The Intruder In The Dark

Shanna's eyes fluttered open as muffled sounds pricked at her ears.

Blearily, she raised herself, taking a peek around the room.
Well, at least it wasn't Rondy in here, she thought to herself.

But what time was it…? It felt early… Way too early for whatever this was.

As a yawn racked her body and right as she considered drifting off to sleep again, she heard the sound again. Hearing it better now, it almost sounded like it had come from directly below her… So the storeroom? She shook her head, gradually growing more awake.

Okay… Her mind was curious enough to force her body to action.
What was Rondy up to now?

Her joints cracked as she swung her feet over the side of the bed, sluggishly exiting the bedroom and stifling the next yawn that sought its release. It was right as she'd approached the stairwell that a hand had flown out of the dark, covering her mouth.

Shanna's body reared up, ready to throw wild and errant fists... until a voice in her ear steadied her quickened heart.
"Someone's in the house." Rondy whispered.

Her body slackened upon hearing his voice, turning to face him. He slowly removed his hand as he stared at her, his eyes a bleary red-eyed copy of her own.

After a pause, he blinked. "You look terrible."

"Who's fault is that!?" Shanna furiously whispered back. She was sure she did look a right mess. A night time of tears usually did that to you.

His eyebrows raised in affront. "My fault?? What did I-"
Shanna's hand flew out covering his mouth. Seemingly it was her turn now, his tone having risen beyond that of a whisper.

Belatedly, he nodded his head and she lowered her hand.

Another muffled noise sounded from below, as both Shanna and Rondy, still maintaining eye contact fervently whispered: "The Midnight Picklock…!"

Shanna blinked in surprise. "You knew about that too?"

He gave her one of his patented withering looks. "I do pay attention to the gossip, you know…"

How exactly?… Shanna couldn't help but think.
When you spend all your time inside the house…!

Shanna shook her head and redoubled her focus. "…I think they're in the storeroom…" Shanna began quietly. "We might be able to surprise them if we go together."

Rondy nodded his head in agreement.

And so the two of them gingerly proceeded down the stairs taking care to avoid the creaky floorboards along the way. As they reached the last step Shanna looked around the entrance for a weapon, eventually settling on a heavy logbook located on a nearby desk. When she looked at Rondy, she saw he held a coat rack.

Shanna's heartbeat continued to intensify the closer she crept to the storeroom door.

Eventually both she and Rondy stood at opposite ends of the closed door, gripping their make-shift weapons protectively. With one final look and a synchronized nod between them they burst the door open.

...But there was no one there.
And not a single sound to be heard in the pitch black room.

Not only that, but the room looked as it usually did.
The windows and curtains were shut, the desk left with the appropriate amount of clutter. Nothing seen within the gloom of the empty room seemed to point to nefarious intent.

Shanna carefully inched around the room, subconsciously bringing the heavy logbook closer to her chest as she walked the edge of a bookcase.

Rondy had remained close to the doorway, his hold on the coat rack loose as he looked about the room. Shanna had coincidentally turned his way just in time to see his eyes suddenly widen.

"Look out!" He called urgently.
She barely had any time to react to his warning when a shadowy figure previously obscured behind the bookcase barreled past her.

As Shanna crashed to the ground, she caught the faintest glimpse of the cloaked culprit responsible.

They burst forward with incredible speed toward the exit where Rondy stood as obstruction. 

Seeing their approach, Rondy moved the large pole aloft in an effort to block them, only for them to duck under and lunge forward in one fluid motion. Outplayed, Rondy recklessly jumped onto them from behind, landing outside the room and beyond Shanna's vision.

R-Rondy...!

In a frenzied panic, she scrabbled to her feet as fast as she was able, messily skidding across the floor in her haste.

Mercifully, she saw Rondy as soon as she'd left the storeroom.
He was sat on the floor as he gently shook his head, his eyes squeezed shut.

"R-Rondy…!" Shanna said out of breath. "Are you okay?!"
He gave her the slightest of nods as he tried to straighten himself out.

Hearing his reply she tore her eyes away from him in order to inspect the entrance. The front door was ajar, gently rocking in the nightly breeze.

…They'd gotten away…!

Shanna rushed toward the open door and in her most booming voice called  for aid.
"Thief!! THIEF!! Someone catch that thief!!" How she wished to have a spoon and pot to clank in this moment.

Her feet carried her outside as she tried to make her voice carry farther in the dark. And that was when she heard a frightened and panicked cry a short distance away.

"A-AAaaahhh! H-Help-" The cry had ended prematurely, as if a hand or blow had smothered it. That sounded like Norri…! What was he doing here!?

Shanna found her feet moving on instinct. Towards the danger, towards Norri's outcry!
Lamps unintentionally began to light her way forward as more townsfolk awoke to the danger, curiously trying to peek through their windows.

As the town watchman's bell began to ring out, a sign of acknowledgement to Shanna's outcry, she rounded the corner and finally found Norri. She couldn't help but gasp.

Rondy had been diligently trailing behind, finally able to catch up once she'd stopped. As he walked to her side, both of them surveyed their fallen friend in shock.

Norri lay on the ground, sprawled and unmoving.
Scattered about the ground were tiny mushrooms.
And within his clenched fist, a scrap of cloth.

Even from this distance Shanna could see the colours, see the pattern of the fabric.
It was dark purple, and adorned with patterns of radiant silver.

And in that very moment the adorned silver of the cloth seemed to catch the gleam of the firelight in a most unnerving way...