Ringing sounds in my ear. I squint at the phone screen. 5:36AM!
679Please respect copyright.PENANA20BGfHwUBN
«Rise and shine. Your first task is ready. Get up.»
679Please respect copyright.PENANAFJHRMJSOGR
Ugh.... I wanted to go back to sleep, but there are lives on the line. So I reply.
679Please respect copyright.PENANAg6v3XmVePy
«What do you want?»
679Please respect copyright.PENANASE7L3EOuB1
«Read carefully. You're not to question my directions, even if you don't understand something. You're to exit the school from the cafeteria emergency exit. Walk a mile south of the door, to a store called Brandsmart USA. Take the backpack next to the door with you.»
679Please respect copyright.PENANAq10XReO128
Umm?
679Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4jxAg7bJR
«After that, what do I do?»
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He replies:
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«Get there first. Then you'll receive more instructions.»
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I'm scared... It's dangerous at this time in this area... But I risk my life anyways. Wait...
679Please respect copyright.PENANAG18bFehjsS
«What if I don't make it alive? What happens to Lawrence?»
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«Then he'll see you in Hell soon.»
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I get up from my chair, shaking of fear. What if it's a trick? A trap? I can't care either way.
679Please respect copyright.PENANA6DV0WA0OUz
I grab the bag and open the door of the lounge slowly, unaware if I'm being watched.
679Please respect copyright.PENANAdJ9VAiZE5z
I head towards the cafeteria. It seems almost haunted in the darkness... The space between me and the door seems to stretch!
679Please respect copyright.PENANAFDn0pGxiBb
I push the door open, and it's open! Why didn't I think of this earlier?
679Please respect copyright.PENANAo7Nj7GtJGI
My thigh vibrates as I receive a text.
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«Don't think of running away. Somewhere on your body is a tracking device, so I can and will hunt you down.»
679Please respect copyright.PENANABzsHNRIt1A
The air brushes coolly against my bare skin. It's so creepy on the street... The crickets chirping, the newspaper tumbling down the sidewalks, the flickering lights...
679Please respect copyright.PENANAnYpnqTcrcF
I walk for what seems like forever... Finally, I see that I'm approaching Brandsmart, a big store full of electric and electronic things: from smartphones to fridges.
Before I can even ask what my task is at this time, I get a text.
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«Now break in.»
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...Break in...?
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«WHY? I'm going to go to jail! Why do you want me to break in?»
679Please respect copyright.PENANAg0tBxyfTqz
He replies:
679Please respect copyright.PENANATTQXnrJoy6
«Did I not make it clear that you are not permitted to question my motives?»
679Please respect copyright.PENANALk5p5tWTxL
Ugh. I'm screwed. I look around for a rock or something, and I find only see one... Do or die... LITERALLY.
679Please respect copyright.PENANAJVxqOlcnWy
I bend down, trembling, to retrieve it. I look around to see if there are people watching, but I see no one.
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I close my eyes and take a deep breath. 1... 2... 3...
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Life sloooows down. I throw the rock at the display window and I hear the ear-splitting shatter, and the ringing alarm, killing my ear.
679Please respect copyright.PENANApO3Fei2eMY
Little did I know that Brandsmart has night guards. And this one looks pretty merciless.
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"Little girl! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" The huge, muscular man yells. Right when I'm about to run for my life, I feel the buzz. Damn it!
679Please respect copyright.PENANAGZxu3jO8bs
I quickly run from the guard while trying to read the text.
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«Do not run away from the store, or you'll have failed. Of course, he will be a hurdle, but you must jump over this obstacle.»
679Please respect copyright.PENANA05HGCAZsDl
I stop dead in my tracks. I look up from the phone and turn back. No movement. Where is the guard?
679Please respect copyright.PENANAvzwpZNUicF
I turn my head to face what's looming in front of me, and it's the guard. With a bat! Luckily, I dodge the hit. He outran me, snuck up on me and then tries to murder me?! What was he trained for, war?!
679Please respect copyright.PENANAK8JP1wws9D
Before I can even ask Luke what he wants me to do, he tells me. I look up at the guard, who's running towards me. Let me just check what Luke says...
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«Kill him.»
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No... I'm not a murderer... I can't! To take the life of a guy who's just doing his job (although trying to kill innocent people is no good job)?
679Please respect copyright.PENANAtKjg3D1Qr1
But... It's for Lawrence... And me!
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As if I have all the time in the world... I get up... Slooowly... Not even realizing that—679Please respect copyright.PENANANszg3bosVj