Chapter 1 #2
But I couldn’t do it. Not as one of the robbers moved past us towards the cashier counters where Rachel was working. He had an enormous gun pointed at her—one I’d only ever seen in movies.
I pressed my palms against the cold marble floor, doing my best to stay calm.
She’s going to be okay. We’re all going to be okay, I tried to soothe myself. Instinctively, my fingers drew out my protection symbol on the dusty floor, over and over, hoping the gods would heed my prayer.
A pair of black boots came to a stop at my head. “May I have everyone’s attention, please. I would like to instruct you on how not to die today.”
The voice was deep and menacing. It was what I expected Death to sound like when he came for me.
The room went silent, except for the soft crying of the kindergarten teacher that had just moved to town.
Gods, was this really happening? In Bentley Cove?
The kindergarten teacher pushed off the floor and made a beeline for the door, but a loud beeping sound stopped her dead in her tracks. It came from a device placed in front of the door. A motion sensor? She was frozen, staring at the black, dome-shaped thing.
The robber with the large gun laughed.
“Go on. Take another step,” the robber with Death’s voice coaxed.
The kindergarten teacher took two quick steps forward, ready to sprint again, but the beeping noise on the device came louder and faster. She froze again, then took a step backwards. The beeping slowed.
What the hell was that thing?
“That, my dear, is a bomb you’re playing with,” Death answered my thoughts.
Even more panic swept through the room—people murmuring and crying.
“I know, I know. It’s a bit much, but where else would I get to use them?” Death chuckled darkly. “But not to worry, we’re not here to kill you. We’re here for the money. So, if you work with us, this will be fun.”
Something about his playfulness, made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. He was too comfortable, too relaxed.
“Here’s the stich. There’s a bomb at each exit, fitted with motion detectors.
If you trigger one, all of them explodes.
To the slow witted, that means no one can come in or out of this building, or we all go kaboom.
So do stay, friends. Let’s all keep our heads, okay?
If you’re good, the bombs will deactivate in an hour, and you can all go home to your cats. ” Death shrugged nonchalantly.
My heart hammered in my throat, and I tried to breathe past the panic.
The kindergarten teacher was crying loudly, shaking like a leaf, as she retreated.
“Who did it? Who pressed the fucking panic button?” the other robber bellowed, pointing his large gun at Rachel and the other cashier. Rachel winced as he stepped closer to them.
Shit.
“The blonde looks guilty,” Death answered in a bored tone.
The other robber jumped over the cashier desk and grabbed Rachel by her shirt. She screamed and struggled against him.
I was on my feet in an instant, so fast, that the world tilted around me.
“Let her go! Don’t you touch her!” My voice was steadier than I thought it would be.
It even sounded threatening. I would kill him if he hurt her.
Rachel, my best friend since first grade, my soul sister, would walk out of this unharmed, even if it was my last act on this earth.
An ominous laugh sounded behind me, too close, and I flinched as a hand wrapped tightly around my throat.
Oh, gods. Please help us!
“If you’re so concerned for Miss Happy Fingers, why don’t you help clean up her mess,” Death purred, the cold mesh of his mask pressing into my ear.
He pointed his handgun at Mr. Greene. “Up, up, little bank manager,” he sang, before his voice dropped dangerously low, “or I blow her fucking brains out.”
The cold, hard metal of the gun pushed roughly against my temple.
My knees gave way. The robber’s hand tightened around my neck, pressing my back harder into him to keep me upright.
Was it fear or his hand that kept me from breathing?
I couldn’t tell. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t stop the fear that vibrated through my body.
Mr. Greene rose slowly from the ground, his hands outstretched towards me, desperation on his face. “Please don’t hurt us. We’ll give you whatever you want.”
“Good man. See, I knew you had a hard-on for little red here. She does seem sweeter than the icing on a cupcake. You know, I could make the best wingman. Keep me in this good mood and I can make you look like a hero when I let you save the pretty damsel from the nasty villain.” He used the loaded gun to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, then whispered for only me to hear, “Don’t fall for the old goat. You’re too good for him, cupcake.”
I tried to shift away from him, but his hand tightened around my throat.
“Now the three of us are gonna take a little stroll to the vault.” Death let go of my neck, wrapping his hand around my arm, yanking me forward. “Move.”
I stumbled after Mr. Greene, desperately trying to keep my shaky legs beneath me.
The reality of our situation crashed into me, as I watched the big-gunned robber drag Rachel from behind the counter, pushing her to the floor with the rest of the terrified people.
She flinched as the barrel of the gun pressed against the back of her head.
Rach never took her eyes off me, sobbing, as I was led past her, to the backrooms of the bank by the monstrous black figure.
“Don’t be scared,” I mouthed to her, while I was trembling like a damn fawn.
Frank called after me, but no one could save me or Rachel. These thieves would kill anyone who tried.