I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

"Wait," I said, grabbing Chev by the arm. "If we're really going to 'visit' their headquarters, shouldn't we at least figure out their firepower and numbers first?"

Chev turned back, raising an eyebrow as a sly grin spread across his face. "Relax, rookie. I've got a plan."

"You've got a plan?" I frowned, dread building in my gut. "Your plan isn't—"

"Exactly!" Chev interrupted, slapping the metal case like it was some prized trophy. "We'll use this baby as bait to draw out their boss."

"What?" I stared at him, incredulous. "You're seriously planning to use this case as bait? If they know we have it, they might send an entire army after us!"

Chev shrugged nonchalantly. "And wouldn't that be exciting? The more, the merrier!"

I pressed a hand to my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "I must be insane to be doing this with you."

"Absolutely," Chev said with a hearty laugh, clapping me on the shoulder. "But this is the life, brother. Let's put on a show."

Without hesitation, he grabbed the radio and keyed it. His voice carried a playful edge as he spoke, "Headquarters, we've got the target. Where do you want the drop-off?"

The line went silent for a moment before the deep, detached voice from earlier replied, "Return to the original meeting point. Immediately."

Chev clicked the radio off and gestured for me to follow. "You heard them, rookie. The meeting spot isn't far. Let's go make some noise."

"You're really insane..." I muttered under my breath, but I followed him anyway.

The next thirty minutes were spent weaving through the shadowy alleys of the city. The meeting point was an abandoned freight warehouse, surrounded by overgrown weeds and crumbling walls that looked ready to collapse.

"This place screams 'trap,'" I said quietly, scanning the area with suspicion.

Chev smirked, placing the metal case on the ground. "A trap's only dangerous if you're not crazier than the ones setting it."

I shook my head, retreating to a sturdy column for cover. My pistol felt cold and solid in my grip as I trained my gaze on the entrance.

Soon enough, the sound of engines approached, growing louder until several black SUVs screeched to a stop outside the warehouse. The doors opened, and a group of armed men stepped out in precise formation, their movements disciplined and efficient.

Then, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit exited one of the vehicles, holding a sleek tablet. His expression was cold, calculating.

"Chev," I whispered, keeping my voice low. "This guy looks way out of our league."

"Don't worry," Chev replied, his grin widening. "Just enjoy the show."

The suited man glanced at the metal case on the ground, his tone icy. "Hand over the item, and I might consider giving you a painless death."

Chev popped his head out from behind cover, laughing. "Come on! Can't you villains come up with better lines? That's so cliché."

The suited man's face darkened as he raised a hand. Instantly, dozens of guns were pointed at us.

"Well, we're screwed," I muttered, gripping my pistol tightly. My pulse raced as I braced for the inevitable hail of bullets.

"Fire!" the man ordered.

The room erupted in gunfire. Bullets rained down on us, sending wood and debris flying as they tore through our cover. I crouched low behind the column, my heart hammering in my chest.

Chev, however, was in his element. He raised his electric gun and fired, a crackling blue bolt striking one of the gunmen. The man convulsed violently before collapsing.

"Cover me, rookie!" Chev shouted, tossing a flashbang into the fray.

Boom!

The flashbang exploded, bathing the room in blinding white light. I seized the moment, stepping out of cover and firing off several rounds.

Bang! Bang!

My shots hit their mark, and one of the gunmen fell with a cry, clutching his leg.

"Not bad, rookie!" Chev yelled, giving me a thumbs-up before picking up a dropped submachine gun and spraying bullets at the remaining enemies.

"Don't celebrate yet!" I shouted, spotting another gunman trying to flank us. I fired, hitting him in the shoulder and forcing him back.

"Kid, you've got potential!" Chev laughed as he strapped the metal case onto his back and moved to a new position. "Now it's my turn to shine!"

He opened fire on one of the SUVs, his bullets piercing the fuel tank.

Boom!

The explosion rocked the warehouse, flames engulfing the vehicle as panicked gunmen scrambled for cover.

"Chev, are you insane?!" I shouted, covering my ears against the deafening blast.

"Efficient use of the environment, rookie!" Chev called back, clearly pleased with himself.

The remaining gunmen were in complete disarray, their shots wild and uncoordinated. I took the opportunity to reload, firing at anyone who dared peek out from cover.

Chev capitalized on the chaos, charging out from behind cover with his shotgun blazing. The sheer force of his attack mowed down the last of the opposition, leaving the warehouse eerily silent.

Leaning against the column, I struggled to catch my breath. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest.

"Mission accomplished, rookie!" Chev said cheerfully, patting me on the shoulder. "We did good."

"You sure about that?" I gestured to the carnage around us. "You don't think they'll send more after us?"

"Even better!" Chev grinned, hoisting the case onto his shoulder. "Come on, let's get back to the hotel."

By the time we returned to the Shadow Hotel, the night was deep and still. The faint crackle of burning wreckage lingered in my ears as I followed Chev into the lobby.

Harvey was there, as composed as ever. He glanced at our disheveled appearances before letting his gaze rest on the metal case. A faint smile played on his lips.

"Welcome back, gentlemen," he said smoothly. "It seems your mission was quite… eventful."

Chev dropped the case onto Harvey's desk with a thud. "Eventful's one way to put it. We got the job done, didn't we?"

Harvey raised an eyebrow, his eyes flickering with faint amusement. "Indeed, but judging by your state, I assume the process was… lively."

"You have no idea," I muttered, slumping onto a nearby couch. "Now can someone explain what the hell we nearly died for?"

Harvey carefully opened the case. The eerie blue glow lit up his face, making his expression unreadable. He examined the contents for a moment before nodding. "Excellent. This is precisely what we needed."

"And what is it?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin.

Harvey closed the case and looked at me, his tone calm but cryptic. "It's a key—or more accurately, a medium to access a very specific space. Its value exceeds anything you can imagine."

"A key?" Chev asked, intrigued. "To where?"

Harvey's smile widened, but he offered no detailed explanation. "This is only the beginning. You haven't just completed a mission—you've opened the door to new possibilities."

"That doesn't sound comforting," I muttered.

Harvey met my gaze, his voice steady. "For some, it's a challenge. For others, an opportunity. Lorne, the Shadow Hotel chose you because you have the potential to handle what lies ahead. This key is merely the first step."

Chev grinned, clapping me on the back. "Bigger risks, bigger rewards, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Easy for you to say—you're the one who enjoys almost dying!"

"Exactly!" Chev laughed, turning to Harvey. "Anyway, I've done my part. Can I hit the bar now?"

"Of course," Harvey said, then turned to me. "Rest well, Lorne. Your next mission will be even more… challenging."

My stomach sank, but I nodded silently and headed for my room.

As I collapsed onto my bed, my mind raced with questions. The mysterious blue light, Harvey's cryptic words, and Chev's chaotic energy—it all painted a picture of something far larger than I'd imagined.

"Just the first step, huh?" I muttered, staring at the ceiling.

Despite the exhaustion and lingering anxiety, I felt a strange flicker of anticipation. Maybe this was the Shadow Hotel's true allure: the promise of chaos and the thrill of the unknown.

With a tired sigh, I closed my eyes, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. "Guess I'd better be ready for round two."