The Tragedy Of The Thumbs Down Pin

Chapter 28: Shadows in the Darkness

Edgar approached Mortis with a carefully crafted expression of curiosity and feignedloyalty. The crypt was dimly lit, casting long shadows that danced on the walls as the flickering

candle flames swayed. Mortis regarded Edgar with an air of casual disinterest, his eyes cold and

calculating."Mortis," Edgar began, his voice smooth and steady, "I was wondering if you had anyinformation about the Clown Pin. It seems to have vanished, and I thought you might have someinsight."Mortis' eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. The silence stretched on, makingEdgar uneasy. He decided to shift the conversation."And what about Chuck?" Edgar asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "Do you trust himcompletely?"Before Mortis could respond, Frank entered the crypt, his expression tense. Theatmosphere grew even more charged as Mortis glanced at Frank, then back at Edgar. Without aword, Mortis turned and made a hurried escape, disappearing into the shadows of the crypt.Edgar, taken aback, turned to Frank. "What was that about?"Frank's eyes flashed with irritation. "None of your business, Edgar.""What's going on, Frank?" Edgar pressed. "Why did Mortis leave so suddenly?"Frank's jaw tightened, but he took a deep breath and composed himself. "Forget Mortis.We have more important things to discuss."Edgar frowned, but nodded. "Alright, what is it?"Frank leaned in, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "Tonight, we steal theThumbs Down Pin."Edgar raised an eyebrow. "Just the two of us?""No," Frank replied, shaking his head. "We need Byron. We need his skills andknowledge to pull this off."Edgar felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "Alright. But we need to be careful.Mortis might suspect something."As if on cue, a faint rustling sound echoed through the crypt. Edgar's eyes darted around,searching for the source, but he saw nothing. He turned back to Frank, who was watching himintently."Are you sure we can trust Byron?" Edgar asked.Frank's expression was unreadable. "We have to. We don't have a choice."Edgar nodded, though a nagging sense of unease tugged at his mind. "Fine. We'll do ittonight."Unbeknownst to Edgar and Frank, Mortis had been hiding in the shadows, listening totheir entire conversation. He slipped away into the darkness, his mind racing with plans to thwarttheir heist.As Edgar and Frank finalized their preparations, they remained oblivious to Mortis'presence, the tension between them palpable. The night promised danger and deception, and thetrue extent of their trust—and betrayal—was about to be tested in ways they could never haveanticipated.