The natural bustle of the city felt refreshing after so many hours on the open road. In a sense, it was quite similar to that of their former home, but far larger. Ashley couldnât help but stare into the sky at the buildings that towered overhead as she followed her friend down the cracked sidewalks. It was hard to imagine that a portal was up there once spilling demons from the sky. Sure, everyone and their mother saw what had happened on the news, but to witness that in person? A cold chill went up Ashleyâs spine at the thought.
âAlright, weâre here.â A five block walk had taken the pair to an innocuous looking Mexican restaurant at the base of a four story bricked building, with a sign above the door labeled âCasa Grandeâ. The large glass windows revealed an attempt at homage to the south west with old world architecture and desert plant life scattered about. From the outside, the smells of various cooked meats and spices as well as the sound of Mariachi wafted out.
âI mean, we did just have Mexican, but foodâs foodâŚâ âYeah, not why weâre here. I didnât just go out to pick up dinner, remember?â The clamber and friendly environment of the eatery was overlooked in favor of the apartments that lied above. As they climbed the stairwell, Lamar would explain that the building was owned by the parents of the kid they were going to see, and that he and his friends were bangers that watched over the neighborhood. In their time of the streets they were able to set up a few weed houses, and help supply some of the bigger operations around the city.
âSeems like pretty standard stuff.â Lamar nods, and they enter a long hallway lined with doors on the top floor.
âYeah, but now these guys want to dabble in bigger work, just like us.â They reach the end of the hall and Lamar quickly knocks. After a moment, a few muffled voices surface in what seems to be Spanish. The door cracks, an eye near the top of the door frame peers out, and Lamar simply stares back. The door closes, another unheard conversation ensues, and then the door swings open.
The inside of this room was far more clean and well-furnished than Ashley would have thought. Upon entering, they were greeted by a warm living area with couches and loveseats that formed a half circle around a coffee table. Seated in the center were two young men that looked to be in their early twenties. One of them motioned for Ash and Lamar to sit, and so they did so. At that, the large gentleman that let them in sat at their opposite.
âAshley, this is Carlos, Ed, and Ricky. Guys, this is Ashley.â Everyone nods, and the one who answered the door, Carlos, begins. âSo, I hear that you guys have experience in hold ups. Iâm just gonna be blunt, weâre about to do something bigger. Weâre gonna rob a bank, and Lamar here tells me that youâre meta, and that you can help us with this.â Ashleyâs eyes go wide for a moment, her head turning to face her partner.
âA bank? Are you serious Lamar, a bank?â This was nuts. More than nuts, it was crazy. Convenience stores and pharmacies were one thing, and while it was true that they successfully hit up a hospital once, the very grandiose nature of a bank robbery blew Ashleyâs mind. She smiled, this was gonna be the job to make her rich.
âYeah, I can most definitely help with this! When? Where? How? Lamar?â Her overwhelming giddiness garnered some strange looks from the three gangsters, but they too smiled and went along with it. âWeâre staging a heist at Reagan National. Your friend Lamar is planning the whole thing out. And us fourâŚâ He motions between his friends and Ashley. âWeâre taking the money. With what theyâve got stored in that place, Itâll be enough toâŚâ The crashing sound of glass on the hardwood floor was enough to get the attention of everyone in the room. An elderly woman in her mid-sixties was cowering over her dropped tray of drinks, clutching the crucifix that hung around her neck and spouting âDemonio! Demonio!â
A wave of uneasiness crept over Ashley once the woman began pointing at her and started to raise her hands to the sky as if she were talking to God himself. Unsure of what to do, Carlos made an attempt to calm the woman down and walked her out of the room. After a couple minutes he came back with an embraced look about him. âYouâll have to excuse my grandmother. She is very religious, and has been paranoid ever since the day that demons attacked the city. Just yesterday the same thing happened when I took her out shopping.â
Ashley peered at the muscular man when he said this. That could meanâŚ
âWhere did this happen exactly?â 
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