The time has come. The plan will be carried out together with the Hunters. Of course, Fiona never informed any of the higher ranks of the Dark Umbrella. It was a dangerous gamble, but not a bad idea.
Sophie: "So... that means... we're supposed to watch you."
The Joker: "Exactly. When I give the signal... that's when you come in. I have someone who can help us. The Finger can let you inside. Once the door is opened, it will stay open. The Finger will wait for you. I'll deal with Zantanel myself. Eliska will stay with The Finger as well. You can complete your mission with the Clock Vampire... and we get the heart."
Sophie: "Hmm."
Fiona: "Okay."
Rosika: "Mhm."
Siegfried: "It's finally time."
Meanwhile...
Zantanel: "Hmm... let's see how this works."
A few minutes later...
The Joker: "Oh ho... someone's early."
Zantanel: "There you are. Do you have the key?"
The Joker: "Of course. By the way... just call me Joker or The Joker, whichever you prefer. Hehe."
Zantanel: "Hmm... could it be that you're still holding one key?"
The Joker: "Yeah. I wanted to hand that one over now so you wouldn't leave without me. You understand, right?"
Zantanel: "Hmph... you're really careful."
The Joker: "Naturally."
She took the keys.
Zantanel: "By the way... my curse won't work on you."
The Joker: "Hmm?"
Zantanel: "You've been cursed by Rumpelstiltskin... the Arcane who possesses the Ash abilities. That means you can hand me the keys without throwing them."
The Joker: "Okay."
He handed her the final key.
Zantanel: "Thanks. Where are your people?"
The Joker: "Oh... come out, Skeleton... and The Finger."
They stepped out.
The Joker: "This is The Skeleton and The Finger. The Finger and I are the boss's right hands... although, could it be you're not alone either?"
Zantanel: "No... I didn't come alone. Remy, come out."
Remy appeared.
The Joker: "Oh... what a handsome gentleman."
Zantanel: "Hmm. He's my right hand. Good... let's go inside."
The Joker: "After you."
She inserted the first key.
The gears began to turn.
The Joker: "Hmm..."
He looked upward.
Sophie, Fiona, Rosika, and Siegfried were hiding above.
The Joker: "Hmm."
Zantanel: "So... it's opened."
The Joker: "Hmm."
Zantanel: "But why would they need eight keys?"
The Joker: "I think... because there are probably multiple doors."
Zantanel: "Couldn't they have just built fewer doors and put up walls instead?"
The Joker: "Yeah... I suppose that would've been easier. Well then... after you."
They continued forward.
Zantanel: "Hmm? What's wrong, Remy? Don't you like this place?"
Remy: "No... I just think it's strange."
They looked around.
The Joker: "Hmm... I understand."
Zantanel: "By the way... where's your friend, The Finger?"
The Joker: "He's standing outside the entrance. If all of us got trapped in here, that wouldn't be very cool."
Zantanel: "Smart. So the keys are meant to open the labyrinth's doors."
The Joker: "Exactly."
Zantanel: "I suppose every door can be opened... but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the correct path."
The Joker: "Bingo. They're only meant to make us lose our way. That's all. Even the wrong doors will open... even if they all have the same pattern."
Zantanel: "Hmm... which door do you think is right?"
The Joker: "Unfortunately... I have no idea, my dear. I suggest we open the left door. If it doesn't work, we'll find another route. Though we should expect traps."
Zantanel: "Hmm... sure."
Meanwhile...
Sophie: "We're here."
The Finger: "Great."
Eliska: "Good. I'll guide you. The Finger will monitor the situation."
Fiona: "Mhm."
Eliska: "Follow me."
They followed her.
Eliska: "They went this way."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Sophie: "Fiona... I have a bad feeling."
Fiona: "So do I. That's why I told Siegfried and Rosika to stay outside and keep watch."
Sophie: "Mhm... at least they'll be safe if something happens to us."
Fiona: "Exactly."
Sophie: "Good."
They continued walking.
Eliska: "Hmm..."
Radio.
Eliska: "Hmm? Finger?"
The Finger: "Take the door on the right. To be honest, I don't know if it's really the correct route, but from what I understood... it should be."
Eliska: "Okay."
To make it easier to understand, Joker led Zantanel down the left path while The Finger guided the Dark Umbrella through the right corridor. That way, Zantanel would never discover Sophie or Fiona. It was one of Joker's cleverest plans.
Eliska: "I'm always surprised by how Joker comes up with these plans."
The Finger: "Yeah... it really was a good one. So... wait... Zantanel and The Joker weren't alone. There was someone else... his name was Remy."
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Sophie: "Oh, look... Fiona, your favorite."
Fiona: "Stop it, Sophie..."
Eliska: "Hm? You know him?"
Sophie: "We? No. Only Fiona knows him. They worked together once. Hehe."
The Finger: "Hmm."
Meanwhile...
The Joker: "Doesn't seem to be this way."
Zantanel: "Hmm? What's with that idea?"
The Joker: "No clue. Just like you, this is my first time here."
They reached another door and opened it.
It led directly to the right corridor.
The Joker: "Ugh... (Damn... not good. I should've expected that...) Hmm..."
Zantanel: "Saves us time."
The Joker: "Yeah."
They continued.
The Joker: "(Good... The Finger noticed it. That could've ended badly...) Hmm."
Zantanel: "Could it be... you're hiding something?"
The Joker: "Me? Why would you think that?"
Zantanel: "Your heartbeat suddenly increased. Something tells me... you were afraid for a moment."
The Joker: "Hehe... I have to admit, this is my first time here... so I'm a little excited. I've been working toward this for months."
Zantanel: "Hmm... whatever."
She kept walking.
The Joker followed her.
The Joker: "Another door... (If Sophie and Fiona are taking the right corridor, then every door along the route opens with the keys. That's exactly what the Labyrinth Book said. It doesn't matter whether I choose left or right. If I open the left door, the right one opens too. If I open the right door, the left one opens as well. Good... just like the book described. I assume Sophie and Fiona are now on the left route. They hid when we entered and waited until we advanced, then they took the same left path as us. Hehe... it's funny. We go left, they go right. Then we go right, they go left. Pretty confusing.) How about we take the right door this time?"
Zantanel: "No. We're taking the left."
The Joker: "Ugh... (Damn. If she opens the left door, she'll see Sophie and Fiona...) Okay."
She opened it.
The Joker: "Ugh..."
Fiona: "Uh..."
The Joker: "(Damn it...)"
The Finger quickly hid Sophie, Fiona, and Eliska beneath his magical cloak.
Zantanel: "What's wrong?"
The Joker: "Nothing. After you."
They walked on.
Zantanel: "Hmm... what's that on the ground? A torn cloak?"
She picked it up.
Remy: "Looks... old."
Zantanel examined it carefully before tossing it aside.
Zantanel: "...Alright. Let's go."
They continued.
Once they were gone, the cloak floated away and returned to the right corridor.
The Finger: "We're safe now."
Sophie: "Ow... that hurt when she threw us."
Fiona: "Yeah..."
The Finger: "Hmm?"
Eliska: "That was close."
The Finger: "I have to admit... Zantanel definitely senses that something's off. But so far she doesn't know we're here. Let's keep moving."
They continued.
The city itself was strange.
The houses stood unusually close together, forming narrow paths that created the labyrinth. The architecture was still Victorian, but with a slightly more modern appearance. It was silent. Naturally... the vampires were still asleep.
Zantanel: "Hmm..."
Several hours later...
At last, they reached the center of the city.
Neither Zantanel nor Remy had noticed anything.
Zantanel: "We're here. She should be somewhere around here."
The Joker: "She's probably sleeping somewhere."
Zantanel: "Hmm."
The Joker: "Mhm."
He glanced toward Fiona and The Finger.
The Joker: "Hmm... how about we split up? Otherwise it'll take too long to find where that thing sleeps."
Zantanel: "Fine by me. I'll go with Remy... and I suppose you'll go with the Skeleton. Why is he so quiet, anyway?"
The Skeleton: "Because, my dear lady, I don't wish to disturb this peaceful atmosphere."
The Joker: "He's a skeleton. It's only natural that he enjoys quiet places."
Zantanel: "Hmm... okay. I'll take that route."
The Joker: "Then I'll take this one."
They split up.
Remy: "Hmm..."
Zantanel: "Stay alert... they're probably planning something."
The Joker entered one of the buildings.
The Joker: "You can come out now."
Sophie: "Phew... that was intense."
Fiona: "Looks like she still hasn't noticed."
The Joker: "Yeah."
Fiona: "This is going too smoothly. Something isn't right."
The Joker: "Oh, come on. What's wrong with it? Let's hurry, find that thing's bed, and get out of here."
They continued.
The Joker: "Alright. I'll go with The Finger. Eliska, stay with them."
Eliska: "Mhm."
The Joker: "Take care of yourselves."
Sophie: "You too."
Fiona: "And how are we supposed to meet up again?"
The Finger: "If we find anything, I'll send you a signal... my cloak."
Fiona: "Okay."
The Joker: "See you later."
The Finger: "Stay safe."
They left.
Sophie: "Hmm..."
Eliska: "Alright... let's start searching."
Fiona: "Lead the way if you want."
Eliska: "Of course. Follow me."
They searched for Marta's bed.
Sophie: "This city is huge... where could she be?"
Eliska: "Well, according to the legends, Marta likes sleeping in an extremely cold room. Her bed is so cold that the floor around it is frozen. So all we have to do is find a place filled with ice where the air feels freezing."
Sophie: "Yeah... makes sense."
Fiona: "Sounds logical."
Eliska: "Let's see what we find."
Meanwhile...
The Joker: "Hmm... is everything ready?"
The Finger: "Yeah."
The Joker: "Great..."
The Finger: "I have the map. Do you think it's accurate?"
The Joker: "Hmm... let me see."
They looked over it.
The Joker: "Hmm... I think... she could be here... or maybe here. What do you think?"
The Finger pointed to another location.
The Joker: "Yeah... that's possible too. Good."
The Finger: "Are you sure you want to do this? It might cause us a lot of trouble."
The Joker: "Oh, come on... it'll be fun."
The Finger: "Hmm... if you say so."
Several hours later...
The Finger: "Looks like I was right."
The Joker: "Nicely done. Send your cloak and give the three of them the signal."
The Finger: "Okay."
His cloak flew away.
Meanwhile...
Sophie: "Huh... Fiona, look."
Fiona: "Ugh... the cloak."
Eliska: "Good. Let's hurry."
They rushed after it.
Sophie: "Hmm..."
Fiona: "(Something isn't right... this is going far too smoothly...)"
Sophie: "There they are."
They stopped.
The Joker: "There you are."
The Finger: "Mhm."
The Joker: "Hmm."
Zantanel: "Well, well..."
Fiona: "Ugh."
Sophie: "Huh!"
Zantanel: "You really walked straight into his trap, Joker."
The Joker: "Hehehe... told you so."
Fiona: "I see... this was your plan from the beginning."
The Joker: "My dear Fiona... perhaps you're not as clever as I thought."
Sophie: "What's that supposed to mean?"
The Finger: "We tricked you. Simple as that. Eliska."
Eliska: "Yes."
She aimed her gun at them.
Eliska: "Don't do anything stupid."
The Joker: "Hmm."
Several hours earlier...
The Joker: "Before we leave... there's one more thing."
She leaned closer and whispered.
The Joker: "The Dark Umbrella members are here. I made a deal with them... but what they don't know is that the deal itself is nothing more than a trap."
End of flashback.
Zantanel: "Hmm..."
The Joker: "Now then... getting them to follow us was one trap... and the trap for you was that I used them as bait."
Zantanel: "Hmm?"
Eliska aimed at Remy while The Finger stood behind her.
Zantanel: "I see..."
The Joker: "Hahahahaha! You're both fools! I wrapped both of you around my finger! Stay where you are, Fiona and Sophie. I don't want to hurt you... but if either of you moves, Skeleton will attack."
Fiona: "So it was a trap for both of us."
The Joker: "Not exactly, my dear. Not exactly. Right now we're here for the mission, and I don't want anyone interfering. Open the door, Finger."
He opened it.
The Finger: "Ugh... there it is."
The Joker: "Take this. Be careful. Aim for the heart. If you hit anything else, she'll wake up... and we're all screwed."
He did exactly that.
The Finger: "...Ugh..."
Splash!
The heart came out.
Sophie: "Huh?"
Dong! Dong!
Suddenly, all the snow vanished.
Zantanel: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Something's wrong."
The Joker: "Huh?"
The Finger: "Ugh... Joker... I think... we made a mistake."
The Joker: "What?"
The Finger: "...She... doesn't have... just one heart."
Dong.
Marta: "Aaaaarghhhhhhhhh!"
She slowly stood up.
Marta: "Who dares... touch me... and awaken me?!"