“Bloody hell!” The heavy iron chair barely moved as I yanked the chains. “What is this place?!”

  The mysterious man looked out of the window. “Have you ever seen Frederick lose his mind?”

  “What?”

  “It’s something to behold, honestly.” He glanced back. “Which is strange, because I thought you were a superweapon for revenge.”

  “I’m not a freaking weapon, and you don’t know what you’re talking—”

  “Or he just hasn’t activated your full potential yet. Imagine this, you’re living your life, then with a snap of his fingers—” He swiveled around and snapped his fingers at me, making me flinch. “Your consciousness is gone forever.”

  “H-he can’t control me like that.”

  His eyebrow arched.

  “You’re a marionette, are you not?”

  My stomach churned so much I couldn’t protest.

  “We’ll see,” he said. “Fred knows we’re both here and he really fucking hates me, so there’s a chance... you know.”

  The door opened from the outside.

  “Frederick left the house,” the man said.

  “Is he on his own?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sweet. I bet money on it now—he’s going to turn you into a mindless bloody monster to kill me.”

  I yanked at the chains again, harder this time. “No!”

  The chair slammed against the floor.

  “Calm down now, love. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t hurt.”

  Rifles clicked as the men around me loaded them.

  My captor addressed them, pointing his finger at me. “The second he does his Gypsy thing, shoot her until you run out of bullets. And I mean head and chest only.”

  I could hear my breath.

  Fred...

  “Are you going to hurt him?” I asked, tears mounting under my eyes.

  “Oh, no. I need that idiot. Why do you care?”

  I sighed in relief, closing my eyes. “I see.”

  He pulled a watch from his pocket. “Why the hell is he taking so long? Are you sure he left the house?”

  The man at the door nodded.

  Some time passed, I don’t know how long. I was just daydreaming about home.

  I lifted my head when a horse’s neigh rang out outside.

  “Ready, lads.”

  My heart raced as rifles pointed at me.

  The door burst open.

  A man in a black raincoat stepped inside.

  “Eh?” the blonde man muttered.

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  It was not Fred.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Mallory?” Sergeant Cornell adjusted his cap.

  “Ain’t this something. Since when is Fred commanding coppers?”

  “I don’t answer to Frederick, but he’s a public servant now, so is the girl you have unlawfully apprehended.”

  “Fuck.” Mallory looked back at me, a smile slashed across his face. “The man really lost his mind. Public servant?”

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Cornell asked as more cops entered the building. “It’s not your jurisdiction.”

  “Oh, it actually is. I work for the Crown, you see, and you’re just the fucking town watch.” Mallory swiped back his hair. “But it’s alright. If Fred wants to play chess, we’ll play. He always sucked at this anyway.”

  “Get out.”

  “Take care, Sergeant.” Mallory clicked his tongue. “The dog bites both ways.”

  His men followed him as Mallory left the building.

  I gasped, air entering my lungs once again.

  I slumped forward as the Cops broke the chains, falling from the chair.

  Cornell held me up. “Everything is alright now, miss.”

  Is it?

  “Where is Fred?” I asked, my voice a whisper.

  “In the town hall. You know, it was thanks to you that Frederick was able to pull this off. The mayor really picked an interest in you both after he saw the newspaper.”

  “I’m glad...”

  “I’ll bring you home now, miss.”

  I walked back and forth across the entrance hall. Every time the fire cracked, I glanced at the door.

  It finally opened without a sound.

  I rushed in and slapped the cigarette out of his hand.

  Fred stared at me. “Are you okay?”

  “No, I’m not okay!” I held back tears. “I know about your secret weapon!”

  “What’re you talking about?”

  “The mind-erasing thing! You snap your fingers, and I lose my consciousness.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  I grabbed his vest, grasping for air. “Prove it!”

  “How?”

  My features contorted.

  “I don’t know, do something! I’m freaking out!”

  “Yes, I control your mind, look—” He snapped his fingers in front of my face.

  I winced, shutting my eyes.

  The fire cracked.

  But nothing happened. I was still me.

  “I can’t prove a negative, Connie...”

  Time went still—Fred pulled me into a hug.

  My eyes opened wide

  “But I never wanted to involve you in this,” he said.

  I burst into tears with a gasp.

  His shirt was soaked wet.

  “So, w-why did you make me?” I asked.

  “I don’t remember.”

  My heart shattered.

  “You d-don’t... remember?”

  “No.”

  His voice lowered to a whisper.

  “But I’d make you all over again.”

  Air escaped my lungs as I collapsed on him like a feather, and for a moment, I didn’t have any more questions.

  That’s all I remember.

  I fell asleep.

  I had a dream.

  Fred kissed me on the cheek.

  And laid me in my bed.

  But it was just a dream.

  Sunlight woke me up in the morning, but I wished it hadn’t. My chest was painfully tight; the blankets followed me as I rolled to my side, wishing to pour it somewhere like a vase.

  Only if I could.

  I forced myself to stand, yawned large, and carried on with the day.

  My current clothes were a mess, so I changed them for a fresh vest and a shirt, exchanging glances with the wall.

  “Alright.” I patted my cheeks. “Let’s get to work.”

  The workshop was empty; I checked it first.

  Savio was busy fixing the bench in the entrance hall. You know, the one that became part of my chest.

  I stood beside him, looking more restless than I should.

  “Fred already left,” he said with a smirk.

  “I see.” My lips pursed. “To where?”

  “The Townhall. Something about a new case.”

  “He doesn’t stop, does he?”

  “Well.” He hammered a nail into the side of the bench. “That’s partially my fault now, I’m afraid.”

  “It happens.” I scratched my head awkwardly. “Could you take me there?”

  “Are you sure you’re fine to work?”

  “Better than ever.”

  “I thought that was yesterday.”

  “What can I do?” I shrugged. “Life just gets better and better.”

  He snorted, shaking his head. “Alright, let’s go.”

  The sky was tinged with pollution. I was lost in the soot when the carriage stopped abruptly.

  A tall clock tower came into view before the town hall itself. Ornamented stonework on the walls, pointed arches, and many windows.

  “I’m going now.” I hopped out of the carriage.

  “Wait.” Savio threw me an apple. “You didn’t eat.”

  “Oh. Thank you.”

  He smiled, but his eyes didn’t. “Take care of yourself, Connie.”

  I nodded. “Will do.”

  Weirdly, to me, there were no cops or security at the entrance, only a stern old man in a formal suit. He let me in and pointed me towards Frederick.

  My footsteps (and the peg leg clacks) echoed loudly inside the building as I walked down the aisle. Beams of sunlight poured through the tall glass windows on my left, rows of them like yellow ghosts.

  Far ahead, Fred looked at the street below as someone talked to him. The well-dressed stubby man left as I approached.

  Crunch. I bit the apple, looking up at him in silence.

  He didn’t turn. “Something has been ambushing caravans before they enter the city.”

  “Theft?”

  “No, just murder and property damage. The factory owners are not happy.”

  “Suspects?”

  “None. The crime seems almost animalistic in nature.”

  My stomach churned.

  “I see.”

  “My gut’s telling me this one is going to take a while... are you ready?”

  Crunch.

  “Ready.”