYTON CAN DIFFUSE IT.