Shen left the room and went towards the Library once more. He bought a cake on the way and gave it to the Librarian at the entrance counter with a wink. The wink was returned. The accomplice would do it again it seems.

Meanwhile, in the mansion, a maid was running frantically. Behind her was something. Something horrible. Ghosts. Dark shades with red flames for eyes moving erratically towards her. They had been chasing her for two hours by now. Why was she not outside of the Mansion yet?!

At this moment, the specters spaced themselves slightly to reveal the figure of an handsome man in purple armor wielding an emerald staff with a blue crystal ball at its top. This man was Atem, one of the house masters for who she worked for. Well, one of those she was hired to spy on.

It seemed that her spying had been too good for once. How could she have been so stupid as to accept this kind of job?! Spying on people trying to become rank A delvers with her inexistant strength? Foolishness! And now, it seems that she is paying the price.

Atem: Why are you still running, beautiful miss? Why don't you join me for some tea and a chat?

Maid ???: Go away! You monster! You! You! You Heretic!!!

Atem: Heretic...*sigh*...I don't see why you would say that? This is very hurtful to my feelings, you know, young miss.

Maid ???: Go away! Go away! Leave me alone!

Atem: It seems like you still don't plan to have some tea with me. A shame~A shame~

As his last words were being said, he disappeared once more into the mass of specters and the maid tried to flee. She kept running through the corridor but never seemed to reach its end. It went on for so long. After some time, she began to hear Atem's voice from inside the mass of specters. He was singing merrily:

"One way or another~ I'm gonna find you~

One way or another~ I'm gonna win you~

One way or another~ I'm gonna get you~

One way or another~ I'm gonna kill you~"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The creepy song, the endless run and the stalking specters were enough to mentally break her. It did not take much longer for the poor young woman to stop running and fall on her knees crying.

Atem walked out of the specters once more. He was smiling and gently humming his own dark tune. As he skipped to reach her, he asked:

Atem: So, how about some tea now, young miss?

Maid ???: Please! Please! I'm begging you! Let me live! I will do anything! I will leave the capital! I will-

He placed a finger on her mouth and gently 'Shh' 'd her. Then, he carressed her face gently and whispered in her ear:

Atem: For now, let us get some tea.

Then he turned around and went towards the specters. He left a few words behind:

Atem: Follow me now or die.

She got up, still crying, and followed him. After but a moment, they reached the room she fled room, the dining room. She had been running for hours yet she was this close to the room? How was this even possible? What was going on?

Atem: Sit.

She did as ordered and was now facing the monster who was the source of her doom. To think the spy was caught this easily.

Maid ???: Did you know I was a spy?

Atem: Yes. From the start.

He snapped his fingers and a set of tea making appeared in the middle of the table. He ordered her "Pour it" and she obliged out of fear.

They knew she was a spy from the start? Why did they hire her then? This wasn't making any sense!

Maid ???: Why?

Atem sipped on his tea before asking back:

Atem: Why what, sweetie?

Maid ???: Why hiring me then?

Atem seemed to think for a long time before he answered her:

Atem: For sport, I guess? It was amusing to see mices like you scurrying about. You were truly unfortunate to hear us this time. A shame~ A shame~

For sport? For sport?! What did her life amount to to those people? Was she just a toy?! Someone to laugh at?! These people were truly monsters. And she had been caught by such a monster.

Maid ???: Now what? A-are you going to k-k-kill me?

Atem: Yes.

The maid began to tremble. Atem grinned as he sipped his tea. This was truly what he enjoyed the most and why he loved so much to do this. Messing with the minds of people was such a delightful pasttime.

Atem: Unless...

And there she would go, frantic, asking for him to finish her sentence. Just like all the ones before and all those after her. Yes...Right about...Now.

Maid ???: Unless what?! Please! Please tell me! I will do anything! Just spare my life!

While he would have wished to play longer, this was business in its own way and he couldn't risk being seen by even more mices. He placed the teacup down and stared straight at her. Then, he said:

Atem: Who sent you?

Moments later, Atem opened his eyes. He was in his room and had a hand on the head of the young maid. She was dead now. Brain dead.

Atem: *sigh*...A shame, truly. She broke so easily, i did not even get to have much fun. Fortunately, there are more mices to play with. I wonder when i will get to enjoy them~

Atem: Too bad Adeline is not here, I could have asked her who this Duke Kennington is. She likely knows. Well, she will probably need until tomorrow morning. Should I make her dream of happy times with us tonight?

Atem: No, let's not. If Master were to discover that I used Magic on her, he would dismantle me... *sigh* Back to boredom, I guess. At least, i will finally get to use the Nightmare again from now on.

Atem: It feels truly great to be free!