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»»————-　nysm one. magic tricks
CHAPTER NINE ━━ check mate 

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♯ ❝FREEZE ❞
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AFTER INTERMISSION IT WAS TIME FOR THE FINAL TRICK OF THE NIGHT. ANTICIPATION WAS ALREADY BUBBLING INSIDE OF WREN, KNOWING exactly what was going to happen and how they finally could put a light on their true intentions.

Merrit walked on the stage, a large smile sprawled on his face, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes as he was about to start his act, unknowingly to the audience the five horsemen were about to take back what was rightfully someone else's. The money their benefactor made was not deserved. It was stolen and taken from them when they needed it the most and the horsemen were going to make him pay for his mistakes.

Everything was ready, every piece on the chess board in place and it was check mate. Henley, had made sure that Arthur's account would be drained during intermission by the time everyone found out what happened. No turning back anymore.

"At the end of the intermission we asked you to write down your current bank balance, seal it in an envelope." Merrit started looking at the audience. "Now it's time to get those envelopes out. Everyone take them out."

the audience, one by one reached for their envelopes, curious and determined to find out what the magicians were planning to do as they all stared at the white paper.

"Now everyone I need you to shout out your name all at once." He motioned for them to shout with his hands waving wildly and audience responded quickly as they all began shouting their names.

"Clement? Frannick?" Merrit called out one of the names they had already decided on.

"Yeah, up here!" Clement shouted from up the balconies waving happily at Merrit.

"Oh way up there." Merrit pointed to him before motioning for everyone to call out their names. "Dina Robertson?"

"That's me." A woman stood up a small smile on her face

"Okay, names. Names. Let's go." He motioned for them to continue.

"Josepha Hickey?" Merrit asked in fake curiosity.

"That's me."

"Josepha, I want you to, uh, focus on your balance and count to ten out loud." Merrit explained to her as everyone focused on her.

"One, two, three, four, five-"

Merrit stopped her. "Stop, uh, is the first digit five?" He asked even though he already knew the answer.

"Yes." Josepha nodded, surprise written across her face.

"Do it again this time faster." Merrit instructed Josepha.

"one, two, three, four, five, six-"

"Stop, six. Again."

"One, two-"

"Josepha is your bank balance 562 dollars as of today?" Merrit wondered, staring at the woman who's face fell a bit at the statement.

"Yeah, that's what I got." She confirmed, a crestfallen expression on her face.

"You're wrong. Okay, Dina." Merrit turned towards the other woman. He put one of his hands to the side of his face closing his eyes in deep thought. "1-4-7-7. "

The audience looked expectantly at the woman to confirm or deny the amount, but the horseman already knew.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"You think it is. But in fact you too, are wrong." Merrit stated vaguely, leaving everyone confused.

"Clements, you do not have 6500 dollars in your account. In fact everybody stand up." He turned to the last chosen candidate before motioning for them to raise from their seats. "Put your envelopes to your forehead. Focus on your number."

Everyone did as they were told and from her place behind the curtains Wren could see Alma and Rhodes in the audience. The Interpol woman reluctantly raised her envelope while her male counterpart refused to take part in their act.

"Oh, oh, this is... oh dear. Just as I feared. This is strange. You know I hate to say this but you're all wrong." Merrit informed the audience. "Every last one of you is dead wrong about what you think is in your account."

"Okay you can sit down." Merrit instructed as he walked backwards on the stage as the other horsemen beside Jack joined Merrit on stage. Daniel walked up to Merrit and whispered something in his ear.

It was now of never

"Oh, oh yeah. I almost forgot." Merrit clapped his hands together. "This evening wouldn't be possible if it weren't for our great benefactor, Arthur Tressler." He motioned to the said man. The crowd applauded him, cheering loudly for the man.

"Big applause, big applause." Daniel grinned as he glanced at the white haired man. "Art, actually, why--why don't you come up one here for the finale." Daniel asked.

"Come join us." Wren nodded encouraging the man with an keen smile her brown locks bouncing on her shoulders.

"Come on down Art." Henley called out. "Now, Art, did you fill out your envelope?" Henley asked guiding him towards the centre of the stage.

He shook his head, curious to see what his horsemen were planning to do.

"Well, no need, we've done it for you." Jack came walking on stage with a giant envelope in his arms.

"Now, Art I took a wild guess, north of 140, am I right?"

Merrit looked at Arthur. "That is a 140 million by the way." Merrit clarified as Henley pulled the paper out of the white envelope to show everyone Arthur's money amount.

"I'm sorry Merrit. How could he be right about his balance when everyone else is wrong?" Henley asked dumfounded, a fake smile plastered on her face as she looked at Arthur.

"Yes Merrit, could you explain it to us?" Wren asked tilting her head to the side.

"I think possible, because he too is wrong." Merrit answered the question "Everybody, take out your paper and using the flashlight under your seat, start to warm up that paper. I think your correct balance begins to appear."

The audience started to warm up their papers and Wren grinned at the other horsemen.

"Now, Art. Don't worry we have a flashlight for you too." Merrit pointed behind Arthur where Jack came up with a gigantic flashlight, making the crowd laugh.

Jack turned the light one shining it in Daniel's eyes. "Whoa." He shielded his eyes.

Jack then turned his flashlight towards Arthur's paper. Their magic act falling together.

"Look at that." Wren grinned.

"What is going on there Daniel? Merrit asked.

"Wait this is weird. A second ago it said 144.579.651... but now, now it says 70.000 dollars less."

"Now Josepha, can you stand up." Merrit asked turning back to the woman who previously had 562 dollars in her bank account.

"Yes."

"Now what, what is your new number?"

"70.562. dollar now in my account." She breathed out in disbelief. " The crowd erupted in a round of applause.

"Is it possible Josepha's balance went up the exact amount Art's went down?" Wren asked, looking at Art himself.

"Hey. Check it out. it's happening again." Jack announced in mock surprise, eyes wide as he looked at Arthur, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Is it?"

"Whoa, it is. Art balance has gone down another 280K." Wren furrowed her eyebrows.

"Dina Robertson?" Merrit called out. "What does yours say? "

"281.477 dollars." She smiled and again the audience cheered loudly.

"We have a confession to make." Henley began slowly.

"She is right. We lied about something." Jack said walking around the stage.

"Yes none of you were chosen at random." Daniel added, stepping up besides Wren, the two exchanging a secret look.

"All of you have something in common." Merrit pointed out.

"You all have come across the same problem." Wren told them.

"Everyone in this room is a victim of hard times that hit one of America's most treasured cities." Henley spoke solemnly.

"Some of you lost your houses, your cars." Merrit stated.

"Your businesses."

"Your loved ones." Daniel added sadly

"Places that hold special memories." Wren added with a sad smile.

"But all of you were insured by the same company." Daniel spoke loudly.

"Tressler insurance." They all announced together,  pointing to Arthur who looked around himself in surprise.

"You were abandoned." Merrit shouted a serious atmosphere taking over.

"You were loop-holed." Henley shouted.

"Thrown out your settlements." Jack added.

"You were tricked." Wren shouted.

"This is all for show, correct?" Arthur asked walking up to Wren and Henley.

Wren put her arm around Henley. "Oh, yeah, 'all' meaning in a front of a paying audience. Then yes it is a show." Henley smirked.

"Something wrong, Art?" Wren smiled innocently.

"Whoa, whoa. I've got 82.000 dollars on my bank account. It...it say is right here on my phone." Someone shouted from the audience. More mobile phones went off signalling people. "Everybody look at your cell phones."

The crowd erupted in cheers and shouted out in happiness.

"Hey, did you do this? Tressler pointed at Merrit.

"How could we, Art? We don't have your password." Jack shrugged.

"We need access to information we never get our hands on." Henley told him.

"Your security questions, for instants." Daniel said. "Like your mother's maiden name."

"Or the name of your first pet." Wren added with a wink.

"Where would we get that information, Art. You would never tell us." Merrit smirked walking past him.

Arthur tried to grab Merrit put before he knew it he was chained to the floor by his ankle.

"Hey we left you the jet and the rolls." Merrit assured him with a wicked grin.

The horsemen made their way out as Dylan Rhodes came running down, eyes narrowed as he rushed towards them.

"Stop! Nobody move!" He shouted. Wren saw Daniel give him a small wave.

"Freeze!"

That was the one word they were waiting for.

"quarterback!" A woman in the audience shouted and soon Dylan was chased by 12 different people and they tackled him to the ground.

"We are the Five Horsemen." They all called  out.

"Goodnight."

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