Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Seventeen: First Contact

Clorinde moved through the corridors of the Fortress of Meropide with practiced ease, her every step calculated, her gaze steady. A week had passed since she had been stationed here, blending in with the rest of the security personnel. Her mission was clear: monitor Marcellus Vire, the criminal mastermind whose influence had stretched far beyond the walls of the fortress. Yet, despite her efforts to remain unnoticed, she couldn't shake the feeling that Vire had already begun to take notice of her.

As she patrolled the section where Vire was held, Clorinde kept her movements subtle. Her eyes would occasionally flick toward his cell, observing him from the periphery of her vision. She noted every detail—the way he sat with a calm, almost meditative posture, the slight curve of his lips as if he were savoring some private joke, and the way his eyes would occasionally sweep the room as if he were aware of everything happening around him.

Marcellus Vire was a man of many masks, and Clorinde knew that he had been playing a long game for years. Her instincts told her that this was no ordinary criminal. He was always thinking, always planning. And now, as she continued her surveillance, she had the distinct impression that he was onto her.

Her routine was meticulously designed to avoid drawing attention, but Vire's gaze was sharp. He noticed the slightest inconsistencies, the smallest deviations from the norm. It was only a matter of time before he would seek to engage her, and Clorinde had to be prepared.

One afternoon, as she passed by his cell, she felt his eyes on her. The intensity of his stare was palpable, and despite her best efforts to maintain her composure, she could sense that he was testing her resolve. She kept her pace steady, but as she rounded the corner, she couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder.

Vire was watching her.

It was a subtle shift, but there was no mistaking it. His gaze met hers, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them. There was a spark of recognition in his eyes, as if he had been waiting for this moment. Clorinde quickly turned her attention back to her patrol, but she knew it was too late. The connection had been made.

Later that day, during her next patrol, she found herself lingering near Vire's cell longer than usual. She didn't intend to, but something about him drew her in. Perhaps it was the challenge he presented, or perhaps it was the need to prove to herself that she could handle whatever he threw her way.

"Are you lost, soldier?" Vire's voice broke the silence, smooth and unhurried. He remained seated, his posture relaxed, but his eyes were locked onto hers.

Clorinde kept her expression neutral, but her mind raced. This was the moment she had been anticipating, and she had to play it carefully. "Just doing my rounds," she replied, her tone flat and professional.

Vire's lips curled into a small smile. "Of course. But you've been quite thorough in your rounds, haven't you? More so than the others."

Clorinde didn't respond immediately. She knew that engaging in conversation with an inmate, especially one as dangerous as Vire, was against protocol. But she also knew that this was an opportunity to gather information—if she could control the exchange.

"I take my duties seriously," she said finally, meeting his gaze with steady resolve. "Everyone in this section is under close watch."

Vire nodded slowly, as if considering her words. "A commendable attitude. Though I must say, you seem different from the rest. More... focused."

Clorinde resisted the urge to react. Instead, she held her ground, allowing a slight pause before speaking. "It's important to stay focused in a place like this."