Arsene Lupin

Automobiles cut their way through the quiet of the night to meet us. They tie my hands and load me into one.

I stare up at the window at the sky. I have no interest in where they are taking me, or what will happen to me there...

It all happens so suddenly. A crash and a flash cut through the night. The car ahead of us flips over, and rolls over on the road. The carriage we are in screeches to a halt before we hit the overturned car ahead. The car behind us tries to swerve, but tips over, crashing into us from behind. The stricken vehicles block us in.

"What is it?! Are we under attack?!"

"The road exploded! I can't see anyone outside!"

Everyone riding with us draws their guns and exits the car.

"Whoever you are, know that you have just attacked the finest soldiers in Britain!" the captain says.

"I know exactly who you are!" a voice rings out in the night.

"Where is she? Where's that coming coming from!?" a soldier asks.

"Over there! On top of the ruins!" another says.

I turn to see where the soldier is pointing. There is something standing there! I see a figure silhouetted by the moon. A thin body, wrapped in formal attire, with a top hat perched on her head. A walking stick in her hand. She looks if she is about to attend a masquerade ball. But why? Strangely, nothing about this scene strikes me as out of place.

"Fantastic work, gentlemen!" Her cloak flutters in the wind as she stares down at us. "His majesty must be proud that his honourable Royal Guard have come all this way to carry out a ****!"

"How dare you impugn our name! Who are you!?" the captain says.

"The name is Arsene Lupin! No need to be shocked, sirs, I am merely your average dashing lady thief!"

"A thief? You lowlife scum, what do you want from us?!" a soldier asks.

"Wait a tick... I've heard of this woman. Some burglar who works in Paris." another soldier says.

"I am impressed! You're quite right. My pleasance here is quite an honour. You lucky gentlemen will witness my handiwork with your own eyes. What're more..." the woman calling herself Lupin looks at me. I feel her piercing gaze through her mask. "Monsieur, can you hear me?" I stare up at her sternly. "I do have a confession to make. My purpose for being out here on this night is you, dear gentleman. I have come to take you away."

"Take me away?" I ask.

"Now, don't you fret, Monsieur! I am here to rescue you from the hands of these dogs, and with great style! Watch!"

"You impudent cur! For a lowly robber to stand before the prestigious British Royal Guard is inexcusable!" the captain says. "All of you, capture this woman!"

"Yes, sir! Everyone, prepare to fire!" a soldier says.

"Right! Take aim! ...Wait, no!" the captain says.

"Fire!"

"Gaaaah!" The shadow dances jerkily as the soldiers open fire. Many of them must have hit. The shadow collapses to the ground. I'm holding my breath.

"Idiot! I said to capture her! Why would you give the order to fire?!" the captain asks.

"If she is who she says she is, then the one and only Arsene Lupin can never be captured, not even by the entire Paris police ****!" the soldier says. "She had to be brought down, and quickly, or else she would have stolen the monster!"

That woman, Lupin... Did she really die just now?

"You cads... You... You've gone and done it. You've ended my brilliant life... Cut short... too soon... Ah... Ahah... Hahahaha!" Lupin sits up, howling with laughter.

"What is happening here?! How is she even alive after being shot so many times?!" the captain asks.

"Captain! Look out!" Before the soldier can say more, Lupin's body erupts into a bright light, blinding me with its glare. At the same time, a series of explosions rocks the ground. The carriages around us are in disarray.

"What's going on?! What kind of trick is this?!" a soldier asks.

"Another attack! She must have an accomplice hiding somewhere!" another soldier says.

"Calm down! She likely planted these bombs before we got here! Don't allow her to fool you! This thief is acting alone!" the captain's clear voice and reason have no effect on the men.

The smoke from the explosions does not clear, but continues to thicken around us. Soon, it is difficult to see.

"Where is she? Where did she go?!" the soldiers shout in confusion.

Suddenly a shadow appears before me. I almost cry out but the woman raises a finger to her lips.

"Did I startle you? My apologies. Fear not, I'm not a ghost. That was just a trick." She grins and holds out her hand. "Take my hand, Monsieur. Shall we make our great escape into the night?"

I take her hand.

She suddenly pulls me by the arm. "I will be all right. Trust me." She pulls me to here with a compelling strength that her slender frame belied. She looks back at me with an excited smile, a smile that seems totally unfitting for the current situation. "Relax now, my gentleman. A beautiful face like yours is wasted without a smile to go with it. Now, leave this all to me. There's nothing to be afraid of. The great Arsene Lupin always gets what she wants, without fail." As she talks, she pulls me straight beside her, and looks about us happily. "Time for the final touch."

"The what?" I have no idea what she's talking about.

"Heh. What are you doing?! That scoundrel escaped to the south! All of you, grab your guns and go after her! Move, move! See what I did there?" Amazingly, Lupin's sounded exactly like that of the captain.

"Yes, Captain! You heard her, men! South! Go, go, go!" a soldier says.

"You fools! That was a trick! Get back here!" The captain shouts out through the smoke.

"Liar! How dare you impersonate me! I'm the real captain, men! Don't be fooled! That was Lupin talking just now!" Lupin says.

"I'm hearing double! Two Captain Agronas!" a soldier says.

"We can't tell who's who in this smoke! Everyone, just surround the monster!" another soldier says.

By the time the soldiers began to gather around us, Lupin had picked me up and run out.