Chapter 2

Jasmine

“Did you get the money?” My mom asked through the phone, which I put on speaker as I fixed myself in front of the mirror.

My black hair was in a bob hair cut, it saves me time trying to fix them after I got out of the shower. I wore my usual outfit. Cheap but comfortable shirt, pants and a pair of sneakers. Most of my clothes came from thrift shops but hey, it’s economical. What matters is functionality. Who cares how much it costs, as long as it serves its purpose.  It was the most boring clothes out there but that’s exactly the point, for me not to stand out, to blend in the crowd.

Finally, I slung my worn out sling bag across my chest. I don’t want to waste money buying a new one when I can still use this one. I silently commend the maker for its durability. I have no choice but to be practical when we’re broke. 

“Yeah, I did. Thanks by the way.” I tell her as I lock up the house.

My mom has always been buried in work as a nurse. She practically lives in the hospital. Leaving me with the responsibility of taking care of the house and dealing with my dad. Honestly, I knew she was just using work as an excuse to run away in her own way. She does send me money for everything since dad’s fucking pride wouldn’t actually feed us.

“Where did you say the tour was?” she asked as I switch to using an earbud instead of holding my phone to my ear.

LAers are all about that organic, fresh, non-gmo, gluten-free, vegan, healthy lifestyle, I have to say that all those health benefits are probably canceled by the trashy air quality and water. Oh, and the streets in the downtown area are disgusting. Sorry, I couldn’t really think of a nicer word. I thought as I  tiptoed through the suspicious liquids and fecal matters and immerse in the smell of urine. Okay, so I’ve been basically trashing the city I live in but I can’t think about something more positive.

“It’s just in LA mom, I’m not even going out of the state.” I practically whined at her.

LA is my home, but it also felt more like a prison. My father never liked the idea of me leaving the State. Can you believe he never allowed me to go on a single field trip? He wouldn’t even let me go out of the State for college. So I’m stuck in UCLA even when I could have gone to Harvard. I’m already 18, I don’t need his permission to visit a bank.

“Alright, but still, tell your Dad.” She says, hearing the irritation in my voice.

“Whatever.” I said and dropped the call.

So yeah, I never told him about it. Think of it as a little late rebellion. It’s unfair how my brother can fuck around when he was in high school but I couldn’t. Ever.  He’s not even half the poster child that I was.

I met with  Zoe on the infamous death stairs mini patio right above Cafe 1919 . There is this mini patio place that a lot of people just love eating out here when the weather is nice aka almost every single day in the year in LA. It has these purple flowers and all these mini round tables with umbrellas. Another spot for studying outside or hanging out with friends or by myself.

“Bad day?” she asks as I threw my bag on the chair beside her.  

“Gosh, she’s so annoying.” I said and I need not tell her who I was referring to.

“I know right. Moms are always annoying.” She says, patting my back empathically.

Maybe that’s why we get along together because we both have family issues. Not that we actually talk about it. In fact we never do. That’s one of our similarities.

“By the way, nice dress.” I told her.

It was definitely eye catching, showing off all her curves the right way. She admitted that she always gets too self conscious so she always dresses up to make up for it.

“Thanks.”she says. “You should wear one too, next time. It’s such a waste when you’re so petite.” She added.

“Yeah, right.” I just said.

Even when I would have wanted to wear a pair of heels, it would be a hassle when there would be an occasion that I needed to run. I would have loved to wear a dress or a skirt. But even when they’re comfortable, they would most likely be a hindrance. I would have grown my hair out, but it would only get in the way of my sight.I would have worn make up but it’s more of a problem when I get sweaty. So I had to walk barefaced most of the time.

I have no use for being pretty.

A little while later, the whole class rolled out heading for the Federal Reserve Bank branch in downtown Los Angeles. We got a smaller crowd because the Fed limits their tours to only a number of guests.

Accompanied by a couple of security guards, and led by our guide, Antoine, we saw $5000 and $10,000 bills and metal carts loaded with paper currency that we learned could contain up to a half-million dollars each. 

Antoine asked a co-worker to gather up $1 million in $100’s for us – turns out it was 10 ‘strapped’ bundles totaling about 20 pounds.  The guards even opened a door to their master vault to let us gaze upon a football-sized space that held more stacked cash than anyone could calculate. 

As we went along, our guide spoke about the prominent overall role and important functions of the Federal Reserve system in setting monetary policy, adjusting interest rates and assuring the stability of our banking system. 

Our hour was almost up when I noticed Zoe isn’t anywhere in sight. I remembered seeing her talking with Alistair earlier. He, too, was gone. As I was just about to find her, a masked guy appeared out of nowhere. He was holding a shotgun. I know because I’ve watched my Dad assemble those little shits for the longest time. It won’t take a genius to realize what the fuck is going on.

Do I make a run for it? No. That would be the most stupid thing I could ever do right now. Running would make me the easiest target. So I did what I always do, blend in as everyone notices a few more masked robbers walk in and people starts to panic.

I’m sorry Zoe. But nobody will look after me but myself.

Everyone was rounded up at the lobby. They eventually found Zoe and Alistair. Looks like the two had been fooling around somewhere by the looks of their disheveled clothes and didn’t even know what’s happening. Zoe looked scared, as she should be. But I need to be as calm as I possible.

The stakes rose when the manager hit the silent panic alarm signifying a holdup. The robbers were demanding money and wanted to speak to the FBI.

Normally when there's a bank robbery, that's automatic because that's federal jurisdiction but why would the suspects specifically ask for the FBI? Something is up, I can feel it.

Negotiations began almost immediately after the robbery was reported about 1:45 p.m.

One of the robbers forced the manager toward the vault, where a large amount of cash in a bag was given to him as the manager had a gun pressed into his back. They grabbed the manager's wrist very hard, causing his watch to cut into his wrist.

The robbers were talking in Russian. Which makes no sense at all. I mean, why would Russians physically rob a bank? It’s much easier for an international group of hackers to rob an account at the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the U.S.

I only had basic knowledge on Russian language and I could only guess what one of the robbers are telling the others.

“He wanted a big show with the FBI and lots of media,” one of them says.

“I’ll take the target with me.” he added. “Do everything so the holdup would go viral.”.

With that he threw large amounts of cash all over inside the bank, then collected the employees' cellphones and slammed them down or put them in water.

As time passed, not once did the robbers become agitated. I kept listening in to their conversations as much as I can understand them hearing them mentioning they would "die together,".

Shortly after 7 p.m, they made recordings on victims' phones showed them threatening to kill the manager while telling us and law enforcement that he intended to kill all of the employees and himself or force officers to kill him.

At one point, they took Zoe, put scissors to the front of her neck.

"I will have to shiv you in the neck.". I could only watch Zoe tremble in terror. But there was something I noticed before they took her. She wasn’t randomly grabbed like the others. They were scanning the crowd for her.

"If you move, I swear to God I'll stab you." They told her as they pushed her back to the ground.

Much as I would love to help or even comfort her. I need to survive as well.

It’s already 10:30pm. We’re already at a nine-hour standoff. Patience. I repeatedly tell myself. I still have an ace up my sleeve.

Zoe is a top priority person. They will go in because Zoe is here. They have no choice but to save her because if they don’t do it as soon as possible, the whole country will know.

Today she’s just another hostage. But tomorrow she’ll have all guns pointed at her head. There’s no doubt they’ll try to get her out.

The police are on their way. But there are only four ways they can enter: the main door, the load area, the emergency exit and the rooftop. My brain instantly memorized the map of the place when we passed by it earlier.

I almost gave a sigh of relief when I noticed the kidnappers began heading to the loading zone.  The rest of the robbers are also on the move.

“They’re trying to save the little lamb.”

I heard them say and the pieces finally clicked into their places.

Shit! They knew this would happen. This is not just an ordinary hostage taking. They knew a top priority is in the building. And they knew there will be orders from the top to rescue her.

Zoe is their target.

There are only two ways this could all end. 1. The Russians kill Zoe, and they kill the rest of us. 2. The police rescue Zoe, but it doesn’t guarantee that we’ll end up as collateral damage. Either way, getting to Zoe is out of my option. I’ll either get killed along with her by the hostage takers or get caught up in the attempt to rescue her.

There’s only one thing I’m sure of. I have to get away from everyone as much as possible. Away from the hostage takers and the rest of the hostages. Especially away from Zoe. I need to hide. Because no matter what happens, as long as I stay here, I will die.

A female employee raced toward the front door.The robbers tried to stop her, and I used to chance to slink into the shadows. Soon after, second female employee tried acting up as experiencing medical problems, and I was able to get away as far as I could without getting noticed.

I crawled my way towards the master vault. That’s the only place I could think of. I always hated my small stature for as long as I can remember. I’ve always wished I was a few inches taller. But now I’m thankful for it. It could be the only thing that could save my life right now.

I haven’t gone too far below when a red and yellow flash lit the room and the building began to shake violently. I was hit and knocked down by the force of the blast. The whole place was rocked by an explosion and the ceiling caved in. Plaster started falling from above me. In a few seconds the whole place collapsed, and I was buried by rubble

I rushed to remove the rubble on top of me, my arm and shoulder were injured. I struggled to stand up. I was trying to stand. There was a loud fire alarm going off but I couldn't really hear properly. There was a sudden loud bang - very loud. Once again, I was thrown forward. I remember looking round to my left and up. It seemed quite dark and almost debris in the air.

I couldn't see - my eyes were screwed tight shut.

I’m slowly losing consciousness.  

My vision went dark.