Urban System in America
Chapter 43 - 42: Before the Break-In

Chapter 43: Chapter 42: Before the Break-In

"Okay, now that you’re ready, let’s move on."

"I’ll tell you the plan on the way. Anyway, there’s still some time before the meeting."

Adrian nodded simply and didn’t say much, but Rex could see the anger hidden deep in his eyes.

Together, they slowly walked the sun-drenched pathways toward the administrative building, the tension between them was palpable but unspoken.

The campus was nearly deserted. It was the weekend, after all.

Most students were either back home or holed up in their dorms, enjoying the brief calm before the upcoming exams.

The usual chatter and foot traffic had faded into silence.

Only the occasional chirping of birds and the soft rustle of wind in the trees broke the quiet.

But an eerie silence still hung in the air, like the calm before a storm.

It was the perfect time.

Rex walked ahead, his eyes scanning the path as if calculating each step.

Adrian followed closely and kept quiet, but his clenched fists and the fury in his eyes told another story.

The rhythm of their footsteps synced—like soldiers heading into enemy territory.

"As you know, Rex spoke, breaking the silence, "the professor’s office is on the second floor of the administrative building."

He kept his voice low, calm.

"And normally, it’s occupied until late, but tonight, Clement and other faculty members have a scheduled meeting in the main administrative hall."

"So the building will be mostly empty," he added.

"This is our one and only chance."

"But what if someone comes?" Adrian asked, relaxing his fists slightly.

"That’s where you come in." Rex glanced back at him. "I’ll sneak in and do my part. Your job is to stand guard and keep an eye on things," Rex replied.

"If anyone even looks like they’re coming this way, just text me. Don’t call, just text as briefly as possible."

Adrian noddedslowly, processing the weight of it. "And what if someone still enters? What if you get caught?"

Rex gave a small smirk, the kind that exuded confidence. "I won’t."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "But if something unimaginable happens—if something goes wrong—stall. Say you’re looking for something, pretend to be lost, do anything to buy me time. Even a few seconds might be enough."

"Just give me enough time to hide or run."

As they came closer to the administrative building, but still far enough to not look suspicious, they stopped. Rex explained the rest of the plan. It was simple in theory, but dangerous in execution. A single wrong step could get them expelled in minutes.

He checked the time: 3:40 PM. That meant they still had 20 minutes to survey and perfect everything.

Turning to Adrian, he saw his jaw clenched, the fire still burning in his eyes.

Rex gave him a reassuring pat on the back and said, "Relax. They’ll both get the punishment they deserve."

He leaned in slightly. "But try to keep your emotions in check. We can’t afford to screw this up."

Adrian exhaled sharply. "Don’t worry. I know." He said the words, but the tension in his jaw didn’t ease.

Rex simply nodded and didn’t say more.

They walked forward, talking and laughing, acting like they were just another pair of students enjoying the weekend.. Still, they kept a safe distance from the CCTV cameras.

Secretly, they circled around the building, observing its layout from every angle.

Rex’s goal was clear: find the safest infiltration point.

As they neared Professor Clement’s office, located on the second floor, Rex paused, his eyes narrowing as he carefully examined the structure.

It was a relatively old building, with concrete shades above the windows, with the right grip, they could work as makeshift footholds.

His eyes scanned upward.

Bingo.

He noticed that Clement’s office window was open. It was summer, after all—nothing unusual about that.

If the window remained open, it would streamline their plan significantly.

Even better, the window faced the deserted side of campus, no foot traffic, no surveillance. A perfect entry point.

But there wasn’t much they could do for now. After taking note of everything, they continued forward.

Eventually, they found a relatively secluded spot across from the building—tall hedges provided good cover. They hid there, waiting.

Waiting like patient hunters for their prey to disappear.

Their eyes fixed on the looming structure of the administrative building, old, intimidating.

The air was tense, still. It felt like the world was holding its breath.

Adrian hadn’t felt it before, but now the nerves were kicking in. He kept glancing around like a thief.

Well... they were thieves today.

Fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve, he turned to the still-calm Rex and asked, "You sure you wanna do it? Tonight? We could wait and plan again, maybe later?"

Rex didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on the entrance.

He knew Adrian didn’t really mean it—it was just his brain’s self-preservation kicking in.

"Yeah," he muttered. "Now or never."

Adrian took a deep breath and calmed himself.

Looking ahead, the building still had a few people moving inside. So they waited.

Minutes ticked by. Slowly, faculty and staff left the building, one by one.

They kept waiting...waiting for Professor Clement.

After about three or four minutes, Clement finally appeared. He stepped out of the building, dressed in a crisp blazer, casually scrolling through his phone as he walked away.

Rex felt nothing. The man didn’t deserve his emotions.

Adrian, however, tensed up like a coiled spring. He hated Blair, but his hatred for Clement ran just as deep.

His whole body stiffened. His jaw clenched tight as he fought the urge to run over and smash the professor’s smug face.

He still remembered how they used to act in front of him, pretending to be serious teachers and students, but behind the scenes, they were laughing at him.

Mocking him.

Rex noticed his rising emotions and quickly shot him a sharp look, signaling him not to do anything stupid.

Finally, when the last few staff left, they allowed themselves to breathe—relieved, for now.

"Let’s go now," Adrian said, already rising.

"NO."

Rex grabbed his arm and yanked him back down.

(End of Chapter)

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