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Her hands were tied together.
The rope was rough against the skin of her wrists, and the room around her was dark. She was sitting in a chair, her arms attached to the back so she couldn't slip free. Someone had been doing their research. She could tell by the tightness of the restraints, and the fact that her things were nowhere to be found. Her range of movement was limited. They hadn’t tied down her legs, but the chair was heavy. There was no way, with the positions of her wrists and the angle of her arms, that she’d be able to stand. If the chair wasn’t bolted to the ground, lifting it was almost certainly an instant sprain, or even a possible break, had she even attempted to move from her current position.
Which meant she had to wait. Having been a part of Lupin’s group for several years now, Fujiko was used to this. She was used to the capture and the disoriented feeling she had whenever she woke up in an unfamiliar place. It was normal. She probably should have been more concerned with that fact, but at this point, she knew what would happen. She knew this song and she knew this dance. All she’d have to do was sit back and wait for whoever this was to get started. Then she’d break herself out. Or Lupin would show up and complicate things so much she found her opportunity to escape.
The key was to stay calm. She’d learned years ago that panicking only made things worse, so when the lights flared, and the room grew visible, all she did was flinch and search for the person keeping her hostage.
She kept her head hung forward, looking up through her auburn curls to a wall of monitors. Each screen was dark. They reflected her image back at her, her white blouse bright in the fluorescent lights. Her jeans were skin-tight and maroon. Her heels were tall and pointed, open to show off her painted toenails.
The door behind her opened. She tried her best to look back through her curls at her captor, but with the way she was positioned, it was difficult. The sound of their boots pounded against her ears, loud and heavy like the tolling of a funeral bell. They didn't say anything as they rounded her shoulder. She looked up at them with a scowl on her face, her eyebrows furrowed together.
They smiled as they noticed her expression, and Fujiko realized her captor was, for once, a woman instead of a man.
“Who’re you?” Fujiko asked, peering up through the veil of her hair. Her woman-captor was wearing a cape. It was long and dark, hanging around her shoulders in a shapeless kind of way. The hair on her head was brown. It was pulled up into a tight, immaculate bun, with a few small flyaways framing the edges of her face. All in all she looked like a typical villain. Someone Fujiko could have predicted would attack them on sight, based on the cape alone.
It was odd for someone like this to attack her though. Usually the female villains were more sympathetic. They very rarely attacked Fujiko herself; usually too focused on her male counterparts to pay her too much attention.
The woman’s smile grew as she looked down at Fujiko. She pushed aside her cape to reveal one of her arms, tipping the edge of Fujiko’s jaw up with a thin metal pointer. She laughed. “The name’s Elizabeth Riley. Let’s just say I’m someone your boyfriend stole from recently.”
Fujiko deadpanned. “ Great ,” she said. “So this is Lupin’s fault? Why do you have to involve me ? I had nothing to do with whatever you’re angry about.”
“Oh I think you had more to do with it than you think,” Elizabeth said. She turned to one of the screens ahead of them, aiming the pointer and pressing a button located at the grip. “Remember this ?”
One of the monitors blinked to life. It displayed the image of a diamond, one Fujiko was unfortunately familiar with. It had been a surprise gift Lupin had given her a week ago. At the time, she’d been delighted. It was a gorgeous gemstone. Large, flawless, and extravagant. Perfect for someone like her. But now, she was irritated. Of course the person Lupin had stolen that diamond from wanted revenge. These things were always his fault.
“I’ve never seen that diamond in my life,” Fujiko said. “You’ve got the wrong woman.”
“Is that so?” Elizabeth grinned. She fished in her cape for something Fujiko couldn’t see, and pulled that same diamond out from behind it. She held it up until it reflected the fluorescent lights, flashing bright colors in the shades of a rainbow. “Then what’s this ?”
Fujiko gulped. She tried not to eye the diamond, but did so out of mere habit. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If that’s true, why was this on your person?” Elizabeth asked. “You didn’t just happen to find my diamond, now did you?”
“ Damn it ,” Fujiko mumbled. She clenched her teeth, huffing as she finally relented. “ Fine , Lupin gave it to me, but I still don’t see why you had to capture me to get your revenge. Why not just steal it back? You’re obviously capable.”
“ Obviously ,” Elizabeth said. “But I couldn’t let a deed like this go unpunished, could I , Fujiko Mine?”
“I don’t know,” Fujiko said. “You villains make everything more complicated than they need to be.”
“Is that right?” Elizabeth asked. “You know, there’s a difference between women like me and women like you. Do you know what that is?”
“Not particularly,” Fujiko said. “But you’re going to tell me anyway, aren’t you?”
Elizabeth crossed her arms, tucking them under her cape. “You’re shallow . Petty. The weak link of your group, and what will certainly prove to be their downfall. You’re useless , and I’m going to prove it.”
Fujiko had heard this all before. It did little to sway her. These types always thought they knew her and her partners, but they were almost always wrong. “Have fun with that,” Fujiko said. “Though you’d be hard-pressed to underestimate me and the others. I think the real weak link here is you .”
Elizabeth laughed. “Whatever you say, Fujiko Mine,” she said. “Because I haven’t underestimated you. In fact, I’ve been watching you. I know your weaknesses. I know what makes you tick.”
“You wouldn’t be the first,” Fujiko said. “I’ve heard this all before.”
Elizabeth’s smile turned into a twisted smirk. She turned to the screens again. “Have you heard this before?” she asked. She aimed the pointer, and more than just the one of the monitors flickered to life. At first, she wasn’t sure what she was looking at, though when she realized what it was, she was horrified.
On each of the screens was one of her partners, having been captured and contained in an unadorned metal box. Jigen and Lupin were pacong their respective rooms, searching for a way out. Goemon and Zenigata were stationary, waiting for an opportunity. As far as she could tell, they were unharmed. She had a feeling that wouldn't last.
Fujiko struggled against her restraints for the first time since she’d woken up. She glared at her captor, trying in vain to break free. “What have you done?” she asked. “Why’re they— what have you done to them?”
“Nothing yet,” Elizabeth said. “But that will quickly change. Unless you can prove me otherwise.”
“What do you mean?” Fujiko asked.
“Prove to me you aren’t the weak link, and maybe I’ll let you go. If you succeed, then you can take your partners, and my diamond. Free of charge.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?” Fujiko asked.
Elizabeth held up the pointer. “Like this .”
She pressed a sequence of buttons. Each button had a function which was tied to each of the rooms. Numbers and pictures were displayed on the screens ahead of Fujiko, and she watched as each room slowly began to change.
It started with Lupin. His room began to shake. She could tell by the shifting of the camera, as well as Lupin’s reaction. The floor separated in the middle, retracting as Lupin registered what was happening and sprinted across to safety. Next was Jigen. His room became a maze of corridors. The camera changed to an overhead shot, with Jigen at the starting point which led to a hidden doorway. Goemon’s room sprouted a faucet. It gradually began to fill with water, and she watched as Goemon moved for the first time since the monitors had been turned on. Zenigata’s room didn’t change much. A keypad appeared on the other side of the room, and a hatch opened up to reveal some kind of robot. It advanced on Zenigata quickly, forcing him to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
“Help them escape,” Elizabeth said. “Everything you need should be displayed for your benefit, but don’t take too long. Each room is its own puzzle. All you have to do is decipher each one.”
“But—”
Elizabeth began to back away. She laughed as Fujiko struggled, ignoring her as she tried to protest. “You have 30 minutes,” she said. “Good luck.”
Elizabeth left the room. Her boots rang out just like they had before, though this time they were much more intimidating. On the screens her partners were beginning to panic. She could see them trying to survive, unable to understand what they needed to do.
“Guys?” she called out. “Can…can you hear me?”
Lupin paused and looked up at his camera. He pressed himself against the back wall, watching as the floor slowly disappeared from underneath him. “Fujicakes?” he said. “Is that you?”
“Yeah,” Fujiko said. “Some lunatic kidnapped us. She told me I’m supposed to help break you out.”
“Then do it ,” Jigen said, peering up at his own camera. “How the fuck do we get out of this?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” she said. “Are you guys okay?”
“Define ‘okay,’” Zenigata said. He dodged an attack and dove to the ground to avoid his assailant.
“Unharmed,” Fujiko said.
“Should we not worry about that later?” Goemon asked. “How are you going to break us out, Fujiko?”
“I don’t know,” Fujiko tried her best to read the information laid out on each of their screens. “Just give me a second, okay?”
She started with Lupin. On his screen was a series of colorful squares leading to the end of the room. Underneath them was the word “pathway” and a timer counting down from 15 minutes. By this point, the floor had retracted completely. The only available space was where Lupin was standing, as well as a small sliver of floor opposite to him. She made a decision.
“Okay, Lupin,” she said. “Tell me what you see.”
“Nothing,” Lupin said. “The floor’s gone. I’m hanging here by a thread.”
“So there’s no paneling? Nothing leading to the other end of the room?”
“No,” Lupin said. “What am I supposed to do?”
“To your left,” she said. “There should be a panel you can stand on. I know it doesn’t look like it to you, but you have to trust me. Up and to the left.”
“Up and to the left…” Lupin said. He furrowed his eyebrows and gulped visibly. “You sure about this?”
“Yes,” Fujiko said. “You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Lupin said. “Of course I do.”
He looked to be gearing himself up to jump, his shoulders hunched to his ears. “Here goes nothing.”
He jumped. At first, she was afraid she had been wrong, but his feet made contact with something solid. He looked down at himself in surprise, shocked to see himself still standing. “Hey,” he said. “It’s glass.”
“I thought so,” Fujiko said. “Okay, next one is to your right about three feet. Keep going.”
Lupin nodded. He didn’t hesitate to jump this time, landing on another glass panel. “What’s next?” he asked.
“Left again,” she said. “About two feet diagonally.”
She turned her attention to Jigen, deciding she had enough of a handle on Lupin for the moment. “Jigen,” she said. “Tell me what you see.”
“Not much,” Jigen said. “There’s a wall directly in front of me.”
“I can see the path you need to take. Just listen to my directions, okay?”
Jigen huffed. He used his hand to tip back his hat, peering up at the camera. “Whatever you say, Fuji.”
“There should be an opening to your right. Head through and immediately turn left. Then continue straight for about 300 feet.”
“Simple enough,” Jigen said. “What comes after that?”
“More turns,” Fujiko said. “Just focus on my initial directions.”
Jigen sighed. He pushed his hat back down over his nose, and did as he was told. She turned her attention back to Lupin.
“Lupin. Up and to your left three feet. Stay there until I tell you otherwise.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Lupin gave her a salute and followed her directions.
“Okay, Zenigata. How’re you doing?”
“I could be better,” he said. “I can’t believe you guys drug me into another one of your messes.”
“Hey, blame Lupin,” Fujiko said. “I didn’t steal this lady’s diamond.”
“Hey!” Lupin said. “That’s unfair, Fujicakes. You didn’t complain when I gave it to you.”
“That was before we were kidnapped,” Fujiko said. On Zenigata’s screen was a series of equations. Each solution seemed to be the code he needed to escape. A code she’d need to give him before he succumbed to the robot. “Okay, I need you to memorize some numbers. Can you do that?”
“Fujiko,” Jigen said. “What’s next?”
Fujiko tore her eyes away from Zenigata’s screen, returning to the maze Jigen was stuck in. “There’s a series of turns,” she said. “When you see them, go in this order. Left, left, right, left, right, right, left. Got it?”
“Yeah,” Jigen said. “Oh, and Fujiko?”
“What is it?”
“I think this maze is electrified.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can feel it,” Jigen said. “Like when you touch the screen of an old box TV. There’s some kind of current coming from the walls.”
“Well then don’t touch them,” Fujiko said. “Just follow those turns, okay? Be careful.”
Jigen nodded. He sauntered down the maze, slowly making his way forward. She turned her attention back to Zenigata. “Zeni,” she said. “Can you memorize the numbers for the keypad?”
“Yeah,” Zenigata said. He sounded winded, dodging yet another attack from the robot. The robot’s arms were blades. Zenigata deflected them with his Jutte. “Give ‘em to me.”
She tried her best to think through the various equations. Once she was done, she nodded. “Okay here they are. Four, six, five, three—”
“Fujiko,” Goemon said. “The water is up to my waist.”
Fujiko turned her attention to Goemon. He was correct. She could see the water darkening the fabric of his hakama, bleeding onto the bottom of his kimono and his sleeves. He held Zantetsuken up above the current, trying in vain to keep it safe. On his screen was a series of Xs located on various floor panels throughout his room. She had a feeling she knew what they were, so she once again made a decision.
“Okay, Goemon. This is what I need you to do. See the panels below you?”
Goemon looked down. “Yes,” he said. “What about them?”
“I need you to move up two and over one to the left, okay?”
Goemon nodded. He did as he was told. The panel sank down, clicking into position. “Now what?”
“Move to the right two and up one.”
She looked for the next X, but Lupin caught her attention.
“Uhhh, Fujiko? Something’s happening,” he said.
Fujiko looked at his monitor. “What do you mean?”
“The panel is shaking,” he said.
The timer under the colorful squares had run out. It flashed with big bold zeroes, and the squares disappeared. “ Shit ,” she said. “But we had time! That lady cheated!”
“What’s happening?” Lupin asked. “Fujiko?”
The panel under his feet collapsed. Fujiko gasped as she watched him fall, almost like it was happening in slow-motion. His monitor turned off the instant he fell through the air. It cut his scream short, her own reflection staring back at her like a death sentence. Her mind froze. This wasn’t supposed to be happening.
“ Fuck ,” she said. “Lupin!”
“What’s happening?” Jigen demanded, having heard Lupin's scream over the speakers. He stopped and peered up at the camera again, his hand on the top of his hat. “Fujiko? What the fuck just happened? What was that sound?”
She took a deep breath, trying to collect herself. “It was… it was Lupin.”
“What do you mean?” Jigen asked.
“I uh… I failed. He fell.”
“What do you mean ?” Jigen asked again. “I thought you were supposed to help us.”
“I’m trying ,” Fujiko said. She could feel tears welling up on her, but she held them back. “That lady drained his time! We had fifteen minutes!”
“ Fuck ,” Jigen said. “How could you let this happen?”
“I didn’t!” Fujiko said. “Look. Let’s just focus on the rest of you, okay? It’s Lupin, remember? I’m sure he’s fine.”
Jigen grumbled something under his breath. He pulled out a cigarette to busy his twitching hands, lightning it quickly. He let out a puff of smoke. “If we get out of here, I’m gonna kill you. I can’t fucking believe this.”
“Whatever you say,” Fujiko said. “The next turn is to your right. There should be a corridor. Head down to the end and wait for my next direction.”
Jigen didn’t say anything as he listened to her. She heard him mumbling to himself, but it wasn’t anything loud enough for her to hear. She turned her attention back to Goemon.
“Goemon, the next panel you need is to your left at the end of the room. Let me know when you get there.”
The water was past his shoulders. The bottom of his hair trailed through it as he maneuvered, his movements slowed due to the added pressure. He’d given up in his attempts to protect Zantetsuken, opting to focus on the task ahead instead.
She switched her gaze back to Jigen, watching as he carefully moved down the corridor. He only had a few more turns before the end, and despite what had happened, she was relieved to know he was near safety. Even if he did want to kill her. She didn’t want him to die as well.
Not that Lupin was dead. He couldn’t be. That was impossible.
Something changed as Jigen moved. She barely had time to warn him as it happened, and as the walls around him began to change. He tried his best to move out of the way, but as he dodged, another wall appeared. He ran into it, and his monitor shut off before Fujiko had a chance to see what had happened.
A loud bang rang out in the distance, alerting her remaining partners to her failure.
“What’s going on?” Zenigata asked. “What was that?”
“Nothing,” Fujiko said, deciding it was better to trust Lupin and Jigen instead of dwell on their possible deaths. At least, not until this was over, anyway. She took another deep breath, and tried her best to stay focused. “Do you remember the numbers I gave you?”
“Four, six, five, three,” Zenigata said. “Is everything alright? Did I hear you say Lupin fell?”
“It’s nothing,” Fujiko said. “I have everything under control.”
“It does not sound like it,” Goemon said. “If you do not hurry, the water will be past my chin.”
“I know, I know,” Fujiko said. “I’m trying. It isn’t easy juggling all of you at once. Zenigata, here are the rest of the numbers. Put them into the keypad, okay?”
“Yeah,” Zenigata said. “But be quick. This thing isn’t easy to keep up with.”
“Four, six, five, three, eight, one, nine, five, six, eight. Got it?”
“Think so,” Zenigata said. “I just have to—”
He dodged another attack from the robot, sidestepping it to run to the keypad. The machine spun around to lung at him, its blades missing his back by mere inches.
“Fujiko,” Goemon said. She turned her attention back to Goemon’s screen, and saw him standing on his tip-toes to stay above the water. “What’s— what’s next?”
But the Xs had disappeared before Fujiko could remember where the next button he needed to press was. She began to panic, the carefully-maintained composure she’d been keeping up quickly falling away. She searched his screen, but couldn’t remember the solution.
“I-I—”
“ Fujiko . You must do something,” Goemon said. “What’s—”
The water continued to rise, and Fujiko realized she was too late. Goemon was cut off before he could finish his sentence. He jumped up to gulp down some of the remaining air, but sank as the water overwhelmed him, and he was forced to hold his breath. His screen flickered off a second later. The silence that followed was sickening.
Tears slipped down Fujiko’s cheeks as she turned back to Zenigata. Her shoulders were shaking, her wrists aching and bruised, but that was the least of her concern. Zenigata had made it to the keypad. He had managed to land a strike to the robot to stun it, taking the opportunity to punch in the numbers. He attempted the door once he was finished, and for a moment Fujiko hoped she had saved one of them. Her heart sank when the door remained closed, and the robot began to move again. No matter how he tried, the handle would not budge.
Zenigata was tired. She could see the sweat rolling down his face and the back of his neck, his shoulders trembling due to exertion. He’d lost his hat at some point during the struggle. It was lying alone and abandoned about one hundred feet from where they were standing; his hair sweat-soaked and messy. He huffed as he tried the numbers again. It didn’t work.
“Fujiko,” he said, voice laced with concern. “We have a problem. The numbers aren’t working.”
She knew that was impossible. She may not have been the smartest person in their group, but she could do simple math. She knew her solutions had to be the correct ones. She decided to try again, hoping she had enough time.
But just like the others, the information she’d been provided had vanished. She scrambled for an explanation, and Zenigata turned to stare up at his camera when he didn’t receive a response. The moment he was distracted, the robot advanced. He barely had time to react, and it wasn’t long before his screen had darkened as well. Fujiko stared at it for several seconds, almost too shocked to respond.
“I’m…” Fujiko whimpered, trying her best to get a hold of her emotions. She hung her head. “I’m sorry.”
She barely registered anything as the sound of those boots returned again, and the door behind her opened. She didn’t move as Elizabeth approached, a laugh already slipping past her lips.
“So that was fun, wasn’t it?” she asked. “How’d you like my little game, Ms. Mine?”
Fujiko scowled at Elizabeth. She struggled against her restraints once more, ignoring the ache and pain of her shoulders.
“You— you cheated ,” she said.
Elizabeth grinned. She placed a gloved finger to her lips, trying her best to look innocent. “Did I?” she asked. “I told you, you were the weak link, Fujiko Mine.”
“You petty bitch ,” Fujiko said. “You broke your end of the deal. You cheated .”
“I never said I couldn't change things as they went on,” Elizabeth said. “I only said you had to try and save them.”
“Which I did ,” Fujiko said. “I tried to save them, but that’s impossible when you have a lunatic modifying the rules at every turn. I would have saved them.”
“Yet you didn’t,” Elizabeth said. “What happens now, I wonder? You have no one left to save you. Your partners are dead, and it’s all your fault.”
“That’s not true,” Fujiko said. “ You killed them. This is your fault.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Elizabeth said. “But really, what happens next is entirely up to you. I have a proposition to make, and what you decide will determine your fate as well.”
“Oh yeah?” Fujiko felt like spitting, but refrained from doing so since it was both gross and unladylike. She settled for glowering at her captor instead. “What’s that?”’
“Join me,” Elizabeth said. “I could use a woman of your particular skill set.”
Fujiko laughed, though it was much less enthusiastic than Elizabeth’s had been. “That depends on what you’re offering me,” she said.
“Is your life not enough?” Elizabeth asked. “I did just murder your partners according to you. Are you not intimidated?”
Fujiko shrugged. “I’ve been through worse,” she said. “Compared to some, you’ve been a walk in the park.”
“Yet your partners are still dead.”
“Yes,” Fujiko said. “About that offer. What do I get in return?”
Elizabeth smirked at her. She took a step forward and tossed back her cape until it was behind her shoulders. “You really are as nefarious as they say,” she said. She tipped back Fujiko’s chin with the tip of a finger, smiling with delight. “You’d really forget your partners that quick? All for greed?”
“The world is made of money,” Fujiko said. “A girl’s gotta do what she can to survive.”
Elizabeth giggled, leaning down until their faces were inches apart. This close Fujiko could see the makings of what may have once been a beautiful woman. She could see how Elizabeth looked in her younger years, and despite what she’d done, Fujiko almost felt bad for her.
She allowed herself a grin of her own. She wasn’t sure what Elizabeth thought as she noticed, but within seconds her fingers left Fujiko’s chin, and she found herself on the ground wrapped between Fujiko’s legs. Fujiko held Elizabeth down as best she could, wrapping her heels around Elizabeth’s back and pushing her down until her face was pressed into Fujiko’s chest. Elizabeth struggled for a few seconds, her vision swimming from the swift kick Fujiko had landed against her bottom jaw. She tried to say something or to pull away, but Fujiko held her steadfast.
“Now!” Fujiko yelled. Elizabeth reached in her cape for the pointer, but found it shot from her hand the moment it appeared. Everything was happening so fast that she was disoriented. She didn’t know what was happening. All she knew was the pain in her head, and the ache of whatever had broken her grip on her pointer. Fujiko’s legs disappeared, and she was finally able to get ahold of herself.
When Elizabeth looked up, she found the chair Fujiko had been sitting in empty. She was so surprised that she jumped up without even realizing it. She spun around in the direction the projectile had come from, and found herself face to face with her hostage, as well as the four men she’d seen die only moments ago.
The rope that had held Fujiko sat split behind the chair. Two large cuts had been made to free her, and Elizabeth realized Goemon had been the one to do it. Fujiko rubbed her wrists, and stared at Elizabeth from between her partners.
“I—I don’t understand,” Elizabeth said. “You’re supposed to be dead. I saw you die.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Lupin said. “That’s what you get for underestimating us, Ms. Riley.”
Elizabeth pressed herself against the legs of the chair behind her, trying to keep away from them. “But how ? I watched each of you fall victim to my traps. Fujiko said you were dead. She believed it.”
“It’s called acting , sweetheart,” Fujiko said. She smirked, and leaned down to squint at Elizabeth. “ I told you, you were the weak link .”
“But— but how ? Lupin fell. Goemon drowned. Zenigata was defeated, and Jigen was shocked by my maze. I saw each of you die .”
“Don’t you know?” Jigen stepped forward. He threw his arm over the top of one of Lupin’s shoulders, leaning on him casually. He held up his gun, which was smoking from the shot he’d aimed at Elizabeth. He grinned, and allowed her a glimpse of his eyes. “We’re immortal.”
“That’s impossible,” Elizabeth said. “You’re not real. This is… this some kind of trick. It has to be.”
“I assure you it is not,” Goemon said. “What Jigen says is true. We cannot die. At least, not to the likes of you.”
“But how ? How’d you know how to escape?”
“Magic,” Lupin said with a giggle. “A magician does not reveal his tricks, right? It’d spoil the fun if we told you.”
“Plus, we’re partners,” Zenigata said. He held up one of his many sets of handcuffs, and grinned while swinging it on one of his fingers. “We don’t need to communicate a plan to pull one off. What’d be the point, otherwise?”
“I don’t understand,” Elizabeth said. “I defeated you. I saw you all die!”
Lupin frowned. He could tell this was going nowhere, and that their fun was officially over. He turned to Zenigata. “I think we broke her,” he said. “You wanna…?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Zenigata said. He approached Elizabeth with the handcuffs, and grabbed one of her wrists to restrain her. She didn’t fight back, staring at all of them like she’d seen a ghost. “But you’ll owe me for this.”
Lupin’s grin was wide. He broke away from Jigen to press a quick kiss to Zenigata’s cheek. He snuck his hand down the back of Zenigata’s pants, and Zenigata jumped when he felt the contact. His face flushed bright red, and he glared at the already-fleeing thief.
“ Damn it , Lupin,” he said. “You’re next!”
Zenigata wanted to give chase. He heard the others laughing as he turned to do so, but found himself held back by his current prisoner. Without him realizing it, Lupin had slipped the other handcuff around his own wrist, meaning he was stuck to this woman while they all got away. He tried his best to be angry, but really, he couldn’t help but laugh along too. He stepped forward anyway, and yelled down the hallway.
“Lupin!” he said. “Get back here!”