The Romantic Adventures of Joe Hawley and Zubin Sedghi

Andrew and the Mark

Joe and Zubin arrive to the scene. Andrew horowitz is standing in the banks lobby as it burns down around him, laughing manically. Joe and Zubin approach him.

"Mr. Horowitz," said Joe.

"What the hell do you want?" asked Andrew.

"You're going to die today," said Joe.

"Good," laughed Andrew. "Bring it on."

"I don't think you understand," said Joe. "I'm not going to kill you. You're going to help us."

"Help you? Who the hell do you think you are?" said Andrew.

"I'm your only chance to survive," said Joe.

"Like I'm going to listen to some punk kid like you," said Andrew.

"Come with us, and we'll get you out alive," said Joe.

"Yeah, right," said Andrew.

"You have no choice," said Joe.

"Fine," said Andrew. "But be prepared for the worst thing that's ever happened to you in your life."

"You have my word."

"What does that mean?" asked Joe.

"That means you're going to regret this," said Andrew.

"Let's go," said Joe.

As they leave, Joe notices a sign on the wall. It says:

"The next customer to ask for a loan will be turned away."

"This is crazy," said Joe.

"It's the perfect plan," said Zubin.

"Whatever," said Joe.

"I'm ready when you are," said Andrew.

Joe and Zubin walk down the street and enter a building that looks like something straight out of a horror movie. There are dead bodies everywhere. In the middle of the room, there is a cage which has a man inside it. The man is tied to a chair. He screams as he tries to free himself. Joe and Zubin stare at the man.

"Who is that?" asked Joe.

"That's the mark," said Zubin.

"Mark?" asked Joe.

"Yep," said Zubin.

"So why didn't you kill him?" asked Joe.

"Because he can't hurt us anymore."

"Why do you say that?" asked Joe.

"Because if he dies, his soul leaves his body and goes to hell."

"You're serious?" asked Joe.

"Of course I'm serious," said Zubin.

"And where's hell?" asked Joe.

"In the center of our world, which is known as the dark side."

"What's so special about the dark side?"

"Nothing," said Zubin. "People just call it the dark side because they're afraid of it."

"Well that doesn't make any sense," said Joe.

Andrew Horowitz laughs at the man. He then walks over and opens the cage.

"Hey!" screamed the man.

"What do you want?" asked Andrew.

"Get me out of here, please!" pleaded the man.

"Sorry," said Andrew. "No can do."

"What did you do to me?" cried the man.

"You're suffering from an incurable disease called death," answered Andrew.

"How long before you kill me?" asked the man.

"Soon," said Andrew.

"Okay," said the man. "I'll play along. Why were you planning on robbing this bank anyway?"

"To fund my operation against the government," replied Andrew.

"Operation what?" asked the man.

"Just keep quiet and you won't get hurt," said Andrew.

"Really?" asked the man.

"Yes," said Andrew.

Joe and Zubin burst out laughing

"Opperation against the government?" Says joe

"I want in!" Zubin and joe both say.

"Not so fast!" snarled Andrew. "First, I need to know how much money you two have on you."

Zubin pulls out a wallet.

"Here you go," said Zubin.

"That's all you've got?" asked Andrew.

"That's it," said Zubin.

"You have one hour to rob the local bank," said Andrew.

"What if we don't?" asked Joe.

"Then you'll never see daylight again," said Andrew.

"Oh shit," said Joe and Zubin in unison.

"We're leaving," said Joe.

"Wait!" said Andrew.

"He's not going to let us go, is he?" asked Joe.

"Do you really want to risk it?" asked Andrew.

"Fuck yes!" answered Joe.

"Good," said Andrew.

"What about the mark?" asked Joe.

"I already told you," said Andrew.

"If you're lying to us..." said Joe.

"I wouldn't lie to you, Joe," said Andrew.

"Okay," said Joe.

"See ya," said Zubin.

"Be careful," said Andrew.

Joe and Zubin run out of the building. They run to their car and drive off.

"Holy shit!" said Joe.

"Yeah," said Zubin.

"We survived!" exclaimed Joe.

"Yup," said Zubin.

"Where's the mark?" asked Joe.

"Right behind us," said Zubin.

Joe and Zubin stop the car and turn around.

"Uh oh," said Joe.

"Shit," said Zubin.

"What do we do now?" asked Joe.

"Run!" said Zubin.

The three get out of the car and run away.

"Where are you going?" asks Andrew.

"We're leaving," says Joe.

"Please stay," said Andrew.

"It's too dangerous," Joe answers.

"You'll be safe with me," said Andrew.

"No thanks," says Joe.

"I promise I won't hurt you," said Andrew.

"There's no way I'd trust you," Joe replies.

"All right," says Andrew. "But I expect you to return once your mission is complete."

"No deal," says Joe.

"Fine," says Andrew.

Andrew lets them go.