Zero II Read Free Page A

grin
despite himself. “Okay, you have me interested. How do you know my name and
what is it that you want?”
    “My organization has been watching you
since the night you jumped—fell—off the roof and even before that.
What we want is your help. What I mean to say is that we think a partnership
would be mutually beneficial.”
    Alan searched the dimly lit interior
of the bar, for what, he wasn’t sure; cameras revealing that he was being set
up, dark-suited government agents set to take him away for experimentation or
the FBI for all the money and merchandise he stole over the past four years.
    He scooted a bit closer to the edge of
his booth, ready to run at a moment’s notice. As a general rule he didn’t use
his speed in public, but this could be an exception.
    “Please, don’t do your super speed
thing,” Danielle said. “You’re not alone in this. I know you must have so many
questions. I can give you the answers you’ve been searching for. The world
needs you, Alan.”
    Alan could feel his chest constrict.
Fear of the real possibility of having his questions answered spread through
him for the very first time. For years Alan searched for answers to what he
was, but every lead ended the same, with only more questions.
    The waitress appeared out of the
corner of Alan’s eye, balancing a glass on a tray. Danielle turned her
attention away from him and visibly brightened, “Oh, my Shirley Temple. There’s
a cherry in it, too. Yesssss.”

7
Three years ago
                Alan
readied himself in the shadows. He was tired of stealing food one or two meals
at a time. He was exhausted from taking everything he wanted in secret. Sure it
had been cool the first year but there was just something about having money to
buy things instead of taking them from right under people’s noses. He wanted to
feel normal: he wanted to go shopping with and in front of everyone else. A
weird part of him actually wanted to pay for things, like normal people.
                The
last year provided Alan with a ton of experience when it came to working on his
speed. He was quicker than any camera, faster than any eye. Now he was done
with trivial things; now was his time to step up into the big leagues.
                No
more stealing day after day. Amateur hour is over. This will set you up for a
long time. You can get your own pad, no more motels.
                Deep
inside Alan knew what he was doing was wrong. Whether it was his conscience,
subconscious or something else, a voice inside told him he was given this gift
for something more than just stealing and personal advancement.
                Day
after day Alan silenced this tiny cry for morality until it stopped pleading
with him altogether. Now Alan found himself with a black ski mask in his right
hand, crouched in an alley behind a large trash container. The city’s largest
bank and trust across the street.
                Sweat
glistened off Alan’s brow as he looked down at his watch; it read 5:58 PM. Alan
spent the last few weeks scoping out the bank. In that time he learned that
this day was the least busy of the week. He knew that the bank closed its doors
at exactly 6:00 PM every business day.
                This
is going to work. Nobody can see you let alone touch you.
                Alan
could feel his heart beating out of his chest. By far this was the craziest
thing he had ever attempted in his life. He felt his grip tighten on the mask’s
thick fabric and chuckled to himself. He knew that the mask wasn’t going to
keep people from seeing his face, his supernatural speed would do that. The
mask was in his hand more as moral support than anything else.
                The
mask comforted him in a way that a safety blanket would a small child. Alan
took in another deep breath and let it out slowly. He pulled the black mask’s
thick wool over his face. The fabric scratched his skin as