Edward gripped a kitchen knife as he and Ririko headed toward the food storeroom, one behind the other.
The door at the end of the corridor stood ajar.
They softened their footsteps. Edward edged sideways against the doorframe and looked between the shelves-
A figure crouched beside a cardboard box with his back to them, stuffing canned luncheon meat into his mouth with his hand. An open can of cola sat on the floor beside him.
Edward motioned for Ririko to stop, then crept toward the thief with the knife raised in the air.
Ririko stood by the door when a system notification suddenly popped up:
[Oswald Cobblepot has entered effective range.]
"Wait! That's Oswald."
Edward immediately froze.
Hearing her voice, Oswald whipped his head around, and the can in his hand hit the floor with a clang.
He wore a hospital gown, a greasy ring of luncheon meat oil smeared around his mouth, his cheeks bulging.
At the sight of the knife in Edward's hand, his pupils contracted sharply. He dropped onto his backside and scrambled backward on his hands and feet, crashing into the shelves behind him. A pile of cans tumbled down and landed around his feet.
But he kept desperately shrinking back, pressing his back into the corner and shielding his face with both hands as broken whimpers escaped his mouth.
"Don't, don't come any closer... please... I didn't do anything..."
Edward stared, stunned.
He lowered the knife. "What's wrong with you? Even if you're hungry, you shouldn't sneak in here to eat. I thought you were a thief..."
Ririko came over to him.
She pulled her phone from her pocket and lit up the screen.
"It's me, Ririko, and Edward. Take a good look."
Oswald looked up. The white light shone upward from