Free A Prayer for the Devil by Dale Allan Page B

standing. As he walked through the bank with his head down, he saw faint flashes of light from cell phone cameras. Once he arrived at the machine, the guard did a good job of making sure that no one could get close to him. Looking toward the exit, he saw a crowd forming outside. After following the ATM’s instructions, he entered his new password: “temptation.” Soon he was back in the office with his family, preparing to leave.
    Trying to protect Abel and Alessa from the reporters, Luke thought it would be a good idea if the children left the building withhis parents, since most of the onlookers had no idea who they were. What they really wanted was to see Luke and Deborah. “Mom, no matter what happens, go to the car, get into the backseat, and lock the doors. Deborah and I will leave a few seconds after you, but we’re going to stay in the bank until we’re sure that you are safe inside the car.” His parents agreed. Deborah bent down and said to the children, “We’re going to play a game. You go with Grandma and Grandpa, and walk to the car as fast as you can.” Trying to lighten the mood so that the children weren’t scared, she continued, “Uncle Lukey and I are going to give you a head start, then we’re going to try to beat you there. Don’t let anyone distract you. Whoever gets to the car first wins a prize.” Abel and Alessa laughed, hearing their mom say “Lukey.” “Do you understand?” They both shook their heads in agreement.
    Luke opened the door, and his parents walked out quickly with the kids. A few seconds later, he and Deb walked into the lobby. To draw attention to himself, Luke said in a loud voice, “Thank you so much, Mr. McMahon, for all your help.” In an instant, every person inside the bank was focused on Luke. He saw his parents exiting the building, while the customers and employees turned their attention to him. Estimating that it would take his parents twenty seconds to reach the car, he and Deb looked down and waited. After counting, he took her by the arm and they walked briskly, with Jim Hathaway leading the way. Getting to the front door was a breeze, but none of them were prepared for what happened next.
    Looking outside, Luke could see that a tremendous crowd had formed. There were reporters with cameras waiting, along with a horde of spectators. Luke assumed that someone who saw them in the bank had contacted the press. It was lunchtime in downtown Boston, and also an unseasonably warm day, so many people who worked in the nearby offices joined the gathering, not even knowing who they werewaiting for. Stopping near the security guard who had locked the bank doors, Luke looked at Deborah and said, “I’m not going to leave you. Just stay by my side and try not to look up.” She smiled nervously and nodded.
    Seeing the crowd of people pressed against the glass, the guard looked at Luke and said, “Are you sure you want me to unlock the door?”
    Luke joked nervously, “We’ll be OK; we have God on our side.”
    The man smiled and replied, “I hope you’re right.”
    The heavy glass doors opened outward, which was the first sign that someone was watching over them. As the guard pushed the door open, the people on the other side had to back up, thus creating a temporary void for Luke and Deb. Seeing the size of the crowd, which was getting bigger by the minute, Luke quickly maneuvered Deborah so that she was directly behind him; she wrapped her hands around his waist and clasped them. Putting his head down, he walked forward as flashbulbs and shouts erupted. After the first ten feet, he had no choice but to become somewhat aggressive as he began pushing his way through the crowd. He hated doing this, but he told himself he had to protect his family. He began making headway, considering the circumstances. He realized that people were tripping and falling as he forced his way, but he told himself that he couldn’t be concerned with that right now. He could hear