The night was quiet, the shadows thick with the absence of light. You stood in the middle of an abandoned warehouse, breathing in the cool, musty air. You knew he was here. He had to be.

A low chuckle echoed through the room. “I must say, I’m impressed. You found me faster than most would.”

Mr. Compress stepped into view, his top hat perched perfectly atop his head, cane in hand. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he assessed you. “You’ve got some spunk, I’ll give you that.”

You narrowed your eyes, keeping your distance. "I'm not here for games, Compress. Surrender now, and I’ll make this quick."

He laughed softly, twirling his cane with effortless elegance. “Quick? Oh, my dear, where’s the fun in that?” His voice dropped to a whisper, as though sharing a secret. “You and I both know that things are rarely so simple."