Angst

/äNG(k)st/

noun

a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general

In the end, it was decided that I could go on the raid. All the way to the hanger we would departing from, Luke's arm was protectively flung over my shoulder as he held me close to his body. The warmth of his body captivated mine as we walked into the cool open space.

The leaves on the end of the trees were discoloring and falling every day as the temperatures dropped from the previous warmth to the now cool air.

"Okay we are only going into the vault in two groups of three. The less we have, the less our chances of being caught," Michael said when we all were accounted for in the center of the hangar. Two blue vans were on standby just a few steps ahead of us. "So, one group will be Luke, Calum, and Daniel and the other will be Melissa, Ashton, and I."

I glanced over to Luke, who still had his arm encompassing me, to find his face flushed with anger as he tried to hold it in. My hands went up to his chest, trying to calm him down but failing miserably.

"Michael," his voice came out menacingly low as his eyes glared at him. Michael's face turned from one of confusion to understanding in an instant.

As everyone left to get ready to leave, Michael made his way over to speak with us, clipboard with his full plan written on it.

"I don't think I can put you and Melissa together," he whispered, holding it out to show Luke the plan diagram.

Luke's face filled with sadness as he looked closely at the plans. I peered over his broad shoulder, not fully understanding why his eyebrows were furrowed in contemptment. When I studied the building filled with X and O markings I began to comprehend the full level of this.

All the X's were scattered up and down the East side of the tower, while all the O's were on the opposite side, making it practically impossible for Luke to protect me while being in another group. I was put inside the computer room yet again while Ashton and Michael would be up on the next level looking for any clues as to where the code would be found.

On the other side of the building, Luke, Calum, and Daniel were spread thin, looking on each level they could before we had to abort the mission. Each boy was on a seperate floor, making me quite anxious as to what would happen to Luke.

Although I usually appeared calm and organized, right now I was a scared mess of nerves. I knew Luke was highly trained, but having him alone on a floor of enemy territory was not my ideal thought for this raid.

I glanced over at Mikey, slightly mad at him for putting Luke in a dangerous position.

"Who gave you the right to put Luke alone during a highly classified raid?" I asked, trying to keep my voice down, but inside wanting to squeeze the life out of Michael for not thinking his plan through.

"Melissa," he began to defend himself, sounding as calm as one can in a time like this. "If I didn't put Luke there, we would have messed up the dynamic. I promise I know what I'm doing; strategic defense is what I specialize in." He took a breath and continued explaining when he saw the confusion covering my face. "Calum and I work at the same pace when it comes to things like going through files. Luke's a field agent, he doesn't do stuff like that. If I put a specialized field agent with a specialized hacker, we wouldn't get what we need out of this raid."

"He's right," Luke suddenly spoke, throwing me off guard. "I would be better going floor to floor than getting files with him or Calum."

I threw my hands in the air, tired of being told the same thing. I understood what they were saying and why it was important. Luke being safe was my priority though.

"There's no way to put him in less danger and get the same amount of intel from this place?" I asked, making sure there were no loopholes I was missing.

"Not unless we leave him here, which will never happen since you're going."

I let out a sigh, running my hands through my hair one last time before turning my heel to walk towards to van. "Let's get going then."

Michael joined me in walking as we made our way speedily to our assigned vehicle. All of a sudden a tug came from my arm as I was pulled back to face the blonde boy whom I did not know the name of only a few weeks ago. I found it funny how that had worked out, but now we couldn't go anywhere without the other without stressing over their well being. Some would call it messed up; I called it deep infatuation and adoration.

"Promise you'll come back to me in one piece?" he whispered, our lips practically on each other's as I gazed up in his eyes.

My heart rate sped up at his simple, yet meaningful, request. I pursed my lips, holding back tears that threatened to fall, thinking about how much he truly cared for me.

"Promise," I whispered back as our lips came in contact for a short peck.

He pulled away, turning on his heel to run to his group only a few feet away.

"Luke!" I called after him. He stopped mid step to turn back to me, amusement clouding his eyes as he did so. "Promise?"

He smiled, knowing that I wanted him to promise the same thing I did to him.

"I promise," he shouted loud enough for me to hear him.

I smiled at this as the engines of the vans began to hum through the hangar and we both ran to our separate vans.

When I reached mine, Michael was sitting in the shotgun seat, making me take the back. I climbed in, closing the door behind me and sat back in my seat, trying my best to relax.

"You and Luke really need to calm it down," Michael suddenly said, sounding annoyed at our behavior.

My ears perked up at this, not understanding what he meant by his rude comment.

He continued despite my lack of response, "You guys are so cheesy it makes me want to puke."

Him and Cal began to make gagging noises as I laughed whole heartedly from the backseat, all nerves disappearing as we set off on our hour long journey except one: my fear of Luke being injured.

----------------------

"Will you shut up?" I asked angrily, gritting my teeth to avoid yelling. "I will be fine," I practically spat out the words, pronouncing every syllable precisely as it fell off my tongue.

"I'm just making sure," Michael defended, holding his hands up as if to signify surrender. "Luke would kill me if you don't come back unharmed in any way."

"Do you want to wrap me in bubble wrap then?" I asked sarcastically. "You know, just to 'ensure my safety.'"

Michael glared back in response, shaking his head after a moment and turning back to Calum to discuss the plan quietly amongst themselves.

"And Lis-"

I cut Calum off as he began speaking, "Go to the control room and turn off the cameras. I know."

I threw my bag over my shoulder as I got ready to slide open the van door and jump out.

"Last chance to wrap me in bubble wrap Michael," I called over my shoulder when I exited.

"Don't tempt me," he grumbled through my earpiece to avoid his voice being heard as he would have had to shout after me at the distance I was from the van.

I rolled my eyes at his response and continued walking hastily to the side door I was to enter through.

As I approached it, I pulled out my light and shine the blue tint on the keypad guarding the door. Fingerprints became visible as the rays hit and I began to read the numbers off to Calum through the earpiece.

"2, 3, 5, 9," I read off in numerical order.

Minutes pass as I assumed they were waiting for the hack results as to what the code to the entrance is.

"Calum, could it be a word spelled out?" Michael's voice erupted into the speaker of my earpiece.

"Which White Coat runs this lab?" I asked impatiently, catching on to Michael's thoughts as I spoke through the microphone attached to my clothing.

"Kadz," Calum's voice said faintly as though he was concentrated on something entirely different than my question.

I hurriedly arranged the numbers in the order of his name and entered them into the keypad. At first the red light continued to blink periodically, but suddenly a green light flashed and the door popped open towards me.

"I'm in," I spoke through the microphone to them.

"Couldn't they have made that a little harder of a passcode? Anyone can guess that," I heard Michael grumble on the other side before the feed to the van went dead and I knew they were running over here to enter the lab.

When they arrived, I slipped in and held the door as they filed in the hallway.

"The security room is down that hall on the left," Calum told me, pointing down one side of the pure white corridors.

"I'll give you the go when I turn off the cameras," I told them before turning on my heel and running down the hallway as silently as possible, remembering to keep my head down.

When I reached the door, I hurriedly slipped in and went to work.

The system was easy to crack and get into, but the anxiety in my body built as I saw a blue van pull up and a familiar blonde boy step out.

"Calum," I snapped into the receiver.

"What?" he asked quickly, alerted by my mood change.

"Why is Luke about to enter the building at the front gate when the cameras aren't disabled?" I spat through gritted teeth, seething at the danger he was in.

I heard curses flow from both Michael and Calum's mouths as I told them the new found information.

"We'll try to stop them," Calum tried to assure me.

"No, you will stop them or so help me, you will be missing a valued organ by the time we leave this building." I practically screamed into their ears.

Judging by the silence, they knew I was serious. I could hear them through the mic on their vests talking to Luke's group and telling them to wait until further command. A murmur of protest erupted from the other side as I sighed in annoyance.

"Calum, put me on with them," I said, agitated by their ignorance to the danger they would be in if they continued moving.

Rustling took over the line before Calum told me that they could hear me.

"Ashton, Luke, listen to me well. If you go beyond those gates you will be spotted by active security cameras and our whole mission will be at risk and compromised. I suggest if you want us all to get out alive, you stop being stubborn and go back to your van until further informed."

Loud gulps were heard as footsteps ceased movement. Rustling was heard yet again as I assumed they were heading back to the vans, heeding my advice.

I ripped my earpiece out and began working on the hack. As my fingers flew across the keyboard, I was vaguely aware of time. I pressed enter and a box appeared, filling with blue to signify how much of the security shutdown was complete. When the confirmation icon appeared and I clicked the 'Yes' option I hurriedly grabbed my microphone to radio to the boys.

"Security is disabled, part B of mission can now be commenced." I stated in an even tone despite my trembling hands and shaking demeanor.

Suddenly the walkie talkie on my belt went off to signal that we were a go, and I knew that Luke would be entering the building now.

"Lissa, I'll contact you when we are ready to go and you need to turn on the security again," Michael's voice said through the earpiece.

"Thanks," I responded before turning off my mic and removing it from the collar of my black turtleneck.

My hands ran through my blonde hair as I watched the unrecording cameras capture my blonde beauty enter the doors of the lab behind Ashton.

"Stay alive Quiffie," I mumbled to myself as I leaned back into the only swivel chair of the security room.

Edited: 25 October 2016