Fan Fiction |
by Rain
Monday, 12th August 2002
Raymond walked into the building, and nodded at the passing staffs who greeted him. He entered the lift and pressed the level where his office was. The door of the elevator slowly closed as Raymond looked on to the ever busy and crowded lobby of Lam’s Corporation building. There were so many people bustling, but one caught his eyes. Raymond thought he looked very familiar but the door was already completely shut as the lift rose, giving him no chance for a second glance.
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Everyone fell flat to the floor when a thundering shot echoed throughout the lobby. The receptionists were all shaking in their seats as one of the masked men with a bloodcurdling rifle propped against his shoulders strode towards them.
“You…!” he pointed to a trembling lady. “Come out!”
She let out a frightened screech and the man did not hesitate to fire her to eternal silence. Several terrified squeals spread over the other receptionists on duty as they witness their colleague fall back, eyes wide open, her pearl white blouse turned bright red from the deadly shot.
“You!” the man pointed to the next girl on duty. She scampered out without a noise.
“Take me to your CEO!” he commanded poking her back with his long rifle.
“Hey, come with me!” the man who was entering the lift with the receptionist beckoned to one of the other 5 mask men guarding at the entrance of the lobby. The man scurried and slipped into the lift just in time.
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Michelle marveled at her own cooking. “I’m getting better!” she congratulated herself happily. She had taken a day off for her checkup and went home to cook for Raymond’s lunch after that.The taxi had stopped and she paid before stepping out.
“Good morning Mrs. Lam,” A security guard who stood by the entrance pulled open the glass door for her.
Michelle smiled at him and stepped in. It was unusually quiet and orderly. The lobby had always been bustling with people, but she shrugged off her agitation. She held on to her ‘love lunchbox’ and smiled, making her way towards Raymond’s office.
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“I will not do it,” Raymond said stubbornly, hardly bothering to be frightened of the gun aimed at his head.
“You!” the masked man looked provoked and clutched Raymond’s collar, threatening to fire.
“Don’t Boss! He’s the only one who can give us you’ve always wanted!” The man behind him stopped him, pushing away his friend’s aim. “I don’t want all our efforts down the drain.”
“Then what?! We’re not going to spend half day begging him to!” he retorted angrily.
Raymond snorted, shrugging off the man’s grip and walked over to pour himself a glass of wine.
“Care to join?” he mocked. “If you’re suffocating in your mask, you can take it off… Cousin Tyler.”
The man gasped when Raymond revealed his identity.
“It’s not everyday someone’s interested to rob Lam’s Corporation instead of the HSBC across the street you know…,” Raymond laughed.
“Whatever, I’ll still blow you off if you give me more craps. Hurry!”
“And how’re you going to run away from it?” Raymond asked with pure curiosity.
“I… Don’t give me all this bullshit. Are you opening the safe or not?!”
Raymond smiled in reply and toasted his wine glass at him.
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Michelle stepped out of the lift and made her way towards the CEO’s office. Surprisingly, no one was hurrying along the corridors.
Hmmm… is there some kind of big meeting involving all of them? She wondered. Hopefully Ray’s got some time to taste my cooking…
“Hie, Genevieve,” Michelle waved cheerfully at Raymond’s secretary who was staring intensely at her monitor.
“H..ie Mrs. Lam,” she stuttered carelessly, not bothering to look up.
Okay, that’s weird… Michelle noted as Genevieve had always been friendly and maybe a tad too busybody about her baby’s progress whenever she arrived to visit Raymond.
“Is Raymond in?” she asked.
“Yes, sure,” Genevieve answered, not bothering to get the door for her as she usually does.
Michelle raised an eyebrow but said nothing, and pushed open the expensive, maroon, oak door, eager to surprise Raymond with her self-made lunch.
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“Well, well, then you’ll have to watch your wife die first before you decide again,” Tyler grabbed Michelle by the neck as she stepped in.
“Ahhh…” Michelle choked, dropping the plastic container to the carpeted floor as her hands tried in vain to pull loose the taut grip of her attacker around her neck.
“Michelle!” Raymond cried, jumping up from his seat, knocking his wine over. It was the first glimpse of terrified expression that the two masked men had seen from Raymond since they came. They jeered in satisfaction.
“Ray…?” Michelle stammered. “What…”
The man aimed his gun at her head. “So, you still want to try my patience?”
“Don’t you dare…” Raymond threatened under his breath.
“Just try me… Hie, my gorgeous cousin-in-law. Sorry for the brief meet, say bye…” he sneered, pulling the trigger.
“Fine,” Raymond snapped. “I’ll get it!”
“Oh no, you don’t. You just stay put where you are. You’re full of tricks, I don’t want you to be pressing any alarms whatsoever you have in your mind,” he said.
The other man pointed the rifle at Raymond forcing him to stay.
Tyler shoved Michelle towards the cabinet. “You’ll be easier to handle. Go on. Open it.”
Michelle stumbled forward a few steps, looking questioningly at Raymond.
“Just do it Mich. It’s okay,” Raymond mouthed.
Michelle turned and twisted the knob a good several times before a click was heard and the heavy door of the medium sized safe opened.
There were not much cash, nor were there much valuables besides a few sparkling stones and crystals, but there lay a stack of agreement which Tyler snatched happily, the glint in his eyes, nothing but triumphant.
He shoved Michelle aside and conveniently swept the rest of the contents into his bag.
“I’ve got it, Ray,” Tyler said, showing him the Lam’s Corporation ownership papers. “You lost.”
He turned over and aimed his gun at him.
“No!” Michelle shrieked in fear.
“Okay, ladies first then!” the man redirected his aim at Michelle. Raymond darted in front of Michelle.
“You’ve got what you want! Leave us!”
“You asked how would I run from it? Well, I’m going to make sure no one else knows who’s under this mask,” Tyler chortled.
“Boss! We don’t want to mess up more. Just leave them, murder is harder to run from!” his companion advised.
“No, they know who I am!” Tyler refused to listen, pulling his trigger again and did not pause to give it a firing press.
“NO!!” the few shrieks were simultaneous.
What happened next was too fast for any naked eyes to capture. Raymond who was in front of Michelle fell backward as Michelle pulled him aside. Tyler’s companion lurched forward in front of the cowering duo. There was a struggle among them to run and cover for each other but the bullet was too fast. The bullet had hit someone in the three, but neither had any idea who it was because they had all fell to the ground.
A soft groan was heard. Tyler narrowed his eyes at the trio to search for his next appropriate victim.
“What are you doing?!” Tyler asked his friend who got up unscratched.
Seeing the man had not taken the bullet, Raymond looked in horror at Michelle who sprawled by him, moaning excruciatingly. “Michelle!” Blood was practically spurting out from her chest.
Tyler was about to shoot Raymond when his companion fought him back and another shot was heard. The man dropped to the ground lifelessly. Tyler looked astounded by his mate’s rebel but wasted no time to aim at Raymond again, who was too shaken by Michelle’s sight to notice. Just as he was about to fire, the door burst open wide. Kevin did not bother to call stop and immediately fired Tyler at his right foot causing him to fall to his knees, the gun dropped from his grip to a safe distance. A few police poured in the room and cuffed Tyler. Ron and Leila rushed forward to the wounded.
“Call the ambulance!” Raymond yelled hysterically at them. Kevin immediately dialed the emergency number.
Ron quickly unmasked the other gunman. “Louis!” Ron tried shaking him awake but Leila stopped him and tied a knot by Louis’ injury to slow down the gushing blood.
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Tuesday, 13th August 2002, 12am
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?!” Jessica shrieked wildly watching Michelle and Louis lay still in their respective bed, comatose. By their bed were wires and tubes supporting the two lives at edge.
Niki could not suppress her sobs and hugged Vicki for support. Vicki did not look any better, if not even paler and shocked at the news.
“I’m sorry…” Kevin said softly.
“You promised it won’t be dangerous!” Niki screamed accusingly at him.
“You… you know what’s going on?!” Jessica turned at Niki.
“I… I…” she resolved to further sobs.
“It’s one of our operations, our setup for Mo. Louis… we found that he was our man so we used him to fish for Mo’s criminal evidence. It was also the only way he could cover up for his past records. It was an exchange; he helps us get Mo, and we forego all his past criminal records for him to return to the police force…” Kevin explained to the rest of the gang who listened intently.
“Niki, I’m sorry. I didn’t think they would be using Michelle in their plan! I don’t think it was planned! She just happened to be there…” Kevin looked as upset as the rest and was cursing himself under his breath.
Steven came out from his umpteenth check on the two critical patients of his. His face was graver than ever.
“I’m sorry…” he hung his head low.
“No…” Vicki and Niki fell back onto each other at the words. Kenneth and Alec supported them from behind, looking on at Steven for more clarification.
“They’ve been shot at critical points…” Steven choked to find the best words to tell the upset friends.
“What do you mean by that?” Jessica shrieked.
“Calm down Jess. Louis’ condition is slightly brighter. I guess from the police training he knew how to take a shot without endangering himself. But unfortunately, it still hit one of the main veins. He lost too much blood. I’m not sure if he’ll wake up anytime soon…”
“…if that’s bright… can you tell me what Michelle’s condition is?” Raymond stared at Steven.
Steven shook his head sadly. “She… she got it at her lungs. We’ve patched up as much as we can, but I’m afraid the damage is too bad, blood will be drowning her lungs soon.”
Raymond fell to the floor on his knees. “Nooo!”
Wallace bit his lips, a tear trickled down his face as he leaned against the see through window, moaning agonizingly. No words would be adequate enough to describe the depth of anguish overwhelming his heart.
Raymond stepped forward and grasped Steven by his coat. “Do anything… please…”
Steven shut his eyes to avoid seeing sorrows in the many pairs before him. Slowly, he gave a few reluctant head shakes, his palm cupping onto his forehead, massaging it by the two sides with his thumb and index finger. He never got enough nerve to say it while looking straight at them. Keeping his shut eyes safely away from their penetrating stares, he finally admitted his defeat.
“I’ve done my best.”
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END of Chapter
Author:
Ouch! Yes, someone is dying in near future. :P Have fun anticipating!