"Yes," he decided. "That's a good idea. Burke and Ellie, you'll investigate that way," he said, pointing toward Scarlet and Xavier's hideout. "Harper and I will go this way."
Ellie hesitated, looking over at Burke. "Maybe I should go in... alone first?" Burke also looked nervous, shaking his head. "No, let me." "No," Ellie replied staunchly. "We'll just... we'll both go in." She put her hand on the doorknob, swinging open the door.
It was empty and dark, the smell of books and leather hanging in the air. The dim rooms were furnished nicely, but seemed hardly touched.
Ellie cast a cautious glance at Burke before they divided. Ellie went upstairs, while Burke went looking through the ground floor rooms.
Most of the rooms upstairs were guest bedrooms. Dusty and empty. There was a study, though, connected to another bedroom. The bottom floor seemed to hold most things. Kitchen, dining room, main room, a den, even a library. There was also one bedroom downstairs.
Ellie frowned, going into the bedroom cautiously. "Xav...?" * * * Burke went through the rooms, looking around nervously before he entered the bedroom. "Hello?"
There was no one there. Plans and papers were scattered among the desk and bed was unmade. Everything else was immaculate. The room was quite dark. A bed neatly tucked in the corner and the curtains drawn. There was a shelf next to a clean desk, lined with trinkets and decorations. On one of the higher shelves sat a heart. It was sad; covered in dust and quite dim. The shape was unnatural and broken.
She frowned, looking around for a moment before opening the window, pulling the sheets down to make the bed. * * * Burke reached up gently, holding the heart in the palm of his hands.
The door opened silently as two figures stared in suspiciously. Neither said anything. Xavier went upstairs to inspect while Scarlet was downstairs. *** The heart was warm and smooth in his hand, and seemed to brighten ever so slightly at his touch.
Ellie smoothed down the bed, going over to the window and resting her head on the sill, her brows furrowed worriedly. * * * A small laugh left his lips and he sighed, still holding the heart gently. He turned to head back.
Xavier peered in, not quite realizing who it was. "What are you doing in here?" *** Scarlet was standing in the doorway, her eyes sharp. She marched forward and snatched the heart from him, seeming a bit fearful. "D-Don't touch that.."
She started, turning to see him. Her expression was one of worry, but a small light grew in her face when she saw him. "Oh. Hello!" * * * He blinked and his face lit up when he saw her despite her cold attitude. "Ms. Scarlet! You're alive!"
He relaxed immediately, coming over to her. "It's you," he said gently. "You startled me." * * * She held the heart close to her for a moment before placing it back on the dusty shelf with a sigh. "I am.. For now." She paused. "What are you doing here?"
She seemed very relieved to see him, tilting her head up to give him her small, shy grin. "It wasn't intentional. I was worried something had happened to you. Xav, they're really after you right now." * * * "I'm supposed to be tracking you," he said thoughtfully, looking around. "They're looking for all heart thieves. I'm part of a... I suppose you could call it a search party of sorts."
"I know," he said quietly, looking down at her. "I've been keeping low." *** She nodded slightly in understanding, before looking around as well and frowning. "You shouldn't be in here."
She still looked concerned, the hard spot between her brows dimpling as she frowned worriedly. "I thought I might not see you again..." she said quietly. * * * He looked around thoughtfully, craning his head around. "Ah... yeah, prolly not. Beg pardon, Miss Scarlet, I don't mean to be nosy."
