Last week’s prompt was the A-Z Challenge.
Here’s Kris’s:
Allison sighed as the sounds of bullets going through the store windows echoed in the shop. Becky was not going to be happy. Cannonball had broken the windows last month, and they had just recently been replaced by the insurance company.
Dust exploded above Allison as one of the bullets hit a vase that had been long-forgotten on a shelf behind the register. Eric held onto her arm to pull her down, and the pair huddled behind the register’s counter, the sounds of the robbers pilfering the goods from the store’s shelves. Fingers, rough and dirty, groped around the cash register, probably trying to find a button to open the drawer. Gently, Allison reached up and pressed the worn panic button that was hidden under the register, doing her best to stay out of reach of the robber’s hand.
“How long do you think it will take them to get here?” Eric whispered.
“I don’t know,” Allison said, “but probably not too long. Jason timed them during the last robbery, and it only took them about six minutes.”
Kneeling on the cement floor wasn’t easy on Allison’s legs, and after about two minutes, she was wishing that the cavalry would arrive on the scene. Laughter made her look up, and she swallowed hard when she looked into the barrel of the robbers’ guns pointed at Eric and her. Mentally praying for help, Allison stood up on shaking legs and slowly raised her hands in surrender, with her coworker mimicking her movements. Normally she wouldn’t have been so nervous, what with living in a city that was overrun with villains and superheroes alike, but she had never been standing at gunpoint before. Outbreaks of thieves and burglars were common in this city, despite the numerous heroes that patrolled the area.
Plastic hockey masks covered the faces of the robbers, and they wordlessly directed Allison and Eric to the back wall of the store. Quietly, they obeyed, but Allison couldn’t help but sneak a glance out the bullet-riddled windows. Rush, at the very least with his super speed, should have been at the scene by now, or even Gigabyte with her swift electricity should have arrived.
She felt her stomach drop at the idea that Eric and she were in this alone, that maybe the superheroes of the city were too busy to deal with an armed robbery. Together, Allison and Eric would have to figure out how to get away from the robbers. Until backup arrived, either in the form of heroes or the police, they would be on their own.
Vaguely, Allison realized that the robbers were trying to get Eric to open the cash drawer for them. With all of her strength, she grabbed a nearby thick folder of paperwork and smashed it over the head of one of the robbers. Xeroxed copies of “Guidelines for New Hires” snowed around the group, prompting Allison to grab Eric’s hand, and the two raced for the door. Yells from the robbers did not slow them down, and they made it out of the shop as the police were arriving.
Zero costumed heroes made it to the scene that day, but Allison realized that simple people like herself could be heroes when they needed to be.
Here’s mine:
“After everything’s that happened, I have to say I’m a little relieved.” Bob confessed with a small smile.
Casey nodded in agreement. “Danielle was only bringing you down. Everyone is really happy you called off the wedding. Friends shouldn’t let friends marry jerks.”
Grinning bigger, Bob sat up straighter in his chair. “Her parents were more upset about us splitting up, I think. I know Danielle was more upset that she wouldn’t be able to buy a big, white, expensive dress.”
“Just because she’s not going to have a day where the world revolves around her.”
Karen walked into the room with a silver tray in her hand. “Lemonade? Made with extra sugar.”
No one responded to the maid. Overall, they were still thinking about the bullet they dodged with the wedding. Periodically Danielle would reach out to Bob, but he would just ignore her. Quoting him all the time, Danielle reminded him of all the promises he made to her. Remembering the good times, Bob looked at Casey with a frown.
She frowned in return shaking her head. Time and time again Bob would miss Danielle and Casey would have to snap him out of it.
“Umbrella,” she reminded him of a particular memory. Valuing Casey’s attempts, Bob shuddered at the memory and didn’t say another word.
“Well,” Karen piped up, “this Danielle person must have done a number on you.”
Xeroxed copies of the wedding details popped out of the fax machine from Danielle and Karen eyed Bob with a twinkle in her eye. “You know she’s not going to quit.”
“Zero,” Bob shook his head, “that’s how much I care.”
Thanks Kris for participating!
Now onto this week’s prompt…
Here’s another sentence starter.
Have fun with this one!
If you choose to participate, post your work in the comments. I’d love to see what you come up with.
Next Friday, before revealing the next prompt, I’ll post my version of the prompt along with anyone else who participates with a link back to their blog.
Happy writing!
