Chapter 8: The Beginning and the End

A stunning turnout here in 5 Pointz as the renegade Horsemen taunt the FBI into a final showdown. The Horsemen have invited us to their final round of their 3-act face-off with the FBI. What do they have in store? We're about to find out…


The Five Pointz was buzzing with the excited and highly anticipated energy of the crowd below. The were all waiting for the epic showdown between the beloved Horsemen and the FBI agents. Many had been standing outside for at least a couple of hours, wanting good seats for the showdown that was going to occur.

Suddenly the lights shut off and reappeared on a rooftop, a projection of Danny was shown. The crowd bursted into a wild cheer.

"What is magic?" Danny's projection asked the crowd. "Magic is deception. But deception designed to delight, to entertain, to inspire."

Below the projections, the FBI, including Alma, were pushing through the crowd, who turned into statue when they realized they were trying to get close to the Horsemen. A projection just left of Danny showed Olivia.

"It is about belief. Faith. Trust. Without those qualities, magic, as an art form, would no longer exist." Just after Olivia spoke, Merritt's projection went up as well.

"But what happens if these qualities are not used they're used to cheat, lie. For personal gain or for greed."

The crowd knew that the Horsemen had been calling out Tressler and Bradley. The Horsemen had settled their score with Tressler and were waiting for the score to be settled with Bradley.

Although the crowd could not see the Horsemen in person, they knew they were there listening and watching their excitement. The crowd wasn't aware of just how close the Horsemen were. In the other side of the projections, the Horsemen were filming themselves in the other part of the rooftop warehouse.

"Then, it's no longer magic. It's crime. So tonight" Danny started.

"For our final act." Olivia interjected.

"You're gonna help us set a few things right." Merritt said.

Back on ground level, the FBI were becoming confused at the Horsemen's message and the projections on the Horsemen. The looked around frantically, hoping to find the criminous figures who were captivating the heart of hundreds of pedestrians. The lights went out for a second before reappearing in a blue ring on the other side of the rooftop. Cowan signaled at Rhodes and Fuller. "Look, they're on the roof. Let's move!" He ordered and the agents went into the jungle of people.

Rhodes started after them but a delicate grip stopped in full force. "What are you doing here?" Rhodes shouted over the chaos.

"They're going the wrong direction and you know it." Alma shouted back at him and she was right. He knew something wasn't right and he was for sure they were going in the opposite direction. He looked back at the FBI agents and met Fuller's gaze.

"Rhodes! We need all personnel now!" He said.

Rhodes looked back at Alma, his eyes for the first time really connecting with hers. "You need to trust me. Take a leap of faith." Her words echoed in Rhodes' ear and he was torn between his loyalty to the FBI and the gut feeling he felt at the very pit of his stomach. He knew if he didn't follow her, all night be lost with him.

"I'm going with her!" He screamed at Fuller.

"Go." Fuller gleamed with pride, his friend finally making the right choice. "I got your back."

As for the Horsemen, they had retreated to a rickety elevator shaft that was slowly taking them up to the rooftop, where the final trick would be performed.

Merritt looked up at his colleagues. "Daniel?" He asked.

Danny looked up at Merritt curious. "Yeah?"

"As our, let's call it, year of living dangerously comes to a close." Olivia giggled at Merritt's opening line. Danny gave her a teasing eye roll. "In a rare moment of vulnerability, I'd like to express a sentiment to you about our relationship." He stated fully and Danny straightened his back, a smug grin appearing on his face.

"Well, when I first met you, I thought you were kind of a...well dick." He stopped mid sentence. Olivia and Danny looked at Merritt.

"And?" Olivia prompted. Merritt looked at her dumbly.

"No, that's it." Olivia's giggles turned into a burst of laughter at Merritt's 'sentiment' for Danny. However, Danny was clearly not amused. His smug grin faded to an indignant glare.

"That's very nice. I'm touched." Danny gritted his teeth.

"Well you know, from the heart." Merritt mocked sentiment.

"Well, I didn't tell you where I was touched." Danny spat at Merritt. Olivia's mind went back to their first day with each other, when Merritt and danny fought in the apartment.

"What are we gonna do when this is over?" Olivia asked, breaking up the two boys again.

Danny shrugged. "We're on our own. Our instructions run out after the show."

"Even if there is no 'Eye', if we were completely played and we spend the next 20 years in jail, then, I just want to say…" Olivia trailed off, not knowing what she wanted to say to the two men who had been a big part of her life. I mean, she did but she didn't know how she could form the words and let them free from her mouth. She looked over at Danny, they connected.

"I know." He said. Danny didn't have to hear the words to know what she was really thinking. "Me too…" His voice trailed as well.

Merritt stepped towards the door of the elevator when it made a sickening thudd, signalling they were on the final floor. "Little too sentimental for me." He said before rushing out of the door, giving Danny and Olivia a private moment. Danny grabbed Olivia's hand when she went to exit.

"Look Liv...I just wanted to say...that even if...you know there isn't anything after this, or even if we do get played...I just wanted...well I just want you to know that-" Danny didn't finish his sentence. Olivia placed her hands on his warm cheeks, feeling the stubble scratch her palm as she placed her lips onto his.

For the first time in his life, J. Daniel Atlas, was in complete and total shock. He couldn't believe that in front of him, with her lips on top of his, Olivia had finally done what he and everyone had been waiting for. He always imagine him being the first to kiss her but he wasn't so opposed to this. Her lips were soft, sweet and not at all as aggressive as the other girls he had kissed. There weren't any fireworks and it didn't feel like the movie magic moment but in a way, it was nice in its own way.

Just as Danny was finally starting to settle into the kiss, she pulled away. Danny stood there still shocked. Olivia winked at him.

"Just in case I didn't get the chance." She teased.

Danny grabbed her back and kissed her again, this time really kissing her. Olivia didn't protest, she had been waiting a year for this moment.

Alma and Rhodes raced up the stairs and into the abandoned room they thought the Horsemen would be in. They came upon the projection cameras but found the room deserted and empty. "What the hell?" Rhodes screamed in frustration.

The crowd shifted its gaze to the Southeast rooftop where their beloved Horsemen stood in a straight line.

"Hello, New York!" Olivia greeted. "Thank you for the magic and thank you for being such an incredible and dedicated audience."

"Unfortunately, like all good things." Merritt said. "It must come to an end."

"So we would like to start our show tonight...by saying goodbye. All we wanted was to bring the world to a magic show." Danny explained.

"And thereby bring a little magic back to the world."

The FBI frantically ran towards the Horsemen, their last attempt for justice.

"This has been one hell of a ride for all of us. But it's time for us to disappear." Merritt said. The Horsemen grabbed each other's hands and looked at each other, taking in the last moments of their performance. The crowd was buzzing, the FBI was frantic and magic was thick in the air.

"Good night, New York and thank you for believing in us." Olivia finished off. The FBI were getting closer. The Horsemen turned towards the edge of the platform and began running full force at it. The FBI were screaming for them to stop. Rhodes held out his gun.

"Freeze!"

And just as he fired his gun, Alma interjected, thrusting his gun up to the air. The shot was heard around the world as the Horsemen combusted into millions of dollars like phoenix. Dollar bills rained down on the crowd like snow. The crowd went berserk, watching the dollars float down and frantically grasping onto each bill as it fell much like children catching snowflakes. The FBI stood amongst the crowd, heads hung low and the shame of defeat plagued them.

Unbeknownst to anybody, the Horsemen had only disappeared a few feet away from the rooftop, running towards their next and final stop.

Olivia, Daniel and Merritt emerged from the New York subway and out into Time Square, which was buzzing with their final act. All around them news casters and late night talk shows plastered every TV screen, hologram and ad campaign with the news of the Four Horsemen winning their final showdown against the FBI. Olivia, Merritt and Danny's eyes grew wide in amazement and frantically whirled around themselves to capture every screen in sight of them. Olivia's eyes began tearing, watching their fame take over Time Square. Jack would have been proud.

Danny looked over at Olivia and pulled her in close, letting her shed a few bittersweet tears that had begun rolling down her cheeks. He kissed her forehead and Olivia's heart fluttered.

After their time above ground, taking in the sights of their accomplishments, they retreated back to the underground subway's and made their way out towards Central Park, their final destination as the Four Horsemen.

Once they had arrived at Central Park, they noticed a large rusted iron gate standing guard in front of the entrance. A thick lock with an even thicker chain wrapped around the bars like snakes guarding their nest. Danny reached forward and tugged on the locks, assuming they would break easily. He was puzzled when he realized the locks were not cheapos that would break.

"It's locked." He sighed, rubbing his face. The adrenaline from tonight's show had begun to die down and although the anticipation of meeting "The Eye" filled his energy, it did not keep him fully awake.

Olivia rolled her eyes and looked at the two men. "Didn't I tell you-"

"Nothing's ever locked." A rough voice said from behind the bars. Olivia whipped her head around a fresh trail of tears formed in her eyes. She stepped back, gasping loudly when she saw Jack, standing all in black behind the gate. He unlocked the gates easily and allowed his friends inside. Olivia tackled her brother in a hug, tears freely rolling down her cheeks and she gripped him tightly. Jack's eyes became misty as he gripped his sister even tighter, letting her cry in joy for her brother's survival.

"How did-how did you...I saw you on the news!" She pulled away from her brother, looking at him intently. "How did you survive?"

Jack chuckled and pulled out a piece of paper. The plan jack and him had discovered early on in their year together. He handed it over to Olivia and let her examine the page. "They wanted to test our loyalty, to make sure that we would be faithful to them and not quit if something bad were to happen to one of us."

Danny, Merritt and Jack thought that Olivia would be angry at the Eye for putting her through all the trauma of losing the only family she had left but instead, she began giggling wildly at the paper and Jack's explanation. "Well clearly I'm loyal to them, didn't take a fake death to find out." She roared. All three of them joined in on Olivia's fit.

After congratulating Jack on his part and getting over the random fit of laughter that had spread over them, the began wandering towards the meeting grounds they had been instructed upon. Danny had reached his hand over and intertwined them with Olivia's. Jack smiled mockingly at her and she just smiled and shook her head. They began looking around as they got closer to the sight.

"What if all this was just leading up to us getting mugged in Central Park at 2:00 am?" Merritt suggested when they reached the old carousel. Danny shook his head.

"No, I'm telling you, we're right where we need to be. We just have to find…"

"That?" Olivia asked, pointing to the Lionel Shrike memorial tree. Danny shone his flashlight over the tree and the card reflected off of his light.

"And the card encased in glass." Danny said. They took a moment to stare in awe at the tree and the card encased inside.

"What do we do now?" Jack asked, breaking the silence. The three men looked at each other and shrugged their eyes wandering around to see if someone was going to show. Olivia reached inside her pocket and pulled out the card she received a year ago. "Guys, the cards." She exclaimed when she saw the similarities between the two cards. Each member began pulling out their own card and held it towards Olivia's. Like magnets, they pulled towards each other and shifted into one single card design and shone brightly. Olivia waved it over the glass card in the tree and like magic, the carousel bursted to life. Music began playing and the horses slowly began to spin around.

The turned in shock of the sudden noise and saw a figure standing in the front of the carousel. The figures features were obscured by the light that shone behind them and it casted shadows on their face. Olivia grabbed Danny's flashlight and pointed it at the Figure.

"No way." Jack exclaimed when they saw that standing in front of the carousel, smirking was none other than FBI agent Dylan Rhodes. The group was in complete shock from the revelation that they had been working for an FBI agent this whole time.

"Oh, my god!"

"That's impossible!"

"I did not see that coming."

Dylan smirked and nodded at their excitement. Danny walked over and shook his hand. "When I said, always be the smartest guy in the room…"

"We were in agreement." Dylan finished for Danny and he nodded, backing away towards Olivia.

'Olivia." Dylan reached over and shook her hand. She was incredibly speechless.

"I've never seen her speechless." Jack commented.

"I'll take that as a huge compliment."

"Hey man, I'm so sorry for kicking you ass. Really." Jack began profusely apologizing. Dylan waved a hand at him to signal he was alright with it. "It was nice going up against someone who could actually kick my ass." Dylan joked with him.

"For the record, I have always been a 100% believer. And the amount of energy these infidels on point…" Merritt began kissing up.

"Merritt, you're in." Dylan stopped him and Meritt breathed a sigh of relief.

Dylan guestered for the Four Horsemen to follow him into the carousel ride. "The real magic is taking four strong solo acts and making them all work together. And that's exactly what you did." He turned towards them. The carousel was now spinning wildly, the colors flashing by. "So welcome. Welcome to the Eye." and on the final welcome, Dylan jumped on the ride, spinning around and disappearing from the four. The all looked at each other, pride and accomplishment gleaming in their eyes. Merritt jumped on first, watching the colors around him whirl as his friends disappeared behind them. Jack kissed his sister on the forehead before jumping on right after Merritt and disappearing. Danny and Olivia looked at each other, reaching over and grabbing one another's hands.

"Together." Olivia said.

"Together."