Chapter 3

The members Leer had chosen for that night's excursion met up a block away from their target. Altia leaned against a wall next to Zack. She hadn't spoken to anyone else, and hadn't even risked a glance in Leer's direction. The entire group had a sort of nervous energy, one that expressed itself through scowls and shuffling feet. Yet somehow, Altia seemed to be the only one who realized that Leer's grand plan to get them all rich overnight was full of holes and doomed to fail.

Maybe another mutant would be able to rob a bank single-handedly. Like that one guy they'd all seen on television a few years back, the one called Magneto. Altia knew that her mutation would never be able to manage any massive stunt, and she suspected that Zack knew it too. Unfortunately, to Leer, all mutants were the same- bodies filled with an unknown and therefore all-powerful magic. Mutant magic. Altia scowled again.

"Hey. Girl." Leer's voice snapped her attention up to him, though she was careful to look only at his shoulders. "We're just about ready. You're going in first."

Altia nodded mutely, taking her hands out of her jacket pockets and stretching her fingers one by one. With any luck, this'll get them all rounded up and I can convince the authorities to let me go.

Zack reached over and touched her shoulder. "Good luck."

"Guy at the front desk should be conveniently in the bathroom. Just go in, grab his keys, get the guards out of the way. You have two minutes before we come in." Even though she wasn't looking directly at him, Altia could feel Leer's glare. "Don't mess this one up."

"I'll do what I can." Altia took a deep breath, jogging around the corner before she could lose her nerve.

The bank Leer had targeted wasn't anything huge. Single story, built from worn bricks, didn't even belong to a large company. Still, that didn't mean there wouldn't be guards and cameras. Even a tiny bank was protected.

Altia paused outside, peering in a small window. There was a single light on in an office off the main entry room, but she couldn't see any movement. Maybe Leer's payoff had worked.

She pushed open the door cautiously. It was unlocked, at least, so something was going right. No alarm went off when she entered, no shouts rose from the hall, and no bell jingled when the door swung open. A pause, then a breath- she was fine.

The wooden floor creaked softly as soon as Altia stepped inside. She froze, heart pounding, then straightened. If she had to do this, she might as well do it quickly. The door to the lit office was open.

As Altia moved across the room, she adjusted her pace to mimic that of a larger man. Hopefully anyone listening would think she was the conveniently missing front desk guard. She made it across the room without any problems, then strode confidently into the office. A ring of keys lay casually across a few files. So far, so good.

She snatched up the keys, pausing only a moment before heading back out. There was a metal door behind the front counter, with an older looking keyhole. Altia frowned. This place really isn't very well taken care of…

With a shrug, she stuck the keys into the lock one at a time. The fourth one turned- Altia hesitated, then pushed the door open, wincing as it groaned softly.

A short hallway lay beyond. It was moderately well-lit, with smooth walls and several secure doors. Altia stepped in, then froze.

She wasn't alone.

Two guards at the end of the hall stepped forward, raising their handguns. "Back up. Hands in the air."

This better work, Altia thought. "I… sorry… my uncle works here. He said I could visit? I thought he might be… back here…" She met the eyes of the guard who had spoken- a young man, probably not yet thirty.

He faltered visibly. "You can't- you shouldn't be back here. Get out."

"Hands behind your head!" The other guard gave his companion an incredulous look. "Now! Where are the alarms?"

Altia switched her gaze to him, raising her hands slowly. "I'm sorry. Can you help me find him? He wasn't in his office."

The guards exchanged a glance. "Wasn't in his office? And he left his keys for you to find?"

"I don't know where he went. He might… be in trouble." Altia watched them nervously, keeping her eyes locked with theirs whenever they looked in her direction.

The guard who had challenged her immediately was the first to break. "I'll help you look for him. Just come out of here."

"Thank you. Thanks." Altia smiled nervously, glancing at the other guard. "You guys… probably shouldn't split up. In case something did happen to him. It could happen to us too, you know."

He looked nervous, but nodded, lowering his weapon and pacing forward to escort her out of the back hallway. Altia led the way to the front, where she pointed wordlessly at the empty desk in the office. Nothing had changed. The files were still open, the light was on, and the seat was pushed back slightly.

"Well, now. That's not good." The young guard paced into the room, examining a few of the files while Altia glanced nervously out the front window. Surely it had been two minutes…

The second guard approached Altia from behind. "What did you say your name was?"

Bad. Very bad. "I…" Altia saw, out of the corner of her eye, a shadow flick across the window. Her eyes widened involuntarily.

The guard spun around instinctively, gun raised. "Who's there?"

"No one. I don't know. I thought I saw…"

"Stay here." The younger guard brushed past her, motioning to his companion as he moved slowly toward the door.

Altia watched nervously as they stepped out into the street, peering in both directions. She saw the shock on their faces a moment before the outlines of Leer and Trent loomed up and dragged them to the ground, quickly knocking them unconscious and taking their guns. It happened in a matter of seconds.

The gang leader stepped inside, giving Altia a grudging nod. "Good work, girl. Stay here and keep a lookout." He moved quickly toward the metal door in the back, followed by the other boys. Altia could hear them moving down the short hallway and starting to test keys on the various doors.

Stay here and keep a lookout. Great. Probably so that if she got arrested or killed, the others would hear the noise and be able to find a way out or at least prepare for a fight. Now that she'd gotten them in, she was expendable.

Altia paced over to the door, opening it a crack and glancing out at the street. The two guards were gone, presumably dragged off to the side to a slightly less conspicuous location. No cars, no pedestrians… no cops. This break-in was weird.

She turned away from the door, returning to examine the countertop. The building was old, clearly, and had obvious signs of wear. The floor creaked, the counter didn't gleam, there clearly wasn't a proper heating system in place…

A noise, little more than a gasp. Altia spun around, clutching the counter behind her with a sharp, fearful inhale.

There was a pale, wiry man staring at her from another tiny door that she hadn't noticed before. Probably the bathroom- he must be the guy who monitored the office desk. The one Leer had bought out.

His eyes darted around the room, eventually fixing on the open metal door. Without a word, he turned and sprinted for the front.

"Wait!"

Altia's voice stopped him. He'd already looked into her eyes, just briefly, but that was enough- her words carried more weight to him than they ordinarily would. The man turned around slowly, hands clasped tightly behind him. "I've got to go. I have to go. I can't come back here. They'll find me, they'll know."

"Wait, please." Altia raised her hands in a calming gesture. "You're safe. Don't go outside just yet- we're not going to hurt you."

She could clearly see his fear, but he held her gaze. "You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. If you stay here, you'll be fine. Just don't leave." Don't draw attention to this place.

The man nodded, clearly reluctant, but he trusted her anyway. Altia stepped forward with a small but reassuring smile, holding out one of her hands to pull him away from the door.

An explosion rang out from behind her. Altia shouted in alarm, hands clapping over her ears. When she opened her eyes again, the man was gone.

Well… not gone. He was on the ground, staring sightlessly at the ceiling, blood dripping from a ragged hole in his face.

Altia clapped her hands over her mouth, suppressing a scream. Her vision was starting to blur. She spun around, choking back a gasp, and came face-to-face with Leer. The boy was still aiming a gun at the spot where the man had been standing.

"Leer! How could you… how could you!" Altia shouted. She grasped at her face desperately. "I had him, he was fine! He trusted me!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't bring herself to glance back at the man's body, lying in the room where she'd convinced him to stay.

The boy simply lowered the gun. "It was a fake trust. No one really trusts you, girl. And a fake trust isn't enough security for me."

"But he- you bought him out! He wouldn't have done anything!" Altia glanced around, staring pleadingly at the other boys as they filed in with dark expressions.

"You can never tell. Better safe than sorry." Leer shrugged. "Move the body, mutants."

Altia stayed where she was, frozen until Zack emerged from the group and tugged her hand. "Altia. Come help me."

She moved with him stiffly, grateful for the tears that blurred her vision and prevented her from seeing the man's body in detail. "Zack…"

"Hardly any cash," the boy whispered. He bent down and grabbed the dead man's arms. "Apparently banks don't store nearly as much physical stuff as Leer thought, or this one's completely broke. He's just in a bad mood."

"Just in a bad mood? He… he killed a man, Zack! He killed a man that wouldn't have even been here if I hadn't stopped him from leaving. A man that trusted me!" Altia cringed away from the body as Zack tugged it toward the bathroom. Behind her, the other boys were searching the room quickly, angrily tearing apart drawers and floorboards.

Zack shrugged. "Like Leer said, it was a forced trust. No one is stupid enough to actually trust you."

Altia gaped at him. He hadn't said that. He wouldn't. She must've misheard…

"Sorry, Altia." Zack hesitated, glancing outside, then dropped the body and shoved her roughly.

Her head cracked against the counter as she fell. Altia gasped as her vision went black, spots swimming in front of her eyes. She was dimly aware of the sounds of pounding feet, the wooden floor vibrating beneath her palms and cheek. Something slammed into her side- a foot. She cried out involuntarily as it crashed into her chest and already bruised cheek, shoving her back against the wall behind her.

"Sorry, girl. Can't have you around anymore. Not if you're gonna get all rebellious- start meeting our eyes and freak out over every mission." Altia couldn't see the face through her blurred vision, but she recognized Leer's breath.

"What… why…" Altia blinked rapidly. "Leer…"

"Someone's gotta take our blame. I hear the cops love mutants." Leer kicked her in the head again, sending her reeling back. "Have fun."

She heard him leave, slamming the door behind him and locking it with the key ring. Altia lay on the floor, gasping, barely able to move.

It was several minutes before she could force herself up, but her vision was still flashing- red, blue…

No. Not good. No, no, no, no… she spun around and turned to the bathroom- dead body. Not good. Her tears welled up again, and she turned quickly to the office. Nowhere to go from there. Nowhere to go…

The door crashed open, and several police officers filed in. They were shouting incoherently, possibly pointing weapons… Altia turned slowly, still dazed. She couldn't see their faces. Couldn't find their eyes…

There! A flash of skin. She stumbled forward, fixing her gaze on the officer, staring at him desperately.

He was looking over her head.

Altia turned, looking at each of the officers in turn. They were all looking at some point above her hair, or down to the side of her shoulders. As if they knew. They knew about her mutation.

A pair of hands grabbed her from behind. Altia couldn't even begin to fight them off- even if she knew how, she didn't have the strength. Her body was still trembling when they tightened a dark cloth around her eyes, cutting off her vision- and possibility of escape.