The tension in Central City Bank was unbearable. Hostages were spread across the room, eyes wide with fear, some whispering prayers, others simply frozen in place. Ethan Black, the leader of the operation, stood near the entrance, his eyes flicking toward the door. The plan was simple, but the timing had to be perfect. They needed to ensure the police arrived, and they needed to make it happen immediately.
"Ray," Ethan called out, his voice low but commanding.
Ray Donovan, one of the most trusted robbers in the group, looked up. "What's next?" he asked, though his eyes were full of uncertainty. He had been part of many heists, but this was different. The situation was escalating faster than anticipated.
"We need the police here, now," Ethan said, turning his gaze to the hostages standing nervously in line. "It's time to put pressure on them."
Ray frowned, confused. "Why? We don't want to draw attention—"
"No, we want the attention," Ethan interrupted, stepping closer to Ray. "The more pressure we have, the more they'll react. We need the news, the cops, the chaos. It'll all work in our favor. Let's get them here, right now."
Ray hesitated but nodded. He turned toward Marcus, who was closer to the hostages. Marcus, who was relatively new to this kind of situation, looked just as nervous.
"Marcus, you'll make the call," Ethan said firmly. "I want the police here, and I want them here now. The longer they wait, the harder this will be."
Marcus swallowed. He looked around the room, his hand twitching at his side. The other robbers were standing at the ready, eying the hostages warily.
"Who should I call?" Marcus asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan smirked. "Use a hostage. It'll create more chaos. The 911 operator will panic, and they'll send the police immediately."
Marcus nodded, though unease still lingered in his expression. He quickly picked a man from the group of hostages—a young bank teller who looked like he might faint from fear—and pulled him toward the front.
The man was trembling, his face pale. He opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out.
"You're going to call the police for us." Marcus said, his voice firm, his hand gripping the hostage's arm tightly. "Tell them there's a robbery in progress. Tell them there are hostages. But you'll also tell them to get here as fast as they can. No delays."
The hostage blinked rapidly, trying to process the instructions. "B-but—"
"No buts," Marcus snapped. "Do it now. If you want to live, you'll do exactly as I say. You're going to call 911, and you're going to tell them we're waiting for them. Understand?"
The hostage nodded quickly, barely able to speak.
"Do it," Marcus said, shoving the phone into the man's hand.
The young man, visibly shaking, fumbled with the phone, dialing 911 with trembling fingers. The robbers watched intently as the phone rang.
911 Operator: "911, what's your emergency?"
The hostage's voice cracked as he spoke, but he did his best to stay calm. "There's a robbery in progress at Central City Bank. Hostages are being held inside."
The operator's voice turned serious. "Can you confirm that everyone is safe? Are there injuries?"
"No… no injuries," the hostage stammered. "But you need to hurry. There's no time. The robbers—they've made it clear that they want the police here, right now. You need to send them. We're being watched, we can't wait much longer."
The operator paused, clearly confused by the unusual request. "Sir, are you sure you want to escalate the situation like this? I will send officers immediately, but please stay on the line."
"No, no," the hostage gasped, "Just send them now. They'll—" He cut off suddenly, seeing Marcus standing close by, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Get the cops here. We can't wait. Just tell them to hurry," the hostage said in a strained voice, trying to get the words out fast.
The operator's voice became more urgent. "Sir, please confirm the location again. Central City Bank. Is this your final call?"
The hostage, now panicked, quickly responded. "Yes! Yes, just send the police! Please! Now!" His voice cracked again as he handed the phone back to Marcus.
Marcus took the phone, cutting the connection without a second thought. He looked at Ethan, who was now smiling coldly.
The News Hits the Streets
Within minutes of the call, the story was breaking across every channel:
"BREAKING: Robbery in Progress at Central City Bank! Hostages Reported Inside!"
The flashing lights of the news vans could already be seen gathering outside the building, and the police were preparing their response. The initial confusion was giving way to urgency. The entire city was on edge, watching as the story unfolded on their TV screens.
The Robbers Prepare for the Escalation
Inside the bank, Ethan was watching the live news feed. The flashing lights outside made the building feel like a pressure cooker, and the robbers knew they had to keep control.
"Perfect," Ethan muttered to himself, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "The police will be here soon, but we're ready. Let them come."
The other robbers gathered around, their nerves mixed with anticipation. Chloe moved quietly to the door, peeking out toward the police cars that were now blocking the streets. Noah, his hands slightly shaking, moved to the security monitors, watching the growing presence of police outside.
Ray Donovan: "We've got to be careful. They'll be here soon, and they'll want to rush in. We need to keep control, Ethan."
Ethan glanced over at him, his expression icy. "Don't worry about that. Let them come. The more they rush in, the more we can control. Just stay calm."
Outside: The Pressure Builds
Outside, Detective Jake Thompson was pacing, clearly frustrated. His team was preparing to move, but there was something unsettling about this situation. The robbers had intentionally called 911, and that was messing with the usual protocols.
"This doesn't make sense," Jake muttered to Officer Carla Turner. "They called us on purpose. They want us here, and they want us fast."
Carla glanced at the unfolding scene, the lights of the police cars reflected in the windows of the bank. "What's their angle? Why escalate it like this?"
"I don't know," Jake admitted, "but we're about to find out the hard way."
Inside: The Calm Before the Storm
Back inside the bank, Ethan turned toward the hostages, his eyes scanning their fearful faces.
"Everyone, stay calm," he called out to them. "The police will be here soon. When they arrive, you'll see who's in control. But for now, we wait."
A.D., silent as always, watched from the corner. The tension in the room was thick, but he was calculating every move. Unlike the others, A.D. wasn't concerned with the immediate chaos. He had his own plans for when the police arrived.
To Be Continued...