Partners in Crime

Autumn

"The puddle splashed as my foot connected to the wet pavement. I was in trouble. The man behind me wasn't too far. He could have easily blasted me with the gun in his hand, but by the looks of it he liked the chase. So I sped up, increasing my speed with the tech that I bought from a highly respected seller of the black market. This was the first test run, literally, of the device I had in my possession. Luckily for me, it worked, and I was basically going mock five, well that's more of an overstatement but you guy's got the gist," 

"How'd you get away?" said one of the clan members.

I smirked as more of the clan members gawked in amazement and a few more joined the crowd of my storytelling.

"Easy," I said, "I turned a corner and ducked in an alley close by,"

"That's all you did?" Scoffed a female in the back of the crowd.

"Well to be fair, he was dumb as rocks," I replied.

The crowd giggled.

"What did you do after that?" Someone asked.

"Well after that I-------"

"AUTUMN!" screamed the head of the thieve masters. 

Like a string of marionettes, everyone stopped and put their fist's across their chests, I included.

"Yes sir?!" I yelled.

"Get your fucking ass over here right this second!" He screamed.

I followed the command and I hastily ran to face my commander. With a fist over my chest I got back into position.

"Autumn, I would like a word with you in my quarters." He said jaw clenched.

"Of course sir," I replied.

"Now would be nice," He said.

With a salute, I headed towards his quarters. As I slowly dissipated out of everyone's sight I heard the commander tell everyone 'at ease'. Well, I was indeed in trouble. I reached the commander's quarters and sat down on one of the chairs just in time for my commander to reach the doors of his quarters and enter. He crossed the room and took a seat on his throne-like chair. With a stern face, he stared at me for a good minute and a half, and then he sighed.

"Autumn do you know what happens when someone dies in this guild?"

"No sir," I said shaking my head.

He continued, "when someone dies in this guild we all face consequences, most importantly I face consequences,"

I shook my head.

"And do you know what kind of consequences I have to face?" He asked.

I shook my head.

"Well Autumn not only do I have to retrieve the dead body and tell the person's family that they died, but I also have to face my superior general, which in this case run's this whole organization," he said.

I nodded slowly, not sure where he was taking his next words.

"And do you know what happens when the general and I come face to face for the simple matter of someone dying?" He asked.

Again I shook my head.

"Well, Autumn when I face the general over something like death I get......let's say.......BEATEN THE FUCK UP BECAUSE I APPARENTLY WAS TOO CARELESS TO TAKE CARE OF ONE OF MY MEMBERS!" He yelled.

I pursed my lips, and the commander sighed.

"The thing is Autumn is that I gave you an order, that you knowingly and willingly disobeyed, and this isn't the first time so I'm made aware. You could have died out there, and for what going to retrieve a useless toy that you thought could be worth the money? I can't believe you right now. Out of all the people in this guild, I thought you were the one that had the most brains. It's clear to me now that you're just as stupid as the fucker who was chasing you with a gun. I'm sorry to say but you leave me no choice, I have to make an example out of you. You are to be beaten and whipped tomorrow at noon, you are out of the guild Autumn," he said.

Tears started in my eyes, not for me, but for my family who has a debt right now of 2,000,000 and is about to lose everything they have. They are going to be homeless and it's all my fault. Suddenly a tear strolled down my face. I wiped it away without the general seeing, he was on the phone with someone. Most likely the death bringers who were in charge of all punishment proceedings including whippings and executions.

"Alright then I'll keep her detained until you guys arrive," The commander said as he hung up the phone. 

The commander got up and walked over to me with a pair of diersteel cuffs the hardest of metals. 

"hands out," he demanded.

I did what I was told, and he started to cuff me.

"With the power entitled to me by the general and the withstanding of the guild laws, I hereby sentence you to be whipped in front of everyone tomorrow at noon. I also hereby tell you that you will be collected by the Death bringers, any and all attempt of escaping punishment will result in execution or possibly a quick death. During the process of confinement, your stuff will be held on to until after your punishment tomorrow and then it will be dropped off along with you 3 miles away from the guild. You are entitled to dinner and a shower, and then you will be forced to sleep right after." He said, he grabbed another pair of cuffs and put them on my legs. He then continued to tape my mouth and cover my head with a bag. 

Within moments the Death Bringers came and collected. They took me down to the cellars, and with that, they unlocked my cuffs and threw me in. I was no longer a thief, I was now a prisoner.