Bandits with Feelings

bandits with feelings (the end)

      Today is the day I'll be swimming in money. We all wake up at 6 in the morning to go over what would be happening. Michael, Matthew, Steven, and Reid would be setting off a smoke bomb and fire alarms halfway across the town. Matthew has made the smoke bomb, the smart bastard. Robert would be watching over us outside of town, on a hill. He would be sniping any policemen if they were on our tail. They would probably be on our tail if I were being perfectly honest.

Joshua, Danny, Nick and I would be operating in the bank, taking all the money we can. Joshua tells us this over breakfast, making sure everyone knows what they're doing. I don't feel like eating, I just want to go and rob that bank. I barely eat and finally it's time to leave. Nick gives me a holster my gun and we leave for the bank. Bandana on my face, I hold Nick's waist as we all drive to the bank. We watch as people come in and out of the bank. "We're going to leave now, alright?" Steven says, his head popping out of his car. "Yeah, yeah. We'll go inside when we hear that loud bang." Danny says.

They drive off and Robert leaves soon after, his sniper rifle hidden in his backpack. Minutes pass and I grow more and more anxious by the second. We don't got room for error. I want to kiss Nick, but I know Danny is here. Then I feel like kissing Danny. What have I gotten myself into?

I rehearse what's going to happen in my head thousands of times. It's tattooed in my brain. I melt into my thought when I hear a loud bang. I snap my head up and I see smoke flying up into the sky. "That man is an artist." Nick breathes, smiling. "Let's go," Joshua says, pushing us forward. I take a deep breath. This is going to take some acting.

I go inside first, stumbling around like I'm drunk. "Did y'all hear that explosion?" I slur, trying to sound southern. I look around and I see that there are a few people in the bank. The security guard comes and steps beside me. "Ma'am." He says. "Oh! Police, I found ya. Why don't ya check that out! Someone is probably dead." I say, trying to stay standing. "I'm not a police officer." As if on cue, the guard's walkie-talkie starts beeping. Nick has hacked his way through and I see his soothing voice come through. "This is an emergency. Calling all security, come to Ninth Street. Suspected bomb." The security guard looks at me. I sit on the floor like a child. He grunts and just leaves.

The rest of the civilians inside leave too, having heard the false message. I put on the bandana and go to the front desk. I ring the bell thousands of times and the rest of my group comes inside. The bank manager comes out, his hands shaking. I wait for the security guard to disappear down the street. I pull out the pistol. "This is robbery, get your ass out here. I say, pointing the gun at the bank employee. He stumbles on his way out. "Hurry up!" I yell. Nick slaps my ass and I consider shooting him.

The bank manager comes around the front desk too slowly. Joshua hits him hard on the head with the butt of his gun. "Show us the vaults." He demands. The man whimpers but obeys. We follow him through a locked door and into a small room, full of vaults. I can practically smell the money. "Open them," I say, holding the gun against the man's head. His hand shakes as he starts turning the lock. "Faster," I command. I look around the vault. "What's the code for the vault?" I ask, pointing at the biggest vault. "28, 42, 57." He mutters, his voice shaking. Danny jumps on it, his fingers moving fast. I hear a loud click and I see the vault in front of me open.

I push the man out of the way and stash the money inside a duffel bag that Joshua hands me. We continue opening the vaults. I'm drowning in money. Once all the money is in the duffel bag, Joshua carries it over his strong shoulder. "What should we do with him?" I ask, pointing at the man. Nick points his gun at the man's head. The man whimpers. "Don't," I whisper, we can't kill him.