I was sitting on my hardwood bedroom floor, listening to the rain as it poured outside my window. The constant hiss of my furnace and the smokey smell it was emitting made me wish I was in the downpour, taking in all of the scents of a world being washed clean. But I knew I needed to stay inside, and that the world being washed clean wasn't as great as I was making it seem; it was cold and wet and harsh. The scents of that world would be damp and earthy, like worms, or worse, mud. I was perfectly content sitting in the dull room, listening to the nothingness of the rain. BRRRRZ BRRRRZ. The vibrations of my phone jolted me from my alter consciousness. The bright flashing screen hurt my eyes. I looked away for a second, then went back and read.
We have your dog. Bring $5,000 to Pearl and Huntington by 8 AM Monday. No police or other witnesses or he dies.
-TM
I was in shock. My baby, my love, my son, my best friend, my dog. I could not function properly without him. And this TM character supposedly had taken him. . . Who were they?? I don't have five grand to give anybody--or even to use myself!! This was horrible, I had to get my dog back! But I couldn't tell anyone about it or I wouldn't have a chance of seeing him again. I had to come up with 5,000 dollars. But how?
I needed a loan; but I knew I wouldn't be able to get the money by Monday. I attempted reaching the number, but the phone was "No longer in service", as stated by the female's monotone voice on the other end. I knew it was a reach, but I had to do something. Thinking about the loans and money gave me a new idea; banks. Specifically, robbing one. I had seen many movies about this and I knew it would be hard to pull off, but I could do it. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
Sunday.
It was 9 PM and I had everything set. My masquerade mask and water pistol were sitting quietly in the back of my car. Driving to the bank, I started to wonder if this was the best idea; if Jasper was worth all of this trouble. I shook away my doubts. Of course this was the right thing to do; I had to get him back. Suiting up, I put on my purple mask from Mardi Gras. It wasn't the best thing to use (a ski mask would have worked much better), but it was all I could find in my room. Same for the water gun; but at least it looked realistic and more like what a professional criminal would use. I entered the bank; hoping no one would notice the giant gun-shaped bump under my shirt. There was only one woman there; that made things a lot easier. I went up to the teller with my gun in hand. She doesn't say anything.
"Five thousand dollars please?" The woman looked at me strangely, then abruptly turned around. Tick Tick Tick. Her shoes ticked annoyingly on the tile on her way over to the vault. She put in the pin and took out a large wad of cash. I was surprised, everything was going so smoothly!! She brought the money to me, and said nonchalantly (almost with a bored tone of voice), "Here." and left the wad in front of me. Wow. That was easy. I walked out cash in hand. I got in my car and sped away. All of that robbing was tiring. Time to go home and get some beauty sleep.
It was 9 PM and I had everything set. My masquerade mask and water pistol were sitting quietly in the back of my car. Driving to the bank, I started to wonder if this was the best idea; if Jasper was worth all of this trouble. I shook away my doubts. Of course this was the right thing to do; I had to get him back. Suiting up, I put on my purple mask from Mardi Gras. It wasn't the best thing to use (a ski mask would have worked much better), but it was all I could find in my room. Same for the water gun; but at least it looked realistic and more like what a professional criminal would use. I entered the bank; hoping no one would notice the giant gun-shaped bump under my shirt. There was only one woman there; that made things a lot easier. I went up to the teller with my gun in hand. She doesn't say anything.
"Five thousand dollars please?" The woman looked at me strangely, then abruptly turned around. Tick Tick Tick. Her shoes ticked annoyingly on the tile on her way over to the vault. She put in the pin and took out a large wad of cash. I was surprised, everything was going so smoothly!! She brought the money to me, and said nonchalantly (almost with a bored tone of voice), "Here." and left the wad in front of me. Wow. That was easy. I walked out cash in hand. I got in my car and sped away. All of that robbing was tiring. Time to go home and get some beauty sleep.
Monday.
An hour before I had to give the kidnappers the money, my phone buzzed.
Huntington and Pearl. Meet at Dog Park by the Tree. $5,000 or hell reigns loose.
-TM
An hour before I had to give the kidnappers the money, my phone buzzed.
Huntington and Pearl. Meet at Dog Park by the Tree. $5,000 or hell reigns loose.
-TM
I had the money thankfully, and I put it in a bag for "TM". I drove to the park; about ten minutes early. I assumed the tree they were referring to was the tree in the middle of the wide green expanse; the lone tree was a dog's favorite spot. It would be easy for us to make the trade; there were so many people trying to get to the tree, our hands would be lost in the flurry of others. Arriving, the park was nearly empty. I assumed it was because of the early time; but it was nearly 8- prime time for the morning dog walkers. That was weird. I felt so alone and strange. I smelled something. Putrid, from the direction of the tree. Then I saw him.
My dog, my baby, dead. The carcass looked as if it had been left by that tree for days; TM probably killed Jasper before he even sent the text, thinking I could never achieve the money. I was struck with shock and grief. I fell to the ground, shaking. Why would someone have done this? I got the money. I ROBBED A BANK FOR HIM. And there he was. I walked over to him and looked at his sweet eyes; open. I closed them for my own sake. I had hoped that maybe it could have been a ploy; it couldn't have been my dog. But it was, no doubt about it. Suddenly the stench was too much, and I walked away, crying. This was awful. I wanted to curl up and die so I could see my poor puppy again.
My dog, my baby, dead. The carcass looked as if it had been left by that tree for days; TM probably killed Jasper before he even sent the text, thinking I could never achieve the money. I was struck with shock and grief. I fell to the ground, shaking. Why would someone have done this? I got the money. I ROBBED A BANK FOR HIM. And there he was. I walked over to him and looked at his sweet eyes; open. I closed them for my own sake. I had hoped that maybe it could have been a ploy; it couldn't have been my dog. But it was, no doubt about it. Suddenly the stench was too much, and I walked away, crying. This was awful. I wanted to curl up and die so I could see my poor puppy again.
Saturday.
I heard the customarily loud BRRRRZ BRRRRZ of my phone and jolted awake. What a terrible dream; but looking back it wasn't the most realistic. This thought lightened my spirits a bit. Going back to my phone, I looked at the text message. It was unknown, which meant it was probably Erin. I checked it and was right. She had sent a simple hello and wondered what was up. I was about to answer "the sky" as that was my normal tacky reply, but before I could type I saw a message was already written out in the text box.
We have your dog. Bring $5,000 to Pearl and Huntington by 8 AM Monday. No police or other witnesses or he dies.
-TM
