REMI HOOD

Chapter 11

Remi

I sigh as I study the house in front of me, big enough to be called a mansion. I cannot believe people live in houses like this while others live on streets.

The world is such a cruel and heartless place.

This house is surrounded by security cameras and most likely inside as well... Nothing I can't hack.

I log into the security systems and deactivate all of them. I walk towards the entrance and the door opens easily. I smile to myself.

People should not rely on technology; bodyguards are way harder to deal with and are more time consuming.

Nobody should be awake at this hour. I step into the house and ogle the living room, a huge chandelier hanging above, not that different from my own house. These types of houses are just houses... not homes, like mine. I head down to the basement where the money is probably is.

As I sneak around the house, my reflection on a wall mirror catches my eye. I stare at it. My full black metallic bodysuit dad had bought me hugs me tightly while a duffer bag is around me. My long straightened hair is tied into a high ponytail and a black hat is concealing my waterproof heavy makeup covered face. I do not even recognize me.

Is this who I have become?

Who am I?

A tear escapes my eye. I quickly brush it off. I have been crying since I was six, I swear I have cried a whole ocean.

I stealthily ran down the stairs to get what I came here for.

I eye the safe in front of me. I roll my eyes, people are so predictable. I instantly crack the code to the safe, I have been doing this too many times to know all the secrets on opening them. I briskly take a generous amount from the safe, stuff it in my bag and exit the house. I never take all the money; It just would not be fair.

They are humans too.

I drop off half of the money on the doorstep of a charity fundraiser to get food for the poor, which would begin in the morning. On the trip to my house, I stop to hack into the bank. I steal a good sum of money to compensate for the amount that I gave away so that it will satisfy dad. He gets mad when I bring only a quarter of money the rich have.

It's funny how he still shames the rich, when he is most certainly the richest man in all of Maldives.

The sun is going to rise any second now. I quicken my pace as I pass a few early birds. No one ever notices me, partly because they are not fully awake or too busy with their morning run, but mostly because dad trained me to stay hidden.

I must merge with the shadows.

When I arrive at my room, I jump onto my bed, not bothering to change my clothes. I try to fall asleep. I have not gotten a fraction of sleep since yesterday. I close my eyes and dream about the future.

One day, I won't ever have to steal again. One day, I won't have to live with a psychopath.

One day, I will be free.