Part 1.

• Esme is a normal, 18y/o girl in her town. She is well loved and deemed ‘the prettiest girl in town.’ When someone shows up, starts hacking broadcasts, putting up posters, spraypainting, etc- all used to threaten the country's Heroes, everyone begins to freak out, afraid for their heroes. The one threatening call themself the Villain, destined to bring the Heroes down. Esme's town, which is the main hometown for all of the Heroes, hires an investigator, also known as her best friend, named Red, to figure out who is behind the mask and bring them down.
  

• Red takes note of every time that the Villain begins broadcasting and where they are last. The Villain likes to live little clues that they expect to lead the investigator nowhere, but little do they know that all of this adds into one big connect the dots. As the Villain continues to annoy but reveal themselves to Red, Esme tags along, but only slows Red down, annoying him. Little does he know…
  

• With little bits of “useless” information, Red figures out that the Villain will show up at the annual gala that the town hosts every year for the country's Heroes. The Villain learns of this, with information straight from the source, which Red will figure out how a bit later into the climax. So they will taunt Red at the gala, leaving when they are about to get discovered. Only, when they escape, they drop a bracelet. A bracelet only Esme wears. This makes Red turn wheels in his head. Everything made sense, only he feels betrayed by his best friend. But he has to complete the job.
  

• Red shows up at Esme's door with the Heroes. She quickly realizes they've blown her cover and she has no clue but surrender, not before telling why she would do such a thing. But, she is to be put in jail. Out of despair and recklessness, Red takes Esme's hand and they begin to run. Red betrayed the Heroes and the country for his best friend, but secretly, he knew Esme was right about not being loyal to the Heroes, even if she was wrong in what she did.
  

• For her final broadcast, Esme reveals herself. She shares the tragic and terrible thing that the Heroes did to anger her so terribly and apologizes for scaring everyone. Red steps in as well, explaining how the things the Heroes did were illegal and should not have gone unpunished. That ends the story, with the Heroes in jail, and Esme doing community service for her actions.
  

(430 words total!)

Part 2.

• The Villain says a sentence fluently in French, a Red Herring to tell Red really…nothing. other than the fact that the person is from France or has spoken French all their life. This doesn't do much, considering the fact that the Villain could be anyone from anywhere in the world.
  

• While recording, the Villain took a careless sip of coffee from the cafe in Red's town, telling him they live there. This clue sparks an idea and he decides to watch and study the Villain much more carefully, looking for tiny hints of information that gives thr Villain off even more
  

• The Villain says for the Heroes to beware, for they will set fire to the rain. Red thinks about that. The gala, put on by the town for the Heroes every year, it's theme is water. It's supposed to rain that day, the spectacle for the gala. Red determines that the Villain will be at the gala.
  

• Finally, the Villain is caught at the gala and had to flee. On their way out, running fast, they drop a crystal bracelet. Only one that Esme wears everyday. At that point, Red knows who the Villain is: Esme. This ends Red's investigation, but he has to think: what's next?
  

(208 words!)

Part 3.

Alana: Hi Luna! I'm Alana, a detective who's currently trying to solve a case. It has come to my attention that you were present at the scene where it happened.. do you know why I've called you here today? Apart from that I mean. One might say that every witness holds at least a bit of truth..

Luna: Kind of-

Alana: Ohh.. trying to avoid the question here I see. Don't worry, I have my ways of dealing with these scenarios! Just letting you know that I'm much more nicer when you're on my good side, so if you have any idea of why you're here, then you better tell me!

Luna: Well- you're questioning me, aren't you?

Alana: Ahaha I suppose I'll stop beating around the same bush. I'm probably going to get nothing out of you if we continue like this. Hmm.. time to change up my method. Well that being said, let's start off with a fairly easy question! Who would you rather have as a pet, Gurtle or Smarlls?

Luna: Ah! I would have to say Gurtle. Plus, I'm not sure who Smarlls is!

Alana: AHA! See.. the thing is, I have my suspicions that you're more than just a witness, you know? Although on your file it says that your “innocent” I'd like to believe that there's more to this story… I mean I'm investigating Gurtle's kidnapping - don't you think it's fishy that you'd want him as a pet?

Luna: U-uh I'm not sure what you're talking about! I'm just an innocent witness! I saw where Gurtle was last- I promise you I'm innocent!

Alana: Hmm I'll let that bit go for now- But do spill! Where did you see Gurtle last? Perhaps that could help me figure out who stole him…

Luna: I think I've seen him near The Mill- which makes me question your innocence. Maybe you are the one who Ireally stole Gurtle. What do you say to that?

Alana: Oh! Accusing me, the very trustworthy detective now, are you? Well I don't appreciate it when my witnesses begin to lie.. otherwise, what's the point of summoning you here?! I do supposed that there's a chance that Gurtle may have wandered off with either Fern or Flounder, but I find that highly unlikely considering the current circumstances.

Luna: I'm not lying, am I? But anyways, maybe you're right, he did wander off with one of them. I think I saw someone near the mill, though.

Alana: I mean, I can't tell you if you're lying or not. Your job is to remain honest when being questioned - that is your sworn duty as a witness.. Innocent? Guilty? Well, that's for me to decide when I see the rest of this case unfold. I do appreciate your intel, though I can't help but question the sources due to our current situation. With that let me ask you one more thing. Did you have a prior relationship with Gurtle? By this, I mean.. have you ever talked with each other perhaps?

Luna: I promise you; I am honest! Honesty is a valued principle in my life, and I try to go by it at almost all times. But let us talk about Gurtle the turtle now. Yes, I have talked to Gurtle before. We were talking about swc and the campers, and eventually I began to lecture him about eating links and how it may be upsetting to some campers. I think he should go to turtle jail for such a crime. Don't you?

Alana: Hmm.. changing the topic now I see- I mean, it's nice to know that you guys have talked, but it doesn't seem like you have the best relationship with Gurtle. All the more reason to kidnap him, you know…Aside from this, have you ever interacted with Gurtle? I honestly have my doubts at this point.

Luna: You may think what you want! I'm just a witness. But no, not really, it was just that one time. It's not like we're enemies, you know? Anyways, it seems I have to go. Goodbye, thank you for interviewing!

(223 on my part!!)

Part 4.

Esme collapsed onto her couch and clicked on the television. She sighed, exhausted, and switched to a channel where an interview was taking place. A witness named Luna was being interviewed by a detective named Alana. She couldn't help but laugh at the point where the witness accused the interviewer of being guilty. She wasn't very fond of detectives, and how they usually got in everybody's business. That wasn't fair though, since they helped a lot of bad things to continue going on and her best friend was a detective as well.
“Yes, I have talked to Gurtle before. We were talking-” Luna didn't finish.
Suddenly, a recording came on. Esme sighed. A person dressed in all white with a white mask and gloves on adjusted the camera and cleared their throat. Their voice was digitally enhanced, so that it would sound distorted and disguise their real voice. The jacket was too thick to tell their gender.
“Hello everyone. This is a recording, set by a countdown previously.” They laughed. “You may call me, The Villain. What I'm about to explain is simple. This country's precious little Heroes should beware. I'm coming for them. I may not sound so scary, but just you wait,” they began laughing harder this time and the recording ended, leaving Esme to watch the interview again.
She turned off the TV.

Esme walked through town, not sure where she was going, but knew she wanted to go somewhere. People usually admired her for her beautiful golden hair and charming dimples. Everyone she walked by would deem she was a pretty, innocent, 18-year-old girl who took care of her family who flashed a smile at everyone on the streets. She was sweet and some people would say, “couldn't be more perfect.”
She looked over at a crowd forming by the market. Despite her short height, she was able to see what all the rage was about: Red. She pushed through the crowd.
“Red!” She exclaimed, running over to hug her best friend.
“Hey Ez!” He grinned, looking down at her. Red was considered famous, solving many cases and earning a good reputation among his country.
“What are you doing here?” She asked. He swallowed, grabbing her wrist and pulling her away from the crowd.
“I was hired to figure out who the Villain is.”
“Oh. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?” She asked.
“It was immediate, and I was already in the area, hoping to surprise you. I was thinking maybe we could catch up…but work got in the way.” He sighed. “Maybe we could go to the gala together though,” he suggested. The gala was annual, put on by Esme's town every year for the Heroes. This year's theme was water, and all people wanted to go.
“Maybe, but uh, I have to go now. Back home.” And with that, she ran off.

Esme's phone buzzed. Another alert, this time broadcasting to all mobile devices too. She clicked on the video that came with it.
“Why hello everyone!” The Villain said, appearing on the screen. “I see we're all happy and healthy, aren't we. Nothing bad has happened to the Heroes yet. I would've expected more panic, perhaps shutting down the gala. This only works in my favor though.” They waved around a cup of coffee as they talked, from the cafe down the street. Esme shook her head. “Tout cela est sur le point de changer.” They laughed. “That's all about to change. You Heroes seem to enjoy fire so much, so I'll set fire to the rain…perhaps everyone will see me soon. Or not. I heard someone's trying to discover me already, aren't you Detective Red?” They laughed again, evilly and villainously and the recording shut off.
Esme fidgeted with her crystal bracelet and got up. This bracelet was supposed to bring her luck. Perhaps she would need it, even if she wasn't a Hero.

“Red!” Esme caught up to him in town. “Funny running into you again. Two days in a row!”
“Yeah…” he said. He was distant and far away, where Esme couldn't reach him at the moment. “Are you okay?”
“How did the Villain know I was searching for him?”
She blinked. “They hacked into the systems, they can figure out you're looking for them,” she replied.
He sighed. “You're right. You know what I noticed? They were drinking coffee from this cafe,” he pointed over at a small little cafe sitting by a jewelry store. “That means that they're in this town. They also spoke in French. That's got to mean something, right? Narrows down our suspects.”
“Who are your suspects?” She asked.
“Anyone in this town who speaks French.”
“Ah.”
“They also said they would set fire to the rain,” Red frowned. “That means they'll be at the gala.”
“Huh?” Esme said as Red began to walk forward, leaving her to barely catch up and wonder how one can figure out so much from one broadcast.

The night of the gala arrived. Esme was going. But not with Red. She grabbed a small bag and got out of her car, walking up the marble stairs to the large building. It was supposed to rain tonight. Esme fidgeted with something in the pocket of her white, silky dress. She placed a mask on her face. Instead of heading in the main entrance, Esme snuck around to the entrance to the stage. She entered the backstage and grabbed a mic from a waiting stand and clicked it on. She cleared her throat.
“Hello everyone!” Cheers erupted, but they suddenly ceased as she stepped out onto the stage and revealed herself. Well, she revealed the mask. She wasn't intending of revealing her face and hair today, which was covered by a white wig.
“As everyone knows I'm the Villain…” she trailed off. “Let's make this quick.” She grabbed a lighter from her pocket. Of course, it didn't do any damage to human skin, clothing, paper, etc, but once lit onto fire…
“Today, I'll be teaching your Heroes a lesson.” From the corner of her eye, she watched as a group of guards and Heroes approached her. She looked up at an open roof and felt the first drop of rain. Then another. And another. She opened the lighter and lit the rain. People screamed and she made her escape, knowing it was best to run now.
She dropped her bracelet without realizing and sprinted home to safety.

She later learned that people had stomped out the fire before it did any real damage. She sighed.
She suddenly heard a knock on her house door.
“Esme! Open up!” It was Red.
“Red!” She said, smiling as she opened the door. That smile turned into a frown. She was surrounded by police officers and Heroes, Red leading them all with a stern look on his face.
“I- let me explain.”
“No explanation needed,” Red shook his head in disappointment.
“The Heroes- they, they almost k1lled my father!” She sobbed as the police began taking her away. “They covered it up. They're liars. The Heroes- they're deceitful liars! Please! Red-”
Red looked like he was frozen, unmoving. Suddenly, he ran and grabbed Esme's hand from the surprised police, escaping her fate and making them both fugitives. He knew he was doing the right thing as he ran off into the night.

(1229 words)

Total words: 2090
Total sections: 4
Total rushed sections: all hehe