TWs: Lockpicking, mention of killing/death, a gun (only for show right now), trespassing, and self-deprecation at the end. Stay safe :)
"Larry's room?" Bing spoke, eyes wide as he stared at Arthur in bewilderment.
"Yes, Larry's room," Arthur confirmed slowly.
Matt's morning was all the same. He was going to hang out with Tom all day, but the phone call from his father sounded urgent, so he canceled on the bassist reluctantly.
The ginger figured his father wanted him to be the 'mediator' between him and Bing.
"Why do you want to see his room?" Bing crossed his arms.
"Have you ever seen his room?" Arthur countered.
"Uh- well- no..." The brunette stuttered.
"And why is that?"
Bing was momentarily quiet, thinking about why Larry didn't let him into his room.
"For obvious reasons." He huffed, then averted his gaze, "I think."
Arthur glared, then snapped his fingers, "Matthew."
"Right here," Matt affirmed.
"Where is Larry's room?" Arthur turned his head toward him.
"It's at the end of the hall, on your right. It says 'Do not enter' in bold Sharpie." Matt stated.
"All the more intriguing," The older ginger muttered, "Show me where it is."
Matt nodded, gently pulling Arthur by his arm down the hall. Bing followed them, albeit hesitantly.
"This is the door." The younger ginger told him, peering at the big, bolded words on the door.
"Is it locked?" Arthur questioned.
"Uh, yeah." Matt frowned as he twisted the knob.
"Great, either we have to break the door down, or one of you knows how to pick a lock."
Matt pulled metal clips from his hair, "I do, actually."
Inserting the clips into the lock, he slowly twisted them until the lock clicked.
"Almost..." He mumbled, turning the clips further. He heard a clicking sound within the door, causing him to back up, "Got it!"
"Since when have you known to lockpick?" Bing asked.
"Tord taught me how."
"Of course he did."
Matt turned back to the door, twisting the knob and creaking the door open.
"Huh, this isn't what I expected," Bing spoke as he glanced around the room from the doorway.
"Me either." Matt blinked, taking in the bland room.
It looked like a standard room. The beige walls were bare, and the black bedsheets were neatly tucked on the bed. There was a desk against the left wall, a bookshelf on the opposite wall, and the bed was in the upper right of the room. A few inches from the bed was a door, presumably the closet.
"Matt, be my eyes for a moment," Arthur said, stepping into the room.
The younger nodded, following him into the room. Bing stood quietly at the doorway, opting to observe from afar.
"What am I searching for?" Matt inquired, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.
"Anything. Start with the obvious places to hide things." Arthur told him.
'Obvious...' Matt hummed, then looked at the desk, 'That would be obvious.'
He stepped closer to the desk, staring at the pile of papers scattered across it.
Rifling through the papers, he picked up a vanilla folder labeled 'RA.' Opening it, he saw multiple newspaper clippings about the Red Army and information Larry had on the members, particularly the General, the Lieutenant General, and Tord. Matt quirked an eyebrow as he noticed two papers for the Lieutenant General, one for the guy Pat killed and the other for a woman.
She had a close likeness to Tord- caramel hair and silver eyes.
'I'll ask him about it later.' Matt closed the folder, picking up the other one on the desk labeled 'BA.'
Matt peeked into the folder, his eyes peering at the tiny map with red circles on it. He turned the page, eyeing the information about the Black Leader.
"What...?" He muttered, confused about the information on it.
"What is it?" Arthur turned his head toward him.
"They don't use their real names in the Black Army, only codenames," Matt answered, turning the page again.
"What are they?"
"The Black Leader goes by 'Corvidae,' and then there's another person called 'Mad Scientist,' but Larry seemed to have gotten both names. The 'Mad Scientist' is Doctor... John."
"John?" Arthur's eyes widened, turning his head down, "Could it be the same person...?"
Matt hummed, taking out a picture of the supposed Dr. John, "He has blonde curly hair with circular glasses."
"That's the same guy." Arthur nodded, "He went to high school with me and William."
"It doesn't say where the base is located, though there's only this map with red circles."
"Take the map; I'm sure we'll need it."
Matt nodded, pocketing the tiny map. He opened the desk drawers next, hoping to find something of value.
His eyes widened as he caught sight of a bracelet. Observing it closer, he realized there was a skull charm on it.
'It looks familiar...' He picked it up, eyeing it carefully, 'Didn't I see someone wearing a bracelet like this?'
Matt examined the bracelet. It looked aged, and there was dust forming along it.
He shrugged, pocketing the bracelet.
'Let's see...' The ginger walked over to the bookshelf, scanning the titles when he spotted something on the shelf, keeping the books from toppling, 'Why is he using a gun to prop the books?'
"Find anything?" Arthur spoke.
"Uh- no," Matt responded.
"Alright then, we'll take what we have and go from there."
Nodding, Matt went back to the desk, picking up the folders he found. Bing was still hanging out by the doorway, moving to the side as Arthur and Matt walked out.
Glancing at the room again, Bing sighed as he closed the door.
Arthur pushed the front gate open, walking along the pavement. He carefully guided himself to the front door, unlocking it with a key.
He adjusted the vanilla folders in his grasp, stepping inside the mansion.
He was about to go to the basement to study the folders further when his AI spoke up.
"Sir, there's been a breach of security. I'm detecting a heat signature outside in the garden." She spoke.
"Garden?" Arthur quirked a brow, "What do they want there?"
"I don't know, but there's something wrong..." C trailed off, "The signature keeps appearing and disappearing."
"Odd." Arthur placed the folders on the coffee table, heading for the back door.
He twisted the door open, stepping outside quietly.
"Where are they now?" Arthur muttered.
"By the gazebo- on the left side."
Arthur shuffled that way, hearing a ruffling noise from the azalea shrubs.
"They're crouched down, seeming to be searching for something," C stated.
'What could be in the bush?' Arthur thought, clearing his throat, "May I help you?"
"Ah-!" The stranger yelped, turning around, "Uh-"
The small man ran for it, running behind a tree.
"The tree behind the gazebo."
Arthur nodded, swiftly walking over to the tall tree. Feeling around the area, he stopped.
"Is he still here?"
C scanned the area, "It doesn't appear so, sir. I can't get a signature."
"Do you know what he looked like?"
"I have the data stored in my hard drive."
"Good." Arthur nodded, taking a step forward and stopping once he felt a chill down his spine, "What was that?"
"What was what, sir?"
Arthur frowned, making his way inside, "Nothing."
Seeing the door close, the stranger let out a breath, looking down at his transparent figure.
'At least I'm good at one thing...' He thought, raising his black respirator mask to cover his face, 'I can't even hide my identity...'
Getting out his phone, he saw a missed call from Rave. He sighed as he scrolled through the messages.
'I miss my friends...'