The evening air hung heavy with the sticky humidity. The slick pavement outside the industrial warehouse held a glistening sheen under the dim streetlights, hinting at a recent downpour. The faint scent of rain mingled with the hum of the city's nightlife, creating a palpable tension in the otherwise still night. Shadows from the few parked cars stretched long and thin, punctuated by the occasional flicker of neon signs from nearby buildings.

Nestled on the shielded rooftop, Sean, Fort, and Win keenly observed the warehouse below, their faces obscured by masks, dressed in dark colours to blend with the night. In the dim light, their eyes darted from the security camera's slow sweep to the well lit entrance, aware that any mistake could shatter their careful plan.

"We will have about five minutes to move over three buildings once the guard goes inside to get coffee," Fort said subtly, pointing at sitting by the entrance man. "It takes a bit of jumping, but we can circle the warehouse, avoiding cameras and guard patrol."

Win nodded in agreement. "It's the safest way to the loading zone."

"Anything else I should be watching for?"

Fort shifted his gaze from the guard to Sean. He really appreciated that Sean had entrusted them with the lead on this mission, following their instructions to the letter. "The second building may have a slippery roof now, so be careful with your landing."

"Got it," Sean said with a nod. "I will follow you."

The guard disappeared inside, and they sprang into action. Moving like shadows, they leapt across the first narrow gap, landing silently on the next rooftop. The sound of their feet hitting the concrete was barely audible over the distant hum of the city.

As they reached the second gap, Sean took a more cautious leap. His foot slipped slightly on the wet surface, but he regained his balance quickly. Win, however, wasn't as lucky. As he jumped, he slid dangerously close to the edge, his body tilting backwards. Fort's hand shot out, gripping Win's arm just in time to pull him back, preventing a disastrous fall near the patrolling guard below.

They froze momentarily, glued to the metal surface of the roof, not making a single sound. After ensuring the patrol didn't notice them, they moved swiftly across the rooftop and jumped the final gap. The loading zone was now within sight, the dim light casting eerie shadows over their path.

"Almost there," Fort murmured, his eyes scanning the area below for any signs of movement. With one last leap, they landed silently behind crates, crouching low and ready for the next phase of their mission.

They scanned the area for the best route to the back service door they planned to use as an entry point, located near the far end of the warehouse. Once ready, the trio moved swiftly but cautiously, using shadows and surroundings as a cover.

"Damn, we need a key card," Win whispered, peeking from behind the pallet with wrapped goods. "What's now?"

Suddenly, a beam of light from a patrolling guard's flashlight swept across their position. They withdrew, blending into the surroundings. The guard paused, his light lingering for a moment before moving on.

"Close call," Win muttered under his breath.

Sean moved closer to them. "Guard should have it, right?"

"Yeah, but I don't think he will part with it willingly."

Sean nodded, his gaze following the target. "Stay here. I'll handle it."

Drawing on skills he hadn't used in years, he moved silently, every muscle coiled and ready. Memories of his time in underground fighting matches flooded back. He wasn't proud of those days, but they had honed his instincts and fighting abilities to a razor edge. Now, those skills were about to pay off.

He shadowed the guard, matching his steps to the guard's rhythm to avoid detection. When the guard paused to adjust his flashlight, Sean seized the moment. He lunged forward, clamping a hand over the guard's mouth and applying pressure to a precise point on his neck. The guard struggled briefly, but Sean's grip was unyielding. Within moments, the guard went limp, unconscious.

Sean dragged him behind the pallets and gently lowered the guard to the ground, ignoring Fort and Win's shocked looks. Fort was the first to shake it off and reached for duct tape from the backpack. A few minutes later, the man was tied up with his mouth sealed.

"Do we want to know?" Win finally asked, looking at Sean with a mixture of trepidation and respect.

He shook his head, patting the guard's pockets for the keycard.

"Remind me to never piss him off," Win whispered, leaning close to Fort. "So scary..."

Fort chuckled soundlessly. "Looking at how many times you annoyed the hell out of him, I'm pretty sure you are good."

"You think?"

"Got it," Sean announced, standing up with the keycard. "What are you whispering about?"

"You know how much I love you, right?"

Sean rolled his eyes at Win. "Let's go before anyone notices this guy is missing."

After double-checking if the area was clear, they approached the door, staying in the camera's dark spot. They opened the it, peeking inside and scanning the dimly lit corridor for any signs of movement. Fortunately, the entrance seemed empty, besides distant sounds from the radio. Finally, they were inside.

When they neared the main storage area, Sean peered around, gauging the situation. As expected, there were barely any night workers, just a few security personnel. He motioned for Fort and Win to follow, and they moved silently through organised aisles.

Their eyes scanned the rows of stacked crates and shelves, searching for good hiding spots for drugs. The dim lighting and shadows played tricks on their minds, each creak and groan of the building adding to their mounting tension. They rounded another corner and nearly ran into a security guard. Sean held his breath, signalling his friends to hide. The guard passed by, oblivious to their presence, and the trio continued their search with pounding hearts.

Suddenly, Win gestured towards an unmarked door on the other side. They approached it cautiously, with Fort gently testing the handle. It opened with a faint squeak, revealing a small, dimly lit room filled with unlabelled boxes and duffel bags. The faint chemical scent wafting from the bags confirmed their suspicion – they had found the stash.

They stepped inside, their eyes darted around, ensuring there were no hidden cameras or alarms. A sudden noise from outside the door made them all freeze. Footsteps. They exchanged nervous glances, quickly hiding behind the stacks of boxes just as the door swung open.

A guard entered, his flashlight beam sweeping the room. Sean held his breath, feeling the tension radiate from Fort and Win beside him. The guard paused, seemingly satisfied, and left, the door clicking shut behind him. They exhaled in unison, relief washing over them.

"I was sure we were done for," Fort breathed out.

Sean nodded. "Yeah, this was too close for comfort."

Win pulled out his phone and began taking photos and recording video footage of the room, documenting everything, especially the immense stash of small, colourful pills. He planned to post it on their social media and, combined with several murals around the city, put more pressure on Chaiyawat.

Fort and Sean pilled everything on the table, thoroughly soaking it with gasoline. Meanwhile, Win painted their logo on the wall with spray paint, a silent message to Chaiyawat.

"This is the hard part. Once we light this up, we will have minutes to get out from here. The fire shouldn't spread much outside the room, but still... we don't want to be nearby if it does," Fort said, pulling out a lighter. "Besides, it would be naïve to think we will make it unnoticed, so stay close to ensure we can cover each other's back."

"Let's hope they will be more focused on trying to save this than catch us, and we will have fewer guards to deal with," Sean said, fixing his mask.

"Well, at least the one at the back door won't be a problem."

"Ready?"

Win nodded, getting his camera ready to capture the fire and their logo... or at least the first few seconds to ensure people knew they destroyed it. Meanwhile, Sean took a look outside to ensure the area was clear. Fort flicked the lighter, and the small flame illuminated their masked faces briefly before he tossed it onto the pile. The gasoline ignited instantly, and flames engulfed the drugs, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

The heat of the fire pushed them to move quickly. As they sprinted towards the exit, two guards noticed the commotion and started chasing them. The tension rose as they raced to the door, their breaths quick and shallow. One guard managed to catch Win's hoodie, yanking him back with a harsh jerk.

"Help!" Win yelled.

Sean instantly skidded to a stop, spun around, and delivered a solid punch to the guard's jaw. The guard let go of Win, staggering back, but the other swung his knife, the blade glinting in the dim light. Sean hissed in pain as the knife sliced his arm, warm blood soaking his sleeve.

"Fuck," he swore, trying to dodge another attack.

Win kicked the guard in the shin with full force, and the knife clattered to the floor before he managed to strike again. At that moment, Fort used the momentum and pushed him to the ground. They resumed running, adrenaline coursing through their veins, only to bump into a patrol outside. Fort swung his backpack at one of the guards, the impact creating an opening. They sprinted towards the climbing point on the roof.

Fort and Win made it to the top, but Sean, with his injured arm, struggled to pull himself up, gritting his teeth against the pain. The guards were closing in, their shouts growing louder.

"Plan B!" Fort yelled, jumping down, his feet hitting the ground with a thud. He tackled a guard, pushing him off Sean. Win joined in, grabbing Sean and pulling him along.

They dashed towards the back fence, hearts pounding. Following Win's lead, they vaulted over it and leapt into the river. The cold water shocked their systems, but the current carried them away from the warehouse and pursuit.

As they approached the bridge, Fort grabbed onto a pillar and reached out to help others. Once everyone was secured, they climbed out. Breathing hard, they made a run for the narrow alleys, splashing through puddles and feeling the rough, wet surfaces under their fingers as they clambered over obstacles.

Finally, they slipped into a small abandoned house and hid inside. They were soaked and exhausted, but a sense of satisfaction lingered in the air... mixed with a solid dose of fear.

"I was sure we were going to die," Win uttered, sliding down the wall.

Fort kneeled by Sean, looking with concern at his pale face and blood trickling down his hand. "How bad is it?"

"I will live," he chuckled weakly.

Ignoring his comment, Fort removed his shirt to expose a long gash on his biceps. He frowned, realising it would need stitches and could get infected from river water. "I hope you weren't attached to this shirt," he said, tearing the flannel sleeve and using it to dress the wound.

Sean leaned back against the damp wall, feeling the throbbing pain in his arm intensify with each passing second. The adrenaline that had kept him going was beginning to fade, replaced by a creeping exhaustion. His breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, and he could feel the blood loss taking its toll.

Fort tied the makeshift bandage as tightly as he dared, trying to stop the bleeding. "This isn't good," he muttered, glancing at Win. "We need to get him proper medical attention."

"If we take him to hospital, Chaiyawat will find him instantly."

A heavy sigh escaped Fort's lips as he realised that Win was right. They would be on the lookout for anyone with an injury like this.

"Can't you do something?"

Fort shook his head and lowered his voice. "Not something this serious. Not to mention, we need to get moving."

Win looked at Sean. His eyes were closed, his skin ghostly pale, and his breath shallow. "I know we promised not to involve him, but we don't have a choice."

"Okay," Fort agreed, not seeing other options. "Let's dress him in my hoodie to cover this up, and we will catch a taxi. Luckily, it rains most of the time, so no one will question why we are soaked."

Carefully, they eased Sean into the hoodie, pulling the hood up to obscure his face. Fort and Win each took an arm, draping it over their shoulders to support his weight. Sean mumbled incoherently, barely conscious, as they hauled him to his feet.

"Hang in there, Sean," Win whispered, his voice filled with concern.

They moved as quickly as they could through the narrow alleys, their footsteps echoing in the stillness of the night. The rain had started again, a light drizzle that soon turned into a downpour.

Reaching the main street, they paused, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. Fort raised his hand to flag down a taxi, and a green car with yellow accents stopped by them. Carefully, they settled Sean into the back seat, bracketing him for support. Win positioned himself on one side, holding him steady, while Fort slid in on the other.

"Where to?" the driver asked, glancing at them through the rearview mirror.

Win gave the address, earning another suspicious glance. The driver seemed aware this wasn't a usual destination for someone like them. To ease the tension, Win chuckled awkwardly and playfully poked Sean's cheek. "Your boyfriend will be so annoyed if you don't sober up soon, you know?"

The driver's suspicion seemed to waver, and he nodded before focusing back on the road. Fort exchanged a quick glance with Win, silently thanking him for the quick thinking. They continued the ride in tense silence, the rain pattering against the windows as the city lights blurred by.

Rain hammered against the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the cityscape beyond and casting ripples of shadows through the office. The minimalist decor exuded a sense of calm sophistication, with sleek black furniture and a large desk dominating the space.

Jay was engaged in an internal meeting with a junior associate about documents that needed to be submitted in person. The gentle glow from the desk lamp and the soft light from the computer screen illuminated his focused expression. Suddenly, the tranquillity shattered as a series of urgent, pounding knocks echoed through the penthouse.

His eyebrows furrowed with confusion. Sean should still be at work, and knew the code for the lock, so it couldn't be him. Not to mention, the sound was frantic as if something terrible happened.

"Is everything alright?" the associate asked, noticing a different demeanour than his usual polite indifference.

"Yes, but let me come back to you later," Jay responded, finishing the call.

He walked to the front door and opened it, never expecting to see Win and Fort with Sean limply hanging between them. They were all soaked and looking utterly terrified and exhausted.

"We didn't know where else to go," Win said quietly. "You can help him, right?"

Jay's eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene before him. "What happened?" he asked, stepping aside to let them in.

They carefully manoeuvred Sean into the living room and eased him on the sofa. Fort started to take off the hoodie to check the wound while Win gave Jay an apologetic look.

"We ran into trouble at the warehouse..." he paused, taking a shaky breath. "Sean is hurt badly, but we can't take him to hospital."

Jay looked at him, confused. "What are you...," he trailed off, seeing bloodied fabric wrapped around Sean's arm. His stomach sank, but he remained level-headed. "Bathroom down the hallway, first aid kit is a cupboard under the sink."

Win darted to get it while Jay called the only doctor they could trust to keep it under wraps. As he answered a series of questions with Fort's help, his expression grew more grim. To make matters worse, Sean seemed to be running a fever.

"I'm sorry... we thought you knew," Fort muttered, cleaning the wound the best he could and wrapping fresh bandages as they waited for the doctor.

"It doesn't matter now," Jay responded with a slight sigh. "There are fresh towels in the bathroom. You should both dry yourself."

They nodded awkwardly and followed his instructions, not knowing what they could say in this situation. Still, neither suspected that Sean would hide from him that they were breaking into a warehouse tonight. As a result, they were worried that they had just ruined things between Jay and Sean, especially since they were unable to read anything from Jay's expression.

Meanwhile, Jay stepped into his bedroom, emerging moments later with a towel and a fresh set of clothes. He carefully dried Sean's damp, shivering body and changed him. Surprisingly, unconscious and limp, Sean was much easier to handle than the drunk one. Finally, Jay gently settled him onto the sofa and covered him with a warm blanket.

He sat on the edge, his fingers brushing Sean's hair away from his forehead. "Two-way street, huh?"