Fated Retribution

23 [Target Delta]

17th September, Wednesday, 2:28 pm, 2028

I looked around the huge hallway of the Smoke Hall hotel with Ronan, my other bandmates, Devin, Rylee and Darwin behind me, along with Zafar or Ferlie or whatever's assistant leading our way. I had kept the proposition of performing in his party which was tomorrow to Devin and after consulting with Ronan, who didn't seem to have apprehension with the same, we had fixed a meeting to decide on the performance details.

My heart thumped in my chest as I reached into my pockets and felt the small microphones and cameras I was supposed to place everywhere in the building for tomorrow's interrogation. I was still very confused as to how Sharon had been able to obtain the devices but due to her lack of response I had simply stopped pestering her for an answer.

"And right there will be your stage, it would be a grand evening and this majestic set-up would be perfect for your performance." The assistant's loud, high-pitched voice rang out shrilly in the empty banquet hall where the stage was in the process of being set-up.

"If I may ask, why did you pick Mr. Brent's party to perform in?" He asked and I snapped back into reality, previously considering if I should fit a microphone near the flower vases not very far from us.

"Uh, you see, I am a huge fan of his," I paused, thinking my words over for a second before looking up at him with a smirk, "Business ethics, if you know what I mean." I internally cringed at my suggestive tone and heard Ronan snort behind me.

"Er- right." He replied, going on about the menu as I trailed behind the group and pressed the microphone and camera between the flower vases and pressed the blue button on them to turn each one on.

I continued to fit the devices wherever I could. On doors, behind curtains, on the windows, under the tables, in the washroom, literally anywhere whenever I got the chance.

"Great, we'll send our team over to set-up our stuff and we will see you tonight then." Ronan said, bidding a goodbye to the assistant, who's name I still didn't remember as we walked out of the hotel to our cars. Devin and Rylee seemed to be in a heated argument about churros while Darwin was busy scrolling their phone, uninterested in the whole ordeal.

I got in the car and let out a huge sigh of relief that I had managed to complete the job without fucking things up or breaking my shoulder even more.

"What is up with you?" I slightly jumped at the sudden question and looked over to my right to see Ronan sitting on the seat beside me, looking at me accusingly.

"Nothing." I replied timidly, avoiding his gaze and I could see his eyes narrowing at me.

"You're a bad liar." He said plainly, looking out of the window of the black. limousine and I sighed in defeat, knowing I could not hide the truth from him.

"If, hypothetically, ok? You meet your high school rival and they are now very successful but are caught in this weird illegal thing and now you have to help them prove their innocence then what would your inner thoughts be? This is all very hypothetical, though, don't take any of this seriously. " I said, in one breath as Ronan watched me with his jaw on the floor and his glasses askew.

"That was too specific to be hypothetical." He spoke after a long pause.

"It is hypothetical."

"Doesn't seem hypothetical."

"Stop saying hypothetical." I snapped, waving my hands in the air as Ronan watched me in sympathy.

"Hey, kid," He started as I looked up at him.

"I don't know what's going on in that little head of yours but if you think you're going against your moral compass or what you're doing is completely wrong, think of how many people will benefit from this, how many wouldn't and what kind of people they are."

"My angel!" I joked as I dived to touch his feet but he simply backed in horror with a yelp.

"No but seriously, Ronan. Thank you." I said, giving him a sincere smile which he returned.

"Now, about your performance... " We started to discuss tonight's event, not knowing what it would bring forth.