1 TOMB
- Come on guys. On the count of three! One, two, three!
- All three, making a wide variety of sounds - groans, teeth grinding, cursing, - made incredible efforts. They clenched their fingers in a death grip, trying to spin the mechanism. The periodic clank of metal gave hope that soon, just about, they would succeed.
- I cant more! - The First fell to the floor, greedily gulping air. He ran out of strength.
- Fuck! - The Second also dropped his hands. He turned away and trudged away from this unfortunate door.
- Guys, just ... - the Third, continuing to examine the steel door, decided to think a little.
- Dont start this shit again, - the second turned sharply. - What do you want to say? Ah? We are in complete ASS! We are fucked up! - He fiercely kicked the bent gun, which not long before unsuccessfully used as a lever.
- We have no time for tantrums, - the third continued to maintain his composure and fluently looked around the room.
- Do not have the time? Wait, no time?! Now we have a lot of time! Even too much!
- And what do you suggest now? Sort things out?
- Exactly! - the second raised his voice. - We are dead! And all because of you, it was your idea!
- Now what? Are you accusing me of YOU agreeing to this? I spoke about the risks, about the danger that awaits us! And now you accuse me like I set it all up on purpose?
- The only thing I accuse you of is your stupidity, which knows no bounds! This whole plan, bitch! How I felt - did not want to participate in this!
- Well, then what the hell are you doing here?
- But don't ... After all, you tried to persuade me! Begged me to help you! When you talked about your ingenious plan! The fucking robbery of the century!
- Helped me? - the Third laughed. - Have you forgotten about your part of the benefit?
- Oh no! I remember my share very well! Although how could such a thing be refused? The whole world is going to hell! There is complete chaos everywhere. Some unknown crap makes people kill each other! A virus or something else - I don't know. On TV every time a different version. And while all the cops, the military, all kinds of services are raking this shit, we decided to rob the most fucking guarded bank in the city! Right during the fucking zombie apocalypse! You're just a genius, bitch!
- Well, why are you saying all this? What are you accusing me of?
- Where we are now! Buried in a fucking safe with the money we've done so much for. A fortune, right in front of my nose! - the Second approached a huge pile of neatly laid out bills. He paused and lowered his head. - Here they are. Right in front of me. And I can't do shit with them, - he muttered in disappointment.
- Stop making waves. We need to act, now we'll come up with something ... - the Third continued to cheer the team. He, as a leader, must fight to the last.
- Let's think of it? - the Second one began to giggle nervously - Can we think of it? Oh yes, let's brainstorm! So: we are now buried in the most well-protected safe I have ever seen. Of the items we have only two machine guns, a pump-action shotgun and several million dollars. And ... ah, and here's another thing! - He pulled an open pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. - Well? What ideas? - He threw the pack right into the third.
Silence. They all fell silent. Outside, behind a steel door, in the middle of which was a huge valve for opening, distant sounds were heard. Either shots or screams. It was difficult to make out. The whole trio pricked up their ears.
- HEY! We are here! - the second began to shout. He ran to the door, pushing the third one out of the way. - HEY! HELP! - and began to punch and kick on the metal with all his might.
- What are you doing?! - the Third grabbed him by the elbow.
- I'd rather be in jail than stay here to die.
- You quickly gave up ...
- What you said? - the blows on the door immediately stopped. - Quickly gave up? We have been trying to get out of this trap for an hour. I'm trying to save our asses! We ALREADY fucked up. We can't get out of here ourselves! Everything is over! There is no choice, now we have to pray to God that the cops come as soon as possible, because I don't give a fuck about how much air we have left here. Can't you understand?!
The quiet dispute between the first and the second was interrupted. At some point, the entire room began to shudder, as if from an earthquake. There was a crash outside. All three were staring at the walls and ceiling in horror. They listened with their legs wide apart. Concrete dust poured from above. The lamps swayed from side to side. A metallic grinding grated on my ears.
- What is happening there? - The first asked. He's not very talkative at all. This is the oldest of the gang. Experienced lock breaker. If he speaks or asks, it is only to the point. It is difficult to scare him: what only he has not seen in this life. Even now, he remained calm.
The sounds stopped. Deathly silence, cut only by the heavy breathing of the robbers.
The second came to his senses and again began to hammer on the door.
- We are here! Open up! Anyone!
The first, meanwhile, threw the machine gun over his shoulder, picked up cigarettes from the floor, lit a cigarette and carefully sat down on a huge pile of money.
- Enough ... - said the third. - You're making me nervous.
- Nervous? - the second one stopped knocking. - Ha! Well, come on then, I'll help you relax, do you want an anecdote? So we were walking along the road somehow a Amarican, a Russian and a Papuan ...
- And now you make me even more nervous ...
- Oh, sorry! You're so productive! So serious! Probably thinking over another brilliant plan. How to get out of here!
- I'm trying to figure out why the door was locked. And this definitely has a reason ...
- Locked? And didn't we ourselves, having become frightened, rushed to close it as soon as possible? By your advice, by the way! Ah?
The third immediately changed in face. The eyes were bloodshot. He clenched his fists.
- You're an idiot? Tell me: what the fuck could we do? Have you forgotten, you son of a bitch? You yourself saw these creatures that were running after us! Like animals, they wanted to tear to pieces! And no less than me, with shit in a pants, in a panic, closed the passage so that they would not get to us!
Pause. This was the argument. They could have died much earlier.
But the third, meanwhile, continued:
- Literally throughout the entire work you whined without stopping. And I endured. You are a good driver, you have some connections. Its realy cool. But if someone told me what a pathetic little boy you are, I would send you to hell.
- Well, of course! You are the most noble one here! - the second began to lose his temper even more. He went up to the third and began to poke his finger in the chest. - You have a noble goal! You are not stealing for yourself! And for your seriously ill daughter!
- Don't even dare
- Continue to convince yourself that you are a victim of circumstances. I know who you are. You are a thief - just like me. And you know nothing but how to steal!
- One more word, and I will shoot you in the head ...
- Come on! Here ...
Shot.
The Third was immediately concussed. Shooting in such a small room is a silly decision.
Another series of shots followed.
The second fell, holding his head with both hands. - What the fuck?! - He muttered, lying on the floor.
The First was the one who shot, silently watching their skirmish. He shot the ceiling several times.
- Loud firing will be heard much sooner than your endless whining, - exhaling cigarette smoke, he explained.
- Hmm, logical, - the Third agreed.
But no one showed up to arrest them. An hour passed, then another, and then another ...
The third all this time concentratedly scoured the corners. Tried to find something useful. He examined at the door, floor, ceiling, walls, poked his finger at any suspicious surfaces.
Meanwhile, the First and Second were sitting on a huge pile of money. Everyone immersed in their own thoughts.
- You guys as you like, and I'll take a nap ... - said the first, yawning. - Unlike you, I have not slept for almost three days. You won't kill each other while I snore, will you? - He smiled and lay down on his side, placing more banknotes under his head.
Nobody answered him. Each was busy with his own fictitious business.
Some time passed until the second spoke:
- Enough! - This was addressed to the third, who endlessly crawled throughout the room, feeling, tapping and sniffing everything, trying to find a way out. - Before that, I made you nervous. Is it the other way around now? Is this such revenge?
- I won't stop ...
- Why?
- I can not.
- In what sense?
- I am such a person. Understand?
- Moron? - the second was laughing. But, not hearing a return laugh or a joke, he immediately fell silent.
They constantly teased each other. Their recent argument is the most serious fight in years. Despite the big age difference, they always found something to talk about.
The second hesitated. He didn't want it, it's all emotions. The soul was disgusting. He knew perfectly well what his friend meant.
- Yes, I understand…
After several hours of deathly silence, a rustling was suddenly heard. Right behind the steel door. It affected them like another shot in the air. Everyone shuddered at once, glanced towards the source of the sound. It's definitely outside! Despite the stirring fear, all three jumped up and ran to the door.
The rustling gave way to light tapping. Someone is there!
- HEY! - immediately yelled the second. - Who's there?! You hear? - He put his ear to the cold metal. - HEY!
- Is there anyone alive?! - Shouted a third.
They started hammering on the door with their fists to attract attention, but for a moment they simultaneously froze, listening: is there a reaction from outside?
- W-who's there? - came the frightened answer. A twitching male voice.
The robbers looked at each other in shock. They swallowed their tongues for a few seconds.
- This is ... - the Second decided to respond first. He shouted, but immediately fell silent. He didn't know how to answer
- We are bank employees! - immediately realized the third. - We're stuck here! The door is locked!
- Employees? - They heard an equally frightened answer. The voice behind the door trembled violently, as if a gun had been put to its owner's head. - From the security? - the mysterious stranger decided to add.
- Yes ... - answered the Second slightly uncertainly.
- So you have a weapon?
The strange assumption took the guys by surprise. Why is this question?
- Well, yes. A pair of rifles, - with a Second sign he made it clear to his friends that one would speak.
- God ... My prayers are heard ... - the next answer surprised even more. - How may I help you?
- You have to open the door. There is a monitor to the right of the door. You need to enter the password, and then turn the valve clockwise.
- What password?
- Now ... - the second nervously searched his pockets in search of a note. - 05M01Y.
- Okay ... - Outside there was a squeak of the safe security system: the stranger began to enter the code. However, I stopped at the last letter. - But I have one condition ...
No sooner had the guys really rejoiced at the long-awaited salvation, as their faces immediately changed.
- What? What is the condition? - The Third asked in surprise.
- Yes! Condition! I will release you, and in return you will give me your weapon!
They didn't know what to say.
- Okay, okay, but why do you need it? - the Third pressed against the door as close as possible.
- To be saved, isn't it clear?
- Okay, fine, no problem. Just open the door.
- But I need guarantees ... After all, if I open it to you, then you can just kill me…
The stranger's delusional requests and fears, combined with his tortured, squeaky voice, conjured up the most unsightly images of a local urban madman. But in order not to frighten off the chance, the robbers tried to react calmly and without unnecessary questions.
- Listen, man, there are several million dollars in this safe. Do you want me to make them yours? I will help you! I know how to pull it off! Nobody will try to look for you, to put in jail you. Everything will be fair and according to the law. Want? And you will take the weapons into the bargain, like trophies. Good?
The stranger laughed in response with a psychic laugh:
- A very tempting offer! But I only need a weapon! - It was clear that this conversation angers him. It was required by all means to win his trust.
- Okay, okay, - the Third continued. - We will now put two rifles on the floor. Right in front of the door. With a characteristic sound, it cannot be confused with anything. Then we'll move away from the door and give you a sign. Let's shout so that you understand that we have withdrawn. Okay?
- Yes! Agreed, only ... - the strange man behind the door falled silent, and then with horror began to shout: - No! Fuck! They are here, god!
- What's happened? - the third ran back to the door. - Who are they? What happened?- Help! I do not know what to do! - it was difficult to describe in words how plaintively and desperately the stranger shouted. He was not just in a panic, but in the very real hysterical horror.
- Open the door! Dial the last characters of the code and turn the valve clockwise!
But then the creaks of metal were heard. The man, apparently, was trying to cope with the valve, pounding on the door in panic.
- Calm down! Just enter the code to the end, and then turn it! - the Third made an attempt to reason with the stranger, but it seems that it was useless. After a few seconds of terrible cries for help, an even more heartbreaking shout rang out. The knocks on the door increased in frequency. The poor fellow screamed at the top of his lungs. And it became clear to everyone ...
He is being torn apart. Sounds of bones breaking, sobs of blood and flesh. The scream was replaced by a barely audible wheeze. Someone was hovering right next to the door. It was as if a whole crowd had rushed to the place of a bloody feast.
- Hey! Man! What the fuck ?! - the Third tried to turn the valve. Maybe this guy managed to enter the code?
Friends decided to join. They tried their best to get out again and again. And they stopped only after they hit outside with a crash. A few seconds later, the blow was repeated. And then another. The door began to shake more and more. It was as if someone was banging their head against this unfortunate obstacle. The guys backed away. Blow by blow. Without stopping, as if a wild animal, someone senselessly pounded on the metal, trying to get to them ...
I don't remember how much time has passed since that moment ... with that poor guy outside the door. We did not speak for a long time. We could not find the strength in themselves. And that was our mistake. It is difficult to understand how many hours, minutes, seconds have passed in a closed room. I had a watch. But I didn't want to look at them. I didn't want to count how much we had left ... The first problem we faced was water. Yes. Such a simple thing. I am ready to sacrifice everything that I have in order to sip from a cool glass. We decided to bring the lighter to the fire detector, but alas. Nothing happened. They began to burn bills to make more smoke, but everything was in vain. Before going to bed, we twisted the light bulbs to make it easier.
When you go to work, there is always a rule. Do not call each other by their first names. We are not interested in originality, so we chose numbers. First, Second and Third. I was Second. God, how stupid it is. What's the point of that now?
The First was named Anton. He's a weird guy. But with great experience. He speaks little, but does a lot. Pure professional.
The Third was named Yegor. It's more difficult with him. He is the organizer. He knows his business. Where to go, how to act, what to say. He knew how to get out of the most desperate situations.
We knew each other well. We communicated well. There were moments, but ... I ended up almost always apologizing, and he apologized to me in return. He will send to hell only for the cause, he does not rush with words.
Egor always pulled us along. There were no barriers for him. He fought to the last. When I tried to cut his throat.
Surprisingly, huh?
I'm not proud of myself. But I had to do it.
On the tenth day, when we were literally going crazy with hopelessness, I realized that I couldn't take it anymore.
I can't look at my dying friends who are losing their minds.
I probably already lost it myself.
My job has always bordered on mortal risk. I drive a car well, I shoot too ... Therefore, oddly enough, I carry a sheet of paper and a pencil with me. They are always with me. Something like a talisman. But they are needed for a suicide note. You never know what can happen.
I prayed to God that I would never need them ...
Another night has come.
And I remembered. I have a knife in my bosom. He was useless here. Exactly up to a certain point.
And I made up my mind.
I waited until the guys finally fell asleep.
I decided to start with Anton.
I didn't want to shoot, Yegor could wake up and try to stop me. And there were only two cartridges left.
When I finished with him, it was Yegor's turn.
As luck would have it, he managed to wake up. We were exhausted. I didn't want to shoot, ruin his face, but that was the only thing left for me when I fought with him. I managed to reach the rifle ...
And now, shell-shocked, I sit and write all this crap.
I do not know why.
I am not worthy to tell who these people were. They were worthier than me.
But I want this note, if found, to help understand that my comrades are not villains.
They are not bad. This is all that I have enough for.
Tell Yegor's wife that he is not to blame. I am to blame for everything.
Second.
- What idiots ...
- Well, why have you been there for so long ?! - I heard a shout from the corridor.
- Now! - Sonya neatly folded the bloody note in her pocket. "Will go to the collection" - she decided to herself.
She put the rifle on the safety and pulled the strap over her shoulder. It's safe here.
She stepped over the decayed corpse to pick up the rifle beside her.
- What's so interesting there? - Once again a voice was heard from the corridor.
- Some idiots wanted to rob a bank ... And they got stuck in the safe.
- Ha! What people didn't do before for the sake of money! - Laughter was heard, echoing through the dilapidated building
Sonya took the rifles, a knife, a couple of keepsake bills - and went the opposite way, through a huge crack in the wall.
