The Break-In
Krist emerged from his study with an unshakable focus, the weight of his mission etched into his every move. He joined Maya for lunch, the aroma of pizza filling the air as they ate in companionable silence. But once the box was empty, the atmosphere shifted.
"I'm breaking into the principal's office tonight," Krist said, his voice steady and resolute.
Maya choked on her drink, coughing violently before staring at him in disbelief. "You're doing what?"
Krist repeated himself, his expression unwavering as he wiped the spray of juice from his face.
Maya gawked at him, her shock quickly morphing into frustration. "Have you lost your mind? That's insane! What if we get caught? What if—"
He held up a hand, silencing her tirade with a calm chuckle. "Maya, just listen to me for a second."
Annoyed but intrigued, she crossed her arms and waited, her sharp gaze daring him to make sense. Krist didn't immediately speak. Instead, he disappeared into his study and returned with a sleek briefcase computer.
"I've been watching the guards' movements for weeks. They're predictable," he began, his voice low and methodical. He spread out a rough map of the school's layout, pointing to key areas. "There's a hidden passage that only Bellatrix uses, guarded by one person at most. Once I'm inside, I'll access the security feeds and download everything I need. But I can't do it alone. I need you to be my eyes."
Maya stared at the map, her skepticism wavering as Krist laid out his plan with unnerving precision. His knowledge of the school's secrets was astounding, almost unsettling.
"How do you know all of this?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"I pay attention," he replied with a small smile.
After a crash course in monitoring the surroundings using his computer system, Krist left Maya to practice while he went to the gym. The rhythmic clang of weights and the memory of his father teaching him basic self-defense played in his mind. The echoes of laughter and lessons were bittersweet. A single tear slid down his cheek, but he wiped it away, channeling the pain into perfecting his techniques.
By the time Maya came to retrieve him, it was dark.
Krist's transformation was striking. He descended the stairs clad in black—shirt, trousers, gloves, and boots—his movements sharp and deliberate. Over this, he wore a gray overcoat that rippled with his stride. A backpack slung over one shoulder carried spare clothes and tools for their mission.
"You're really doing this," Maya murmured as she accepted the white coat he handed her.
He nodded, his expression unreadable. She disappeared to change, returning minutes later. Krist froze. The sight of Maya in her white coat, her hair tumbling freely over her shoulders, took his breath away.
"What are you staring at?" Maya snapped, her tone cutting through his moment of admiration.
Krist shook his head quickly. "Nothing," he muttered, looking away to hide his embarrassment.
He handed her a shock stick and a second backpack. "It's for self-defense," he explained.
Maya eyed the tranquilizer gun in his hand warily. "And that? Are you planning to shoot someone?"
"It's non-lethal," he reassured her. "The darts put people to sleep for a couple of hours. No one will get hurt."
Still uncertain, Maya followed him outside, where a sleek car awaited.
"You're driving?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Technically, I don't have a license, but I know what I'm doing," he replied, starting the engine.
Maya held her breath as they sped into the night, weaving through the bustling streets before Krist pulled into a shadowed alley five blocks from the school. They abandoned the car and joined the throng of pedestrians, blending seamlessly into the crowd.
But as they approached the school, Krist veered toward a five-story plaza nearby.
"Aren't we breaking into the school?" Maya whispered, confused.
"Patience," he said with a sly grin, leading her to a nondescript back door. To her surprise, he pulled out a key and unlocked it.
Inside, Krist moved with confidence, navigating the corridors with practiced ease. "This building belonged to my dad," he explained. "I've been here countless times, and I recently studied the blueprints. There's a clear line of sight to the school from the rooftop."
Maya followed him silently, the gravity of their mission sinking in. When they emerged onto the rooftop, the view of the school compound stretched before them, dimly illuminated by streetlights.
Krist crouched near the edge, pulling out binoculars to survey the area. "The guards change shifts every two hours. We'll move during the window when the perimeter is most vulnerable."
Maya crouched beside him, her heart pounding as she watched Krist's calculating expression. "You've planned everything, haven't you?"
Krist nodded, his gaze never leaving the school. "This is just the beginning," he murmured.
For a moment, Maya saw not the boy who had been bullied and broken but someone far more formidable. As the city's lights flickered around them, she realized Krist was no longer a victim. He was becoming a force to be reckoned with.