Ch. 9 "Heist"

After my outburst, I almost felt bad for him. It was simple miscommunication, but it still weighed heavy on my heart. I didn't have the energy to apologize to him just yet. He was out of line. We sat on opposite sides of the couch watching tv. Maybe he's the one who's mad at me now? I couldn't read his facial expression from under his hood.

"So... about tonight", I started to say. Maybe changing the subject could help my cause. No response. I leaned in closer and pulled the edge of his hood. He was sleeping while sitting up. I sighed. He's a manchild. His head lolled to the side, which couldn't be comfortable on his neck. I eased him into my lap, head resting on my crossed legs. I adjusted his hood, brushing hair out of his eyes. He was pretty to look at. I laid a hand on his chest, leaning my head gently on the back of the couch. A quick nap wouldn't hurt me either. It was going to be dark soon anyways. That's when we'll figure out what this creep wants from me.

. . . . . . . .

"Are you going to sleep ALL NIGHT?", I heard Chase's voice through my deep sleep. It roused me enough to lift my head. A finger poked my cheek repeatedly. I shooed it away, waving my hand lazily. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, only to be met by a coffee table of food. l sat up all the way, pulling my hair over the back of my shoulders.

"What is all of this?", I asked, confused. My eyes darted from noodles, to shrimp, to sushi, to dumplings, to an array of side dishes.

"Think of it as an apology", he said. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"What time is it?", I asked stifling a yawn.

"Just after 6, you don't 'get off work' until almost 11. We have some time to kill, so I figured I'd make it up to you for making you mad earlier", he shrugged. My mind was reeling.

"I really appreciate all this, I really do. But I wasn't even that mad. I was more embarrassed and confused. You seem to have a knack for doing that to me, you know", I said. I didn't know if I'd ever wrap my head around his logic.

"At any rate, I'm sorry. Let's not let it go to waste!", he said, clapping his hands over the food. It didn't take us long to demolish most of the spread.

"Did you make this all yourself?", I asked, again patting my stomach. He's definitely trying to make me fat.

"Of course, how rude!", he exclaimed. He smiled and continued stuffing himself. He seemed like a void for food.

"I'm honestly a little nervous about tonight", I admitted.

"Why? I'll be right behind you. Lurking in the shadows. We'll get him before he gets you. Don't worry so much. Your face will wrinkle", he said while scrunching his nose. I laughed.

"I hope so. I just want to know what he wants from me", I said. I contemplated my list of suspects again, and grew quiet. We continued watching TV until it was time to pounce.

. . . . . . . .

"I think we should arrive an hour before 11, and even walk separately there, just in case", I rubbed my temple. I looked up to meet those steely green eyes.

"That's a plan. We should probably leave soon. Wear your work uniform too", he said. I went to the bedroom to change. It was bittersweet to wear this uniform again. I smoothed myself over and checked everything was in place in the mirror. I threw on my black hoodie and walked back out to the living room. Chase gave me a thumbs up. I went to put on my shoes. Except, they weren't there. I looked everywhere. In every box, in every cubby, in the hall closet; they dissapeared. I heard Chase giggling behind me. I turned around to be met face to face with a pair of black shoes identical to my old work shoes dangling from his fingers.

"How did you get these?", I asked, absolutely dumbfounded.

"I have my ways", Chase said smiling. He then held out a light peach raincoat in his other hand.

"I'll never get over this, you know", I said accepting the items in my hands.

"I know. Maybe that's why I like doing it so much", he said. He bent down and kissed my forehead. My face almost immediately went red. I scowled at him, brushing my hair behind my ear. He smiled even bigger and crossed him arms, challenging me. I shook my head and slipped on the shoes, tying them tight. I threw on the rain coat. It smelled like him. There's that, at least. I sighed and patted my thighs.

"Ready?", I asked not sure if I was.

"Whenever you are", he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I grabbed the strap of my backpack and flung it over my other shoulder.

"Let's do this", I said.

. . . . . . . .

The walk there was rather uneventful. I knew Chase was there, hiding in the shadows. I took solace in the fact that I wasn't doing this alone. Since we had time to kill, I decided to grab a tea from a vendor in the night market. I paid and stepped back into the street. The smell of food, the constant thrum of music from the shops, honking cars, the neon glow of the signs, the light pitter of rain on the awnings; everything seemed so perfect here in this moment and I remembered why I fell in love with this small city to begin with. It's a shame my family isn't supportive or around. I looked around at all the families here. It made me sad, but that wasn't going to deter me from doing what I love to do. I looked around and found Chase standing at the entrance, just like we agreed. We made solid eye contact and he gave me a nod and dissapeared back into the night.

I walked through the entire market, looping around to the back of the string of buildings. The parking lots were bare, spare a few cars on the lots of the vendors that were open. I kept tight to the wall, just like Chase told me to. 'Stay under the lights, and stay somewhere that had an exit plan' he had told me. I could do that. It took me at a minimum ten minutes to cross the back parking lots. Just on time. I rounded the corner to where I cried my heart out this morning. It seemed like forever ago already. I waited at the back door what seemed like hours until I heard Chase's signal, which was a quick bird whistle. It signaled that it was 11 PM. I took a long sip of tea and steadied my nerves. I walked to the front this way almost every night for almost a week and a half now. This should work. I passed the front window, sliding my hand against the glass. I stopped at the front doors and tugged gently. Locked tight. I continued on my way towards the main street. I came up on the crosswalks. I pressed the button. There was a family on my left, waiting to cross. Nobody on my right, nobody behind me. I tapped my cup anxiously. The light changed and I let the family cross in front of me. I couldn't help but feel tense.

I crossed, then taking a slight right, headed towards the long road I took most of the way home. The bricks under my feet seemed to fly by as I stared down. I took long steps. Everything seemed to be so overwhelming. I heard a humongous thud from behind me. My head snapped around and I froze dead in my tracks. Chase was on top of someone... or something. I clutched the strap of my backpack with both hands, adrenaline rushing to my head, arms, and legs. I wanted to run so bad but I couldn't. Chase looked up from the thing he had smite to the ground. Something wasn't right.

Blood streaked his face, that was now very twisted but still somewhat human. The blood was blacker than ink the longer I stared. Chase lifted his head and met my eyes. His green eyes glowed in the darkness of the shadows. I felt the ground rushing up to my face, the vision of him hunched over his prey like a starved animal burned in my brain.