Chương 21: Bank Manager Pt. 2
I wondered what was going on at the bank. It wasn't the first time a false alarm had been triggered at night and obviously Luca had set several off recently. I probably shouldn't be concerned but I couldn't shake the strange feeling I'd had when I was walking home. Could the weird feelings be related?
The microwave was beeping, indicating my food was ready but I was nervously staring at my phone. Still focused on the notification, I took the plastic dish out and set it on the counter. I grabbed a fork and ate one ravioli.
I knew it might be dangerous to go to the bank, but my curiosity peaked. Could it really be getting robbed? If so, who was doing it? Perhaps that wasn't the proper mindset to have going into this but I was so bored with my life and needed some excitement other than Chase drama.
When the phone rang, I answered, "Hello?"
"Get down to the bank now, or your friend gets it. No cops!" The man was speaking through gritted teeth.
"Wait, what? Who? Gets what?"
"Just be there."
I could hear the alarm going off in the background, but it abruptly stopped. Then the person hung up. I checked my call history for the number, but it was private, of course. My hands were shaking as I stood in the middle of my house wondering what to do.
There was only one option.
As I got dressed, I tried to place the voice, but it wasn't anyone I recognized. Before I left, I considered calling the police, but this person sounded serious. Once I had my jeans and a crimson-colored long-sleeved shirt on, I got in my car and left.
Normally, I didn't drive to the bank since it was so close, but I wanted extra protection. If I needed to make a run for it, the car was a better bet. I parked in the back, but I couldn't get in that way. Cautiously, I made my way to the front of the bank.
Inside I could see someone with a mask on their face holding another person by the collar. It was hard to see either of them since they were in Gemma's loan office where there were plants and opaque windows. I pushed on the outer glass door, entering slowly.
Once I was inside the person with the gun stood, checking to see who it was.
"Get in here," he said with a gruff voice. I carefully made my way to the loan office. As I entered, I could see Luca with his hands bound behind him and his mouth gagged. When he glanced up at me, I could see the fear in his eyes.
As I eyed Luca's captor, I noticed his black balaclava covered most of his face. All that I could see were his piercing blue eyes. I put my hands up when he pointed the pistol at me. His gloves did not cover much beyond his wrists and I got a glimpse of his peach-toned skin.
"I'm here. What do you need from me?" I finally asked.
"I want you to open the vault," he said gripping Luca's collar with his right hand.
"That's no problem," I said trying to mask the fright in my voice. I kept my hands up and backed out of the loan office. "You don't need to involve my friend, though. I can easily get you the money without an issue."
"Since you're interested in what I need, hear this. I need money so I need to get into the vault. Got it?" He tilted his head sharply and shoved the pistol closer to my face. I backed up with my hands still up.
"I'm going to turn around now so I can see where I'm going," I warned. He nodded.
"Don't try anything funny."
I attempted walking at a medium pace to stall. I was hoping the police had heard the alarm, but he didn't like it and kicked me in the back of my heels. I sped up and promptly we were at the vault. I unlocked each of the vault's doors and opened it widely.
He grabbed my collar and pulled me inside with him.
"Grab me that bag over there," he commanded while waving the pistol at me. I walked to the shelves and grabbed the thick canvas sacks we used to pack money for the armored trucks. I held it out as he stuffed wads of cash into it. I glanced at him when I thought he wasn't looking to get a better read on him.
Could this be an ex-employee or was this just a random person off the street?
When the bag got too heavy, I dropped it.
"Hey! Keep that open!" he shouted.
"The weight is too much," I explained. "But I can get you another one." As I turned around with the new bag, I could hear a sound of something scurrying in the main part of the bank. I prayed it was the police.
I watched the robber cinch the first bag shut with the thick rope that was looped through metal eyelet holes. Then whatever was happening in the bank caught his attention. I could hear footsteps coming closer and then I peered out.
In the middle of the lobby, I could see someone dressed in a suit of metal dashing toward us. As he got closer, he flipped his helmet off. It was Luca!
I watched as he thrust his hands out toward the robber and then drew his hands back repeatedly as though he were clawing at the man's energy.
The burglar was at a loss when he went skidding across the floor until he was at Luca's feet. Luca took the pistol and held it on the man, though he probably didn't need the extra protection. The burglar was cowering at Luca's feet as he stared down at him.
"Bet you regret not realizing that money is the root of all evil. Or should you be thinking more along the lines that money can't buy you love?" Luca placed his gray metal index finger on his chin.
"Look man, just let me go! I have kids."
"I don't think so." Luca waved his finger at the burglar.
I rushed to the alarm and turned it on. Remembering Luca setting it off before, I stared at him. The person he had been earlier in the day was not who he was now. I was awe-stricken.
"Janessa," Luca said, waving his hands to me.
"Yes?"
"Do you remember? We're in a simulation that we picked together." As I stared up into his gray eyes, it all washed over me.
"Yes," I said, "Yes, yes. I do!" I exclaimed. He gave me a half-smile.
"Didn't your shirt set you off? It's brilliantly red."
"It didn't. Maybe we need to be together to be triggered?"
"Perhaps but look at me now. Those tickets do more than let us choose the sim ... obviously." He waved his hands up and down his body.
"Yeah, no s*it. How did you do that?"
"As soon as I remembered everything between us and the simulations, I just wanted to protect you. Suddenly, this suit wrapped itself around me and now I can use it for telekinesis or somethin'."
"I need to get one of those tickets then!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"Yeah, and I get the feeling we can carry it over--" Luca was cut off by the burglar trying to get up. "Are you barmy, mate? You do remember how you got out here, yeah?" Luca stared at the man until he nodded. Luca turned his attention back to me.
"There has to be a better way to do the simulations," I said then mumbled, "Now, I know what Chase meant when he said the simulations were wearing him out."
"You alright?" Luca asked, placing his left hand firmly on my shoulder to support me. I liked the smoothness on the top of his metal fingers. I smiled at him.
"I'm just tired. I want a break."
"Well," Luca began. "We'll always find one another. And we will get through all one hundred and fifty. Can you take solace in that?"
"Yes, but what if it is too late? What if we die in a simulation?"
"Now, that would be interestin' to experiment with," Luca said pointing upward.
"Luca!" I retorted. He grinned at me.
"Come now, mate. Our real selves are out there. They won't allow us to kick off."
"You have a 'real self' too?"
At that point, a SWAT team came into the bank with guns drawn.
"Get down on the ground!" They shouted at both of us. "Hands where we can see them!"
As Luca and I were on the floor facing one another on our bellies. Instead of being upset, Luca gave me a playful grin and nodded. He felt optimistic and I suspected he was always like that. Maybe I could be as hopeful, someday.
"You're all going to jail!" one shouted and tried to cuff me and Luca.
"Hang on mate, you've got the wrong end of the stick. It's this muppet in the balaclava. You, see?" Luca motioned with his head toward the robber.
"Yeah, it's true. It's just me," he readily volunteered. The SWAT team turned to him. The robber was cowering under Luca's gaze.
"What's going on? What's that suit you have there?"
"Aw, this old thing? Have you ever heard of Mecha World? It's kinda like a renaissance fair but with robots. We've been acting out--"
"There's no need to explain it," the officer with the name Jensen on his uniform said cutting him off. "And you?" Jensen asked me.
"I'm the bank manager. This was a hostage situation …"
***
I explained everything to the police, and they took the robber away. Once everything was wrapped up, Luca and I sat on the floor of the bank, our elbows resting on our knees, hands slack.
"What would you like to do?" he asked me with a slight tilt of his chin.
"What are my options?"
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