Bad Dream

Chapter 11: Carved in your memory

I sit next to Yaegar in the truck and try not to show how scared I am.

I close my eyes to block out the tears that threaten to spill over and hope that none of them suspect anything. The truck slows down as we reach the adjacent alley to the bank , I am thrown a mask as the rest of the gang place theirs over their faces. Some place dark beanies on their heads . We all exit the car and quickly re-iterate the plan . I am dragged to the exit with Salem and Cain .

"Stay here and keep a look out .If you see anyone coming this way then press this button on the remote, don't think of running".

Cain gives me one last look before Salem and him break the lock on the exit and enter the door. I stand outside the door and I obey what the boys say . After what seems like forever I check my watch and see that they have been inside the bank for 25 minutes. I wonder why they are taking so long. As I am questioning this ,the door slams open and I see Salem ,Cain,Kassim, Basilius, Ambrose and Magnus rush out the door.

"One of the guards hit a distress signal before I could subdue him" ,Basilius cries.

At the end of the street a lone police officer begins to walk down the street the boys look worried and begin to back into the shadows then run away. I stand still Ambrose looks back at me in a panic "You are our decoy, don't mess up or its your families life on the line". A wave of fear goes through me. I can't have them hurt my family.

He takes one last look at me before he too runs off. I turn to the officer with a deep breath of regret , "Sorry Mum, but this is for yours and my own survival".

I pull my hair out of the ponytail letting it spill freely down my back and remove the mask tucking it in my pocket.

"Hello Officer, is something wrong?". The police officer is young probably in his mid to late twenties .I can try to use this to my advantage , he is a man after all.

"Good evening Miss, a distress signal was sounded from this bank. I am just here to investigate , you haven't seen anything suspicious have you? Do you mind me asking where you were coming from at this time?".

I flick my hair off my shoulder and run my hand across the front of my shirt ,just pretending to play with my necklace. I notice the police officer swallow as he follows my hand .

"No I haven't seen anything, I was just walking home from a restaurant down the street. I hope nothing is wrong. I can't be too careful as a young woman".

I pretend to be scared. I place a hand on the Officers shoulder . A red hue creeps up his neck as I feel a buzz in my pocket, my cue to leave. "Well Officer I should be heading home it's so late",the police officer follows me to the end of the street. I spy the truck ,so I begin to walk away and for effect look back over my shoulder and wave at the Officer. He smiles at me and waves as he walks towards the bank.

I open the door of the truck and am greeted surprisingly by smiling faces, even Kassim looks vaguely pleased. As we drive off Ambrose turns to me , "Good Job, you made the right choice". I smile, "Well I value living so I was motivated by that, don't go thinking I actually care what happens to any of you.". Ambrose just rolls his eyes at me.

We all finally arrive back at the "headquarters" and all of the boys start to celebrate the successful robbery. I excuse myself to my room to sleep . Through the door I can hear their celebrations but can't help feel down.

I awake and for a second panic at my surroundings until realization sets in and I groan. I get up and shower and then change into plain jeans and a t-shirt. I exit the room to find most of the boys sprawled across the couches, I look at the clock to see that it's 10:00 .I spy the kitchen and find a coffee jug. I put some coffee in the percolator and turn it on. I open the fridge and am surprised to find that it actually is stocked with normal food . I grab eggs ,tomatoes,mushrooms and bacon and begin cooking . I hear movement behind me as I plate up the food , I turn to find 9 hungover men licking their lips and rubbing their heads . "Breakfast is ready" ,I hand out plates of food and cups of coffee and tea. I groan as I feel nausea and pain rising in my stomach, I decide that I'll just have a cup of coffee for breakfast. Ambrose turns on the TV across the room as I sit on the couch.

"Police are investigating a robbery that occurred last night at the largest bank in the city. The robbery resulted in more than three quarters of the money held at the Ascent Bank being stolen and one guard hospitalized with minor injuries. Police were tipped off about the robbery when one of the guards inside triggered an emergency alarm . Despite this police have no leads on who might be responsible". I turn away from the TV feeling ashamed at what I did last night, I was a part of a bank robbery I am now a criminal.

Yaegar sits next to me, "I felt the same way as you after my first crime ,you feel almost dirty as if you have failed the people who love you".

I turn to look at him, "So why are you still doing it?". Yaegar sips his coffee and shuffles closer to me .

"I joined after my parents died, I felt lost. Ambrose took care of me. After all the pain I finally felt like I was a part of something, I had brothers". I grab Yaegar's hand and smile at him shocked at his humanity. He smiles back at me and gets up to join the others. I brace my side as a wave of pain shoots through my abdomen ,I grunt in pain my breaths becoming short. Ambrose rushes over to where I sit.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?". He genuinely seems alarmed . "No ,I'm fine",I stutter out . I stand from the couch and l hurriedly walk to my room . I barely make it to the bathroom before the contents of my stomach are voided . I wipe my mouth with toilet paper as I stand to brush my teeth, a million things running through my head . At the forefront; what now?