“Are you sure this is really necessary?” Complained MC to Sora while fidgeting with his concealed earpiece. Traffic and pedestrian chatter almost completely overtook his voice.

“Yes, I‘m sure. This greedy shmuck has had a target on his back since he started spewing about the bridge project. You better be careful,” said Sora through the mic. “If this guy is able to succeed in getting the bridge built, The Organization’s going to increase their profits, remember?”

“Like I even care about that,” said MC. “This suit is uncomfortable too. It’s restrictive to my movements, but I guess it’s not the worst.”

“The Black Diamond higher ups don't want this to go through so stay on your toes. If they were going to try something, today would be the day. They don’t care about bad publicity either. They’d involve civilians and act in broad daylight.”

“Yeah yeah, that’s what GM was saying. I know how they are anyway. Ruthless bunch of animals,” MC sighed. “What a way to spend the afternoon. Babysitting some rich asshole. I could be out training or hunting down information,” said MC.

“I’ve got better things to do as well. Let’s just get through this and hope nothing goes wrong. Remember I’ll be monitoring everything through the building’s cameras and various tracking devices. By the way, Mr. Rich Asshole should be arriving in a few seconds,” said Sora.

A black car pulled up and the driver cracked the passenger side window motioning for MC to come over. MC walked over and the back door opened revealing a tall man in a suit with an overly orange tan.

“Ah yes, you’re my security for the day right?” asked Alexander as he looked MC up and down. “Couldn’t they have sent anyone a little bigger?” He asked as he turned and grabbed his briefcase out of the car.

“We’re off to a great start?” said MC under his breath.

“Try not to get in the way, will you?” said Alexander as he brushed past MC and walked up the stairs to the building, dodging through the crowds of people hustling around like a hive of bees.

Inside, was a spacious lobby with tall marble pillars. In front of them were four receptionists behind desks. It looked to be a very old building. Perhaps one of the oldest in the city, but still very well maintained. Elevators were chiming with a busy commotion of people coming and going. A dull roar echoed off the high ceilings. A receptionist lady with a bob cut looked up to greet Alexander. “Oh representative Eisenhower, so glad to see you. They are ready to meet with you in the conference room on floor five.” Alexander thanked the receptionist and went into an elevator packed like a can of sardines. MC and Alexander squeezed in and made it to the fifth floor.

“Come on now, do keep up,” said Alexander as he quickly exited the elevator. MC hurried his pace while continuing to scan each passerby for threat.”

“We really should be going a little slower if you want me to be able to be able to serve my role as your security. I can’t see everyone in these thick crowds and…”

“They didn’t send you to be my chatting buddy. They sent you to be my security. I’m here to get this meeting over with and go home. My head is pounding.”

Great, he’s hungover. This guy really is an idiot. Guess that’s why he seems so annoyed or maybe that’s just how he is.

The fifth floor hallway was elegantly decorated with plants and string lights wrapped around large Roman style pillars. “When we get to the conference room, I’d like you to wait outside. I wouldn’t want to be seen with someone as unsightly as you in a business meeting.” MC gritted his teeth and nodded his head.

“He’s pleasant,” Sora sarcastically said into the mic. MC rolled his eyes.

They approach the room labeled “Conference.” Alexander paused briefly outside of the door and ran his fingers through his slicked back hair. He pulled down and adjusted the jacket of his suit. MC continued to scan people as they walked by. Visually searching them up and down for weapons and signs of aggression or threat. There were so many people it was hard to keep track of who may and may not be a threat. It would have taken three MC’s to fully check everyone. Luckily, for the most part, everyone just seemed like business folk just going about their daily duties.

Alexander reached for the door handle when out of nowhere, a loud bang silenced the hustle and bustle of people in the hallway. MC oriented himself towards the direction of the sound. He observed a man wearing a suit and sunglasses holding a massive hand cannon pointed at representative Eisenhower a ways down the hall by the elevator they’d come from less than a minute ago. MC grabbed Alexander who was frozen like a deer in the headlights and threw him behind a marble pillar. The crooked politician’s mouth hung open in disbelief and he was frozen in fear. MC followed behind and tucked against the pillar. Alexander sat on the ground leaning against the pillar, covering his ears with his hands.

“Are you hurt?” MC asked. Alexander was unable to provide an answer. MC looked up and down Alexander’s body which showed no noticeable wounds. Another gunshot rang out and impacted against the pillar causing chunks of debris to fly throughout the hallway. The silence had turned into screams as people scurried around in terror. The unidentified assailant pushed his way through the crowds and made his way closer to his target.

“MC there’s an active shooter,” said Sora.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” replied MC, taking a pistol out of the inside of his suit jacket. I can’t use a flash bang with all these people around.

“This floor’s cameras don’t give me much of a view,” said Sora. He held his gun down and slowly peered out from behind the crumbling pillar. A bullet hit only inches above his head, throwing debris onto the floor.

“Shit! We’re pinned down here. I’m not going to be able to get a shot off,” said MC. ”I’m gonna need some help. Get us out of here, Sora.”

“Already on it. You’re going to need to go down the stairs at the end of the hallway and make your way to the basement. I’ll direct you from there.”

“The basement? We need to get out of this building. We’ll be trapped in the basement,” said MC.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“It’s likely there’s more threat outside of the building hiding amongst the panic. There’s an underground parking garage you can exit from too. It’ll give you the best odds,” said Sora.

“Alright I guess I have no choice,” said MC. “We have to move,” MC said to Alexander. “Stand up now!” Alexander remained sitting on the ground staring blankly at the floor. MC grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him to his feet. “We are going to run to the closest staircase at the end of the hall and go down to the basement,” said MC quietly so the assailant couldn’t hear their plan.

He grabbed Alexander by the wrist and started running toward the stairs. The last few pedestrians ran about in panic. Another gunshot was fired and hit a lady right next to Alexander. The bullet must have been a large caliber because her body spun back and twisted, painting the walls with warm blood. Then, another shot. It went past and hit the wall in front of them.

MC opened the thick metal door to the stairs and ducked as he entered, pulling Alexander behind him. A bullet dented against the door just as it shut.

“The enemy is going to keep coming after us. We need to keep going down to the basement.”

“O… ok,” Alexander mumbled. MC and Alexander descended the stairs as fast as they could while the unknown shooter trailed them from just a few flights above. After several flights, they got to the bottom level.

“There should be a silver metal door to your right,” Sora commed. MC attempted to open the door, but the handle wouldn’t turn.

“The door’s locked.”

“We’re gonna die!” yelled Alexander. Tears began to run down his face and he crouched down holding the sides of his head.

“Sora, the door has a nine-digit keypad lock. Can you get it open?” asked MC.

“Hold on, I’m working on it now.” She furiously typed on her keyboard for a second then paused as a program loaded the unlocking sequence. Footsteps rang through the stairway above as the assailant moved closer and closer. MC grabbed the door handle and shook it violently, but it didn't budge. He took a step back and kicked the door, but it did nothing. It was thick steel.

“Cover your ears,” he told Alexander as he took a flash bang out from under his coat. He pulled the pin and waiting a second before throwing it straight up in the middle of the stairwell. It went up about two flights before detonating right next to the enemy. The sound was more intense than usual as it echoed through the enclosed chamber of stairs. “That ought to slow him down, but it wont stop him. Come on Sora, we need to get through this door.”

“Almost there,” Sora said. The number pad lit up green and the lock clicked. MC opened the door and shoved Alexander through then slammed the door behind them. A subtle click of the lock confirmed that it was sealed again. They both backed away and a moment later there was a slam against the door. “I’m not sure if that will hold for long. He might be able to shoot straight through the door’s handle or hinges with that high caliber gun he’s got. He’s probably still rattled from the flash bang though.”

MC turned to observe his surroundings and determine the best way out of where they were now. It was a dim parking garage that was littered with cars between where they were and the exit ramp on the far side of the lot. “This way,” MC said to Alexander as he pointed to the exit.

“Ok let’s go,” he said and took off running.

“Hold on, MC, I can see three people walking down the ramp right now. They appear to be armed,” commed Sora.

“Wait!” said MC to Alexander. “There’s more enemies coming down from that way. Looks like we’re sandwiched between them. Get down behind a car.”

Alexander swore under his breath and crouched down between two cars.

“I’m going to have to engage the enemy, Sora,” MC commed.

“Yep, backup is on the way, but they’re a ways out. Traffic is chaos up top. Most civilians have evacuated the building and I don't see any more enemies. It’s just you against these four.”

“Got it,” he said, taking off his suit jacket and tossing it onto the floor. He gripped a flash bang in one hand and a pistol in the other, prepared for a fight. “Stay here. Don’t move or make a sound unless I tell you to.”

MC dashed behind another car making sure to put enough space between himself and Alexander to avoid getting him into any crossfire. He heard rushed footsteps coming down the ramp into his parking garage level. It was three Black Diamond thugs all with large diamond tattoos on their necks. MC peeked through a car window and held his gun up. I’m going to be able to take one of them out instantly, but then the others will scatter. I’ve got to make sure to time my flash bang and my shot just right.

He pulled the pin from the flash bang and then lined up a shot. The bullet was going to go through two windows so its force was likely to be weakened and there was no guarantee the trajectory was going to be accurate either, but in the moment it was the best he could come up with. He pulled the trigger of the pistol and the shot rang out. Before he could even tell if it was a hit or not, he hucked the flash bang towards the three of them. They were only able to run a few feet before it detonated and stunned them. MC stood up and put two bullets in each of their bodies, assuring that they would all be dead.

“Ok, we’re clear. Let’s go out the way those guys just came in,” yelled MC, but there was no response.

When he ran back over to where he’d left Alexander, he was nowhere to be seen. Where did that guy run off to? I told him to stay put. There’s still one guy who was chasing us. If he gets through that door he could die.

It was then when MC realized in the commotion of fighting the other three, the door was breached.

“Stop right there,” said a stern and harsh voice.

MC looked towards the voice and froze. It was the guy who had been chasing them. He held Alexander in front of him like a shield with one hand over his mouth and a gun pointed at his head. “Drop your weapons, flash bang.”

“Hmph. So you know who I am?”

“Yeah, and I’m not here to play any games. I’m here to make orders and get a job done. Drop your weapons or I’ll shoot this guy.”

“You really think you have this all figured out don’t you. If you shoot him, then I’m going to shoot you.”

“Yeah and if I don’t shoot him you’re going to shoot me. So what I’m thinking is that I just shoot you first and then him after.” The Black Diamond member pointed his gun at MC.”

“Not a bad logic there, but you’re forgetting one thing.”

“Oh yeah? And what would that be?”

“That you think you’re just fighting me.”

The lights all shut off at once. It was pitch black in the parking garage. Sora had come through. The Black Diamond member shot in the direction that MC had been in, but didn’t hit anything.

MC knew he had to move fast otherwise the guy was just going to kill Alexander. He used the opponent’s gun shots as a reference point and moved to the side in the darkness. MC swung his combat knife which produced a slicing sound like that in a butcher’s shop. The Black Diamond member collapsed to the ground leaving Alexander standing there trembling.

“Sora, lights please,” he said out loud. The lights came back on.

“Let’s go,” said MC.

A small unit from the detective team led by Emi arrived at the scene. Aiko matched Emi with their standard detective suits. They wore bright red lanyards and name tags to distinguish themselves as the detectives. It was common practice when investigating a scene with high amounts of the public around.

Upon entering the parking garage, they discovered the corpses of Black Diamond members. Emi took notes and began to analyze the scene. She crouched next to one of them and put her bare hand on his cheek. “Still slightly warm.” She squatted down next to the lifeless body of a former Black Diamond member lying in a pool of dark blood. “A single precise and lethal strike with a knife, huh? We’ve got a professional on our hands.” She looked around the room looking for more clues to what had transpired here.

“Not every day you see a kill this clean,” agreed Aiko. “Not a single other clue aside from the bodies. No blood from the killer. Not even a footprint.”

“Likely a member of The Organization,” said Emi. “We’ve got to stay alert and document this carefully. Someone trained as well as this could do a lot of damage if they wanted to.”

“Right,” said Aiko, pulling on a pair of gloves.