Noctura

thirteen

seungyoon

AFTER SUNSET, I'm walking down the street, heading toward a small convenience store that's already closed.

I look around and see that the streets are empty. There are other buildings, I'm sure there's people in the buildings, but there's no one on the streets. No one is watching me.

As I walk past the convenience store, I look inside. There are security lights on inside, and I'm sure there's an alarm set.

I duck into the alley right next to the convenience store and walk down the alley. I walk around the back of the store and see a door.

Most back doors aren't set with the alarm, just because it costs a lot of money to program security systems on certain doors. And places like this, that don't get that much money, almost always have a security for just the front door, or no security system at all.

I bring my backpack around off my back and onto the ground in front of me. I grab two long metal pieces out of the backpack. Then I kneel down in front of the back door and easily pick the lock within seconds.

The door swings inward and no sounds go off.

I put the metal pieces back in my backpack, sling it around my shoulder, and make sure my small, black mask is sitting comfortably over my mouth and nose before stepping into the convenience store.

I head over toward the front and quickly get behind the counter. The cash register has no lock on it, so I don't need to pick it. I quickly open it and start taking all the money out, putting it into my backpack.

Then I close the register and walk around the store, looking for anything of value. I find a few pieces of jewelry that look like they might sell well so I put those in my backpack. I grab a couple bags of chips and a small milk bottle before heading out the convenience store the way I came.

I make sure the door is closed and my backpack is securely around my shoulders. Then I walk around the building and come out on the sidewalk.

As I'm walking through the streets, I take my mask off and start drinking the bottle of milk.

I don't really like stealing. I don't enjoy stealing from places. But I only take what I need, when I need it. I don't have a job besides the Alliance. The Alliance is my job. But it doesn't make any money, and I've got to make money for certain things somehow.

Some of the humans who are members of the Alliance are investors. They give me some money every now and then. They've helped me buy out buildings and disguise them. They've given me the funds to create safe houses for Nocturas to stay in.

But their money isn't enough sometimes. I have to have money to buy and keep food stocked up for the humans working in the safe houses. I need money to be able to pay for things the Nocturas need. I have to be able to have money to buy my own things when I'm away from the safe houses.

I walk to a small, dimly lit motel and make my way inside. I speak to the woman at the front desk, asking for a room.

"Do you know how long you'll be staying?"

"Just one night," I answer her.

She nods.

Once I've given her the money and she's given me the key to my room, I leave the check-in area and go outside, heading down toward room number three. I go inside and set my backpack down on the bed.

I let out a sigh and grab my phone out of my backpack. It's just a small phone that doesn't do anything except receive and send calls and texts. I keep it on me for when people in the Alliance need to contact me.