The Death of a Villain
The automaton collapsed with a loud thud.
*Pant* *Pant* We're running out of time. We have to keep going.
The three ran further into the building, taking no time to catch their breaths.
They arrived at the scene of a struggle. A door was cracked open behind the rubble of destroyed automatons.
Gwen and the others gripped their weapons as they stepped inside.
...Over there.
Mr. Henry.
Standing there, in the room, was Henry.
Jack seemed to be impaled by Henry's automatons. He was on the ground, leaning against the wall.
Mr. Henry? Is it all over now?
Yes, it is.
Jack let out a dry cough.
*Cough!* So the fake detective finally arrives. You were later than the third-rate magical scholar over here.
Again with that "third-rate" spiel? You never stop, do you?
But look at you now. You've been beat by that very third-rate scholar.
Jack made a subtle smirk seeing Henry's response.
You'll never reach your true goal, Henry...
You'll... never...
Jack's head dropped.
He no longer moved.
Henry stood there for a moment.
He soon bent over to embrace Rachel, who lay unconscious on the bed near Jack's body.
It's all over, Rachel...
Thank god you're safe...
What happened, Mr. Henry?
I'm sorry. I saw him trying to inject something into Rachel.
Henry looked at the syringes and vials next to Rachel.
He was trying to experiment on her until the very end.
...Is Rachel okay?
She's breathing... but she has a terrible fever.
We have to take her to the Baskerville Clinic immediately.
Henry glanced at Jack's limp body and then turned away.
I'll take Rachel to the clinic. What will you do?
We'll check the surrounding area to see if there's anything suspicious.
Of course.
Henry carried Rachel out towards the hallway.
Let's investigate the scene, Boss.
Right. I'll take a look at Director Stapleton's body. You make a record of the scene in the meantime.
And Professor, I... Professor?
She left with Mr. Henry, Boss. She said she'd leave the field investigation and evidence collection to us.
Huh? The Professor said that?
Yeah. It surprised me too... But for now, we should examine the room ourselves.
Gwen nodded and started looking around.
The lab was a mess.
Broken automaton parts lying around everywhere...
Shattered flasks and mysterious liquids scattered on the ground...
Torn or burnt documents that were no longer legible...
Jack's bloody body slumped over a wall...
And finally, the bed that Rachel was lying on.
...Huh?
Gwen took another look at the bed.
Hidden under the suspicious vials and torn documents containing scribbles was the doll she'd delivered to Rachel a while back.
Gwen picked up the doll.
Rachel...
Lily, having written down the scene report, spoke up.
Let's head back, Boss.
Yeah...