South Tori High

September 24th X288

Mayor Banquet was about to enter his limousine when his phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Only the haunted know when their life is in danger.”

Banquet’s smile contorted his face, overwhelming his features with pleasure. Wrinkles folded over his eyes, pinching them into beady slivers.

Finally. . . An opponent worth crushing!

He let out a chuckle. “I was having so much fun; I was afraid you were going to leave without saying goodbye. A little birdy just told me the body found at the crime scene was a decoy. So I guess you did keep your end of the bargain. Right, ‘the devil himself,’ Mr. Selucius?”

“You should be careful with what you say. Otherwise, you’ll be the one who winds up caught,” Selucius said.

“Is that a declaration? I sure hope so. After all . . . I’m your biggest fan.” Banquet couldn’t contain himself.

“So that’s it. Your compulsion is just too great. How pathetic. At your core, you are nothing more than an egotist.”

“Really? That’s how you see me? How cruel. I hope young Cobblestone doesn’t share the same opinion.” Banquet looked over to Florian chasing a young boy wearing a hoodie into the auditorium.

Look at her go. Always busy.

“I now realize why this city is called Tarot Tori City. Not only is it your territory, but the people themselves are special. With advanced education and opportunities, a lot of unique people come out of the woodwork. They’re either right side up or upside down. For instance, you are the wheel of fortune, flipping back and forth like a roulette wheel full of bluster. The girl in her own world, with her therapist, the magician, who are both right side up. On the live stream, she seemed even more confident from when I last saw her. It looks like I couldn’t steal her spirit after all. I guess Dr. Ronaldo Von Nirvanas isn’t as incompetent as I made him out to be,” Selucius said.

“Please, underestimate me as much as you want. Just don’t underestimate my city, Mr. Selucius.”

“Neither should you, Mr. Banquet. We’re citizens of Tarot Tori City too.”

Mayor Banquet was approached again by the press. “Mayor Banquet! What’re your views of the dead body found at the crime scene? Is it true it’s a decoy?”

What’s this? That’s not public knowledge yet. Not even the police realized the body was a decoy. Unless. . .

“You wanted to play. Then let’s play.” Selucius hung up.

A woman with long brown hair, piercing red eyes, a white button shirt, and a black skirt was the one who’d asked the provocative question. She appeared to be an independent reporter mixed in with the official ones.

The official reporters grew silent. None of them expected a muckraker.

Is this Clarissa Lantern? This woman? Is she questioning me about her own dead body found at a crime scene? Banquet tried his hardest to contain his laughter. This is just so much fun. He grinned.

“The police department hasn’t made that public yet. But yes, a dead body was found at the crime scene. Before making it public, they wanted first to identify the dead body and notify the next of kin. As you said, if the body’s a decoy, I can speculate it’s an already deceased body from the morgue. You’ll have to ask the police for further information.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

-POP-

Clarissa Lantern had a smile from ear to ear.

“The people must know. Who were the ones targeting your daughter to ruin your reelection campaign?”

Hahaha, it was your organization. But I can’t say that. Who should I blame this on? Hmmm? “My best guess is the hundred-billion-dollar company Fossil Burn Industrial. They probably see our city as a threat since we’re the only city in the world that no longer needs to rely on fossil fuels.”

-POP-

The reporters gasped, inhaling the bubble’s released particles.

“Are you implying that we are under attack?” Clarissa said, instigating further.

It’s a shame, really. I was saving this for my victory speech, but . . .

“Absolutely right! But not by Fossil Burn Industrial, but by nature itself. Honestly, part of me wishes to let this matter die without making any more waves. However, recent events have uncovered a prevalent problem that can no longer be ignored. As seen in the footage of the burning half-submerged hideout, our city is not sinking, the sea levels are rising. The reason for not demolishing those buildings were to show the physical proof to the world that even our city is affected by the decisions made by the rest of the world.

“Every citizen, the previous mayors, and all of us here today dedicated our lives to making this city what it is today. Tarot Tori City’s a miracle, and I would love to share the methods to accomplish its status. I want the entire nation to experience what we have achieved and make it so we can preserve our investments and sacrifices.”

“Does that mean you plan to-” The other reporters began to blast questions, drowning out Clarissa Lantern’s. “I’m not done yet! Move! Out of the way!”

“I’ll most certainly make many enemies along the way. So please, I ask you,” Mayor Banquet pointed to Clarissa Lantern, the press, and the cameras, “work with me to make the next great leap forward for humankind.”

-POP-

🙠🙢

Clarissa Lantern stomped away. “He straight up gave us a job offer while we were trying to ruin his image. The nerve of him. He turned our sting operation into an incrimination of Fossil Burn Industrial. Now the FBI will do his dirty work for him by suppressing the movements of Fossil Burn Industrial with an investigation.” She decimated a water bottle with her foot, stomping repeatedly.

“Fossil Burn vould have been his enemy eventually. He drew de first punch. He’s dangerous.” Irina Halt prepped her motorcycle.

“Using underhanded tactics like this, he’s treating politics like an absolute joke.” Clarissa put on a helmet. “Damn Conquistador of Politics. We still have so much work to do for the big one. I hope Florian doesn’t tell my kids. The text she sent me was so sweet. Florian really thought I was dead, didn’t she? She’s such an innocent girl. I could have taught her so much.” Clarissa cheered up, thinking about Florian.

“Ve got to help Sticks.” Irina revved the motorcycle.

“Oh, Florian’s chasing him. How do I look?” Clarissa posed.

“No one vill be able to tell vho you are vith de disguise and de helmet on.”

“A woman’s gotta represent. It’s called femme fatale. When Florian saw me at the hideout, I was dressed in rags, and my hair was a mess.”

“I’m flooring de pedal.” Irina pressed the gas.

“You’ll never understand.”

The two rode the motorcycle over a low car. Irina pulled the front wheel up, ramping them up the vehicle into the air. They smashed through the glass auditorium window, disrupting the commotion inside.

🙠🙢

The two landed on the stage, startling everyone.

Even though they were wearing helmets, Florian saw the octopus in its lionfish form.

“Clarissa Lantern.”

Next to the vehicle was a giant scarred cheetah with steam emitting from its body.

“Irina Halt.”

Sticks waltzed over the rows of chairs, vaulting over to the bike.

“Yes! My boyfriend is getting away. But who the hell are those two ladies?” Choco’s eyes pulsated, trying to escape her head. Her mixed feelings turned into rage.

“You’re not getting away!” Florian yelled.

“Let’s do this again sometime,” Clarissa said.

They picked up Sticks and drove out the rear exit doors of the auditorium, leaving everyone in the dust.

The roar of the engine grew to silence as the distance widened.

Florian, Hope, Sergeant Honest, Miss Fumblehouse, Officer Keen, and Choco all lined up outside the doorway, gazing at the afternoon sky.

Florian raised her fist. “Just you wait. We’ll catch you all!”