1:00 AM

The clock struck one in the morning. The city was shrouded in darkness, save for the faint glow of streetlights and the occasional flicker from a passing car. The adrenaline was palpable, thick in the air as Jake Mitchell's voice broke through the silence of the night.

"Is everyone ready?" Jake's voice was firm, a mixture of excitement and anxiety tinged with the weight of what they were about to do.

Sebastian, his face already flushed with the anticipation of the heist, responded with a nod. "Yup."

Dave, his eyes darting nervously, gave a quick reply. "Yeah."

Andy, leaning against the wall, added in his usual no-nonsense tone. "Yup."

Jake smiled, a small rush of confidence flooding through him. "Okay then, make a human pyramid. Fast!"

The group moved into position, their hearts racing as they prepared to begin their mission.

"Okay, Dave, take my phone," Jake said, passing it to him. "It has a better camera quality."

Dave nodded, quickly grabbing the phone from Jake's hands. "Got it."

Sebastian, standing at the base, adjusted his stance. "Ready," he said, his voice steady but filled with excitement.

Jake glanced around, making sure everyone was in place. "Yes," he confirmed.

Andy muttered a quiet chuckle, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Heh."

Dave, climbing carefully, positioned himself at the top of the human pyramid. "Okay, okay, I'm there," he said, his voice strained but proud of his accomplishment.

"Well done," Jake praised from below, keeping his eyes on the task at hand. "Just keep recording. Taking photos will take too much time."

"Okay," Dave responded, holding the phone steady as the screen illuminated in the darkness.

Suddenly, the quiet of the night was broken by an unexpected sound—a voice, faint but distinct.

"Hey, hey, please, leave me alone!" The words were followed by a muffled groan, a man's voice struggling against something. "Hh haa hha!"

Jake froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The tension in the air thickened, and he exchanged worried glances with his friends.

"Who's there?" Jake whispered under his breath.

A new voice emerged, low and chilling. "Mr. Black," it rasped.

A knife plunged into something with a sickening sound, followed by a grunt of pain from the watchman. The noise was unmistakable—intense and horrifying.

"Wh—what?" Dave stammered from the top of the pyramid, his voice trembling in disbelief. "Are you—are you—"

His words cut off as he saw the figure—a man in the shadows, a knife glistening with fresh blood.

"Mr. Black," the man growled again, his voice distorted with rage.

"NO!" Dave shouted, panic rising in his chest. His instincts kicked in, and without thinking, he began scrambling down the pyramid, racing toward the nearest tree.

Jake's heart skipped a beat as he watched Dave's frantic movements. "What happened? You got the photos?!" he called out, his voice filled with urgency.

"You're fast," Andy remarked, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice.

Sebastian, narrowing his eyes, asked, "Wait, why are you so scared?"

Dave's breath came in sharp gasps as he stumbled toward the tree, his voice barely a whisper. "The—their way was... hh, hh... run! Run!" His words were fragmented, panic overwhelming him.

Without another word, Dave broke into a full sprint, his feet pounding against the cobblestones, and the others followed suit, fear coursing through their veins.

But as they rounded the corner, a man suddenly appeared, emerging from the shadows on the other side of the wall. His face was obscured by darkness, but his eyes burned with malice, and in his hand, he held a bloodstained knife.

Jake's heart raced. "What the—"

"RUN!" he shouted, urging his friends to keep moving.

The group sprinted through the narrow alleyways, adrenaline pushing them forward. But as they turned the next corner, disaster struck.

Sebastian, his foot catching on a loose stone, slipped. His body hit the ground with a sickening thud, his eyes rolling back as he fainted, the world around him spinning into darkness.

"Sebastian!" Jake screamed, but there was no time to stop. The sound of footsteps closing in was too real, too close.

"Everyone just go to your houses as soon as possible!" Jake ordered, his voice hoarse with urgency.

Andy glanced back at Sebastian, his face a mix of concern and fear. "Okay," he said, nodding quickly before disappearing into the night.

Dave, his chest heaving with the force of his breath, echoed the same. "Okay, hh."

The night swallowed them whole, each of them running in different directions, trying to outrun the danger that had suddenly become all too real. But for Jake, the feeling of terror hadn't quite subsided. It had only just begun.