“So here's the plan. One of us has to play a distraction. Specifically, the role of a waiter.”
Kiri then added, “Here’s the thing. I've been invited to the event already so that part cannot go to me.”
Khale then added on his own bit, “I can play the waiter, but then again, I'm better on the offensive.”
Kiri and Khale turned immediately to Ghady.
Dumbfounded, “What?”
–
Ghady buttoned up the vest over his shirt.
‘...Why does it have to be me?’
Kiri threw a comb at his head. “Don't forget to neat yourselves up. They'll throw you out for looking like a rat.”
Ghady rolled his eyes.
He combed his hair in the mirror. Then he realized something.
He'd never been so clean since years ago. He'd never felt the warmth of a comfy bed since that day. He'd never been in such a fancy place since he left. Ghady looked down to his jacket, the gift from his beloved mother. ‘I won't fail this time.’
–
Kiri unwrapped another lollipop as he continued to explain the plan over the breakfast table, “Next, Khale will enter the vent of the ballroom, and check for any trace of unnatural energy.”
–
Khale entered the vent, fully suited in a stealth suit, “Ready when you are.” He said through the earplug that was given to all three. He then took out a jar, the jar containing the black goo.
At the same time, Ghady entered through the backdoor, where all the employees entered from.
Luckily, everyone was so busy with the preparations that they didn't notice Ghady was not an actual employee.
–
“The objective is straightforward. Subdue the darkness creature before it inflicts significant harm, then use the goo I recovered from the vault to trace its point of origin.” Kiri finished.
He got up from his seat, “Get rested up. We'll be heading tomorrow morning. Ask Khale if you have any injuries to worry about and he’ll lead you to the healer.”
Ghady looked confused, “Healer?”
In response, Khale just shrugged, “Just someone I know.”
–
Kiri came into the ballroom early, and only a few guests had arrived. The families he could see there were the Dasan family, the Zovujan clan and the Iyubov family. Not even his own relatives were there yet.
Beside him was his secretary, Miss Vera.
“Are you sure this plan will succeed? Mister Volvana?”
Kiri just smirked slightly, reaching into his pocket for another lollipop only to realize that he didn't bring any.
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
—----------------------
Khale crawled through the tight vents, the jar in his hand.
From Kiri’s explanation, all he had to do was play a game of ‘Hot or Cold’ and see if the goo reacts.
He moved around from one spot to another, to see if it glowed even faintly. The vents creaked and some people noticed from below.
“Too fast…” Khale muttered under his breath.
--
Kiri noticed it himself.
“It seems the vents are making more sound than usual.”
Miss Vera spoke in her usual tone, but her intention was clear.
Kiri looked around,
More people arrived, meaning more chances of getting caught.
Then he turned on his earplug.
“Khale, is everything okay up there?”
--
Khale had to squeeze through the narrow space, “Yeah… I'm alright…”
He slowed down his pace so that the vents would not make a sound.
Stolen novel; please report.
He stared at the jar with the black goo again, nothing.
“You sure this thing works? It’s not even lighting up in the slightest.”
--
“If it didn’t work, you’d be rotting in the sewer by now.” Kiri explained.
He looked around, searching for the best place where he could test it himself.
He moved across the ballroom, without anyone noticing and came to one corner with a vent directly above it.
He took out a smaller vial of black goo from his pocket, it glowed slightly brighter.
“Can you move to the corner of the ballroom under the mini chandelier? You do remember the map, right?”
--
“Huh? Oh, yeah, I can do that.”
Khale made his way towards the chandelier. Squeezing through the metal, he looked down at the ballroom through a vent opening and confirmed his location.
Then, he took out the jar of black goo.
Definitely warmer.
--
“Keep searching this area, and report if you find anything.” Said Kiri through the earplug.
Just then, a man walked onto the stage.
Everybody suddenly went silent.
The man stood at the microphone, and cleared his throat.
“Welcome lads and ladies, to the gala dinner of Porcupine City!”
Everybody clapped and whoo'ed.
The man on stage was the mayor of Porcupine City, Mister Harbinger Borman.
“It's starting.” Kiri whispered to his earpiece, giving a heads up to the other two.
The mayor cleared his throat again. Everyone went silent again. “As you all may know, this event was actually supposed to be hosted by me and another person, the heir apparent to all of America, senator Johnathan Adams.”
“But.” The mayor did a dramatic pause. “He is still missing.”
“What? Missing? Since when?” Kiri turned to Vera.
She nodded her head, “It's true. It was reported around three days ago.”
“However, let's not let that stop us. Now, I will propose my idea that will revolutionize Porcupine City for the better!”
They all raised their drinks and in unison, “Cheers!”
–
Khale crawled through the vents once more. Jar in hand. Wherever he was, he was getting closer, the black goo glowed brighter and brighter.
The vents also started to get darker and narrower as he was reaching the end of them.
He wanted to quicken his pace so badly, but this was a stealth mission, he could not afford to make a single noise.
“Hey! What’s that noise up there? Didn’t we hire a technician to make sure the air vents were working earlier?” A guard said as the noise became louder. Khale realized that he was at the entrance now, the place where guards are most alert.
“Shit. This is bad.”
–
Ghady started off his act by going around, asking if the meals tasted good.
“How's the food madam?”
The woman turned to him, “Could be better. Could you get me a glass of water? I need something to cleanse my mouth.”
“Of course. Right away.” Ghady said in the most respectful tone he could muster.
In the distance, he saw Kiri and his secretary talking to the mayor.
—-----
The mayor pulled Kiri in close, wrapping his arm around Kiri's shoulder. He lifts the other hand to the sky, palm open, as if sketching on the surface of the sky.
“This upcoming project's gonna be amazing, I tell you!.” The mayor smirked a cocky smirk.
Kiri could only smile awkwardly.
“Is something wrong?” Asked the mayor looking at Kiri’s face.
“No. No, it’s nothing. Your idea sounds absolutely sublime.”
The mayor raised an eyebrow, “Young Volvana, you don’t seem like your usual self, are you sick by any chance?”
He was catching on, Kiri just wanted to escape but he needed to keep his professionalism. “Indeed, everything is alright.”
“Well, anyways, let's enjoy the abundance of food. Don't forget, eh? You should fund my project! Ha!” The man walked off laughing with his dry, raspy voice.
--
“Okay, something is definitely wrong with the air vent. Oi, Tim! Check up on the air vent will ya?”
The black goo glowed brightly, if Khale got caught now the mission would be compromised.
He heard the vent opening from the back.
It was now or never.
“Ghady. The distraction! NOW!”
---------------------------------------------
“Ghady. The distraction. NOW!” A voice pierced through the earpiece, sending Ghady’s brain to overdrive.
“What? O-okay.”
He made his way towards the piano, ready for what he was about to do.
–
“According to the event itinerary,”
Kiri explained over the breakfast table the day before. “The piano is scheduled for the third-quarter. Nine-Thirty to be exact.”
Ghady stroked his chin, “And, why does that matter?”
“Assuming Khale identifies the target before the third quarter, Ghady initiates the piano performance ahead of schedule. The resulting distraction should provide Khale with a sufficient window to exit the vents and subdue the darkness creature.”
–
The piano was only a few feet away now. It was now or never.
But then, suddenly, a voice from behind called out, “Excuse me.”
Now was not the time for this. The girl behind him could’ve asked for anyone else. But she just had to ask him.
“Ghady, we need the distraction. The goo is blinking. This is serious!”
He did not have time to deal with whatever this girl wanted to ask him.
He had to deal with it quickly.
“Y-yes ma’am?” He turned, and froze.
His eyes widened, he recognized the girl.
Sure, she had grown, but he recognized her.
The same, soft brown hair and pale skin Ghady'd never forget.
“Ghady?”
With a shuddering breath, he responded with a name he didn’t think he would ever say again.
“Svet?”