Burning Out • V
Pairing: Noah Sebastian x Fem!Reader
I was lost, but now I'm found
Under the lights and in the sounds
So let us sing and sing it loud
That we're not perfect, but we're proud of who we are.
Noah Sebastian is lost. His crime-filled lifestyle is anything but perfect; but everything changes once he meets you.
Words: 9.9k
Warnings: 18+, explicit language, mentions of drugs and alcohol (underage drinking mentioned during flashback!) Crime, pls don't do illegal things lol.
Authors note: Chapter Five- I Wish I wasn't Lost: its currently 1am and i am EXHAUSTED lol. I Do hope you enjoy though <3 Thank you for all the love and support on this story, I appreciate every single one of you <3 Songs are Lost in Echoes by Caskets and I wish I wasn't by unprocessed.
THIS IS A FANFICTION USING REAL PEOPLE IN A FICTIONAL SITUATION! I AM NOT IMPLYING THESE PEOPLE WOULD DO THE THINGS IN THE STORY OR ACT THE WAY THEY DO IN THE STORY IN REAL LIFE! IT IS FICTION! IT IS JUST FOR FUN! <3
Tags: @crimson-calligraphyx @lma1986 @spicywhenspeaking @sammyjoeee @shilohrosechicken @princessmarshmallowx @laurpartyprogram @cookiesupplier @nojoyontheburn @lacktoesandtoddlerant @veronicaphoenix @er3nslovergirl @cncohshit @thescarlettvvitch @scrumptiousfestivalpost @melcchs @flowery-mess
This is an omen, a warning, a lesson to take
So listen to the words that I say
I moaned as she slid down one more time and I gripped her hair, holding her still. I filled her tongue as threads of my release coated the back of her throat. The sight below me left my legs shaking as I pulled away, tucking her hair behind her ears, and rubbing my fingers underneath her chin in endearment.
What have I done?
“Good girls swallow,” I whispered and she moaned.
“Open,” I said, watching in complete reverence as she stuck out her tongue, showing me that she obeyed, drinking in all of me.
I leaned down towards her, pulling her chin up to kiss me as I melted into her lips, sighing with commitment.
What have I done?
+++++
NOAH
I wonder how
How can it be that two souls live beneath my chest?
I wander on
Through the snowfall
And the firestorm
One week passed.
I had robbed a few houses, but nothing was valuable enough to compare to the price of Y/N’s drugs. I barely made 4.5k, just enough to keep up my goal of 645 a day; and I was trying to think of another move I could make to get more.
I brought the money and log to one of D’s bitches, snarling at the satisfied look on the man’s face as he ripped the envelope from my hands.
‘Having fun Sebastian? Surprised you even made this much yourself.’ It took everything in me to walk away without bashing his fucking face in.
As each day passed I was being eaten alive by guilt, and I could barely look at Y/N. She noticed the shift in my behaviour, persistently asking me what was wrong and if she had done something.
‘Nothing,’ I would say.
‘Just stressed,’ I would say.
The last night we spent together was the night I stole her meds. I couldn’t sleep as she clung to my lying body, gentle breaths escaping her lips while she slept peacefully. I had sobbed quietly next to her, afraid to wake the candid woman that lay delicately beside deceit.
That next morning I told her I’d sleep in the spare bedroom across the hall, and the look she gave me was agonizing.
‘Oh, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I know that the nightmares are hard to deal with.’ She had said, her eyes falling briefly before she attempted to hide her expression with a smile.
My heart yearned at her words, wanting to hold her against my chest, ready to block out all the evil in the world if it meant protecting her. It wasn’t the nightmares that pushed me away, it was myself.
‘I don’t want to invade your space more than I already am.’ I responded.
I watched her take her pills when she did, my chest clenching in shame with every sip of water that followed the lies.
I wish I wasn't afraid of
The haunted valley
The boys watched the remorse control me as I began to shut off the world, secluding myself from Y/N, and them.
I wish I wasn't a failure
That nobody needs
“Noah?”
In the depths of my mind, I'm lost and confined
A question gnaws at my core; I can't deny
“Noah.”
Am I a mere illusion, a ghost in the crowd?
Or do I carry a soul screaming out loud?
“Noah!”
I pulled out my earbuds at the call of my name, and my eyes squinted open. Ruffilo stood over me as I lay on the mattress in the basement, drowning in lyrics. The music blared from the removed bud as Nicholas glared, folding his arms.
I wish the voices in my head stopped their shrill tongues
Just for a second so I could breathe some fresh air
For a moment so I could stop sinking into despair
I am a traitor in the face of myself
“Did you want to work on the song?” He asked, “Or are you wallowing in self-pity?”
A slave to a maggot that eats away my soul
I ask the mountains to consume me as a whole
How long will I be captured in this maze in the hail?
The song.
Y/N had hooked us up with a gig at Sammy’s tomorrow night, and Jolly had the brilliant idea of finishing our first-ever set with an original song; despite us never even playing for an audience. I wasn’t sure if I was more nervous about playing some shitty music in front of an audience of strangers, or that one of the audience members would be Y/N.
I shrugged at him, closing my eyes as I sunk into the pillow, placing the bud back in my ear.
“Nuh-uh,” Nicholas sighed as he leaned down to pull on the string of one, forcing me to listen, “you can’t wallow forever.”
“Watch me,” I glared, pulling the bud back from him as I sat up.
“You’ve ignored her for days, can’t you see how sad she’s been because of you? You fucked up, and you’re treating her as if she did something wrong.” Nicholas said sharply, “How’s that fair?”
I turned my head to avoid his targeting gaze, my eyes falling onto Jolly and Folio who pretended to be busy but listened to every word we said.
“She’s brought you your regular coffee every day after work Noah- because you haven’t even been going there.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek as my head hung in shame. She has?
I rolled my head back “I know. None of it is fair to her.”
“So,” Nicholas began, sitting on a chair by one of the walls as he watched me with careful eyes, “Stop taking your guilt out on her.”
I exhaled swiftly, standing from the mattress and tossing my earbuds into the sheets, “I just- I can’t look at her without feeling like she can see right through me.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he questioned.
I scoffed, throwing my arm up as my frustration built, “Yes, it is because I stole her fucking pills and had to watch her swallow fake ones.” I began pacing around the room, shaking my head, “Pills that are supposed to be helping her, but are fabricated lies!”
Nicholas’ gaze followed me as I walked across the carpeted floor, eyebrows furrowed. Folio watched as well, his face falling. The guilt ate him too.
“She takes them thinking they’ll give her relief, but they don’t, and I took that away!” I stood still for a moment as I pushed the heel of my palms into my eyes, sighing audibly in conflict.
“You made a choice,” Nicholas stood up and I watched as he approached me, standing in front of me.
He peered into my eyes, a mix of anger and sorrow, “I hate seeing you like this Noah, but you fucked up.”
“I know I fucked up Nick,” My chest heaved as I began shaking. Nicholas wrapped his arms around me, squeezing my body gently.
“You need to tell her,” Nicholas said, placing a consoling hand on my shoulder.
I melted into his hug, holding my brother against me, “I can’t. Not yet, anyway.”
“So you’re just going to ignore her for weeks? Until everything with D is over?” Nicholas shook his head, “We live with her now. You won’t be able to avoid her, and you shouldn’t. Not after everything she’s done for you, for us.”
I pulled away from him, nodding in agreement, “I know; so I’ve been thinking…” I trailed off in thought.
“About?” Nicholas raised a brow.
“A pharmacy heist.”
“By yourself?” He watched me with amusement, “Are you crazy?”
I heard Jolly laugh in the corner and I quickly sent a glare in his direction.
“Of course I’m crazy,” I shrugged, “but I can get a fuck ton of money from this Vincent guy for getting pure shit.”
“Last time you did a big heist like that yourself was when we got into this mess in the first place. You don’t do big shit alone.”
+
The lights flickered around the room as I sat on the motel bed, my chest heaving with excitement. A seventeen-year-old Ruffilo sat beside me with the tattoo machine ready to brand my knuckles as twelve-year-old Folio watched eagerly.
“Today’s the day,” Jolly cheered, a wide smile stretching across his face as he threw a beer in my direction, “Our young padawan becomes a man.”
The can fumbled between my fingers as I looked down at it proudly, jittering with thrill. Jolly’s never let me drink before.
I opened the can in acceptance, hesitant to take the first sip with shaky hands, before bringing it up to my mouth. The beer was pungent and bitter, my lips puckering with furrowed brows; yeah, it was disgusting.
I tried to hide my distaste with a weak smile, “Yum.”
Jolly laughed, throwing his head back in amusement.
“You might want to chug it,” He said, taking a sip of his own beverage, “the knuckles hurt like a bitch.”
My eyes danced between him and the can as Nicholas and Nick began chanting, “Noah, Noah, Noah!”
Jolly joined with a raised fist, smiling with admiration as I chugged the drink, throwing the can to the floor in excitement as I stomped on it, the scream of elation ripping through my lungs as we all laughed. Nicholas hollered as he grabbed my shoulders, shaking me and I grinned, living within this moment of adventure.
“You ready?” Nicholas said, raising a quizzical brow as I began to feel the buzz. I nodded eagerly, throwing my hands in front of the table placed next to the bed.
Nicholas slid plastic gloves over his own tatted fingers before he wiped my knuckles with an alcohol wipe.
“There’s no going back,” He smiled as I sucked in a breath, anticipating the familiar scratching of the needle as it embedded the letters into my skin.
“Happy fourteenth birthday, baby bro,” Jolly walked over to me, patting my back. He handed me a crumbled paper bag, and with my free hand, I reached inside excitedly, pulling out the fabric.
I bit my lip as I tried to hide my smile but couldn’t. I was finally one of them.
“Your first mask.” Jolly nodded in approval. I tried pulling it over my head but couldn’t with one hand, so Jolly reached over, pulling it down over my face.
He bent down in front of me, his hand on top of my head as he shook me with fondness and it took everything in me not to cry with happiness at his praise.
That evening Nicholas wrapped my knuckles with black tape, protecting the freshly wounded skin. He went over the plan with Jolly, pointing towards the map indicating where I was to go, and where I would meet them after.
“This garage is filled with fancy as fuck cars,” Jolly nodded, leaning over the table, “so you have options. Don’t settle for any car, but don’t linger too long.”
“Remember, Kia’s and Hyundai’s are easier to hotwire, so you’ll have better luck getting in and out,” Nicholas said and I nodded as I jumped up and down, amping myself up.
“The alarms will go off almost immediately once you break in. People in this hotel get that shit valet, so someone is bound to notice right away.”
“Don’t forget, one, Underneath the steering wheel column find the wiring harness connector, Two,Pull aside the battery, ignition, and starter wire bundle, Three, Strip about 1 inch of the battery wires and twist them together. Fourth, Connect the ignition on/off wire to the battery wire.” Jolly listed and I nodded with each of his commands, reciting them back, “And don’t forget to break the steering lock or you won’t be able to drive.”
“Wire bundle, trip and twist, ignition to the battery,” I repeated, “Steering lock.”
+
“Well, I have no choice,” I threw my arms up, laughing, “What, you want me to ask Y/N then?”
Ask Y/N…
“No but-” Jolly started, but I interrupted him. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea. She could be a diversion. A distraction in the plan.
“Y/N could be an extra body, and perhaps…” I trailed off, my mind wandering in thought. Yes, this was crazy; and the idea that followed even more so…but perhaps it could work.
“Okay,” Nicholas said as anger started bubbling from his tone as he watched me with disbelief, “And?”
“And,” I grabbed his shoulder as a smile wound up on my lips, “I can steal Y/N’s prescription while I’m there, and then replace her meds. So, she’ll never know.”
Nicholas rolled his head back in annoyance, almost laughing at my words, “Dude, you’re just going to dig yourself a hole here. You can’t be serious. Just tell her the truth about the fucking pills rather than getting her more involved.”
“I will eventually,” I sighed, “Just not now.”
“You do know how hard it is to steal from businesses alone versus a few houses here and there?” Jolly said as he scribbled in his notebook, “What is Y/N going to be able to do? Other than putting her and you in danger?”
“I have a plan,” I said, as I started pacing around the room.
“You’re considering her help? Are you fucking insane?” Jolly’s mouth hung open, “Du är en riktig klydderöv.” (You are an ass who likes to make things harder than they are)
“Listen,” I held my hands up in defence, but Nicholas threw his arms up.
“You can’t be serious; she could get hurt! You’re just using her?” he seethed.
“And you guys aren’t?” I laughed, pointing to the guitars and motioned around the room, “We are fucking freeloaders.”
“Aren't you worried about her getting injured?Caught? Better yet, Arrested?” Nick asked through clenched teeth. Why did he care so much?
“Of course I fucking am!” I growled, trying to not let any more guilt eat away at my insides, “I just want to have her as an extra body for that bit of fear factor. I don’t want her doing anything upfront or dangerous.”
“That’s still dangerous!” Nicholas exclaimed, “The fact she will be in that situation in the first place is not a good idea.”
I nodded in agreement, “I know. But what other choice do I have right now?” My eyes danced past each of the boys.
I knew this wasn’t the best idea, but my options were slim. I wanted to continue whatever was going on with Y/N- I didn’t want to feel this guilt, and if I was being honest with myself…
I was scared.
I was scared she wouldn’t see past my deceit, and I was scared she would hate me. That she wouldn’t forgive me.
I knew I had to make up for everything that had happened, but the first step was getting her proper medication back.
And to do that, I needed her help.
I wonder how
How can it be that two souls live beneath my chest?
I wander on
Through the snowfall
And the firestorm
“Let’s work on the song,” Folio changed the subject as the room heated, and I sighed heavily.
“Yeah, whatever,” I sat back on the mattress, pulling up the lyrics I wrote on my phone.
“Whatcha got Noah?” Jolly asked as he picked up the guitar.
“You've run out of luck, and I'm calling your bluff
You stabbed me in the back, but not deep enough
But not deep enough
I see through you.” I hummed.
Jolly nodded as he tried to match the chords.
“Then the chorus, yada yada,” I said, eyes scanning my device as my thumb scrolled the screen.
“You said I'd never make it, you said I'd fall on my face
But now I'm right where I belong, and I put you in your place
You said I'd never make it, you said I'd make a mistake
But now I'm right where I belong, and you've got nothing to say.”
Jolly eyed me briefly with a slight glare as I spoke, and I avoided his eyes.
“I like it,” Nicholas said, plucking the bass.
+++++
Y/N
With my fingers wrapped around the paper coffee cup, I sighed, fiddling with my keys to open the front door to my house.
Noah’s sudden distance made my chest clench in worry.
“look at me, show me those pretty eyes while I fuck your mouth,” he demanded and my lashes flicked up toward him, his body shuddering as I stared into him with complete greed.
The last time we spoke was that night. Noah hasn’t come to the cafe, and he has barely been home. I chalked it up to him being busy paying back D, but I couldn’t help but feel slightly broken, and that it was my fault for his distance.
Doubt ate at my insides, beginning to regret inviting them into my home.
I wish I wasn't afraid of
The haunted valley
I wish I wasn't a failure
Maybe Noah saw how unwell I was, after the nightmare. Maybe this whole situation made him uncomfortable. I made him uncomfortable.
That nobody needs
That nobody needs
That nobody needs
I’m sure he heard the nights I woke up screaming, and I can’t lie about how my heart broke when he wasn’t the one running into my room in concern. Not that he had to.
Nicholas however, was there in a heartbeat.
The boys were easy to live with, and I had a few game nights with Nick, Jolly and Nicholas. We got along surprisingly well, and I became quite close to Nicholas these past few days.
He must have noticed my inner battle because he often reassured me when I came home between shifts, running down to the basement with a coffee to greet Noah; only to be left disappointed when he wasn’t there.
“Hey,” Nicholas had waved, his gaze falling when he saw the coffee in my hands.
“Not home?” I asked, giving him a sad smile.
“No… I don’t know where he is either.”
I shared a curt nod before turning around to run back up the stairs.
“Y/N?” Nicholas called out before I took the first step up.
I stopped, sucking in a breath before sighing, “Did- did I do something wrong?” I asked, turning to look at him briefly.
Nicholas shook his head quickly, “No! No, of course not. You’ve done nothing but be kind to us.”
“Then why do I feel like I’m the problem? Did I scare him away?”
Nicholas’ shoulders dropped as he patted the seat on the couch next to him, pulling me into his side. I rested my head on his shoulder as he rubbed my arm warmly.
“Noah is a difficult creature,” He said, “But I haven’t seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
I sniffed, “Then why is he ignoring me?”
Nicholas stiffened at the question, and I tried to shrug it off, but I knew that he knew.
“I- he’s going through it. This is a lot of money for him to get himself, without any help.”
I pulled away from his hug, “I just wish he would let me help.”
I closed the door behind me, smiling down at Juice as he greeted me. I heard someone puttering in the kitchen and assumed it was Nicholas.
“Hey, Ruffilo-” I shouted, slipping off my shoes and prancing into the kitchen. I immediately gasped in surprise when it was not Ruffilo, but Noah, who sat at the table munching on a grilled cheese. Our eyes locked as we silently exchanged words, and my breath hitched in my throat. Why did I feel so nervous?
“Oh- hey-” my face flushed as I stood in place, staring at him for a moment too long, before bowing my head to pass him in anxiety. My heart immediately hammered, everything in me wanting to stare at his perfect smile or the way his long hair sculpted his face.
“Hey,” he said gently, his gaze burning into me as I placed my bag on the counter, taking in a nervous breath. I placed the coffee for him on the counter as I grabbed a cup from the cupboard and filled it with water. Anything to distract myself from his presence.
“How are you?” He asked, still staring at me with intensity. I hesitated before I turned around, my back pressed against the counter as I let my eyes wander to his own. I couldn’t help but wonder why he was suddenly talking to me after days of distance. Part of me wanted to walk away.
“Uh,” I took a slow sip, the cool liquid a poor attempt at slicing through the tension that built between us, “Good. And you?”
He watched the cup that touched my lips, eyes skimming over the glass my fingers wrapped around before he hesitated, as if afraid to speak the words that left his mouth.
“I’m okay.” He began, trailing off before looking away, eyes fixated on the ground, “I’ve missed you.”
My heart raced at his confession, my shoulders falling gently with the relief at his words. Part of me wanted to scoff, part of me wanted to hold him and succumb to his touch. Did he really miss me, or was he just feeling guilty for being MIA the past few days? But nonetheless, the way my breath hitched in nervousness told me how excited I was to see him.
“I got you your coffee…” I said softly in response as I turned and handed him the cup, unsure what else to say. Our fingers touched delicately as we passed the drink, and my arm buzzed as butterflies spiralled through my body, reminiscent of the day we met.
He gave me a small smile, thanking me shyly, but I could tell that something else was on his mind as he took a sip.
It was silent for a moment as more unspoken words danced between us.
“I’ve missed you too,” I confessed quietly as my cheeks warmed, and I began playing with my fingers nervously.
Noah’s ears flushed with colour as he genuinely smiled, “Let me take you out tonight.”
“I- I have work,” I stammered, excitement replaced with disappointment.
“Call in. Let me take you on a date.” He shook his head as he took another sip, refusing to let down.
“I can’t afford to call in,” I gave him a sad smile, “But I would love to go out with you this weekend when I’m free?”
“I’ll give you the money then,” He stood up now, grabbing the glass from my hands before pulling my palms into his grasp, “Just let me treat you.”
His October eyes begged as they bore into me, trying to read my mind. I looked away, trying not to succumb to his silent plea but instead I smiled, looking at our connected hands. Why was he suddenly being this way?
“Stop looking at me like that,” I laughed.
“Like what?” He teased, before sticking out his bottom lip, packing on the puppy dog eyes.
“Like that!” I giggled, and Noah tugged on my arms, pulling them so they were wrapped around his body as he buried me in his chest.
I sunk into his arms in alleviation as we swayed in the kitchen to the beat of our hearts.
Part of me wanted to pull away, tempted to see if he would bring me back. The other part of me wanted to berate him for his attitude. Part of me wanted him to take me against the kitchen table. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him, but I didn’t want to ruin this moment together.
“I’m sorry I’ve been distant,” Noah whispered now, his voice vibrating from his chest as my cheek was pressed against his soft cotton t-shirt. I nodded against him in response, squeezing his torso as I closed my eyes, my mind beginning to overthink everything that’s happened between us.
I finally sucked in a breath, hesitant to ask, “Did I do something wrong?”
Noah immediately pulled me from his chest to look me in the eyes with a sullen expression, his hands cupping either side of my face, “You haven’t done anything wrong. You’re perfect.”
My eyes began to glaze over as my mind eased a little, and I chuckled softly, “Definitely not perfect.”
“Definitely are,” He whispered, hesitating once more before his broken eyes began analyzing my own. He made me feel like I had no reason to think he was lying. He made me feel perfect.
Noah watched me carefully before his eyes closed briefly. He sucked in a breath, hesitating, “I- I think there’s something wrong with me. I’m so lost right now.”
“I hope you know you can talk to me,” I matched his tone, my head tilting in empathy as we stood in the kitchen, holding each other. My fingers gripped onto the fabric of his shirt as I pulled him into another hug, embracing all his insecurities.
“I know,” He sighed, before masking his sorrows with a smile.
“Please come out with me,” He pulled away and pleaded again, the pad of his thumb beginning to graze across my cheekbone before tracing the outline of my lips, “I want to spend time with you. I want to hear your story.”
I smiled at his words, my breath catching in my throat as we watched each other, completely mesmerized as my eyes travelled across the outline of his ochre eyes. The slight stubble outlined his perfect lips that wrapped around the whites of his teeth as he smiled charmingly, and it left my palms sweating.
“You know plenty about me now,” He said gently, concentrated eyes devouring me, “So who are you?”
Subconsciously I began leaning in closer to his touch, our lips inches apart, “Why are you so convincing?” I whispered, the warmth of Noah’s breath cascading along my face.
“Ahem.”
I turned immediately at the cough, and Noah pulled away from me, staring back at the ground. I looked between him and Ruffilo, who stood leaning against the wall, watching Noah with analytical eyes.
“Hi, ruffles!” I then smiled warmly, confused at his interruption but happy to see him. He acknowledged me briefly, nodding in my direction before glaring daggers towards the brunette.
“A date?” Nicholas frowned as he folded his arms with an accusatory tone.
Noah shot back a look and my eyes flickered between the two of them, squinting in confusion.
Noah shook his head, turning his back towards us, “it’s none of your business.”
“It’s all my business now.” Nicholas stood up, standing next to me in defence.
My brows furrowed and I took a step back from Ruffilo, “Ok, what the fuck is going on?”
Ruffilo’s face contorted as a quick cynical laugh left his lips, scoffing at the brunette in front of him, “You didn’t ask her where you really want to take her out?”
Noah ran a hand over his face, “I was getting there.”
I looked between them again before my eyes landed on Noah, turning my head to the side, “Take me… where?”
Noah licked his lips in thought before turning to me, “I need your help.”
+
“Y/N hurry up!” Kiean yelled, his blonde curls bouncing underneath his black hood as he threw the canvas duffle bag towards me, placing his gun between his waistband. He ran behind the counter, typing on the keyboard of the desk computer frantically.
The alarms blared between the walls as I hastily tried to listen to the clicks of the safe, my heart racing as adrenaline rushed through me, my hands sweating beneath the leather gloves.
My breath quickened beneath the full white masquerade mask, the moisture building between the plastic and my skin, causing my chest to heave.
In a matter of minutes, the police would arrive and a shoot-out would begin.
‘k-12 to k-11’, Kean screamed over his walkie, my senses completely overloaded as the mixture of sounds rang through my ears.
‘k-11 to k-12, over.’
‘status of the doors?’
I looked away from the safe briefly towards the glass front doors, watching as the other masked figures held the rifles pointed towards the blocked exterior. I turned back as I anxiously flicked between the code, seconds being wasted the longer I failed to open it.
‘blocked.’ the voice responded.
‘hostages?’ Kiean asked.
‘detained.’
My eyes flickered towards the hunched bodies sitting on the floor, covering themselves in defence as they shook with fear. Another group of men with guns stood above them, shoving the rifle into the skin of a woman who mouthed back, creating an echo of screams as one of them fired the gun.
I closed my eyes, wishing to wake up from this nightmare.
But it was real.
“Is that fucking safe open yet?”
My blood ran cold as a shiver ran through my spine, the voice of my bad decision stopping my fingers mid-turn.
A gloved hand gripped the back of my neck and I looked up at the mask that mirrored my own, the only skin was his piercing green eyes that glared at me, filled with outrage. My lungs could no longer suck in oxygen as I gasped for a breath, desperate.
“You have ten fucking seconds to open it before I blow your goddamn brains out you pathetic piece of shit.”
His fingers dug into my neck as tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I watched back in horror, trying to nod underneath his grasp.
“Kade!” Kiean growled, “Fuck off!”
Kade looked back at me with disgust for a moment longer before he let me go, and I finally felt like I could briefly breathe.
I used to love his green eyes.
++
I sat on the edge of my bed as I hung up the phone with my boss, telling him I came down with food poisoning. Classic excuse.
I picked up the plastic mask as the pads of my fingers grazed over the years of shame associated with it, as my mind replayed the memory from my past.
Noah knew bits and pieces of my story, but he didn’t know the full reason why I left my old life behind.
I was scared to tell him; even though I knew he would probably still accept me; I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him yet.
I think I lost my mind
Everything I knew came falling down
Anything I build comes crashing down
I was trying to leave my old life behind…but I knew I was experienced enough to help him.
However, I knew that this was going to tie me right back to those I left. If I helped him, I would be stuck in the never-ending loop again. They would find me.
I'm pleading, "God, not now"
Save me from my sins before I leave
Free me from the weight so I can breathe
But for some reason, I was willing to do anything for Noah.
Why?
I was clearly fucking crazy.
The more I fool myself
The more I feel it creeping in
I think I lost my mind again
+++++
NOAH
Y/N and I agreed to go tonight.
I was scared to ask her, especially after Ruffilo confronted us. I did genuinely want to take her out on a date. I wanted to spend time with her.
But I did need her help.
I explained the plan of the heist and she agreed surprisingly quickly. The look she gave me left me confused. I was expecting some pushback, but she just sucked in a breath, lost in her mind for a moment before nodding and telling me she needed to grab a few things.
Her reaction was strange; almost as if she was conflicted. Was she conflicted between morals, knowing what she was doing was illegal? Or was there something else?
I sent a text to Vincent, telling him I’d meet him right after the heist to sell the drugs, right around midnight.
“See you then, Sebastian. Same spot.”
Hope ran through my veins as the plans fell into place, and I grabbed my backpack and gear, before running up the stairs to Y/N’s room.
I knocked as I pushed open the door, her eyes flickering up towards me before backing down at the mask she had resting in her palms. It was a simple white plastic party mask; the black masquerade design spiralling around the eyes.
I eyed her tentatively as she continued to stare at the mask. She flipped it around and my eyes narrowed as I analyzed the pattern. I swear I’ve seen this mask before, but I couldn’t place a finger on from were.
“Do you want one of my masks?” I asked, sitting next to her on the mattress, assessing the plastic she traced her fingers with, as if recalling a memory.
She took a shaky breath as she declined, turning to face me and giving me a curt smile, “This one work fine.”
I watched as Y/N’s shoulders began to shake in what I assumed was nervousness, and I placed a hand on hers that held the mask, “You don’t have to do this with me.”
She jumped lightly at my touch, leaving me confused before pulling away.
“I told you I’d help you, Noah,” she said as she stood up, walking to her desk and grabbing her own backpack.
Y/N pulled out a walkie-talkie from the fabric, tossing me one. I raised a brow as I caught it, staring at the machine.
“When did you get these?” I asked, almost laughing at the tactile equipment. This was a high-tech radio, something that surprised me she owned.
She shrugged, eying me once more before zipping up her backpack, “A long time ago. I’ll give one to the boys too so we can communicate. They can keep track on the sidelines.”
I hummed in response as I placed it inside the pocket of my cargo pants. I watched as Y/N paced around the room, grabbing various items before turning to face me.
“Are you wearing a change of clothes underneath the black?” She asked me, her serious expression sending shivers down my spine.
I turned my head to the side as I stood up from her bed, “No… should I be?”
She nodded, raising a brow as if I was stupid, “Yes, and bring another hat.”
I gave her a curious glance but obeyed, crossing the hall to the spare bedroom to grab another set of clothes.
Once we gathered everything, we stood at the front door, prepared to leave. Ruffilo stood waiting by the stairs, folded arms analyzing us before he went up to Y/N, giving her a tight hug before moving to me.
“You guys stay safe. I’ll be tracking you.” He gave us a curt nod, sighing as he glanced at Y/N in worry.
“Please keep your phone and my laptop on next to you. Remember the password is Juice.” Y/N said to Nicholas, and he nodded, giving her a thumbs up.
“Why?” I asked her, staring down at her, slightly in surprise. I didn’t know her and Nicholas were as close as they were.
“You never know when you need backup.” She smiled, the worry dancing behind her eyes causing my own anxiety to spark.
We gave each other a nod before waving to Nicholas, leaving through the front door. The crisp air slapped me in the face, waking me up to the reality that this was really happening: that Y/N was going to be with me. Was this really a good idea?
We got into the van, me in the driver’s seat and Y/N in the passengers.
“So,” Y/N began as I pulled out from the curb, driving down the street, “I’ve never been to this pharmacy, and I have no idea how many cameras there are.”
“Folio said that there shouldn’t be any inside since this place is pretty old, but I believe that there are two outside,” I replied, turning down the music in the car.
Y/N nodded, “Well then, we definitely should park on Twelfth Ave, so we are far enough from cameras around the pharmacy.”
I hummed in response, sucking in a breath. Her analysis and knowledge surprised me, “You seem to know what you’re talking about.”
She glanced over at me briefly before staring out the window, watching the city pass by, “I’ve seen movies.”
I chuckled, fingers tightening around the wheel, somehow not satisfied with the answer, “I guess so.”
We sat in silence for the majority of the ride, soft music from the radio tuning out the silence. As we approached Twelfth Ave, I parked alongside the road.
“Ready?” I said, glancing at her.
Y/N hummed as she peered out the window, looking for cameras before giving me a nod.
“We’re good. Masks on before we get out.”
I laughed, cocking my head to the side, “Isn’t this my mission?”
She smiled at me, “Of course; but you asked for my help.”
“Touche,” I slipped the fabric over my head as I pulled my hood over. The car doors slammed shut and we began walking down the sidewalk, Y/N’s hands now governed with gloves.
“Walkie is set to channel 14?” She asked me, double checking hers before clipping it to her belt.
“Yes,” I chuckled, reassuring her with a glance.
Y/N nodded, walking ahead of me quickly, “Ok. Before we hit the 13th street we need to check for more cameras, especially on the buildings across the street. Then scope out a place we can hide behind to change once we’re done.”
I blinked rapidly her knowledge of this surprised me, leaving me innately curious. I trailed behind her, following her commands. We hit 13th Ave and I watched Y/N as she scanned the brick that surrounded us, pointing to a camera across the street.
“That one will already have seen us. We can’t continue-” she said, her breath hitching in her throat.
I pulled her body back, turning her to face me. “What-”
“Let me finish,” She cut me off, heavy breathing erupting from behind the mask, “I need to call Nicholas.”
The woman next to me pulled out her phone, dialling Ruffilo’s number. Y/N grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side between two buildings, holding the phone close to her ear as the bricks sheltered us.
“Hey, Ruffles.” She whispered, “yea everything’s ok. I need help with the cameras, so I need you to get my laptop.”
I watched her with curiosity, listening to every word.
“Login to my computer and click the blue app on my desktop, the one with the eye- yes- yes that one.”
She glanced at me before staring at the ground, “Password is Kade. K-A-D-E. Capitals.”
Kade?
Y/N held the phone closer to her ear, frantically beginning to pace, “OK, now I need you to type the address of Noah’s tracker into the box on the bottom. Grey box.”
What the hell was she doing?
I watched her with furrowed brows. This was some spy level shit and I had no idea how or why she knew this; but something was telling me I don’t know as much about Y/N as I thought.
“Yes, the IP. Include the zeros. Then click the red icon that will pop up on the right.”
“It’s asking for another password.” I could hear Nicholas on the other side of Y/N’s phone faintly.
“Try Kiean. K-I-E-A-N.”
“Nope.”
Y/N was silent for a moment, and I watched as her chest heaved beneath her black zip-up. She hesitated for a moment, as if the words were unable to escape her lips, “Try- try my name and the date 06-13.”
“Yeah, that worked. Now what?”
June 13?
I peered at Y/N’s eyes through her mask, tears welling up along her eyelids, “OK, c-click the box that should have popped up. You’re going to need to enter this code…ready?”
I heard Nick hum and Y/N began spitting out random letters and numbers, “qqp;//0-0-0:879230/live.”
“Then put in Noah’s IP, and then continue with ‘.off/GO113MODULE=shutdown.”
What the fuck?
“Ok. That did something?”
“Did a timer pop up?” Y/N asked hastily, before eying me.
“Yeah- it says 7 minutes and it’s counting down.”
“Call me when two minutes are remaining.” Y/N hung up the phone before grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the ally towards the pharmacy.
“The cameras are down. We have seven minutes to get in and get out; maybe even less before the alarms signal the cops.”
I had so many questions, but all I could do was watch her with complete confusion, but also awe.
We reached the pharmacy door, and I pulled out a crowbar from my back, hinging it between the wood. I struggled for a moment, my teeth gritting as I pulled on the door.
“Push don’t pull. It’s faster.” Y/N mumbled, and I did as she said, the door popping open within seconds.
“How the fuck do you-”
She ignored my response and walked past me as the deafening alarm began echoing through the street from the pharmacy. My adrenaline began to spike as I rushed in and scoped the shelves before aimlessly grabbing things off the shelves hastily and throwing them into the extra backpack I brought. I began to make my way to the back of the building where the prescriptions would be, rushing along the wooden floor.
My heart pounded as the alarm rang, signalling the short amount of time we had to be in and out.
Y/N followed suit and I watched as she swiftly jumped over the counter, swinging herself between the shelves. She crouched next to me, pulling various boxes and pills off their designated spaces before shovelling them into her bag.
“You fucking know what you’re doing,” I yelled over the ringing alarm, throwing bottles left and right, trying to be as fast as possible.
Y/N glanced at me as she continued to shove random items into her backpack, turning away to ignore my question.
I leaned over, grabbing her arm as she grabbed a bubble pack of pills, “You don’t know this from movies. The fucking camera hacking? What the hell?” I knew now wasn’t the time for an interrogation; but I couldn’t help myself.
“Can you shut up?” She seethed through her teeth, eyes squinting at me angrily, “Now is not the time Noah, the cops will probably be here any minute. You’re wasting time worrying about me when you should be worried about the money.”
She ripped her arm away from me, walking to the other side of the counter, towards the register. I watched her in disbelief as she then went to pop open the register with a crowbar, grabbing the cash that lay amidst it.
I shook my head in a mix of mistrust and admiration. Maybe taking her was a good idea after all.
Her phone rang and we looked at each other, her eyes hallowing beneath the mask, “Two minutes till the cameras are on, we need to go,” She yelled, her voice raw over the sound of the alarm.
I nodded briefly before I remembered one of the sole reasons we were here; to grab her meds.
“Wait-” I hollered, turning around. Diazepam, Adderall, Zolpidem.
My eyes flicked through the shelves, desperately searching. Adderall. Check. Diazepam. Check.
“Noah!” Y/N screamed, standing at the door, throwing her arms up. Amongst the store alarm, I could hear sirens whaling in the distance, signalling their justice.
“Wait- fuck!” I yelled, anxiously searching the last section. My gloved hand ran along the shelf as my heart hammered in anticipation, before I landed on Zolpidem. Check. Y/N stood by the door, head swinging between me and outside, peaking around the corner to watch for cops.
Grabbing my bag I hopped over the counter, slightly tripping over the mess we created but caught myself. Sprinting out of the store I grabbed Y/N’s arm, dragging her with me.
My ears still rang as we ran, and Y/N began pushing into me.
“Here,” She pushed into my side, leading us between an alleyway further down the street.
“Strip,” she comanded as she exhaled heavily, throwing her hood off her head and mask off onto the ground hastily, as if peeling it away in disgust.
“Can’t wait till we get home?” I tried to laugh, and she glared in my direction, unamused given the state of haste we were in. As my smile faded, I barely noticed her tear-stained cheeks as she took off her hoodie, pulling a pink one out of her bag. She threw on a pair of sweatpants over her shorts that were beneath her jeans and knelt to slip on a pair of white Converse.
I followed suit, throwing off my attire quickly before slipping into a pair of black and white shorts, along with a white hoodie. As I threw on my vans and hopped to get my foot inside, I shoved everything back into my bag.
The sirens got closer, the red and blue lights reflecting down the buildings at the end of the street. We began to panic and once she was ready, I grabbed Y/N’s hand with my sweaty one, pulling her with me down the alley. I looked up and down the brick towards the end before finding a ladder, pulling on it to test its strength and hopping up, beginning to climb.
Y/N followed below and once we reached the top we stood on the roof for a moment. She watched me before I began to run. The rocks that layered the top of the roof crunched beneath my feet as I bolted, my head snapping back as I kept looking behind me to check Y/N was still following, making sure she was ok.
We reached the edge of the roof, and I scoped the scene. Although we were surrounded by buildings, I wasn’t sure where to go from here. The sirens still echoed as they flashed from below, anticipating us to decide quickly. I looked below, noticing a ladder and ledge attached to another building. We would have to jump to make it, but it looked doable.
“Do you trust me?” I asked, breathless, looking down at her. The moon light cascaded delicate shadows along her frame, leaving me captivated. As her beautiful E/C eyes looked back at me, she held out her hand, complete commitment radiating through her.
“Always,” She whispered back, squeezing my fingers. I smiled at her and looked ahead, preparing to jump.
“Follow me,” I squeezed her hand in encouragement before letting go, and she nodded.
I stood on the edge of the building, my eyes flickering over the ladder as I sucked in a breath, ready to push myself off the ledge. I jumped, the air sliding between my limbs briefly before I caught myself on the metal. I sighed heavily, looking up at Y/N and giving her a thumbs up.
She hesitated for a moment, looking down at the ground below. I watched as her gaze analyzed everything; and before fear could take over, I encouraged her.
“You can do it, I believe in you,” I said, and she nodded, her body swaying with the wind before throwing herself off the stone and landing next to me.
We walked across the ledge before reaching the end, and I looked at the ground below.
“Ok, we can swing off that pipe and then onto the top of the dumpster. Then we run,” I said, preparing to jump again.
She let out a puff of air, “Parkour?” She laughed.
“Easy,” I matched her tone, letting out an anxious chuckle, “Just watch me.”
I walked across the pipe, holding my hands out to distribute my weight and keep my balance until I was above the dumpster below. Kneeling, I then made sure I had a tight grip before dropping my body, so I was hanging from the piece of metal.
I took a deep breath before letting go, bending my knees to catch my fall on the plastic lid.
Y/N did the same, but as she hung on the pipe, she closed her eyes, afraid to drop.
“C’mon princess,” I praised, “I’ll catch you.”
She scrunched her face in thought before letting go, and I caught her, pulling her close against my body. I hugged her briefly, wanting to hang onto her forever; but we still had a job to do.
We slid off the dumpster onto the cold pavement, and I grabbed her hand, holding her as we then made a sprint toward the van. Our footsteps rang along the cement, adrenaline pushing me more than caffeine ever could. At this moment, I felt alive with Y/N next to me.
We approached the van with our chests rising and falling, pulling ourselves into the dirty grey fabric seats, and locking the doors. As we sat in the car not speaking, the only sounds being our heavy breathing, I peeked over at Y/N, who then turned to face me.
With flush cheeks, her eyes trailed along my gaze, before a wide smile grew upon her face, “Fucking hell.”
She laughed, and I mirrored her, the grin on my face expressing my devotion to this woman.
“I can’t believe we pulled that off.” I laughed, coughing as my throat dried with thirst, and rested my forehead onto the steering wheel.
Our laughs died out and I turned to face her.
“Yeah,” She watched me again, but her smile began to fall, “we did it.”
“How did you-” I began, wanting to begin asking questions, but she cut me off immediately.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” She curtly responded, completely beginning to shut down as the adrenaline wore off. Her eyes remained fixated straight ahead and I watched her in confusion and concern, millions of questions racing through my mind.
What was wrong? And how does she know so much?
“Look, I know you don’t want to talk about it,” I began as I started the car, revving the engine gently before pulling out, “but what you did back there was more than even I could do. All the boys.”
Y/N remained silent, turning her body away from me.
“You’ve done this before.”
Y/N’s head snapped toward me, “Noah,” She warned, my name leaving her lips angrily.
I stared at her, licking my lips in annoyance, but dropping the subject, “We need to visit someone before we head back.”
She swallowed harshly, nodding in silence.
My mind raced as I drove. Y/N definitely hasn’t been honest about her past. I swear I’ve seen that mask before; and I know for a fact that she’s had to have done a heist in the past or some shit. She was experienced… and who the fuck was Kiean?
Thoughts invaded my mind and once we were close to the pier I stopped abruptly before an allyway.
I turned off the engine, grabbing my mask.
“Put your mask on,” I said, and she nodded, reaching into her bag. I watched as she placed the mask on top of her face and I followed with my own, before we pulled the hoodies over our heads once again. I waited for Y/N to get out of the car, watching carefully as she closed the door.
I quickly grabbed her replacement meds from my bag, sliding them into the glovebox before grabbing both our backpacks. I slid out of the car, walking next to her.
I leaned over, whispering, “Stay behind me, don’t say anything,” and Y/N nodded, trailing behind me as we walked down into the alleyway.
It was quiet, the only sound was our footsteps and distant traffic. I stopped Y/N with my arm before we walked any further down the cement, waiting.
Y/N breathed heavily, and seconds later we heard him.
“Sebastian!” Vincent’s voice boomed through the brick walls.
I cautiously kept my distance as he turned the corner, exposing himself. He walked towards us and was flipping a coin between his fingers, tilting his head slightly as his eyes immediately latched onto Y/N. She stood behind me, almost hidden.
“a friend?” His voice raised slightly in question.
I held out my arm to hold her behind me, but Y/N pushed past my defence and stepped beside me.
Vincent immediately stopped flipping his coin once she was exposed, his eyes flashing with recognition as he stared straight past me, eyes locked onto the masked girl. He was fixated on her. My stomach churned at the way he stared, completely lost in a trance.
I looked at Y/N briefly and she stared back, shoulders heaving.
A deep chuckle radiated through his chest before he spoke, his words leaving me confused.
“We live in a twilight world.”
Y/N stiffened beside me, silent for a moment before responding.
“And there are no friends at dusk.”
I turned to her in complete confusion. The interaction between them building tension so thick I could cut it with a knife. My mind began to race.
She knows him. He knows her.
But how?
The mask.
Vincent looked away from their eye contest first, the shine of his grillz radiating once he smiled at me.
“What do you have for me? Other than an oh-so-riveting friend.”
I ignored his question regarding Y/N as I slid the backpack off my back. I opened it toward him, revealing the dozens of pill bottles.
“Quite the haul,” Vincent laughed, a low whistle escaping his lips, “but I didn’t come quite prepared with that much money.”
I tried hiding my disappointment, “Then what can I give you?”
“I brought the same amount as last week,” He said, nodding towards the bag, “Got any more of that Adderall you got me? and the zolpidem and diazepam?”
Don't worry, I'll be lost in echoes
Be laughing on my own
It's tragic, but it's the only life I know (Only life I know)
My breath caught in my throat as my eyes began to widen, and I stared at him.
“From whatever that name was- Y-N? Something?”
My body froze, immediately afraid to look in her direction. From my peripheral, I saw her remain perfectly still. Too still.
What should I do, what should I be?
(I'm at a turning point right now)
I'm so full of rage, too blind to see
“Uh- n-no.” I stammered, taking a step back as I avoided Y/N’s gaze, “I have a few opioids.”
Vincent shrugged, smiling, “Ah sounds good.”
I looked at the bag as my hands began to shake.
“I’ll take those today for twenty-five hundred. But uh, bring the others next time. They sold great. I’ll offer thirty-five hundred,” Vincent said, reaching into the bag to assess some of the bottles.
I swallowed harshly as I nodded, “Yea- I’ll get some of those.”
Vincent whipped out his testing kid, assessing each of the bags and bottles before pulling out the cash.
“Pleasure doing business with ya, Sebastian.” He nodded as he placed the bundle into my gloved fingers, licking his lips before smiling towards Y/N.
He watched her tauntingly,"I'll See You At The Beginning, Friend."
Y/N only gave him a small nod, silently and swiftly turning around, walking back towards the car.
As I watched her leave, I then glanced at Vincent one more time who watched curiously.
“See you,” I said in a conflicted tone, before jogging after the girl who was now gone from the alleyway.
Y/N was already sitting in the car with the mask thrown onto the dashboard, staring down at her lap in complete emptiness.
I got into the driver’s seat, too afraid to say anything once I saw how she collapsed.
The words that then left her lips sounded broken, strained, and defeated. “I trusted you.”
My heart pounding in agony as she fixated on her lap with disappointed eyes. I swallowed harshly, panicking. As my heart hammered the only question that left my mouth was Why.
I wanted to blame her as if it was her fault for trusting me. As if she’s the one who made me steal her drugs. Part of me wanted to grab her shoulders and shake some sense into her, my body fighting the urge to shame her for being so kind.
The more I fool myself
The more I feel it creeping in
I think I lost my mind again
“Why would you trust a criminal like me?”
As soon as the question left my lips I had sunk into the seat of the car, shame taking over. I was never meant to be the good guy.
The more I start to fall
The more I don't see me at all
I think I lost my mind again
Her eyes fell as she grew small, suddenly insecure, “B-because?” She stuttered, “You’re not a bad person Noah.”
Yes I am, it’s my fault for taking advantage of her.
“Why did you do it?” She asked, still staring at her hands.
“Why else?” My hands ran up across my face, “I need the fucking money. Not like I do this for fun.”
I keep picturing my ending beneath a yellow rose
I don't recall this type of feeling, a seed inside my bones
My soul turned its back and left me, I burnt the bridge within
Just another waste of humans weighing down this skin
“I tried giving you options- like the bar, or even a position at the cafe,” She began rambling, her hand moving erratically as she explained.
“And I'm grateful,” I reached out towards her arm, but she pushed herself towards the window, away from me defensively.
My hand fell in shame, “but that can’t make me enough. It’s hard to make money this way when it’s just me doing jobs.”
“I get that,” She folded her arms, holding onto herself, “But I told you I would help.”
And it pulls me further from the point that I belong
And all you wanna do is take me, break me, hide me away
Or you can shame me, blame me, burn me at the stake on a lie
'Cause my own mind wilts at the thought of being alive
And that I'd like it if I tried
“You didn’t need to go behind my back. You could have just asked,” she whispered.
“I- the whole reason I did this robbery in specific,” I stated, opening the glovebox in front of her, revealing the plastic bottles, “was to get back your meds. That’s why I’ve been so distant.”
She stared at the orange bottles, detached.
“I have felt so fucking guilty, that I have barely been able to look at you knowing what I did,” my voice began to raise, “Like how fucked up am I? That I could do that to you, knowing, that they’re supposed to be helping you?”
I scoffed at myself as I slammed the glovebox, making Y/N jump in the process.
The more I fool myself
The more I feel it creeping in
I think I lost my mind again
“Y/N,” I whispered now, “I am so sorry I did this to you. I am so sorry I dragged you into this.”
The more I start to fall
The more I don't see me at all
I think I lost my mind again
Chapter 6
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London, Punk Capital - MONEY HEIST: KOREA Chapter One
[MONEY HEIST: KOREA MASTERLIST]
Next Chapter (SOON)
Summary: When Jin-sol, a promising young sportswoman decides to send her whole life away, going as far as faking her suicide to get under the radar, and crosses paths with the Professor, she finds herself involved in the plan of an ambitious heist that reveals her true colors. The target: the Mint of the Joint Economic Area.
Words: 5k
Warnings: Money Heist: Korea season 1 (episode 1), 1st person pov, mention of suicide: FAKE suicide (no blood etc), loss, backstory, screams, hostage-taking, tauting, guns
DECEMBER 2023
At only 18, the path I was going to take was already mapped out. Plans to major in Sports studies and have a brilliant career as a combat sports athlete. I practiced Taekwondo since I was 6 years old, and it was my dream to become a professional in this sport. My dream, to represent South Korea at the Olympics one day. If I had been born in North Korea and lived in poverty, like my mom did, I wouldn’t have had so many opportunities and options but ultimately, I chose to throw away one of the only things I was good at and end it all and give up the life of freedom she risked hers for. Years ago, my mother, a hardworking but private woman, died of overwork and left me in the care of my uncle. I was 10 years old. Nobody had ever told me anything about my biological father, even though she had known him quite well and my uncle was the closest thing I had to a dad anyway so after I found myself orphaned, he adopted me and I started to call him dad because I wanted to feel like my peers, who had their parents. But he died too, and not that long ago. He was a college professor and taught in the department of business and economics at the Seoul National University. This smart and caring man was the last family I had. Losing everyone just made me realise an honest life wasn’t always worth it.
The wind was blowing that night. I let my bag fall on the floor of the Mapo bridge sidewalk and took off my jacket, making sure my identity papers and suicide note were in the pockets. It was actually not my plan to take my own life. My only wish was to completely disappear from the radar screens and let life surprise me with whatever it could come up. I heard my grandfather died in a robbing, in the 90s. Maybe I could do that too, without the dying part obviously. This new life choice was a complete turnaround, but it was my choice. Living an underground life in the guise of a dead person wasn't just anything. I was calm as I tied my hair in a bun above my neck, staring into the distance. Cars drove by but no one pulled over to come and stop me and that was for the best. The bridge was notorious for suicides and dozens of telephones and signs to deter people from commiting were set up along both sides. Glancing around, I leaned on the railing, lifted my leg and tipped my body over to the other side, resting my feet on the ledge. I didn't even really want to kill myself; it was just to give the illusion of it, and despite the fact that it was good that no one was bothering me, I wanted someone to witness my fall so that they could then confirm to the authorities that I was the person who jumped. I was not yet such a famous sportswoman, few people would be sad to hear the news, maybe my old friends from middle and high school but that was all. Everyone would forget me, ultimately.
I tried taking deep breaths. Despite the bright lights all over the bridge, the water looked dark beneath my feet. After a minute of staring down at the Han River, I heard someone calling out to me. This was my cue. I didn’t even look at the person trying to talk me out of it, closed my eyes, held my breath and let go of the railing. My body fell forward, and I plunged into the water. For a brief moment, I forgot my plan and let the water carry me away but eventually, I swam. I swam all night long and hid under another bridge, far from the one I jumped off of. The police would check the bag and jacket I left, get a testimony from the witness and quickly rule it out as a suicide. They would try to find my body but after a few days of being unsuccessful at doing so and with no one stepping forward, like a family member or something, they would stop searching and I would be fine. I just needed to lay low for a bit. I hid in seedy hotels and dyed my hair red. On my ID, I had bangs and black shoulder-length hair. It was now quite different, and it changed my appearance a lot. I left Seoul and went where the wind took me. And the wind took me to Mungyeong where I joined an illegal fighting ring. I ran into some cool guy who became like a brother to me. You’ll meet him eventually. He is not especially sharp-witted but he's fun, I'm sure you'll like him. Just so you know, I’ll refer to him as 오빠 “oppa” most of the time. It’s Korean for brother.
We would fight at every illegal fight club we could find and never lost. He eventually beat up the gamblers who had bet on us and we left. He had told me his father was constantly in and out of prison and he was the last person we expected to see. Gamblers had lost lot of money because of the both of us and had sent their dogs after us. He played with them while I tried to fight them off. So much so I always had to urge him to keep moving. I was way younger but the most serious of the pair. We had slipped between two buildings, which roofs we were running on just a moment before, trying to escape them but we got stuck. These guys were above and below us. A few cursings came out of our lips as the wall exploded. We protected our faces and looked to the side. A man was sticking his head out of the hole made by the explosion. It was his dad. He helped us get out of there and we ran away. That’s when we were introduced to a man calling himself the Professeur, 규슈 “guyshu”. When I met him, the first thought that went through my head was that he reminded me of my uncle, but it wasn’t what this meeting was about. He needed us to join his plan, which was to rob the Mint in the Joint Economic Area. We were in. He had assembled a whole team of people like us, and he brought us together to where our hideout was. The place where we would learn all about his plan until the D-day came around.
I had no idea how he found this place. A whole hotel complex, abandoned. Perfect for us. As we walked down a tree-lined path to reach the disused resort, I looked at the faces around me. We were 10 in total. For the first day, we settled in the hotel swimming pool. The professor had set up a whiteboard and we sat around it, in an arc. I sat on a cube with the number 6 on one side and next to me was a stern man in a suit. I wasn’t in such fancy clothing, just wearing a black short-sleeved T-shirt with BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER in red writings, a faux leather skirt, a pair of pantyhose and combat boots. There was this little thing I hadn’t left behind when I faked my own suicide, and it was a gold ring that my mom gifted me. It was a ring she had herself been gifted, by her older sister for her 18th birthday. She had written in the letter she left me, that when triplets are born in North Korea, boys get silver daggers and girls get gold rings, as a gift from the government. Until I read this, I had no idea my mother actually had three older siblings. The 50-year-old ring hung from a thin cord tied around my neck.
“Before we start, I wanna make this clear.” The professor started speaking. “From now on, regardless of age or where you’re from, we’ll all speak informally. We’ll use code names to call each other instead of using real names.”
“I can do code names, but what about respect?” Oppa’s dad raised his hand. “What’s the reason for that?”
“It’s safer that no one knows. It’s out of serious precaution for each other’s identity. How about we use city names?” He walked over to a small table and grabbed a globe from it. “It can be a city you wanna live in once the job’s over or a name that you like the sound of. It’s up to you, so pick one.”
Gyushu sat down and the first of us that stood up was the other youngest of the group. W ewere called the “maknae”, literally meaning the youngest. He turned the globe and put his finger on the city of Rio de Janeiro, sketching an excited smile, chuckled and moved his body like he was dancing the samba. That guy who looks like your typical K-pop idol is Rio. He’s a horrible dancer, but apparently, he’s an amazing hacker. Then came oppa’s turn. I already told you, his story.
“Denver. I’mma go with that one since it’s near the Rocky Mountains. You guys know Rocky. It’s, uh… It’s my favorite movie of all time.” He punched the air, making the sound effect to accompany his gestures. Faced with his little show, his father seemed quite embarrassed.
“Just so you know, that movie is set in Philadelphia.” The professor's intervention caused Denver to stop, and he awkwardly brushed the hair from his face.
“Oh- oh, really? Philadelphia. Phil… That’s a bit long. Denver sounds a lot stronger, right?” His father then picked Moscow as his alias. I did say he was in and out of prison in the years prior to this day but he also used to work in the mines, so naturally he’s a digging expert. That’s why he’s here. And where was here? The dead-end that was his life.
“Has anyone here ever been to Africa before? The cradle of civilization. Words can only try to describe. Did you know the area’s famous for diamonds?” This woman who introduced us to her ass as she chose her alias was Nairobi. A pathological liar. A forgery master, claiming to have been a part of every major crime, but I didn’t take her word for it. She was probably nothing more than a con artist. She went back to her seat and two fellows walked towards the globe, squabbling over its use, pushing each other around. That jolly pair was Helsinki and Olso. Fixers from Yanbian. Word had it that they wiped their entire gang and left. Next was the man in the fancy suit sat in the chair next to me. He went up to the globe, his hands in his back and picked it to take a look at it. Berlin. He had this gift for making people nervous, but he didn’t intimidate or scare me. He was from the Kaechon camp in the North, where only the dead are free. How he got here is a mystery that made him the most wanted man in the history of North Korea. I hopped on my feet before he even came back to his seat and crossed his gaze when he handed me the globe, stepping away. His eyes lingered on me as I turned the globe and put my finger.
“London.”
“It fits you.” I nodded, giving the professor a smile as I returned to my seat. The last to take an alias was Tokyo. She had come down here from the North after being discharged from the army.
“Out of all the places, why pick Tokyo?” Denver enquired.
“Because we’ll be doing bad things.” Some of us chuckled at the remark. I sketched a smirk.
“Yo, that’s really smart.”
“She’s right.” The professor stood up and she walked past him to go back to her seat. I leaned on my knees, listening to him. “We will be doing bad things. We are going to pull off the single largest heist in history. The North opened up its economy, and every Korean was promised that they’d benefit from this, but in reality, only the rich got richer. It’s time for us, the ones left with nothing to claim what’s ours. This is why we’ve formed this team. I’m going to make this clear. Not a single person will get hurt. Our goal is to steal four trillion won and then we’ll disappear. We’re giving the public the best show they’ve ever seen, live and in their faces. And they’ll have no choice but to root for us all.”
“There’s no way that’s possible.” Rio said.
“Okay, let’s say it is possible. Where are we gonna find that much money?” Nairobi wondered.
“The target for our heist… is gonna be…” He marched to a table covered with a red fabric behind us and pulled it off. The others stood up to see while Berlin and I just pivoted in our seats. “… The Mint.”
FIVE MONTHS LATER
We all had to stick to our roles to make this plan work. I was one of the only ones to have no real decision-making power, but I was fine with it. It had been decided that Berlin would be the on-the-ground chief of operations, so I had to follow his orders and those of the professor to the letter, but my job did not end there. I didn't have a mere supporting role in the heist. What I had to do was a lot more vicious. We knew that there would be We knew that the hostages would not only be Mint employees, but also students from Myeongseong Foreign Language High School, where the US Ambassador's daughter was studying. She would be our key hostage. The most valuable of all. And what I was to do, prior to the heist, was get close to her and in order to do so, the Professor had provided me with a whole new identity to join this school, and more specifically the class she was in. I assumed a new name and wore a realistic wig that really gave the illusion that I had bleached my hair, but not to the point that it was white or platinum, but kind of straw blonde, with blunt bangs falling right above my eyebrows. It really changed my face. I wasn’t really into the whole going back to school thing, but I had to do it. At first, I was in school for about 90 percent of the time but once the professor brought us all together and we started working on the plan for the heist, I didn't go there as often anymore. One obvious excuse was that of the so-called chronic disease from which I suffered, or rather from which the student I played suffered and that I had to go abroad for a long time.
At the same time as preparing for the robbery, I was doing homework remotely and chatting with the classmates I had “befriended” to keep up appearances. I must have been very convincing in this role since I had totally succeeded in my mission and Anne Kim really seemed to consider me a friend. She was one of the people who texted me the most, often asking how I was doing and if I would be back in time to come with them to visit the Mint.
“It’s great you’re doing better.” Anne said as she was taking selfies in front of the Mint. I looked to the side and watched the students getting off the bus and nodded with a soft smile.
“It was hell having to stay in the hospital.” A group of girls then came running towards us, disrupting our quiet conversation and one of them grabbed my shoulder to bring me closer to them and take a picture of us. Right after the camera click shuttered, they ran back to the group of students. I stared at them. I couldn’t wait to take off that wig and stupid school uniform and take my place among the robbers. This little role-playing game had gone on long enough.
“Um, later can you send me the photos?” Anne and I turned our heads as we heard a classmate's voice rise near us. I hadn't even noticed he was there while we were taking the group photo. “You have insta, right?”
“I don’t.” Anne looked him up and down and took my arm to bring me with her to our classmates, standing two by two in line in front of the entrance to the Mint building. I was really getting tired of having to act like a 17-year-old teenager, but I played along and stood with her as the teacher invited us to follow her inside. With a quiet sigh, I looked behind us and saw two women standing by a tree. Nairobi wore a purple wig and was smoking, and Tokyo wore a light blonde wig. As I climbed the stairs, I held her gaze before walking into the hall and looking ahead. They now knew that Anne Kim and I entered the building, and surely told the rest of the team.
“Please stay in line as you follow me.” A lady greeted us at the entrance and guided us into the Mint, walking us down the monetary exhibition hall, telling us about the story of South and North Korean’s currencies. I wasn’t exactly paying attention to everything she was saying but rather waiting impatiently for when I would finally be able to swap roles. For now, I kept that jaded expression on my face and walked beside Anne. She stopped in her tracks to take a photo of a politician with a Snapchat filter on. The teacher reminded her not to take pictures and wait until the tour was over. We continued to follow the group and I saw Anne take a turn in the direction of the toilets. Glancing at our comrades, I slipped away, wanting to keep an eye on this precious hostage. I quietly opened the door to the restrooms and heard Anne speaking in English in one of the stalls. She was on the phone with someone, complaining about school, her uniform and her dad. Rolling my eyes in annoyance I turned around and the moment I let go of the door, I heard gunshots ring out. I was taken aback and jumped but quickly, a smirk appeared on my face, and I walked with a determined step while everyone ran and screamed around me. Nobody paid attention to my behavior, far too poised for such a situation. My fellow robbers were finally there, threatening the students and employees with their guns. When I found myself among the students, I started acting scared and let out a few screams of terror. I saw Tokyo arrive, she took off her wig and looked around. She held her gun against her shoulder, the barrel pointed in the air. When she met my gaze, she grabbed my arm and dragged me away. I cried out.
“Where’s the girl?” She spoke in a scolding manner, raising her voice and I did my part.
“In- In the restroom.” My body was shaking so much that I struggled to line up those three words and my voice broke into a sob as I answered. Tokyo looked at me with great surprise, eyes widened. She tightened her grip on my arm and looked me down, trying to hide that she had been unsettled by how intense but realistic my acting was. she let go of me, pushing me away unceremoniously before going to get Anne Kim. I lost my balance and the teacher caught me and brought me back to her and the students, asking me if everything was okay but I didn't answer, pretending to be so shaken that I couldn't answer, but on the contrary, her fear was very real. The robbers, dressed in red boiler suits and masks inspired by traditional Hahoe masks. Only Nairobi, with her purple wig, had yet to put the outfit on. As agreed, Berlin was leading the group. Despite the masks, I also knew very quickly which one was Denver since I saw him out of the corner of my eye wanting to approach me when he saw this distress on my face, and I also saw his hair tied in a bun. He had let himself be deceived by these artifices, but Berlin had prevented him from approaching me while they put blindfolds around the eyes of the hostages, lined up in two groups facing each other.
I was the last to be blindfolded and Berlin stopped in front of me, without a sound. I couldn't quite look him in the eye, but I stared at him anyway and all that fear I was faking was gone. His fingers lingered on the thread of my necklace and after holding the ring between his thumb and index finger for a hot second, he slowly lowered the blindfold over my eyes. They could have left my sight, but Tokyo had not yet returned with Anne, and it was important that the illusion remain intact for a little while longer, until the real moment of the reveal. Only then would they raise the curtain on the fact that I was one of them, and not a hostage. The latter were also shaking with fear and beyond this noise pollution, I heard footsteps coming towards us and I immediately thought of Tokyo. I didn’t need to see to have the confirmation that she had brought Anne. I heard the latter grunt when Tokyo pushed her after blindfolding the teenager. Berlin’s voice then rose as he took a few steps.
“Hello, everyone. I’m the one in charge here. I apologize for the invconvenience, but you are our hostages.” They whimpered, holding hands, shaking, but I stood still and listened to Berlin as he walked in front the hostages. “We each go through all sorts of moments in life, both good and bad. During the bad moments, it feels like the sky is falling down, but after some time, you’ll realize it was nothing. Each of you will have that experience, as long as you follow our orders. Many years from now, this will be an exciting adventure story that you can wow your grandchildren with. But in case any of you are thinking of causing trouble, let me tell you just one thing. I truly love when that happens.”
“Empty your pockets.” Moscow then ordered. The two hostaged that were holding my hands let go and I let out a sigh while they gave their access cards and cell phones, which were being put away in a box when suddenly, one of them rang, or so I thought but I quickly realized it wasn't a cell phone ringtone. I lifted the bottom of the blindfold and saw a landline phone on the reception counter. It was this phone that was ringing so loudly. I could also see that my fellw robbers had taken off their masks and Berlin was looking at all of them when the director of the Mint raised a shuddering hand.
“What is it?”
“That could be from headquarters.” He told him, trembling. “If we don’t pick up, th-th-they’ll know something’s going on.” The woman standing next to him gave him a shy blow with her hand. Berlin must have seen it but chose to act as if it was not the case.
“You know, I like your face. I feel like I’ll grow to like you. Answer the phone.” His voice suddenly grew harsher, and he grabbed the woman’s hand. She whimpered as he led her to the phone and was panting. He got her to calm down and take a deep breath and put her hand on the phone.
“This… This is the Minting Bureau.” Berlin and Denver exchanged a look. “We’re experiencing network difficulties." The woman's voice rose, taking on an aggravated tone. She told them off before hanging up abruptly. Berlin sketched a smirk as he properly replaced the phone on its base and took her hand.
“So, was it important?”
“It’s, um… it was nothing.” He looked at her and nodded with a large, drawn smile. His hand on her shoulder, he led her back to her place among the hostages.
“It wasn’t important. We won’t have any problems now, will we?” The woman and the Mint’s director nodded nervously. Berlin clapped the latter on the shoulder, and he whimpered, sticking to his secretary in fear. He then walked away from them and gave me a look as he passed in front of me. The blindfold he had put over my eyes was now up on my forehead, but obviously, since I wasn’t an actual hostage, he didn’t really care and waved at me to follow him. I smiled, knowing that I was going to leave this high school uniform. When they would remove their blindfold, Anne Kim would probably start to panic when she saw that I had disappeared, and she wouldn't recognize me behind my mask. She had no idea I had been wearing a wig for several months and that I was this red-haired robber. We would leave her the surprise and the pleasure that her good friend never actually existed. As we moved away from the hostages, Denver, Moscow, and Rio left the lobby and headed for the Mint vault. I watched them as I took off my blonde wig and let go of it into the bag from which I had retrieved the red suit, boots and Hahoe mask I was going to wear and walked to the nearest restroom. I had taken an earpiece as well.
It would probably take a few minutes for the three others to take care of getting the vault open. I quickened my pace as I walked down the hallway and pushed open the bathroom door and dropped the stuff on the floor before taking off my skirt and blazer. Once the suit was on, I pulled up the zipper to the waist, put on the combat boots and tied my hair in a low bun before washing my face. Without this light makeup, I looked more mature already. In front of the bathroom mirror, my eyes fell on the ring hanging from my neck, the one that had caught Berlin's eye as I stood among the hostages. I stared at the reflection holding it between my fingers and after a few seconds, I sighed, put my arms through the sleeves of the suit and put the mask on my face. I then shoved the uniform into the trash can and grabbed the bag to tie it before heading back into the hall. Berlin watched the room from the central stairs and glanced at me as I returned. I grabbed a gun and slung the handle over my shoulder, finally taking on my role as one of the robbers. The hostages were shaking like leaves as the rest of my peers walked across the room carrying bags filled with banknotes retrieved from the vault opened by Denver, Moscow and Rio while I was gone off to the restroom to change. Berlin pressed his earpiece, and I heard him in mine speaking to the professor.
“Professor, we’re going out now.” Behind my mask I watched him slowly descend the stairs. Moscow and I walked beside him. An alarm went off and the thud of the main door opening echoed all the way to us. Seeing the director lifting his blindfold and sneaking a peek around him, we came to a halt and upon realizing that we had seen him, he jumped and looked down. This man was such a coward but what happened was a perfect example as to why I had to keep my mask on for now. To keep the element of surprise. Berlin smiled and looked at Moscow and I and while he slowly walked up to him, I looked at Anne Kim. She was just a couple feet away. I didn’t feel bad for lying to her all those months, but I was well aware that somewhere deep inside me, she had become my friend and I hadn't had one in a long time. I did an immediate head turn when I heard him rip the blindfold off the director's head. The latter was shuddering. He leaned forward and whimpered, squinting his eyes really hard.
“I didn’t see anything. I swear.”
“You can look. Mmh? It’s okay, mm? I said open your eyes.” Berlin grabbed the man’s head and held him in place. “Do you wanna know what we’re up to? Is that it, huh?”
“No. I swear!” He whined, keeping his eyes shut in fear. I was watching him with a jaded expression on my face. I found him to be of a really irritating and annoying character. One time, he acts as if he thinks he's master of the world and there he is, shaking and yelping like a wounded dog. “I know absolutely nothing, and I don’t wanna know anything—”
“No, no. I like you, my friend, so let me tell you exactly what we’re doing right now.” He patted him on the shoulder and took a step back, pulling out his handgun and aimed at his head. “We’re going to have a gunfight with the police, and people are going to die, like in movies.” The director opened his eyes and looked at the weapon, scared for his life. “BANG!”
He fell to his knees, yelping and whimpering and the other hostages clamored at the loud noise made by Berlin, while he chuckled. I would have laughed with him if I didn't have to make sure that Anne Kim wouldn't hear and recognize my voice, but the situation was, from my point of view, very funny. This moment of Berlin having fun terrorizing the hostages was really setting the tone for the whole heist, and I couldn't wait to see what was next. Everything had been carefully planned, down to the smallest detail. The Professor was prepared to any eventuality. He had emphasized from the beginning that it was important no one gets hurt or dies. Killing or hurting people wasn’t the plan. We tackled the subject during one of those study session in the swimming pool of the abandoned hotel complex where we had established our headquarters. As always, we were seated around him, in front of the whiteboard covered with maps, a model of the Mint on a small table next to it. Arms and legs crossed, seated between Rio and Berlin, I was slumped in my chair, fiddling with the ring around my neck as I watched and listened attentively to the Professor.
“When the police arrive, act as if you’ve been caught while trying to flee, and shoot at them, and retreat back into the building to hide…” He moved his hand towards the model of the Mint. “…like a rat caught in a trap.”
“But why exactly do you want us to fire into the air?” Denver wondered.
“I told you. Our plan is to not kill or hurt anyone.”
“But it’s not like anyone plans to die.” Nairobi stated, followed by Rio, backing up her words. My eyes went from one to the other without really turning my head.
“She’s right. Who knows what’s gonna happen? Couldn’t we just kill a few if the situation calls for it?”
“Absolutely not. This is crucial for our plan to work.” I heard Berlin laugh behind me.
“Our plan? Sounds like your morals are getting in the way.”
“What’s with all the comments?” Tokyo spoke, and he didn't seem so amused anymore, staring at her. She looked at everyone and let her gaze fall back to Berlin, raising her eyebrows. “Our job here is to execute the Professor’s plan. If you can’t, then leave.”
And I agreed with her. Which is why, like the brothers and Moscow, I was among the few to not say anything during the lesson. I was not to question the Professor's words and orders. I had promised. Because it didn’t matter the reason, when the Professor told us to jump, we asked how high. From the hall, where only Berlin, Moscow and I had remained with the hostages, we heard police sirens in the distance, a brief silence and then gunshots. The hostages gasped and screamed, as usual. The police were firing back at them and we heard from our earpieces that something had happened in Rio but we couldn’t see what was going on. In the following seconds, they must have pulled back inside the building since the closing of the door was engaged. Now that news of an armed robbery over the Mint would spread, the real heist could begin. Officials from the North and the South would scratch their brains really hard to find the best way to resolve the situation. The Korean Peninsula, the only divided country on earth, was soon to be unified after all. An unprecedented situation was unfolding inside a unique zone called the JEA. Short for Joint Economic Area. Korea’s neighbors weren’t the only ones paying attention… the whole world was watching.
Bags full of red suits and masks were lined up on the floor. The rest of the team was back in the room after the exchange of gunfire with the police a couple of minutes ago. I stood next to the two brothers, near the bags. I was slightly behind, my face still hidden. The surprise would soon be revealed to my dear school friends.
“My dear hostages, please take off your blindfolds.”
“Come on, everyone. You can take ‘em off.” Denver raised his voice, urging them to do so while Berlin walked in front of them. They eventually took them off, hands shaking. My eyes were on Anne Kim who was just taking notice of her surroundings after removing her blindfold. She would quickly notice my disappearance, and most likely comment on it.
“It’s so good to finally speak with you all face-to-face. There’s no need to be afraid. We are all trapped inside the same building together, which means we have to work together, hmm?” He sketched a large smile and nodded at us to bring the bags. Standing beside Moscow in front of the stairs, he watched the others proceed to give red jumpsuits to the hostages. Anne Kim was looking around her, frowning.
“Where is Park Ho-Yeon? What did you do with her?” She demanded answers. Berlin smirked and turned to her, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. Back to them, I continued to give suits to hostages right in front of her.
“Who?” Berlin asked her, acting as if he didn’t know what she was talking about which he wasn’t supposed to so she must have mistaken his tone for mockery regarding her concern for her friend. He was, in a way, actually mocking and taunting her like he did with the director. Faced with his intimidating gaze which she held, she repeated herself.
“Where is my friend? The one with the blond—”
“What friend?” When she heard my voice, she went silent, probably not knowing what to think anymore. Time stopped for a few seconds. As I swiveled towards her, I slid my mask over my head and discovered the look of profound stupor on her face. She was shocked. Mouth open, she couldn't hide her shock. I took a few steps towards her.
“Ho-Yeon, you’re… with them?”
“My name’s not Ho-Yeon.” Berlin walked up to us, laughing and patted my shoulder, looking at Anne Kim, with a broad, amused grin on his face. This look of betrayal I saw in her eyes followed me as I walked towards the stairs with him.
“We have no intention of hurting any of you, trust me.” He then declared; hands clasped. He spoke with a smile. “Each and every one of you will return home without a single scratch, as long as you fully cooperate with us. I give you my word. Let’s just have some fun.”
Soon, the first day of this unprecedented robbery came to an end and night fell. We had been occupying the Mint for over 11 hours already and the whole world was kept in suspense, looking at us, wondering what was going to happen next. But people weren't the only ones racking their brains to figure out our next move. Even the task force was most likely confused. The one with the true upper hand was not the North or the South. It was the Professor. He developed plans and factored in everything. Like I said, he had planned everything, down to the smallest detail. The Professor came up with solutions for every possible situation and then a backup plan for each of those possibilities. I found it all very impressive and to be apart of it was beyond great and exciting. It had all just started earlier this day and I was already having a blast. All those months invested in preparing for this heist had been worth it. I was sure of that.
“They’ll be there very soon. Proceed as planned.” We were warned by the professor over the phone, that a military raid was coming to get us. We talked about this situation during our classes, which would happen if the North took over in the Task Force and they would never agree to negotiate with us. They would try to suppress us no matter what, and they would try to do so in secret.
“There is a total of five entry points. The main gate, the rooftop, the underground garage, the emergency exit on the side, and last but not least, the loading dock. If you remove the main gate and the rooftop where they’re likely to be seen, they’ll use the other three to enter.” Berlin raised his hand.
“Okay so let’s say we know when they’ll enter, thanks to the information from that woman.” I might have forgotten to mention it but yeah, the woman in question was the negociator, Seon Woojin. When I said the North took over amid the Task Force, I omitted that it would happen if she was sidelined. “How do we stop the Special Operations Unit when they have so many points of entry?”
“Well, that’s a good question.” He had this calm and collected look on his face, like he had it all figured out, which he had. I remember he asked us what we thought was the best strategy when we’re surrounded by enemies. We were only 9 robbers, but we had plenty of people at hand to repel the soldiers, without even having to fight. We outnumbered them, thanks to the hostages disguised as robbers. What they would see, no matter where they tried to get in from, would be masked people in red jumper suits holding guns towards them. With Rio in the office, watching the cameras, we were all with different groups of hostages turned into robbers for the subterfuge and the soldiers would never be able to tell a real robber with a gun from a hostage with a fake one. They would be forced to retreat. And it’s exactly how it happened. We handled the situation exactly how the professor told us to and everything went like clockwork. Everyone was then led back to the main room where there was a heavy silence among the hostages. Berlin, towering above us from the top of the stairs, broke the silence. I stood with my peers, on the other end of the room, right across the stairs.
“Now, my dear comrades, take off your masks.” He smiled as he watched them do as he said but quickly regained his seriousness. “Thanks to your cooperation, the police completely aborted their mission to raid the building.”
“Yes!” Moscow cheered and Denver and I chuckled.
“I want to applaud you all for being courageous and for your exceptional teamwork. We could not have done this without you.” He sketched another broad smile and slowly clapped his hands as he descended the stairs, and we joined in, walking in front of the hostages, mocking them with our smirks. We clapped strongly and eventually, one after the other, the hostages clapped along, and I laughed, meeting Berlin's gaze. We were both all smiles. The hostages didn’t look as happy as we did, obviously but how they felt went flying over my head. You can call me insensitive and self-centered, which I don’t think I was, but that still was the last thing I cared about. I did what I was asked to do, follow the Professor’s orders. I did my part and was satisfied. We had successfully prevented the raid, and the Task Force would be forced to recall their negotiator and forget about the use of force to enter. And with one of the hostages happening to be the daughter of the US Ambassador to Korea, that was no longer a possibility at all.
[To be continued…]
Next Chapter (SOON)
Published (03/25/2023) by Andrea
Taglist: @cathrin2405 @kika64
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