"What? Now!?" my sleep was interrupted by Jake. He was trying to speak in a hushed voice on the phone as to not wake me, but he couldn't hold back on his distress any longer. "Yeah, I know the situation is shit, but no, you don't get paid until after we collect. That's the deal. That's always been the deal," he stressed. "Central fucking station? Could you have chosen a more exposed location? If I had wanted convenience, I would've told you to fucking deliver it to me directly. No, leave it. I'll get it, but if anything goes wrong, you're not getting another fucking cent from me. If you even think about crossing us, I will rip your system apart and leave you to the vultures." Jake tossed his phone on the table angrily.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes groggily, "Jake? What's wrong?"

"Sorry, to have woken you, but we need to leave now. That asshole has already made the drop without telling me," he shook his head, then slammed his hands on the table. "We need to get it before some idiot finds it first."

"So we get it and come back?" I questioned.

"Given that he's chosen the worst possible location for a drop, I doubt we'll be able to get out without notice. I expect we will have to make an immediate run for the border," he explained as he closed up his laptop. "We leave in 10. Pack everything. We won't be back."

Hastily, I climbed out of bed and started to get changed into my clothes when I noticed my new phone on the bedside table. I picked it up on turned it on. Jake had given it my old lock screen. Curiously, I entered my PIN and sure enough the phone unlocked. I smiled, but immediately locked it again and shoved it into my back pocket. Now was not the time to be playing with it.

I finished getting dressed and saw Jake's hoodie that I slept in on the bed. Rather than wearing my jacket, I decided to wear it instead. As soon as I pulled it over my head, I noticed Jake staring at me.

"Oh, did you mind?" I questioned.

"No, not at all," he shook his head. "It looks good on you."

I blushed as he went back to packing up his things. I grabbed my jacket and the extra clothing and shoved them into Jake's clothes bag. It was quite full, but I managed to get it to fit.

"Hey, eat this," Jake said as he pulled out the containers from the fridge. "It's cold, but I don't know when we'll be able to eat food again."

Jake scooped up some of the leftovers with a clean spoon and then practically shoved it into my mouth before I could react. I nodded and he slipped the spoon out of my mouth and began shovelling the food into his mouth. He glanced at me and gestured questioningly to see if I wanted more. I opened my mouth and he fed me the next spoonful. He continued to alternate between the two of us until the container was empty. Then we each finished getting ready.

"All right, are you ready?" Jake asked as he slung the backpack containing his laptop over his shoulders.

I nodded as I lifted the clothes bag and my handbag, "Yup, let's go."

"Ok, it's early, no one will likely see us exiting. I will drop the key into the drop box at the front. I normally try to avoid walking the streets during daylight, but as it is unavoidable, please keep your hood up and your head down. Don't look at any cameras. If you can see a camera lens, then they can see you. I will walk in front, try to stay 10 meters behind - no more, no less. And walk where I walk. If I jump any barricades, you are to jump the same barricades," he explained as he pulled his hood up.

"Wait, why 10 meters?" I frowned.

"If we travel too close together, people are more likely to notice us," he answered.

"You've done this before. With someone else I mean," I pointed out.

"Yeah, a long time ago. A story for another time, maybe," he glanced away. "We'll ride the express to Central, collect the documents, then get on the train for the border."

"What if we get split up?" I questioned.

"That's why I'm telling you this. If we get split up, track 5 at Central, get on the train, head for the border. I'll pick up the documents and meet you on it," he clarified.

"You'll definitely be on it?" I asked worried.

"Of course I will," he smiled. "Even if I have to hack the server and force it to do an emergency stop."

"Jake," I bit my lip. "I'm scared."

Jake put his hand on the back of my head to pull me closer and kissed my forehead, "You'll be fine. I won't let them catch you."

"That's not what I am scared about," I narrowed my eyes.

He laughed, "I won't let them catch me either."

"Jake," I tugged on his hoodie.

"Yes?" he tilted his head as he pulled his mask up over his nose and mouth.

"I love you," my voice shook.

Jake paused and leant his forehead down against mine, "I love you, too, MC."

After a moment, Jake opened the motel room door and we quickly exited. The hallway was quiet as we headed swiftly to the stairs. Surprisingly, even the stairs were empty, but then, it was only 7 am. The sun was already up so the rest of the tenants had retired.

Jake slipped the room key into the drop box in one swift move and then opened the door to the outside. I silently wished Patrick Kempsey of Toronto well and thanked him for paying for our stay.

Jake glanced side to the side before stepping out onto the sidewalk. I soon followed behind. The streets were nearly empty, aside from the occasional early worker heading to their job. Jake led us, twisting and turning on an indirect path to the subway station. Now my sense of direction wasn't the greatest, but even I could tell his path was weaving back and forth. I glanced back at one point when I realised, we had rejoined a road we only just left. I noticed a set of CCTV cameras and I understood his bizarre path had us avoiding them. I remembered he mentioned had stayed at that motel before, but still I was impressed he had remembered the positions of the cameras well enough to remember how to avoid them. After a while we had reached a subway station entrance and Jake went down the stairs, clinging to the left side. Following 10 paces behind, I stuck to the left side of the stairs. As I went down I noticed the camera and lowered my head to avoid its notice.

Just as I reached the bottom, I saw Jake jumping a turnstile to head into the station. I quickly glanced around and noticed that the guard at the security station was hardly awake. Cautiously, I jumped the turnstile too and went up to the platform just as the next subway arrived. I hopped on right away, but it was noticeably more crowded. I looked around nervously until I spotted Jake at the end of the car. He was leaning against the wall beside the door watching me. Suddenly the subway started moving, which caught me off guard, but I quickly recovered by grabbing the handlebar. I swear I saw him laughing at me.

Inside the subway car, there were a few digital screens rotating through various advertisements, but they suddenly cut to the news.

"Authorities remind all citizens to be on the look out for the dangerous criminal known as 'Nym-0s', believed to still be in the area," the reporter droned on.

The people in the subway, didn't pay much attention to the news announcement, but I still lowered my head and tried to avoid all eye contact. Out of nowhere, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out and had a look thinking it was Jake.

Jessy: Please contact me ASAP!!

I stared at the screen baffled. I wasn't sure what I should do and Jake was too far away for me to ask. I opened my phone and sent a quick response.

MC: What's wrong?

Jessy: I am sorry for bothering you so suddenly. It's just I thought you should know.

MC: Know what?

Jessy: They're looking to release him, MC!
              They're looking to release him on good behaviour!

MC: What?

Jessy: I know, right?
              Hannah's still got another two years...
              But he gets a fucking parole hearing!

MC: How could they do that?

Jessy: Please, I know it's a big ask, but please, I beg of you, come to his hearing!
              We're all going to speak against him. The more the merrier, you know?
              Please, we can't let him get out before Hannah. It's just not fair!

MC: When is it?

Jessy: 2 pm tomorrow.
               I know. It's such short notice. We only just found out.

MC: Jessy, I'll be there.
         That monster will not get out early! He will see every second of his sentencing.

I glanced up and realised the subway had already reached Central station. I quickly jumped off and started walking down the platform after Jake, but as Jessy sent me the location for the hearing, I got distracted by my phone again. By the time I looked up again, Jake was out of sight. I panicked and I went through my phone looking for a way to message him, but just like my old phone, there was nothing. I realised I needed to start heading to platform 5, so I headed for the escalators, keeping my head to my phone as much as possible. I opened the map app and looked at our current location in comparison with Duskwood, which was across the border to the east. The train we were going to get on was going to take us southwest. At the top of the escalator I went up to one of the route maps to examine it. If we take the train leaving platform 9, that would take us to the east border. Then we could change trains to head towards Duskwood. But I had no way of telling Jake. If I get on the train at Platform 5 though, we'd lose a lot of hours heading in the wrong direction that we might not make the hearing. To make matters worse, we probably have to head back to Central station, which would be suicidal if they detect us.

Ok so head to the east border instead. Next train was leaving in five minutes. The next train after that wasn't for another three hours. Definitely cannot miss the train. Only problem, I have to find Jake and let him know that the plan had changed in the busiest train station of the city at the cusp of rush hour.

My train of thought was interrupted by the sound of an annoying announcement for lost property. I cursed it for a moment, but then I realised that was my solution.

"Hi, excuse me," I approached the information counter.

"Yes, how can I help you?" the woman asked cheerfully.

"Can you make an announcement for me? I lost my friend in all this chaos. I just want him to know to meet me at Platform 9. Is that ok?" I asked nervously.

"Mmhmm, sure dear. What was your friend's name?" the woman questioned.

"Patrick Kempsey," I answered.

"Sure thing," she nodded. I stepped back as she got ready to make the announcement. "Your attention please. Would Patrick Kempsey please head to Platform 9? Your friend is waiting for you there."

"Thank you," I bowed my head slightly in appreciation. The woman smiled and went back to her work.

Now for the next part, getting on the train. At this point I realised Jake never actually mentioned that part. He just said to get on the train. Normally I'd pay with my phone so curiously I pulled it out again and checked the Pay app. Sure enough there was a card attached to it. And sure enough, that card wasn't in my name. I rolled my eyes and went up to a ticketing machine and bought a ticket anyway. Time was running out, so as soon as the ticket printed I snatched it and head for the escalator for the platform.

Just as I reached the bottom, the train rolled in. I looked all around, but I couldn't find Jake anywhere. Passengers had finished exiting and now people were pushing into the cars. The train would only wait for another minute. I had to get on and hope Jake would catch up. I started to regret changing the plan so suddenly, but I just couldn't rest knowing that a monster was about to be released early.

I took a seat beside the window on the track side of the train hoping I would catch a glimpse of Jake. As the doors closed and the train rolled away, that hope turned to despair.