On the Edge of Death

[Jackdabomb]

Now that the writing forum is open I'm quite excited to release this story however I'm going to post it in snippets so people don't look at the wall of text and then leave. So here's the first part, feel free to post criticism, suggestions, or any type of feedback as long as it's not a blatant "lol this gay" please, thank ya.

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ON THE EDGE OF DEATH
by Jack Romaine
1:34 A.M. DECEMBER 1ST, 2009
From afar the bridge was as normal looking as it ever was in the middle of the night but up close a worrying sight of a shadowy figure stood on the edge of death ready to embrace his final breath. Many cars were going to fast to see the person but those who did see him thought it was just an illusion. However, one car in particular was looking for this certain person.
Inside a beaten up red van, Nick Akeyo was sweating like a pig. His hands were fumbling in his pocket searching for his pills. He found the familiar texture of the case and immediately yanked it out of his Wind Breaker and popped off the cap. Taking his eyes off the road he dumped three pills into his sweat ridden hand and put them in his mouth. He saw the figure and braked just a few feet to far and nearly caused the car behind him to crash. Several honks screeched in the air but Nick stepped out the car his pills had shot out onto his dash board.
Wind was causing the rain to hail against the bridge and Nick. Nick tried to keep his hat on and thunder and lightning struck at the same time, for an instant he saw the figure's face. The man on the bridge was pallid and had bags under his eyes from emotional stress. Tears were streaming down his eyes as he faced Nick.
"What do you want," the figure said sounding distraught and overwhelmed.
"Listen, Jacob, you don't need to do this, there's still plenty of great things to live for."
"Oh shut up Nick. There is nothing to live for anymore. We killed him, WE KILLED SMITH!"
"Smith was over a year ago Jacob and there's tons of things to live for, like... like Sylvia what about Sylvia?"
"SYLVIA'S MARRIED AND EVERYBODY KNOWS SHE ONLY LIKED YOU!" Jacob yelled at the top of his lungs. The wind was picking up and Jacob nearly lost his balance. Nick shot forward to catch him but Jacob re-adjusted his footing.
"Just step down from there and we can talk this privately in the van. Ok," he said softly, slowly inching towards Jacob, "just get in the van and we can discuss this in a calm manner."
"NICK ALL YOU WANT ME TO DO IS TO HELP YOU AGAIN, JUST FACE IT I CAN'T HELP YOU," Jacob turned around ready to jump.
"Jacob this isn't about me, we're great friends, we can get through this," Nick said slowing down near the last words realizing he shouldn't have said that.
Jacob turned his head to his right shoulder, "That's what you said a year ago and ever since all I've gotten through is my financial problems. I know that you need help and I wish I could but if I did it again I'd just feel even more guilt. I can't live with myself anymore, not since Smith."
Nick tried to convince him a bit more to step down but Jacob wasn't listening he just turned slowly back towards the water readying to jump. He uttered his last words hardly a whisper, "Goodbye Nick, tell Morgan that money isn't everything and tell Sylvia that...," he started to whimper and Jacob realized the full extent of his misery, he loved her more than anyone and she was unattainable to him, "tell her to just keep living, I don't want her to feel sad," and without another word he jumped to the abyss of the river never to live nor speak again. Swearing under his breath Nick slowly walked back into his van and drove on.
"Jacob's dead," Nick said over his cell phone. His black hair drenched in rain dripped on to his leather seat. On the other side of the line was Morgan Reeter, a wealthy African American who was really only a mutual friend to Nick.
"He died? I mean he said he would but, he actually did?" Morgan said lying in bed. His bedroom was furnished with luxurious drapes, a beautiful carpet, and a huge King-sized bed. Staring at his ruby colored walls he contemplated his relationship with Jacob. They were great friends yet he never felt connected to him. He felt more attached to his house than Jacob but yet he was extremely upset over this news, Jacob was always there and was such a friendly guy and for him to be gone felt awkward and strange.
"Do you know why he did it?" Morgan asked
"It seemed to be over Smith, he still felt really guilty about that, but I also think it could be over Sylvia too, he really loved her didn't he?"
"Sure," Morgan said but he was more than sure he always knew that Jacob was in love with Sylvia he showed it constantly, but Sylvia always ignored him, Jacob lacked the directness and firmness that she desired.
"Anyways," Nick continued to break the few seconds of silence, "I think if we can just get one person to replace him we could still do it."
Morgan listened in disbelief; Nick always liked Jacob, "What's wrong with you?"
"What do you mean?" Nick said popping three pills into his mouth, "we did it once without Smith I'm sure that even if Sylvia is gone we could still pull it off with one more."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"Then what is it that you're talking about?" Morgan was about to respond but instead said nothing. "So it's settled we just find another guy and we perform the heist next Tuesday."
Morgan felt an overwhelming amount of emotional agony but he washed it down with a quick swig of brandy and hung up the phone. It's only about the money Morgan, as long as you have money you're happy.
Nick shut his cell phone before realizing that he was supposed to tell Morgan that it's not about the money, not that he'd get it through his thick skull anyways. He exited off the bridge and headed toward his apartment, he started to look through his contacts to see if there was anyone he could call up to join the heist, he always felt that he'd had a great social life but now that he looked at his contacts he had only a few names, Morgan (who was already helping), Jacob (dead), a few family members (out of the question), and ... Nick choked at the thought of calling the last contact. He's the only one who could help them but still what he did was horrible.

[Jackdabomb]

8:18 P.M., November 22nd, 2008,

Morgan was sipping on a brandy, Jacob was looking at the floor of the van thinking about everything that went down, Nick was driving trying to keep his spirits up, Sylvia was sitting in the back seat, and Randy was polishing his gun.

Nick was the first to break the silence, "You guys what we did was..." he tried to think of how to finish his sentence but Morgan did it for him

"Disgusting," he said dropping his empty bottle to the floor of the van chuckling.

Nick snapped back, "NO, it may have not been the most moral thing but what was done was the only way to get the money ok."

Sylvia spoke up, "But was it really worth Smith AND Garrett?" starting to cry. Jacob tried to put a comforting arm around her but she shrugged it off.

Randy answered the question, "Smith, maybe, Garrett, definitely," he said heartlessly.

Jacob stared in disbelief, "How can you be so cruel?"

"How can I be so cruel? You're the one who shot Smith."

"YOU FORCED ME," he yelled his temper getting hot.

"Listen, it was logical. Garrett was a pain in the ass and Smith was a greedy jerk albeit being the mastermind he was."

Nick broke in before Jacob yelled again, "STOP JUST STOP. Smith and Garrett are dead ok we can't change that we have the money and we'll split it evenly ok." Nick looked at the cash they had, a bunch of blood money. He grabbed some only to drop it again ashamed.

Randy chimed in, "I should get a bigger cut."

Nick could only imagine why so he merely asked, "Why do you think you deserve more money than the rest of us."

"For killing Garrett," everyone shot a shocked look at Randy, "I tripped him after he shot at the cops." He had a smug look on his face.

"GET OUT OF THE VAN NOW!" Nick yelled losing his temper. He braked and everyone jerked forward. "You heard me get out of the van."

"Are you going to give me at least my cut?" Randy asked

"NO, I'M TIRED OF YOU RANDY. IF YOU DON'T GET OUT I'LL FORCE YOU!"

"Fine, fine," Randy said opening the van stepping into the cold. Nick started driving the car again looking back through the rear view mirror at Randy. Randy had unbelievably started laughing and then Randy yelled out for all of them to hear, "YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT ME!" As much as that angered Nick they couldn't perform another heist. Randy watched the victims with Morgan, Nick, Sylvia, and Smith got the money, and Jacob and Garrett kept a watch on any cops arriving. It was a perfect system and now three of them were gone.

Nick was in rage and started looking around for his gum. He spotted a case of pills.

"What's this," he said to Morgan lifting the case up. The van was Morgan's.

Morgan replied burping from his alcohol, "It's my pills, the doc said I've got to much stress in my
life, I hardly use them, I prefer my brandy."

Nick looked at the description 3 Pills a day. "Do you care?"

"Nah go ahead."

He popped the lid off and put three pills in his mouth and washed it down with some water. Instantly he felt relieved and he felt his previously quick heartbeat slow down to a healthy beat. Morgan had passed out. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. He slid the pills into his pocket.

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Wow still no replies. Oh well. Feel free to post critique in such. I'll be posting more tomorrow after school and hopefully more people will be reading and responding. G' Night :)

[Jackdabomb]

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9:18 A.M., DECEMBER 1ST, 2009
Sylvia woke up feeling fresh from last nights rest. She stretched her arms sitting up in her bed and glanced to her left only to see that her husband had left for work already. Feeling disappointed she went downstairs for a few hours did a few chores and ate breakfast then went back upstairs to her room. At 1:34 she turned on the TV to watch the news. The medium sized TV buzzed on and she changed it to the News channel. Another stupid story over some health care debate she thought. She never really cared for politics or anything of the matter so she rolled out of bed ready to leave the bedroom, go downstairs, and have another boring day cleaning, shopping, and doing other chores her husband was apparently to busy to do. Then, as soon as she reached the door another story had come up saying they found a body washed up at the bank of the river. They identified the body as someone named Jacob Blake. She stopped backed up and looked at the horrifying news story.

'Caution, the following story shows graphic images that may not be suitable for some audiences.' An image flashed up on the screen showing the dead body pale and being wrapped up by the coroner. She wasn't mistaken, it was definitely Jacob. She felt a wave of remorse and a tinge of guilt come over her. 'The body was found at around 2:42 A.M. approximately one hour someone reported that a man was attempting to coax a man off a bridge only for him to jump off a few minutes through the talking. The man described had a beaten up red van and was said to have been a portly, Caucasian, man wearing a black jacket and jeans with a height of approximately 6 feet. Some eyewitnesses claimed that the man was egging him on but whether that is true or not remains unknown.

Still shocked, she knew who the man was. I swear if Nick caused this I'm going to kill him. She ran to her dresser drawer looking for the number she had long kept buried inside not listening to the rest of the report.

'We have with us one of the police officers investigating the case here is what he had to say. A policeman with white hair flickered onto the screen.
"Let's just say that the gears in motion," the man said.

1:33 P.M. DECEMBER 1ST, 2009
Nick waited anxiously at the lunch table. He had been waiting for twenty minutes now and still Randy didn't show. He took out his pills and was just about to take them when Randy came barging in sporting a ragged beard and a much larger midsection.

He plopped himself down onto the other end of the table, "Still have that nasty addiction of yours, huh?" staring at the pill case on the table

Nick stuck it back in his pocket, "Still a horrible mess, huh?"

"Well, I wouldn't be if someone gave me a cut," Randy snapped back raising his voice midsentence.

"Listen, I didn't come to argue, I'm stuck in a rut. I'm going to get evicted if I don't get this money."

"Ah, yes, another heist, so you got Jacob, Morgan, and Sylvia, right?"

"No, actually, Jacob's dead and I lost contact with Sylvia ever since we robbed another bank and ended up getting injured and lost a majority of the money.

"I told you, you can't do it without me."

"Actually, we couldn't do it without Smith and Garrett they were far more helpful than you."

"Whatever, I rest my case," Randy leaned his chair backwards with his feet and looked at the ceiling.

"So! Are you going to help us or not."

He rocked forward making a loud thump with his chair, "For a 50% cut I will."

"Are you crazy? I need this money."

"So do I, plus you owe me from last time."

"I DON'T OWE YOU ANYTHING," Nick yelled his head dizzy. He popped a few pills into his mouth. A waiter walked up and said, "Can I help you two?" looking at them with suspicion. Nick's phone started to ring.

Nick replied, "Um, just give me a sec." Nick headed towards the bathrooms where it was quieter. He could hear Randy answering the waiters question asking for a large meal, Nick didn't care, if they pulled off the robbery he wouldn't have to worry about money anymore, at least for a while.
"Hello, who is this?" Nick said near the payphones next to the bathrooms

A familiar voice rang into his ear, "Is Jacob dead?"

It took a second for him to register who it was but when he did he replied, "Yes he is but that's not important right now, Sylvia I need to ask you a favor."

"What do you mean that's not important, what happened to Jacob?"

"He killed himself because he felt guilty about Smith."

"My god, I mean he was like a brother," Nick could tell she was holding back tears choking while she spoke.

"Yes, I know what you mean. But, I really need you to help me."

She cleared her throat trying to remain professional; they were past associates no reason to bring emotion into their conversation, "Yes, what is it?"

"I need you," he slowed down a bit trying to make it sound as sensitive as possible, "to help me through a little financial struggle.

Sylvia felt disgusted, "I'm not helping you perform another robbery." She hung up the phone and walked away. I should've known better, Nick was always selfish.

Nick was still talking, "Sylvia? Sylvia?" and then he heard the noise. He swore again returning to his table to try and have a good lunch.
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GOD DAMN IT POST

sorry for that I didn't mean to yell at you... please post?

[Jackdabomb]

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4:55 P.M., DECEMBER 3rd, 2009
Morgan straightened his tie getting ready to talk to his employee. He was nervous that Nick had gotten Randy to get with them but he was more nervous to the reporter he was about to face. The reporter came in and stood in front of his desk Morgan sighed and said, "Please, sit down."

"What is it that you brought me in here for Mr. Reeter?"

"Mr. Rutherford, I know you've been running around the city all day searching for who this guy who supposedly forced a man to commit suicide but I want you to stop investigating."
James Rutherford, a reporter who was determined a little too much as well as being headstrong, was shocked to why his boss wanted him to stop reporting on a suicide case.

"Why?"

"Well you see James. The truth is there are no leads on this and there's a lot of Caucasian, portly men around the city. I just think you're spending far too much time on this one story when you could be making tons of other great reports."

James stood up, "Sir, if it doesn't sound too rude, I think I have the right to report on whatever I want, you can refuse to put it in the paper but until then I'm investigating this case."

James stormed out of the office determined to find this man when he realized that his boss had never stopped him from any other story. He looked back at his office and saw Mr. Reeter calling someone. James jotted down a note in his notepad. He started his car and drove off to the police station. I think I just got a new lead, boss

6:00 P.M. NOVEMBER 18TH, 2008
Everyone was there, Garrett, Sylvia, Randy, Jacob, Smith, and Morgan. Nick was standing in front of the makeshift podium. They were holding the meeting at Morgan's house so everyone was comfortable. Everyone was settling in.

Nick spoke into the microphone, "All right everybody be quiet, let's get this show on the road." Everyone quieted down and Smith started to walk to the podium. "Of course, here's Smith with the plan again." Nick clapped but everyone else was pretty anxious.
Smith thanked Nick and Nick took his seat and then he began the speech. Smith out of everyone was older or at least appeared so. He had white hair and some lines that defined his face. He always had a professional look to him yet was actually quite casual.

"Now, everyone you already know your positions so let me just go over the basics again. At 1900 we start to drive to the bank from Morgan's house the farthest away. At 1930 we will arrive at the bank and you will all prepare you guns and we will run in. Proceeding from then we will rob all of the bankers and as long as there's not problem we'll be back and safe at Morgan's at 2010.

"Also, remember we'll all approximately be getting a 10% cut except for me whom will get a 40% cut and-," Smith was cut off by Randy

"Forty percent? That seems a little to much to come up with some simple minded plan with military time included."

"Alright, who thinks Randy should make the plan next time? A show of hands please?" Predictably no one raised their hand and Randy slouched lower in his chair.

"Right, now let's go over what's going to go on afterwards..."

Randy was infuriated, this guy is so stupid, I'll show him. He looked around at the rest of the people intently listening one person, Jacob, seemed to be far more nervous than the others. Randy whispered to him, "Do you want more money kid?"

Jacob looked over and said, "Sure, what do you have in mind?"

"I think that if you just listen to me you can get a much larger cut."

"Ok."

"Now if you-," Randy was cut short by Garrett.

"Shut up you two, I'm trying to listen."

Randy stared at him. You and Smith are going down.