I let in a breath of fresh air as soon as the doors opened. Then immediately let out a groan when I saw that Joni and Gary had followed us to this floor. Mar skipped ahead of the rest of us to approach the couple.
“Are you guys taking the tour too?” Mar asked with enthusiasm.
“Why else would we be here?” Joni answered Mar. I scanned the room as the two of them continued their conversation.
It was more like a basketball stadium than a bank. Everything was gold and teal in color. There were three comfort areas with couches, recliners, and a tv. College students were hanging out at each one. Lining the walls were elevators and bank booths. I looked up and the ceiling looked endlessly tall. Flying above us were little black drones with sensors. On the sides of the drones were the same style of gun as the Ultracops.
I shall dub thee, the Ultrabird.
Fly free little guy.
I flinched when a finger tapped my shoulder. I spun around, prepared to throw myself over a counter and change into my suit if need be. I had to stare at the face for a minute before I recognized who it was. His greasy black hair looked washed and gelled. There was no dirt and soot on his face. I could see his eyes and they looked calm and relaxed. He wasn’t wearing a silver tuxedo.
“Gar?” I asked, stunned. He laughed a little.
“It’s Norman when I’m working.” He said with a smile. He pointed to a nametag on his chest that read ‘Norman.’ I looked him over again.
He was standing up straight and wearing a black work vest with a white collared undershirt. His eyes didn’t have the same sort of primal quivering that they had before. He didn’t seem like the same person that I watched fight a monster.
“You work at a bank?” I asked in disbelief.
“Alistair’s family owns this place.” He explained. “We all work here. Alistair’s the manager.” He added.
“Who’s Alistair?” Emily asked. She had turned around and stood next to me. Gar gave her a suspicious look over.
“Who’s this?” Gar asked while pointing at Emily.
“My friend. She’s cool.” I said plainly. After I did I patted Emily on the head. She gave me an annoyed glare.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Norman.” Gar said and held out his hand to shake Emily’s. She glanced at me quickly, and shook it when I nodded. “Alistair’s my boss. He’s a Platinum. I’m his bodyguard, kind of.” Gar said. He still seemed suspicious of her.
“So you really did meet a Platinum?” Emily asked me in surprise. I nodded again. Gar smiled.
“You told her?” He said with a chuckle.
“No.” I replied instantly.
“Sounds like you did.” Gar said. I glared at him. “No worries.” Gar held up his hands in a ‘don’t shoot’ gesture.
“Do you know anything about the guy who owns this place?” Danny said from right next to me.
“You mean the tower?” Gar asked. “Not much. I know he has some connection to the Platinums. Otherwise they would’ve never agreed with this deal.” He explained. “Other than that, I don’t know anything.” He finished.
“That’s kind of useful.” I mumbled.
Loud, paced footsteps preceded the arrival of Alistair and John. Both of them were completely different than they were that night. They were wearing the same work clothes that Gar was wearing. Alistair had his long white hair tied back in a ponytail.
His yellow eyes didn’t glow like they did. John’s dirty blonde hair was brushed back instead of loose and unkempt, and he was wearing glasses. To my surprise John’s nametag actually had ‘John’ on it.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.” John said with a warm smile. He stopped approaching and stood almost shoulder to shoulder with Gar. Alistair stood a little ways behind him to the side. He held his hands in his pockets.
“Ditto.” I replied.
“Jacob, how do you know these people?” Danny asked. I flinched at the use of my real name in front of criminals.
“I get around.” I shrugged. Danny looked displeased with that answer.
“What are you doing here?” Alistair finally spoke up. His voice was calmer than it had been, but just as deep.
“We’re going on the tour after we visit with one of the workers.” I answered.
“Which worker?” Alistair asked.
Please don’t tell him your dad’s name. Don’t be dumb, Emily.
“Edward O’Hare.” Emily supplied.
No one ever listens to me.
“I know of him.” Was all Alistair said in response.
“Okay well, we best get off now.” I said while grabbing my friends by the shoulders and physically forcing them away. We were almost gone when Alistair spoke up.
“Jacob, I never properly thanked you for your services on the bridge.” He said. I could hear his loud footsteps as he approached me. I slowly turned around and looked up at him. He handed me a card with a number on it. The card had a logo on it of a hand made of gold. “If you ever need anything, anything at all, don’t be afraid to call.” He said.
The words sent shivers down my spine. I pulled my friends away. Mar gave a quick goodbye to her friends and we all marched off as a group. As we got close to Emily’s dad’s office Danny met my eyes.
“What was that about?” He asked.
“I may have got a concussion and encountered some gangsters then lended them my suit and inadvertently helped them win a gang war at like five in the morning on a bridge a couple of weeks ago but I was really out of it and didn’t want to die.” I said as fast as possible. I let in a deep breath after finishing.
“You never fail to impress.” Danny said while shaking his head.
“Can we please just get to my dad?” Emily spoke up, getting in between us to do so.
Danny and I nodded in response and we all headed towards Emily’s dad’s office. I was shocked by his appearance. He didn’t look like anyone’s dad, let alone Emily’s. He had loose shoulder length brown hair, and tanned skin. He had a short beard and mustache.
He was wearing the work uniform the others were wearing. The only thing that he and his daughter had in common that I could see was the glasses. He had his tilted down slightly as he looked through various documents.
“Come in.” He said dryly as we opened the door without knocking. Emily sat down in the seat across from his desk. I slid down the wall and sat on the floor next to the door. Mar leaned against the wall. Danny stood up straight.
“What can I do for you?” He asked.
“We were coming to do the tour and I decided to check up on you first. How are you liking the new place?” Emily spoke.
“Well it’s certainly unique.” Edward said while straightening out some papers.
“I’m not sure how to feel about the security. But I guess it’s necessary.” He explained. Then he met Emily’s eyes. “How are you doing?” He said with a smile while tilting his glasses back up.
“I’m doing good, I guess.” Emily said unconvincingly.
“Glad to hear it.” He flashed a warm smile. “I saw you speaking with my boss in the lobby. What was that about?” He asked.
“Oh, Jacob knows him.” Emily said nervously.
Thanks for ratting me out.
You rat.
“Is that so?” Her father looked at me with interest. I nodded. “How did you meet him?” He asked.
“In a situation I’d rather not repeat.” I said with a forced smile. He let out a chuckle.
“I know that feeling.” He said with humor. “Emily told me about your prognosis. How are you guys holding up?”
Wish people would stop bringing this up. I’m so sick of it.
“We’re doing alright. Thank you for asking.” I said.
“I like him. He’s very polite.” He said to Emily.
I saw Danny smile in the corner of my eye. Edward turned to address Mar.
“How are your musical aspirations going?” He asked her.
“They’re going great. Just learned some new songs on the piano and guitar.” She said with an awkward smile.
“The way your mother speaks of you, you’d think you were some sort of prodigy.” He responded with humor.
“Yeah, she’s a riot.” Mar smirked.
“I could teach you drums some time if you want.” He suggested.
“That’d be nice.” Mar said.
She looked at me and Danny. I stuck my tongue out at her. She sneered in response. Finally, Edward looked at Danny.
“How are you doing in these uncertain times?” He asked him.
“Trying my best to be my best.” Danny shrugged. Edward seemed to ponder that for a moment. He looked Danny up and down, before finally looking back at Emily.
“Well I don’t want you four to be late for your tour because of me. It was nice catching up with you all.” He smiled. I stood up almost immediately.
“I love you dad.” Emily said. Her dad looked at her and smiled.
“Love you too, kid. Don’t do anything stupid.” He said with warmth. We stood up as a group and walked out of the cramped office.
Emily’s dad watched me as we departed.
“Your dad’s weird.” Mar said once we were far enough from the door.
“Thanks Mar.” Emily said sarcastically.
We continued walking over to where the tour group was forming. A woman in a pantsuit with a nametag and funny hair stood in the middle of the group. Mar forced us to stand near Joni and Gary. I stood on the very edge of our group as far away from them as possible. Emily and Danny stood to the right of me. The tour guide was droning on about how this was the most innovative building in the past twenty years. Then she said something that gave me pause.
“But don’t take it from me. We have a very special guest here just for this group.” She said with a fake smile. I turned my full attention to the woman. Danny tapped me on the shoulder and pointed at what she was talking about. I almost jumped back in shock.
“Ladies and gentleman… Mr. Markus Keller!” He was wearing a full suit and his normal glasses. He was staring me down like a warden might watch a prisoner. He walked past the woman to stand in the middle of us.
“I’m glad to see so many young minds here. This building is one of the many philanthropic endeavors my company has been partaking in, and it warms my heart to see that you’re all so interested here. I will gladly take you through its many functions.” He said in a calm, almost bored voice. He never once took his eyes off of me.
Then all at once the lights flicked off. The only light in the entire room was the red light of the Ultrabirds scanning their surroundings from the ceiling. People screamed in shock and alarm. I heard heavy footsteps in the distance. The room was almost in total darkness.
I could barely see two feet in front of me. But there was one thing I could see all too clearly even in the pitch black darkness. Mr. Polybius was smiling at me.
