School dragged on slower than usual. I mean… I was supposed to meet with a cult for crying out loud. I personally didn’t hold any beliefs… Well before I met God himself. I just hope to God that it’s not a hood-wearing, people-killing type of cult.

The day finally came to a close. My gut was telling me that I shouldn’t go, but ultimately I was curious. I wanted to know why they reached out to me. I wanted to know what they are planning to do with me. Curiosity killed the cat.

I arrived at the specified place. There wasn’t anyone there except for a man in a weird, fuchsia and grey robe. He was leaning against a fuchsia Bentley with a smug grin and his arms crossed. He glared at me with a satisfied expression.

“So you’ve come. I guess I should introduce myself…” He pushed himself away from the expensive car and lifted his hands in a ‘Y’ position.

“I am the one true messenger of God. I’m the leader of the Neichsia…” As he said that, hooded men surrounded us. Their hoods were the same colour as the man in front of me – fuschia.

“… THE ONE TRUE CULT!” He began approaching me. His walk was that of a man with a lot of confidence. He put his left hand on my right shoulder.

“I could help you, my child. You may be delusional right now… but I could save you.” He said compassionately.

“Delusional!? Save me!? I don’t need your pyramid schemes or some essential oils. Stay the fuck away from me.” I was frightened. I felt no need to hold myself back. The robed man tightened his grip on my shoulder. With one swift push, he pushed me on the ground.

“Holy shit… I thought you couldn’t swear.” I heard a familiar voice as I was recovering. The ring made of hooded men began to fall to the ground as loud shots were heard. In the distance, I saw a figure wielding a weapon. The person looked familiar but I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

The robed man ran towards the Bentley, and he almost ran me over. I lucked out. The man began to walk towards me. He was wearing army pants and a bulletproof vest. He walked towards me slowly, checking the bodies and making sure they weren’t going to attack. I took a closer look and realized who it was. It was Michael. He saw me and rushed towards me. He picked me up from the ground and reached for his pocket.

“I’ll explain later, just tell me: Can you shoot?” I nodded and he handed me a Smith&Wesson 380ACP. It was a fairly small handgun to go along with his AKM247T.

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He ran towards a parked “Jeep CJ-5”

“Can you drive?” He threw the keys towards me.

“Hell yeah, I can.” I replied while getting in.

“Go to that abandoned building next to the church.” He said while putting on his seatbelt.

“Got it, chief.” I started the car and drove away. It was probably weird seeing two 15-year-olds drive in a jeep with one wielding a fucking AKM. Lucky us, the cops were on doughnut break or something because we got to the abandoned building undetected.

Mike took the keys out of the car and got out briskly. We sneaked in through the back entrance while abandoning the jeep. We moved through the floors towards the top. Once we got to the top, there were two camping tents. Both grey. Mike got in one and came back out almost instantly without his weapon. After putting my handgun down, I began to head for the stairs back down. Mike stopped me.

“Where are you going?” He asked me confused.

“What do you mean?” I looked at him even more confused than him.

“Where. Are. You. Going?”

“I. Am. Going. Home.” Mike looked at me sympathetically.

“Bro, your parents… they were kidnapped. I saw them when I was coming to your house.” My head began spinning.

“What..? How..? Why..? I need to lie down.” I felt myself feel get lighter and lighter. I began falling.

“Wake up, kid. This is your reality…” A familiar voice called out to me.

I woke up. It was dark outside, with me under the stars. I jumped up and saw Mike sitting on the edge of the seven-story building we were sitting on. He was starring out to the nothingness of the stars. I walked over to join him. He looked at me.

“So you woke up, huh?”

“Yeah… Mind telling the whole story behind my parents.”

“Maybe later. Now let’s just enjoy the night sky.” I looked toward the city. The abandoned building was at the edge of the city and it had a great view.I’ve got to admit, it was pretty amazing. Just sitting there, knowing that shit was about to go down, yet enjoying the view anyway. I loved it.

Michael looked towards the train tracks. He looked at it like it was some weird fantasy. He shifted his gaze upon me.

“Jake, have you heard of the “Great Train Robbery”?”

“I don’t think I have.” Mike’s gaze shifted once again towards the tracks.

“In 1963, seventeen guys stole money from a train heading from Glasgow to London. Their take was 2.6 million pounds. Do you know why I’m telling you this.”

“I… don’t know.”

“There is a train arriving a week from now. It’s travelling from Los Angeles to New York. It is carrying at least 1 million dollars. And we are going to hit it.”

“We are going to do WHAT!?” I yelled and almost fell off the building.

“We need money to bust out your family. You in?” I thought about it. It was my family that I was saving. I couldn’t… I shouldn’t pass this opportunity.

I looked at Michael’s stiff expression.

“Fuck it, I’m in.”