Hostage

It started like a normal day.
I woke up at 8:30 and started getting ready for my 9:30 shift at Lindt cafe in Sydney CBD. I pulled on a plain black T-shirt and my black skinny jeans, I grabbed my brightly coloured vans and put them on, just kidding they're black too. I felt like a goth looking in the mirror. I grab an elastic off my night stand and pull my ebony hair into a ponytail. I check the time, 9:15. Sugar, I'm going to be late, I grab my Chapstick and my bag and leave out he front door.
~~~
"That's $4.95 please" I say to the middle aged lady as I hand over her coffee. Brandon is late. Again. So I'm on check-out duty.
"LISTEN UP" I look over to the middle of the shop where a man with a beard is shouting from on top of a table. Everyone else stops and looks too.
"ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND PUT YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WINDOW."
Everyone is silent.
Silent and unmoving.
He scowls and pulls out a gun. I take a sharp breath and slowing turn towards Courtney on the other till just as she looks towards me. There's fear in her eyes and that's when I realise... This isn't a joke. I slowly move towards the window closest to me. Everybody else moves to do the same.
"That's good. Very good." he says darkly from behind us
~~~
2 hours after
My arms are sore, but I don't dare move them in fear of the gun behind my back. Courtney is next to me with her fists clenched and eyes squeezed shut. I close my own eyes and say a silent prayer, please. PLEASE. Let this be over.
~~~
6 hours after
I'm hungry.
I'm tired.
But more importantly,
I'm terrified.
Courtney cries silently beside me.
I haven't heard her cry in a long time, not since her grandpa died when we were twelve, not even when her boyfriend broke up with her, not even when she failed an important history assignment. But she's crying now. I can't afford to cry, if I cry I won't be able to stop, then there's a good chance I'll get shot.
I hear a sigh from across the room and someone collapses on the floor.
"Get up." I hear the man say. the sick bastard should go die in a hole.
"I-I can't, I can't stand anymore," the voice belongs to an elderly lady, I immediately pity her.
"Hmhph. fine. EVERYBODY ON THE FLOOR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD.FACE ME. BACK AGAINST THE WINDOW." he orders.
I slide down the wall and do as he says, my muscles are still tense, but no longer aching. I catch a glimpse of Courtney, her mascara is smudged and her hair is a mess, but she's hanging in there. I just hope I can too.
~~~
8 hours after
"You over there, Asian chick ."
I look up at the man and realise he's speaking to Courtney. Fear clenches in my throat and wraps around my mind. Courtney looks up stone faced.
"Yes?" She replies blandly
"I need a flag. and you're going to get it for me."
Her eyes narrow and she replies with fire in her voice ,
"And why would I do that?"
he holds the gun up and my eyes go wide.
"Because otherwise I'll shoot." His lips curve into a sadistic smile.
Courtney's eyes flick towards mine and then like a switch, she's in action she grabs ahold of his gun forcing it away from her face and knees him in the crotch. Before I could think, she grabs my hand and pull me towards the emergency entrance. As we fall through the door we hear him curse from behind us. My mind starts working in overdrive, I begin to panic, tears start to form in my eyes. I'm out. I'm free.
My breathing is hysterical as I turn the corner and run into a dark outstretched arm. Thinking it was the man from inside, I thrash to get away.To keep running, but my eye sight clears and my breathing steadies a bit and I realise they're here to help. help was here all along.
"Naomi?" The officer says
I know that voice.
"Jarod?" He pulls me close to him and hugs me. I had no idea he was apart of terrorist defence or whatever you call this, actually; I didn't know much about his job or life now at all.
"I knew you worked here, but I didn't think you'd actually be here," he says exasperated as he leads me towards an ambulance,
We sit down and he pulls a blanket around me.
I'm too shocked to respond.
My workplace under siege and running into my ex-boyfriend...literally, this isn't right. Only now that I'm calmer I realise how tired I am. Jarod grabs my hand and I lean in and sob into the hard fabric covering his shoulder.
He rubs small circles on my palm and I am aware of his light breathing ruffling my hair. I slowly feel my eyelids begin to droop, this isn't right, there see still people inside, but even with the chaos around me I fall asleep on Jarods shoulder.

This is BASED on facts. the rest I made up. 😅 thankyou for reading even tho I'm not the greatest writer ❤️