Ringing sounds in my ear. I squint at the phone screen. 5:36AM!
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«Rise and shine. Your first task is ready. Get up.»
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Ugh.... I wanted to go back to sleep, but there are lives on the line. So I reply.
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«What do you want?»
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«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.»
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Umm?
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«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...
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«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.
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I grab the bag and open the door of the lounge slowly, unaware if I'm being watched.
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I head towards the cafeteria. It seems almost haunted in the darkness... The space between me and the door seems to stretch!
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I push the door open, and it's open! Why didn't I think of this earlier?
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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.»
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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...
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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?»
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He replies:
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«Did I not make it clear that you are not permitted to question my motives?»
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Ugh. I'm screwed. I look around for a rock or something, and I find only see one... Do or die... LITERALLY.
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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.
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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!
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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.»
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I stop dead in my tracks. I look up from the phone and turn back. No movement. Where is the guard?
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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?!
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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)?
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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—705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PmQk0EDlU
