Innocence's heart pounded like a drum as they peered out from behind the dusty stage curtain.
The old theater creaked and groaned around them, as if complaining about being woken up after so long.
*Okay, folks,* Innocence thought, imagining an audience hanging on their every word. *Time for the performance of a lifetime. Let's hope I don't mess up my lines.*
Sirens wailed outside, getting closer by the second. Innocence could almost feel the net closing in.
But they weren't done yet.
Not by a long shot.
"Think, think," Innocence muttered, their mismatched eyes darting around the theater.
The place was a mess of old props, broken seats, and who knew what else.
To most people, it would look like useless junk.
But Innocence wasn't most people.
*You know what they say - one man's trash is another man's clever escape plan.*
A grin spread across Innocence's face as an idea began to form.
It was crazy, risky, and probably a little bit stupid.
In other words, it was perfect.
Innocence's hands flew into action, grabbing bits and pieces from around the theater.
An old rope here, a pulley there, a bunch of dusty feather boas (seriously, what kind of shows did they put on here?).
As they worked, Innocence's mind raced ahead, planning out each step. *First, we need a distraction.
Something to keep the cops busy while I slip away.*
Their eyes landed on an ancient sound system in the corner.
It looked like it had been state-of-the-art... about fifty years ago.
"Let's see if you've still got some life in you, old timer," Innocence murmured, fiddling with the wires.
After a few sparks and one mild electric shock (ouch!), the system crackled to life.
Innocence grinned, feeling like a mad scientist whose creation had just woken up.
*Now for the fun part.*
Innocence grabbed a microphone and cleared their throat.
When they spoke, their voice came out deep and booming, echoing through the theater and out onto the street.
"Attention, citizens!" Innocence bellowed in their best 'authority' voice. "This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. Please remain calm and proceed to the nearest exit."
Through a gap in the curtains, Innocence saw people on the street start to look around in confusion. Even some of the cops seemed unsure what to do.
*Hook, line, and sinker,* Innocence thought with a smirk. *Now to reel them in.*
They switched to a high-pitched, panicky voice. "Oh no, it's happening! The invasion has begun! Run for your lives!"
The effect was immediate. People started running in all directions, creating a chaos that would make it much harder for the police to spot one person slipping away.
But Innocence wasn't done yet.
Oh no, they were just getting started.
While the commotion outside grew, Innocence put the next phase of their plan into action. They'd rigged up a complex system of ropes and pulleys, all connected to various objects around the theater.
*Let's give them a show they'll never forget.*
With a dramatic flourish, Innocence pulled a rope.
Instantly, a cascade of events unfolded.
A sandbag dropped, pulling open the theater's emergency exit.
At the same time, a bunch of old costumes on hangers went zipping across the stage on a clothesline, looking for all the world like ghostly actors taking a final bow.
The grand finale was a shower of glitter and feathers from the rafters, creating a sparkly, feathery smokescreen.
*Take that, CSI,* Innocence thought with a grin. *Try getting usable forensic evidence out of this mess.*
But the best part? While all this was happening on stage, Innocence was already sneaking out through a trapdoor they'd discovered under an old rug.
The trapdoor led to a narrow, dusty passage. Innocence's nose twitched as they fought back a sneeze. *Note to self: next daring escape, bring allergy meds.*
As they crawled through the passage, Innocence could hear muffled shouts and footsteps above. The police had obviously entered the theater, probably expecting to find their quarry trapped like a rat.
*Sorry to disappoint, boys and girls,* Innocence thought with a smirk. *This rat's got a few tricks up its sleeve.*
The passage seemed to go on forever.
Innocence's knees were starting to ache, and they were pretty sure they'd inhaled enough dust to make a sand castle in their lungs.
But just as they were starting to wonder if they'd made a horrible mistake, Innocence saw a faint light ahead. *Please be the exit, please be the exit, please don't be the light at the end of the tunnel in a really ironic twist of fate...*
To Innocence's immense relief, it was indeed an exit.
They pushed open a rusty grate and tumbled out into...
*A dumpster. Because of course it's a dumpster.
Why would the universe miss a chance to literally throw me in the trash?*
Grumbling and picking banana peels out of their hair, Innocence clambered out of the dumpster. They found themselves in an alley behind the theater, mercifully free of police.
But Innocence knew they couldn't rest easy yet. The cops would figure out they'd been tricked soon enough, and then the hunt would be on again.
*Time for phase two of Operation Don't Get Caught.*
Innocence pulled out their secret weapon: a police radio they'd swiped earlier.
They'd always had a knack for technology, and it hadn't taken them long to figure out how to use it.
*Let's see how the boys in blue like a taste of their own medicine.*
Clearing their throat, Innocence spoke into the radio in a perfect imitation of a gruff cop voice. "All units, be advised.
Suspect spotted heading north on 5th Avenue.
Suspect is armed and dangerous.
Proceed with caution."
Almost immediately, Innocence heard the squeal of tires as police cars raced off in the direction they'd indicated - the exact opposite of where Innocence actually was.
*And the Oscar for Best Performance in a Real-Life Action Movie goes to...*
But Innocence didn't have time to pat themselves on the back.
They needed to keep moving.
Ditching their distinctive magenta and coral hair under a ratty baseball cap they found in the alley (ew, but desperate times call for desperate measures), Innocence set off down the street at a casual pace.
*Act natural.
You're just an ordinary person taking an ordinary walk.
Nothing to see here, folks.*
As they walked, Innocence's mind raced, trying to figure out their next move.
The Morpheus Stone felt heavy in their pocket, a constant reminder of the wild adventure they'd stumbled into.
*I could really use some of that dream world magic right about now,* Innocence thought wistfully. *A portal opening up under my feet would be pretty handy.*
But of course, real life wasn't that convenient.
Innocence would have to rely on their wits to get out of this mess.
As they turned a corner, Innocence's heart nearly stopped.
A police car was parked right there, an officer leaning against it and sipping coffee.
For a moment, Innocence froze.
Should they run?
Try to bluff their way past?
But before they could decide, the officer's radio crackled to life. "All units, be advised. Suspect last seen entering the subway station on 7th.
All available officers proceed to location."
The officer tossed his coffee cup aside and jumped into his car, speeding off with sirens blaring.
Innocence let out a breath they hadn't realized they'd been holding.
*Thank you, past me, for that brilliant bit of misdirection.*
But they knew their luck wouldn't hold forever.
Sooner or later, the police would realize they'd been led on a wild goose chase.
Innocence needed to find a safe place to hide, and fast.
As they hurried down the street, Innocence's eyes darted from building to building, looking for any potential sanctuary.
A library?
Too quiet, they'd stand out.
A mall?
Too many cameras. A...
Innocence's thoughts screeched to a halt as their eyes landed on a small, dingy shop wedged between two larger buildings.
The sign above the door read "Madame Zora's Psychic Readings and Occult Supplies."
A slow grin spread across Innocence's face.
*Now that looks promising.*
Without hesitation, Innocence pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The shop was cluttered with all sorts of weird stuff - crystal balls, tarot cards, bottles of who-knows-what. It smelled like incense and old books.
"Hello?" Innocence called out. "Anyone home?"
No answer.
The shop seemed deserted.
Perfect, Innocence thought.
*A hiding place and no nosy shop owner to deal with. Things are finally looking up.*
But as Innocence moved deeper into the shop, they felt a strange tingling sensation. The Morpheus Stone in their pocket began to warm up, pulsing with an inner light.
Innocence pulled out the stone, staring at it in wonder. "What's got you all excited, huh?"
That's when they saw it. Tucked away in a corner of the shop was an old, ornate mirror.
Its surface seemed to ripple and swirl, like water disturbed by a pebble.
As Innocence approached the mirror, the Morpheus Stone grew hotter, its pulsing more insistent.
It was almost like it was trying to tell Innocence something.
*No way,* Innocence thought, their eyes widening as realization dawned.
*Could it be that easy?*
With a trembling hand, Innocence reached out towards the mirror's surface.
The moment their fingers touched the glass, they felt a pull, like a gentle but insistent tug.
Innocence's heart raced with excitement and a touch of fear.
They stood on the brink of something big, something that could change everything.
*Well, folks,* Innocence thought to their imaginary audience,*looks like we're in for one heck of a ride. Hang onto your hats!*
And with that, Innocence took a deep breath and stepped forward, letting the mirror pull them in. The world around them dissolved into a storm of colors and light.
The great escape was about to become a whole lot greater.