249: The Misadventure of Emma

In a scene reminiscent of a low-budget spy thriller, Emma found herself at the mercy of a scheming antagonist, the air thick with tension and terrible perfume. Her attempt at a dignified exit was thwarted by a grip tighter than her schedule, leading to an impromptu nap courtesy of a chloroformed handkerchief. Upon awakening in a room that smelled as if it were trying to compete in a fragrance contest and losing, Emma's first thought was not of fear but of practicality. "Well, isn't this a fine how-do-you-do. Kidnapped by a man with an apparent love for potpourri." Her captor's dramatic flair for the theatrical didn't quite mask the panic bubbling beneath. Emma, finding her situation more annoying than alarming, quipped. "You know, if you wanted a chat, a simple 'let's meet for coffee' would have sufficed." Realizing that waiting for rescue was as effective as sending smoke signals in a rainstorm, Emma mustered every ounce of strength to stand, despite feeling like a newborn d