#jdanielatlassmut

“So,” Walter said, backing away from Merritt, “how’d I do it? Easy. You see, magicians like to control other people’s perceptions. In your heightened state of agitation, you saw the simplest cues- black tube, roof, and your mind filled in the rest. The tube you meant to go down was twenty feet to your right.” The Horsemen tensed. “Come on, sit down, sit down. There’s no point in standing there.”

The guards forced the Horsemen to the couch where Walter stood. Sutton sat down next to Lula, followed by Danny. “Anyway,” Walter continued, “once in the tube, yes, you’re right- blah, blah, blah. The strobe contained UV letters pulsing the word ‘sleep.’ That combined with the sound led you into an instant alpha pattern. You two,” he smiled, pointing to Sutton and Danny, “were actually quite cute. All cuddled into one another.” Sutton and Danny glanced at one another, blushing.

“And from then on, it really was just fun.” Walter ran over to the couch, squeezing himself between Jack and Lula. Sutton scooted herself closer to Danny, her legs practically on top of his. “And I can assure you, you don’t know what happened.”

Walter started a video which he cleverly titled “Our Trip to Macau.” Light music filled the air as embarrassingly uncomfortable photos of the Horsemen scrolled across the screen.

“That’s really creepy,” Lula said. Walter chuckled. “Really, really creepy.”

“That’s not cool,” Merritt stated as a picture of him and Walter showed on the screen.

“Yep, easy stuff, magic,” Walter announced. “I mean, if you put your mind to it.” 

A picture of Walter kissing Sutton’s cheek as he pushed Danny away appeared. Sutton gasped, appalled, as the others sucked in a breath. Sutton felt Danny’s body tense at the sight. She took a cautious glance to see his jaw clenching tightly. “Alright, that’s enough,” Danny told Walter. He sucked in a breath to calm himself down, Sutton running a hand down his arm. “So-so why are we here then, besides you getting to show off how adorably clever you are?”

“Not to mention how pissed you’ve just made Atlas,” Merritt murmured. Sutton glared at him.

“Well, to start with,” Walter explained, “the man you stole from last year, turns out I invested quite a lot of money in some of his companies so a lot of what you stole was in fact mine. Good news is, it’s very easy for you to pay me back. I just need your skills.” A picture of Owen Case flashed on the screen. “Owen and I were like the Beatles, if the Beatles had been-”

“Elfin?” Sutton suggested. “Creeps?”

“Geniuses,” Walter clarified.

“Pretty sure the Beatles were geniuses,” Lula reminded Walter.

“And like them,” Walter continued, ignoring Lula’s comment, “we had a dream. Could we create actual, genuine magic?”

“And I’m guessing one of you achieved that dream, and it wasn’t you?” Merritt concluded.

“That is what he would like you to think,” Walter said, standing. Sutton moved herself to a bit more comfortable position on the couch with the gift of space. “My vision was a perfect blend of intelligence and technology, but Owen wanted it for himself so he humiliated me by exposing my private files to the board of directors. Convinced them that I am unstable.”

“Did you take a picture of him while he was sleeping?” Danny cockily questioned. Sutton snorted.

“He had me kicked out of my own company and now he goes around taking credit for a chip that’s not just a key to one computer, but every computer system on the planet,” Walter explained. “It can unencrypt anything, crack the defense firewall, manipulate markets, and spy on anyone.” The Horsemen sighed. “And now it’s being sold to the highest bidder.”

“If you’re so rich, why don’t you just buy it?” Jack questioned him.

“So he gets the money and the pleasure? No. No, no, no. Besides, why would I buy it when I can have you steal it for me?”

“Oh,” Lula gasped. The Horsemen chuckled.

“It’s being previewed tomorrow by various suitors,” Walter stated, “which include your targets. A crew led by a South African gangster.” Lula mocked him. “Yes, so how your team gets past security, that’s up to you. But once you do, you just need to inspect it and steal it.”

“That’s it?” Danny questioned.

“Yeah, come on. This is perfect for you, isn’t it? You’re magicians and thieves.”

“What makes you think we’d even consider doing this?” Jack asked Walter.

“Um, wait, I had a reason. What was it? Ah, yes! You see, back home you’re wanted criminals, but here, I control the police, the casinos, the media. I can give you a new life, out of hiding,” Walter explained. Sutton’s ears perked up. She looked at Danny who looked back at her. The other Horsemen were contemplating it as well. “And, if you don’t, I’ll have you killed.”

The Horsemen stared at Walter, challenging him. He smiled, trying his best to be charming. “You know what?” Jack spoke up as he stood. “I’m not stealing a thing for you, not unless Dylan tells me it’s okay.”

“Really? And Dylan’s where exactly?” Walter questioned.

“It doesn’t matter. Yeah, I’m with him,” Lula stated, standing beside Jack. “So you can go ahead and kill us because I’m not going to steal anything for you either.”

“Huh, strikes me that a consensus seems to be forming, Walter,” Merritt concluded, taking his place beside the other two rebels, “and we’re calling your bluff.” 

The three looked back at Danny and Sutton as they sat together. Sutton glanced down at her fingers, thinking about Henley and why she left. Just as Sutton was about to say her piece, Danny spoke. “Actually, we’ll do it,” Danny stated as the others questioned him. “We’re in Macau. The oldest magic store in the world is here. We’ll get the supplies we need and, uh, we’ll do it.”

Danny stood and shook Walter’s hand, receiving a “thank you.” Walter walked off, leaving the Horsemen standing there in the empty room.

“Steal something? For this narcissistic little man-boy?” Merritt complained as the Horsemen walked down a busy road in Macau. “I don’t like it, but what I like less is you deciding for us,” he told Danny.

“Yeah? Do you like that we’re the laughing stocks of the magic world and the fugitives of the actual world?” Danny questioned him. Sutton hit his shoulder. “Walter is right. We-we have nowhere to go.”

“Yeah, but we can fix that!” Lula told him.

“We can fix it?” Sutton questioned her. “So you’re officially part of this wacky tribe that I call a family?” Jack and Merritt laughed as Danny gave her a side smirk.

“Look, even if we get this stick, he’ll never let us go,” Danny explained. “We can’t trust Walter, okay? The Eye has a history in Macau. They’re the only ones we can trust. Now, if we can get it to them, they can clear our names and get us the hell out of here. Come on.” He stepped into an old magic shop, followed by the others.

“It’s a bad plan, man,” Lula told him.

As the Horsemen entered the store, Danny, Sutton, Jack, and Lula headed for the counter. Merritt, on the other hand, took a trip around the store.

“Hey,” Danny said, ringing the desk’s bell multiple times. “Hi, how are ya? Um, we-we need some things custom made, actually by tomorrow. We’re kind of in a rush, and, uh, you-you have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?” he questioned as he realized the two people behind the desk were ignoring him.

The woman in the rocking chair threw something at the younger man, getting his attention. They started speaking to one another in Mandarin. The man stood, turning his attention to the four. “Welcome to Iong’s. My name’s Li, not Bruce Lee,” he sang as he let a springy snake fly at Sutton’s and Lula’s heads. Sutton squealed, moving out of the way and bumping into Danny, him grabbing her shoulders to steady her.

“Got you!” Li said. Next thing they knew, he pulled out a small light, having it fly and disappear in all kinds of ways. He seemed to have stuck it in his mouth and blow it back out, putting the light in Danny’s face.

“Oh, and now it’s by my head,” Danny complained. “How fun.”

“Twenty dollars,” Li told them. Lula complained about the price.

“No, thank you. We’re kind of in a rush,” Danny explained, only to be shushed by Li.

“Ten dollars,” Li winked.

“Uh, no way,” Sutton sneered. “You’re nuts.”

“Two for one,” Li said, pulling another one out and sticking them in Danny’s face. “One for you, the other for your girlfriend, eh?” Sutton’s face began to flush at the comment.

“Okay, just give us the thumbs, yeah?” Jack told him, noticing his best friend’s discomfort. He handed Li a ten dollar bill.

“Thanks a lot,” Danny said as he took the thumb lights. “Jack, please take these.” He handed them to Jack, who smiled and gave one to Sutton. She took it, mouthing Thank you.

“So we need a, um, Keplinger holdout, and we also need roughing fluid, a Sanada gimmick, sleeves, tracks. All in plastic, though, if you can,” Danny requested of Li.

Li turned to the older woman and began to explain what Danny said in Mandarin.

“You came up with that list in, what, half an hour?” Sutton asked.

Danny shrugged. “I have done harder things.”

Jack snickered. Danny rolled his eyes. “Same,” Sutton winked, making Lula snort.

The older woman looked at Danny and said something in Mandarin. “What?” Danny asked her as she turned back to Li. “Is there a problem?”

“My grandmother wants to know why plastic. Plastic is cheap,” Li interpreted.

“Sorry, yeah, we need plastic because we’re, um, uh, we’re going through a very sensitive metal detector. Okay?” Danny explained. “So plastic, nothing,” he motioned with his arms. “Metal, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo,” he gestured, “it detects.”

Again, the older woman replied in Mandarin, mimicking Danny’s movements. Li snickered.

“What did she say?” Sutton asked Li.

“She says, just because you are talking slowly and moving your hands, doesn’t mean she can suddenly understand English.”

Lula clicked her tongue. “Oh, yeah. So sorry, he’s racist.” 

Sutton rolled her eyes. “Not helping, Lula.”

“Uh, guys,” Merritt said, “we’ll be right back.”

“Okay, kiddies. The chaperones are watching you,” Chase stated as they left. “Don’t do anything I would enjoy.”

“Okay, have fun you two!” Danny sarcastically responded. He went over to Li, requesting to use his phone. 

Sutton glared at Danny, knowing just who he was calling. She walked over to Lula, who watched on as Jack approached Danny. The two stared as Jack let out a heavy sigh and Danny turned away from the group. Sutton hung her head, tears pricking at her eyes as she remembered what Danny did that day in the tunnel.

Lula noticed the uncomfortable tension floating in the room. “What is wrong with this thing?” she said as she stuck her fingers in a Chinese finger trap. She drew Jack’s attention to her.

“Relax, it’s just a kids toy,” Jack told her as he tried to help.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Ow!”

“Sorry, sorry!” Jack apologized. As the two struggled to remove Lula’s tense fingers, Jack asked Sutton, “Is that why you broke up with him?”

Sutton hummed a response as she looked up at Jack. Jack gestured to Danny with his head. “Danny. Did you break up with him because you knew he was contacting The Eye?” Sutton looked away. Jack nodded. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, Sut, but…”

Sutton sighed. “I know, Jack. You warned me. You all did.”

The Horsemen’s jeep pulled up to an extravagant building. “Just follow the guards,” Chase explained. “They’ll take you to my boss.” The Horsemen unloaded from the jeep. “Been fun playing this cat and mouse with you, broski,” Chase told Merritt. “Meow.” Merritt flipped him off in his own unique way. “Have fun at the Sands!”

The guards ushered the Horsemen into the building. They passed various gambling games as they walked.

“I am so, so, so sorry,” Merrritt profusely apologized.

“Yeah, you should be,” Danny told him, receiving a “Daniel!” from Sutton. “Don’t ever accuse me of betraying us again, okay?”

The Horsemen followed the guards into an elevator, Sutton standing between Jack and Danny. She looked at Danny as he stood with his hand against the wall, looking quite attractive with his jaw clenched. Jack knocked on Sutton’s hand to draw her attention to him instead.

“So are you two…” Jack drug out. Sutton bit her lip, shaking her head in response.

“Do you guys ever think that The Eye is watching this?” Lula asked the group. “You know, maybe this isn’t what they want? At like the exact right moment, they’re gonna just swoop in and we’ll be like, “Yes, thank God you’re here! Thank God! Just in the knick of time, Eye!” And we’ll just celebrate and it was all worth it in the end?” The group responded with silence. “I don’t even really think that either, so it’s cool.”

Just then, the elevator dinged, the wrong set of doors opening and drawing the Horsemen’s attention to music escaping into the elevator. They all turned to see a figure dancing on what appeared to be a balcony.

“Oh!” the figure spoke as he turned around to face the Horsemen. “Tada! So happy to be working with you!”

The Horsemen looked at each other. “Is it just me or does he look extremely familiar?” Sutton questioned the others, receiving glares from the others.

“Please come in! Come in!” the man told them. The guards drug the Horsemen out of the elevator.

“Wait, sorry,” Danny said, “how are you working with us?”

“Well, as much as a magician who pulled a rabbit from a hat,” the man explained as he put his shoes on, “is working with that rabbit, we’ll be working together, yes.” The man started toward them. “Uh, allow me to introduce myself.”

“Yeah, you’re Walter Mabry,” Jack responded. “You died a year ago.” 

Sutton shook her head. “Nope, that’s not right,” she muttered to herself. Danny elbowed her. “I know him from somewhere else! I promise!” Sutton whispered.

“Yes, an idea I got from you, Mr. Wilder,” Walter responded. “As well as you, Ms. Reeves.” He gave Sutton a smile. “You fake your death and the world puts its guard down. I’m able to control quite a few companies, including my old partner, Owen’s, through a consortium of so-called anonymous shareholders.”

“And that violates how many SEC laws?” Lula questioned him.

“I believe it breaks all of them,” Walter happily confirmed for her.

Lula faked a gasp. “All of them.”

“You see, you all want an audience,” Walter explained. “Need one, desperately. It’s quite sad, really. Hence my ability to nab you. I, on the other hand, want the opposite of that. I just want to be, and I am, 100% off the grid. You know why?”

“Yeah, because the grid is for actual human beings,” Danny responded.

Walter chuckled. “No, because in a world of total surveillance, the only true freedom lies in not being seen. You can’t control the grid from within the grid. Follow me.” Walter walked off, but the Horsemen stayed in place. “Follow me.” The guards pushed the Horsemen toward Walter.

“You pulled a hat out of a rabbit,” Walter said to Lula. “That was very colorful.”

“Almost eight and a half years ago,” Lula reminded him. “So no need to bring that up.”

“We can’t all be held accountable for adolescent personas, can we, Magicolio?” Walter asked Danny.

“Magicoli- That-That was fifteen years ago,” Danny said, looking down. Sutton raised an eyebrow as the others took glances at Danny.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love magic,” Walter stated. “Like you and many others who I suppose weren’t getting any sex in high school, I, uh, I dabbled with it. But, huh, unlike you, I was able to transition upward to actual magic.” Walter gestured toward the corner of the room. “Science, you may have heard it called. So, would you like to know, my friends, just how I got you here?”

“Mhm, we know how you did it,” Merritt responded.

“No, you don’t.”

“Yeah, you stole our files for the show, “Jack stated as Walter tried to stop him. 

“Then obviously hypnotized us,” Sutton added.

Merritt continued, “The strobe was a combo of binaural beats as well as-”

“I said stop!” Walter shouted, placing his hands on Merritt’s face. “You may not be having fun, but I am!”

The Horsemen each grimaced at the man. “You have an unusual way of showing it,” Merritt told Walter.

“Wait, what are you saying?” Danny questioned Merritt. “How is this possible?”

An eerie laugh sounded, drawing the Horsemen’s attention to the person. “I believe in your particular parlance, the word is “magic,”” the voice responded as the person spun around in their chair.

The jaws of every Horseman dropped. “That guy looks exactly like you!” Lula told Merritt who stood frozen. “He looks exactly like you. Are you seeing this right now?”

Sutton pulled on Merritt’s sleeve. “Is that your…?”

Merritt responded with a nod. “Chase.”

Chase smiled. “Must confess- it’s like what I heard about meeting the Rolling Stones. They’re a lot shorter in person.”

“Remember I told you about the guy who screwed me out of everything?” Merritt asked the Horsemen. “This is my twin brother, Chase.” Chase faked his flattery.

“Wait, did you do this?” Danny asked, stepping toward Chase. Men from all over the restaurant stood, shouting at Danny. Some grabbed onto the other Horsemen. Sutton pulled on Danny’s hand to stop him from moving any further.

Chase laughed. “As you can see, my boss doesn’t mess around.”

“I do not understand what is going on right now,” Lula stated, “at all.”

“Okay, let me break it down for you,” Chase replied. “You jumped off a rooftop in New York and you landed in Macau, AKA the Vegas of China, and, presto chango- don’t you just love it? The “greatest” magicians in the world are the object of someone else’s magic trick. Isn’t that poetic?” The Horsemen glanced at one another. “No? You know what- I’m not gonna let you guys yuck my yum. Shoo shoo, or moo shu. Whatever.”

The men holding the Horsemen shoved them out of the restaurant. “Oh, and you know what they say- what happens in Macau…” Chase’s voice trailed off.

The Horsemen were thrown into large black jeeps and driven down the streets of Macau.

“Are you okay?” Danny asked Sutton as the two sat beside each other, bumping into one another as the jeep drove on.

Sutton gave him a light smile. “I’m fine, Danny. I can take care of myself.”

Danny huffed. “I know. I’m just-”

“Frustrated?” Sutton smirked. Danny nodded. Sutton looked down. “I’m nervous,” Sutton muttered.

“Hey,” Danny whispered, picking up her chin, “don’t be nervous. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Sutton bit her lip. “I know you won’t.” She stared up at Danny in awe, seeing the man she had fallen in love with again for the first time in a long time.

“How can you two be so adorable at a time like this?” Merritt complained, drawing the attention of Jack and Lula.

“Are you gonna kiss?” Lula cooed.

Jack rolled his eyes. “Don’t be stupid. Danny hasn’t proven himself yet.”

Danny glared at Jack. “How do you even-”

“It’s all about blindspots,” Chase interrupted, Sutton silently thanking the creep. “When you’re staring straight at something and not see it. Why? Blindspots. We learned that together, didn’t we, bro?” Chase questioned Merritt. Merritt rolled his eyes. ”Did he tell you that we were partners once? No, I didn’t think so. The Mini-McKinneys.” Merritt sucked in his lower lip, ready to burst. “Chasey and Mer-Bear, gonna make ya scare-bear. Ma-Ma-Magic McKinneys.”

Merritt huffed, covering his face. “Cool,” Lula responded to Chase’s story.

“And then one day,” Chase continued, “we were twelve, and, uh, Virginia von welsheim had a very nice party down the street. I had a little tum-tum, couldn’t go. Mer-Bear did it on his own and got a taste of the solo thing, and, uh, kicked me to the curb.”

“Oh, God,” Jack sighed.

“Chase, you win!” Merritt yelled. “I concede. Just tell me how you did it.”

“Delivery guy came to your door, hmm, about a month ago,” Chase explained. “A little ‘za.”

“‘Za?’” Danny questioned.

“Pizza,” Sutton responded for Merritt.

“So what he did, my little womb-mate, is he, uh, downloaded all your private information.” Everyone glared at Merritt. “And my employer had all he needed.”

“Thanks,” Danny told him. Sutton hit him. “How did you know how to find him?” Danny asked Chase.

“That’s a very good question, Atlas,” Chase responded, pretending to lock his lips and throw out the key.

“Okay,” Danny responded, giving Merritt another glare.

Merritt sighed, guilt filling him. Sutton patted his leg in comfort. “It’s not your fault,” Sutton reminded Merritt.

“What?” Lula and Jack yelled.

“Sutton, don’t be ridiculous,” Danny told her.

Sutton glared at the others. “Oh, don’t act like you boys have never been hypnotized by me.” Jack and Danny looked at one another. “And should I explain what I made you each do?” They gave her pleading eyes. “Jack, you had to…”

“Don’t say it,” Jack muttered.

“...sing “I’m burnin’ up, burnin’ up, for you, baby” every time someone said, “I’m hot” for an entire week,” Sutton smirked. Jack slapped a palm to his face as Danny and Lula chuckled.

Merritt laughed. “This explains so much.”

“And you,” Sutton turned to Danny, a smile playing on her lips.

“You wouldn’t,” Danny challenged her.

Sutton raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. Better keep it PG.”

The others groaned. “This is so unfair!” Jack whined.

Sutton chuckled. “Maybe one day when we’re not in such a… compromising position.”

“Just give us a hint!” Lula pleaded. “Was it for your benefit? Danny’s?” Her eyes darted between the two. Danny’s blushed deepened even more. Sutton bit her lip. “Sutton, you naughty girl! Taking advantage of young Daniel like that!”

“God, now I need to know!” Merritt begged.

Jack grimaced disgustedly. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Sutton and Merritt quickly changed their outfits upon arriving backstage.

“Hey!” Lula waved as the mentalists appeared.

“Nice work, lady,” Merritt told her as he flipped his fedora on his head. Lula thanked him. The three walked up to the stage to wait.

Jack let out a sigh. “I’m actually nervous. I’m not even going on stage.”

“Me too,” Sutton smiled at him, reminding him he wasn’t alone. The two stretched their hands out to one another in front of Lula, giving the other a small squeeze in comfort.

“You know, I’ve heard that if you’re nervous, it can be really helpful to picture each other naked,” Lula told him. Sutton and Merritt stifled their laughs as Danny walked up between them.

“It’s actually ‘picture the audience naked,” Danny reminded her.

“No, this is new. This is a new science,” Lula told Jack. “So, I don’t know, do you wanna- we should try it.”

“Not the right mood,” Jack explained, looking off to the stage.

“I guess that leaves you and me, old buddy,” Merritt told Danny.

“What?” Danny asked. “Oh, to picture each other- No. No, thank you.”

“Hey, look- I mean, I admit, from the neck up, there are issues, but from the neck down, The David,” Merritt responded with a straight face. Sutton snorted a laugh. Danny gave her a look.

Lula grabbed Sutton’s shoulders. “I think what Sutton means to say is, she and Danny don’t need to leave things to the imagination. They are a much better pair for this experimental activity,” she winked.

Danny and Sutton looked at Lula in shock, then at each other. Thankfully, the announcer’s voice came over the speakers to inhibit their responses.

“Good morning, Octa-lites,” Merritt whispered into his headset. Owen’s voice repeated it to the audience. The audience cheered. “Now I’ve made the claim that Octa Eight was pure magic, but the truth is, that’s just one of those things I say. When, in fact, I mean something else. What else do I mean? Well, here to fill you in on some of my fabulous lies and hypocrisy, and to perform some of the most dazzling feats of magic you have ever seen, they are the world’s greatest magicians here to expose me for the fraud I truly am. Ladies and gentlemen, here are the Horsemen!”

“Showtime,” Jack whispered to Sutton as the two stepped back.

The two held hands as they watched their fellow Horsemen leap out into yet another performance without them, both sighing heavily. They heard the audience erupt into cheers.

“I better get going, Sut,” Jack told her. Sutton nodded as Jack kissed her cheek and left.

“Hello, New York!” Danny’s announcer-voice projected. “Thank you so much!”

“Hey, it’s great to be back!” Merritt told the audience.

“Have you met our newest Horseman?” Danny asked. “Lula!” Sutton winced as Danny introduced the world to Lula in the same place Henley once stood. “It feels good, right?” Danny asked Lula.

“Yeah, it’s pretty good,” Lula confirmed. “Pretty good.”

“Thank you, thank you. Uh, okay. We wanna talk to you about your privacy. Now, what does your privacy mean to you?” Danny questioned the audience.

“‘Cause apparently to Owen Case, it means absolutely nothing,” Merritt explained.

“No, actually it means less than absolutely nothing,” Lula clarified. “You see, he’s mocked your privacy. He’s scorned it.”

“Right, and we’re not just talking about the things you’ve already agreed to,” Danny explained further, “when you signed, uh, probably without reading, um, the terms and conditions of Octa’s one through seven.”

“Dylan,” Jack’s voice came over Sutton’s earpiece, “the FBI is here.”

“Oh, uh, don’t worry about it,” Danny told him. “Go to plan C4.” Sutton shook it off. She wasn’t part of that plan.

“Before we start the show, we had Owen agree to a few terms and conditions of our own,” Lula explained to the audience. “So, everything that he had once considered-”

Lula’s microphone started to crack and the sound of a speaker backfiring rang through the stage. Now, Sutton became worried.

“Yeah, everything, uh, that he once considered private,” Danny explained, trying to save the show, “is now-”

Danny’s microphone was lost now too. Sutton felt her heart begin to race. Another crack and backfire sounded, then a strange, creepy voice began to speak to the audience.

“Are you guys ready yet?” Dylan groaned as he waited for the Horsemen to emerge.

Merritt, Jack, and Lula all emerged within five minutes of Dylan’s complaint. That left Sutton and Danny alone. Everyone held their breath, hoping this was the time they made up. It would be the perfect time- right before a big heist.

“Oh!” Sutton called out as she bumped into Danny. “I-I’m sorry, Danny.” She went to move away, but Danny grabbed her hand. Sutton felt her neck heat up.

Danny pulled Sutton close to him, their faces just inches apart. He brushed a brunette hair out of her face. “Even with this wig covering your red hair, you’re still as beautiful as ever.” He gave her his signature smirk, the one Sutton fell for over and over again.

Sutton bit her lip as she looked up at Danny through her lashes. “You’re pretty handsome yourself.” She handed him the glasses he would need for later. Danny slipped them on to see how they looked. Again, Sutton bit her lip.

“What?” Danny asked with a smile.

Sutton smiled, not meeting the Illusionist’s eyes. “I never thought you could look more attractive. I was completely wrong.”

Danny let out a laugh. Then, he pulled Sutton even closer. He bent his neck, bringing his lips closer to Sutton’s. 

Sutton sighed, pushing herself off Danny’s chest. “We can’t, Danny.”

Danny grimaced. “But I thought we-”

“We were, yeah,” Sutton confirmed for him. “But I’m not ready. I don’t think you are either.”

Danny sighed, nodding. “Yeah, okay.” Sutton went to move away, but Danny kept holding her. “I’m not going to give up, Sutton. I’ll never give up on us.”

Sutton smiled. “I don’t expect you to.” Danny smiled as he pulled Sutton’s hand to his lips, them grazing her knuckles.

“I’m dying out here!” Merritt yelled. “Let’s go!”

~~

Dylan took to the crowd, making sure everything was set in place. Jack took his place outside of the main stage area dressed in his security guard uniform. Lula took her place with the food service staff. Merritt and Sutton took their place together, as usual, the two blending into the crowd of guests. Danny took his place backstage.

“We’re all good,” Jack’s voice came over the earpieces. “I’m heading to the control room.”

“Alright, thanks, Jack,” Dylan returned. “Atlas, go.”

“No, Dylan, I can’t,” Danny responded. 

“Why? What’s the problem?”

“No, there’s too many people, I can’t.”

“Atlas, I got Owen landing now,” Dylan reminded him. “Sutton?”

Sutton sighed, Merritt giving her a look as she adjusted her short wig, the length bothering her. She put her clothed wrist to her lips. “Danny, don’t worry about all the people there. You will be fine. You’re an amazing illusionist.” Merritt raised an eyebrow at her. She spun away from Merritt. “No one is as confident enough as you to do this. I would know.”

There was a pause. Everyone held their breath. Some also held a snicker in. “Thanks, Sutton,” Danny responded. Sutton smiled. She could hear Danny’s smile in this voice. “Okay, I’m going now.”

“Nicely done,” Merritt said, patting her on the shoulder as she returned to his side.

Sutton shrugged. “I did it for the team.”

Merritt gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the team,” he winked.

Merritt and Sutton stood at one of the tables, staking out the area and waiting for Owen Case to arrive. A few minutes later, Lula was arguing with a chef nearby. Suddenly, blood was squirting from her arm. Sutton resisted the urge to roll her eyes as people screamed.

“Showtime, Sut,” Merritt told her, grabbing her hand and heading toward Owen Case. “Get your flirt on.”

Sutton cleared her throat, stepping in front of Owen Case. “Hi, Mr. Case,” Sutton smiled, trying her best to reach her inner Henley. Owen looked her up and down and smiled. Sutton placed a hand on his chest. “I heard tonight is going to be a huge unveiling for you.” Her hand slid downwards with her words.

“It most certainly will,” Owen smiled, stepping closer to Sutton. He placed his hands on Sutton’s waist, giving Merritt the perfect opportunity to start his hypnosis.

Sutton removed Case’s hands from her waist as Merritt walked him to the storage closet Sutton had set up earlier. Merritt placed an earbud in Case’s ear and stood him in front of the camera.

“Look at the light,” Merritt finished. “Listen to your own voice.”

“Not bad, old man,” Sutton chuckled as the two headed for the backstage.

“Oh, cocky now, aren’t we?” Merritt laughed. “Watch out. You’re starting to sound like At-” He stopped himself.

Sutton rolled her eyes. “You can say his name, Merritt.”

“Right,” Merritt nodded.

Sutton rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the morning sun shining bright through her New York apartment window. She checked her Fitbit. It was only ten in the morning. Sutton yawned, the night life taking its toll on her sleep schedule. She had become more of a night owl than she had ever been since going into hiding, as per The Eye's orders 15 months ago.

Sutton sat up slightly on one elbow, staring down at her sleeping boyfriend. She ran her hand over his newly-shaven scalp. She loved the feeling of the short pricks tickling her skin. Her finger traveled over Danny's prominent features. Sutton cupped his chin and ran her thumb over his lips, just as Danny had done to her countless times. As she did this, Danny stirred slightly.

Knowing he would be awake shortly, Sutton's hand traveled down Danny's chest as she gave him a light kiss on the lips. Her hand traveled farther down Danny's abdomen where she drew her finger in various shapes. She found herself becoming lost in the memories of their love story.

"Ahhh!" Sutton screamed as she was thrown onto her back as Danny straddled her.

"Good morning, beautiful," Danny smiled at her as he bent down, placing a kiss to her lips as his hands expertly explored her body.

"Mhm. Good morning, handsome," Sutton smirked, cleverly moving her hips underneath Danny as she gripped his arms

Danny groaned, throwing his head from side to side. "Thank God for this sheet between us or I would be having my way with you already this morning."

Sutton giggled, playfully pushing Danny off her. Sutton held the sheet close to her body as she stood. She twirled back around, watching the sheet fall from Danny's body.

"Hey, not fair!" he smiled, jumping off the bed and over to her, trying to fight his way into the sheet.

Sutton laughed as he began to tickle her. She forced her arms open, allowing Danny to wrap his arms tightly around her, their naked bodies becoming one once again. Danny kissed her hard, slightly bending her backwards.

"Round two in the shower?" Sutton said with the lift of her eyebrow.

"What do you think?" Danny replied, mimicking Sutton's actions and dragging her to the shower.

~~

Sutton emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and freshly combed hair. With her glasses slightly foggy, she padded lightly to the kitchen, scooping coffee grounds into the maker and filling it with water. As the coffee maker boiled to life, she walked back toward the bathroom. Danny was just stepping out of the shower.

"Danny, how many times do I need to remind you to dry off in the shower?" Sutton huffed at her boyfriend.

"I'm sorry, beautiful," Danny smirked as he grabbed for Sutton's towel. Expertly pulling at the tucked in fabric, he pulled the towel open, wrapping it around his body and drawing her near in the process. "It's much nicer to dry off with you."

Sutton bit back a smile. "You do know you're just making me wet all over again, right?"

Danny cocked an eyebrow. "Sutton Reeves, I do believe you have worn me out for the morning."

Sutton hit Danny's shoulder. "Jackass!" she laughed, pulling his mouth to hers.

Somewhere in the apartment, a voice cleared their throat. Sutton and Danny stared at each other, neither one moving.

"Hello?" the voice called. "Mating season is over, lovebirds!"

Sutton and Danny let out the air they had been holding in. "Why are you here, Merritt?" Danny called out, giving Sutton her towel back and getting his own. "You're supposed to be with Jack and Henley until tonight."

"Emergency meeting," Jack's voice answered, followed by a crunch of chips.

Sutton huffed. "Jack, stop eating my food!" She heard Jack mimic her obnoxiously.

Danny kissed the top of her head. "Now you know how I feel every single day," he chuckled.

~~

After awkwardly shuffling to Sutton's room and quickly changing, Sutton and Danny went out to meet their fellow Horsemen. Danny took a seat on the couch with Sutton snuggling up beside him.

"Please tell me we have something, Dylan," Danny questioned the mastermind behind their first scheme. Sutton pushed Danny's shoulder back as if to tell him to chill.

"I'm afraid not, Danny," Dylan replied as he wrung his hands around one another. He glanced over at Henley, who was biting her lipstick-coated lips.

"Hen?" Sutton's voice piped up. Henley didn't look at her. "Henley?" Sutton called again. Still, Henley didn't look at her. Sutton looked around at Jack, Merritt, and Dylan, begging for a reason as to what was wrong with her cousin.

Merritt looked down at his hands, thumbs twiddling over and over again. Jack looked down at the bag of chips in his hands, suddenly disgusted by them. Dylan, on the other hand, kept glancing over at Henley.

Sutton looked at Danny, who was repeating her motions of searching for answers. He looked at her, confusion written all over his face as well. "Did we-?" they both started before Sutton finished for them. "Did we do something wrong?"

Henley shot her a look, eyes wide. "No, of course not, sweetie," Merritt counseled her, giving her knee a light pat.

"Then what the hell is going on?" Danny questioned, his eyes boring through Dylan before moving onto Henley. Sutton looked at him, knowing he was thinking the same thing as her.

Dylan started. "It's compli-"

"I'm leaving the Horsemen," Henley announced, her eyes filling with tears as her voice cracked.

The next morning, Sutton made breakfast for the boys to cure their hangovers. As the eggs cooked slowly on the stove, Sutton cut up various fruits to help speed things along. As she was cutting up her favorite hangover fruit, a vibration traveled through the countertop. Danny’s phone lit up, showing the picture of the two kissing while wrapped in a bedsheet. It was Sutton’s favorite picture of the two and always made her smile. Curious, Sutton leaned over as she made her final cut on the banana.

3:00 AM, the text message read on the screen, followed by a street address.

Sutton crinkled her eyebrows, her face clearly displaying her concern. She quickly typed the address into Google Maps. From what Sutton could see on the satellite view, it appeared to be an abandoned building..

Rustling from the couch caused Sutton to jump, her phone fumbling in her hands. Quickly swiping out of Google Maps and turning her phone face down on the countertop, Sutton turned her attention back to the eggs, mentally fighting with herself whether or not to confront Danny.

A pair of arms wrapped around her waist. “Good morning,” Danny’s sleepy voice whispered in her ear. His lips traveled down to Sutton’s neck, much like they did any morning she was up and moving before Danny.

“Morning,” Sutton said, trying her best to sound chipper and not like the noisy girlfriend she was. “How do you feel?”

Danny rubbed his head as he let go of Sutton and made his way over to his phone. Picking it up, he sat at the small dining room table. “I’m not bad. Just a small headache.” 

Sutton hummed a response, watching Danny carefully as he looked at his phone. His eyes grew large as he read the message. His signature smirk crossed his lips. Obviously, the unknown number was known fairly well to Danny. If he wasn’t going to tell her, Sutton was going to find out for herself just who this person was.

~~

The night was long. Danny claimed to be going to bed at 12:00 PM with a stomach ache. Sutton told him she would sleep on the couch so he could sleep. Danny scrunched his eyebrows at this, wondering why Sutton would deny cuddling with him. It was unlike her, especially when Danny was sick. They both laid wide awake in their separate sleeping quarters, each wondering what the other was thinking and what was going to happen in the next few hours.

Danny’s mind spun with anticipation of who may be behind The Eye and what they may want him to do. He had imagined himself leading the Horsemen far better than Dylan for over a year now. Would they accept him as such?

On the other hand, Danny couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with Sutton. She had acted strange all day, keeping her distance and not seeming affected by any affection Danny gave her. It crossed his mind many times in the last two months if Sutton knew what he was up to. The worst thoughts that crossed his mind were what Sutton would do if she ever found out Danny’s secret contacts with The Eye.

Danny shook his head, not wanting to go down that road. He looked at his phone. 1:00 AM. One more hour to keep himself wide awake and travel into the unknown.

Sutton laid on the couch, constantly tossing and turning. She had started reading a book when Danny went to bed and had finished it in two hours. Now, her brain just wracked. Who was this unknown caller? Was it another girl? Worse yet, was he trying to contact The Eye? The secrets grew in her head more and more as the night went on. 

Sutton looked at her phone. 2:00 AM. Not long after that, she heard rustling in the bedroom. Sutton could hear Danny’s feet glide against the wood floor in the night’s silence. She knew what he was doing- pulling on a dark hoodie and dark jeans, because he didn’t like walking around in sweatpants

Sutton was broken out of her trance when the bedroom door creaked open. She smirked to herself when she heard Danny whisper a curse. Her body stiffened slightly when she felt a hand brush the hair out of her face. Danny placed his hand on the side of Sutton’s face and ran a thumb along her jawline. Sutton wanted so badly to lean into his touch.

“I love you, Sutton.” Danny’s whisper was just above inaudible. He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a few seconds before moving to her lips. His kiss was gentle, light as a feather. It was almost as though it were a farewell kiss.

Danny’s weight shifted and he stood. “I’m doing this for the Horsemen,” he croaked, motivating himself. He walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. He looked back at Sutton and left.

Sutton counted to five and sprang up. She was already dressed in her black joggers and black hoodie. Quickly, Sutton pulled on her black and gray sneakers, tying them tightly. Grabbing her phone, Sutton ran to the door and didn’t look back.

Sutton knew Danny wouldn’t be far. Google Maps said the abandoned building was 30 minutes away by walking. It was only 1:10 AM. When she opened the apartment building door to the street, Sutton looked around for Danny. Not more than 40 feet away, she noticed the familiar silhouette walking in the same direction she needed to go. Hands in pockets was Danny’s signature when he was nervous, and that was exactly what this person was doing. Sutton picked up her walking pace.

After ducking behind trash cans, standing perfectly still, and trying her hardest to not walk too fast, Sutton followed Danny into the abandoned building that read “Subway to Manhattan.” Sutton mimicked Danny’s actions as she stepped through his path, traveling down a set of stairs and through a lightly lit tunnel. Sutton slowed as she noticed Danny stop. He removed his hood and Sutton noticed he took out his ear buds.

Sutton rolled her eyes. All the sneaking around was for nothing if he couldn’t actually hear her coming.

Danny was on the move again as he traveled deeper into the abandoned subway station. Again, they traveled down a set of stairs, the artificial light vanishing slowly. Sutton followed Danny through standing water which sat between dips in the tunnel. Finally, they came to a door. Danny pushed the door open slowly and walked in, the door slamming shut behind him. 

Sutton cursed loudly, throwing her hand over her mouth. She noticed a symbol on the door which could belong to only one group- The Eye. She touched the symbol, running her fingers along every curve and angle, studying it carefully. Allowing curiosity to get the better of her, Sutton leaned against the door, hoping to hear something.

“Trust?” a voice clearly coming out of speakers from inside spoke, the words muffled. “Your leader? Your fellow Horsemen? Perhaps even us?” Sutton automatically stepped back, not caring much to try and hear Danny’s response. She shook her head, disappointed in her boyfriend’s actions. 

“You might not be a cheater,” Sutton told the air, “but you're one hell of an asshole.” She turned, quickly making her way back to the entrance.