Another loud, demanding knock rattled the door, and Rune took a deep breath before slowly opening it, her senses on high alert. The dimly lit night revealed a silhouette on their doorstep, a figure cloaked in darkness.

The figure on their doorstep, Runebelle and her mother were met with the unexpected sight of Mrs. Pearl. Her presence brought both surprise and unease to their already tense situation.

Mrs. Pearl peered at them both of them with her gaze settling on their makeshift armor and faces looking like they are ready for war. She raised an eyebrow, "Well, this is an interesting sight. What in the world are you two wearing?"

Rune crossed her arms and responded with a glare, "What are you doing here, Mrs. Pearl? You're one of the last people I expected to see."

Mrs. Pearl sighed and raised one hand towards her chin. "I came because something doesn't add up. Your case, the evidence, it all seemed too perfect for the prosecution. I had to investigate further, and I stumbled upon some disturbing information."

Runebelle's mother held a distrustful glare upon Mrs.Pearl. but after a brief pause, she nodded and stepped aside, allowing Mrs. Pearl to enter their home.

Mrs. Pearl nodded appreciatively and stepped over the threshold, her keen eyes scanning the interior of the house.

Runebelle, her mother Rune, and Mrs. Pearl settled into seats in the living room.

Mrs. Pearl wasted no time in beginning to talk. She spoke as soon as she sat down. "Rune, I know what's happening tonight, and it's one of the reasons I'm here."

Rune's eyes narrowed. She exchanged a quick glance with her daughter before responding,

"What are you talking about, Mrs. Pearl?"

Mrs. Pearl leaned forward. "I've uncovered some unsettling information, Rune. It seems you've been involved in some shady dealings, and it's all connected to tonight's events. Am I wrong?"

Rune's face paled, and her eyes darted nervously. Runebelle could sense the fear and guilt in her mother’s face.

"What kind of dealings?" Rune asked.

Mrs. Pearl leaned back in her chair, her gaze steady. "I've found evidence of your involvement in activities that could have serious consequences. You've been trying to protect Runebelle, but your methods have been questionable at best."

Runebelle's heart sank as she listened to Mrs. Pearl' revelations. She glanced at her mother with confusion.

Mrs. Pearl continued, "Rune, I've been investigating a company called Shadowcroft. They're not what they seem. They pose as a lending company, but in reality, they claim people's lives. They trap individuals in contracts, and once you sign, they change the terms, making it nearly impossible to escape. I found evidence of them changing the terms after you signed, Rune."

Mrs. Pearl pulled out the black card with the white 'S' that had been presented in court. She placed it on the coffee table between them. "This card also belongs to the corporation."

"That card," Runebelle said slowly, pointing at the black card with the white 'S,' "you said it was found with Mrs. Lorraine. That's what you told the court, right?"

Mrs. Pearl hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, that's what I said, but that was a lie."

Rune's eyes narrowed. "Mrs. Pearl, why lie about that?”

Mrs. Pearl sighed, rubbing her temples. She considered her next words carefully. "When I initially said the card was found with Mrs. Lorraine, it was a strategic move. I was trying to draw attention away from certain connections. The truth is, I found this card while investigating you, Rune."

Rune's face paled. "You found it while investigating me? Why would you investigate me?"

Mrs. Pearl leaned forward, "Rune, your behavior during the case raised red flags. I had to dig deeper, and what I found led me to Shadowcroft. I didn't expect the reaction from Mrs. Lorraine, but we will get back to her in a moment.”

Rune began to stammer. Mrs. Pearl noticed her and took a deep sigh. “Listen, I know you were trying to fix things, to protect Runebelle. But I also know you got a job recently, and you were fired suspiciously fast. It's clear that Shadowcroft was involved, and they're coming for you."

Mrs. Pearl trembled upon continuing, "I almost fell into their trap, Rune. I had to visit their office on business, and they nearly forced me into signing a contract. It was only through sheer luck and my experience as a lawyer that I managed to escape their grasp. They are ruthless, and they will stop at nothing to claim what they believe is theirs."

She leaned in even closer. "Now, I believe you have a note from Shadowcroft, don't you, Rune? A threat claiming your body now belongs to them. They're coming for it tonight, and you need to be prepared."

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Runebelle's eyes widened big and she turned to her mother. "Mom, is it true? Do you have that note?

Rune hesitated for a moment. Her hands trembled to reach into her coat pocket. She pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to Runebelle with a frown.

Runebelle unfolded the note and began to read its ominous contents. It confirmed Mrs. Pearl' words, detailing the sinister intent of Shadowcroft.

Mrs. Pearl slide back. "Rune, there's something else I've learned during my investigation. It's something that's been nagging at me since the court case."

She fixed her gaze on Runebelle's mother and continued, "You called Mrs. Lorraine a ‘predator’ after the court proceedings, Rune. As odd as it was, I couldn't dismiss it. I delved deeper into her background, and I've uncovered a troubling connection. Mrs. Lorraine, despite her friendly exterior, is a part of Shadowcroft."

Rune's eyes widened in shock alongside Runebelle’s. Mrs. Pearl pressed on, "I believe, Rune that you've known about Mrs. Lorraine's involvement with Shadowcroft for some time. It's why you called her a predator, isn't it?"

Rune hesitated for a moment. She avoided making eye contact with Mrs. Pearl and her daughter. She finally nodded after a minute went by with tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, yes it’s all true…. I just… I…couldn't bring myself to tell Runebelle. I was trying to protect her from the truth."

Runebelle turned to her mother with her face about to burst into tears, "Mom, is that what you did? Did you sign a contract with Shadowcroft? Is that why they're after you?"

Rune, unable to hold back from crying any longer, nodded silently. She reached out and held her daughter's hand.

Mrs. Pearl raised one finger,"I think I’ve actually solved this puzzle. Rune, you were in the records room of the proceeding station because of Shadowcroft. They manipulated the situation, and with their influence, the prosecutor was persuaded to allow it. Knowing I was handling the defense, they believed they could ensure an easy win, and they did."

"The entire court case, Runebelle, was orchestrated by Shadowcroft. They were after your mother, and they used the legal system to try and claim her. And now, they're coming for her tonight."

"What do we do now?" Runebelle asked.

"We need to act fast," Mrs.Pearl affirmed. "If I had discovered this information even a day earlier, I would have been here yesterday. But we can't dwell on that now. We must focus on what we can do toni--"

The sudden sound of screeching tires and crashing metal outside jolted them all from their conversation. It was as if chaos had erupted on the streets just beyond the confines of the house.

Runebelle, her mother Rune, and Mrs. Pearl exchanged worried glances before rushing to the window. What they saw was a terrifying site.

Several black SUVs had collided with one another, forming a barricade across the road. Men in dark suits and shades emerged from the vehicles. What alerted Runebelle was the fact that they all had shades.

‘Uh oh, they mean business,’ she thought.

The leader of the group, a tall and imposing figure with spiky blue hair stepped forward and approached the front door of the house.

Outside, the chaos continued to unfold with more cars screeching to a halt and people shouting. It was as if the very night had been disrupted by the intrusion.

The blue-haired boss turned around to face his followers, with disappointment rather than anger. He spoke with a calm yet stern tone, "Ehhh this type o thing happens every time, doesn't it?"

His followers, clearly flustered by the chaotic scene they had caused approached him with a salute.

"We're sorry, boss! It won't happen again. We were supposed to be discreet."

The boss let out a resigned sigh and nodded. "I understand, but we can't afford any more mistakes. Let's focus on the task at hand."

With that, he turned back toward the house and broke down the door with a strong kick.

The blue-haired boss spoke with an air of authority as he addressed Rune,

"You can call me Bossman, or just Boss for short. It's quite simple, really."

He continued, his tone becoming more serious, "Rune, you broke the terms of the contract, and now we're here to bring you in."

Runebelle stepped forward. "You won't take my mom! We won't let you."

Bossman looked at her with some annoyance. "We don't want the girl, just the mother. She's the one who signed the contract.”

Mrs. Pearl stepped forward to confront Bossman. "You can't just barge into someone's home like this. This is illegal!"

Bossman, unfazed, narrowed his eyes at her. "Ah, I remember you. You visited our office earlier today, and you said you would think about the contract."

Mrs. Pearl shook her head firmly. "That never happened. I would never agree to such a thing."

Bossman's followers exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that they might have made a mistake.

Bossman turned to his followers and asked, "Hey guys, is that woman Mrs. Pearl?"

His followers nodded at the same time, confirming her identity.

Bossman raised an eyebrow at Mrs. Pear. His tone became menacing.

"Now, Mrs. Pearl, you see, we are a company of our word. We offered you an exclusive opportunity, and you agreed. Changing your mind is not something we take lightly."

Mrs. Pearl remained resolute, "Your words mean nothing. You tried to force me into signing that contract, and I refused. I won't be intimidated by your lies!"

Bossman's eyes narrowed as he scanned the room, finally landing on Runebelle and her mother Rune. A sinister smile curled on his lips as an idea formed in his mind.

"Well," he mused, "since Mrs. Pearl here seems to have amnesia about our little agreement, how about we take some collateral? Yes, that should do nicely."

Runebelle's heart raced as she watched the ominous figure approach them. She clutched her wooden sword tightly.

With a defiant shout, she drew her sword and stepped forward, blocking their path. "You're not taking anyone! We won't let you!"

“A Toy?!”

Bossman laughed.

The room filled with tension as Runebelle faced off against the imposing figures of Shadowcroft, but what did she expect to do with a wooden sword?

While Rune and Runebelle stood together, facing the looming threat of Shadowcroft, Rune's eyes met Mrs. Pearl', and she could see the fear in the lawyer's face. It was in that moment, as they prepared to defend themselves that Rune found herself able to speak.

She took a deep breath and said,"Mrs. Pearl, I... I want to apologize. I know I treated you poorly during the court case, and I should have trusted you. It's too late to make amends now, but I want you to know that I'm grateful for what you're doing. You didn't have to come here tonight. I'm sorry for the way I acted."

Rune continued."If things don't go our way tonight, please know that I appreciate everything you tried to do and I'm thankful for your help. You're a better person than I gave you credit for, and I'm sorry it took this long for me to see it."

Mrs. Pearl looked at Rune with Surprise coming to her face.