Legacy

The heist

Nathan

"So today is the day," I asked quietly.

As I rolled on my side, I got a better look at Astor. He was partly hunched over the couch. We had been cleaning and drinking; it had been enjoyable. But now I could not rid myself of a foreboding feeling. The room felt empty with the lack of books flooding the floor. They were now neatly stacked away in the bookcases. There was no reason to be this moody after all it was today we would finally get our hands on the research. With that, we would become rich and famous, and maybe Astor could finally put his mentor to rest. Feeling way too somber still, I got up for the floor, stretching out a bit to lessen the pain in my back. Maybe there was some wine left I could use to dull my nerves.

"It is ill-advised to start your day by dirtying up your mind with poison," Astor sagely commented as he made his way to me in the kitchen.

"Says the man who could not even sleep properly on a couch," I huffed back.

I had raided the cupboard for whatever food was left a few eggs, some toast, and some canned beans. I was getting the eggs ready while sipping leftovers from the wine. It should be fine. I was cooking food to go with the alcohol.

Meanwhile, the guy made himself comfortable on the counter and asked if I could fry some eggs for him as well. I kindly did, and we ended up sitting on the couch, eating breakfast. I gave a passing glance at the watch on the wall if I were going to make it for school I would have to leave soon. Honestly, I did not feel like it; besides, it was one missed day of a whole semester. It was going to be okay. I instead rather relax and enjoy this moment a bit longer. After today's well, things were going to be different one way or another. It was beautiful, like a spell, and none of us wanted to break it.

"There is nothing to fear Nathan the unknown is but another frontier we must conquer," Astor preached.

I swear he had a book somewhere with scholarly quotes that he had memorized, so he had a saying for any occasion. Then it struck me he finally did it he used my actual first name and not the stiff "Mister Collingwood" like some stranger. The taste of victory was sweet. I had to comment on it: "I see mister sage and Nathan? Are we so close now you dare offend me with the use of my first name," I teased him.

At first, he froze up a bit, looking shocked at being caught being a bit too informal before crossing his arms like a sullen child and replying: "I guess your rude and insufferable personality rubbed off on me due to long-term exposure."

Oh, he might try and sound harsh, but I could see the smile he was trying to hide.

We arrived at the ministry campus in the early evening. It was an ordinary weekday, and the streets were mostly empty. We would enter the school through the back door. Astor had brought a proper suitcase to hide the locksmith tools we were going to use. Making sure the coast was clear. I gestured for the man to follow me to the door. Nestled behind the safety of a building, he got to work with the lock on the door while I frantically looked around, praying that no professor was going to pass by while coming to do some late evening research. Finally, we were inside the campus now. I took the lead while Astor did his best to keep up with the more massive suitcase. Freaking hell, I could hear footsteps up ahead I grabbed out after Astor and dragged him into a nearby toilet. The steeps inched ever closer.

"I have no solid proof as of now, but I am certain that I have spotted mister Millard's old student on the campus," a gruffed voice said.

"Well, do you think he is going to do something? We cannot do much with the charge of trespassing besides banning him from the campus," another more feminine voice replied.

"I am sure he is going to try something; otherwise, why even show up here? Also, if he is infected like his records suggest, then that should be reason enough to bring him in."

"Indeed, it should be, but the people sent to fetch him said he had disappeared, and the nurse at the hospital was not very forthcoming with information either."

The conversation faded out to more muffled sounds as the people passed by the toilet. Astor was clutching the suitcase hard, looking like a ghost. I reached over and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. We waited for a while, making entirely sure the people were gone before exiting the room. Carefully we made our way to the professors' library, having no more incidents on the road. The door here was much more exposed, and as Astor got to work, I stood nervously behind him, trying to listen for any sounds of footsteps approaching. The only good thing about this location is that we would be able to see people from a far-off distance from the long straight design of the hallway. As he gave the sign to me that the door had been breached, I took a shallow breath. It was now we had to be lucky. Either it would be a breeze from now on or the security guard would be in there, and we would have to take him on hoping we would win and get out with our treasure before he sounded the alarm.

"I will take care of the guard if it is, but you have to get the research out," I whispered to him.

He did not reply and just opened the door. It was now or never.