Page 31 of Masked Mayhem

Once we finish the ritual, the atmosphere in the car shifts to one of tense anticipation. The silence envelops us, thick enough to slice with a knife. Each one of us is lost in our thoughts, but deep down, we all know what’s at stake tonight. The jewelry store is hardly just a store—it’s a fortress, teeming with alarms, security systems, and the possibility of unexpected complications.

As we pull up to the side of the store, the dim lights outside reveal our escape route through the rear, bypassing the main street and potential prying eyes. I glance out the window, half-expecting to see the familiar face of Whitney. My heart sinks—there’s no sign of her. Raze’s jaw tightens beside me as if sensing my disappointment. He casually places a hand on my shoulder, a silent reminder that I need to stay focused.

King’s voice crackles through the earpiece. “Alright, listen up. We move in under the cover of night. Stay sharp. D and I will breach the back entrance. The rest of you know your roles. No heroics. Stay quiet, stay fast. We’re in and out in five minutes. Got it?”

“Got it,” we echo back, adrenaline coursing through our veins.

With that, we exit the car swiftly, the chill of the night air biting at our exposed skin. The plan is simple on the surface, but each of us knows the real trick is maintaining our composure under pressure. Raze and I stand at the back entrance, eyeing the security cameras while waiting for the signal from King.

“Go,” he whispers, and the world blurs around us as we rush toward the door.

In one swift motion, I pull the door open, and we slip inside. The dark space barely has a heartbeat as the fluorescent lights flicker on, illuminating the well-organized chaos of the storage area. Raze immediately takes point, leading the way. I follow closely behind, my hands tingling with purpose, ready to tackle the first safe that crosses our path.

In the next few moments, we dart through the back offices, our surroundings familiar enough from the reconnaissance we’d done before. A safe comes into view, a massive metal door hewn with intricate combinations only the owner knows. I kneel beside it, my tools out and ready in case the code doesn't work. Raze covers King as he puts in the safe code, scanning the area for movement.

“D, tell me you’ve got eyes on the cameras,” I mutter through the earpiece, my heart hammering in my chest.

“Clear as day,” he replies, the calmness in his voice providing a much-needed reassurance.

“We’ve got company on the east side. They’re approaching," Red informs us through the walkie, sounding unusually calm.

Seconds tick by agonizingly slow as King works the combination lock, my hands moving deftly as panic simmers beneath my skin.

“Almost got it,” he hisses, his focus narrowing to the tumblers.

"Red, what's up with the company you said we had?" D asks, using the walkie.

"Coast is clear, they walked right past," he replies.

A click then punctuates the air, and the safe swings open to reveal stacks of cash and a treasure trove of jewelry shimmering like a siren's call. I almost lose my shit at the sight, but Raze pulls me back into reality.

“Get the bags!” he urges as Lux slips back out of the building to sit with D in the car, excitement lacing his voice.

I swiftly begin unloading the contents into the duffel bags, Raze mimicking my movements. Each item slips through my fingers like a dream, the promise of wealth almost intoxicating. But then—

Suddenly, a loud crash echoes from the front of the store, sending my heart plummeting into my stomach.

“What the fuck?” I manage to say, trying to remain calm.

“Stay put,” Lux orders, my eyes narrowing toward the source of the noise.

But instinct kicks in. We can’t linger here. Not when things are unraveling.

“Forget the rest and just grab the fucking cash! We need to move!” I shout, throwing the last of the jewelry into the bag and zipping it shut.

We move fast until the cash is completely emptied from the safe. As we turn to make our exit, the unmistakable sound of footsteps thunders closer.

King’s voice crackles urgently in my ear, “Get out now! They’re inside! Move!”

Raze and I bolt for the back door, urgency fueling every step as we dash toward freedom. My mind races with the scenarios unfolding—the police, the rival gang, or possibly something far worse. The exit seems miles away, but we press on, lungs burning as we near the rear of the store.

Just as we reach the exit, the unthinkable happens: the door slams shut in front of us, blocked by a figure. I freeze, catching a glimpse of a dark, covered face under the dim lighting, and my heart lurches in suspicion.

“Uh, who the fuck are you?” I gasp, shock rendering me momentarily speechless.

They stand there, fierce and unyielding, with a determination in their eyes that reminds me of a person on the hunt.

“Where is she?” he demands, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding us.

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