The Hitman and His Consort

XXVIII - Exit

Third Person P.O.V: - - -

A thousand and one thoughts ran through August’s head at that moment.

A split-second of realization came like a raging current of relief at the thought that her rescue is here, it didn’t last long, however, as she also realized the parameters of her case. She’s jolted back to reality by the risks and complication that comes with this whole operation, it also brought her no comfort that she was almost certain Madeline was part of this mission too.

'I got too excited—this is terrible,’ she thought, as the consequences and complications started weighing down in her head.

Complications that Madeline himself is experiencing firsthand.

“Hey, you, you’re from Area C, aren’t you? This is Area B,” another staff in a darker shade of blue overalls called out to Madeline, and he paused before turning to face the man.

“Me? Ah, yeah… sorry about that, I’m having a terrible headache from a hangover so I’m a bit under the weather,” Madeline explained and the man frown as he clicked his tongue,

“That’s not my problem, I’d only advise you to not drink on a weekday, you know protocols have been tighter, don’t mess up for the rest of us or I’ll have to report this,” the man warned.

It took quite the amount of willpower for Madeline to not press the issue further and blow his cover, “Yes sir, sorry about that,” he said as he left the place,

‘Another day of saving a dead man’s career,’ He thought as he returned to Area C.

He needed to roam around to find a viable staff member that would help with the progression of the plan, at the same time he’s bringing attention to himself so the Valentin and Inka won’t have any suspicious gazes on them, they’re in charge of the crucial parts after all.

And with Peculiar timing, Madeline crossed paths with Valentin, who made a gesture of rubbing his stomach. A code that meant phase 1 was finished and there’s mere minutes to find the correct staff to proceed with phase 2.

‘Sh*t, alright… alright… focus,’ Madeline thought to himself as he looked around the place and in a desperate attempt just chose the staff he thought would work in the situation best.

Phase 2 is a lot more complicated yet somewhat similar to phase 1. It involves another switch. This time between another staff and August, so Madeline needed to find someone that resembled August’s body type at the very least.

This is why he approached a short-statured, chubby man that really did resemble August’s body silhouette. There was no one else closer to it than this man. Madeline tapped the man’s shoulder, “Hey, excuse me, I need a bit of help,” he began.

The man frowned before looking at Madeline up and down, “Help? With what?” he asked,

“Well, someone messed up with the transports and now we have gunpowder in the other storage,” Madeline replied, reporting a fake incident that never even happened.

“What? That’s supposed to be in Area B, the hell are they doing?” the man cussed, visibly upset from this.

Madeline matched his mood and clicked his tongue, “That’s what I said, must be a mix-up, either way, Jones from Area B said we should bring it there quick before they start looking for it, I for one, wouldn’t want to be questioned about things like this, especially now,” he said, giving more fake details, he didn’t speak with a ‘Jones’ let alone met one but it helped in raising the stakes to convince this man to just help him get the issue over with.

The man sighed and nodded, “What is wrong with these people, of all the times to mess up,” he said as he gestured Madeline to lead the way, which he did, and the man, despite being unwilling, was compliant enough to get this issue resolved immediately.

Even if the ‘issue’ is fake.

Madeline led the man to the previously checked storage room, and just as luck would have it there are other staff inside the storage room. Luckily, the one aisle was far enough from the rest and the carts were at the back. After picking a cart fit for the use, Madeline got to work.

‘Sh*t… This is going to take some real speed,’ He thought, as he turned to the man.

“Wait here, I’ll need to check the cart again just to be sure,” Madeline instructed as he gestured at the empty aisle to where the man stood. Madeline took the cart he thought would be spacious enough to fit the man and went back to him.

“Alright it’s this one, check the inside yourself, someone really thought gunpowder belongs in Area C,” Madeline said, luring the man to take a closer look as a distraction.

When the man did as he was told, Madeline pulled out his handkerchief, balled it up, and shoved it down the man’s throat as much as he could before putting him in a sleeper hold. The whole ordeal did make some noise, but not to the point it was alarming. Soon, the man was unconscious.

Madeline only has a few seconds to shove the man into a cart big enough for him until the other staff gets too curious to take a peek as well.

Phase 2 is halfway complete. Fortunately, no one hardly ever gave a f**k about each other and minded their business that it was a walk in the park as Madeline pushed the cart, now with the unconscious staff inside, towards the next destination.

He walked through the familiar halls, a subtle chill and a prickling feeling on his skin as he came closer to August’s lab.

August, on the other hand, is still spiraling down into doubt and fear, something that Inka didn’t have time nor respect for as she audibly coughed, loud enough for August to hear even from within the lab, or perhaps that was the intention. She didn’t want to act suspiciously since her lab is under surveillance, but it was time. She needed to step out and go to the bathroom.

‘but what if we get caught? What if they get hurt? What if Madeline is also in this building? If Pierre finds out we’re all dea—‘ Her thoughts we cut off again by another loud cough.

Inka already sees Madeline’s figure along with the cart, ready for the switch.

‘Screw it’ August thought as she stood up and headed straight to the door, if she’s going to pretend she has gut-wrenching explosive diarrhea then it would be normal to not explain what’s happening and just barrel through to the bathroom, and that she did.

Luckily, though, within the duration that passed from phase 1 to now, Inka had her voice-changer ready and set. She already thought that she resembled a cat-like fictional character with an endless pocket of tools, but that would be the most accurate explanation of her role in this mission.

Having the voice-changer device over the microphone of the earpiece came in handy when a voice, probably from the surveillance team, came through and asked, “What’s happening to August?”

“The same thing that happened to the courier earlier, induced diarrhea,” Inka replied with the voice changer at work.

“That’s nasty, also you sound different, sir,” the person replied,

“I bet, the smell was awful, it clogged my nostrils, I feel like I have a cold,” Inka replied, having the excuses working out was planned but it still made her feel fulfilled having the proper answers to their questions,

“I see,” the person replied, and the conversation was over at that point.

The time that Madeline arrived marked the start of the professional acting involved in this mission,

“I need to use the bathroom, sir,” Madeline pretended to groan, and Inka acted accordingly,

“Another one of those chemicals?” She asked, voicing the question out just so the surveillance team wired to the mics also knows what’s happening.

“You check these, right? I should—” Madeline bluffed as he pretended to open the cart,

“Not out here! Open it in the bathroom, you’re going to take a sh*t anyways,” Inka said,

At that time, since the conversation between them was awkward, the surveillance team that was listening and watching from the cameras made it clear they didn’t want to be a part of this interaction and they’d heard what they need to hear.

With that settled, Madeline and Inka also got into the bathroom.

August knew it would be the case, but seeing a staff walk into the bathroom made her think that it was over, that they were found, and the plan was foiled and with that was a wave of dread. But just as the staff entered in, Inka raised a thumbs up at August with a small smile.

In an attempt to keep her up to speed, Madeline carefully raised the latex mask over his real skin, revealing a smile that is all too familiar for August.

However, seeing her man walking around the place that made him bedridden and almost maimed, sparked an intense feeling of fear, panic, and worry in her it made her yell, luckily Madeline had foreseen something like this from her and bolted to August and clamped her mouth shut with his hand.

Inka raised her index finger to her lips to get it across that silence is a must. She did cover the mic, but for some extra precaution; they need to work silently. August took a deep breath as she nodded and calmed her racing heart. Madeline placed a small peck on August’s head before pulling the latex mask down again, a small gesture but it worked well enough to keep August focused on the situation.

Madeline opened the cart, just in time that the man inside was also gaining consciousness, the man still had Madeline’s previously stuffed handkerchief in his mouth along with Inka holding a gun to his head so he managed to remain silent.

“Strip,” Madeline told the man.

Confused, Madeline's words didn’t quite register in the man’s head yet, that is until Madeline took the gun from Inka’s hands and pressed it right under the man’s neck, “Take off the uniform,” he repeated and that was clear enough for the man to understand and follow,

With the man in his shameful state with only his underwear and an undershirt, not even his shoes or socks were left to him, and as Madeline gathered those garments in his arms he handed them to August.

“Change into this and give me your clothes,” Madeline instructed and August nodded as she changed inside one of the stalls,

Inka also took this time to check on their previous victim, the real guard, still taped up and silent. She only smirked at the man, who looked at her with contempt, unable to even let out a groan.

August finished changing soon enough and handed Madeline her clothes, the undershirt, lab coat, shoes, and even her glasses, she has her hair stuffed under the hood of the overalls and with the facemask that’s part of the man’s uniform, the plan’s progress was already promising.

It was pretty self-explanatory when Madeline then handed August’s clothes to the man. He wore them, and they did fit, but his feet were slightly bigger than hers. Either way, the outfit worked for his body type.

Carefully spitting out the handkerchief that was stuffed in his mouth, the man shifted his gaze on everyone, “I-I don’t think this will work, for instance, my hair—“

And just as he was whispering his protests, Inka placed a wig resembling August’s hair on his head.

“Complains?” Madeline asked in a hushed tone as he raised the gun’s nozzle and pressed it to the man’s forehead. Taking a gulp, the man shook his head,

“Good, get in the lab and sit tight, just so you know, this guard right here will break your legs if you try doing anything suspicious,” Madeline began, gesturing at Inka as he laid out the instruction for the man,

“Gussy, you have to bear with the cart ride, it’s only a little you’ll be out of there before you know it, just trust me okay?” Madeline cooed at August as he explained her role, gesturing to the cart.

August nodded as she went inside and tried her best to settle in comfortably, and the cart itself was surprisingly big, big enough at least to have her fit inside, which is a great feat for things like this. With that settled, Inka gestured for the man, now posed as August, to quickly run back to the lab. He just decided to take a seat on the chair in front of the computers.

Contemplating what his loss would be if he disobeyed those people compared to what he’ll lose if he just let them get away with it and weighing down what kind of hell he would face at the expense of cooperating with one party as opposed to the other.

At that point, he wondered if he should just sit there and wait for a heart attack to take him out just so he won’t have to face the consequences of what happened today.

During that time, Madeline is already pushing the cart, with August inside, got out of the bathroom along with the guard and their conversation is as follows:

“I think this checks out, but didn’t August receive the same thing earlier?” – Inka

“What? Oh… I must’ve made a double-error,” – Madeline

“I made all that trouble for an error?” – Inka

“I-I’m very sorry sir—” – Madeline

“Fine, fine, just get out of here, it still smells like sh*t,” Inka said with an infuriated tone and Madeline did as they planned.

Inka’s breathing hitched as she waited for feedback from the surveillance team,

“You should ask for a hazard pay, sir,” the person from the surveillance team said through the earpiece, their tone was light like they were holding back from laughing, but that only means that their act was believable and phase 3 is commencing.

Madeline pushed the cart back to the storage room and there he helped August off the cart. Luckily, the previous staff that was in there lessened and the aisles did a pretty good job of giving them covers. Madeline put the cart back to where he got it earlier and the couple shared a moment of silence before nodding at each other.

When the couple left the storage room they walked around until they met Valentin, Madeline faked a sneeze to give the signal that phase 2 was complete, therefore marking the final stage of the mission. Which is also the riskiest and messiest. They’re not going to attempt a clean getaway for everyone. August was the priority, and even her escape would be risky.

After receiving the code, Valentin exited to the front of the building and pretended to look for something on the ground. He paced back and forth three times and kneeled for about five seconds on one spot.

Another code signaling side A that extraction is needed. Denis, who picked up the code from Valentin as he watched from one of the close-by restaurants, informed Arthur, who’s already revving a big bike different from her usual one, clad in all black riding gear.

Valentin then went back into the building, “Did you lose something?” the guard asked by the front asked,

“I’m wondering if I dropped a bill somewhere, some of my money was gone,” Valentin replied and the guard clicked his tongue,

“Man, that’s long gone,” the guard said.

With a sigh, Valentin shook his head, “Sure looks like it,” he agreed, with that the conversation is over, he subtly searched for the couple and once he found them he approached another staff and asked, “Have you seen a hundred bill anywhere?”

Madeline, overhearing the code word, tapped August and gestured her to follow him, “I need you to step outside to the transport area, and have the guy open the gates,” he whispered to her.

“How am I supposed to do that?” August whispered back,

“Tell him… we’re expecting a high-profile guest, like the ones who get in to watch in on the torment, do you remember those? I trust you, you'll get him to open the gates and I need you to escape safely, okay?” Madeline answered, but it was painful to hear those words from him. Still, August bit her lip as she gulped down the dread and fear it would be awful if she cowered now, not after knowing just how many, different people are involved in this mission.

“Alright,” August said as she nodded to Madeline,

With a small smile, Madeline nodded back, and they parted ways, with August heading in the direction of the transport area and walking to the gates, the man guarding the gates raised a brow at her,

“What are you doing here?” He asked,

“You need to open the gates, one of our curious guests is dropping by and they’re pissed, I’ll meet them out here,” she replied.

“Oh, one of them black cars?” the man began as he prepared to open the gates. “Why didn’t I hear on the radio?” He followed, raising the radio in his hand and August gulped.

“They talked to Pierre just now, he’s pissed too,” August replied, and that seemed to be convincing enough because the man just replied with a “Yikes” as he opened the gates.

It was the make-or-break moment, while the clanging and creaking gates slowly opened she had her doubts, assuming this is the extraction part and this is the first moment that she’ll step outside of the Mariella Labs towards freedom she needs to see a sign of some sort that meets her here or at least that's what she'd hope for. However, there was no sign of anyone, that is until they heard a zooming sound. A sound that seemed to be getting louder in mere seconds and the world seemed to move in slow motion as a big bike skidded on the road.

“JUMP ON!” a loud voice yelled loud enough to be heard over the loud revs of the bike’s engine and August’s feet, for a split second, had a mind of their own as she ran as fast as she could to hop on the big bike that bolted away the second her butt touched the seat. The speed made her clutch at whoever this person was.

August might’ve heard the guard on the gate yell at them. Still, it was but a fleeting moment because never had she rode anything that came close to the speed at which they cut through the road and the traffic like hot knife on butter. It made her want to scream yet at the same time tighten her throat. She didn’t even know who this was, but she held onto them for dear life as violent and sharp wind pierced her skin through the overalls she had on.

Inside the building, hearing the big bike, albeit faintly, zoom away, made Valentin’s tenseness melt away.

He went to find Madeline and rotated his head, both to send the signal that August is extracted and to stretch out his neck for their extra work, phase 3.5 as they worded it out. Madeline, matching his mood, also felt relieved as he realized his beloved August is no longer in harm’s way. In turn, made sure he was in Inka’s line of sight and repeated the code to her.

Now with all of side B freed from the tension of keeping their target alive, the collapsing self-restraint that Valentin had ever since the start of this mission is gone and the actual fun part is at play.