Days passed where Amber Sweet thought, and Shilo did not receive any ideas for how to escape. A few ideas of her own entered her head, but all included some form of witch, which were sadly out of supply. Paranoia started to take hold of her, and Shilo became more and more irate with the lack of ideas and answers that she so sorely needed.
"What can you expect from me?" Amber asked bitterly. "I'm stuck in here all day, it's not like I'm at my prime."
"Plenty more time to think."
"But there isn't anything! I can't think of a way out of it all."
"Don't they always say that the simplest is always the best? You've probably thought of some simple things."
"Oh, ha ha. Well, you haven't exactly thought of anything, have you?"
"Nothing that'd work. I've never been all too good at these sort of plans."
"That's pretty obvious," Amber commented, but she paused thoughtfully. "There is one idea, but I'm pretty sure you'll say no."
"Like you know what I'd say to it? I'm riskier than you think."
"Not this risky."
"Just tell me it, Sweet." Amber sighed, but spoke nonchalantly.
"How about you die?"
"Is that the idea or a threat?"
"Both."
Shilo paused as well, thinking the idea through. She then shook her head.
"That's just stupid."
"Really? Quite sensible in my opinion. You wouldn't be the owner of GeneCo any more and I would be. It's exactly what you asked for."
"Yes, but I'd rather be alive to acknowledge it."
"You didn't specify that. I'm just saying, if you were dead, you wouldn't have to stay here."
"Can't you think of a way for me to do this without being dead?"
Amber smiled slightly, but seemed doubtful. All of a sudden, she nodded proudly.
"Fake it."
"My death?"
"Well, yeah, I'm not going to ask you to fake anything else." Shilo nodded lightly, thinking over the idea. She herself was quite doubtful, though it seemed pretty good. After all, no one would ask any questions if they thought she was dead. She could go anywhere if no one was looking for her.
"Why couldn't you recommend faking my death first?" she asked curiously. Amber shrugged.
"The thought didn't come to me."
"Next time, think about trying not to kill someone in your plans."
"I'll keep that in mind," Amber said, rolling her eyes. Her eyebrows raised slightly as Shilo started to turn away. "Wait, you don't wanna figure out how to do it?"
"I think I'd be best to decide that. I don't trust you that much, even now."
"A wise choice. I admit, I'd probably throw you off the roof."
"Which is why you're staying in there till I'm gone."
Amber nodded, accepting the fact quite easily as Shilo walked away back to her office. After all, there was no time to waste. Faking your death, she decided, was no easy task.
There were many ways to do it. She could pretend to poison herself, but then her body would just be sitting around. Shilo doubted she could get out of a coffin that easily. She could throw a dummy out of the window and pretend it was her, but that again would lead to some suspicion- especially if anyone could see that it wasn't actually human. She could throw a real body out of the window, but she didn't much like the idea of killing anyone.
With minimum ideas left, Shilo found that they all included a certain person. Though she loathed to do it, she found that she had no choice but to pick up the phone and call the one person that she had dreaded to think of again. The Graverobber. He was not at all shocked when she called him. Not in the least. Of course, it was entirely his ego that led him to think this. He didn't believe her at all when Shilo told him their conversation would have nothing to do with sex. It did, but each time it was only the Graverobber that brought it up.
"Do you wanna shut up for a minute?" Shilo snapped down the phone, having sent her guards from the room. "For the last time, I'm not going to fuck you."
"You say that now," came the reply, and Shilo could almost see a smug smile on his face. "Fine then, I'll humour you. What is it you want, then?"
"Your help."
"Help with-"
"Not that. Help with getting me out of here."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Nothing really. I just want you to be there when I give you notice."
"For-"
"Not sex. You've got a car or something, haven't you?"
"Unless you're looking for a quick getaway, yes."
"Well, I'll be kind of dead by that point, so I suppose I don't need a quick getaway." There was a pause down the line.
"Is this some kind of body disposal thing?"
"No, I'll technically be alive. Just kind of dead."
"Are you gonna explain this?"
"No. It's best not to. Just promise me you'll be around the building tomorrow night."
"You're not going to tell me a specific time either, are you?"
"Nope."
"Right," he said, and with that he put the phone down. Shilo stared into space for a bit before putting her own phone back on the receiver.
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The only things in Shilo's office that proved her death were two items. The first was a letter, which Shilo had written, telling the reader that a madman had entered the building undetected and forced her to write the letter. No one would have believed it, had she not also forced the Graverobber to bring an arm from the morgue. With that body part laying bloodily on the floor, everyone believed it.
Reluctantly on the guard's part, Amber was released. She did not know where her brothers had gone, but rumours had spread that they had decided on a career in show business. Amber wasn't quite sure why, but was certain they'd be popular. Even if they had to kill to get to the top. It seemed probable, after all.
Not a single person ever asked about Shilo Wallace again. No one saw the need to. She didn't stay in the city, and instead left an hour after getting out the building. Why an hour? Well, she had to repay the Graverobber some way or another. He never heard from her again. All he was certain of was that somewhere, she was teasing a guy just as much as she had with him.
How he envied that man.
God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh