The Villain Professor's Second Chance

The girls burst out of the flickering flames of the fireplace and stumbled into darkness. The sudden chill of the room sent a shiver through Maris as she instinctively tightened her grip on Amberine's arm, steadying her friend. The air was thick with dust and the stale scent of abandonment. Cobwebs hung in corners like skeletal remains of forgotten moments, and the faint creak of the wooden floor beneath their weight seemed unnaturally loud.

Amberine collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath, her usually fiery eyes dim with exhaustion. Ifrit's presence, typically a comforting warmth beneath her robe, felt faint and distant.

"Amberine," Maris whispered urgently, crouching beside her friend and gripping her shoulders. "We can't stay here."

Amberine groaned softly, her head lolling forward. "I—I can't move…" she murmured, her voice raw. "I've got nothing left."

Maris's heart clenched, but she shoved her fear aside, scanning the room. They were in what appeared to be a decrepit sitting area. Broken furniture lay scattered across the floor, their jagged edges like teeth. Pale moonlight filtered through slivers of gaps in the boarded-up windows.

"You don't have to," Maris said firmly. "I'll do the moving. But first, we're getting out of this death trap."

She stood quickly, her wand drawn, and approached the nearest window. The boards nailed across it were brittle with age, but still firm enough to resist her initial tug. She looked around, her eyes falling on a rusted metal stool near the fireplace. Grabbing it, she swung it at the window with all her strength. The stool collided with the boards, the crack echoing loudly through the room.

Amberine flinched, her head snapping up. "What are you doing?" she rasped. "Might as well put out a sign saying 'Hey, we're over here!'"

Maris turned, panting. "If they're coming, they're coming. I'm not sitting here waiting for them to stroll in."

A second swing shattered the glass behind the boards. Shards rained down onto the floor, the sound unnervingly loud. Amberine winced but didn't argue further. Maris reached through the gap, using the stool to shove the loosened boards free. Cold air rushed in, sharp and bracing.

Maris knelt by Amberine again. "Come on," she said, her voice softer now. "I'll help you."

Amberine's lips curled into a weak smile, though her eyes betrayed her pain. "You really know how to ruin a girl's chance to take a nap."

Maris rolled her eyes, her free hand hauling Amberine to her feet. "Next time, I'll leave you in the burning building."

"Deal."

They moved together, Maris taking most of Amberine's weight as they climbed through the broken window and dropped into the narrow alley below. The cold, damp air hit them like a slap, and the faint chatter of distant voices echoed through the maze-like slums. Maris glanced back at the window, the shattered glass glinting like tiny stars in the faint light, before pulling Amberine into the shadows.

Amberine leaned heavily on Maris, her breathing shallow. "We're just two girls, sneaking through creepy alleys. Totally safe."

"Save your sarcasm for later," Maris hissed, her voice taut with urgency. "We need to keep moving."

They stuck close to the walls, their steps as light as they could manage on the uneven, dirt-streaked ground. The air carried a faint tang of rot and damp wood, and every shadow seemed to hold a threat. Maris's pulse thundered in her ears as they wove deeper into the labyrinth of alleys.

Then the explosion came.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a deafening roar filled the air. A brilliant burst of flames erupted in the distance, illuminating the night sky in violent hues of orange and red. Screams followed—a rising tide of panic that swept through the slums.

Maris stopped, clutching Amberine tightly. "That wasn't us, was it?"

Amberine blinked sluggishly, her brow furrowing. "I don't think I've got enough left to light a candle, let alone that."

The screams grew louder, closer. Figures darted through the alleys, their faces pale and twisted with fear. Maris pulled Amberine into a recessed doorway, crouching low as chaos spilled into the streets.

"What's happening?" Amberine murmured, her voice faint.

Maris shook her head, peeking out from their hiding spot. Her breath caught in her throat. Two fog-like entities moved through the chaos, their forms shifting and swirling as though made of living shadows. Their glowing eyes cut through the darkness, cold and unfeeling. Wherever they passed, destruction followed—barrels splintered, wooden beams blackened, and the air seemed to grow colder.

Maris's fingers tightened around Amberine's arm. "It's them," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The Devil Coffin members… from the house."

Amberine's head snapped up at that, a flicker of fear piercing through her exhaustion. "You're sure?"

Maris nodded, her eyes wide. "I can feel it. The same energy. They're looking for us."

Amberine swore under her breath, her hand instinctively curling as if to summon a flame. A faint spark flickered at her fingertips before sputtering out. She groaned, leaning back against the wall. "We're in no shape to fight them."

"Which is why we're not fighting," Maris said, her voice resolute. "We're running."

The fog creatures paused, their glowing eyes scanning the alley. Maris held her breath, her heart hammering in her chest. One of the creatures let out a low, haunting growl, its form twisting and coiling as it sniffed the air. Then its head snapped toward their hiding spot.

"Run," Maris whispered, hauling Amberine to her feet.

The girls darted from the doorway, their footsteps echoing in the alley. The fog creatures surged after them, their forms gliding eerily over the ground. Maris led the way, turning sharp corners and ducking through narrow gaps. Her mind raced, searching for any advantage, any way to slow their pursuers.

She toppled barrels and carts as they ran, the obstacles barely slowing the fog creatures. Amberine, despite her weakened state, managed to conjure small bursts of flame, igniting debris in their path. The fire flared briefly, but the creatures phased through it, their forms momentarily disrupted before reforming.

"They're not stopping," Amberine panted, her voice tinged with desperation.

"They don't have to," Maris replied, her tone grim. "We just have to stay ahead."

They rounded another corner and came face-to-face with a sewer grate. Maris dropped to her knees, prying it open with trembling hands. "Get in," she urged.

Amberine hesitated, her gaze flicking back toward the approaching fog. "You sure about this?"

"Just go!"

Amberine slid into the narrow opening, and Maris followed, pulling the grate back into place behind them. The sound of the fog creatures' growls faded, replaced by the distant drip of water. The air in the tunnel was damp and heavy, the darkness pressing in on them.

They moved quickly, their breaths loud in the confined space. Just as Maris began to think they'd escaped, the sound of growls returned. The fog creatures seeped through cracks in the walls, their glowing eyes cutting through the darkness.
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"Are you kidding me?" Maris shouted, grabbing Amberine's arm. "Go!"

The chase resumed, the tunnels slick beneath their feet. The girls slipped and stumbled, the fog creatures closing in. The exit came into view—a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

They burst out into a deserted courtyard, collapsing onto the cold ground. Maris gasped for breath, her body trembling. Amberine lay beside her, her eyes half-closed.

A soft chuckle broke the silence. Maris looked up, her gaze landing on an old man sitting calmly on a bench. His eyes glinted with quiet amusement, his hands folded neatly in his lap.

"Quite the predicament you've found yourselves in," he said, his voice calm and measured.

Maris struggled to her feet, pulling Amberine up with her. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice shaky.

The fog creatures emerged from the tunnel, their forms solidifying as they prepared to attack. The old man remained seated, unbothered by the looming threat.

The creatures raised their hands, dark energy swirling around them. Maris and Amberine braced themselves, but before the spell could hit, the air shifted. A sudden rush of wind swept through the courtyard, and the scenery blurred.

When their vision cleared, they were standing on the rooftop of a tall building. The fog creatures were gone, the courtyard far below. Maris and Amberine looked around, their breaths still labored.

"What just happened?" Maris whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.

Amberine turned, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the old man, who now stood a few paces away. Recognition dawned on her face. "No way…" she muttered.

Maris's eyes widened, her voice a mix of shock and awe. "Sir Alfred?"