Chapter 16 — Script Breaker
The penthouse was a silent tomb of glass and chrome — opulent, pristine, untouched.
Jackie and I slipped through its halls like shadows.
Evelyn's voice whispered in my ear.
"You're in. Don't screw this up now."
I gave a slow, quiet smirk.
"I won't."
What I didn't say?
I've been here before.
Watched this scene unfold — Jackie running, me bleeding, Yorinobu choking out his father.
I knew every crack in the marble, every glitch in the system, every betrayal waiting in the dark.
But this time…
I wasn't playing by their script.
---
[System Notice: Predictive Loop Engaged — Calculating Outcomes]
[Saburo Arasaka's Arrival Imminent — Timeline Synch: 00:02:15]
---
Jackie hauled the bio-container into the maintenance shaft.
"Damn thing's heavier than it looks."
I helped him lift it in, calm, controlled.
"You'll live."
Jackie grunted, shaking his head.
"Hope we both do."
I gave him a look — steady, sharp.
"We will."
---
We sealed the hatch just as the warning pinged in my HUD.
[Saburo Arasaka — Entering Penthouse]
I exhaled, slow.
Here it comes.
---
We slipped back into position — me behind the pillar, Jackie crouched by the wall.
I watched the scene unfold like an old recording.
Saburo entered, slow and regal, Yorinobu at his side… venom in his eyes.
I could hear their voices — Japanese sharp with anger and quiet rage.
The argument.
The betrayal.
Jackie tensed beside me — I grabbed his arm, giving him a silent shake of the head.
"Easy," I mouthed.
He nodded — trusting me, even though he didn't know why.
---
Saburo's final words dropped like a blade.
Yorinobu's hands closed around his throat.
I watched… and waited.
Timing perfect.
Just like I'd seen it a hundred times before.
Saburo crumpled.
I leaned in, murmuring low.
"Now."
Jackie moved with me — fast, silent.
---
We slid into the maintenance shaft just as Yorinobu barked orders.
But this time — this time we weren't panicking.
I had the System feeding me every escape route, every guard path, every move down to the second.
---
[Escape Path Confirmed — Extraction Success Probability: 97%]
---
Jackie looked at me as we climbed.
"You're freakin' scary when you do that, hermano."
I gave him a sharp grin.
"Stick with me… you'll get used to it."
---
As we slipped into the next maintenance corridor, Evelyn's voice buzzed in my ear — tight, controlled.
"Alaric… You saw that, right? What Yorinobu did?"
I smirked.
"Oh, I saw it."
Evelyn hesitated.
"And you're not freaking out?"
I kept moving, voice low.
"Why would I?
I knew it was coming."
---
[System Notice: Evelyn Parker — Interest +10 — Intrigued by Composure Under Pressure]
---
Jackie gave a soft whistle.
"Man… remind me never to play poker with you."
I smirked.
"Only if you don't mind losing."
---
We moved forward — calm, precise, steps echoing softly as the world burned behind us.
This time…
We weren't running.
We were in control.
---
Romance & Loyalty Recap After Chapter 16:
Evelyn Parker — Interest: +150 — Stage 3 Complete — Open for Post-Heist Advances
Judy Alvarez — Interest: +60 — Stage 3 — Personal Tease Active
Jackie Welles — Loyalty: +50 — Bond Locked, Unshakeable Trust