Slow and Speedy Win the Fight

104. Fixated

Sheldon

There wasn't anything in particular that put me on edge.

It was everything that made me on edge.

The massive skyscraper building was in the middle of the busiest part of town and how unassuming it seemed. The instructions that Reynard sent. The general uncertainty of Haresa and I standing in the foyer to speak to the receptionist as if we had an appointment.

I suppose we did have an appointment.

Haresa slid the ransom note to the receptionist and the worker looked over it before they looked to their screen to double check... I don't know. But the worker was doing something.

My hand clutched the box in my pocket as my nerves rose. I brought it as per Reynard's demand but I felt like I shouldn't even let it outside the safe.

"Yes, here you two are." The receptionist pointed towards a door and didn't even bother to look up from the computer screen. "Enter through that door and take a left. They've been expecting you."

I hesitated and so did Haresa. The instructions were too straightforward to the point that it sounded like the directions to a trap. Haresa thanked the receptionist while I squinted my eyes in an attempt to see the screen behind them with no luck.

Haresa tugged on my arm. "Come on."

I reluctantly followed them to through the designated door. The moment we entered, there was a bright yellow sign with black text on it.

Smile. You're being recorded!

There were two pamphlets attached to the sign with a push pin and I yanked them off. Haresa plucked one from my hand and we both began to read it over. I noticed the camera above us that had its lens fixated on where we stood but I only let my face sink deeper into the collar of my turtleneck.

"Yada yada, legalities. Yada yada, no responsible for stupid bullshit we do," I muttered as I read it over.

"Oh, it's a livestream the moment we enter our designated places," Haresa said. "That's different. Usually it's live newscasters."

My lips pressed together. "That means they have a lot of set design they don't want to mess up."

Haresa looked up from the pamphlet. "The receptionist said we should turn left. I don't see anything with our names."

My gaze went towards the right and I could see there was another corridor that seemed to lead to nothing. The paper in my hands quickly became crumpled into a ball and I threw it over my shoulder.

"I know where I'm supposed to go," I said. "Looks like we're parting ways here, Hare."

"How do you know where you're supposed to be going?" Haresa looked bewildered as they gripped my arm.

My put my hand over theirs to give a reassuring squeeze before I made them let go.

"You follow the rules and I don't."

Before they could protest, I spun them around and pushed them towards the left corridor. The moment my hands left their back, a wall of pure blue energy divided us and Haresa hit it with a ball fist.

"Sheldon! You can't decide things without talking with me.' Haresa's face was scrunched up and I could tell they were annoyed. "This is a team mission."

"I'm still learning to work with others," I said. "Let's make this a competition and whoever gets to the end first wins."

"The end?"

"Finishes their task, finds the McGuffin, whatever." I waved a hand dismissively. "I've only known how to fight you, so might as well make it a competition between us."

Haresa rolled their eyes. "Take this seriously."

"I am. Who said I was joking?"

They sighed before they turned away only to turn back.

"Break a leg."

I stared at them in confusion. "I'll try not to?"

"No, it's," Haresa sighed as they put on their headphones. "Good luck."

"You could've just said that."

They jogged away and I turned to face the corridor in front of me.

I slipped on my glasses and tapped the frame. The screen didn't seem to pick up on any hidden energy sources and I scoffed.

They were definitely expecting me to walk this way.

I hesitantly made my way through the corridor and just as I was about to turn the corner, a large heat marker appeared on the screen.

My body moved to dive but I wasn't fast enough. I felt the collar of my coat being yanked and I looked back to see Reynard's menacing smile.

"Bonjour."