Theo glanced down the street both ways and kept his hands deep into his pocket. He kept going but he felt paranoid. A car rumbled past on the street and he almost jumped but the car didn’t do anything. Just kept going to the intersection and turning away. Letting out a slow breath he leaned back.
It wasn’t as dark as it usually was by now, instead of being pitch black it was a mild blanket of darkness enveloping the sky and by extension shading the neighborhood. There was still some idea of light from the sky as opposed to just from street lights around him. Except the one he was under which flickered like a rave light.
Another car sped past, its old clunker of an engine backfiring nearby and he almost had a panic attack. Pressing a hand to his chest he sighed trying to relax. “It’s alright Theo. You’re just jumping at random stuff. You got this. Probably nothing crazy going on tonight anyway. Probably won’t even show up.”
He walked down to the corner and looked both ways before sprinting across the street stumbling over his shoes for a quick moment but caught himself. Readjusting his bag on his back he grinned. “Awesome. Ain’t nothing gonna trip me up.”
He pumped his fist into the air when a quick whooping echoed behind him. He froze as the flashing of red and blue went across the street. His stomach dropped and he felt his palms start to sweat. Taking a slow breath, he turned around to face the police car. The door was open and a bright light flashed in front of his face.
He winced looking away quickly but resisted the urge to cover his face. “What are you doing out here boy?”
“I’m doing some errands. For my mom.”
“Oh really? What store?” He motioned behind him to the almost empty streets. Most of the stores were closed for the day and he bordered on a neighborhood.
“It’s a local place down the street. Old Asian guy runs it. Sells homeland herbs,” This wasn’t a total lie. He did know the shop, it was his grandfathers. It was also local and if you squinted it was down the street. On the other side of the city.
But the cop didn’t know that and it showed in how he hesitated. But his hand flicked over to Theo’s shoulder. “What’s in the bag?”
Theo paled slightly and shook his head, “Books.”
“Books right. And nothing’s in them either?”
“What?”
“Hand over the bag.”
Theo made a face, “What for?”
“Because people have been ODing on Neo and Enhance and you look like someone dealing that stuff. Especially around this time of night. People like you always cause trouble. Now hand over the fucking bag,”
Theo didn’t even get another word out as he was grabbed by the shoulder and the officer reached for the bag. Theo stumbled backwards the strap on his bag tearing. He hit the ground hard but the copy didn’t even open the bag as he looked at him. He paused and looked at Theo again, “That’s a pretty light bag for books. Seems like you had a good night huh? How many people did you sell to?”
“It’s just books,” he almost shouted. “I didn’t sell to no one. I don’t deal!”
“Yeah sure. All of you deal on the side. You can tell everyone that down at the station.”
Theo scrambled back to his feet watching the cop shift his bag to his other hand and then reach toward his hip. Theo’s eyes went wide and his mind split down the middle on if he should run or if should just give up and go with him. Both had their risks but fear overrode them both and kept him in place.
The cop managed to take one more step forward when a black shape dropped between them. The cop jumped back startled. But before he could even say something the newcomer stepped forward and kicked the cop in the head knocking him backwards. With another swift kick the cop was sent to the ground and knocked out.
Sighing softly Yumi turned around to face Theo and her eyes widened. She was glad for the fact that her face was hidden behind the scarf and her hair tied back. It wasn’t a great disguise but in the dead of night it did its job. She pointed toward him and said, “You know, the streets are crazy right now. Especially cops like that guy running around.”
“Wow,” Theo said breathless as she walked over to him extending her hand. He stared at her hand and remembered the first time that she had done this and made a face. Somewhere between frustration and disappointment that it happened again. And something about her voice was familiar. But he reminded himself that he had a reason to be out here.
“I’ve met you before,” he said scrunching his eyes up. “You saved me then.”
“I remember,” Yumi nodded. “You get into trouble a lot?”
Taking her hand, he got back to his feet. Frowning hard he said plainly, “Not normally. I need your help.”
“You mean more than this?” Again, he frowned and Yumi’s tone shifted slightly. “Let’s get out of here first.” They moved away from the unconscious cop and the flashing lights. Running a few blocks away they turned corners putting it far behind them. Once she was sure they were good Yumi turned around to look at him. “What do you need?”
“My mom. She works at a shelter. RAST. Its been short on donations the past few months. Well this month we may not be able to make the payment to keep the building around. And if we don’t we lose the building. And I don’t know what happens to all of those people.”
“What?” Yumi asked sharply. She bit her tongue to stop herself from going on about how Hanako never told her any of this or that she had to save the shelter itself. Instead she said, “How the heck am I supposed to help?”
“I don’t know. Flair and Ray said that you could. I just had to find you first. And now I have. I was hoping you could fill in the blanks.”
“Flair and Ray said that?” she repeated and fought to keep her face even.
“Yeah. How do you know them anyway?”
Yumi blew out a breath folding her arms. “I found them on the streets. Helped them find that shelter.”
“I thought Yumi did that,” he puffed out a cheek. “You saying you know Yumi?”
“Yumi’s uh. A friend. We’ve crossed paths a few times.”
Theo raised both his eyebrows, “Seriously? No way.”
“Yeah way.”
“That’s crazy. But can you help me? Help my mom? She’s been super stressed about this stuff even though she won’t tell me about it. She tries to hide it but me and my dad noticed.”
“You guys need what? Money?” Yumi asked. “Do you even know how much?”
Theo paused because he started to talk but shook his head slowly. “No I don’t. Mom doesn’t tell me that much.”
Yumi let out a very heavy sigh and rubbed her face slowly, “I want to help. I definitely do but I can’t just steal a bunch of money and hope for the best.”
Theo stared at her but turned around folding his arms tight around his chest because she was right. He was quickly realizing just how much he didn’t think any of this through and how much trouble they were really in. “You’re right. I just. I want to help my mom. This shelter is huge for her. She’s put so much into it.”
Yumi rubbed her jaw slowly and took a few steps back. “I’ll do what I can okay? When’s the money due?”
“A couple weeks. Maybe three.”
“I’ll find you in two then. Hopefully. Don’t want to risk you getting in trouble a third time and me not being there to save your ass.”
“Wait you’re serious? You’ll help?”
“Yeah. But don’t get your hopes super up. I said I’ll see what I can do. No promises Theo. Now get home without getting into trouble!” Backing away she jumped hard and landed on the roof of the building behind them and sprinted off.
“I will. Thank you. I’m serious! Wait how do you know my name?!”
But Yumi was long gone, reaching into her pocket and pulling out her phone. She placed it against her ear and finally slowed down standing on top of a train station. Walking a few steps forward she stopped once it was finally picked it up.
“What’s up Yumi? Thought you were running one of night jobs.”
“I need your help leader. It’s for a good cause. It’ll probably get you some brownie points in heaven.”
Nonplussed he said, “Brownie points in heaven? What?”
She laughed and turned around. “I need some help. I need to get cash. Lots of it. And not our cash. It’s a good cause but we don’t need to go broke for it.”
“What are you talking about?” Phase asked and she could just imagine the look on his face.
“The shelter is in trouble and they need money.”
“Don’t they have people for that?”
“Yeah and those people don’t like taking care of people. They never help people who really need help.” She scowled this time. “I hate rich people.”
“No arguments from me.”
“I want to get the family together and do something old fashioned. A nice little bank heist. Get a lot of money. Go for a good cause. Maybe go out to a nice steak dinner.”
“Didn’t like pizza and drinks the other day?”
“Oh, I loved that. But that’s too low brow. If we’re going to be taking that much money we definitely need to be high society this time around.”
“High society? Paint the town red?”
“I knew you’d get me leader.”
“I’ll talk to everyone. See who’s able to come out. Where are you?”
“I’ll text you the address. Got a corner I like sitting on to do my thing.”
“Do I want to know what your thing is?”
“Nah. You can’t handle it leader. See you guys soon.”
She sat down and brought out her phone and launched a black jack app. Swinging her legs she played for about half an hour when she finally heard footsteps on her roof top. “About time you got here.”
She stood up slowly and took stock of who was there. Feint, Phase and Echo. Phase and Feint both had bags slung over their shoulders. She had hoped for Shade but didn’t complain. Phase handed her a head set and she pouted staring at it. “I want our masks back.”
“I know but it’s too dangerous still,” Feint replied. “Me and Darren are working on something but until then we make due.”
“I know,” Still pouting she put it in her ear and adjusted it slightly before tapping it, “Is it good?”
“Hearing you loud and clear,” Phase said and waved his hand motioning toward the end of the building and pointing. “There’s a bank that we’re hitting in the city.”
Yumi rubbed her hands together, “I love bank heists.”
“Oh trust us Yu, we know.”
The run there was straight forward, moving across the rooftops on a path they had done dozens of times before. Traffic picked up as they got closer and the next thing they knew it was the lively city that they knew and loved. The bank in question was it’s own tall building. “Is this all the bank?” Yumi asked.
“I think so,” Feint replied. “If anything else is inside it it’s not a whole lot. Actually this bank has been picking up some of the slack for Harris.”
Yumi folded her arms nodding slowly, “Ah I see. We did sink a building after all.”
“We did not,” Echo fretted.
“Alright everyone,” Phase said gathering everyone’s attention. “There’s about twenty floors. We want floor ten. That’s where we can find the storage of the valuables.”
“We’re not getting cash this time?” Yumi almost pouted. “I want a money sack.”
“That’s only in the cartoons Yu,” Feint reminded her. “Most banks barely carry enough for us. It’s the reason why we do jobs for Darren instead.”
“Then what are we taking?”
“Big banks like this one will have lock boxes,” Phase said. “And with enough high class customers like this one there’s bound to be some very solid pieces to sell later.”
“Ooo leader’s speaking my language.”
“Sure sure. But we don’t need all four of us here. Me and you can take care of this. Echo and Feint are going to make sure that the guards are distracted.”
Echo saluted, “Distraction is my middle name.”
“I thought that was Yu’s,” Feint chuckled softly. “Let’s go Distraction. Let Phase and Yu get to work.”
The pair hopped off the roof and ran toward the building. They travelled across the ground to get through on the street level while Phase and Yumi ran along the rooftops to make their way to the buildings right next to it. As they got close Phase held out his hand and Yumi took it. They jumped together and phased through the glass and stumbled into an office. They got their bearings relatively quickly and Phase glanced back at Yumi and held up his hand for her to pause.
He unlocked the door slowly and peeked out the hallway and started moving. There was only one direction he could go though. He saw a glass wall beside him and another door that was just difficult to see thanks to the awkward darkness. But the door he was walking toward now had a light bulb above it that hummed a soft orange. He approached the door and reached toward the handle, giving it a turn but it didn’t budge.
“Figures,” he shrugged and looked back at her. “Yumi I’m going in. Watch the door in case any one comes by.”
She made a face, “Lame.”
“Lame but essential.”
He stepped through the door and looked at the room he was in. It was slightly segmented off, the room splitting into two sections with a thick wall separating them. It was very dark in here and he could see the boxes lining the walls. Perfectly numbered slots on the wall by letter and number. He wondered which ones actually had anything within them and which ones were empty.
Turning back to the door he traced his hand across the door slowly and flipped the switch of the door with a soft click. Turning back to the task at hand he reached into his pocket and checked the hastily scribbled combination of letters and numbers. The combo that Darren gave him was rows C through D and numbers 10-15. There were small tables in the middle of the rooms.
Heading to the right side of the room he paused coming around and stared at a person in a long jacket tracing their hand across the lock boxes. Their chest was to Phase and he saw their face was hidden behind a mask with dark braids spreading behind their face. The mask was pure black with red lenses in the eyes.
“Huh didn’t expect to see you here. Kinda unfortunate. Wanted our first meeting to be more interesting than this.”
“Didn’t expect to see someone crashing our party. Who are you?” he said tapping the ear piece but he was just getting static back on his end.
“Someone you don’t have to worry about. Rules aren’t exactly in your favor. You won’t be around long enough for it to matter.”
They lunged forward and Phase ducked under a punch and then rolled away as another kick slammed into the wall. It echoed in the small space but they didn’t care and continued after them and attacking swinging their fist. Phase raised their arms blocking and ducking each attack avoiding each of them best as he could.
Phase struck back, swinging with his fists and they jumped back avoiding the attacks like they knew where they were going to come from. He threw a few kicks but Phase backed away putting distance between them. His chest heaved slightly at the effort.
“Okay. You’re not half bad. Want to join the team?”
“Fraid not. I have my own group.”
They lunged forward swinging a fist at him. Grabbing their arm with both hands he shoved them into the air. Taking the momentum Phase lunged forward and punched them in the chest sending them sprawling back. Squaring his feet he jumped forward going on the offensive.
He punched in a rapid flurry missing a few times but stepped toward the wall, letting his arm slide through the wall, grabbing something solid and jagged. Pulling it out he slammed a small trophy into the stranger’s side. They grunted stumbling back, glancing at the wall and then at Phase who took up another ready stance.
The stranger raised their hands slowly as if they were surrendering. But then their hand shot into the wall, dipping into one of the lock boxes. Phase’s eyes widened as they pulled a large diamond from inside it and launched it at his head. He jerked to the side as it skimmed the side of his face tearing the ear piece out. He raised his hands just in time to block the next punch. Shoving them backwards Phase kept his fist up.
“That’s a nifty trick. Looked like one of mines. Didn’t think I was that popular.”
“No cheap knocks offs here,” they lunged at him again. “Just as good as the original.”
Phase jumped back out of reach a few times then lunged forward. He swung back and they weaved backwards the fist going over his head. Popping back up he kneed Phase in the chest, his back slamming into the door. They pressed on, clasping both hands together and raised them above his head.
He looked up quickly and preemptively started phasing ready to let it go through him. But their fist, stopped just millimeters from Phase’s face. The air grinded in his ears and a screech echoed through his ears and he recoiled away covering his ear. It was like taking a small whine of static turned up to maximum volume and only in his ears.
When he looked back up the stranger was on the ground too a head on their mask. Even though he couldn’t see their face he could tell that something had happened to them. “Haven’t felt something that bad since me and Feint got our wires crossed.”
“Talk about a feedback loop. That’s probably why the blackout order was given,” they stood up slowly and their hands clenched and unclenched slowly.
Rubbing his neck, he shook his head. He’d only felt that once before and it was when he and Feint crossed their powers at the same time. But focusing on the moment he said, “You talk seriously cryptic you know?”
“It’s only cryptic because you think I’m hiding something 52. But you’re the one hiding things.”
Phase’s breath caught in his throat, eyes going wide. Before either of them could say something the door banged loudly and then it broke open, the handle melted. Yumi darted through it and took stock quickly. She saw their masked assailant and attacked. The stranger turned to face her but Yumi went straight through him. She stumbled forward falling against the ground.
“365. Wouldn’t be a party without you right?” They reached into their jacket and pulled out a revolver and aimed at her. “But I hate uninvited guests.”
Phase sprinted forward diving between the stranger and Yumi. The gun went off and Phase stumbled backwards as the bullet slammed into his chest. The pain was instant, like fire tearing through him. He took a shaky breath but looked back at Yumi. She stared at him, her face frozen.
The stranger spun the gun slowly and holstered it. “Guess I’ll take my leave. See you later 52. If you live that is.” They hopped slightly and then disappeared through the floor. Phase slid to the ground along with them, his head hitting the floor once they disappeared and his eyes shut. The last thing he heard was Yumi scream.
“Phase!”
The Harlequin Library 