A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Forgotten File [Book the Fifteenth]

Chapter 13

Lemony Snicket

As the harpoon shot towards Duncan Quagmire, I realized what a strange, strange world that we live in: where the good are damned and the evil forgiven. Then and there at that very moment, did I promise myself that this will be the last time I'd hear the bloody sound of a gunshot.

It was strange, to see the children of Beatrice Baudelaire look so helpless as Duncan Quagmire's body fell on the ground with a soft thud. Most volunteers would probably let it be, because death was so normal and so inevitavble to the people of V.F.D. that it wasn't more of a surprise anymore.

So to see the children of one one of the most bravest volunteers break down into tears, I could almost see myself in them -- shedding tears when I learned of Beatrice's death.

Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I took a deep breath before getting out of my hiding place, and pointing my own gun at Count Olaf's son.

"L.S.!" I heard Violet shout in surprise which made Travis Olaf look at my direction.

"Your parents killed Beatrice Baudelaire," I remarked at him in disgust. And without a doubt, I pulled the trigger of my own harpoon gun at him, hitting him right in the side of his stomach which made Travis drop the harpoon gun of his father.

"Well -- I'm orphaned because of your stupid organization!" He spat, blood gushing down from his side.

"Most of the volunteers in V.F.D. are orphans, son. Sad to say, you're not the only one." I told him, giving him one last glance before I threw my disgusting weapon away -- a weapon I had to unfortunately use at this spare moment -- running towards Duncan who was bleeding.

"Thank heavens you came," Isadora cried in relief, quickly wiping the tears that sprung from the corner of her bright green emerald eyes.

I wasn't able to reply at all as I tore a piece of my shirt, wrapping the cloth around the part where the Duncan was bleeding. He was unconscious and I grit my teeth as I threw my phone at Violet who caught it with shaking fingers.

"Call Frank Denouement," I told her and she nodded with a slight quiver before pressing the numbers on the dial. "Tell him that one of our volunteers is injured. We need to give Duncan the medical assistance he needs."

It was a grim torture of about seven minutes before a Vehicle For Detectives arrived. The Vehicle For Detectives, or the official V.F.D. transportation is nothing special that involves limousines of some sort. It was nothing more but a taxi, a yellow cab with a slim figure seated in the driver's seat. The figure was wearing the dress code of a concierge, with the words HOTEL DENOUEMENT written on the side of his cap.

I calmly pursed my lips as the figure stopped the vehicle, stepping out of the car and walking towards us in long, quick strides.

"You've got to be kidding me." Quigley grunted with a roll of his eyes before quickly grabbing my harpoon gun which coincidentially was near the eldest Quagmire.

"Let's get him to the car--"

The words that slipped out of the figure's mouth was cut short when Quigley pointed the gun at him. "Why are you here Denouement?" Quigley asked, emphazing each word as his lips formed a straight, grim line.

"Why, didn't your wife just call me?" He asked innocently as he shrugged towards Violet whose forehead was creased as she studied the figure that was standing right before us.

"Shut up Ernest," I said calmly, before standing up and crossing my arms. "I've had enough of you fire-starting volunteers for today, so why don't you go ahead and not kill somebody for once?"