Sally's SweetShop was completely empty when Marcus and I entered. The display cases were mostly bare but there was a 5 small piles different delicacies, and two partial cakes.
A woman came in from the backroom and greeted us enthusiastically. She was hiding the fact that she was conflicted between wanting to close the shop early and make another sale.
"What can I get you two today?"
"Just two lemon bars, please." Marcus ordered for both of us. I had offered to buy him one on the way inside since it was my idea to come here, but he insisted that he buy mine. Surprisingly, he was feeling much better now than when we left his house.
"Not many people are getting out in this weather today. Can I get you two a little something extra for your trouble?" Sally had some delicious looking chocolate chip cookies that were baked two days ago. Although fine, they would have lost enough moisture that she would be tossing them if they didn't sell today.
"No thank you," I chimed in. "We appreciate the offer though."
Sally was not detoured. "Well how about a few cookies - no charge?"she asked glowingly, but secretly disappointed.
Marcus was quick to agree to the transaction but suddenly I had a bad feeling. Very bad. I had never felt so much danger. It...no, they were coming toward us, from behind.
Marcus was facing Sally at the cash register. He was paying and she was looking down. I looked behind me just as the door swung open wide and fast. Two masked men came in along with a mysterious ora that felt to me like a piercing heat. It was radiating from somewhere deep inside the taller of the two men.
I stammered backwards and bumped into Marcus's back.
During the time it took for the bag of lemon bars and cookies that Marcus was holding to fall to the floor, life and all action seemed to slow almost to a stop. I had experienced this sensation while people watching before but this time it was so much more profound.
I could hear and feel everyone in the room with intense clarity.
I also saw the heat. It came in like a billowing transparent cloud. The waves of it were like watching water ripple only it expanded in vertical lines through the air.
The two men who came in were already engulfed. The taller one was by far the scariest person I had ever seen. He was full of a hatefulness that is best described as evil, but he was also calm and focused in his intentions. Although I already felt like the world was moving slow, for only the tiniest moment I saw a glimpse in the tall man's eyes that was pure black. He knew I saw it and his mind began racing with thoughts of horrible ways to torture me.
I was paralyzed with fear but the feelings in the room continued to pound at my heart.
The shorter of the two men was caught in a dangerous cycle of anger. He was so chaotic that his thoughts were hard to follow.
He felt complete and utter hatred toward Sally as apparently he felt wronged by her in life prior to this day. He was also angry at Marcus and I because we weren't supposed to be there. He couldn't contain his harsh feelings toward his partner in crime. He felt out of control and knew the taller man was in charge. He was a mess of rage.
As the waves of heat spread through the room the temperature didn't change only the feeling in my head.
Marcus changed from surprised to insulted. He seemed to loose control and be infected by the rage in the room. His eyes burned with an intense desire to shred the two men who had burst in.
Sally was the last to be surrounded by the strange transparent waves. I expected her to be frightened but she too changed like Marcus. Her thoughts turned to revenge as she clearly recognized the shorter of the two men.
Then a loud noise pierced the air just as the lemon bars hit the floor. Time swirled back to a swift confusion of seconds that disappeared as quickly as they came.
I no longer heard Sally's thoughts or felt her heart. Marcus had lept on top of me, knocking me to the floor and all I could see was blackness as my face was buried into his shoulder. His hand cradled the top of my head and his heart nearly beat through his chest.
The men began yelling and screaming at one another.
"You shot her! You bastard!"
"Get the money."
"Stop! They aren't part of this."
"Get the money. They have to go."
"No!"
There was a scuffling sound and another shot. Marcus groaned and went limp. I could still hear him. He was scared and angry. He felt a searing pain on his right side.
There was a third shot. As impossible as it seemed the intense anger multiplied. A man cried out with rage that sounded inhumane. The scuffling continued until suddenly there was a silence.
I felt sorrow pour over whoever it was that remained. He ran out the front door and slowly I felt Marcus slip into a tiredness, and then quiet. I was alone with my own thoughts, and I was panicking.
I couldn't move. Marcus's body still had me pinned to the floor, and he was no longer moving. I heard sirens in the distance. Then from exhaustion I lost consciousness