Cadenza: Amor
Chapter 3: Mis(ter)understood
Finished with your business in the bathroom, you notice that the backlighting on the corridors is now bathed in a blue hue contrasting the gold embellishments of the ballroom. You overhear another conversation. Now, it seems to be between two men.
"I've done everything you've asked of me."
"Excellent, Dorian. You never disappoint."
"I'm expecting you to hold up to your end of the deal."
"Oh? Do remind me."
"Don't lay a finger on Anjy. Don't even try to go near her."
"Do you really think I'm a man of my word? You're sorely mistaken."
You take a peek at the corner, trying to check if they're nearby. The conversation seems like it could be compromising if heard by the wrong people. Just then, you hear a loud thud coming from the other hallway. You hide and lean against a wall, in case you might end up as collateral damage in some fistfight.
"I've made Anjy hate me more than she should. I've alienated a lot of people. I've done so much for you--"
"You shall address me as 'Master', at all times."
"Master." You can hear the contempt in his voice. "I'm beyond redemption. Nobody will forgive me. I know Anjy also has things she can use against me--"
"You're afraid of someone like her? You're more pathetic than I thought you were, Dorian."
You begin to hear footsteps reverberate against the walls of the mostly empty hallway, and move away from the general direction of the source of the sounds.
"If I find out that you've done something to her, anything, I will kill you with my own, dirty hands."
You hear a loud scoff. "Do it. I dare you. The world will know you as a murderous bigot, and I will be the innocent psychometrist you killed."
The long and deafening silence that follows is broken by a series of more hollow footsteps. They seem to getting louder, as though someone were approaching you.
"I've done everything you've asked of me."
"Excellent, Dorian. You never disappoint."
"I'm expecting you to hold up to your end of the deal."
"Oh? Do remind me."
"Don't lay a finger on Anjy. Don't even try to go near her."
"Do you really think I'm a man of my word? You're sorely mistaken."
You take a peek at the corner, trying to check if they're nearby. The conversation seems like it could be compromising if heard by the wrong people. Just then, you hear a loud thud coming from the other hallway. You hide and lean against a wall, in case you might end up as collateral damage in some fistfight.
"I've made Anjy hate me more than she should. I've alienated a lot of people. I've done so much for you--"
"You shall address me as 'Master', at all times."
"Master." You can hear the contempt in his voice. "I'm beyond redemption. Nobody will forgive me. I know Anjy also has things she can use against me--"
"You're afraid of someone like her? You're more pathetic than I thought you were, Dorian."
You begin to hear footsteps reverberate against the walls of the mostly empty hallway, and move away from the general direction of the source of the sounds.
"If I find out that you've done something to her, anything, I will kill you with my own, dirty hands."
You hear a loud scoff. "Do it. I dare you. The world will know you as a murderous bigot, and I will be the innocent psychometrist you killed."
The long and deafening silence that follows is broken by a series of more hollow footsteps. They seem to getting louder, as though someone were approaching you.
His stoic expression changes to one of surprise after a few moments. Perhaps it took quite a while for it to sink into him that someone else was nearby.
"If you heard anything earlier, just keep it to yourself. Forget what you heard. Please."
He breaks eye contact with you, and quickly walks past you, before you can even respond to him. You make your way back to the ballroom.
As you ascend the fire exit you passed by earlier, you find a dark red heel left behind on one of the steps. You don't pay much attention to it, until you find a crimson handbag close by. Was someone running away against resistance, or were they simply in a panicked hurry? It probably wouldn't hurt to take both objects and give them to the concierge so that they can locate the owner of the shoe and the bag.
Panting after going up that flight of stairs, you pause as soon as you feel the cool air coming from a nearby air-conditioning unit inside the ballroom. You feel a faint tap against your shoulder.
"If you heard anything earlier, just keep it to yourself. Forget what you heard. Please."
He breaks eye contact with you, and quickly walks past you, before you can even respond to him. You make your way back to the ballroom.
As you ascend the fire exit you passed by earlier, you find a dark red heel left behind on one of the steps. You don't pay much attention to it, until you find a crimson handbag close by. Was someone running away against resistance, or were they simply in a panicked hurry? It probably wouldn't hurt to take both objects and give them to the concierge so that they can locate the owner of the shoe and the bag.
Panting after going up that flight of stairs, you pause as soon as you feel the cool air coming from a nearby air-conditioning unit inside the ballroom. You feel a faint tap against your shoulder.
"Excuse me. Have you seen a woman with long-blonde hair, dressed in crimson from head-to-toe? She has a bag that looks a lot like that one."