Amidst the midnight chimes of Parkinson Clock Tower only steps away from the ivy-covered walls of the Rhodendren Conservatory, four shadows spilled from the cramped confines of a Maid-Rite van. As quickly as they had appeared, the four disappeared into the darkness as if they had never been. The van pulled away from the curb and found a quiet spot around the corner.

Cliff had acquired the Van two days ago, in preparation for their mission. In that time, Cutter had made a few modifications. He had installed a computer cyberdeck platform so he could access the security computers at the school, along with a high frequency crypto-circuit in order to facilitate communication among the group. In case Maid-Rite had decided to contact the police he'd changed the plates to out-of-state ones that would stand up against a cursory police scan. A mechanic friend who used to work the combat racing circuit had juiced up the engine only hours ago, completing the package and turning the ordinary delivery van into his command post.

 

" We're in position control." Came Shimmers emotionless response.

" Twenty meters out from da dorm door, chief." Cliff muttered over his headset.

???" Maintain comm. silence until you get inside."

Although Cutter couldn't see them from his control position in the van, Cliff gave a curt nod to signify that he understood the procedure. Vlad waited only a few steps behind the big Troll, hidden in the droopy shadow of a willow tree. The campus was dark and quiet. The only light came from the half moon that sat in the cloudless sky. Cliff turned back towards Vlad and held up three fingers. He spun back towards the building and made a run for it. Cliff's gangly legs covered the distance in next to no time. Three seconds later, Vlad bounded after him. By the time he got there, Cliff had already opened the door. The electronic security lock had been overridden by some sort of device that Cliff was in the process of pocketing. A passkey, Vlad suspected. He didn't bother to ask how the troll had gotten one. The pair slipped inside the open door. It clicked shut behind them softly.

Everything was different here. It was apparent from the moment that the door closed behind them. It felt different. Vlad could smell the faint aroma of teenage perfumes. He could feel the plush carpet give under his feet. They were in a long corridor with carpeted stairs ahead of them and the exit behind them. The walls were bright white and systematically lined with colorful paintings. It felt sheltered; safe. He had lived in a place like this once a long time ago. But that was before he belonged to the organization, when he could still feel things like comfort and friendship. Before they made him kill. The pit of Vlad's stomach ached with each breath of the place. I don't belong here. He reminded himself. The children had done nothing to deserve his dark presence. They were demons. Their presence signified nothing good. Children aren't supposed to have to worry about the demons that come in the night. Not the way he had worried about the demons when he was a child. Before the organization took him.

"Come on bladeboy, we gotta get movin…" Cliff warned. He watched Vlad gaze down the corridor with wonder and regret.

"I feel it too," the troll said with a hollow stare.

" I don't feel a thing." Vlad tried on a smile and noted that it didn't quite fit him.

" Ya do. Ya feel like yer doin somethin bad by bein here. Like yer the boogey man commin to scoop up all de happy little kiddies. Well don't worry, weez just gonna take one." Cliff grinned and put a finger up to his lips. "Weez in an goin upstairs." he whispered over the comm.

?" Gotcha boss." Cliff radioed back as the two padded up the steps.

?" You can feel like the boogey man if you want, but it's just another job for me." Vlad muttered as he scampered up the steps after the troll.

?" It take you long ta do dat?" Cliff asked.

?" Do what?"

?" Learn ta lie to yerself so good." Cliff stopped at the door and turned back towards Vlad. " It ain't to bright ta do dat. You might start believin dat lie. Believin dat it don't matter what ya do or who ya do it to. Dats how guys like us loose it. Forget what it means ta feel and den what you gonna have left?"

A puzzled look fell across Vlad's face. He didn't bother to respond to what Cliff had said. They exited the stairwell on the third floor. Its design was much like the first. Bright white walls lined with paintings, though these paintings seemed to hold a more mature content than the ones before. They were looking for room 312. Checking the numbers on the doors closest to them Vlad gauged that 312 was at least half way down the hall.

?Cutters voice sent a shiver of fear through his heart. What if Shimmer and Koto couldn't handle the security outside? How could he be sure that a security guard wouldn't shoot him the moment he walked out of the dormitory? How could he trust Shimmer and Koto to handle their end of the job? He wasn't used to trusting people, and it didn't come easily now.

?Cliff had already reached room 312 and was motioning Vlad to join him. The Troll used the same passkey to open this door as he did the last. A faint click hung in the air as the door unlocked.

?" We're at the door. Report control. Is our escape path clear? Repeat, is our escape path clear?" Vlad called over the com nervously.

Great, Koto. Vlad rolled his eyes. He was fragged for sure now. The guy hadn't even known what a ritual sample was. That good for nothing was certain to screw this up.

?" Chill Vlad, trust da hairy dude. He supposed to be real good wit the up close drek. Like dey said you were."

?Vlad shook his head. " How am I supposed to trust some dumb fragger I don't even know?"

?Cliff shrugged. " I trust you. I wouldn't be here if I didn't"

?Again Vlad found himself staring at the Troll. I trust you? No one had said that to him before. How could Cliff trust him, he didn't even know him. Only a fool trusts someone he doesn't know. Dumb Troll he would probably trust anyone. Something told him that wasn't true.

?" Ok, I'm gonna go in an git 'er." Cliff stated. " You stay here an--"

?A toilet flushed further down the hall. In that same instant they heard a door creaking open and a pair of masculine voices coming from the stairwell the two of them had just left. There wasn't anywhere they could run without being seen.

?" No Joy." Cliff called out over his headset calmly. he reached for his narcojet pistol. It wouldn't kill the guards - just knock them out for a while.

?" Delay that control. We have the situation in hand." Vlad radioed over the comm. after Cliff had, refuting the call for help that Cliff had just made.

?" What the frag? De guards are commin and we ain't got nowhere to hide. Call No Joy…" He whispered angrily. The bathroom door began creaking open down the hall. If he didn't move soon, whoever was in the can was gonna scream and blow their stealth to hell. One of the guards was turning the handle on the stairwell door. It would only be a matter of seconds before he stepped into the hall and saw them, and then all would be lost.?

" If you trust me Cliff, show me. Stay very still and very quiet." Vlad put a hand on Cliff's shoulder, and his brow furrowed with concentration. The bathroom door opened seconds before the stairwell door did. A small girl in a nightgown staggered out, rubbing her eyes. She looked down the hall and waved to the pair of guards that exited the stairwell.

" Hello Gina." one of the guards waved back. The pair of them started down the hall. Cliff's hand tightened around his sidearm as they drew near.

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