The Eight Amulets, Vol. 1

Chapter XXIII - Pepper Spray

The trio of troublemakers walked along the street, the sun setting over them, but still enough to sizzle there skin, heartbeats racing as they approached the appraised opera house. Rob stopped at the entrance, making Hannah notice who wasn't far behind.

"Too scared?" She teased, smirking a bit at the fact that Rob couldn't even enter.

"Well- no." He lied, taking a deep breathe in and out, pushing the glass doors open and walking into a sort of a lobby area, complete with a big chandelier, with lights shining down onto the spotlight. Some employee stood there, looking around at the area, then he turned to the three.

The employee looked at them as if they were aliens, he clearly seemed unsatisfied with the new visitors. But he couldn't scare away his customers, so he hesitantly walked over to them.

"Sorry sir, we were actually just preparing to close down." The employee said with disgust, while Rob slipped his hand through a open zipper, and when the employee noticed his sneaky hand reaching back. It was too late, as Rob swung the butt of the shotgun into his head with a quick swipe, shortly stunning him until his collapse, a big lump swelling on his head.

"You said you wouldn't hurt anybody!" Hannah exclaimed with shock, as Rob grabbed the guy by his collar and dragged him against the floor, propping him up against a counter.

"I said I wouldn't kill anybody. Harming is still in question." Rob corrected, as the guy start sliding to the side but Rob propped him back up.

"I'll go search the Opera room." William suggested, grabbing the shotgun from the ground and walking over to a set of doors, pushing them to enter into a large room which took him by surprise. Lights shined down on him, and the brightness of the beautifully colored seating blinded his eyes.

The room was full of life, with weird architecture confusing him. He felt trippy as he felt his feet tap down the steps, the echo nearly mesmerizing him as it rang loudly across the entirety of the building.

The air conditioning was better than anywhere he'd ever been, especially since he was walking in the heat for the last 10 minutes. The feeling of cold air lightly whisking against him made him comfortable, traveling down where he was able to overlook the large opera house. All the seats were in perfection, and everything seemed so smooth, except when he say movement.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw something move, a figure turn its head. Then suddenly the figure started bolting. All the visuals of the place had consumed him, and now he became focused on the task at hand.

He made twists and turns as he felt his feet practically lifting him up as he made his way down gracious steps with lighting blocking his view, causing him to run into a chair. Unsurprisingly he tripped and fell, but he didn't let it stop him.

He grabbed his fedora and stood up, searching for his target and suddenly he caught a glimpse of someone near the stage. He ran across the path between the chairs, and as chaotic as it was, she found his way onto the stage, where the main
awaited him, a handgun in the ready.

William was taken by surprised as the bullet fired at him, not giving him time to react as the bullet passed by him, hitting a chair in the background and making a highly visible bullet hole.

The only remains of the man was a name tag left on the stage. He walked over gently and picked it up, in a perfect crest it read a simple last name, 'Bradshaw.'

Looking around, there seemed to be no apparent evidence and when he made his way backstage, the man was nowhere in sight. Nothing but a name tag remained, all trace of him gone.

                                             *

Robert looted the employee, searching all his items while Hannah sat angrily and quietly in a corner, laying her body down on a row of chairs and looking up to the ceiling.