The alarm wasn’t supposed to go off yet. Under the cover of darkness, shadows slipped through the back alley of the small downtown bank. Mark glanced at his watch—12:15 AM. They had meticulously planned this night, timing every step to avoid detection.

“Are you sure this is going to work?” whispered Lena, her voice barely above a whisper as they crouched behind a dumpster, the dim light of a streetlamp casting eerie shapes around them.

Mark nodded, his heart racing. “We’ve got the codes. Just stay quiet and follow my lead.”

The two of them had been at this for months, studying the bank’s layout, learning the security routines, and mapping the best escape routes. Tonight was the culmination of their efforts. The bank was closed, the streets deserted. If everything went according to plan, they would be in and out before anyone knew they were there.

Mark gestured toward the back door. It was an unassuming entrance, but inside, it would lead them to the bank’s vault. He pulled out a small device, a lock-picking tool they had borrowed from a friend with dubious connections. “Just a minute,” he murmured, kneeling by the door.

Lena held her breath, watching as Mark worked the mechanism, the tension coiling between them like a tightrope. The lock clicked open, and they exchanged a quick glance before slipping inside.

The bank was silent, the stillness amplified by the low hum of the security lights flickering overhead. They moved quickly through the darkened lobby, the marble floor cold under their shoes. Mark led the way, navigating toward the hallway that led to the vault.

As they approached the door, Lena felt a knot in her stomach. “What if someone comes? What if we’re caught?”

“Just focus,” Mark urged, his eyes fixed on the vault door, a massive steel barrier that held their prize. He pulled out a tablet, entering the security code they had obtained from a disgruntled former employee.

The screen flashed green, and with a heavy clunk, the vault door began to open. Mark grinned. “We’re in!”

They stepped inside, the sight of stacks of cash and gold coins dazzling under the flickering light. It felt surreal, like stepping into a dream. “Grab the bags,” Mark said, urgency in his voice.

Lena hurriedly filled the duffel bags with cash, the weight of the money a stark contrast to the lightness of their earlier banter. Every rustle seemed amplified in the stillness, and the distant sound of a siren sent a shiver down her spine.

“Let’s hurry,” Mark urged, his hands working quickly, tossing bundles of cash into the bags. “We can’t linger here.”

Just as they finished packing, Lena heard a sound that made her blood run cold—the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway. “Mark! Someone’s coming!”

Mark froze, his eyes widening. “What do we do?”

“Hide!” she hissed, ducking behind a stack of boxes. Mark followed, pressing against the cold steel wall, their breaths shallow.

The footsteps grew closer, the tension thickening in the air. Lena could feel her heart pounding in her ears as the door to the vault creaked open, revealing a figure silhouetted against the dim light of the hallway.

It was Officer Reynolds, the night shift guard, flashlight in hand, his brow furrowed in suspicion. “Hello? Is anyone there?” he called out, stepping cautiously into the vault.

Lena held her breath, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She glanced at Mark, who was gripping the edge of the boxes, his face pale.

“Come on, just leave,” Lena whispered, praying the guard would retreat. But Officer Reynolds seemed determined, his flashlight sweeping across the room, illuminating the scattered cash and their bags.

“Shit,” Mark breathed, inching closer to Lena. “What if he sees us?”

“He will if we don’t do something!” Lena replied, her mind racing.

In a sudden burst of resolve, Mark moved. “I’ll distract him. You get to the door.”

“What? No! That’s crazy!”

“Just do it!” he insisted, moving toward the open space of the vault.

Before Lena could argue, Mark stepped into the light. “Hey! Over here!”

Officer Reynolds spun around, his flashlight locking onto Mark. “Freeze! Hands where I can see them!”

Lena’s heart sank as she watched Mark slowly raise his hands, but then something inside her snapped. “No!” she shouted, darting from her hiding spot.

“Lena, no!” Mark shouted, but she was already moving, adrenaline surging through her.

“Get away from him!” she yelled, lunging forward and knocking over a stack of cash in the process, coins scattering across the floor.

Reynolds stumbled back, surprised. “What the—?”

In that instant, Mark took advantage of the guard’s distraction. He lunged toward Reynolds, and in a flash, they were grappling, the flashlight clattering to the ground.

Lena rushed forward, her heart pounding. “Mark, we have to go!”

As the two struggled, she snatched the fallen flashlight, illuminating the chaos around them. Mark managed to wrestle Reynolds to the ground, but it was a losing battle. The guard was strong, and time was slipping away.

“Help me!” Mark shouted, his voice strained.

Lena’s instincts kicked in. She swung the flashlight, catching Reynolds across the side of the head. He grunted, his grip loosening, and Mark seized the moment, pushing the officer away.

“Let’s go!” Mark shouted, grabbing the bags and bolting for the door.

They dashed out of the vault, adrenaline fueling their escape as they raced through the bank. They could hear the commotion behind them—Reynolds recovering, his radio crackling with urgency.

“Back exit! Now!” Mark urged, leading the way. They burst through the back door and into the alley, the night air hitting them like a wave.

Breathless, they took off down the dimly lit street, the sound of sirens growing louder in the distance. “What do we do now?” Lena panted, glancing back.

“Just keep running!” Mark urged. “We need to get to the car!”

They had parked a few blocks away, hidden in the shadows. As they sprinted, Lena’s mind raced with thoughts of what they had just done, the chaos they had unleashed.

Finally, they reached the car, and Mark fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking. “Get in!”

They jumped inside, slamming the doors just as the first police lights illuminated the street behind them. Mark started the engine, tires screeching as they pulled away.

“Did we really just do that?” Lena gasped, disbelief washing over her.

“Yeah,” Mark replied, his face a mix of exhilaration and fear. “And now we’ve got to figure out how to disappear.”

As they drove into the night, the weight of their choices settled in. They were no longer just two kids trying to make a quick buck—they were criminals on the run, their lives forever changed in a matter of minutes. And as the sirens echoed in the distance, Lena couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more dangerous than they had ever imagined.

Luke

@Lokrydah

Northampton uk

Luke has not written a story.