Spy School: Royal Flush (Fan-Made)

Chapter 5

Castle Valent
May 14th
1930 Hours

After combing through the crowd for half an hour, there he was.
Murray Hill. All dressed up for the party.
He had a (surprisingly clean) white tux with a striped blue tie and embroidery decorating the whole thing.
"Glad I finally get to meet you in person..."
He bent down and kissed my hand, almost flirtatiously.
I felt my face go completely red.
I tried to form words, but they wouldn't come out of my mouth.
"Your Majesty, do you mind if I offer Prince Quincy a dance?" He asked.
"Of course! Go ahead! Have fun, dear!" She replied happily.
Before I knew it, Murray had taken my hand and whisked me to the dance floor.
He took my hands into his and started dancing.
Not knowing what else to do in the moment, I let him take the lead.
He pushed me back and forth in a swing-like dance, spinning me in circles.
Dizziness and confusion clouded my brain as Murray kept dancing.
Then he grabbed my waist and pulled me into a dip.
After a few seconds, he pulled me back up, his face uncomfortably close to mine.
Murray held onto my waist with one hand, and held one of my hands in the other as the music changed and the waltz started.
He leaned in close to my ear and murmured.
"I know it's you, Ripley."
I was unable to hold back a gasp.
Fortunately, that comment snapped me out of my daze.
I tried to sound confused.
"What are you talking about? Who's this...Ripley person?"
"Oh, cut the crap, will ya? I know it's you, Ben. There's no getting away from me without making a scene."
I could practically see the smirk forming on his lips.
"To be honest, I couldn't even tell at first. But now that I'm closer..." Murray let out a low, sinister chuckle as he ran his fingers through my hair, sending chills down my spine.
"Let's take this somewhere private..."
He let go of my waist and dragged me by the hand to one of the rooms.
He sat me down on one of the couches.
"So, how exactly did you know it was me?" I asked, still nervous.
"Your tooth gap." Murray shrugged, keeping his smirk.
I unconsciously hovered my hand over my teeth, which have given me away.
"Now, I'm not sure what the prince's dental plan is, but one thing I'll never forget is that adorable little tooth gap. I remember I always pointed it out to myself whenever I saw you." Murray lounged in his chair.
I felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment.
How could I have forgotten? I look at myself in the mirror every day!
I guess I hoped that he wouldn't notice...
"The real question is, what should I do with you?" He slowly, almost teasingly, got up out of his chair and grabbed my face.
"Since you're not the real prince, I have no use for you... So maybe I should just push you off the balcony..." Murray said.
I scooted away from his gaze.
Then he burst into laughter.
"I'm just joking, Ripley! Gosh, you're so serious!" He said lightheartedly.
"Nah, every time I try to kill you, you always come back somehow...So, here's a better idea!"
"I can just take you hostage and demand the prince's return! See, so much easier, isn't it?" He put his hands on his hips, looking proud of himself.
I tried to protest.
"Well, what if-"
"...the CIA doesn't have the prince?" Murray cut me off, looking even more smug than before.
"The thing is, I know they do. You have your sources, and I have mine..." He rested his chin on his hands.
"Like hell I'll let you take me hostage!" I dashed off of the couch and went for the door. But then something was rolled under my feet.
Upon stopping, it blasted a strange gas.
I coughed and hacked, disoriented from the sudden burst.
"You like it? It's my new knockout bomb! I got these for surprisingly cheap!" Murray walked over to me.
"You...won't get away...with this..."
With each word, I could feel my consciousness slip away.
Until I eventually closed my eyes and collapsed on the floor.