Surprise Attack

The clock on the wall ticked past midnight with slow, heavy beats.

At Robert's house, all was quiet.

The warm glow of a small nightlamp spilled out into the hallway from his mother's bedroom. She was fast asleep, breathing steadily under the soft folds of her quilt.

But Robert...

Robert lay wide awake on the living room couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The strange encounter, the words of the fox-tailed woman—all of it gnawed at his mind like restless rats.

"Do not trust your mayor. He is associated with dangerous people."

He could still hear her voice, steady and urgent, as if she were sitting right beside him.

Robert rubbed his temples and sighed.

There was no way he was getting any sleep tonight.

With a grunt, he sat up, grabbed his half-crumpled jacket, and padded into the kitchen.

The fridge buzzed softly in the dark.

He opened it and grabbed a cold soda can, the chill biting into his fingers.

He popped it open, the familiar hiss of carbonation filling the silence, and took a long gulp.

The sweetness fizzed on his tongue, but it did little to soothe the tension crawling under his skin.

What am I even supposed to do with that information?

Accuse the mayor? Investigate him?

He shook his head.

Mayor Guerio, though being a little sadistic at times is a respected and admired man in the town.

Nobody would believe a word without proof.

He leaned against the counter, staring into the open fridge absently as he drank.

The cold air spilled out, frosting the edges of his bare feet.

The kitchen light buzzed faintly overhead.

A strange feeling prickled at the back of his neck.

His gut twisted.

He froze.

It was the same feeling he had when sensing danger during missions—the same subtle shift in the air, the unseen weight pressing down on him.

Goosebumps raced up his arms.

Someone's here.

He turned sharply—

—Just in time to catch a flash of movement—

WHAM!

A fist slammed into his face.

His head snapped back violently.

The world around him blurred, spinning wildly.

He staggered, the soda can slipping from his fingers and clattering to the floor.

The pain flared hot for an instant—and then the world dropped into darkness.

---

In the swirling depths of unconsciousness, sounds filtered in faintly, like echoes from the bottom of a well.

Footsteps.

Rustling.

Muffled voices.

"—Find the documents—"

"Check his room—hurry up—"

The words tumbled in and out of meaning as he drifted deeper into the black.

And then… silence.

---

Light stabbed at Robert's eyes as they fluttered open.

He blinked slowly, vision swimming, until shapes came into focus.

White walls.

A monitor beeping rhythmically.

The smell of antiseptic sharp in the air.

Hospital.

His head throbbed painfully, wrapped in thick bandages.

He shifted slightly and hissed at the soreness in his neck.

Movement to his right made him turn—carefully.

His mother sat beside him in a chair, her eyes puffy and red but filled with immense relief as she saw him awake.

"Oh thank goodness," she whispered, reaching out and clasping his hand tightly.

Robert tried to speak, but his throat was dry and raw.

His mother quickly grabbed a cup of water with a straw and held it up for him.

He took a few sips, wincing.

"What... what happened?" he rasped.

"You were attacked," his mother said softly, her voice trembling. "You were unconscious when I found you... the house was—" she broke off, wiping her eyes.

Robert squeezed her hand weakly.

Before he could ask more, the door opened and Chief Tyson strode in.

The Chief's heavy boots clicked sharply against the tile floor.

He wore his usual uniform, but his face was grim, darker than Robert had ever seen it.

"Good to see you awake, Kühl," Tyson said, pulling a chair up to the bedside.

"Gave us all a damn scare."

Robert tried to sit up straighter but immediately regretted it as pain shot through his skull.

Chief Tyson put a hand on his shoulder, gently pressing him back down.

"Easy," he said. "You took a nasty hit."

Robert nodded weakly. His mind was a foggy mess, but he managed to piece together fragments.

"The kitchen... I was... I felt someone... then..."

His voice cracked again.

Chief Tyson leaned in.

"Tell me whatever you can remember. Anything at all."

Robert shut his eyes tightly, trying to sort through the broken images.

"S-someone punched me," he said slowly. "Then... I think... I heard them talking. They were... looking for something."

"Documents?" Tyson prompted.

Robert opened his eyes in surprise. "Y-yeah... How did you...?"

Tyson leaned back, folding his arms.

"Because they trashed your room. Ransacked the house. Nothing valuable missing, no electronics, no jewelry. Just papers. Files. Someone was searching for something specific."

Robert frowned, the fog in his mind clearing a little.

Could it be related to what the fox-tailed woman had warned about?

Was this attack tied to the mayor somehow?

He opened his mouth to tell Chief Tyson about it—but hesitated.

Her words echoed in his mind:

"No one should know about my visit."

For some reason, he trusted her.

Or at least, he trusted her intentions.

So he clamped down the urge.

"I... I can't remember much more," he lied, hating the way it sounded.

Chief Tyson studied him for a long moment, eyes sharp.

But then he sighed and rose to his feet.

"Well, don't worry about it right now," Tyson said gruffly.

"You need to rest. I'm giving you the day off duty. That's an order."

Robert nodded numbly.

The Chief adjusted his cap and headed toward the door.

As he opened it, Sofie and Judith appeared in the hallway, both looking pale and anxious.

Chief Tyson glanced at them and jerked his thumb back at Robert.

"He's awake. You can go in—but don't stress him out, got it?"

The two girls nodded fervently.

As Tyson stepped past them, he muttered under his breath—loud enough for Robert to catch:

"What days have come now. Even our Assistant Sheriff isn't safe at his own home. And all this happening amidst the envoy kidnapping case? Unbelievable."

Robert's heart clenched.

It seems like the stakes are higher now.

---

Sofie and Judith rushed to his side, their worried faces swimming into his blurred vision.

"Rob!" Sofie gasped, gripping his good hand tightly. Her voice—usually brisk and confident from running the tech department—was cracking with fear now.

Judith hovered close beside her, looking smaller than ever in her crisp new uniform, her hands twisting nervously at her sides.

Robert tried to offer them a reassuring smile.

"I'm... okay," he lied, the words rough and hollow on his dry tongue.

Sofie shook her head, her brows drawing together in fierce disbelief. "You don't look okay," she said, her voice sharp, as if scolding him for even trying.

Judith stepped closer, her expression full of respect and worry. "What happened, sir?" she asked softly. "Who did this?"

Robert hesitated, the breath catching painfully in his throat.

He wanted to tell them everything.

About the warning whispered in the dark.

About the creeping danger seeping into Ridgecliff's core.

About the truth he wasn't even sure he fully understood yet.

But he couldn't.

Not when they were looking at him like that—with trust, with loyalty, with hearts so wide open it almost hurt to see.

He lowered his gaze, feeling the weight of their faith settle on his chest like a stone.

"They were... looking for something," he said at last, his voice low and strained. "Something important."

He caught the quick glance they exchanged—sharp, determined. He didn't deserve that trust. Not when he was already hiding so much.

Sofie leaned in, her eyes fierce. "We'll help," she said firmly. "Whatever this is, Rob... you're not alone."

Judith nodded beside her, her voice trembling but sure. "I'll stand with you, sir. No matter what."

Robert squeezed his eyes shut for a heartbeat, battling the sudden burn behind them.

They believed in him. They trusted him. And here he was—already lying, already holding back.

He hated it.

Hated the distance he was putting between them even now.

But he had to protect them. At least until he knew more.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw not just two colleagues standing there, but two friends—two lights cutting through the growing darkness.

He forced a steady breath into his lungs.

Because one thing was clear:

The shadows over Ridgecliff are thickening.

The dangers creeping closer every second.

And if he didn't uncover the truth—

If his friend, Brendon doesn't arrive—

They would all be swallowed whole.

"No I can't think like that. How many times do I have to totally depend on Brendon. I have to uncover it alone without anyone getting hurt."