EPISODE I - PHILADELPHIA

⚜️

There are a few moments in life, where you just stop being in the moment to observe it, and you go through this mindful process where everything starts making sense to you. Because you have got what you wanted, and you have achieved your goal after completing your task.

Those are lies.

Complete fucking lies.

Don't let any hippie ever tell you any different.

Because sitting here, on the dustiest rooftop of Philly, holding a pricey 15th century bronze statue which was the centerpiece of tonight's auction, stargazing at a starless sky, in a blonde wig and an itchy latex mask, while my crewmates-slash-'friends' laugh at my paranoia...I'm not feeling any sort of clarity.

I just feel this bottomless pit of uncertainty in my stomach, throw in a little embarrassment and anger and frustration as well. Plus the unshakeable urge to punch either a wall or the grin off Yuri's face.

First up, who in their right mind would place a very reflective ruby on the bottom of a statue's foot?! 

Under. The. Foot. 

It ruins the balance, and is not even fucking visible when looked at through a display.

Of course when I spotted it, I thought it was a tracker.

"And then she began muttering some nonsense in her panic language!" Kai laughs and Yuri, like the graceful maiden she is, snorts in reply.

I may have begun hyperventilating in the vents of the auction house when I saw the ruby. And I may have kicked Rey, who was behind me, in the face in the process.

I hope her nose is okay.

"I thought she was about to pass out," Yuri says while casually strapping on her leather gloves to her wrists. Our driver here has a very unnecessary flare for show business. You don't need leather gloves to drive a Mini Cooper.

I swear we use better getaway vehicles but today is all about blending into the Philly crowd. And what better way than to behave like a bunch of sports moms.

So I ignore my friends, and pull off the latex mask and the very irritating blonde wig. I feel the chilly breeze on my face again, and that did help in uplifting my mood.

I just wish the stars were visible tonight. They make every experience so much more memorable.

I decide to survey the surrounding, see what story it holds. Every place holds a story. You just need the right pair of eyes and an open mind to discover it.

I see thick layers of dusting coating every surface of the thick walls of the brick rooftops.

Does no one come up here? That is when I notice thinner layers of dust visible in the bright moonlight near where Yuri is currently seated.

No, someone comes up here daily. I scrutinize the area, and see a small lump of darker coloured dust at the foot of the raised edge of the roof. Ash. I don't see any matchsticks anywhere. That means one thing.

The person's a smoker. One who hides the butts instead of carelessly throwing them around. Maybe it could be more than cigarettes that they are smoking. But there would be signs of sloppy movement around if they were other substances being smoked. The dust prints suggest that the movements were restricted. Careful. Soundless.

The cigarette smoker is hiding their habit. I wonder why.

Wife disapproves? Trying to combat addiction but failing? Stress but doesn't want the kids to know? It's clear that the person comes alone. The imprint is big enough for only one set of hips unless the people sit on each other's laps which is a little unwise, granted that they are sitting on a rooftop.

Given the fact that Philly has been through quite a few still days recently, the imprint of the trousers is at least a day old and the wind has not anything to cover it up. I can tell that the person is yet to come for their daily smoke today. Maybe we should hurry.

I unzip my cocktail dress to reveal the thin black bodysuit beneath. I grab the backpack from Kai who is still laughing and pull out a polo shirt and some leggings. And to top it all of, an off-brand sports jersey featuring the logo of some local kids team. 

I wonder how Ariadne got hold of these.

Kai follows my lead and strips down the cocktail dress she had been wearing as well, and dresses up into her character.

Oh I just remembered, "Did you do the small job I asked you to do?"

Kai smiles at me, "Yes, I did it, don't sweat it."

All the while Yuri sets up the statue in the special compartment Mon designed for it.

Oh it's so sick. 

It is a normal plastic bottle of water, fitted with lenses that divert light rays away from the bronze statue. Plus there are deflectors for X-Rays so even if it is scanned, it won't be detected. 

And then Yuri, being the mature and sophisticated adult she is, proceeds to shift the Quachamama statue in and out watching in wonder as it seemed to disappear inside our bottle.

Should've let Rey tag along with us instead. She must be having the time of her life with Cassie and Elara. Why do I always pick the wrong getaway team? They get to sit in the limousine we came in, with the raspberry champagne and weird 90s music while I am stuck with Kai and Yuri on a dirty rooftop.

My burner phone lights up near Kai, and I pick it up to hear Blaise's sweet voice.

"You're on Market Street right?"

"Yes, 1890 Market Street."

"You want the good news first or the bad news?"

I turn to Kai and Yuri, who shrug in unison.

Useless little shits.

"Gimme the good news first."

"We have a very clear trail. Didn't leave any clues or digital footprint behind."

"So the police have stopped intercepting the communication lines? Are we clear to get to the car?"

"About that..."

Blaise pauses for an uncomfortably long amount of time.

Oh this can't be good.

I mentally facepalm myself. Of course it's bad, she had called it bad news.

You're stupid, Alicia.

"The car was found and towed away to the police grounds because some junkies were trading meth in its shadow. Should've found a safer neighbourhood for it."

Great. Just, fucking great. We don't have a getaway vehicle anymore. How the hell are we supposed to get to the safehouse? 

And no we can't just pick up a random car from the street like a bunch of thugs. The security is tight and they have definitely closed off the highways. We need cars registered under our aliases or we can't fucking pass their inspection.

And I am NOT in the mood of a prison break right now.

"So we don't have a registered car now? How will we get through the highway inspections?!" I whisper shout into the phone, trying not to alert anyone in the surroundings.

Yuri beckons for the phone and I hand it to her with shaky hands.

"Hey Blaise, is Lincoln Street clear?" She speaks softly into the phone as I look worriedly at Kai. Our thief is fidgeting nervously with the bottle containing our statue.

After a few hushed exchanges Yuri hangs up. She makes eye contact with both of us before pointing towards a tall building in the distance.

"We need to get to that rooftop. And fast before the police begin blocking Lincoln Street. I have a backup plan."

"What is it?" Kai asks nervously as I am too frantic to speak in proper sentences.

God I hate it when our escape plans get screwed up by those uniformed idiots. Not the first time this is happening may I remind you.

Yuri turns to me, "I have a friend who can lend us some bikes. We'll have to go through the alleys and keep it very low. Hope your skills are still sharp."

I don't know. Weaving in and out of alleyways? Yes I have the entire map of Philadelphia memorized, but I don't have police checkouts marked on it! Plus motorbikes are a beacon for attention. 

Could we possibly get bicycles?

Yuri must have noticed my hesitation, "Don't worry babe there's an old abandoned subway station we could take as a shortcut. Then we'll get to the safehouse easily. Do you trust me?"

My breath catches in my throat but I nod slowly.

Ride or die am I right?

God I fucking hate Philadelphia.

⚜️

Hello my children, here's the first chapter, and I published it because I only needed a few opinions for this one.
However from the next chapter on, I'm gonna need all your OC's opinions SO DO THEM FAST   PLEASE. Thank you.
I hope you liked this one though, I put a shit ton of effort looking at Google Earth images of Philadelphia.