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Fiction People of Color Speculative


 In the Chicago apartment at the crack of dawn, the front door slowly opens and a high yellow African American woman enters wearing a nursing uniform. She has low cut light pink hair with a bang to the right side and green eyes. Dropping her keys in a box beside the door, she hears the TV going in the background.

" Layla, if you fell asleep with the TV on again, we're switching what bills you pay." yells Dia.


 A female voice responded from the bathroom, "I was watching the news, there was another attack last night, and I can't afford to pay the rent myself."


 Dia response opening the refrigerator, "Wow! Thanks for caring. You could ask for a raise at the bank you work at."


 "Or maybe you can marry that rich doctor that keeps hitting on you and I can become his accountant." Layla jokes.


 "The man's like 80 years old, he probably has a heart attack just by seeing me nude." said Dia.


 "So what's the problem, we can be driving nice cars, living high by the end of the month." said Layla.


 Dia enters the restroom,"It just astounds me how you wear your heart on your sleeve."


 Her roommate responded,"As a nurse you know the heart doesn't hold emotions, only pumps blood through the body. I'm just staying true to nature and my upbringing."


 Layla exits the restroom adjusting her name tag, wearing a pinstripe dress suit. She's Native American with shoulder length burgundy dyed hair and unique reddish brown eyes. "Did you refill the bus pass? They got a new driver and showing legs doesn't work on her."


 Dia replied from the shower, "Yes but pick up something on your way home. The refrigerator is getting a bit low."


 Outside their apartment, a strange guy wearing a gray hoodie catches Layla's attention until her bus passes in front of her. "Damn it, I swear that woman comes earlier everyday." then rush after her ride.


 At First Bank of Chicago, Layla arrives 20 minutes late and notices that the sign wasn't lit along with a nervous person sitting in a car near the end of the drive-thru. Inside the bank, three gunmen force their way in. One guards the door, another watches the employees and the last one forces the manager to open a safety deposit box in the vault. 

 After knocking out the driver with a kick to the head, Layla used his mask to draw out the gunman by the door. She quickly disarmed him with a groin attack, grabbing his gun and tying his arms and legs with his jacket sleeves. This caught a few spectators' attention as they called the police and watched the robber as Layla entered the bank. By this time, the second robber noticed his partner's absent and started yelling to the one in the vault. In that split second when he turned his head, Layla appeared pointing the gun to his head. 

 "What the hell lady. Drop the gun or I shoot these people." the second Robber yelled.


  Layla turned the gun to the side, "Just because I work here, what makes you think I give a damn about them. One might die but so will you and I might get a reward for stopping a bank robbery." 


 The bank robber hesitated when he realized she wasn't bluffing and in that second of doubt, she slung a pocket knife from her other hand, hitting him in the neck. 

 He hits the ground, dropping the shotgun as she casually walks up to him, grabbing her knife.


 "Keep pressure on that if you want to live. How many are left?" Layla asked.


 Her co-workers grab the shotgun as he points with one finger towards the vault. Layla waits against the vault entrance wall with the police sirens getting closer. The last robber rushed out until he saw the employee with the shotgun, then he felt a sharp pain in his rib cage. Layla grabs the gun as he falls to his knees and the employees ushered the police in.


 She turns to her manager, "So boss, about me being late again…"


 Layla returned home with groceries and Dia asked, "Did anything exciting happen at work today?"


 She replied putting stuff in the refrigerator, "No, a couple lazy people came in but nothing major. I got a job offer, not sure if I'm going to take it or not."


 She turns on the TV and the reporter continues her story, [ The modern day Jack the Ripper was apprehended last night when he attempted to assault a local nurse on her way to work. After seriously injuring her attacker, the same nurse helped patch him up until the authorities arrived. ]

 Dia appears on TV, "I was being a good samaritan and since I'm a red belt in judo, he wasn't much of a fight. But I hope this gives peace to his victims and their family. He's going to be in traction for a couple months."


Layla yelled, "DIA!"


 Dia looked out from her bedroom, "Oooh, I forgot about that…yeah that happened last night. Did you remember the little oranges?"


"You forgot! Really! " said Layla.


 The news continued, [ Earlier this morning at the First Bank of Chicago, a bank teller stopped a four-man robbery…] 


 Layla turned off the TV, " So… how did your future sugar daddy doctor react to your heroics?"


 Dia stared at her until there was a knock at the door. There stood the man in the gray hoodie and the bus driver. 

 " Good evening ladies. We represent a party that wishes to remain nameless for now but we have taken notice of your countless heroic actions. Although your tactics are as different as night and day, we would like to offer you a unique arrangement."


 They presented them with a small box with two pocket watch covers inside. One silver with a carving of the Moon and the other gold with the carving of the Sun and they continued.

 "If you can decipher the riddle to its destination, your initiation will be completed. Dust and Dawn to you both."

End




November 12, 2023 15:22

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