Johann laid back against the lamp post. He took a deep breath and straightened his coat. The bustling crowd as so distant it sounded as if they were all worlds away. A woman stood across from him in the shadows cast from the rows of trees which walled the path. Her wavy hair was strewn over her shoulders. Her posture wasn’t the best compared to Johann, who stood as straight as a ruler.

Her eyes darted around for a moment before she cleared her throat. “Thank you for your time, your grace.” She said, speaking with a light accent that Johann hadn’t once heard. “Farewell.”

“Farewell.” Johann sighed, leaning his head against the post. “Have a good evening, miss.” She nodded before heading off.

She sauntered down the stretch. Johann just watched. Scarlett, meanwhile, arrived at the staircase. They clasped the railing and looked down at the straight gravel path. There he was. They rushed down and over. Johann tensed. “Johann.” Scarlett said in a pant. “Could I have a word with you?”

Johann peeled himself up and bounced onto his feet. “Of course. What is it?” Exhaustion rattled off every word he said.

“Do you need to sit down?”

“No. I’ll be fine.” He gazed back out into nowhere. “Do you.. wish to go ahead now?”

“Of course, Johann.”

“Okay.”

“This decision you are making is not the… best.”

“.. So? I think I’ve had enough time to think it through well enough.”

“Thirty minutes?”

“That’s enough time.”

“So you want to take a boat all the way to Wales then return to Austria-”

“I do that quite often, Scarlett.” He groaned, looking at his feet. His shoulders were horribly stiff. “For parties, anyway.”

“What about your contacts? Who would manage your place when you-”

Bushes shook. Scarlett’s eyes widened a bit. Their head almost snapped straight off their neck as they looked to their side. They could’ve sworn there wasn’t even a hint of wind. It was probably just a cat or something—did Johann even have cats in the garden? Perfectly trimmed hedges decorated the sides of the path. Only darkness could be seen behind their leaves.

Johann sighed and shrugged. He put his hands on his hips and gazed out with lazy half-shut eyes. “What is that, Scarlett?”

“I’m not certain.” Scarlett narrowed their eyes intently. The bush didn’t move. Of course it didn’t. Were they going insane? Johann saw it too.

“But it’s right there.” Johann huffed, stepping into the middle of the path.

Scarlett turned in his direction. Johann pursed his lips and stuck one foot into the hedges. He locked gazes with them the whole time. “You know it’s really informal of you to come here alone.” He complained irritably.

“I know exactly what I am doing, Johann. I assure you.” Scarlett calmly replied.

“Anyway, I need a moment. Can we return to this.. conversation-” He paused to mutter something under his breath “Before I get back..?”

“Before?”

“When.” He huffed. “.. When.”

“Sure, Johann. Do not be too long.”

“I won’t be. Just.. uh… wait for me a bit farther down the path.”

He smiled halfheartedly before dragging his feet up the stairs. Scarlett looked back at the bushes. They weren’t too worried. Perhaps it was a squirrel or even a mouse. It was summer anyway. They looked back out, shrugging it off in their mind. It was a bit of a struggle because last time the bushes shook like that, nothing good came out of it.

Scarlett started to walk. The birds tweeted in their ears. The voices quieted a little more. They looked out at the trees. Another cobblestone path ran behind it, wrapping around a bush which was dotted by white flowers. There was a marble bench. Scarlett glanced back at the staircase, which was distant. How did time go by so fast?

The road ahead split. Scarlett took the left. It seemed as if ghosts accompanied them. The talking seemed almost… muffled. Scarlett sat down on the bench. They rested their hands on its cool surface. What a day. Gray clouds blanketed over whatever was left of the blue sky. The sun managed to peek through on some parts. Some little windows of warmth fought hard to combat the growing chill.

“That information is erm.. incredibly valuable, Nanè.” A man said lowly.

Scarlett looked at the bush and furrowed their brows. It towered like a pillar. The flowers just stared back at them. “Sh.” ‘Nanè’ snapped. “I think I heard someone.”

“I don’t give a damn. It’s not like they’ll care anyway. Jack Bell is dead news-”

Scarlett’s eyes shot wide. Their heart plummeted into their gut. Jack Bell. They furrowed their brows even tighter and leaned forward. “Anyway.” The man finished. “They’ve all learned to.. cope, I guess—Besides, in the worst case scenario, the wrong person could be listening in on us.” He chuckled a bit. “If it was just another person, they’d say something or.. just lock it away.”

“.. Right.” ‘Nanè’’s dignified voice was more grumpy than anything. “There should be no one here. Saxengang said it was.. inaccessible to the guests.”

“Then we’re fine. Besides, what could anyone do about it if they heard? We just tell them we’re cops.”

“I.. I guess.”

“I just want this to be over. It’s been… how many years?.”

“I do too. Standing around won’t help our case though. I suggest we get going.”

Scarlett gripped the edge of the bench. Their heart thudded against their ribs. Where were they? Would they come around? Their head burnt as those questions paved into it. One. Two. Three. Nothing. Four. Five. Six. Eight. Nothing. Nine. Thirteen. Still, nothing. Twelve. Twenty-four.

Counting the seconds was like counting the stars. There were just too many. Silence killed every speck of noise there was. A hundred. Scarlett glanced back. Surely enough, Johann strutted around the corner. “I.. I thought you were a bit closer so uh.. it-it… took me a bit of time to look for you, heh-heh.”

“No worries, Johann.”

“I must go home.” He said through tightly grit teeth. “I’ve.. caught… uh, sickness.”

“Okay.” Scarlett glared at the bush. “Do feel better.”

“-Have you seen a ghost? You’re a bit pale.”

“Oh no, Johann. It’s perfectly all right.”