#noablack

“I know you three can hear me. The body you’re hovered over has a tracker in it. And with it being in the same spot for as long as it has been, and no one able to find you elsewhere in the penthouse, I thought it was safe to assume you are with the body. So I just wanted to take the time to introduce myself. I think it’s just rude to just kill someone and not introduce yourself.”

As he finished speaking, the three siblings heard multiple footsteps entering the penthouse. Terri tried to make out how many they were up against, but it seemed like way more than the four that came in before. Trying to think of how to get out of the situation, she sat by the door leading to the hallway and leaned her back up against it.

“Terri, what are we gonna do?” Stanley asked, with the gun shaking in his hand.

“Just wait.” Terri responded with her eyes closed.

Charlie collapsed down on the toilet, “I can’t believe I’m gonna die like this.”

“Oh ye of no damn faith.” Stanley growled.

“You have an bright ideas?!”

“Guys!,” Terri whispered harshly, “Just… wait.”

“Commander Cross here.” A voice came through the radio. “I was told to give one more chance,” He started, as his grinned welcomed death and all its splendor. Either one of you die, or all of you die. It makes no difference. You have 10 seconds. “10”

Levi spoke into her watch, “Fox, are you ready?”

“9”

“Fox!”

“8”

“Fox! Do you copy?!”

“7”

“6”

“5”

“4”

“3”

“Panther! Brace yourself!” A voice shouted through the watch.

Terri instantly took the boys by their arms, and as the sounds of little explosions sounded, the floor beneath them collapsed to the floor below. When they crashed to the floor below, Terri saw men and women positioned with their guns pointed up to the floor they came from. Letting loose on the intruders that had them cornered. Bullets flew down from the intruders above, but the team below overpowered them, killing anyone who attempted to shoot down at them. There were also intruders that jumped down into the hole that Terri and her brothers fell through, but they also failed to do any damage. Before long, the firing came to a halt, and Commander Cross ordered his team to retreat. Terri was frozen on her back with her gun still pointed in the air at the hole above. She was always protective of her brothers. Even though it was weird for them, she always helped them when they needed it. And today, she was not ready to lose either of them. She--

“Terri,” a man called out as he reached out his hand to help her up. “It’s over now. You can get up now.” As the man took off his mask, the scars of battle were the first thing anyone noticed on his caramel brown skin. A scar that almost reached his right hazel colored eye and a few others on his cheek and forehead.

She looked at him and she began to calm down. She looked at her brothers still on the floor. Alive, but in shock. She exhaled and brushed herself off, then picked her brothers up off the floor.

“Terri, who is this?” Stanley asked.

She looked at him then looked back at the mystery man in charge. She looked back at him and started “Well, he--

“I’m Captain Julius Sharpe. Your guiding light, your best plan of escape, your life line to stay alive. So you have two choices. Leave if you don’t trust me and your sister, Or stick with us if you want to live.

“Even if we do go with you, what happens from here? What do we do now?” Charlie asked, emotions still running high.

“We get to mom.” Terri answered.

“But, it won’t be easy.” Commander Cross added. “She was moved by our people to a secure location. But, we have to assume that who your mom is working for, knows this, and is currently on their way to her as we speak.”

Stanley’s eyes widened, “So what are we wai--”

“We are waiting,” Capt. Sharpe interrupted, “For you two to get your shit together and come with us to help your mom.” He said as he took a step closer to them, staring them down.

Charlie and Stanley looked at each other and then looked at Terri.

“Guys,” Terri started, “You can trust us. I know I kept this part of my life away from you both. And I’m sorry about that. But, for now, we have mom’s safety to worry about. Can we handle that?”

Stanley sighed, “Sure, I’m with it. But, you have a lot of explaining to do.” And walked off.

“What about you choir boy?” Terri asked as she turned to Charlie.

“Sure whatever, Charlie responded quickly. “But, Captain Prick here,” glancing at Sharpe, “He better know what he’s doing.”

“I guess me saving your ungrateful ass doesn’t count for anything does it?”

Charlie attempted to get in Sharpe’s face, but Terri stepped in. “You two settle the hell down. We need to focus on what’s most important, getting to HQ.” She turned to Charlie, “We have to hurry. So whether you like him or not, we all need to work together right now.”

Charlie backed up, not breaking his stare down with Sharpe, “Sounds perfect. Can’t wait.” Then he walked away to find Stanley.

“He’s just like you know, ya know? Terri said to Capt. Sharpe.

Still, Charlie wouldn’t back down, “Terri!,” He shouted over incoming bullets and glass breaking, “What are you hiding from us?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you!”

“Try me!”

Terri looked at both Stanley and Charlie. Knowing she could no longer keep his secret, she looked at her watch, held it up to her mouth and said, “Fox, what’s your position? We are taking heavy fire!”

In complete disbelief, Charlie screamed, “This isn’t the time to-“

“Copy Panther!” A voice said back through the watch, “We’re a few floors below you, and sending men over the other building. Hold your position for a little while longer.”

“Who the hell is that Terri?” Charlie screamed.

Terri couldn’t look at Charlie or Stanley. She knew if she said anything about his mission, they wouldn’t believe her, or possibly they’d resent her. Would they believe her? She had to kept this secret from them for so long, how would they take it? She couldn’t imagine how they would respond if they found out--

“Terri!” Stanley yelled again, finally getting her attention.

Terri snapped out of her thoughts, not realizing Stanley had been saying her name a few times. “What?” She asked sternly as she looked at Stanley.

“They stopped firing, what should we do?”

She didn’t notice it before, but the bullets stopped flying through the condo. And there was nothing but silence, bullet holes, and a secret waiting to make itself known. Whether she wanted it to or not. He took in a deep breath and exhaled--

“Panther, Hawk and his team took care of the other building and picked up four unfriendlies coming your way. They’re rappelling down the side of the building to you.”

“How long til you get here?” Levi asked quickly

“Not sure.” The voice replied with gunshots flaring in the background. “They cut the power to the elevator. So we’re making our way up the stairs, but—

Levi quickly covered her watch to mute the sound. Hearing footsteps on the shards of glass on the floor, she gestured toward Stanley to give her the gun.

She checked the clip and saw there were 15 bullets left. Quietly taking the gun off safety, she took out her phone and brought up live feeds of the condo on the screen. Even though a few of the cameras were knocked out, she still had a good view on them. As the three of them lay hidden behind the island in the kitchen, she quietly told them to stay where they were. She checked the video footage and saw one man coming towards the the kitchen and the others headed towards the rest of the condo. She reached into the coat pocket of her blazer and pulled out a silencer and put it on the gun.

Charlie and Stanley made a quick glance at one another, scared, and anxious to see how this would play out. But, Levi was calm and collected. “

So you just walk around with silencers in your pocket?” Charlie whispered.

“No. I have a gun it goes to, dumbass” she whispered back sharply. Showing him her gun she had hidden.

She’d been in this type of situation plenty of times. In this situation she knew she could only use so many bullets for one person. One kill shot for each of them if she could pull it off. Cause If it ended up in a shootout, Stanley and Charlie were at a disadvantage because they were unarmed. And she didn’t know if the four in the condo would be the only ones, so every bullet mattered. As the others dispersed to other sections of the house looking for the brothers, one of the invaders slowly approached the kitchen. She quickly thought of how to handle this one. Instead of the gun, she thought it was about time she used what Dr. Hamm little project. As the intruder reached the island, circling around to where the siblings were, Terri reached for her waist, and took out a small metal object from off her belt buckle. She pressed a button located on its side and it quietly floated above her hand. Controlling the little drone from her phone, It silently circled around the island to the back of the intruder. As the intruder moved closer, she was trying to position the drone to get a proper shot. Just when the intruder had eyes on them, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and was unable to move. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and started to fall.

Terri got up quickly to catch the intruder on the way down. She checked to see if any of the other intruders were coming, but no one did. Stanley sat wide eyed on the floor. His heart was racing, sweat forming in his hands, and Charlie was right behind him in awe as well. They didn’t know their sister was, um, this person. Stanley thought she was amazing. Charlie still couldn’t believe what he was seeing or what was happening.

“For now,” Levi spoke quietly, hovering over the intruders body, searching for weapons and any communicating device, “We are being hunted. As many questions as you might, and likely do have, that needs to be put on hold. We need to deal with his first. Understood?

Both of them nodded their heads.

“Good, now Charlie, take this bullet proof vest. Stanley, you take the gun.”

As she handed Stanley the gun, Charlie blurted out, “How come he gets the gun? Before this, he probably never touched a--

“To let off some steam, when the gym isn’t doing it for me, I go to the gun range. I’ve been doing that for about two years now.” Stanley stated. “Have you touched a gun, church boy?”

Charlie knew he didn’t, so he had no words to argue back.

“Didn’t think so.” Terri added. Then she looked at Stanley and said, “I saw how you handled the gun when you shot the phone. I could tell it wasn’t your first time. So, I need you to be my backup. There is no telling when my team is going to get here.”

With fear overcoming him, Stanley stumbled over his words, “B-b-but, what if I--”

“Little brother, you’ll be fine. I know you’re scared, but use that fear to defend us. But, more so, defend yourself.

Stanley was still scared, but he nodded his head, trying to normalize his breathing.

Terri looked at her phone and saw that one of the intruders was still downstairs in the office room. The other two went upstairs. The intruder in the office area was at the other end of the hallway. They started to move to the other end as well. She led, Charlie was in the middle, and Stanley was watching the rear. They made it down the hallway to where the bathroom was. She led them in there and told them to wait.

She looked at her phone and saw that the intruder was still in the room. knowing the intruder was headed towards the stairs. She pulled Stanley to her and said, “Stanley, here’s the plan, you see the bookcase there?”

He nodded.

I’m going to go in when he passes the book case. Wait by the door, I need you to open the door and catch the body before it falls to the ground.”

“How am I supposed to know when?”

“Remember that counting game we did when we were younger?”

“The one you taught me to learn how to count backwards?”

“Yes, countdown from five fast. When you see me go through the door to the office. Okay?”

She looked at her phone and saw the intruder was finally leaving, she smiled and went through the door.

He started, “5 apples 4, 3 apples 2. 1 apple for me, and 0 for you.” He quickly flung the door open and leaped toward the intruder just before he hit the floor.

Terri quietly made her way to Stanley, “Nice. Two down, two to go.” She looked at her phone, just when she did, she saw an intruder about to walk down the stair well.

She mouthed to Charlie “Hurry! Grab the body and move it!”

Charlie quickly came out the bathroom and picked up the body, and carried it in the bathroom and closed the door. When he set it down, he heard one of the intruders on the person’s radio.

“No sign of them up here, Miller, what you got?”

Charlie looked back at Terri, “What should we do? Should we say something? What--”

(“Miller, do you copy?”)

“Calm down! How can we imitate a voice we never heard, stupid?”, Terri shot back.

(“Hall, do you have eyes on Miller?”)

“Well, this obviously wasn’t in your plan, so I’m jus--”

The intruder trying to open the bathroom door interrupted Charlie from continuing.

Terri and Stanley looked at each other and pointed their guns at the door. The intruder tried the door once more and stepped back from the door. Stanley and Terri stood still like action figure dolls, unwilling to be caught off guard, ready for whatever was to happen next. Stanley’s hands shook, sweat rolled down the side of his face. While Terri stood resolute, unwilling to let her brothers die.

The intruder spoke over the radio again, “Commander Cross, requesting back up, I think Mil--” The intruder looked over at the kitchen and saw the body of his comrade on the floor. “Miller is down, I think Hall is too. They didn’t set off the trap at the front door, so I know they are still here.”

“I send four highly trained professionals to kill three civilians. But, not only do two of you get killed, now you need back up? Let me in.”

The intruder quickly went to the door and unarmed the trap intended to surprise the three siblings. The door opened. And from the bathroom it sounded like multiple people came in. They made their way back to the front bathroom door.

The intruder continued, “I’m sorry I wasn’t--”

“Were you about to seperate yourself from the group Yates?”

“No sir, I--”

“Now you’re telling me I’m wrong? It’s okay Yates, I get it. You weren’t responsible. But, since you’re not part of the group, I’ll help you separate yourself.

“Sir! Wai--”

Before he could finish, he was shot in the head.

In the bathroom, they heard the body falling to the ground.

Mr. X stood up from his seat, which was positioned in the window directly parallel to the condo the boys were in.

“Well, since you asked, I suppose it would be rude of me to ignore your inquiry.”

They were all on the edge of their seat. Awaiting his answer.

Mr. X, exhaled deeply and said, “Loyalty.”

“Wait,” Charlie interrupted. “You want one of us to die to prove our loyalty? How would killing my brother or sister prove my loyalty?”

“It would prove your loyalty to us. Your extended family.”

“What kind of ‘family’ makes us choose between killing each other or letting our mom die?”

"Well, how do you think your mom got to join our family in the first place?" Mr. X responded with a smile. Silence spread over the room. They were left speechless. Their minds trying to come up with an answer for that dreadful question. "Never crossed your minds I see. Going from barely hanging on mom to 'self-made' millionaire seems like such an awesome story. When you leave out certain parts, of course." He chuckled.

"Who did she have to kill?" Stanley finally blurred out.

"Would you even believe me if I told you?“asked. “Besides, you really shouldn’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to, young man.”

Stanley cocked his arm back as if he wanted to throw the phone, but knew he couldn’t. They needed more answers. But, it seemed the more answers they got, the more confusing and unbelievable things became.

Stanley stared at the ground, “You don’t think she—“

Charlie cut him off, “That Mom killed somebody? I mean, can we put it past her now?

Terri head shot up and she glared at Charlie, “What does that even mean?”

Charlie got out of his seat, “Mom has had her hand in all of our successes. In ways that most of society would deem ille—“ Charlie paused for a second. “Wait a minute, we never really got around to you, Terri. How is Mom helping you these days?” He asked as he leaned up against the wall.

Terri chuckled, “You find that more important than what’s going on right now? Seriously?”

Starting to pace, Charlie answered, “Cause last I heard you were in prison. Solitary confinement. Got out, and just a few years later, you’re pullin’ up in new Mercedes GT. Seems kind of odd doesn’t it?”

“We don’t have time for this Charlie, we need to—“

“We need to what?” Stanley blurted. “What is so secretive about what you and Mom do that you can’t even tell us?”

“Listen, it’s not what y’all think it is,—“

“Not trying to budge on those secrets, huh Terri?” Mr. X said with a chuckle. “Getting a bit tense over there, I see.”

“What were you saying before? Who was it that our mom didn’t tell us about?”

“Your father of course.” He answered quickly. “Just how do you think he died? It was your mother’s doing.”

“Bullshit!” Charlie screamed.

“I say Charlie. You talk to God with that mouth?” Mr. X asked as he chuckled. “But, Why is this so hard to believe? This is the same woman that got a person injured so Stanley could play on a team? Why wouldn’t she take your father’s life to better her own?”

“Don’t you dare insult our Mom like that, She loved our father!”

“Oh Charlie, money can’t buy love, but love has sure as hell never paid a bill.”

Stanley finally broke his silence and blurted out, “Terri, what aren’t you telling us?”

Levi shot a look at Stanley, not knowing what to say. Caught off guard by the timing of it. “Stan I—“

Stanley picked up the gun and pointed it at Terri. “What are you hiding from us?”

Terri raised her hands slowly, “Little brother, put the gun down. I know it sounds—“

“Sounds like you have a secret agenda?” Stanley responded, “Yeah, it kinda does.”

Terri didn’t know what to say in this situation, she was left in shock. she tried to open her mouth, but she couldn’t say anything that would make sense.

“I want answersTerri, stop stalling, and give us the truth.” Stanley demanded, with the gun still shaking in his hand.

“Trouble in Raynes paradise I hear.” Mr. X teased.

Stanley glared at the phone and shouted, “You shut your damn mouth!”

And not a second later, a bullet flew through the window and grazed Stanley’s cheek.

The room went silent, as if the bullet snatched the sound from the room. They could not move, they could not talk, they didn’t know what to do besides breathe.

“Now that I have your attention again, I have just a slight word of caution: Don’t ever tell me to shut my mouth again. Are we clear?"

Stanley felt his cheek and looked at his hand smeared with blood and said, “No”. Then shot the phone.