I hate this part of town. 

-I frowned, as we sat on a couch that wasn’t nearly as comfortable as it looked in the lobby of a bank, Jim skimming through a car magazine, and Eddy across from us looking nervous, as per usual. Across the way, Remmie was in line for the counter, withdrawing money.

You hate somethen? No! He responded sarcastically, not looking up.

Oh don’t start. 

-I said, turning to him.

I’m sorry, which one broke the very awkward silence, anyway? He snapped, half turning to me.

“Is...I mean do you...uhm...” Eddy started, fidgeting.

What now?

Jim smiled. “Take your time, Eddy. Get it out good and proper, yeah?”

“Do you...actually hear voices?” he finally got out.

Yep. Absolute loon, he is.

-I snort.

Yeah, says you.

I would know, wouldn’t I?

Eddy cleared his throat politely, returning our attention to him. “Yeah.” Jim said. “I hear voices. Freeloader’s been with me long as I can remember. Right annoyen’ thing.”

Oh grow up.

“Did you ever think of getting like...help?” He asked us.

With what money? 

-I looked at him, annoyed and exasperated.

“Can’t exactly run to a therapist, can I?” Jim chuckled, returning to his magazine. “Don’t worry ‘bout it, Eddy. Ain’t your problem, anyway.”

“But we’re friends.” He said, than looked almost afraid. “I mean...aren’t we?”

“Wouldn’t exactly be helpin’ you out today if we weren’t, would we?” Remmie laughed, walking up to us.

“You get it?” Jim asked, looking up from the magazine.

“Course, Jim!” Remmie said indignant, holding a brown envelope. “Wunt' no thing. Though, I’d start movin’ some a that pocket money around to cold hard cash.” He told Eddy, tossing him the envelope. “Don’t mind spotting you, mind. Just for convenience sake. Plus I ain’t gonna be in town all the time. Beneficial for everyone, really.”

“I have no idea how to do that.” Eddy said.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Jim said.

“Be happy to show ya.” Remmie smiled. “Come on. We’re meetin’ them cross the way.”

We stood up to leave, but were stopped by a pair of boys with duffel bags over their shoulders. One had aviators on, despite being inside, with a bright dyed-red bowl cut and a suit to match. The other had long black hair going to the lower part of his shoulder blades, and dark brown eyes with all the evidence of a Shattered within.

“Sit back down.” Said the bottled red-head.

His friend quickly grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him away. “Hey watch it man, that’s Mr. Dead.” He hissed, as the other looked over his shoulder, concerned.

Remmie and Jim smile to each other as I roll my eyes. “Come on, Eddy. Don’t wanna get held up.” Jim said, as we walked out the doors, the two boys behind us, making their way to the counter.

Lucky us, anyway. Jim said, as we walked down the steps. Free distraction.

I doubt they’ll pull this off. Those boys are idiots. 

-I said, looking both ways, because one of us had to.

I dunno. Jim said, sitting at an outside seating area in front of a cafe. Cops up town ain’t exactly prepped for Shattered, are they?

“So what you say, Jim?” Remmie asked, kicking his feet up, leaning back in his chair. “I’m betting ‘bout seventy percent chance they pull that off.”

Seventy?! 

-I say, surprised.

“Benefit of the doubt.” Jim smiled. “Seventy-five.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Eddy asked, looking up from a menu. “What’s going on?”

“Ah those guys we bumped into on the way out are gonna try ta’ rob the bank.” Jim said, waving away the question.

“Wait, what?” Eddy asked, startled. “Really? Why?”

'Cuz that’s what bank robbers do.

Remmie gave a half smile. “They’re Shattered from the East Side of No-Man’s-Land. They like robbing banks. ‘Bout sixty-forty with the results from what I hear.” He said, scratching his head. “Ah what were their names? Go by...Cherry Cola and Zeep Montana.”

“Zeke.” Jim said, looking over the bank.

“Huh?” Remmie asked.

“You always say Zeep. Guys name is Zeke.”

“Pardon if I don’t incline to care.” Remmie responded, rolling his eyes.

“And you know them?” Eddy asked, as a gunshot from inside the bank broke the silence of the afternoon.

“Know of them.” Jim said, watching people dart away with mild amusement.

“Most interestin' thing to come outta the East Side for awhile now.” Remmie continued, as we watched the bottle red, Cherry, bar the front door.

That’s not exactly sayen' anythen'. They didn’t cut the silent alarm.

-I say, scanning the building. 

Jim laughed. What a couple of douchebags.

“And we’re...just gonna let that happen?” Eddy asked, unsure. “Just sit here and watch.”

Remmie and Jim looked at each other, before both shrugging. “Sure, we got time.” Remmie said, shifting his chair for a better view.

“Not hurting us anyway.” Jim continued.

“So what we got, huh?” Remmie asked, as if he just got back from the concession stand in a sports game.

“Barred the exits. Looks like they’re taken hostages too. Automatics by the look of it.” Jim said. “How’d they get those?”

The Pride was holding a gun fair down that way a couple of weeks ago.

Oh right. Forgot ‘bout that.

“Forgot the silent alarm though. That’ll bite them in the arse later.”

“Now why’d they do a fool thing like that?” Remmie sighed, shaking his head.

We could see the two gathering the people inside together, and Zeke walking off to the back as Cherry watched guard. “They’re used to things being easy.” Jim smiled, looking over. “They’re Shattered, remember?”

“Ah right. That freaky Frankenstein eye bullshit.” Remmie snarled with visible disgust. “That's why magic is far more trustworthy than science.” He told Eddy. “Science is always changin’ and never makes any sense. Magic stays exactly the same and always keeps the same rules.”

“Right...” Eddy said, completely lost.

We watched as a man stood up and shouted at Cherry. Cherry walked up to the man and hit him in the face with the butt stock. He dragged the man to the center of the lobby, in front of all the other hostages, and shot him dead. “Oooohhh.” Jim and Remmie said in unison. “That’ll bite him in the arse.” Jim shook his head.

“Didn’ even wait for the cops to show.” Remmie agreed. “Right poor choice I’d say.”

“That leaves him, what?” Jim asked. “Eight hostages?”

Seven.

Jim turned to me, confused. I counted eight.

You can count? 

-I asked dryly, from my seat on the table, not looking away from the bank.

“Oh look we got ourselves a hero.” Remmie said, pointing at a head that popped into view for a moment before disappearing. “Didn’t check all their corners.” he tutted, disappointed.

Told you it was eight. Jim smiled at me, smugly.

“Doesn’t look like they’ve ever done this before.” Eddy, of all people, commented, earning him a few laughs from the other boys, causing him to smile, slightly.

Oh look. 

-I said, pointing at Zeke as he came back from the deeper parts of the bank. 

Maybe now they’ll start making smart decisions.

Zeke, upon seeing the body that was created, started laughing. It become obvious he came to see what the noise was and was not showing back up to take control of the situation. Zeke looked at his watch, and gestured towards the vault of the bank. Cherry nodded, and picked up one of their duffels. “Seems they’ve realised their time constraints, Remmie.” Jim said.

“Question is will that help them. They’ve been goin’ pretty small time this season, Jimbo. It’d surprise me if they ever tackled anythin’ like this.” Remmie agreed.

“Season?” Eddy asked.

Here we go. 

-I rolled my eyes.

“It’s pretty obvious this is a smash n’ grab, Remmie.” Jim continued, watching as Zeke passed up and down the hostages, smiling while talking to them and making a show. “Guessen’ they’re trusten’ their Shattered powers to get them out of it.”

“Not a smart move at all Jim, if you ask me.” Remmie commented. “Should’ve come up with a more concrete plan, specially considerin’ this is the score of the century for them.”

“Oh... Hold up...” Jim said, craning his head towards a growing noise down the street. “Yes that’s the expected interference from the KPD comen in fast.”

This is exactly where we want to have a drug deal. 

-I complained, watching the cops surround the bank.

“Are we going to be alright?” Eddy asked, being the only sensible island in an ocean of stupidity and suicidal tendencies. “You know for the...the thing.”

“We should be fine.” Remmie said, nonchalantly, watching Zeke and Cherry walk out the building with two duffel bags of cash each. “What on earth are they plannin’?”

Somethen' stupidly over the top. 

-I sigh.

“Oh, maybe they’ll get shot.” Jim smiled, leaning forward in his chair.

“That’d be neat.” Remmie said.

“I’ve never seen someone get shot before.” Eddy said, with a hesitant interest.

“Didn’t see them pop that guy in the bank?” Jim asked, looking over.

“I wasn’t paying attention...” He mumbled.

“To a bank robbery?” Remmie looked at him confused, and a little ashamed.

“Well I mean- What’s he doing?” Eddy asked, pointing at Zeke. He had dropped the bags in his hands, and held his arms out, palms facing downward.

“Haven’t you been payin’ attention?” Remmie smiled. “Freaky Frankenstein eye bullshit.”

At the foot of Zeke, a dark, thick, grey cloud started to form around him and Cherry. The last thing you saw before they completely disappeared, was Cherry, leveling his rifle at one of the officers. As the cloud moved down the steps to the bank, and towards the circling cop cars, a gunshot ripped throughout. One of the cop's head jerked backwards, and he fell just as the cloud enveloped the rest of the street.

“Holy shit.” Eddy whispered. “How did he hit him through the cloud?”

Remmie smiled. “Freaky Franken-”

“Cherry only sees in infrared. Its why he wears sunglasses everywhere.” Jim interrupted Remmie, rolling his eyes.

That and he’s a tool. 

-I snort.

“Hey man, what’s going on over here?” Came the overly calm voice of a young hippie college student named Creek. “Shits looking wild.” Alongside him was his younger sister, a girl our age with long, unruly red hair and covered in freckles named Daisy. She was bouncing excitedly, the younger members of the Conclave weren’t allowed to enter the city very often. Also everything excited her because she was a complete aggravating spaz.

“Does this happen ALL the time?!” She asked, as gunshots filled the air, and everyone calmly went about their day. “That’s SO cool!” she giggled, sitting from across Eddy, Creek next to her.

Make her shut up.

Jim smiled. Nah I don’t think I will. Just cuz it pisses you off.

I hate you so much.

Cry me a river.

“Nah this is pretty rare for so deep into the city center.” Remmie answered Daisy, pulling us both back to reality. “Not completely uncommon either, mind you.

“I’m SOO jealous! Nothing EVER happens on the reservation!” she said, practically shaking with excitement in her chair, her eyes dancing across the scene before her, before landing on Eddy. “And who ARE you?” she purred.

“He,” Creek interrupted, as Eddy turned red, “Is our client. So don’t scare him off.”

“This your first time?” She smiled.

“Kinda...” He mumbled.

“Mine too.”

Creek cleared his throat as Remmie and Jim grinned and I rolled my eyes, casually watching the end of the bank robbery. The clouds were starting to clear, and the cops were discovering that- surprise -Zeke Montana and Cherry Cola were nowhere to be found, and two more officers lay dead. “Cash for grass.” Creek said, tossing the bag onto the table. “Everything kosher, my man?”

Remmie opened the bag, and made sure to show Eddy, before closing it again, and pulling out the manila envelope. “Just pulled it out. Count it if ya want.”

“Now if I can’t trust a Professional like yourself, who can I trust, Mr. Dead?” Creek smiled, taking the envelope and shoving it in the back of his jeans. “Need to set up another appointment while I’m here?”

“Should be good.” Jim smiled, politely. “Carl and a few others will be up that way next week. If our boy here needs more, we’ll let ya know.”

“Done deal.” Creek said, dusting his hands off together. “See you soon, James.”

“What that’s it?” Eddy asked confused. “Just like that?”

The group smiled at him, amused. “Yeah, just like that, Eddy.” Jim said, patting him on the back, and standing, stretching out as he did so.

“What, you expectin’ some shady back alley, all of us in trenchcoats and sunglasses?” Remmie grinned.

“I don’t know...” Eddy mumbled. “I guess...”

Daisy laughed, and reached over the table, to tug Eddy’s nose affectionately. “You are just so ADORABLE!” She grinned. “Stop by the conclave, some day.” She continued, eyeing him up and down. “We can get FUCKED UP together.”