What's the plan?" Benjamin said after a long silence.
Aya gave an approving smile, finally seeing a change of heart in Benjamin after years of constant cruelty.
"Alright, let's get straight to it." Hannah grabbed a crooked wooden chair and sat down.
"First things first. John's in an isolation chamber at the very bottom of HEX HQ—the basement. It's their main laboratory. That's where they run experiments and create things like Composite V and X. And if I had to guess, they're probably already working on something new." Her gaze hardened.
The crew listened in silence, the weight of her words settling over the room.
"Question." Milo raised his hand just before Hannah could continue. "How are we gonna save John if there's people in the laboratory working on something? Guns won't affect those superpowered rich cunts."
Hannah's jaw tightened. She swallowed. "Now this next part is extremely important, so I need you all to listen very closely."
A weight settled in the room. Whatever she was about to say, it was bad.
"These scientists... they don't have powers." Hannah said. "Everyone thinks Composite V latches onto your cells and morphs them into something we call 'power cells'—and the powers you get are just completely random. But no. That's not how it works."
She leaned forward.
"What Composite V actually does is it ignites your brain and forces it to evolve rapidly, turning it into a superpowered brain that generates power cells. Power cells grant super strength, speed, and flight—but your brain grants you your unique power. That's why everyone has different abilities. It's based on who you are."
Hannah stopped, letting them process.
Before she could continue, Benjamin jumped in. "Right, but what's stopping them from taking Composite V?"
"And you didn't explain why these scientists don't have powers," Milo added.
Hannah met their questions with a flat stare.
"Because their brains are too advanced for Composite V to work. It's not just scientists—anyone with a high enough intelligence can't gain powers. And that includes John."
"John?" Aya's brow furrowed. "But he had powers before he was thrown out."
"Yes." Hannah's voice softened. "And I know John is intelligent—because John was actually a close friend of mine."
The words hung in the air. Aya's hands stilled. Even Benjamin's perpetual scowl flickered.
"He showed me his inventions. Hundreds of them. He created all of them all by himself. I wanted to join him. Help the poor." A pause. "But I was too scared. Back then, I was far too scared."
"What makes him so intelligent?" Diego asked.
"Mate, are you fuckin' deaf?" Benjamin snapped. "Did you not hear a single word that came out of her bloody mouth?"
Hannah ignored them both. "John never showed his true intelligence to anyone except himself and me. HEX hasn't killed him yet because they're curious why he still has powers after taking Composite X. But the real question they should be asking—is how does John have powers in the first place? They don't know he was intelligent. They never caught on."
"Alright then." Benjamin straightened. "So the plan's simple. Sneak in, kill the scientists, get John out."
"Sure. Simple." Hannah's voice dripped with irony. "Getting in is the hardest part."
"Getting in is already a death wish, isn't it?!" Junior's voice shook. He didn't want to risk his life. Not for this.
"Actually, this is the only perfect time we can rescue John without a massive chance of dying."
Alfie Sr and Junior thought the exact same thing at the exact same moment: "You gotta be fucking kidding me!"
"Oh yeah no, that's good... perfect!" Junior forced a smile, pretending to be relieved. "Can't wait.. to save John.."
Hannah stood. "I'll grab you suits that elite security guards wear, their uniforms, basically. You wear those, avoid suspicion, make your way to the basement, and save John Harper."
---
Aris stared at the monitors, watching the crumpled figure in the isolation chamber. "I think we can start experimenting on John now. His mind is already completely shattered."
"You think?" Alexander didn't look up from his clipboard. "The serum isn't complete yet."
"John's strong enough to handle it if something goes wrong." Aris reached for a syringe filled with dark green liquid. He held it up to the light, watching it swirl. "I call this 'Obedrex V1.' What do you think?"
Alexander finally glanced up. "Sounds cool. What's it mean?"
"It's simple, really. All I did was combine obey and rex which means king." Aris smiled thinly.
Athena leaned over, examining the syringe. "Catchy. So... we testing it?"
Aris's smile widened. "Yeah. Let's do it."
They walked in silence through the sterile corridors, their footsteps echoing off polished metal. When they reached the isolation chamber, Aris lifted the cover on the viewing window.
John sat on the floor below, staring at nothing. He didn't look up. Didn't blink. Didn't react to their presence at all.
Aris muttered to himself. "You're gonna feel something other than emptiness now, John."
Aris hit the electrification panel.
John's body convulsed—back arching, limbs snapping rigid—and for the first time in hours, a sound tore from his throat.
"AAAHHHHH!!!!!"
The scream echoed off the walls, raw and animal. But beneath the agony, some kind of sick satisfaction flickered across his face.
Relief.
He finally felt something real.
Aris held the button until John went limp. Unconscious.
"Open it."
The door hissed open. The three scientists stepped inside, and Athena immediately recoiled.
"God, he fucking stinks."
Alexander wrinkled his nose. "What'd you expect? Dude's been sitting in his own piss for days."
"Enough." Aris knelt beside John's unconscious body. He pressed the syringe into John's wrist—once, firm, clinical—and depressed the plunger.
Dark green disappeared into pale skin.
Aris stood. Wiped his hands on his coat. Walked out without looking back.
The door hissed shut.
"He should wake up in a few minutes."
---
The crew were waiting impatiently and nervously for Hannah to return with the suits she said she'd bring back for them to use.
Alfie Sr and Junior didn't want her to be dead but didn't want her to return with the suits, they wanted her to return with bad news.
Then—the doors busted open, they all jumped up and saw Hannah walk through the door. Carrying 7 suits with her.
Hannah pushed the suits into their arms, then held up a hand.
"Not yet."
Benjamin's jaw tightened. "The fuck do you mean 'not yet'?"
"The Death Parade starts in a few hours." Hannah's voice was calm, certain. "When it does, every rich citizen in the city will be there. Every elite. Every guard. HEX HQ will be empty."
Aya's eyes widened. "So we wait."
"We wait." Hannah nodded. "Rest. Prepare. Move when they're all watching the show."
Junior practically collapsed with relief. "Oh thank god."
Benjamin stared at Hannah for a long moment. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"Fine. We wait."
---
The crew settled into the uneven silence of the hideout. Some sat. Some paced. Some just stared at walls, waiting for time to move.
Mitch chuckled, breaking the quiet. He nodded toward the Alfies, who had curled up together in the corner like exhausted puppies. "Have they always been like that?"
Aya followed his gaze and laughed softly. "Oh yeah. Never changed. They're so innocent and pure—but so goddamn weak, y'know?"
"I get it." Mitch nodded. "Like someone who's really smart but can't fight for shit."
Aya grinned. "That was exactly what I was thinking."
Across the room, Emma watched Milo. He was staring at Aya again—not with warmth. With something heavier.
She leaned closer. "What's going on with you two? You get into an argument or something?"
Milo blinked. "Uh, what?"
"You and Aya. What happened?"
"Oh." He scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, didn't hear you the first time. She started it, honestly."
"Tell me about it."
Milo chuckled, embarrassed. "Nah, I'd rather not."
"Come on!" Emma nudged him playfully. "Hit me with it."
"What?! Can't hear you!" Milo covered his ears, pretended as if he couldn't hear her.
"Oh, fuck you!" She said, laughing.
---
Five hours had passed.
The Death Parade grounds stood nearly complete—rides towering, holographic ropes shimmering, bodies hanging in waiting. The workers moved in slow motion now, exhaustion pressing down on every hover, every gesture. They'd worked through the entire night.
All that remained was the grand opening.
Then it would finally begin again.
"Alright everyone, you're dismissed!" Ashley clapped her hands together, forcing enthusiasm. "Great work today! Awesome job!"
The workers flew off in scattered streams, disappearing into the early morning gloom.
Ashley exhaled, letting her shoulders drop—then froze.
Knox hovered beside her, his body a patchwork of casts and bandages. His arm moved stiffly. His leg dragged. But he was here.
"I just realized." His voice was low, tight. "Where the hell is Hannah?"
Ashley blinked. "Wasn't she here? I saw her working earlier."
"Yeah. Then she disappeared. Out of nowhere."
A new voice cut through the silence—quiet, calm, and heavier than either of their hearts could bear.
"She's gone."
Sovereign stood behind them. No announcement. No arrival. Just... there.
Ashley's blood ran cold. "What? I—I mean, we're on it, sir! I'll send people right—"
"Don't."
One word. Ashley's mouth snapped shut.
Sovereign's gaze moved between them, slow and deliberate. "This information stays between us three. If anyone else finds out..." He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
Knox swallowed. "My sincerest apologies, sir... but why?"
A pause.
Then the faintest curve of Sovereign's lips.
"Let them play their little games." He turned, already losing interest. "I want to see how this goes."
He rose into the air and vanished.
Ashley and Knox stood frozen in the silence he left behind.
---
"You still awake?" Benjamin asked Hannah who was laying down next to him facing away from him.
"Yep... can't sleep in a place like this, so uncomfy and dirty. No offense." Hannah said as she slowly turned around and got up, sitting against the wall.
Benjamin got up and sat beside her. "Don't worry, I fucking hate it in here too. But oh well, what can we do?" Benjamin scoffed.
"Don't worry, this will all end soon." She said reassuringly.
"Yeah? What makes you think so?" Benjamin asked curiously, looking at Hannah.
"I don't know, to be honest. It's just a gut feeling, you know?" Hannah said, not having a clear reason.
"Well, you know what they say. Always listen to your guy feeling." Benjamin said.
"I guess so.." she exhaled, then shot back at Benjamin. "Hey, what's your full name?"
"Geez," He chuckled. "And why would you wanna know that?"
"I just know you got a badass name, so everytime I call your name I feel like I'm in a movie!" Hannah said.
"Benjamin Dan Smith." He said.
"See? I told you I was right!" Hannah said, laughing.
"You? What's your full name?" Benjamin asked.
"Hannah Rose Avery. Don't try to make it sound badass." Hannah said.
"It absolutely is not badass." He chuckled lightly. "Your middle name describes what you are. Roses are a symbol of love, beauty, and passion, which is exactly who you are."
"Oh, stop it!" She nudged him playfully. "I wanna compliment your name in another way other than calling it badass but I can't!" Hannah laughed.
"Well my name is badass, your's is beautiful. Perfect parallels, eh?" Benjamin exhaled, looking up at the ceiling. "You got any siblings?" He asked.
"Yeah, an older sister." Hannah said.
"Really? Where's she?" Benjamin asked.
He looked at her face, she looked sad all of a sudden. Benjamin realized that her sister has probably passed away.
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't be. She's not dead." Hannah said reassuringly.
"If you don't mind me asking, then where is she at? Is she lost?" Benjamin asked.
"Not at all. She's right there at HEX HQ working for them like a little dog. I didn't tell her about my plans of helping the poor cause I know she'll rat me out." Hannah sighed. "We used to love each other, you know? Always together and playing around but when we saw the poor getting slaughtered only I felt bad. When I saw my sister laughing and enjoying their deaths like they were entertainment, I just began to distance myself from her. I just don't understand why she- why anyone would enjoy watching innocent souls being murdered in day light."
Benjamin reached his hand out to her shoulder, bringing her in for a light hug, "It'll all be alright. Like you said, this'll all end one day."
"That's not my point, I want my sister back. I want her to have her humanity back." Hannah said, slowly wiping off the tears on her eyes.
"She's not a bad person, I'm sure of it. She just got manipulated by them. She'll understand one day." Benjamin said, rubbing her shoulder.
"You have any family?" She asked, looking up at Benjamin.
Benjamin let out a painful chuckle first. "No, not really. I don't remember much, to be honest. But there was a man who was a father figure to me...but of course, them cunts killed him."
"Oh, Benjamin. I'm so sorry." Hannah said.
"Please, don't be sorry. It just reminds me more of that day. But it's alright." Benjamin said.
"Well, you're gonna have to go to sleep. You're gonna need to have energy for tomorrow." Hannah said, exhaling tiredly.
They both went back to their cardboard beds, slowly drifting to sleep.
---
The sun rose over the city of HEX, painting the sky in streaks of gold and amber. Below, the streets swelled with bodies—citizens pouring from every corner, streaming toward the supermassive theme park that dominated the waterfront. The crowd's roar built like a living thing, crashing against the rides and towers.
Sovereign hovered above them all, arms spread wide.
The roar doubled. Tripled. Became something animal.
"Calm down, everyone!" Sovereign laughed into the mic, feeding on their energy.
Below, Ashley rushed through final checks, her tablet glowing with last-minute adjustments. Knox hoisted one last poor body into place—a woman, unconscious, dangling from holographic rope—then backed away to admire the view.
The park was complete.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Sovereign's voice boomed across the grounds. "Welcome to... THE CARNIVAL OF SHADOWS! "
The gates opened. The crowd surged forward, a wave of laughter and screams and clicking turnstiles.
Sovereign's smile never wavered.
"Fucking animals," he muttered under his breath.
---
The first group piled onto a rollercoaster—teens and adults, faces bright with anticipation.
"How much to add poor people?!" a man shouted over the safety checks.
"That'll be an extra twenty dollars!" The worker beamed.
Coins changed hands. The harnesses clicked down. The train lurched forward.
As the coaster climbed its first hill, the riders saw them—bodies hanging from holographic ropes, strung across the track like grotesque decorations. Some were still alive. Twitching. Moaning.
A nine-year-old boy gripped the bar in front of him, eyes wide.
"HERE WE GO, BABY!!!"
The coaster crested the hill and dropped.
The first impact painted the invisible shield red. Then the next. And the next. Blood sprayed in arcs, splattered against the barrier, slid away clean. Inside the train, the riders shrieked with laughter, holding their hands up like it was nothing—like it was fun.
---
At the log ride, another group paid their twenty dollars. The boat climbed, paused at the peak, then plunged.
At the bottom, bodies waited.
The impact was wet. Explosive. Crimson burst across the water as poor bodies disintegrated against the boat's invisible shield. Riders in the back threw their arms up, whooping.
---
On the mini race car track, children as young as seven gripped tiny steering wheels, giggling as they plowed through groups of poor. Bodies crumpled under the cars. Blood streaked the asphalt. The kids cheered.
---
In the maze, guests carried ray guns—harmless to each other, devastating to the poor who stumbled through the corridors. Screams echoed off fake hedges. Feet pounded dirt. Every corner brought another victim, another flash of light, another body crumpling.
The poor ran.
They always ran.
There was never an exit.
---
Hundreds died in the first hour.
Then thousands.
They were treated like what the rich always believed they were:
Objects.
Put on this earth for one purpose.
To die. Entertainingly.
---
"Guys, get up! The Death Parade has begun! Get suited up, you guys need to hurry up!" Hannah shouted, waking them up.
They all immediately started getting suited up, wasting no time.
Junior's eyes went wide. He grabbed his father's sleeve. "Hey, um—what if me and my dad stayed behind? To find resources? For when you guys get back, you'll have—"
"YOU'RE BOTH COMING!"
Diego, Aya, and Benjamin shouted at the same time.
Alfie Sr. slumped. "Aw man..."
"Alright." Benjamin scanned the group. "We're suited up. Let's move."
Hannah stepped back. "I'll stay here. You guys go."
"Bullshit." Benjamin's voice went flat. "We don't know where the fuck to go."
"Put these in your ears." Hannah held out a handful of tiny transparent earpieces. "I'll talk you through it. You can't talk back—it'll look suspicious."
Benjamin examined the device, turning it over in his palm. "The fuck are these?"
"Earpieces."
Aya stepped forward, jaw tight. "Are we done? Can we go?"
Hannah nodded. "Yeah. You can go now."
One by one, they filed out.
Benjamin paused at the door.
He turned. Looked at Hannah—really looked at her. The woman who'd died for them. The woman who'd come back. The woman risking everything again.
He nodded once. Slow. Respectful.
"Thank you. We appreciate it."
Then he walked out.
The earpiece turned on, glitching for a few seconds before her voice became clear.
"Can you guys hear me?" She asked, and Benjamin answered with a thumbs up from across the tunnel as he's walking away.
"Alright then, let's begin The Heist."