The Invitation
The rain fell in cold sheets over the city, blurring the neon lights into smudges of color against the dark. Jack pulled the collar of his coat higher, stepping into the alley as the message had instructed. He was a man of plans, calculations - but tonight, every step felt like a risk.
At the far end of the alley, a figure waited under a flickering lamp. Lean, sharp-eyed, and clearly impatient. Jack recognized the stance immediately: Geneva, the fighter. Beside her, perched casually on a crate, was a younger woman with wild hair. She was absent mindedly spinning a flash drive on her hand - Claressa, the hacker. And lurking just out of clear sight, blending with the shadows, as though she'd be rather anywhere else was Angelica - the distracter.
None of them spoke.
Not because they trusted one another, but because they barely knew each other. They had crossed paths around Westlake University, exchanged a few greetings over the years, but nothing more. Whatever message had brought them to this abandoned alley had remained frustratingly vague.
Four strangers. One mission. Zero trust.
A low, mechanical buzz filled the air. Jack felt the vibration of a hidden drone pass overhead, scanning. They were being watched. Evaluated.
"You're late," Geneva said, arms crossed.
Jack simply smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Punctuality is overrated when survival is at stake."
Claressa snorted. "Hope you're as smart as you look, Jack. Otherwise, you won't last the night."
From the shadows, Angelica laughed softly - a sound like broken glass.
Somewhere beyond the city skyline, the job waited. Dangerous. Impossible.
"So why have you brought us here?" Geneva finally asked. For a moment, the professor remained silent, as if he hadn't heard the question.
"Well..." he began slowly, "I called you all here to discuss the mission - and most importantly how we'll execute it."
"What mission? Is it something legal or illegal?" Geneva asked impatiently.
"Of course it's illegal," Claressa protested before the professor could answer. "We wouldn't be meeting in this horrible, creepy place if it were legal!"
"Okay, just calm down and let me explain!" the professor said, raising his hands. "The plan is to steal the diamonds at the Galaxy."
For several seconds, no one reacted.
The words simply hung in the air.
Then-
" What?" Angelica blurted.
" You've got to be joking Professor," Claressa said, staring at him in disbelief.
Geneva frowned.
" No you're serious."
The professor nodded once.
Angelica let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "What? You must have gone nuts, Professor! That's impossible-madness! Do you know the security at that place?" Angelica exclaimed, losing her temper.
"That's not ambitious! It's suicide!" Geneva added.
"Angelica, of course I know how tight the security is! That's exactly why I've chosen the three of you," the middle-aged professor explained calmly.
"Why us? We're only students at Westlake University. We barely even know each other-and besides, we couldn't even rob a small market, let alone..." Claressa protested again, shaking her head.
"The three of you have special qualities that can make this mission possible! Geneva is a skilled fighter. Claressa, you're an expert system hacker. And Angelica-you're amazing at distracting people," he said, but before he could finish, Angelica interjected.
"Don't! Just don't, Professor! We've heard enough! I can't believe I wasted my time coming here," she snapped, turning to leave.
"Stop, Angelica!" he called after her, but she didn't stop. Desperation colored his voice as he added, "Your mother needs a heart transplant-or she'll die! You need the money!"
Those words hit Angelica hard. She froze, then slowly turned back.
"We all need the money," the professor continued, his voice softer now. "So please-think about it."
"Claressa, your tuition fees are long overdue. If you don't pay, you'll be kicked out of the university. Geneva-you want to go to China to sharpen your fighting skills, right? This is your chance!"
Geneva looked at him, serious and determined. "Tell us the plan," she said.
