Invisible Man

The door opened; the door closed. Invisible, silent, Claude was careful not to track mud on Vinny's rug lest the telltale moisture give his physical presence away.

Vinny was snoozing at his desk with his back to the door. No doubt his thugs were working Chicago's not-so-sunny streets for blood money. The crime lord hadn't done his own dirty work in half a decade.

Now for the scare of your life, old man.

"Vincent L. Tobelli Daniel the Third!" Claude boomed forcefully (and, if he would admit it, with a tad too much relish). "I have come to weigh the sins of your sad, sick soul!"

Vinny's chin jerked up from his chest. His chair swiveled a tad wildly. His eyes stopped on Claude, alert, glimmering.

Catlike, Claude stepped to the left in perfect silence, dodging the old man's gaze. Incredibly, Vinny's eyes followed his movement. The two men locked eyes.

Claude's jaw dropped.

"You... you can see me?" the invisible man stammered.

Vinny eyed him silently.

Experimentally, Claude waved his arms around. Obligingly, Vinny's eyes tracked the movement.

"You're unarmed," Vinny observed coolly. "Brave. I've killed men for interrupting my nap." He moved one finger over a button on his desk.

Reluctantly Claude lowered his arms. "Let's not be too hasty," he said, eying the button.

"You're unarmed, so that's bought you some time, luckily," Vinny assured him. "Now then. You were going to weigh the sins of my soul? Speak now, or forever hold your peace." Vinny's eyes glimmered, and Claude knew he was going to die.

The invisible man squared his shoulders. A job was a job, and Mrs. Brinn had paid handsomely in advance.

"Your soul is condemned for your hand in the murder of Charles Brinn," Claude announced, his voice a grave and authoritative weapon once more. "Forever shall he haunt your waking moments."

Claude paused, and the force of his voice deflated once more. "Normally, you aren't supposed to see me. Either you'd be scared into changing your ways or be driven crazy listening to my disembodied voice."

Lamely, he added, "I can see that won't work on you..."

• A response to Prompt 4
• Continued here