Arc 3 - Chapter 59: Sean and Jack vs Eren

(Reverence 6, 59 / 7:55PM)

Three groans murmured from below. Rifles spread across the ground, they were fortunate that they didn’t fall off the train. Getting up from the ground, the two Dark Angel soldiers brushed off the grogginess…

“Damn that hurt!”

Or rather complained. Shaking his head, Sean picked up his rifle, and nudged Jack to stand. But Jack was already busy.

“Hey buddy.”

Thrusting his right foot, Jack launched it straight into Eren’s knee. Barely standing to begin with, the agent found himself crumbling back down, while the elf readied his Thompson.

“Stay down.”

Crawling backward, Jack picked up his rifle before lunging into the cart. Sean fired a burst of bullets, but Eren dodged them with luck on his side. Keeping the butt of his Thompson in his armpit, Sean aimed.

“You don’t want to do this, Eren. It would be better if you hadn’t gotten up.”

“I was tasked to take you down, so I’m fulfilling.”

“Hmm…”

Sean laid his back against the wall, his rifle pressed onto his chest. Feeling the wind ripple his hair, he looked at Jack.

“What is he thinking?”

“Let me see… oh he’s moving. He’s moving toward the back of the train.”

“Toward the back? Shit. He’s probably trying to get into a good covering position.”

Glancing at the chamber of his Thompson, he saw the magazine still fully loaded with bullets. Although he emitted a burst of them prior, he didn’t bother to reload. His right hand gripping the grip, and his left stationed on the center, he nodded to himself.

“We’re going in.”

With his barrel pointed at the ground, he arched the rifle up, and tread the metal floor lightly. Entering into the second train cart, he scanned the surroundings, and he crouched behind a box of crates. Jack kept his sniper rifle close, but for some reason…

Eren didn’t shoot. Not a yell or a voice, nothing spoke about his presence. Finding solace behind wood, Jack took a peek.

“Looks like something out of a video game.”

“What?”

“These crates have a layout to them. They looked manually moved.”

Taking in the surroundings even more, Jack’s breath quaint in silence the more he took the crates in. Sturdy in size, in material, he raised an eyebrow while his fingers softened under the gun. And he noticed a large vault on the left wall.

“Sean.”

“So that’s where they hid it.” Sean didn’t look at Jack, nor at the vault sitting on the wall. Looking at his gun, the barrel down to the stock, was encoded in his eyes. He couldn’t see his own reflection, but he tightened his fingers. “Are you sure we should still hit it? I mean, money is the reason why we’re in this hellhole.”

“You’re already been forgiven bro. Luke said it himself that he wants payback, so hitting this vault would—”

—A gunshot boomed the walls.—

Out of pure instinct, Jack noticed a glimmer of light from the back. If he was a millisecond slower, he would’ve felt the pain of a molten knife. Ducking behind cover, Jack instantly squeezed his eyes shut, and churned his stomach in stress.

‘That was way too freaking close… that would’ve got me there good…’

All the way in the back, they sniffed the barrel that drew out gunsmoke. Knowing their position, Sean cleared his throat and straightened his neck.

“Pretty coward move if you ask me!”

“I gave you guys so many warnings! So many of them! I’m sick and tired of you guys spitting them out like dog-human food!”

Jack glanced at the vault, and he nodded to himself before checking his sniper. Glancing to his left, he saw Sean still having insecurities, ones that could determine their probability of victory.

“Got a plan?”

“No. Do you have a plan?”

“No. Can you like, prank them or something?”

“Oh sure, we’ll just give him a jack-in-the-box and a box of cupcakes. I don’t know how to make plans!”

“You’re starting to sound like me.”

“Argh, fine! Plan this!”

Sean jumped out of cover.

Maneuvering himself upward, he made sure that his body wasn’t above the height of the wooden crates. Hearing two bullets roar, Sean felt no pain, no excess warmth from any body part. Being behind another box of crates, Sean cradled his Thompson, before turning to his right.

‘If you’re hearing this Jack, I’m going to use a clone. Happy?’

‘Yeah, ecstatic.’

Feeling his heart beat against his chest, his breaths drew out like whispers. More and more, each intake of air only fueled his realism. If he missed, or got shot, that would be it. He wasn’t physically strong, neither was he built like a tank.

Relying on smarts alone, Jack nodded to himself.

‘Here goes nothing.’

Pressing the center of his sniper on the wooden crate, he didn’t poke his head out just yet. Hearing two more bullets roar, one struck the crate, while the other grazed the rifle. Moving his hand toward the grip, he clutched it firm, before pulling the trigger. But, he didn’t even aim, let alone peek out of cover.

Firing at random, Sean noticed some of the bullets whistling by. Striking near him, he gasped.

“Hey I ain’t the enemy!”

“Just keep your head down!”

“Just—”

The barrel of his rifle sprang up. A force so punching, so graveled in stress, it was enough for Jack to loosen his grip. Hitting the floor, Jack gawked, and saw a small hiss of steam coming from the side. It was a dent, a piece of metal that looked to be lodged tight.

‘Oh blow me will ya…’

“Jack!”

“I’m alright! Bastard got my rifle though…”

“Can you still use it?”

“Most likely, but can you do something about that guy? He’s getting annoying.”

No bullets firing from the other side, it meant Eren was ducked behind cover once more. Knowing this, Sean didn’t take that chance, as he kept his hair firm against the wood. Turning toward the metal vault, its black paint was slick amongst the sun’s rays. The evening sun dimming in the horizon, it left only a reflection, one that Sean couldn’t see. Thumping his head against the crate, he wrinkled his face.

‘Hmm… how about this?’

The silver hair agent, the same one who was dealing with them, already placed the center of his sniper on the crate. Letting it rest, he didn’t have a scope, but he had iron sights on top. Perfected in a brittle calmness, he inhaled in and out.

‘Wait a minute…’ Eren noticed a figure standing. Ginger hair, pointed ears, black clothing, everything matched upon his description. Knowing this, Eren saw him mingling with the lock, like he was decoding it in his head. ‘Is he really that stupid?’

Pulling the trigger once, the air roared against the thick metal walls. Bouncing all around, that one single bullet sped straight toward the elf—it went through him. Striking the titanium coated vault, it sprinkled a small arouse of embers. Seeing the figure turn to wax, turn to imaginary liquid…

Another bullet boomed from its barrel, but no gunsmoke drew from Jack, nor from Eren. Jack fell flat on his back.

“Grah! G-Gah!”

Completely dropping his rifle, he was about to fire, but he felt the burning sensation of metal. Along with his ears ringing, the pain and sound pounded his eardrums like drums. Putting pressure on his shoulder, his right hand was tainted in red, while his eyes grew veins. Sean gulped, as Jack’s groans worsened.

“J-Jack you okay?! You—”

“He’s fine leaflicker. It’s only a scratch.”

Another voice drew in his ears, one that held a feminine touch. Widening his eyes, he clenched both of his teeth, and groaned within his throat. Shaking his head back and forth, it was only then he averted his eyes to his right.

“Damnit… not you too Rimy…”

He didn’t know just where she was, but he knew it was a 2v2. Dealing with two snipers, he was the only one to not fight long-range. But because the crates acted like cover, all he had to do was reach them.

“You guys are cowards! Shooting and fighting from behind a box!”

“Don’t turn this on us! You’re doing it too!” Yelled Eren.

“Yeah yeah yeah. All I hear are excuses. How about you fight like a man, mano to mano?”

“You know how that’ll go.”

Sean chuckled to himself, but it was only for a little bit before straining his cheeks. Inhaling sacs of air into his lungs, it was only then when he pushed out a grin. Staring at where Jack was, his groaning dimmed, but it was clear he was in pain.

‘At least he admits that he sucks at fighting.’

Turning toward the metallic vault, he focused his attention on the metal laced in black. Feeling his breath blow against his lips, each intake of air whistled his nostrils. But at long last, he began to crawl with rigid knees.

‘What if I repeat the same thing…’

Eren had more than enough bullets in the chamber. Knowing Rimy wasn’t with him, but rather in the shadows, she had coverage where he couldn’t relay. Although the two of them weren’t in sync, they made Sean top priority. For many seconds, only the rocking motion of the train gave them comfort. Silence grasping the air, he still had his eyes locked on that vault.

‘Don’t blame me for what may happen…’ Sean jumped out of cover. Lunging to the left, three wax figures molded and rose from the ground. But of course, Eren had his sights on the original model, along with Rimy.

Firing repeatedly, Sean narrowly avoided most of the bullets, except for one. Feeling metal lodged into his shin, he bit the insides of his cheeks, all to direct the pain. Finding cover, the back of his head slammed onto the wood, while blood oozed from his leg.

‘It hurts… it hurts so much…’ Releasing the hold on his cheeks, his teeth returned to clamping down on one another. Sweat lunging out of his neck, and his forehead, he saw the clones make a break toward the snipers. ‘But I got to keep going.’

Eren and Rimy saw the three figures, and they ceased firing. Knowing full well they were clones, they let them run, as they made their way toward…

“So that’s where you are!”

Hiding in a corner, was a woman cladded in khaki clothing. Wielding her light sniper rifle, she gawked, and then pulled the trigger. Roaring the walls with her bullets, she fired repeatedly. Eren widened his eyes.

“What are you doing!?”

“He already uncovered my position! He knows now!”

“But still that’s just a clone, it can’t just—”

A barrage of bullets thundered toward her. By sheer instinct, she ducked behind her crate, and clenched her eyes shut. Blazing right on top of her, she felt the metal zip by her head, while Eren jumped up. Having his magazine already loaded, he took aim, and…

Sean sprayed at his position too. Zipping and lunging with an injured leg, he still gained speed. Feeling all of his bones throttle, it wasn’t long before he took position behind a row of crates; the same crates Eren used.

‘Damnit… all he needs to do is jump over these crates…’

Rimy had both palms pressed on the floor, and her eyes quivered in fear. Like she avoided death, she kept her head down, leaving Eren to point his rifle forward. Laying on his back, he waited, with his eyes and ears fully clear from noise. His finger on the trigger, he counted the seconds. One sweat, two sweats, more liquid rippled from his nose. Streams of it riveting onto his jaw, his hands gently shook the rifle he carried.

Until a shadow… there was no shadow.

‘Wait…’

Jumping high, was an elf who cast no shadow. Its barrel firm on him, he didn’t pull that trigger, while his elbow strained the metal ground beneath him. As for Rimy, she rumbled the barrel once more. Already pushing out half of her ammo, the barrel of her rifle burned, and she—

A burst of lead flashed in front of her.

“AH!!”

Feeling the pain, the swelling of roaring fire, she groaned and hissed air out of her lips. Letting go of her sniper, it clunked to the ground, while her legs wallowed in the stinging bullets. Being in the center between them, the real Sean began to reload once more. Unable to do a full jump, the injury he had prior squeezed his leg muscles. Eren popped his head back up, and flung the bullets like a machine gun.

Avoiding most of them… Sean felt something hot stab his left leg.

“Grah!”

‘Not again!’

Reaching cover, he sprawled on the floor, while his chest creaked against his Thompson. Turning his body over, he laid on his back, and aimed with one eye closed. His breathing trailing out in chunks, his chest felt beaten against, and his eyes succumbed to gravity. Eren rose from the ground, and pushed the stock of his rifle into his armpit.

“I gave you many warnings, yet you still keep going.”

Reaching the row of crates Sean took cover in, Eren released the magazine of his rifle. Reloading in more bullets, he dumped the leftover metal on the ground. Hearing the ammo tickle the metal, he then laced his finger on the side of the gun, and aimed with iron sights.

“Sorry Sean, but you’re way too dangerous.”

Standing right in front of him, Sean didn’t dare try to shoot. Even when he had his finger on the trigger, the two were at a standstill. Knowing he was in pain, sweat lavished all over his body, and down his neck.

—But walls boomed with noise.—

Coming from the other end of the train cart, a single sniper shot drew from a barrel. Although the barrel was dented, snapped in an angle, he had to adjust the way he carried it. Out of cover, a red-haired man mustered everything he could to smirk.

“You think he’s the only dangerous one?”

Yet Eren didn’t feel any pain. Glancing at his body, he noticed nothing, and he spun and turned toward—

She vomited blood. Collapsing to the ground, gurgles molested their ears. Laying on the ground, Rimy’s cheek rested on the hard metallic surface. Releasing the sniper she carried, she groaned, as more blood excreted from her mouth.

Eren felt his eyes darken.

“That was a lethal shot.”

“Don’t tell me you guys deserve mercy. You’re part of them, you’re one of them.”

“But that doesn’t make you God.”

“God huh…”

Chuckling to himself, Jack swayed his head back and forth before squinting at Eren. Feeling the barrel loosen on his arm, he struggled to keep it firm, as his biceps strangled in strength. Marinating his vocals, he quenched it again and again until he coughed out dryly.

“I don’t believe in higher powers. Surprised?”

“Doesn’t matter. From where you stand, you’re a criminal, through and through.”

“Oh really, why? Because the law claimed we’re sinners?”

It was like a large shard of metal had plunged into his shoulder. Growing in size, the sounds of his beating heart only made the wound worse. Feeling it burn, he took a step forward, and lowered his rifle.

And pointed at Eren with a face churning a frown.

“Unlike you, we’re not some emperor’s whore.”

Eren felt his fingers tighten, as the metal he carried strangled in stress. His nails plunging deep, it shook, while Jack of all people mustered out a smirk. Having it raised toward the bottom of his right ear, his knees felt the weight of a thousand pounds.

“Don’t make me put another hole in you.”

“At least I didn’t show my hole to anyone.”

“I’m serious. Do not test me.”

“What? All that I’m saying is the truth.”

He took another step forward. Still having his finger pointed out, the right side of his cheek glowed in the sunlight. Darkness surmising his left, not even the rocking motion of the train shifted his body.

“You gave your body to big brother, people who act high and mighty with rules. They can bend them, you know? Change them at a whim’s notice. Just because a law is imposed doesn’t make it moral.”

Eren clenched on his teeth, all the while he stared into Jack’s eyes. Their pupils locked into one another, none of them moved. Not a step forward or back, or even to their sides. But Jack didn’t have that frustration, that anger Eren contained. His words ebbing with solace, Jack trailed the outline of his body, his frown still crinkling his jawline.

Without using a lick of evidence, Jack lowered his finger to his side.

“You’re an orphan aren’t you.”

Eren’s fingers loosened the rifle. Like someone had grappled his throat, all with imaginary fingers, Eren took a step back. His sniper aimed at the floor, his finger to the side, all the frustration he had within him… traveled through his muscles.

“Does it look like I care?”

“You had no mom, no dad, not even a parental figure. That’s a strength that I keep hidden, knowing who’s from where and where they were raised.”

Jack took another step forward. His right foot squeezing the ground, he chuckled to himself once more. Releasing his frown, he glanced at Sean, who continued to groan and mumble through his injury. Quickly moving his eyes onto Eren once more, he locked in.

“Lagefor Kepputha. Raised in alleys, lived off garbage, parents died where you could barely remember.”

“Stop…”

“You survived through robberies and thieving, but you stopped around your teens. You know how to shoot, know how to fire a gun, but you have morals. You have mercy. I wonder what happened.”

“One more word, and I swear…”

Yet Eren didn’t move his finger, nor his right arm. Keeping the rifle against his side, his breathing was slow, slower than he thought.

Jack dropped his rifle. The butt of it hitting the ground, it thumped, creating a little shockwave that rippled through the floor. He didn’t need to walk forward; because he was standing a meter away from him.

“Hate to break it to you, but big brother ain’t your exactly the bestest of daddy’s.”

—Sean made his move.—

Having his Thompson tucked behind his back, he pulled it out, his finger moved toward the trigger. Jack leaped back with his rifle in tow, and for the agent, he realized the plan they played.

‘Guess I can’t hold back anymore…’

With Jack running to cover, and Sean stabilizing his aim, Eren closed his eyes. He didn’t move, nor did he leap with strained thighs or feet. Keeping his church shoes smooth, flattened almost, his finger twitched. Seeing black, he memorized the layout, the physics, the velocity. He predicted what they’ll do, and what they’ll achieve…

‘Fortuitous Lead.’

His right arm snapped; and two gunshots bounced off each other. Like he was participating in a duel, the gap between seconds was close. So close in fact, it wasn’t even a full second between them.

Jack collapsed to the ground, and the recoil Sean was supposed to feel was robbed. Seeing metal fly in the air… the two of them reeled with the change of battle.

________________________________________________________________________

“Ah!”

His Thompson flew a few meters away. Like Eren was holding back, his merciful nature was the only thing keeping them safe. Now that that is gone, Sean rolled himself toward his Thompson.

“Jack! You okay!”

A collection of roars and shouts trembled from afar. Both of his shoulders being shot clean, Sean knew the two injuries would only hold back Jack. Keeping his legs and knees firm on the ground, he had his head hunched forward.

‘Got to get him somehow…’ The back of his head pressed against the metal vault. For about a few seconds, his pupils concentrated on the dark metal of the train cart wall. ‘How about another repeat.’

Wax figures grew from the walls. Instead of sprouting two to three of them, he maximized the amount of clones he could command. Two becoming four, four becoming eight, it stopped as soon as they were tucked together like sardines. All of his clones hunched themselves to the floor.

“Come on men! Get him!”

Abiding to the original, they all charged straight toward the mole. Playing the part, Eren peeked at the charge, and rolled his eyes. They emitted no shadows, no footsteps that thumped and thunked the metallic floor.

‘Those are all fake. Is he trying to bluff me to shoot?’

But they rushed him. Surrounding him on all fronts, Eren realized the gamble Sean played.

“Don’t try to blind me!” Rising, Eren stood with digging boots and a quivering finger. Moving toward the trigger, his line of sight was blocked, all by Sean’s clones that shuffled like cards in a deck. For such a strategic plan, it looked goofy on paper, and yet, Eren couldn’t trace a shadow.

“So be it then!” Pulling the trigger, the barrel reddened upon each bullet that flew. The recoil pushed him back a foot, and every muscle in his body crammed in numbness. But the clones didn’t stop.

Eren growled before lunging forward. Keeping his eyes peeled for that shadow, the Sean clones still followed him.

‘There you are.’ With enough spring, the metallic roof brushed against his black fedora. Seeing the layout of the cart, from the many boxes to the—one elf had a shadow. Without thinking, the barrel of his sniper rummaged out lead. Sending it toward the shadow, the elf had no choice but to—

—It passed him.—

‘Huh?’

Once gravity pulled him down, the clone dissipated into wax once more. Seeping into the metal cracks, Eren landed on his own two feet. Thumping the metallic floor, all of his body squeezed in anger.

“Damn you Sean! Damn your trick!” Seeing that he was in the center of the cart, there was his hiding spot to his right, and Jack’s groaning to his left. Knowing that Sean was missing, he noticed the clones dissipating one by one. Walking back, he pushed his back against the wall like a cornered rat.

“I know you’re watching me Sean! Don’t make this harder for yourself than it already is!” No response drew, leaving the silence to harbor a tinge of melancholy. Breath by breath, the neverending eyes that glared from afar only worsened.

“Wait… I understand your endgame now.”

Using his left hand, he took out the chamber from his rifle, as well as a box of bullets. Pushing in ammo into the magazine, one by one, each bullet clicked his ears like a whistle.

“You guys are clever, I give you that. How’s my original spot holding for you Sean?”

From the other end of the train cart, Sean rested calmly against those stacks of crates. Gifting him cover, his whole body chugged out warmth like a furnace. Eren began to reload.

“Unfortunately, Jack got a bullet each in his shoulders. Even if he wanted to, trying to shoot with injuries like that will worsen the pain.”

“You think that stopped me?”

Sean glanced at his right leg, as red liquid continued to gush out. The pain continued to sting him like electricity, like mini currents running through his body. Hearing Eren clock the last of his ammo, Sean crinkled his face from the forehead down.

“Me and Jack didn’t want to fight in the first place. Just wish that you didn’t gurgle big brother’s balls.”

“Not you too.”

“It’s the truth.”

Sean glanced to his left, and noticed Rimy’s unconscious body. A pool of blood drenching her cheek, down to her legs, the way she was positioned…

A small tang of guilt fluttered his eyes. But moving his eyes upward, he noticed a stack of crates locked against the metallic wall. Seeing them tower on top of each other, it left Sean to widen his eyes, and chuckle out a grin.

‘Now I really have a plan… Jack, are you still with me?’

Jack’s groans softened, but he was still in groveling pain. Huffing air through his throat, by force, his cheek groveled against the heat of his body. Blood sulking his jacket, down to his pants, his stomach and chest felt the pain of being pressed against.

‘If you’re hearing this Jack, take the shot at my signal. We got to perfect this or else he’ll see it through.’ He didn’t know if Jack even listened to his thoughts. Riding in darkness, Sean chuckled to himself, and shook his head before laying a grin. ‘At this point, we’re riding on luck.’

His right hand gripped the stock of his gun, and his left was pushed into his pocket. Ruffling whatever he had stored, he took out a small canister, one shaped cylinder rather than ball-like. He was on a time limit. But even so…

‘Here goes nothing.’ Throwing the device back-hand, Eren caught notice of the flying piece of metal. Widening his eyes, Eren moved his sniper rifle toward the grenade, and fired a single—

—Smoke encapsulated half of the train.—

Taking a step back, a small vein sprouted from Eren’s right temple. Feeling both of his jaws clench hard, he fired repeatedly into the smoke cloud, disregarding Sean’s safety as well as his life. Unfortunately for Eren, elves charged out of the smoke cloud.

“Oh not this time! Not again you poof!” Rapid firing into every clone he could find, he didn’t think twice. Each silhouette crumbling to wax, Eren felt his body seized in stress. So much so, his eyes shook once, making his vision flicker.

‘Damnit where is he?’

A small burst of bullets ricocheted the air. Coming from the smoke cloud, Eren felt the seconds turn to minutes. Without blinking, he tiptoed with squeezing shoes, and played the part of a ballerina for a split second. Out-maneuvering the surprise bullets, it wasn’t long before he lunged to the right, and pulled the trigger six times..

“You can’t hide forever you mole!”

Another burst of bullets came… from a completely different side. Sliding his leather shoes against metal, he barely stopped himself from being pelted. But at last—

“Grah!”

It was like something had stabbed his right shoulder. Small yet annoying, veins rippled down his forehead to his cheeks. Still having his grip firm on the rifle, he walked back, and felt his boots lay against the crates. Positioning his body, he moved his finger toward the trigger.

“That smoke ain’t gonna save you forever!” Now come out!”

A burst of bullets shot out from the smoke. Not knowing where, Eren flicked the trigger of his rifle two times. In less than a second, two separate bullets flew toward two different areas.

“G-G-Gah!”

Eren pushed up a smirk, and began walking toward the other end of the cart. The smoke cleared from view, and it wasn’t long before Eren reached the last row. Turning to his right, was none other than Sean. His right shoulder straining against the floor, he kept his stomach and chest hidden from view. Huffing and breathing, Eren noticed the Thompson that he tucked away.

“It’s no use. I could see that you’re planning something already.”

Heavy breaths flowed forcingly through his throat. Trying to grasp control, Eren took notice of the way he hid his chest. Eren pinned the barrel of his rifle onto him. To his surprise, Sean kept his eyes on the floor.

“Before you shoot me, or tie me up… gasps… can I ask you something?”

Eren furrowed his brow, as he saw Sean dig a palm onto the floor. If he was willing to raid a train by himself, then what plan or idea did he have in mind. The thoughts stormed through him, as it jumbled and juggled like a game of—

“Why are you doing this… gasps… What reason do you have for following big brother?”

Eren felt his eyes submerge in a clicking darkness. Feeling his fingers tickle the metal, the more he thought, the longer his brain put together a puzzle. No… he was unwilling to finish such a puzzle. Tightening his hold on the rifle once more, he moved his finger toward the trigger.

“I have my reasons, like you have your reasons. I’m tired of explaining myself over and over again…”

—He pulled the trigger.—

Sending the walls to roar with colliding noise, the single bullet that flew from the barrel—

“Fool you once, shame on me, but fool you twice…”

No blood rippled from his body. Leaving behind gunsmoke, Sean chucked up a grin that made Eren pale. Widening his eyes, he took a step back, and felt his whole body flame in heat.

“I think you know what happens next.”

He heard his voice from behind.

—To which the air roared by a single gunshot.—

“Gah!”

Eren wasn’t fast enough to aim in time, or rather, turn his body toward the other end. Taking aim was none other than a red-hair man, who fell flat on his back. The recoil tumbling him to the ground, Eren meanwhile felt blood grovel out his throat. Feeling pain numb his vocals, down to his stomach, he dropped the rifle to the ground.

He heard the burst of bullets, but they weren’t for Eren. Shooting at a wall, Sean quickly lowered his gun and jumped over a row of crates. Barely having the strength to run, let alone sprint, his acting worked. Acting like he was shot, Eren fell for it like fish on the line.

“Just like old times, huh Jack?!”

‘Don’t remind me…’

Unable to muster a voice, Jack laid with his eyes staring at the roof. Having a smile upon his face, so did Sean, as the elf saw the agent wither in a pale… two wooden crates began their descent. Because he shot at the cabinets, it loosened the pillars that held it up high. Because they were weakened, whatever was on that cabinet, rolled down to—

“Ah!”

Eren felt his lungs spew out air.

One of the crates hitting his head, his eyes rolled to the back of his head. As per the others, it created a layer of wood that submerged him into a pitying display. Sean, who dealt the final laugh, saw his ploy with a grinning smile.

“That should do it.” The cartoonish endgame that he assembled… finally paid off, while a layer of dust creeped the area Eren was in.

________________________________________________________________________

Sean and Jack barely walked with trembling legs. Coughing out chunks of dust, saliva spazzed on the floor and their clothes. Some of them waved out the small linings of dust with waving hands.

“Talk about a high IQ plan.”

“Hehe, I rival Luke in that area sometimes.”

“Minus the luck.”

Patting Jack’s back, Jack groaned as those sniper shots still burned. Dragging themselves toward the train vault, each time Sean walked worsened the pain in his leg. As soon as he reached the chunk of black metal, Sean took out a stethoscope from his jacket. Placing the earbuds into his ears, he moved the metal near the combination locker. Having one hand press on the metal, he used the other to spin the dial.

“That old trick?”

“It actually works, believe it or not.”

“Yeah yeah, just let me know when it’s—”

The door to the third compartment bursted open. Sean and Jack turned toward the door, and noticed a man brimming in height. Dark-complected skin, and one woman resting on his shoulder, the other was carried like luggage.

“Miles! About time you showed up. What happened to Hope?”

“She got beaten badly by this one here.” Miles showcased the agent he carried. “Anyway, did the two of you get shot?”

“You think I decorated my shoulders internally? Of course we got shot!”

“Alright alright. Quit complaining would ya?” Shaking his head back and forth, Miles began walking toward the two men. With Sean returning back to his scrolling, and Jack slumping his back against the wall, he took note of the two bodies near each other. One collapsed under the wood, while the other grew cold.

“Is she…”

“I had no choice bro. It was her or me.”

“What do you mean what choice? We only kill if it’s absolutely necessary. That’s our quota.”

“I get your point man, but come on, give me some slack here.”

Miles looked over at the newly spread corpse, and his eyes shambled into a bit of darkness. She was only following the orders given to Doug. Only being a cog to his whims, Miles knew out of anyone that people could grow.

“We’ll talk about this later… for now, let’s just get the money and go.”

“Me?”

“I’m carrying Hope and Ada here. You carry Eren. You dealt a good blow to his shoulder.”

“Aye aye Captain Merciful.”

Even though he didn’t limp, his shoulders still oozed out blood from his wounds. Knowing that carrying Eren won’t be an easy task, he had to push himself. Sean heard a click.

“Bingo!”

His eyes sparkling at last, Sean turned the wheel, and unveiled the treasure that the Zirardges stored within. Bit by bit, the metal that blocked the gold was finally glimmering in their eyes.

The two staring at the riches, Miles shook his head before turning to Sean.

“So…”

“So what?”

“How are we hauling this?”

“Oh relax, I got this.”

Sliding up both of his sleeves, he had them raised toward the middle of his arms. Wiggling his fingers, he cocked his head to the right, and still kept that smile that reeked of mischief. Walking in, he picked up a single gold bar…

“Uh…”

“You think this is a movie? A single gold bar is 30 pounds. You could only bring three to four before they get too heavy.”

Pushing the gold bar into his pocket, he let the weight speak for itself. Gravity dragging down one side of his jacket, he felt the bullet press into his leg even more, but he remained standing.

As he took another gold bar from the vault.

“Limits are supposed to be broken cupcake.”

“Again, knock that shit off!”