Your favorite town was in complete blackness. The sky was dark blue, and it was so quiet here that the people could have heard a pin drop even deep in the woods. A few monsters were patrolling the streets while humans were fast asleep. The only sources of light were the full, white moon and the lamplights looming over the roads and sidewalks. It was...weirdly right in Forlot.

But tonight, something would shake this town. It - he - would take his rightful place thanks to a couple idiots.

Some humans, mostly the kids, were going to different places that held the key to their problems - or planning something illegal. Like the two men who chose to rob a mansion with valuables collecting dust. Unfortunately, they were unaware that this was the Dummy Mansion. It was the only abandoned mansion. It was abandoned by a small family many years ago because of a tragedy. Nobody knew what occurred, however, it was said that the Dummy Mansion was haunted. Maybe haunted by the relative who died. But there was no evidence that a person died inside. And no one dared step foot in it, so it was unknown if the mansion was haunted.

Thankfully, it was not cursed. It was a perfectly normal home that needed help bringing life back in it. It would be a brand new mansion, but at the cost of a depressed girl. You will meet her in the next chapter.

It was midnight when the two crooks made their move. Dressed in black, they raced to the back of the Dummy Mansion and stopped a few inches from the back door. The crooks were tall and thin, but one was a little taller than his brother. Yes, they were brothers.

Despite that the home was deserted, they kept quiet so the neighbors or anybody walking around did not hear them. The slightly taller robber bent over and began to pick the lock. The other gazed at the small windows on either side of the door.

"Hey," he hissed. "We can climb in through a window." He pointed to said windows. "We can easily fit through one of these."

His brother continued fiddling with the lock. "We must break the glass to get through, which will make noise."

"How can climbing through the window make noise?"

"No, you idiot. Breaking the glass."

"We can break it silently."

The brother - we will name him ST - put away his tools and pushed open the door. He glared at him. "I will let you think over what you just said." He stepped into the mansion.

The other - we will call him TT - whipped his flashlight out and followed. "What did I say?"

ST already had his flashlight on and was waving it over the large room that they were in now. TT did the same. They instantly realized that it was the kitchen. Possibly one of the kitchens.

"This is the kitchen," TT said.

ST whacked the back of his head. "The narrator told us that."

"Well, excuse me for being observant." He followed his partner to the living room. "We are in the living room."

"Do you want to put the narrator out of a job?"

TT explored the room for valuables. "The governments are the only ones who should be out of a job. Useless."

ST crossed the room to the staircase. "Why do you care about them when you are robbing this place?"

"Can a robber not care about the people?"

"Not when they are those real worlders. They had their chance. Now they are dead to us."

Seems like that the thieves want to tick off the readers.

"Anybody who adores this series is not a real worlder," TT sneered. "Welcome to the Forlot cult!"

ST shushed him. "Keep your voice down. Gosh. And do not convince parents and other concerned readers that Forlot is a cult. And for the love of Forlot, quit with the fourth wall breaks. We have things to do."

TT went up to him when he did not find treasure. "You were always no fun. Glad that you still are not when we are stealing. Not."

ST shined his flashlight on the long stairs. "Seeing that this is a mansion, we will split up. It will save us time - and from being caught. There should not be a problem since that nobody lives here. Hehe. Easiest place yet."

TT pointed his flashlight at his brother's face. "Hey. Do you think that the place is haunted? Do you believe the neighbors?"

ST kept in his scream and covered his eyes. But he just could not contain his anger. "I told you to not aim your flashlight at me!"

The kooky brother moved his flashlight back to the old living room. "We are supposed to use our inside voices until we are in the clear. Why do you never follow your rules? No wonder I am Mom's favorite."

ST's temples were throbbing. He drew in a deep breath through his nose and let it out slowly through it also. "I swear. If I did not promise Mom to watch out for you, I would end you right here and now."

The comment did not phase TT. "So how can you when you do not have a gun or knife on you?"

ST ran a hand down his face. He was going to respond, when they were startled by a noise that filled the entire mansion.

Bam!

The robbers froze for a couple seconds. Then their eyes darted upstairs.

Bam! Bam, bam!

TT could not hide his fear. "The heck was that?! This is supposed to be abandoned!"

ST shushed him again. "It is only an animal."

"What animal makes banging sounds?"

"Stay right here. I will check."

ST ascended the stairs and followed the noise.

Bam, bam, bam!

He stopped in front of an attic door. The wooden stairs were already unfolded. Those bangs were coming from the attic.

What was up there?