Bridging Destinies

Chapter 44: An Intrusion of Some Proportions

(Some aspects of this chapter will have violence and may be difficult for more sensitive readers.)

The door of a parked van opened and four men stepped out, looking around them at the quiet night. Lights and a CCTV camera showed them to be at a disadvantage, but all cameras within a half mile radius had been scrambled and the night was so far gone that it was very early morning. It wasn't likely that they would be seen by anyone in the neighborhood. They were parked about two blocks from the building they had previously scoped out, close enough to be able to make a clean getaway when needed, but not so close that their movements would be suspicious to the security inside the building they had marked. It was a high-rise apartment with security that changed every four hours, giving the security guards a break from their constant vigil.

The team had watched the changing of the guard for several nights and knew which guard would be the best mark to work their way past them to the apartment above. It only took them a week of watching to know that the last evening guard to change shifts often fell asleep about an hour into his shift and would wake with an alarm about thirty minutes before his shift was to end. The men knew this was their window, and they would not waste it.

Young-Soo followed behind the other three men as he watched Felix adjust the pack on his back. At the corner of the building, he stopped, and lingered, pulling out a cigarette, lowered the mask he was wearing, and lit the cigarette between his fingers, as if he was simply stopping to smoke, rather than loitering there as he kept watch. From his position he could see Felix pull out a box and begin to work at the electronic lock at the front of the building. It took only a few minutes and a quiet curse word before the man grinned, looked around at the other two near him, catching Young-Soo's eye and turning his attention to his gear. He took the newest gadget out of his pack, replacing the one he had just used, and disappeared through the glass doors of the building and into the main hall. Young-Soo could no longer see the three men as they moved towards the elevators. He focused, instead, on his cigarette, making an attempt to appear as if he had every right to stand there, enjoying a smoke.

The men were silent as the elevator took them to the upper levels of the building. It stopped at the fifteenth level and as the doors opened, they silently moved into the hallway. They walked down the corridor, noting each door number as they passed. As they did so, they moved around the corner, seeing a single door at the end of the corridor, with another at the other end, several meters away, allowing for some privacy. Having some idea of the layout of the building from blueprints they had gathered, they turned to the right and stopped in front of the door labeled with a 1503. It was the door they needed.

With the other two men acting as guards, Felix looked at the door lock with a triumphant grin and began to work on it, picking the lock with the new device made by his colleague. As expected the lock broke open and the door popped slightly ajar, allowing them entrance. Walking into the entryway, the two men acting as guards did not bother to take off their shoes, as they moved past the foyer and into the living room. Felix remained where he was, standing outside the door, as he stuffed the device back into his bag. He began to walk back towards the elevator preparing it for a quick exit.

The other two men walked through the living room, grabbing small items to make their forced entry look like a robbery. They grabbed a bag left next to the entry, a laptop on the couch and anything else they could find that could be carried away and might look valuable. From the hallway that led into the rest of the house, one set of eyes followed their every movement, but the eyes attached to the body were hidden in shadow.

~~~

I lay in the bed with Namjoon, his head resting against my breast and his arms wrapped around me loosely as he snored lightly. My fingers softly sifted through his hair, in half, almost lazy movements, as partially prone, I was settled in my own kind of stupor, in an almost meditative state. It was late into the night, the dawn upon us within a few hours, and I knew it would not be long until whatever bird song could be heard this far up in the high rise Namjoon called his home, would come faintly through the glass of the apartment.

A sound foreign from that of bird song came into my awareness, and I grew alert. A pop, almost loud to my ears, echoed softly into the room. With the sound followed the muted sense of energy moving into the apartment, and I knew that the apartment had been breached. I sent my senses out to determine how many people were inside and out using my abilities, but could sense very little. Their minds and energies were shuttered, and I could not hear their thoughts, except for the briefest sensations that sometimes came through. I knew, because of their quiet minds, that they were likely aware of my presence and had probably come for me and not the man who lay with me.

I moved my fingers onto Namjoon's back and lightly tapped him speaking softly, "Namjoon. Wake." I told him with some urgency, sending a push of Light to rouse him. With a quiet snort, he turned and lay flat on his back, disengaging his arms from me, yet still in contact with my body. I leaned towards him and with my hand flat on his chest I shook him, sending a more urgent push of Light this time, and spoke a little more loudly, yet still quiet, "Namjoon. You need to wake. Someone is inside the apartment."

Slowly opening his eyes, Namjoon looked at me sleepily, and I repeated myself with more urgency, "Someone is inside the apartment." I looked at him pointedly as his eyes grew wide and he sat up abruptly in bed.

"What?" He said, almost too loudly. The door to his room was closed, and it was not likely he was heard, but I put my fingers to his lips with a quiet shushing sound.

I jumped out of the bed and tossed the clothes he had left on a chair towards him, "Get dressed, yes? And hide. I don't know yet if they have weapons or how many there are, for certain. A small group, perhaps." I told him.

Frowning over at me, Namjoon shook his head, "I'm not going to hide and leave you alone with them." He considered for a moment and said, "I guess if we both hide it won't help?" He grabbed his phone and rapidly silenced it, almost dropping it in the process, before moving to call emergency services.

Knowing what he planned, I shook my head at him and spoke softly, "No. Both of us hiding is not a good option. I believe they are here for me. So, not yet. Do not call. It may not be needed." Pulling a loose shirt and a pair of his sweats on quickly, I left the room, sneaking softly into the hall. I paid small attention to the energy surrounding him and knew he was not hiding as I had asked him to, but was at the door, which was still closed. I shook my head briefly, hoping he would stay where he was.