EPT
+ Show Spoiler [First-Time Readers, Click Here] +
What is TL Noir?
TL Noir is a detective story about a dapper Moderator named Cow who works in TL City. He is tasked with hunting down a troll who is terrorizing TL's populace. Join him on his perilous search through the dark streets of TL and be prepared to experience mystery, adventure, suspense, horror and many, many other intense words.
You can start reading here: Part 1
TL Noir is a detective story about a dapper Moderator named Cow who works in TL City. He is tasked with hunting down a troll who is terrorizing TL's populace. Join him on his perilous search through the dark streets of TL and be prepared to experience mystery, adventure, suspense, horror and many, many other intense words.
You can start reading here: Part 1
+ Show Spoiler [Soundtrack, Click Here] +
A song you can play in the background for added atmosphere: Bohren & der Club of Gore - Midnight Radio 1
Dusk sets in as I reach the Dota District. I'm almost completely out of breath. Being a moderator isn't usually this stressful. I can't even really remember the last time I broke a sweat, and now I'm panting like a dog in a butt store.
Dota District is the newest part of town, built recently to accommodate TL's seemingly never-ending influx of fresh citizens. Somehow, it quickly turned into a ghetto. Looming dark structures tower over three parallel traffic lanes. There doesn't seem to be a set direction of traffic, or people simply don't care. They drive wildly in both directions, as if they're purposely trying to crash into each other. Everybody's angry.
The strips of land between the traffic lanes are covered with big oaks and a thick, almost impermeable brush. The idea was to create an inviting, natural green zone by planting some trees and bushes. Great for the kids and such. Too bad nobody actually bothered to do any gardening. Nature quickly went its way and flooded every available inch with vines, leaves and thorny branches. It's now known as the Jungle. I don't even want to know what goes on in there. I just try not to think about it.
The apartment complex I'm looking for is right on the outskirts of the District. Hot Bid should be in there. I hope he's all right. The troll said he'd be the next victim, but then again, trolls aren't exactly known for their veracity. It could have simply been part of his plan to mess with Kiett's head. Still, I have a bad feeling about this.
The main entrance door is locked. Of course. Heaven forbid that I should catch a lucky break for once. I move around the corner, find an empty window in the darkness and climb through. I find myself in an unfurnished room. After a minute of feeling up the wall like I'm checking it for breast cancer, I manage to locate the light switch and flick it. Nothing. Awesome. Just moonlight it is, then.
Carefully placing my steps, I inch out of the room and through a corridor. I can't hear anything, but I quietly sneak on. Not planning on letting myself get ambushed in this skeleton of a building, that's for sure. Moonlight falling through the empty doorways faintly illuminates a concrete stairwell at the end of the corridor, a gaping maw patiently waiting to crush me with its pale grey jaws. Pretty scary. I can't turn back now, though. Up I go.
Reaching the top of the stairs, I pause and hold my breath. Did I just hear something? Yes. It sounds like a faint sobbing, coming from around the corner. My hands begin to tremble as the adrenaline kicks in. There's definitely somebody here. As quietly as I can, I shuffle towards the corner and peek my head around it. I see artificial light shining out of one of the rooms. The sobbing sounds more clear now, interspersed with soft, pitiful moans. Could it be Hot Bid? Whoever it is, the sound's coming from that room, there's no doubt about it. I don't hear any movement. It sounds like there's only a single person. I have to take my chance here. Still careful not to make a sound, I move up to the doorway and tilt my head to get a view of the room. My heart skips a beat when I spot a figure on the ground. It's Hot Bid.
He's sitting against the back wall, softly weeping, arms resting on his knees, his head sunk low, bathing in the cold white light of a construction lamp. His wrists are shackled to the wall. He seems broken. I quickly scan the rest of the room. Empty. I resist the urge to rush in. Something's not right here. It feels like a trap. I have to get Hot Bid's attention. He'll know if I'm walking into an ambush.
“Psst!”
No reaction.
“Pssst!”
Still nothing. Damnit. He can't hear me over the sound of his own crying.
I slowly pick up a pebble-sized piece of loose concrete off the floor and throw it at him. It hits him on the shoulder. He startles and looks up at me, wide-eyed. It takes him a couple of seconds to realize who I am.
“Cow!”
He almost yells it out, in a hushed half-shout. I motion him to be more quiet.
I whisper, “Is it safe to come in?”
“Yes, yes, quickly! He left a few hours ago. Please, get me out of here! The key is on the floor, by the lamp. He left it just out of my reach. Fucker thought it was hilarious. I swear, when I find this piece of shit...”
I spot the key, walk in, grab it and I start unlocking the shackles.
“Relax, Hot Bid, we'll have you out of here in no time. There!” The shackles make a loud clanking noise as they slip off his wrists and onto the floor.
“Oh, thank you! Oh God!” He grabs my hands. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you... Sucker.”
Before I can respond, my vision explodes with a bright white flash and I feel an intense pain in my forehead. My knees buckle and I drop to the ground. Did he just... headbutt me?
– TO BE CONTINUED –
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2VuFt.png?1)
