Renji's shaky steps turn into a full-blown run. He's only stopping to hide when his instincts screamed to do so. Every sound blurred together—guards shouting voice in his earpiece, echoing footsteps from distance, cranes creaking overhead.
Damn it! damn it!!
Only based on the memory of the route he took with Shira earlier, he's at the edge of the second platform, the one cluttered with rusted cranes and forgotten crates. He crouched and peeked through the gap of the parked forklifts.
He counted the guard patrolling far in the vicinity, under his breath—
"One… two…"
—then slid across open ground just as the guards turned the light away from his direction.
He's back at the warehouse 5, where he remembered clearly now by the sheer stench of garbage, the walls were streaked black with soot. He slipped between stacks of garbage bags and broken pallets, nearly gagging as he moved his feet.
"…"
His hand reached to his chest, and patted as he exhaled his breath.
Come on, calm down me… I can do it… I can do it… Come on… God of ninja, please bless me with stealth no jutsu!!
After calming down for a bit, he bolted again, recklessly weaving through the warehouse 4 just like the route Jin and Shira take, now doubling back.
Warehouse 3 came next—a choke point to the main platform. Its loading bay was half-open, a single truck parked beside the entry of a channel drain. Seeing group of patrols closing in, Renji slid beneath it in haste, holding his breath as boots thumped on the metal floor above him.
"Still nothing?"
"…Man, maybe dude just smoking so much he's hearing things… All the containers lock still on, and not even a scratch…"
"The one who reported it was the new guy, no?"
"Fuck it, just do what command tells and take our money."
The words barely faded before he rolled out the far side and slipped back into the night air.
What…? The guards still didn't know there's a camera fall there…?
"…I legit thought they'll be hunting us like a beast, but… wanted level goes down faster than the polices in Los Santos, eh…"
He relaxed his posture a bit, resting his chin on the cold concrete, then resume to crawl to the end of the trench.
By the time he reached the main platform, his shirt, and coat now clung to his back with sweat, and smudged with oil and dirt.
Now… Warehouse 2…
He darted inside first, ducking behind the stacks of cargo nets and aluminum cases. From here, he could see the wide lot where Warehouse 1 stood—floodlights all over, despite he found the fact that the guards around not all that fired up, the formation in front of him was pretty tight.
"Damn… that's… I can't just sneak in like before, huh…"
Renji looked around carefully, he watched the rhythm again—one guard pacing slow, another distracted, radio chatter breaking in his earpiece helping him to guess which group goes where.
…Okay… if those guys passed there again, by that next corner… then I can…
He waited for the turn.
Then sprinted.
Footsteps slapped against the concrete as he cut across the lot, the beam of a flashlight missing his leg by a hair.
He didn't look. Didn't think. Just moved.
Warehouse 1's side hatch was still open—same as before. He dove through it, the metal scraping his jacket. He slid to a crouch, without wasting any time, he beelined to the spot where Shira most likely dropped the camera from above.
There—the gap between rows of red containers. The x-ray camera is dead and sitting like a rock.
…Haaahh… I'm glad it's dead… Obviously they can't find it without a direct flashlight and know what are they looking for…
Renji crept toward it, the voice of the patrol still swirling on his earpiece. He reached down, fingers brushing the casing—
Got it.
Then, a voice too near to where his stands come out at the same time in his comm. "Unit 3 reporting, nothing on sight, moving."
Shit!!
Renji moved, fast, and tried to mask his steps as best as he could.
And as he wedging through the container's door in haste, his radio cable it stuck to the one of the door bolt, without him knowing, he keeps moving until—
"All unit reporting to comma—"
Then silence.
"Eh?"
Renji turned his head at the sensation, the device slipped off from his ear as the cable got stuck, sent it flying, hitting a silent knock on the metal wall.
*Clanck*
"—Wait, I hear something!"
The little sound from the contact made the guard nearby wary again.
CRAP! NOT GOOD!!
He panicked, and yanked the earpiece that stuck on the door bolt, with desperation, he brute force it, and pulled it with all his shaky strength that the cable snapped, Renji shoved the torn earpiece to his pocket and ran.
Bullets weren't flying, but the tension made it feel like they could at any second. A beam of light sliced past his shoulder, he dove behind a crate, then rolled to his feet and slipped out through the loading ramp, backtracking once again, away from the main platform as quickly as possible.
Hiding behind the stacks of crates, forklift, trucks, and crawling through the drain again. He didn't stop until the smaller pier came into view. All is same but this time, the camera is in his hands.
"I'm here… and I've got it," he panted, half laughing, half gasping. "Guess that's my luck for Christmas…"
With the camera gripped tight in his hand, Renji stumbled back to the familiar stench of rot.
The warehouse 5—the forsaken stretch of the port where rows of garbage bins lined up like forgotten coffins.
He paused, catching his breath. From the distance, the ocean murmured against the docks, black and endless.
Under the northwest crane where Jin and Shira's boat was there before, now nowhere to be seen.
Of course they already gone…
He muttered under his breath. "Wait the hell… then how do I get out from here…?"
Now that his mind cleared a bit, he looked around. Sea in every direction.
Yea… This is sea port, dang it… Why do I thought I can just run back to the hotel by myself…
"Walking out from main gate is no way possible… I won't backtrack to that main platform again…"
He rubbed the back of his neck, sweat cold under his collar.
Man… in one visit, and I've already sprinted through this whole damn port twice…
His knees wobbled. The adrenaline that had carried him this far was fading fast, leaving only the burn of fatigue and lightheaded swaying his body.
"I can't keep running like this…"
Luck's been too kind so far… but I'm not gonna to challenge it.
He thought about how many times searchlights had nearly exposed him — how often a guard turned his head just seconds too late. And now, with his earpiece torn and dead, he had no slightest idea about the patrol movement.
…Ghh, I'm tired too… damn it… Let's just find a place to hide for now…
Then his eyes drifted toward the source of the awful smell that had been stinging his nose ever since. The garbage bins.
"…"
He stared at the rust-eaten row of them, each one seems even older than the warehouse itself.
No way. What if the guard or heck… some janitors open one?
He glanced around for a better idea—Just then, the echoing sound of boots clicking on pavement force him to decide.
He peeked from the corner, and sure enough, a group of guards moving toward where he stood, in a sweeping formation.
Hide behind the crates again!? No… this warehouse too empty… should I… jumped into the sea and swim…? No… no no... crap…
Panic prickled his skin. His gut directed his sight to the one option where he's against the most.
Shit, no choice. Just hope they hate dirty stuff!
He gripped the edge of the nearest bin.
Gh! Heavy!
The lid resisted, rust locking it in place. He forced it open with a grunt—the hinges cracked in protest. As it fully opened, the smell hit him like a solid punch in the face.
Brrgghhh!!
Renji instantly fights the urge to throw up. He could feel the vomit almost climbing to his throat.
Focusing his eyes, Inside, just enough room for a desperate man to scoot in.
"Here goes nothing…"
Putting the camera inside first, he steeled himself and put one foot in, then another, until finally his whole torso in, lowering himself as he let the lid shut slowly. Until darkness swallowed him with only thin slivers of light leaked through corroded holes, like dying stars.
—Ughhh—BBrrpPP!!
His throat convulsed wildly, he put both hands over his mouth in reflex.
Shit, this was a terrible idea!!
He pressed his nose to one of the holes, trying to suck in a bit of 'less disgusting' fresh air.
Nah dude! I'm not staying—
Then—footsteps. Closing in to where he hiding. His body and mind froze instantly.
He tugged a trash bag over his body for cover, trying to blend into the heap. Something inside the bag startled—Squirming and crawling, alive.
GYYAAAHHHHH—!
His scream stayed trapped inside his soul, face twisted in sheer horror.
The footsteps stopped. Right outside, most likely few steps away from him.
Empty my mind, I'm a trash, I am one with the garbage… there's nothing but trash here dammit!! Turn away!!
Renji tried his best to erase his presence copying every technique from anime, manga, movie he remembered.
"Tch, this place stinks," one guard muttered.
"Hey, front's clear. Let's move." And the voice of another chimed in from afar.
"On it."
"Command wants us cycling wider tonight."
"Damn. I don't wanna stand here another second."
"Well, let other unit handle it—"
Gradually, their voices faded into the distance.
Renji stayed still for several seconds before daring to exhale a breath he holds in his lungs—a long, shaky breath. Then instantly regretted it when he inhales new air.
BrrpPHHh—Ghh!
Only choking on the foul stench again. He pressed his face back to the hole.
"Shit… safe…" He slumped, resting his head against the metal wall, forcing a small laugh.
… Fine… Guess I'll stay here. I'm already one with the trash anyway…
Something scuttled beside his leg. Then another on his shoulder.
"Yo… bugs, rats, whatever… sorry to intrude," he muttered weakly. "Humbly asking… Just don't go inside my clothes and we're cool, okay?" His voice trembling somewhere between fear and irony. Only the sound of the wind and waves answered him. The smell wrapped around him until his eyes burned. The world fell just like that—
"…Ah."
He slipped into his pocket and pulled out his phone to check on time, but the glow stabbing through the pitch-black crevice showed an unread message notification.
'Shira: Renji, if you see this? Reply to me.'
His finger hovered over the screen.
Just as I thought about texting her… No… this is not her caring about my well-being… heh…
'Renji: I'm here… I got the camera. ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ'
He took a photo of the dead x-ray camera on his lap, upload it, and the reply came in that instant.
'Shira: What? Where are you right now?'
'Renji: …For now… safe on… garbage dump, hehe…'
The system notification under Shira's name blinking with 'typing' for a while. He imagined her frown with fingers retyping and deleting words she'd rather not send. Finally the message landed—
'Shira: Just stay there. Did the patrol catch a sight?'
'Renji: I don't think so, they didn't even know about the camera…'
'Shira: Okay, Renji, I'll get you out, but I'm telling you it might take longer.'
Longer…? Well… I guess couple of hours wouldn't hurt…
'Renji: …how long…?'
'Shira: Maximum, at 12 pm. Tonight. So whatever it is, you're on your own. I'm telling you this now because I assume you'll not have a chance to charge your phone.'
He quickly slides down the date on his phone, showing 3.26 am. 25 December 2024.
What…? that's… longer than I expected…
"Wait, wait wait… seriously… I'm supposed to hide in this stinkhole for almost 20 hours…??"
… But… I got no choice…
Then he checked the battery: from 9%. The bar felt like a death sentence. The single line of signal pulsed weakly, draining life from the device just by clinging to the air.
Yeah… she's right. This won't last.
The screen blinked again before he dawdled in his mind.
'Shira: Which garbage bin you're at?'
'Renji: … I'm at the furthest dump in the corner behind the warehouse 5, in front of the crane… where we went in by boat…'
'Shira: Turn off your comm now to save the power, put it back on around 10 pm.'
'Renji: … Ah about that… I broke it… the cable got torn…'
Another long pause, and another message.
'Shira: When I arrive, I'll give you a knock on the can, thrice with one repeat. If you hear me knocking, reply with four knocks once. Got it?'
Wow… truly an old-school spy method alright…
'Renji: Yes, ma'am.'
'Shira: Then, do your best to hold on. Whatever you do, don't get found.'
'Renji: ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧'
The screen dimmed to sleep. For a moment Renji only sat there, listening to his heartbeat slowing.
Battery: 8%
Maybe… I should turn it off for now.
Renji turned it off, and put it back inside his pocket. In the silence, the stench of rot pressed into his nose, but to his surprise, the urge to gag doesn't fight as much anymore.
"Human adapting skill is amazing…"
He sighs, then his mind settled as he calmed himself down.
Is this still count as screwing up… Yea… if only I had been careful… I could leave this place along with the camera right there and then with Mr. Jin and Miss Shira…
"Shit… in the end I'm stuck here and can't do anything about it…"
I knew I hoped too much thinking this is going to be a nice business trip…
"Man… wildest Christmas packed with doki-doki moments indeed…"
A night where mostly people his ages went for Christmas with coworkers or family—beer, nice food and cake, stupid karaoke, or maybe warm moment between lovers, yet here he is now. Then his mind drift to the question Shira throws at him that lingered with him longer than he want to admit.
"Sometimes I wonder. Whether you're just playing dumb… or just living the reality with ignorance."
The question that seems like it stabbed right into his soul.
"… Honestly… I don't even know myself…"
I don't even know why am I doing all of these… Do I want to be useful… or do I… just don't want to be a burden…?
"...… I just...…"