- 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 -

Chapter 11 - The Silent Basement

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While 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 were trying their best to contain the positions and movements they were assigned to, Crow just sighed and looked around the area. Maybe there was one for him after all and they just didn't find it? Doubtful; but it was worth a try.

So the young man quietly walked around the room, his steps getting suppressed by the music that was getting louder within every second passing. The music seemed so familiar, but it was impossible to say what it was. It had a cheerful pace, but it sounded like it was full of pain. Crow knew just how that feels like, putting on a fake smile to please others.

But what he didn't notice, was that the Thieves had just made a mistake in their act, got attacked by a shadow, and managed it with ease. He sighed once more because of their recklessness, but let it slide.

The group seemed like they got caught off guard as well, but after a while, they finally finished the "first round" and the shadows roaming the room started disappearing with clapping hands. That clapping though, wasn't genuine; It seemed quite mocking actually.

But there wasn't time to think about whether the shadows were clapping from excitement or not. They had to proceed at any cost, no more slacking off.

So they proceeded, walking through a few more halls, and taking rests at safe rooms. As much as they'd want to continue, at some point the thieves just got tired. They had to come here another time, but Crow wasn't approving of that idea. He really wanted to continue, really wanted to return the favor.

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But the majority decided, so they left.

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....

Arriving back at the real world, everything was already dark. How long were they in there? Not like it would matter though, Akechi already made his mind up. If his teammates wouldn't join in, he would just go alone.

Everyone said their goodbyes, and everyone went their own ways for today. But while walking home, the former detective turned around again, he wasn't done yet for today, and he wanted to find out if there really wasn't a mannequin for him. So he entered the palace again... on his own.

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The still loud music that was full of pain was a bit quieter, it was late after all, but it still surprised him.
He looked up to the Theater of Regret again and his expression darkened slightly before he finally took a step inside.

Defeating the shadows that got in his way and then soon getting to a staircase the Phantom Thief frowned. It wasn't going upwards, actually it was going downwards; and it wasn't looking like it was that pretty.
But he went down it anyways, despite the situation he was in.

At the end of the stairs was a big door, and it took some force to get it open on his own. But after Crow opened that door, his face paled. There were a lot of quite... disturbing things, but the thing that got his attention at first was that the room was completely silent. It made his breath and steps sound so loud, and it seemed wrong to enter such a silent room in a Theater.
When he got used to the silence, he looked around it again though;

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴...