"What do you think my first mission will be?" A curious Dan asked James.
The both of them were waiting for the masked man to come back as he had left to get Dan's first mission ready.
James sighed. "I do not know and I can't guess. Let's hope it is something simple since it's your first time."
The heavy door creaked open again, drawing their attention. The masked man stepped back into the room, silent as ever, holding a small object wrapped tightly in brown paper and bound with black string. He approached the two of them and placed it carefully on the wooden table between them with a weighty finality.
Daniel stared at it — the parcel was no larger than a thick book, but something about the way it sat, the deliberate stillness of the masked man, made it feel far heavier than it looked.
"Your first mission," the man said flatly. "You deliver it, simple and clean."
He slid a folded envelope across the table. Daniel picked it up and opened it cautiously. Inside was a slip of paper with a name and an address scrawled in firm, slanted handwriting:
Recipient: Lucas Martin
Location: Paradise Hotel.
Daniel looked up, frowning. "Paradise Hotel?"
James sighed in relief. "That's great. I am very familiar with the hotel so going there won't be a problem for you."
"It's still simple," the masked man replied. "You are not to open the parcel. You are not to ask what's inside. You are to find Lucas Martin, and only Lucas Martin. You will give him the parcel. He will say a code phrase. When he does, you walk away."
"What's the phrase?" Daniel asked, his voice quiet but steady.
The masked man's head tilted again, as though pleased by the question.
"The stars are brightest underground."
Daniel nodded slowly, committing it to memory. "And what happens if someone else tries to take it?"
"Then you fail," the masked man said. "And here, failure is not... encouraged."
A cold silence settled between them.
Then, almost as an afterthought, the masked man added, "You have until midnight. Don't be late."
Daniel took the parcel and slipped it into the backpack James handed him. He looked down at it for a moment, then back at the masked man.
"Why me?"
The man paused at the door, then turned halfway back.
"Because you're desperate. And desperate men walk paths others fear."
With that, he left once more.
-------
After leaving the Inn, the two boys boarded the car and drove away immediately. During the ride, Dan's mind wasn't in one place and James noticed it.
But he reassured his friend immediately. "I know what's bothering you, bro but trust me, this is the best decision. I am your friend and will never make you make decisions that will put you into trouble. This jobs no matter how shady it is pays very well. The only thing you need to do is to abide by the rules, keep your job a secret and carry out your missions successfully."
Daniel sighed, having heard what his friend said. "It's not like I'm bothered," he said. "I just think that the rules are too many for me to remember; we aren't allowed to date anyone inside the organization, we aren't to speak a word about our job to anyone, we only work at night which means we assume our real identity only in the daytime, and...."
"And no one is allowed to leave. Leaving means death," James helped him to complete it.
"Jeez," Dan breathed.
"Don't worry, you won't be leaving anyway so there is nothing to be worried about," James said and Dan sighed even deeper. "Don't worry, bro. Let's just complete the mission first."
Finally, they arrived at the hotel again — but this time it wasn't for fun, it was for business.
They walked into the hotel and they both went straight to the counter.
"Sorry, we are looking for one Lucas Martin," James said to the waiter there.
"What do you need him for?" The waiter asked, staring at Daniel especially.
"For business," James replied but the waiter frowned.
"Not everyone can see Mr. Lucas. If you have an appointment with him, he should have informed the hotel's management and we would have taken note of that. You can not just come here and expect us to allow you see him," she said.
James and Daniel glanced at each other then James pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
After ringing for a couple of seconds, the call was answered.
"This is James Charles," James said. "I want to speak with the hotel's manager!"
Staring at James, Daniel wondered just how deep his friend's connections went.
He remembered the boy who used to sneak into his house with torn shoes and hollow eyes, now standing there with a confidence sharp enough to cut through bureaucracy. Something had changed in James — not just the money, not just the car — something deeper, darker, and far more dangerous.
The receptionist's attitude shifted almost immediately after James mentioned the manager.
"One moment," she said curtly, then picked up her own line and murmured into the phone.
Less than a minute later, a man in a sleek gray suit appeared from the back office. He moved with the calm authority of someone who knew people whispered when he left the room. He looked at James, then at Daniel, then back at the parcel slung in Daniel's bag.
"You're here for Mr. Lucas?" the manager asked quietly.
James nodded. "He's expecting this."
The manager gave a slight nod and gestured. "Follow me."
They walked through the richly carpeted halls, past soft-lit chandeliers and expensive artwork. It was a sharp contrast to the job they were about to do — glitter masking danger.
After climbing a flight of stairs and passing through a set of double doors guarded by two stone-faced men, they reached a private suite.
The manager knocked once.
A low voice from inside responded, "Come."
The manager opened the door and motioned them in. "Only him," he said, nodding toward Daniel.
James clapped Daniel on the shoulder. "You've got this."
Daniel took a breath and stepped inside, his hand tightening slightly around the strap of his bag.
The suite was dimly lit, with blackout curtains drawn tight. The scent of cologne and expensive cigars lingered in the air. A man sat on a leather chair by the window, his back to Daniel.
He spoke without turning.
"You have something for me."
Daniel stepped forward slowly and pulled the parcel from his bag, setting it on the glass table in front of the man.
The man finally turned.
He was younger than Daniel expected — maybe in his late twenties, with sharp cheekbones and calculating eyes. Handsome in a cold, predatory way.
He studied Daniel for a long moment, then reached for the parcel.
As his fingers touched the string, he paused. "What's the phrase?"
Daniel didn't hesitate. "The stars are brightest underground."
Lucas Martin smiled — a slow, knowing smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Good," he said. "Then we won't have any trouble."
He pulled the parcel closer and leaned back in his chair.
"You may go."
Daniel didn't wait to be told twice. He turned and left the room, his heartbeat finally slowing as he re-entered the hallway.
James was already waiting. The moment Daniel stepped out, he grinned.
"First job — cleared."
Daniel managed a tired smile. "That was... unsettling."
"You get used to it," James replied. "Or you learn not to feel anything."
Daniel didn't reply. Deep down, he wasn't sure if he ever wanted to get used to it.