Shade: The Heist
"What the hell am I doing? How did James talk me into this?" muttered S, standing on the sidewalk in front of the building, "I can't do this..."
James shot an iron glare, and gave a curt nod. He pulled the vehicle out of the parking space and set off for his loop.
"****."
S ran into the building, face obscured by a black hood and dark sunglasses. The gun was drawn. Two hands shot up in surrender.
"Please, don't shoot. I have a wife and two-"
"Just open the register. And keep away from the silent alarm." S placed a cloth bag on the desk.
"Okay!" The man opened the till and began to pick out the bills.
"Hurry, faster!" S was starting to panic, and waved the gun at the man.
"Sorry! Please, don't shoot!" He began to shovel out the money, into the bag. Suddenly, a voice from outside interrupted.
"Police! Drop your weapon! Drop it now!"
"****!" S grabbed the bag and its contents and bolted for the emergency exit, briefly noting the irony of its name. The door burst wide, and the thief sprinted out onto the sidewalk. Two police leapt out from the side. S kicked one and turned down into an alley. Dead end.
"****!!!" The two police officers approached, guns drawn.
S tossed the bag towards them. It landed just before their feet.
"Look! I don't want it! I really should even-"
"Shut up kid. You're under arrest for armed robbery."
S gazed around frantically. The colourful glow of the convenience store cast a surreal glow on the area, though the alley was dark. A dumpster, some cars and other debris were spread throughout the area. In the background, cars cruised by. Cars... James! The thief's eyes opened wide as the driver cruised by. He gazed at his unfortunate compatriot's panicked face, gave a very strange look, then shrugged and drove off, revving the engine slightly.
"What? No!" shouted S, extending a hand in the direction of the car. Unrecalled by the owner of that hand, an empty gun was still clutched in it.
"Look out!" shouted one officer.
"Suspect armed!" shouted the other into his radio, "Using force."
S panicked, raised the gun and pulled the trigger. It clicked, to no result. But the movement had been caught by the first officer. Without thinking, he fired twice.
Time froze in the thief's mind.
"I'm too young to die! How did this happen? Why did James leave!?! Panic! Fear! Terror!"
S collapsed. Or more specifically, dissolved. The human body simply evaporated. Bullets whizzed through the rapidly disappearing gas.
"Holy Crap!"
The two officers stared dumbfounded for some time. One started to search around the alley for the body. Nothing was found. A few silent moments later, the two stared at each other.
"So we report the suspect escaped?" asked the first.
"Yeah." responded the second, still staring at the empty space.
The two men picked up the bag and walked back into the store. Neither noticed a small, pool of shadow in the dark alley. Neither noticed it shift around, gliding up a wall and out of sight..."
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