Skirted Spies: Season 1

Episode 12-3: New Fur Coat

The liquid rushes into my mouth and stays locked behind my teeth, unable to reach the esophagus and poison me from within. I hear James swallow, and he looks at me with his yellow eyes as he lets out a breath of refreshment. I simply make a humming "Mmm" noise, hoping that he would buy it and look away for a moment.

"I'd like to get to know you a little more personally, Cleo," His eyes glance upwards to the ceiling. "How about I show you a different room?" I take his glance as a chance to let the drink back into the cup.

"Please, lead the way."

He takes my hand and pulls me upstairs, and I can feel his pulse quickening through his fingers. He must be getting ready to make his move! We have drawn up many theories, but we'd forgotten the possibility of a serial killer. Stupid Troy forgot to mention a signal to use for non-verbal communications in case I need help! The upstairs level has many doors, but it's the one at the very end of the hallway that he throws open quickly and flicks a light switch on. A giant bed covers the center of the room, and nightstands surround it on each side, all supporting plenty of candles. He must do some sort of demonic ritual before killing off his victims.

"Pardon me for a moment," he tells me as he disappears into another door across the room, leaving me alone in his cynical site.

"Troy, I don't like where this is going!" I whisper into my earpiece.

"Okay, just relax and look around for anything out of the ordinary."

"I can't relax with that sneaky panther only a room away from me! I don't feel safe with this body, it's all fragile and hypersensitive!"

"I am pretty ticklish."

"Troy!"

"Okay, okay! I'll sneak into the house right now if it'll make you feel better, just stay put and look around the place."

I hear some crackling noises followed by some heavy thumping footsteps. Troy left the van, and the idiot left his comms behind too. I quickly dart my eyes around, landing them on many interesting objects. The first I inspect is some sort of modern piece of art that's resting on a small dresser. It's a minuscule statue of melted metal, it doesn't take the shape of anything familiar to me, just some cluttered junk. I circle around it, noticing that an arched piece of the base goes into the dresser itself. I touch it, feeling the way its designed structure resembles that of a hinge. I pull on it, the arch raising out of the dresser as the statue is pulled sideways. Just then, I hear a clicking sound on my right.

It's a subtle change, but I notice that a piece of the wall has popped out. I look back at the door the panther had disappeared behind, still undisturbed since he last went in. Cautiously, I approach the wall, gently placing the tips of my fingers on the edge of it, and pulling it open the rest of the way. Inside is a dim and metal room filled with strange apparatuses and sturdy vices. Chains are hanging from the ceiling as they sway back and forth from the new wind that I've let in. I take a closer look, stepping inside the room to the machines.

I can tell that one is obviously a table equipped with powerful restraints on each corner. The chains, I now realize, are medieval shackles that were once used in dungeons. Another one looks like a weapon rack, and it is filled with whips and branding burners. That sadistic psycho has one hell of a torture method! I have to get out of this room before my imagination takes hold of me. I step out and quietly close the door just in time for James to exit from his door wearing a dark bathrobe.

"Hello there, love," he says while slowly walking towards the small dresser. "You wanted to know more about me? I'll show you what I'm all about." His hand grasps around the statue, pulling it again and letting the wall open behind me. I jump at the sound of the familiar clicking. His intimidating frame now gliding towards me. "The things I'm going to do to you..."