Criminals

Chapter 1

1

The adrenaline pumping through my veins made it hard for me to remember how I ended up hiding in the back of a grocery shop next to an unconscious body. I think I rolled out of bed, unable to sleep and I wanted to bake something, because I was on my period and I craved food. Food that we didn't have. I needed chocolate cake, so I went to the store a couple of blocks over. Next thing you know, in a desperate attempt to escape two armed thieves, half the shop had been torn down and I was hiding next to a knocked-out Dorothy.

I don't know how the hell I ended up in this situation, with a gun to my head and a real, verbal threat to my life.

I was in my last year of high school, never really got into any trouble, so my mom trusted me completely. She didn't mind when I went out in the middle of the night to go to the store, even if it was a school night. So I went out to buy ingredients for a chocolate cake and found two gangsters robbing the store and knocking out the owner, Dorothy.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Our town was pretty small and the night store was practically around the corner. The streets were considered pretty safe, even during the ungodly hours of the night. The little bell at the shop's door rang when I pushed the door open and entered the store.

"Jacey, what are you doing up so late?" Dorothy looked surprised to see me, leaning on her counter while shifting through a magazine.

"Baking." I replied, making my way through the store to gather some ingredients. A small, black and white TV hung by the counter and was quietly reporting yesterday's news. It was a replay of course. I was left staring when the reporter talked about a crime wave that was pretty much heading our way. They suspected it was the same offender, and that he might have an accomplice. So far, the police was unable to identify him as he always wore a ski mask. I heard about him before.

Noticing my attention for the news, Dorothy spoke up: "The sheriff's thinking about a curfew. He's been following this guy and according to him there's a pattern that indicates he's going to pass through."

"A curfew? That's ridiculous." I complained. "We already have so little to do here."

"And it's bad for business, but it'd only be for a while."

I grabbed some eggs and sugar and headed over to the counter. "You won't tell on me when I sneak out, will you?" I cocked my head playfully.

"Only if you come in to spent more than the usual couple of cents." She teased. She scanned my products and I paid for them before leaving.

I was at the end of the street when I remembered I forgot to buy milk. With an eye roll and while scolding myself, I returned to Dorothy with the promise of a soon to be mine vivid brownie cake. I opened the door, again being welcomed by the familiar bell, and was about to say something when I realized Dorothy wasn't at her usual spot. She must have been in the back but should have heard the doorbell. I made my way to the refrigerators in the back isle and grabbed a bottle of milk. When I went back to the check‑out, Dorothy was still nowhere in sight. The news on TV had made way for some teleshopping commercial.

I returned to the back of the store and was about to call out for her when I heard a suspicious bang. My lips smacked together and my eyebrows furrowed. Adventurous as I was (I usually really wasn't), I snuck through the store in the direction of the sound. I carefully opened the door in the back of the store, where the noise had come from. It creaked a little, barely audible, but to me this was already a scene from a horror movie, even though it was probably just Dorothy who'd dropped a box or something. I held my breath, but nothing happened. No bombs exploded, the store didn't collapse and there was no chainsaw murderer galloping my way. Behind the door was a short hallway with two doors which lead to a stockroom and a small office. I'd worked in Dorothy's shop once during the summer holidays, so I knew my way around.