BLACK INK SOCIETY {Sci-Fi Thriller} #Wattys2016

Part 3,3: Paper Crane

Fuck.

He could literally think of nothing else. No witty comment. No daring escape plan. Just that one single word he never used without a proper cause, spinning in his head as he raised his hands in surrender.

Fuck.

Lupin turned to face his demise, slowly and carefully because he wasn't overly keen to be shot on the spot. A bunch of security guards had gathered around him in a semi-circle, their weapons pointed directly towards him. He had never been a friend of guns, but loaded ones were even more to his distaste.

A disbelieving laugh escaped his lips. Of course it had to be the very last job where they would catch him. Fate really had a terrible sense of irony.

"Hands where I can see them!" Barked one of the black-clad guards. Lupin did as he was told. What was the point in resisting? A good player knew when he was defeated. He thought he had recognized a familiar face amongst his trappers, and indeed he saw the crooked grin of the guard he had paid out of his own pockets. Not that he could really blame the man.

To betray or to be betrayed. That was what this business was really about after all.

"On your knees!"

Accepting his fate, Lupin hunkered down and didn't move an inch when the guards came closer. He would even have congratulated them for being able to corner him unnoticed, but he figured a statement like this wouldn't turn out in his favour.

"You have exactly ten seconds", another security man growled, "To tell me how the hell you got in here."

Lupin smiled.

"I'm not sure if I can manage with ten seconds, I'm afraid it's quite a long story, " he replied calmly, even with a trace of amusement in his voice.

The guard, however, was not amused and activated his taser stick with a sizzling noise, making a threatening step forward. Woah there, Lupin thought. That wasn't going as planned. Not at all, in fact.

Click-Click-Click-Click...

He could hear someone walking down the hallway. Someone presumably female, unless, of course, it was a man with a faible for high heels.

"I demand an explanation!" A sharp voice echoed through the corridor. Definately female, and Lupin felt like he had heard it before. "Your employer is to anticipate a surprise examination every year, why should this of all years be an exception? Maybe if you would use your immense brain power instead of your guns for once, then..."

The owner of the voice came into his field of vision. It was the auburn-haired woman who had leant against the wall outside. She covered her mouth with her hand in disbelief, an indignant expression on her face that Lupin, as a professional, could easily distinguish as fake.

"Turn that off, for pity's sake!" she hissed, pointing to the taser stick.

The guard obeyed immediately. He seemed embarrassed. Lupin felt numerous questions of when, why and how forming in the back of his mind, but he did not get an opportunity to ask them.

The auburn-haired woman shook her head.

"Security arrests health department examinant. The red-top press would love you for that headline," she stated in harsh sarcasm, "Mr. Smith, if you'd accompany me now, I think we'll have a word with the proprietor."

She stood with a hand on her hip, looking at him expectantly. Lupin needed a few seconds to realize she was talking to him.

"Oh... yes, of course." He said quickly and got back on his feet.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir." The guard muttered, gaze dropped.

Lupin, deciding to play along as best as he could, put on a strict face. "You'd better be. There will be repercussions, mister, and you better not let anything like that happen again."

The security man nooded sheepishly while the auburn-haired stranger led Lupin towards the exit. "Hi. We'd better get out of here before they realize that there is no such thing as a health department examinant."

Lupin chuckled. "Not bad. For an improvisation, at least.."

When the partners in crime had left the restaurant, Lupin was finally able to draw a deep breath. His mysterious companion stared at the neon sign, which had the name of the restaurant and a flourescent origami crane on it.

"That was some elegant work back there," Lupin said, "But I'm still wondering why. What was in it for you? After all, it's all about profit at the end of the day."

She just gave an enigmatic smile instead of an answer and pointed to the neon sign.

"A Paper Crane, or Orizuru, as it is also called. Did you know? In Japan it is believed that whoever manages to fold a thousand cranes is granted a wish."

"I didn't."

"Sorry?" She turned her head back to him.

"I didn't know."

"Pity." She shrugged. "I had actually thought this painting was your last crane."

Lupin laughed, relieved from the pressure he had felt only minutes ago.

"You cannot describe the whole world in metaphors."

The auburn lady looked at him, suddenly serious.

"No, I cannot." she admitted, "But it can be described in words. And at the moment, my friend, the power of words is in grave danger."