𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓝𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 - ₐₛₒᵤₑ [𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃]

♖ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁

As soon as the door opened to reveal Count Olaf in one of his ridiculous disguises, the orphans were filled with dread. It seems their escape from the wicked man was short-lived. 

So, when the words "Good morning. I am Stephano, Doctor Montgomery Montgomery's new assistant" left the Count's mouth, the children exchanged an anxious look.

"It's afternoon," Klaus corrected, furrowing his brows at the preposterous lie. "and you're Count Olaf."

"Perhaps one of you can take my suitcases up to my room." The adult continued, ignoring Klaus' observation. "The ride along that smelly road was dull and unpleasant, and Stephano is very tired."

"Who the heck would talk about themselves in the third person? At least make it believable, old man." Alice muttered. 

"What did you say, small child?" 'Stephano' questioned, making sure to strengthen his strange accent. 

"You're Count Olaf." Violet interrupted, reaffirming her brother's words. "And if anyone ever deserved to travel along Lousy Lane, it's you." 

"We will not let you with your luggage because we will not let you in this house," Klaus stated, grabbing the door and slamming it shut. However, just before the door closed, Olaf carved a huge knife against it, keeping it open. 

The orphans took a slow step back as they watched their previous guardian jerk open the rest of the door and march his way into the house. "Well, I see you children haven't changed a bit." The villain nonchalantly affirmed, dropping his accent along with his act. "Violet, you are obviously as stubborn as ever."

With each word proffered, the children only retreated more and more into the house. Count Olaf followed them, his knife held high. He was enjoying the metaphorical slow dance between him and the teenagers - and, of course, Sunny.

"Klaus, you're still wearing those idiotic glasses from reading too many books." Count Olaf mocked. "Alice, you're still in good shape. Figured."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Alice voiced, defiantly. Klaus reached out to grab the sleeve of her shirt, pulling her back before she could run right into Count Olaf's knife. 

"And I can see little Sunny here still has nine toes, instead of ten." The grizzly old man said as the children started to slowly climb the stairs backwards. 

"What are you talking about? My sister has ten toes, like the vast majority of people." Klaus blurted out when they finally reached the top of the stairs. 

"Really? That's odd. I could've sworn that she lost one of her toes in an accident. I seem to recall a man Stephano being so confused by being called Count Olaf that he accidentally dropped his knife on one of her little feet and severed one of her toes." Count Olaf's voice got more sinister at the subtle threat. 

"You wouldn't dare," Violet replied, her tone as solid as ever, despite the fear growing inside of her. 

"Let's not discuss what I would or would not dare to do." Olaf looked at the photo gallery on the wall, his gaze fixed on the framed picture of a piano. "Instead, let's discuss your poor unfortunate parents."

The orphans watched in confusion as the bandit clinked his knife against the glass. "Your parents were very brave in their days. But... Their days are done."

"That is not a photo of any of our parents," Alice remarked, giving the man a strange look. Count Olaf seemed thrown back by her comment. 

"Yes, it is. They're inside the piano." Count Olaf revealed, looking at the kids. "I would know, I took the picture. And now, all that's left of them are their enormous fortunes, and those fortunes are mine."