Chapter 18: The Unraveling

The sun was beginning to rise over Edge City, painting the skyline in soft hues of pink and orange. Stanley, Tina, and Milo stood together outside the Coco Bongo, the chaos of the night still fresh in their minds. The streets were eerily quiet now, a stark contrast to the pandemonium that had erupted just hours earlier.

Tina brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and smiled at Stanley. "Well, Stanley, you really came through tonight. You're braver than I gave you credit for."

Stanley blushed, shuffling awkwardly. "It's, uh... It's all thanks to Milo and Ace. Without them, I wouldn't have had the courage."

She knelt down to pet Milo, who wagged his tail enthusiastically. "You're a good boy, Milo. And as for you, Stanley," she said, standing back up, "maybe I'll give you a call sometime. We could... I don't know, have dinner?"

Stanley's eyes lit up. "Really? That'd be great! I mean, whenever you're free, no rush!"

Tina chuckled. "We'll see." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before walking away, her heels clicking against the pavement. Stanley watched her go, his heart doing flips.

Ace, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, leaned against a lamppost, fiddling with the mask. He looked at Stanley and smirked. "Well, Romeo, now that you've had your Hollywood ending, it's time for me to return this little beauty to its secret lair." He waved the mask dramatically. "I've got just the spot."

"You sure you don't need help?" Stanley asked.

Ace gave him a cocky grin. "Stanley, my friend, the day I need help is the day pigs fly, ice cream melts slower, and cats learn to juggle. I'll be fine."

With that, Ace strolled off into the morning light, the mask tucked securely under his arm. Stanley watched him go, a pang of guilt creeping into his chest. He realized he'd never properly thanked Ace for risking his life to save Milo and Tina. "I'll thank him later," Stanley muttered to himself. "After I've had some sleep."

Ace arrived at his cluttered apartment, yawning as he unlocked the door. "Home, sweet jungle," he said, stepping inside. He tossed his keys onto a table and held up the mask, admiring its sinister design. "You and me, we've had some laughs, haven't we?"

Before he could find a hiding spot, a loud crash echoed from the hallway. Ace spun around just in time to see a group of masked men burst through his door.

"Well, this is a surprise!" Ace quipped, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I wasn't expecting company, but if you're here for my famous guacamole recipe, you're outta luck!"

The thugs didn't laugh. One of them swung a crowbar, and everything went black for Ace.

Hours later, Stanley found himself pacing his apartment, Milo watching him with concerned eyes. The guilt had become unbearable. "I never got the chance to thank him properly," Stanley said aloud. "He deserves to know how much we appreciate him. Right, Milo?"

Milo barked in agreement.

"Alright then," Stanley said, grabbing his coat. "Let's go see Ace."

They made their way to Ace's apartment, which was suspiciously quiet. Stanley knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He tried again, harder this time. Still nothing.

"That's weird," Stanley muttered. He turned the doorknob and found it unlocked. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside cautiously. The place was a mess—even more so than usual. Furniture was overturned, papers were scattered everywhere, and the distinct smell of trouble lingered in the air.

Milo sniffed around, his nose darting from one corner to another. Suddenly, he let out an excited bark and darted under a desk. Stanley crouched down and found Milo tugging at a small slip of paper. He pulled it out and examined it: a receiving tag from the warehouse they had discovered earlier, where the shipments of masks had been stored.

Stanley's brow furrowed. "This must have fallen out of someone's pocket when they took Ace." He stood, clutching the tag tightly. "They must have taken him back there."

Without wasting another second, Stanley grabbed his phone and called Tina. She picked up on the second ring.

"Stanley? I wasn't expecting a call so soon. What's going on?" Tina asked.

"It's Ace," Stanley said, his voice urgent. "He's been abducted. And the mask... it's gone. But Milo found a clue."

"A clue? What kind of clue?"

"A receiving tag for the warehouse Ace, Milo, and I went to investigate before. I think that's where they took him."

There was a pause on the other end. "Meet me at my place," Tina finally said. "We'll figure this out together."

Stanley nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Alright. I'll be there soon."

As he hung up, he looked down at Milo. "Good job, buddy. We're going to save Ace... and maybe the city, too."

Milo barked in agreement, his tail wagging. With renewed determination, Stanley headed out, ready to face whatever came next.

To be continued...