He raises his Glock; the suppressor already threaded onto the barrel. A muted pop breaks the silence.
The guard drops where he stands, unaware that death had been stalking him for the last several seconds.
The night absorbs the disturbance. Tyler lowers his weapon and surveys the surrounding area.
When he’s satisfied that we’re still alone, he gives me a small nod.
One more obstacle removed, one to go.
The final guard stands between us and the show.
Tyler and I circle around to the front of the theater, crouching low and staying as close to the building as possible. The last guard occupies the position near the entrance; his attention fixedon the empty road.
A pool of golden light spills from the marquee above, illuminating the sidewalk around him while the rest of the street remains buried in darkness.
Warm light gathers around the theater’s entrance, outlining the guard as he watches the street ahead.
He’s focused on the wrong threat.
Tyler and I exchange a look, not words. We’ve long since learned we don’t need them.
The plan is already understood.
I draw a slow breath and slip forward.
Our footsteps are swallowed by the distant hum of traffic and the occasional creak of the aging theater.
The guard never turns or glances over his shoulder.
We split apart, Tyler taking one side while I take the other.
The distance shrinks with each measured step.
My pulse stays steady since I’ve learned how to lock everything else away until the job is finished.
The guard shifts his weight slightly.
A subtle movement.
The first hint that instinct is trying to warn him, but it’s too late.
Tyler launches into motion, and I do the same.
Tyler gets to him first. His hand seals over the guard’s mouth as he yanks him backward, pinning him against his chest before he has a chance to make a sound.
In one fluid motion I stab my knife deep into his abdomen wrapping both my hands around the handle as I use all my strength to drive the knife upwards, stopping between his ribs. By puncturing his diaphragm, his breaths taper off and then stop.
The entire encounter unfolds with brutal efficiency.
The guard’s body goes slack, his full weight sagging on Tyler.
For a moment, neither Tyler nor I speak.
We hold still and listen. Nothing.
Tyler shifts the guard with a quiet grunt and slides his handsbeneath his armpits, and rises in one smooth motion, lifting the body with him.
I take hold of his ankles, and together we carry him from the theater’s entrance, careful to keep his body from scraping along the pavement as we pull him into the shadows to the side of the building.
