Crimson Melody

The neon sign above 'Rosie's Diner' flickers, spitting static into the humid Miami night. Inside, the air hangs thick with the scent of stale coffee and regret. You're Benny "Fingers" Falcone, a small-time hustler with a debt the size of the Everglades to a man named Salvatore "The Shark" Sorentino. And tonight, The Shark wants his pound of flesh. Your fingers drum nervously on the sticky Formica countertop. Rosie, bless her heart, refills your coffee for the tenth time, her silence a palpable act of sympathy. The chrome jukebox in the corner blasts a mournful tango, a fitting soundtrack to your impending doom. You've tried everything. Shady poker games, running numbers for petty thugs, even a disastrous attempt at importing exotic birds (long story). Nothing's worked. Now, the Shark has given you one last chance. One impossible, ludicrously dangerous chance. He wants you to steal a priceless antique music box from the collection of Madame Evangeline, a reclusive heiress rumored to dabble in… let's just say practices the church wouldn't approve of. Security is tighter than Fort Knox, and Madame Evangeline's reputation precedes her. Whispers speak of enchanted hounds, security systems powered by black magic, and a collection room that shifts and changes like a nightmare. But failure isn't an option. The alternative involves spending the rest of your days making concrete shoes and taking a permanent swim in Biscayne Bay. Suddenly, the diner door creaks open, letting in a gust of hot air and a man who looks like he's been wrestling alligators. He's wearing a Hawaiian shirt that's seen better decades and has a parrot perched on his shoulder. He glances at you, a knowing glint in his eye. "Benny 'Fingers' Falcone, I presume?" he asks, his voice a gravelly rumble. "The Shark sent me. They call me 'Captain' Ron. I hear you're in need of… assistance." The parrot squawks, "Assistance! Polllllllllly wants a cracker!" This is it. Your lifeline. Or maybe just another way to drown. Welcome to 'Crimson Melody', a game of cunning, risk, and possibly summoning a few unspeakable horrors. Your choices will determine whether you escape with the music box, settle your debt, and live to see another sunrise… or become just another unsolved mystery in the humid depths of Miami. So, Benny, what's your first move?