Natalie #4
“Natalie,” the woman calls my name, “Open your eyes, let us know you’re okay.
” How does she know my name? Maybe Xander told her.
I open my eyes and see Xander on the floor in a puddle of blood.
He is holding his stomach and looking between me, Howard and whoever is on the other side of the room.
I slowly lift my eyes from the floor to where the womans voice is coming from.
Four masked people stand there, two I don’t know, one is the woman, she is tall, slim and wears all black with a white bunny mask, her unwavering arms hold two guns up to Howard, the other is a man who wears a clown mask, he stands close beside the woman, keeping an eye on Xander.
One I recognise from last night in the plague doctor mask, (I researched it this morning as it was bugging me of where I knew the mask from) he stands by the door, arms crossed and staring straight at me.
Finally, the man stood in front of them - Julian.
He wears all black like the others, wearing his famous LED mask, the lit up smile and green crosses bring me a little sense of relief.
Like they have become my safety blanket.
He has his hands fisted at his sides. He’s getting ready to fight.
You brought him to me. Thank you.
“J…” He shakes his head once, stopping me. “Who are you guys?” I whimper.
“Bank robbers, but when you accidentally come across someone being hurt, we have to help that person.” The woman says quickly. Julian looks across and gives her a quick nod. “So, not only do we want your money, we want the girl too.”
“No chance.” Howard lets go of my hair and instead, grabs my throat. “I’ll kill her before that.”
“Then we kill you.” Clown mask laughs. Sliding a machete from his jacket. “I look forward to it.” He says in his thick Texan accent. “ We hate anyone who hurts a woman, don’t we Peacock.”
“Sure do Bull.” The woman replies. I notice the other two don’t talk, but stay eerily silent.
Why? Julian talks to me all the time when we are alone, the other guy spoke yesterday.
So why aren’t they talking now? “Get ready to duck, sweetheart.” Peacock tells me.
I notice Bull holding out three fingers, then folds one in, and another.
As if he is doing a quiet countdown, as soon as he puts his last finger down, “Duck” Adrenaline soars through me, I shove Howard's hand away from my throat and throw myself to the floor, covering my head with my arms as another pop rings out . I have heard gunshots before, but this is quieter. Looking closer at her weapons, I see they have silencers on them. I can’t feel any new pain, I haven’t been shot.
“Fucking bitch.” Howard shouts, dropping his gun beside my feet.
Lifting my head as the gun clatters beside me, I pick it up and turn to face Howard, pointing the gun his way.
I notice my blood over the barrel, dark red against the pristine silver.
Howard tries to snatch it away from me but is quickly stopped by Bull, who holds his intimidating blade to his throat.
“Natalie, get back here.” Howard shouts as I shuffle back across the room.
Julian crouches and picks me up, leaning close to my ear he whispers. “You’re safe now, treasure.” Looking away from me, he gestures for doctor mask to come closer, then slides me across to his arms. I whimper a little as he accidentally catches my bruised ribs.
“Sorry.” My new holder says under his breath.
This man isn’t as large as Julian, but is still scarily buff.
Peacock takes off her jacket and covers my half naked, bloodied body.
I’m grateful for this complete stranger.
After sliding the gun from my hand, she inspects the blood on the steel then gestures to the liquid on my legs.
I nod weakly, answering her silent question.
She nods in understanding, shoving Howards own gun into his mouth.
I smile slightly, sadistic I know. But Howard getting his comeuppance brings me a little joy.
“Take her to the van.” She tells the man holding me.
“We won’t be long.” Howard tries to scream at me, mumbling my name over and over again.
He can’t speak properly with the gun in his mouth, but I understand every word as he calls me a backstabbing bitch and a stupid whore.
He then tells me I’m fired, but that’s fine.
I don’t think Julian would allow me back anyway.
I hear Howard grunt after he shouts at the man carrying me to bring back “his little pet” as we walk past him to the hall.
Doctor mask starts heading towards the now opened back door of the building, one that leads to the private parking lot.
It was closed when I went to Howard's office, maybe they opened it when they entered the building? But they would have had to have passed Howard's office. And the alarms would have gone off so we would have been alerted of any intruders. As we pass the office, I notice doctor mask flinch when he notices the blood and my discarded pants. He gestures to them, asking me silently if I want them. I shake my head. Although I’m embarrassed to be carried by a stranger wearing just my underwear and work shirt, it’s better than wearing my ripped pants that will just remind me of what happened tonight.
I threw away my outfit from yesterday this morning, so my current attire will be joining it as soon as I get home, as well as another bleach bath for myself to rid myself of Howard's disgusting touch.
Whoever is carrying me holds me tight against his trembling body.
His cologne smells familiar, and I take in his scent, it helps take away the smell of blood.
I close my eyes now I am out of the building and rest my head against his shoulder.
Draping my arms around his neck, I relax against his hard chest, the leather of his jacket cools my overheated skin and feels nice against the bruises I already feel forming.
“I’m so tired.” I yawn. The adrenaline that was fueling my strength is now running on empty as I feel my whole body slacken and I cozy up to doctor mask.
I feel safe with him, just like I do Julian. I must be fucked up, after going through what I just went through with Howard, I feel completely safe in a strangers arms. It’s not right. “Keep your eyes open.” He says softly. “So I know you’re okay. You could have a concussion. ”
“Okay.” I whisper. “Who are you?”
“We will talk more in the van.” We exit the building and enter the car lot where a white van waits, the doors all open ready.
I take one last look at the building, the outside alarm has been deactivated.
That will explain why it didn’t alert us.
“If you’re wondering, Pea and Bull figured out the code, and Julian and myself went through the front door, that idiot obviously forgot to lock it.
We didn’t know you were in that office, we would have stepped in sooner if we knew.
” He steps into the vehicle, settles me on one of the seats and closes the door.
The overhead lights turn on as soon as the door closes and I look around.
The inside of the van seems to have been modified, seats are placed all around the back, you could easily fit eight people back here with plenty of legroom.
The windows have been blacked out and a curtain blocks out the front of the van.
There’s shelves close to the ceiling with built-in drawers.
It reminds me a little of being in an ambulance, just without the bed.
“The cocky little bastard in there got shot because he wouldn’t stop shit talking you .
Pea hates any man who bullies women and children. ”