Episode 12 — Almost Taken
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Cold Open — Quiet Like a Setup
The morning had that soft, suspicious quiet again. Too many pigeons on the wire. Too many cars parked nose-to-nose, waiting for excuses. Legend stretched on the couch, blunt smoke curling in lazy patterns, HUD glowing steady.
[CASH FLOW | +$2,000 Deposited]
Balance: $70,240 → $72,240
The number kept climbing, but it didn't relax him anymore. Numbers meant eyes. The higher it went, the more the city sniffed.
Salina walked out of her room in a silk robe, hair wrapped, sipping coffee like she owned the kitchen. She smirked. "You ever gonna move us out of here?"
Legend exhaled smoke. "Lowkey. Can't leave the ground if you wanna stay standing."
"You're stubborn," she teased.
"Stubborn's survival."
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Scene 1 — Miles's New Heat
Miles bounced out of his room, phone in his hand, headphones still around his neck. "Bro! Video dropped at midnight. We already at 20k views. Comments crazy. People saying I sound like the Bronx itself."
Legend smirked. "Good. Bronx needs a voice."
Miles's grin faltered. "Some dude DM'd me, though. Said he knows who's backing me. Said I better start cutting him in or I won't play another show in this city."
Legend leaned forward. "You answer?"
"Nah. I blocked him. But he made another account. Same message."
Legend snapped $600—Balance: $71,640—and shoved the bills into Miles's hand. "Pay cash for your next studio. Don't leave no paper trail."
Miles blinked. "You really think they watching me that close?"
"I know they are," Legend said. "Which means you don't slip. Ever."
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Scene 2 — Salina's Temptation
That afternoon, Salina met a friend for drinks. She came back tense, eyes sharp, jaw tight.
Legend raised an eyebrow. "Talk."
She sat down, glass of wine in her hand. "Some guy showed up at the bar. Not even my type. Said he knew you. Said you weren't safe. Said I should think about my future."
Legend frowned. "What'd you do?"
She slid onto his lap, straddled him, voice low. "I told him I'm already living my future. And if it kills me, it kills me."
The HUD pulsed.
[Influence: Salina — Loyalty Absolute, Unshakable]
Legend kissed her, long and slow. "Good answer."
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Scene 3 — Syndicate Doubt
That night, the Syndicate boss called. Voice heavy with suspicion.
"Legend. You keep winning. Too clean. Too lucky. Word's spreading you got some trick. You wanna clear it up for me?"
Legend chuckled dark. "My trick is simple. I don't panic."
The boss grunted. "We'll see. One more run tomorrow. High-risk. High payout. If you pass, maybe I stop asking questions."
The HUD flashed:
[Mission Accepted: Risk Run]
Payout: $25,000]
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Scene 4 — The Near Ambush
The van rolled slow through Harlem, heavy with bills that hummed like beehives. Legend sat calm, HUD scanning.
[Agitation: 40% → Stable]
Halfway through, headlights flooded the rearview. Three SUVs. Too clean. Too black.
"Trouble," the driver muttered.
The SUVs boxed them in. Doors opened. Men stepped out—Collector's people. Calm. Confident. Dangerous.
The tallest one smirked. "Legend. Our boss says hello. Why don't you snap us a sample, ATM boy?"
Legend smirked back, snapped $300—Balance: $71,340—and tossed the bills into the gutter. "You want money, work for it."
They didn't move for the bills. They moved for the van.
Legend pumped $200 into Cash Knuckle. First swing cracked a side mirror clean off, sparks flying. The driver floored it. SUVs gave chase.
Legend snapped $500—Balance: $70,840—tossed it out the window. Bills exploded in the street. Two SUVs swerved, drivers distracted.
The van broke through. One SUV still tailed.
Legend leaned out the window, fist glowing HUD green. [Cash Knuckle: -$100] → Balance: $70,740.
He swung. The punch dented the SUV's hood, engine sputtering. It swerved into a hydrant. Water geysered.
The van sped off.
HUD pulsed green.
[Combat Clear | +3,000 XP | Level Up]
Level: 17 → 18
Hourly Income: $2,200/hr
Balance: $70,740
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Scene 5 — The Drop
They finished the mission in a warehouse. Syndicate boss stood waiting, arms crossed.
"You look alive," he said.
"Always," Legend replied.
The boss smirked, handed him an envelope. "Twenty-five stacks. Don't say I never paid you."
[Mission Complete: +$25,000] → Balance: $95,740
The boss studied him. "You're either the luckiest man in this city… or something else."
Legend just lit a blunt. "Luck's just math done right."
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Scene 6 — The Collector's Message
When he got home, the apartment was quiet. Too quiet.
On the table sat another envelope.
Inside: a photo of Miles in the studio. Salina walking home from work. Both circled in red marker.
A note beneath: Next time, I don't circle. I cut.
Legend burned the photo with a lighter, jaw tight. The HUD screamed red.
[Quest Escalation: Collector Nearing Direct Conflict]
He muttered, "Stay lowkey. Stay alive. Always."
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Scene 7 — Closing Beat
That night, Miles blasted music from his room, his voice full of fire. Salina curled against Legend, whispering, "I'm not scared. Not as long as it's you."
Legend stared at his HUD.
[CASH FLOW | +$2,200 Deposited]
Balance: $97,940
He snapped $200—Balance: $97,740—let the bills drop into his palm, rolled them tight.
"Collector wants me?" he muttered. "Then he's gotta pay in blood."