I walked into the store glad that I was in it's warm confined. The cashier gave me a blank look, studying me briefly – his eyes darted to my hands and pockets. It was clear that he had experienced many eventful nights in the store and the experience had trained his perception.
I passed him and went straight to the back of the store, the usual location for the produce aisle on most stores. I wasn't sure what exactly I needed to grab. Initially I only planned to buy a few bedside snacks and juice. But after the conversation I had with Mrs Alba and the confidence with which I told her I would create a new menu item. I thought it wise to buy a few baking ingredients.
Now how do I proceed buying ingredients when I'm not sure what I'm making. I scanned the aisle taking notes of the staggering variety. So many variations of flour, sugar, milk and much more. How did one go about picking just one. It was obvious that I lacked a lot of foreknowledge and it was shameful considering I had been in the craft for nearly 2 years.
What was I expecting. The only thing I knew how to do was measure the components to millimeter accuracy, mix them together and follow the assigned cook time and method. Shameful, absolutely abhorrent, this was utterly embarrassing. I needed to read up on baking essentials as soon as possible.
The door opened with a creak and a familiar, unwelcome figure walked in. The middle aged woman I encountered earlier at the store was here. Her presence brought me anguish and my veil recoiled after taking in he nasty expression. "Where's the cereal!!?" Her horse voice screeched at the store owner.
The poor man, formerly occupied combing his goatee flinched back. His eyes performed the same inspectory dance before he addressed her. "It's at the back, second aisle." His voice was undisturbed, calm. It echoed his experience and wisdom. I could learn a thing or two from him when it came to customer service.
The woman scoffed and paced briskly to the aisle of choice. I quickly turned my back to her, doing my best to avoid notice when she passed. Her footsteps echoed behind me, she stopped briefly, staring intently at my turned back then walked past me. I sighed with relief, dealing with that manic woman would stress me. And I was already under enough stress.
Others came and went, the constants being me, the cashier and the woman. I picked a few item casually, filling my grocery basket with a variety of product. I wondered why the woman was still here, she had been picking up and dropping cereal boxes for almost seventeen minutes now. Her indecisive nature shone through, a testament to the failed order and baseless argument she made in the afternoon.
'It is late. I've spent long enough here.' It was time to go home. I spent a long time out today, and I was itching to get back and eat. The quiet stillness of the storefront was lost to me. Everything changed so suddenly, ahh the duality of life.
The glass doors screeched once more signalling the arrival of another patron. The man was fully covered, his black hoodie drapped over his head, a dark face mask, and a small bag on his back. It was appropriate attire for the weather and everything would have been fine, if not for the jerky motions and stiff disposition.
His hands were tucked into the pockets of his hoodie, cradling something. The cashier looked at him, his eyes going through the all too familiar dance of inspection. The cashier's eyes widened, his breath quickened. The shaky man was quick to react, his actions already preconditioned for the swift threatening motion he would make.
The cashier's hands reached down, but they jerked back up in and instant, fueled by panic and a plea for his life. The cold steel of the gun rested in the hooded man's hand. It was pointed with chilling intent, his eyes flickering with malicious emotions and dilated with resolve.
I froze in my spot. The shock registered fast, very fast. The unfamiliar nature of the situation left me winded. So much happened in a single moment and I bore witness to all of it in stark detail, but my body lagged behind hindered by the shock and fear. I shuffled back, pinned my back to the aisle, hiding my figure from the hooded man's gaze. It worked for a moment, then panic ensued.
The woman picked the worst time to finish shopping. She walked casually to the front, clutching two cereal boxes like a prize she won after grueling labour. The gun-laden man took notice before her screams ensued. To my dismay she backed away into my aisle, pulling me into her dilemma. 'What a terrible way to start a new phase of my life.'
"Out! Both of you!" His deep voice was muffled by his mask. I reached my palms over my head and shuffled slowly. The foolish woman tried to use me as a shield, hiding her trembling body behind mine. 'Please don't.' My quiet pleas were unheard, while we did our best to move to the gun's jutting snout.
He was skillful. The gun's barrel continuously shifted from my fleshy apparatus to the cashier's, giving neither of us any room to escape or misbehave. "On your knees both of you. Waste my time and I'll pop you right open."
We complied readily. The woman was already sobbing and begging for her life. It was a pitiful sight, one I didn't bother to entertain. I sighed and thought that of how funny this situation was.
I hadn't been in a position like this since I was a child. When our caretakers would punish us for misbehaving. Now here I was, on my knees, with my arms to the sky, beside a sobbing mess that I hoped never to see again.
The dark clothes man threw his bag on the counter. "All the money in the bag now! No funny business you hear me! Try anything and I'll waste your blood on the floor!" The cashier steadied his hands and got to work filling the bag with money from the register. Hard earned money, hours spent in this drab store working and enduring the ignorance of insufferable customers all gone.
'Too bad buddy, seems like none of us can catch a break today.' I busied myself observing the robber. The gun was fully loaded with deadly metal slugs, his threats were real. He had an extra magazine in his back pocket, in case one didn't do the job turning us to pulp. All in all a very serious situation. But strangely the more I observed, the more I assessed how truly dire this situation was, the more I calmed.
I realised how truly futile living was. This man probably felt very powerful, very in control. Just because he held a slab of iron in his hand – capable of destruction, but ultimately still iron.
How exactly did he compare to me. I had encompassed every corner of this store with my mind. Every object, every wriggling insect, every breath of air. All of it was within my grasp. Just a flicker of thought, that was all it took. Just a flicker of thought and I could bend this store to my whim. Why was I afraid, I had the power to lift a car with ease, stretch it's frame and isolate any faults or weak spots.
And he felt powerful. He felt in control. I had control, true control. That tube of steel was nothing in comparison to the weight of my mind. Why was I still on my knees, soliciting for pardon like a mischievous child. This encounter didn't have to end according to his design. It could end in mine.
'*Sigh* Careful Luke, careful. Let's be smart about this. Let's make sure everyone is safe by the end.' It was time to turn the situation around. I had to be fast, but also careful not to reveal my abilities. I considered my options thoroughly.
There was a pistol behind the counter, but it was locked inside a safe. Not enough time to unlock it and make use of it. Also I had to force it open since I didn't know the code.
I could create a distraction. The shelves were easy enough to tip. The racket would make the man search for possible other shoppers. Yes a valid suggestion, but I couldn't guarantee the robber's reaction. The sudden noise could cause some blind shots to go off, putting us in danger. Perhaps another time.
I could also just push him over. Nobody would be observant enough to notice how he fell. Probably the easiest solution, but also the most conspicuous. And again the money crazed individual could get desperate. And desperate people were the worst kind in a pinch.
Yeah, I knew how to handle this situation. A light punishment would also be involved. It made no sense for a stringent thug to be let off with no repercussions. He threatened my life, so I would have my way with him before law enforcement got their turn. Yes, it was time to let off, time to give someone a well deserved re-education.