The elevator stopped with a faint hum, and its doors slid open to the sides. Andreas was the first to step out, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His stride was light, almost carefree, as if the day's tension hadn't affected him at all.
"Ahhh... what a way to start the day…" he sighed with a satisfied smile as he stretched.
Behind him, Maddie and Dedrick followed with heavy steps. Both were exhausted, physically and mentally. Maddie rubbed her cheek with an annoyed expression, feeling the lingering sting from the hit she had taken. Dedrick, on the other hand, kept his hand on his right shoulder, where the bullet had struck.
"Don't even mention it…" they murmured in unison, exchanging a look of resignation before heading toward the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Andreas walked straight to the couch and let himself fall onto it as if it were the most comfortable place in the world.
Maddie opened one of the kitchen cabinets and pulled out a silver can with a nozzle at the top. Meanwhile, Dedrick rummaged through a drawer until he found a small black case with a red cross on the lid. He placed it on the counter and quickly opened it, pulling out a flexible sheet with edges glowing a faint neon hue.
"This is going to hurt…" he muttered before pressing the sheet against the wound on his shoulder.
The sensation was immediate. An electric tingling spread across the area, as if tiny shocks were working within his flesh. Soon, he felt a tug on his skin and watched as the bullet was slowly pushed out, getting trapped in the sheet. The wound began to regenerate, closing little by little until only a hole remained in his shirt. The sheet emitted a soft beep, and Dedrick removed it, leaving his skin intact as if it had never been pierced.
"It always amazes me how these things work…" he said, flexing his arm to make sure he was fine.
Maddie, meanwhile, shook the can and sprayed its contents onto her bruised cheek. A cold mist spread over her skin, instantly easing the burning sensation. Within seconds, the redness and swelling disappeared.
"Much better…" she murmured, snapping the can closed before heading to the couch alongside Dedrick.
Andreas adjusted himself in his seat and turned on the television. The sound of a news program filled the room, but none of them paid much attention.
An uncomfortable silence settled over them. Dedrick and Maddie stared at the screen, but their minds were elsewhere.
How can they trust Andreas?
Dedrick seriously questioned it. He had met Andreas in an alley, then during a heist, and yet here they were in his apartment as if they were longtime allies. He had always worked alone. What had led him to accept this kid so quickly?
And then he understood. There was something about Andreas that felt familiar, something in the way he acted, in his reckless yet sincere attitude… Something that reminded him of someone from his past.
With a sigh, he ran a hand over his face and decided to ignore the thought. It wasn’t the time for sentimentality.
Maddie, on the other hand, was even more confused. She had only known Andreas for a day, and yet she already felt like she could trust him. It was strange. He wasn't someone she would normally trust so quickly, but there was something in his eyes, in the way he acted...
She remembered the moment they left the clothing store. At first, she had doubted him, thinking he had ulterior motives, but then she realized he was just... innocent.
Her heart beat faster as she became aware of her own thoughts.
No. That’s not it. I’m just tired.
She forced herself to stop thinking about it and, like Dedrick, ran a hand over her face.
Unaware of what was going through his companions' minds, Andreas raised an eyebrow at them.
"What? What's with you guys?"
"Nothing… just tired…" Dedrick replied in a low voice.
"Yeah… me too…" Maddie added, avoiding his gaze.
"Uhhh… well…"
The atmosphere remained strange, tense. Maddie suddenly stood up without saying anything and walked toward Andreas’ room, closing the door behind her.
Dedrick stayed on the couch, unmoving, eyes fixed on the television.
Andreas let out a sigh and sank back against the cushions. Something told him it was going to be a long day.
But, after a few minutes, the peaceful atmosphere of the apartment was abruptly shattered when Dedrick suddenly sat up on the couch, eyes wide open.
"Shit!"
Andreas, who had been reclining, almost choked on his own saliva from the scare.
"W-what’s wrong?" he asked with a frown.
Dedrick stared at him for a second, as if processing something obvious.
"We forgot to open Kraft’s safe."
There was a brief silence before Andreas reacted.
"Ohhhhh, right!"
Without wasting another second, Dedrick sprang to his feet and practically ran to his room. Andreas watched him go, still trying to process his own stupidity for forgetting something so important.
Seconds later, Dedrick returned with a blowtorch in hand, excitement written all over his face.
"Let’s go."
Andreas quickly got up, and both left the apartment. They hurried down the hallways of the building, moving swiftly until they reached the parking lot where their cars were. There, right next to Dedrick’s vehicle, the safe remained untouched, waiting like a forgotten treasure.
Dedrick ignited the blowtorch and crouched in front of the safe, adjusting the flame until an intense blue glow illuminated the area. The roar of fire against metal filled the parking lot as tiny sparks scattered in all directions.
Andreas watched with his arms crossed, tilting his head in curiosity.
"I’ve always wanted to use one of those…" he murmured more to himself than to Dedrick.
"You’d break your hand before learning how to handle it." Dedrick smirked without looking away from the cut.
The metal finally gave in after several minutes of work. With a careful movement, Dedrick removed the cut-out section and opened the safe.
Both leaned in to see its contents.
The moment of anticipation turned into shock when Dedrick saw what was inside.
"OH, HOLY SHIT!" he shouted in a mix of surprise and excitement.
Andreas jumped back at his sudden reaction.
"What the hell is in there?!" he asked, alarmed.
Dedrick reached into the safe and pulled out several stacks of old bills, neatly arranged and preserved in perfect condition. He held them in both hands, staring at them in fascination.
"This… this is fucking amazing…" he murmured, barely believing what he was seeing.
Andreas leaned in closer to examine the bills and frowned.
"Are they just pieces of paper?" he asked, visibly disappointed.
Dedrick let out a laugh, almost offended.
"They’re not just papers, idiot!" he said, shaking the bills in his face. "These are old banknotes! And since they’re relics from decades ago, their value is insane. If we exchange them at a bank that knows what they’re worth…"
He paused for a second, then grinned.
"We’ll get a shitload of money."
Andreas’ eyes lit up as if he had just heard the best news of his life.
"Really?!" he exclaimed, stepping closer. "You’re saying those things are worth more than digital credits?"
"Exactly. There are collectors and private banks that pay a fortune for physical bills in this condition. These aren’t just scraps of paper, they’re fucking relics from a lost world."
Andreas blinked a few times, impressed.
"Damn…" he murmured, letting the excitement sink in. "So we’re rich now!"
Dedrick grinned widely, holding up the stacks of cash.
"That’s right, my friend. That’s right."
The two exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. This wasn’t just luck—it was a damn gold mine.
Meanwhile, Maddie, who was still lying on Andreas’s bed, resting, suddenly woke up to the sound of several knocks on the door. She sat up slowly, still feeling the heaviness of sleep.
“Mmmmhhh... I'm coming...”
When she opened the door, she saw Andreas, who seemed extremely hyperactive about something he had just seen.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you high or something?” she asked, puzzled by his behavior.
“N-WE E-EH SAFE E-EH MO-MONEY M-MUCH A-AAHHH V-VA—” Andreas stammered, trying to find the words until Dedrick silenced him by putting a hand over his mouth.
“Pardon Andreas’ attitude. What he’s trying to say is that we’re rich now,” Dedrick said calmly, still keeping his hand over Andreas’ mouth.
“What do you mean?” Maddie asked, still unaware of the situation since she had just woken up.
“THE IDIOT KRAFT HAD A SAFE, AND WE TOOK IT, AND IT’S FULL OF CASH, AND WE’RE GOING TO BE LOADED!!!” Andreas shouted after managing to break free from Dedrick’s grip—only to be silenced again.
“Holy shit... Are you serious?” Maddie asked, surprised but still keeping her cool.
“Yup… and you’re coming with us to exchange the money at the bank,” Dedrick said, pressing his hand harder against Andreas' mouth.
“…Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”
With that, the three of them left, Dedrick carrying as much cash as he could fit in his pockets. They went downstairs and exited the building, making their way through the platforms between the towering structures. After a few minutes, they finally arrived at a bank—different from the one they had robbed earlier, so they wouldn’t be recognized. This one was a bit farther away, located in a less crowded part of the city.
The area resembled a plaza in front of the bank—a large open space with a few synthetic trees and railings, as there were no buildings directly adjacent, making it easy for someone to fall into the vast emptiness below.
Just before entering, Dedrick stopped in front of the entrance and turned to face Andreas and Maddie.
“Okay, I’ll go exchange the money, and then I’ll transfer it to you guys. You won’t come with me because you’re—wait… how old are you?”
“Sixteen…” Andreas answered.
“Seventeen…” Maddie added.
“You guys are young… Alright, wait here. I’ll try not to take too long,” Dedrick said before heading inside.
“Okay…” Maddie and Andreas responded in unison.
Maddie and Andreas walked in silence toward a synthetic tree that decorated the plaza. They sat beneath its shade—a small refuge among the city’s skyscrapers. The sun was lower now, and although the air was somewhat cool, the temperature remained uncomfortable. The silence between them felt heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts.
“I hope I don’t have to start my mornings like that again,” Maddie commented, touching the cheek where she had been hit. She still felt the pain but spoke almost jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. “It still hurts a little…”
Andreas sighed, not looking at her, keeping his gaze fixed on some distant point.
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to get us into trouble,” he said, his voice tinged with slight frustration. He was sincere, but deep down, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. “But it wasn’t my fault. That guy was looking for a fight from the start—there was nothing we could do to avoid it.”
Maddie gave a small nod, though something in her expression suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced. Still, she decided to let it go. She lightly tapped his shoulder as if to downplay the situation.
“Mmmh… I accept your apology, but it’s not like I have much to complain about now,” she responded in a slightly lighter tone, attempting a joke, though her voice still held some tension.
Silence settled between them like a heavy blanket. Andreas didn’t know what to say—he didn’t feel like talking. He just wanted to let the quiet settle in. His thoughts drifted aimlessly, but deep down, something was bothering him. He stared at the horizon, watching the floating platforms and the people gliding along them, without really seeing anything.
Maddie watched him silently, her thoughts swirling. Even though they hadn’t known each other for long, she felt a strange connection with him. It was almost impossible to understand how she felt so safe with him, so… trusting. How did he do it? The question kept circling in her mind. Eventually, she spoke.
“How do you do it?” The question left her lips before she could stop herself. Andreas turned to her in surprise, not entirely understanding what she meant.
“Do what?” he asked, frowning in confusion.
Maddie stood up slowly and took a few steps toward him, stopping right in front of him, her gaze intense.
“That… I barely know you, and I already feel like you’re my best friend—like I can trust you…” Her voice faltered for a moment, but she continued. “You saved me from that bastard Kraft, that piece of shit who kept me captive for years… And now, after all that, I feel like you don’t have bad intentions… And I don’t know, this whole thing is weird…” she said, frustration in her tone. She couldn’t finish the sentence, letting the words fade into the air. She sat back down, looking away, as if struggling to find the right words to express what she felt.
“I-I don’t know… I just decided not to be like that. I guess we all find different ways to move forward. Some hide behind a tough exterior, others prefer to feel nothing… but I don’t want to live like that. Even after everything that happens, there’s always a choice. I could’ve become cold, someone who only cares about himself… and maybe it would’ve been easier. Maybe it would hurt less. But if I let the world turn me into that, then I’ve already lost. Because no matter how fucked up everything is, I still think it’s worth trying.”
Maddie watched him in silence, surprised by what he had just said. Her expression softened, and for a moment, she felt calmer. But at the same time, she was a bit uncomfortable, as if that moment of vulnerability had left an unexpected sense of closeness.
“Sorry, I got a little… weird,” Andreas said, unsure how to handle the situation. He raised his hands in a gesture of apology, clearly embarrassed.
Maddie, looking away, tried to brush it off.
“No, it’s fine… it’s nothing,” she replied quickly, though her voice sounded a little nervous. Then she turned to face the other direction, avoiding his gaze.
They both sat in silence, looking in opposite directions. The air between them felt dense, awkward. Neither of them knew what to say or how to handle the situation. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they heard fast-approaching footsteps.
Dedrick appeared in the distance, walking toward them with a satisfied grin. When he got closer, he gave them both a light kick to get their attention.
“Hey, get up!” he said urgently. “They gave me the money! Seven-point-five million! Get up!”
Maddie and Andreas jumped to their feet, their eyes widening in disbelief.
“WHAT!?” they both exclaimed in unison, staring at Dedrick in shock.
“That’s right,” Dedrick said with a smug smile. “Hurry up, I’m transferring 2.5 million to each of you. Let’s go!”
The trio walked quickly toward a nearby ATM. Dedrick extended his hand toward Andreas.
“Your card,” he said, not wasting any time.
Andreas handed it over without hesitation. Dedrick transferred exactly 2.5 million to his account. When he was done, he handed the card back with a grin.
“Here you go, buddy. Don’t forget to spend that money wisely,” he said, giving Andreas a friendly pat on the shoulder.
Andreas smiled widely, slipping the card into his pocket.
“Thanks, Dedrick, seriously,” he said, clearly grateful.
Dedrick then turned to Maddie with the same efficiency.
“Alright, your turn,” he said, extending his hand.
Maddie, looking embarrassed, sighed.
“Uh… I don’t have a card…” she admitted.
Dedrick frowned.
“Great… that complicates things. But don’t worry, we’ll get you one later,” he said with slight sarcasm but still calm.
Suddenly, the distant sound of footsteps caught their attention. They turned toward the source, spotting a group of men approaching quickly. They wore dark clothing with the emblem of the VOLT STRIKERS gang. Their expressions were hard and determined, their presence as imposing as it was intimidating.
Andreas frowned, gently grabbing Maddie’s arm.
“I don’t like this,” he murmured to Dedrick.
“Stay calm,” Dedrick said, his tone serious. “Let’s not let them catch us off guard.”
The three of them prepared for whatever was coming, watching as the gang members closed in, knowing that things could get dangerous at any moment.