Still: Prologue

Part One-ten

“The only thing left is for you guys to find another crew member.”

I stood up from my seat. “Another member? Why?” This was absurd. “Boss, we already got like, four people. It should be enough.”

He lowered his eyes. “No, it isn’t. You definitely will need a new hacker. Someone skilled with their hands like Aden.”

I looked down. I didn’t want to think about Aden.

Zimmer then responded, “Yeah, okay, we’ll find a new recruit. How do you suggest we do it?”

“Could it be just one of those new ones you were barkin’ at, boss?” Harold cut in.

“No. Someone entirely new. It’s up to you guys, since it’s your job. All I want is this,” he pointed at the black file, “to be done.”

He all looked at the boss, knowing he meant business.

Zimmer uncrossed his legs and stood up. “Alright, let’s get going. We’re stayin’ at Valdi Harold, post a hacker forum via SweetTooth.”

“Yeah.” Harold mumbled, and we all filed out of the underground room, and exited the area.

“I’ll drive Nikka,” Will said, hanging his arm over my shoulders, “You guys can go together.” He looked at his watch. “Meet up at three?”

“Sounds good.” Harold said, and passed Will the keys.

We got into Harold’s mini cooper and drove off. I sat in the passenger seat, staring into space and listening to radio music when Will pulled up to a building I had never seen before.

It was old with faded remnants of white paint, and seemed to be abandoned. The scariest part was the fact that half the building seemed to be cut off, and was an absolute ruin.

I slowly got out of the car, observing the building. There was no one in the narrow street.

“Hey, Will, why are we here?”

“Didn’t you hear about SweetTooth?” he asked.

“No.” I eyed him curiously. There was nobody around, and the old ruin was at a dead end. A jungle like forest stood beyond the cliff.

“You’ll see. Come on.” He nodded and I followed him into the old building.

We climbed up the stairs, slowly. I looked up and saw at least ten flights of stairs. What on earth was this building used for? Why was it in such a horrible shape?

The stairs were crumbling, and some even had holes. I was getting more and more suspicious by the minute. The stairs creaked in our presence, and we barely said a word.

Finally, Harold turned into a long hallway, preceded by many doors. He slowed down as he turned to the first door, and held me back as he observed the hallway.

“He always puts that goddam cheese trap in the middle of nowhere.”

I looked ahead and saw a single, harmless mouse trap in the hallway. I instinctively became cautious, and looked around, realizing that it was a trap. Before I could calculate where it was safe to step, Harold had gone in, creeping slowly until….

Boom. Something hard hit my head and within milliseconds I felt to cold surface of the floor.