Michael stared at the phone, still shrouded in his stealth technique, unable to grasp how his picture had ended up on an amber alert. The shock of seeing his face plastered on the screen, with a million-dollar reward attached, left him momentarily paralyzed. But years of military training kicked in, and his instincts told him one thing: he needed to move, and fast.
(Uriel, we need to move quickly. There are many hotels in the downtown area, so we need to find the fanciest one we can see and head there immediately.) Though his mind was reeling, Michael knew that time was of the essence. When you're being hunted, every second counts.
(Okay, but why a hotel? And aren't you curious about what's going on? You basically have a million dollars on your head, and we don't know why.) Uriel's voice was laced with concern, her normally calm demeanor shaken by the gravity of the situation.
(Rich tourists wouldn't care about an amber alert or the reward money. They're rarely ever in their rooms, so hopefully, we can find an empty one to think things through.) Michael's tone was urgent but measured. (And yes, I'm very concerned about this, but we'll fail if we sit still for too long. This stealth skill uses mana continuously to keep us invisible, and I'm sure it's less effective at night. So we're on the clock in more ways than one.)
(How did you think of the hotel idea so quickly? It's a solid plan for an on-the-spot situation.) Uriel was once again impressed by his quick thinking.
(I've hunted enough people in my old life to understand how criminals think while on the run.) Michael's response was curt, his focus unyielding as he scoured the cityscape for a suitable hotel.
As they communicated mentally, they moved through the streets of Atlanta, cloaked in their reflective light skill. When Michael's mana began to run low, they pulled their hoodies up and walked with their heads down, blending in with the crowd. Police sirens wailed in the distance, adding to the tension. Uriel was unaccustomed to being hunted and surrounded by so many powerful beings, and the anxiety gnawed at her.
Finally, they spotted a skyscraper with the name Hilton glowing atop it. Michael quickly led Uriel to the side of the building, ducking into a shadowed alleyway. The plan was simple yet risky: use their stealth technique to sneak into the top floors, swipe a master key from housekeeping, and find an unoccupied room. They would place a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door to buy themselves some time. But if anything went wrong, they would be in serious trouble.
After explaining the plan to Uriel, they moved swiftly. Everything went according to plan, and they soon found themselves in a luxurious presidential suite. However, what they found inside the room left them stunned.
"You know what all this is?" Uriel asked, her eyes wide as she took in the high-powered telescope, a high-grade magical rifle, and a military-grade bow, all neatly arranged in black cases. There were also large black duffel bags filled with money and high-ranked guns.
"Assassins," Michael replied, his voice steady despite the revelation. "So, we've got good news and bad news. The good news is that they might never come back if their assignment is successful. The bad news is that they're strong, and we'll probably die if they do come back."
"What the hell, human?! We need to do something!" Uriel's usual calm was shattered, her voice tinged with panic.
"We'll steal everything here, and then get into a room down the hall using the master key again. We need to hurry before they deactivate it once they realize it's missing. The assassins will never think that we're still in the same hotel. To them, someone stealing this much gear would be long gone. Plus, they'll have to deal with the fallout of a supposed betrayal within their organization." Michael was already gathering the cases, his mind racing through the logistics of their plan.
"How are we going to move all of this?" Uriel asked, crossing her arms as she watched him work.
"I know you have the space element, and a small pocket/storage dimension should be accessible at E Rank, no?" Michael arched an eyebrow, turning to look at Uriel expectantly.
"Looking into the secrets of others is inappropriate, boy," Uriel replied with an icy expression, clearly displeased.
"Withholding that type of information is even more so since your sole job is to assist me," Michael shot back, his tone cold. "If this is a problem, tell me how to contact your father for someone more suited. I don't have time for these kinds of games, Miss Angel." His words were laced with a quiet but unmistakable authority.
Uriel knew he was right. Withholding her powers was a violation of the trust between them as familiar and champion. She was used to keeping her secrets, but this was different. This was her responsibility. With a slight nod, she activated her spatial talent, storing all the equipment away in a pocket dimension. She then looked back at Michael, ready for what came next.
"Now, let's find another room so I can think," Michael said, his tone still frosty as he walked out of the suite. Uriel followed, understanding that their dynamic had shifted. She would have to work to regain his trust.
Once they secured another room down the hall—this one clean and devoid of any luggage—they finally collapsed onto the couch. Michael was mentally drained, and Uriel could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on them both.
"So, any idea about this bounty you have?" Uriel asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"It's not a bounty—it's disguised as an amber alert, but someone definitely wants me found. I don't know who, but it's someone powerful since amber alerts are statewide. The part about my parents is strange. I thought I was an orphan, so how could I have rich parents? It seems like someone manipulated the information so nobody would ask too many questions about the so-called 'reward.'"
"In Alicia's memories, there are no mentions of your parents. You were dropped at the orphanage by someone in a maid outfit, and that's all they knew, besides the pendant you have with your name on it," Uriel added, trying to piece together the puzzle.
"You mean this pendant in my pocket?" Michael asked, pulling out the small trinket he had kept hidden.
"Yes, I suppose so," Uriel shrugged, still unsure of its significance.
Michael sighed, feeling the weight of the situation more heavily now. "This has to be a trap, Uriel. Remember, when I first came to this world, the God of Light—your father—told me I'd be starting out as an orphan. There was no mention of parents, much less wealthy ones. This amber alert is too convenient, too well-timed. Whoever is behind it knows more about me than they should. It feels like a setup, a way to flush me out into the open."
Uriel tilted her head, confusion and concern flickering across her face. "But why? If they know who you are, why not just take you directly? Why go through all this trouble?"
Michael shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe they don't know exactly where I am, or maybe they need me to come to them for some reason. Either way, it doesn't matter. We can't take any chances. For now, we need to stay hidden and figure out our next move. That's the only way we're going to survive this."
"You're right," Uriel agreed, her voice steady now. "This isn't just about the amber alert. There's something bigger at play here. But we'll figure it out."
Michael nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. "We need to focus on the immediate threat—getting out of Atlanta and laying low until we can make a plan. Let's see how rich we are after stealing all those goodies from the other room. That might make escaping Atlanta a lot easier."
As they began to unpack the stolen equipment, Uriel kept a wary eye on Michael, noting the way his mind was already working several steps ahead. She knew they were in for a difficult journey, but with Michael's instincts and her own abilities, she felt they might just make it through this—if they were careful.