Chapter One; The Run
"Shh Myn, it's all clear."
"Coming, Athel," I responded warily.
"Then let's go. We have no time to lose. Its almost sunrise," my partner responded, helping me on top of the expensive gray-shingled roof, "Remember what to do?"
"Yes. Climb down the chimney. It'll lead into their family room. Light the fire again. From there, I creep my way into the living room right next door. I open the cabinet and there will be a safe that I pick with this," I held up my device, " I take the thing in it and climb out the window. I know what I'm doing."
"Well, you better. After we get this, its no more stealing from markets and hiding all the time. It's off to Threckenburg we go!" Athel exclaimed. I took a good look at my brotherly companion. He was 16, only three years older than myself. His neat dirty blonde hair came halfway to his neck and about couple inches up from his eyes. Athel was always serious, and barely ever laughed no matter how hard I tried to get him to. He had humongous muscles, and always had this protective look in his gray eyes when he looked at me. Like he never wanted anything bad to come my way, although we had been in many dangerous situations before, but only to "borrow" needed things like food and clothes. I begged and begged him to let me do this mission, and he agreed. Finally. Probably because I was smaller, and could fit down the chimney a lot easier. He let me do the usual and simple stealing, but never something this big
"You ready?" He asked me.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I said.
"Ok," he sighed, "We best get it over with. Remember, as soon as you're down there, I'll be by the window in the living room, in case you need anything. Oh and, unlock it first just in case you need a quick getaway. Okay?" He looked at me considered.
"I'm fine," I told him, for more of me had to admit, I was nervous. This right here was our passage to a new, better life. And if I blew it... well lets just say Athel would NOT be happy.
I pulled my brown hair out of my face and took a breath as I inched my way to the chimney, and from there, got out my strong, but old rope and handed one end to Athel. Then I tied the other around my waist, in the same way we had practiced so many times. I could do this in my sleep with all the practice we had gone through to pull this off.
"Myn, buggy. Duck!" Athel warned, as I hid my head beneath the chimney. Although the buggie didn't have any lights or anything, we could never be too safe.
After I made sure it was out of sight, I climbed into the brick chimney, the only thing holding me up for now was my hands. Athel pulled on the rope, and I started making my way down the chimney-- but not before pouring water down to stop the fire.
***
"Myn. Leave." Athel mouthed to me from behind the window. I turned around, and saw a shadow of a woman-- Mrs. Roberts-- and started panicking. Athel saw my frightened face, and mouthed, "Leave it. Go." So I did as he told me to, trying not to make a noise.
I succeeded. Athel and I started running as fast as we could. I had failed. But at least I made it out. And then I heard a horse. Galloping. I looked over and there he was; Mr. Rodger on his black stallion, trying to catch his thiefs. So we ran faster than we ever had before. Stealing from the richest people in Nighlot was NOT something they would let pass easily. But it was worth a try. The kingdom of Nighlot and Threckenburg would have nothing to do with each other, so if we would have gotten the thing in the house, we could have been rich in another city. But I had failed. As I ran, and ran, and ran, the only thing I could think about was my failure. I wanted to cry; all Athel's dreams were crushed by me. But I wouldn't cry. I never had and never would.
Now I wasn't paying any attention to anything but sprinting. I didn't notice how I ran into a forest, or how my clothes got ripped in many places or even that I lost my right shoe. And I especially didn't notice Athel was no longer by my side.
