Chapter 20: The Great Escape That Wasn’t
1163 Words
Arden chose to make her escape exactly at 10:07 a.m.
This was done after:
1. His headache decreased from “near-death” to “mild curse.”
2. He verified that there were no bars on the windows.
3. He reminded himself that he was in a mafia mansion, so he had absolutely no survival instincts.
“I’m leaving,” Arden whisper-whisper-whispered dramatically to the empty guest room.
“I will return to society. I will reclaim my normal life. I will—”
His stomach growled.
“.I will eat later.”
He crept to the door.
Slowly
Carefully
"Like a spy."
He opened it a crack—
—and made eye contact with a bodyguard standing still outside.
They were staring at each other.
The guard blinked.
Arden froze.
“…Hi?"
The guardsman nodded in politeness. “Good morning, Mister Arden.”
WHY DID THEY ALL KNOW HIS NAME.
“I—uh—nice weather,” Arden
“Yes"
Arden waved down the hall. “Thus, if I were to… hypothetical. walk down that way?”
"You would be stopped."
“No"
“…Oh"
“Cool cool cool. Just checking,” Arden nodded.
He slowly closed the door.
The instant it closed, he slapped his hands over his mouth to scream silently into them.
"ABORT MISSION. ABORT
---
ESCAPE PLAN #2: WINDOWS ARE FREEDOM
Arden went over to the window.
It overlooked the garden.
A really pretty garden.
With fountains.
And Arden peek.
Men.
Everywhere, there are standing.
Viewing.
Menacingly polite.
He opened the window anyway.
Fresh air struck his face.
He leaned out—
A man below looked up.
They locked gazes.
The man waved.
Arden waved back.
…“This is a prison,” Arden whispered.
The man below spoke quietly. “Sir, please move back from the window.”
Arden let out a startled cry and closed the window.
---
ESCAPE PLAN#3 : DISGUISE
"There's a gun!" Arden rifled
Suits. Pricy overcoats. All of it screaming, I own stocks
He wore a black coat that was far too large for him.
Wear sunglasses.
Looked in the mirror.
“‘…I look like a child pretending to be divorced.’”
Perfect.
He slipped out again.
There were more people in the corridor this time.
The Mafia members moved quietly, efficiently.
Some people spoke in hushed tones.
There were others who carried documents
All of them were shocked at the sight of him.
Then—
They bowed.
Every single one of them.
Arden panicked.
“NO—PLEASE—STOP"
Too late.
A voice murmured, “Good morning"
“He’s awake,” said another.
Whispers began.
“That’s him." “The drunk one." “The yoga guy."
Arden’s soul screamed.
He attempted to walk in a casual manner.
Caused him to trip on nothing at all.
A man spotted him right away.
“THANK YOU I AM FRAGILE,” Arden blurt.
The man blinked.
“…Yes
"I'm—uh—looking for the bathroom?" he said, pointing behind
“I’ll escort you,” the man gestured.
“I DO NOT REQUIRE ESCORT FOR URINATION.”
“You do here.”
“For safety.”
“…FROM THE TOILET
*The man did not answer.*
THE MEETING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE INCLUDED ARDEN
As it turned out,
Arden was escorted.
Not to the bathroom.
“But into a large room.”
With a long table.
And many, many men are already seated.
Arden froze.
“…This all looks too familiar, tragically so.”
“He’s here,” a voice said
“Another one said, “
A third muttered, “Why is he wearing sunglasses indoors?”
Arden shouted back, “I AM LOST.”
"Kaito was not there."
Which was worse.
Because now Arden was alone.
The other man gestured in turn.
Arden surveyed the area. “At… where?"
“…Anywhere"
Arden sat.
Immediately.
Palm inward.
Back straight.
As when a cheating student.
The meeting continued.
“We'll have to change the delivery—” “The competing family is relocating—” “Security will upgrade—”
Arden raised a finger.
Everyone froze.
A sense of collective dread filled the room.
“…Yes?” one man questioned tentatively.
Arden cleared his throat. “I think… I am in the wrong room.”
Silence.
"A man sighed. "Yes.""
“Great,” Arden said, relieved. “I will leave.”
“No
“…Oh"
They stared at him.
One of them leaned forward. "You were at the bar last night," he said.
“Yes
“You spoke freely.”
“I-"
“You weren’t afraid.”
“I WAS DRUNK.”
The man smiled. “That is honest,” he said.
Arden whimpered
---
Questions began.
- Un
Terrifying
Arden panicked. “I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE CHAIRS.”
The chairs looked quite uncomfortable.
Someone laughed.
Another just shook her head. “He's impossible.”
“But refreshing.” “Another, „…But
Arden slapped the table. “I AM NOT A THERAPY SESSION.”
A man sneered. “Well, tell us, Arden, why do you hang around Kaito.”
Arden froze.
“.He won’t let me leave.”
Laughter burst forth
“That's true.” “He chose you.” “Poor kid.”
“I DID NOT CONSENT,”Arden protested.
And then doors opened.
Kaito walked in
Silence.
Immediate. Absolute.
Kaito halted when he noticed Arden.
In sunglasses.
At the table.
Being among the mafia leaders.
“…Why,” Kaito said calmly, “are you here.”
Arden pointed. “I TRIED TO ESCAPE.”
Kaito closed his eyes.
“Of course you did.”
Kaito motioned for everyone to exit.
No one argued.
As the room emptied, Arden slumped.
“I AM SORRY"
“You climbed out of a window.”
“I LOOKED-"
‘You attempted disguise.’
"I COMMITTED"
“You interrupted a meeting.”
“They asked me questions.”
Kaito let out a deep sigh. “You can't just-
Arden looked up. “Ever. Never"
"What-?"
Arden face-planted on the table. “I AM A HOSTAGE WITH SNACKS.”
Kaito leaned in. “You are safe.”
“I WAS SAFE AT HOME.”
“You almost died.”
“..
---
Later, Arden was escorted back.
Again.
The staff, this time, smiled at him.
One provided snacks.
Another asked, ‘Feeling better?’
“WHY DO THEY LIKE ME,” Arden whispered to Kaito.
"You survived."
“That IS A LOW BAR.”
“You set it.”
Arden ceased walking. “.Am I really not allowed to leave,” she said.
Kaito met his eyes. “Not yet.”
Arden sighed. “.
Then pointed wearily. "Can I at least have some milk tea."
Kaito nodded. "I'll have it brought."
Arden smiled. “With pearls?”
“Yes"
Arden smiled.
“…I hate that this works.”
Kaito smirked lightly
-
However, as Kaito’s problem
And somehow—
This worried the other players.
- Writer
