Magic As A Whole

Chapter 18

What Walter, Tressler, Chase, and the henchmen didn't know was that this whole thing was a setup.

Aas everything in the hanger shut down we all got up from the mats and started laughing against the windows, my hand grabbing Dylan's and squeezing it in relief that this would be over.

"Come on out," Jack and Merrit say tapping on the windows as the occupants inside look at us in disbelief.

"Ladies and gentlemen... The Horsemen!" the announcer calls us out as we all cheer hugging each other as all of London who surrounded the Thames cheered out for us.

As Walter, Tressler, and Chase peek out of the plane only to try and backtrack.

"No, you should feel pretty good about yourself, man. You predicted it correctly. The Thames, stroke of midnight. New Year's Eve. Happy New Year!" Danny says with a grin as the rest of us adjusted our mics.

"Wow! Thank you very much, London! I cry out happily, knowing that this all worked out perfectly. "We would like to acknowledge not just our old friend, Arthur Tressler," I say and the crowds start booing him.

"But his young and very brilliant son, Walter Mabry. Who has performed one of the greatest feats of illusion even we have ever seen. He has, amazingly, brought himself back from the dead!" Danny finishes.

"But before he did that, he revealed someone. And we think it only right to give him a proper introduction." Merrit says as we start our bit to reveal Dylan.

"He is my partner, our friend and he is our leader. Dylan Shrike!" I call out turning to face Dylan

"Get over here!" Jack says ushering him on.

"Yeah!" Lula cheers.

All of London was so hyped with what was going on that they cheered so much louder.

"So, normally only the magician, his assistant, and a few trusted stagehands know the secret of a trick. But tonight, however, in this effect, all of you people around the Thames here. And since we're streaming live, everyone around the world already knows everything. And only these fellows here are the ones left in the dark. So let's see how closely you were watching our shows." Dylan explains to our very large audience.

"Remember when we were tossing cards through windows? Well, that's not the only card being tossed through the glass, the so-called million-dollar champagne had quite the surprise in store for Walter and Tressler." I call out revealing my trick in all of this.

"Remember when we were playing "Find the Lady," and I said that we used a Barry Trap. Some classic switches and a few duplicates? Well, that's how we switched the driver of the truck. Which took us to a duplicate hangar where we used your need to rush, and your fear of being seen let you do the work for us." Jack explains, the big screen showcasing exactly what had transpired. The cheers from the crowd spiked us on.

"How did we get it to fly?" Lula starts as the screen changes to show off what we did.

"Well, we used fans, and lights and rain machines," Danny explains.

It cut to us being thrown out. "Obviously, all of this was reliant on us getting caught." I point out moving a bit with a wide grin on my face.

"But we needed to make sure that you would do exactly what we needed you to do once you did catch us," Jack says, which we all were super proud of him for pulling this off.

"My brother Chase, who was technical adviser to the losing team. He taught us that it's all about blind spots." Merrit says and the audience boos while Chase as oblivious as ever smiles thinking it was a good thing. "And, uh, surprises."

'Watch it, hobo. Why don't you watch the watch I'm wearing, the where of where you're watching, and sleep! It's going to be your idea to throw the Horsemen out of the plane.' is played on the screen from afar.

"If all of this is kind of confusing to you, I can maybe catch you up on it later. Probably see you what, three to five?" Merrit says joking with Chase. "Come on, put it there," he says raising his hand for a high-five only to whack Chase in the stomach. "Hey! Tit for tat, bro!"

"Basically, we showed them everything. How you kidnapped us to steal the very thing that is in your pocket right now." Jack calls out to Walter who moves to check his pocket only for it to be empty.

"Whoops!" Danny says showcasing he had it with his sleight of hand.

"You know, this thing here, which you said you could use to adjust markets, manipulate governments, and spy on whomever you choose," Merrit explains.

"Also, you could, as you said, control the public from outside the grid." Lula further explains.

"These men destroy people's lives. Spying on the world, robbing you of your right to privacy. And they do that by hiding in the dark." I explain to the audience.

"So, in the Horsemen tradition, we're here to expose them. Tonight, they, like all of us, are finally stepping into the light." Dylan finishes and the six of us turn to grab the hands of each other

"Thank you, everybody! We are the Horsemen and we will be back very soon!" I call out happily as the countdown starts.

"Five, four, three, two, one!" The crowd calls out, fireworks starting as we all hug each other, however, I go a different route and tug Dylan into a deep kiss, and it seems Lula does the same with giving Jack a kiss.

"Hey, we're on the clock." Merrit calls out to us as we're pushed away from each other." Get a move on." he calls out and I grin as everyone disperses me sticking with Dylan almost skipping as we flee.

"Rhodes, hold it right there! Do not move!" Agent Natalie Austin calls out holding a gun out, but we knew she wouldn't shoot.

"This contains everything. Not just Walter and Tressler, but all their dealings. All their contacts, the entire network." Dylan explains to her.

"And why on Earth would I believe you?" she questions.

"I told you. I'm the same man I've always been." Dylan says and I grin kissing his cheek as she turns to see what was going on.

"Ten minutes," she says as Dylan grins tossing her the drive.

"Now you're playing the long game," Dylan whispers as we whisk ourselves off and away.