11.
On the
fourth floor Robert Cody and his companion had been enjoying a quiet dinner
when they received the phone call from Franklin warning them to stay away from
the door. Since then they had been
anxiously sitting by the window looking for a way to escape. They had contemplated jumping but only
concrete would break their fall. They
had been relieved when the cops pulled into the parking lot.
“It is going to be okay now the cops
will get us out.” Robert had said to comfort his dinner guest. He was trying to comfort himself as much as
anyone.
Franklin
checked on his adversaries in the parking lot, they were still milling around
waiting for him to make a move and make a mistake. “Here’s your move,” he yelled as he pressed
hard on the detonator key. A muffled
explosion erupted from beneath him.
Water from the bay should be filling the basement and heading towards
the lobby, it would fill the tower. In
the panic it would create he would make his escape.
In his
apartment Robert Cody heard the explosion.
His houseguest let out an alarming cry “Oh my god Robbie, they’re gonna
flood the tower. That explosion leveled
the basement walls. Were all going to
die. You have to get out.” With that he kissed Robert on the cheek and
ran for the door.
“Get down” he screamed at Robert.
“NO” Robert screamed back but it was
too late, the explosive device detonated killing Roberts partner
instantly. Robert was stunned but his
anguish soon turned to survival. He ran
to the door and then out into the hallway.
He hit the elevator call button but nothing happened. The stairs were his only option. He cautiously opened door, he peered in. There were no sounds from the stairway so he
entered. By the time Robert reached the
lobby the water was flowing over his shoes.
He ran for the front door but it was locked he turned to look for a
chair to throw through the window. As he
did so he stepped on a wire under the water.
The water lessened the blast but was still forceful enough to blow him
through the plate glass doors. He landed
on the concrete in a heap. As he looked
up a handgun was pointed at him.
“Police, identify yourself.” was the cry from the armed man. Robert was able to get out his name and
apartment number and was soon helped by a paramedic. Thank god he thought himself as he medic
helped him away from the tower.
12.
The water
was soon flooding the whole building.
Franklin was headed to the roof.
Behind him screams of panic could be heard. The water was entering apartments, apartments
that the residents were trapped in.
Explosions rocked the building as tenants tested their front doors. Franklin had not lied to them, as they turned
the handle the doors exploded leaving death and debris. Not sure how many more explosions the
building could take Franklin quickened his stride towards the roof. The air was fresh as he opened the roof
door. He sprinted to the fire escape at
the front of the building. Before
reaching for the ladder he pulled a knife from his pocket and made two cuts,
one on his forehead and one on his hand.
The blood began to flow as he proceeded to make his descent from the
OuterQuaker tower.
The police
were forced to retreat further behind their yellow tape as the explosions
rocked the area. The fire brigade was
the first to act. Seeing the terrified
residents at their windows they set up the fire trucks close to the
building. They extracted the fire ladder
and were able to rescue the people who lived at the front of the complex.
“Where are the terrorists? Surely they
are not going to stay in the building as it explodes around them.” Wally Jarvis
enquired. His train of thought was
interrupted by a scream from the tower.
“Help me” the voice screamed. “I
managed to get out from the roof.”
The man in front of them was covered in
blood from his daring escape. “Get a
medic over here.” one FBI agent yelled.
“Where are you hurt?” the paramedic
asked the bloody figure.
“I fell and hit my head.” Franklin
lied.
“Can you walk okay?” Franklin was
asked, he nodded and they headed over to the ambulance. More tower people were being brought down
from the now decrepit looking building.
As Franklin approached the ambulance the medic left him for a moment to
tend to another injured person. Franklin
took his chance and walked passed the medical truck and out towards the media
and crowd.
“That’s him. Stop him.” yelled Robert Cody from a
neighboring ambulance. “I saw him in the
building. He’s the one.” Wally Jarvis heard Roberts cries and ran over
to the scene. “Hey you stop.” he yelled
at Franklin.
Franklin didn’t miss a step as he
turned and tore his gun from his pocket he fired twice at Jarvis then ran
across the parking lot. Jarvis hit the
ground as both shots missed. He pulled
out his service revolver. Raising his
hand he leveled and fired one shot. The
shot hit Franklin in the back, his body arched forward and his legs gave way. He crashed into the concrete as his momentum
carried him a few feet forward. Jarvis
picked himself up and ran over to the slumped body. Franklin was dead. The bullet had punctured his lung and torn
through his heart.
“Crime doesn’t pay and greed is the
worst sin.” Wally Jarvis said to Dave in the worst infomercial voice he could muster as
he rejoined the police and FBI team.
“Let’s hope paperwork pays well.” Dave responded “because there's going
to be a shitload of it to explain this!”
I hope you liked this short story in all of its corny glory :) If you did, feel free to comment or pop over to http://store.payloadz.com/details/1941573 and pick up my novella for less than the price of a candy bar!
Mmmm.. candy :)
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