Chapter 24

"You're Not Alone"

~Nathan~

He held his phone out in front of him, using it as a torch. The rain pelted down all around him, soaking him to the skin. He dialed in his mother's number. 'No service' flashed across the screen. "Perfect," he thought indignantly.

~Superhoodie~

November 12th, 2010, today was the day Alisha and I got together. Tomorrow night we were supposed to go out for pizza and garlic dough balls. Afterwards we walked around the shops talking and learning more about each other. Alisha bought an orange jacket for me. But everything might change.

"I am standing outside the scene of the crime..." Seth and I stared at the news report on his television. I don't know what he was thinking. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. My thoughts were racing a million miles per second. My entire plan, a version of it anyways, unwoven for the public by security footage. We sat with our eyes glued to the television as the reporter continued with her story. "As you can see in this CCTV footage from last night, security guards Sheldon Peterson and James Nichols can be seen leaving their posts at 4:30 am. I am currently standing outside Peterson and Nichols's office where, after leaving his post at the gate, Peterson goes and calls his wife. Peterson's wife, Christina Peterson, was quoted saying that her husband sounded 'unusual', and 'out of character.' She also said that her husband had never called her so late before unless it was an emergency. Sheldon Peterson's partner, Nichols, leaves the premises in his vehicle. His whereabouts are currently unknown, but investigators suspect that Nichols is the masked man who robs the bank later that night. He should be considered dangerous and if seen, please call authorities immediately." Seth switched off the television.

"Well you and Franky sure made a mess of things," Seth said in a bitter voice. I rubbed my temples trying to relieve the headache I now had. Saxon and now this? Can't I just get a break? The cameras at the bank may not have seen my face, but Saxon had. The room had been dark and everything happened so fast, but there's still the chance he knows what I look like. Now all he had to do was say the word. My finger massage migrated from my temples to my eyes. My headache worsened by the minute as I attempted to contemplate a plan. For the first time in a long time, I had no idea what I was going to do. One thing is for sure; I could no longer be the guy in the mask.

~Nathan~

A blonde girl with shining green eyes pulled Nathan into another long passionate kiss. He pulled her close to him and unhook the clasp of her bra, but found it impossible. The girl didn't seem to notice he was having trouble. She let out a small moan as her thumb began to massage his earlobe. Finally, the clasp unlatched. She pulled away, a seductive smile upon her face. Her right bra strap slid down her arm as she straddled herself on his abdomen.

He shut his eyes as her lips met his again. When he opened them again he was alone and the dim morning light illuminated his surroundings. The slow, steady patter of rain continued around him as he sat up with a groan. He had taken shelter on the porch of an old house. He didn't think anyone was home because no light shined through the windows. His back ached from sleeping on the hard, uneven wooden boards of the porch. He scratched his curly locks, sending dirt and grit skittering on the area around him.

He pulled out his phone to check the time, 6:23 am. Community service started in approximately an hour and a half. Their last week! He let out a soft chuckle. Boy, had it been a wild ride. Apart from all the killing and dying, it had been surprisingly alright.

Absentmindedly, he opened his phone. '1 new voice message' flashed across the screen. He had service again! He checked his signal and saw that it was weak, but he had one! The voice message he had received was from Kelly. Nathan hadn't seen her in two days. He hoped everyone still remembered him, but especially her. She may have properly friend-zoned him by saying she thought of him as a cousin, but he still cared about her. Hell, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he cared about everyone in their little gang of ASBO shitheads, but Kelly was special. She has been the only person in his life to call him out on his shit and keep him in check. He loved that about her. He clicked on the voice message.

~Kelly~

3 1/2 hours before...

"Hey it's Nathan; you know what to do." BEEP. "Nathan it's Kelly. I don't think it was random that we've only forgotten Nikki. There has to be a reason it was her. Maybe it has nothing to do with the earthquake or a random person, but I know someone or something is trying to erase Nikki. I don't know where you are, but when you get this call me back, it's important. I want to be sure that you're alright."

~Alisha~

Back to the present…

Alisha woke up with her cheek pressed against Simon's chest. She thought she was dreaming for a moment, but then remembered. She had told him. This Simon was now hers. She shifted her head slightly so she could see his face, but immediately wished she hadn't. Her forehead touched his chin. His eyes flung open, his neck veins extended. His fingers wrapped around her arm, but it wasn't the gentle touch she had felt through the shield of her clothing in the night prior. She inhaled sharply. Afraid of what may come next, she moved her head back to its previous position.

She could feel Simon's heartbeat slow, but her own was so fast she could barely keep up with it. He loosened his grip on her. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Yes," she responded between shaky breaths, "I'm just sick of this power." He let out a long breath. She knew that was his way of silent understanding, something Curtis should take from Simon's book. Simon just had a way of making her feel like he was actually listening and processing what she was saying.

"We have to get ready for community service," Simon said. She groaned and snuggled into the hollow of his chest. She didn't want to budge, but she knew she had to. It was their last week after all. Just two more days of this shit and they were free.

~Curtis~

Curtis filled his hands with cold water and splashed it onto his face. The hot water had stopped working in Alisha's flat that morning but he, Kelly, and Nikki had decided to make do by using the shock of the icy water to wake themselves up because they didn't have time to go to anyone else's flat to change or whatever. They had overslept because no one had remembered to set an alarm on their phone. There was a hard knock at the bathroom door. "Curtis hurry up or you'll be late love," Nikki called out.

His face still soaking wet, Curtis opened the door. Nikki stood wearing a blue shirt, green jacket, and jeans. "Tomorrow's your last day," she greeted. He smiled, but only seconds later it was weighed down by the thought of his gran's funeral looming in the near future. Still, he pinned his now false happiness on his face and kissed Nikki's cheek. He could see Kelly in the lounge putting on her grey jacket. She threw the strap of her handbag across her shoulder and checked her phone. "Nathan still hasn't texted or anything?" Curtis whispered to Nikki. She shook her head, "and she's going mental about it," she said lowly. "We'll go look for him after community service," Curtis decided in thought. "Come one Curtis we're already late!" Kelly didn't wait for him as she stormed out the front door.

~Superhoodie~

7 hours before...

I can't be the guy in the mask anymore. I've been filmed. Everyone knows what I look like now and if I'm caught, me and Simon are in danger. "What'd you do with the money?" Seth asked. "Franky's money is-" "Not Franky's- the ransom money." I'm pretty sure it didn't fall out during the fight with Saxon so I said I still had it. "Good," Seth stood up, "Then we can return it." "But what about Franky's?" "We're gonna need to use it so Franky will help us."

A.N.- Thanks for reading! :) Please remember to review.

Next Chapter- Nov. 4th-14th

This chapter is titled 'You're Not Alone' after the song by Saosin.