Pardon The Way That I Stare

Plan and Execution

Another Quick authors note, you might be confused at the cover image, but this chapter mentions Vox putting on a hoodie and I thought I'd draw what that'd look like cause I thought of it and I was like wait how tf does he get a hoodie on 😂

Ok enjoy! Get ready, it's a long one, I try to make the chapters short but I thought I'd just squeeze this bit into one. Bye!

Alastor stood with Vox in the living room, the remnants of their previous conversation still heavy in the air. He turned to the rest of the group, who were still visibly shaken but ready to support their cause. "Alright, everyone, you should go out for the night. We've got this," he said, his voice steady and commanding.

Charlie looked uncertain. "Are you sure you guys can handle this on your own?"

"Absolutely," Vox replied, a determined glint in his eyes. "We'll sort Finny out. You all deserve a night free from this chaos."

"Trust us," Alastor added, a faint smile creeping onto his lips. "We have a plan that doesn't end with Finny seeing tomorrow."

With hesitant nods, the others made their way out, leaving Alastor and Vox behind in the dimly lit room. Once the door clicked shut, the atmosphere shifted.

"Alright, let's talk strategy," Alastor said, his tone turning serious as he crossed his arms. "We need to lure him into a situation where he feels comfortable—off guard. That's when we strike."

Vox nodded, already pulling up information on his VoxPad. "I can track him down using the last known locations from his messages. If we can get him alone, we can confront him without the others around. Just the two of us."

"Perfect," Alastor replied, pacing the room. "We can make it look like we're having a casual meetup, maybe even a friendly drink. He won't suspect a thing."

Vox smirked, "And then we take him somewhere private. I have a few spots in mind that will be perfect for this... conversation."

"Good thinking," Alastor praised, rubbing his hands together with excitement. "We'll need to intimidate him. I want him to understand that he's being watched, that we know what he's done."

"Absolutely. I'll hack into his contacts and find out who he's been talking to. If he thinks he's safe, he's going to make a mistake," Vox said, his fingers flying across the screen of his VoxPad as he pulled up Finny's chat logs again.

Alastor leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. "And if things get messy?"

Vox met his gaze, the weight of the situation clear in his expression. "Then we do what we have to do. He's a threat to everyone here, and we can't allow him to slip through our fingers. We have to make sure he understands that he can't hurt anyone else."

"Agreed," Alastor said, a fierce glint in his eyes. "We're not just protecting the hotel; we're sending a message. This ends tonight."

With their plan set in motion, Alastor and Vox exchanged determined nods, ready to confront the darkness that had infiltrated their lives. The night was just beginning, and they were prepared to ensure that it would be the last for Finny.

—

Alastor and Vox moved swiftly, their minds focused on the task ahead. Vox scrolled through Finny's recent messages, his brow furrowing with concentration. "Looks like he has a habit of hanging out near the arcade on Friday nights. That's where we'll find him."

"Good," Alastor replied, excitement bubbling beneath his calm facade. "We can use the arcade as a backdrop. Lots of noise, lots of people—he'll feel at ease. We'll make sure he never sees it coming."