by Elle, Leen
As she stared at Robert, Sophie noticed that his expression was hard. The closer they came to arriving to their destination, the less carefree he seemed.
"You'll find that stealing from the public is rather easy." Robert continued.
"Stealing from this professor is like stealing from the public?" He'd caught Sophie's interest. She felt like she was slowly beginning to understand.
"I consider stealing from places like museums, or from unsuspecting citizens, like this professor, stealing from the public. Stealing from people like Max..." He paused and his expression darkened. "That takes skill.''
"I can't imagine how stealing from a museum is easier than stealing from one person." Sophie's brow furrowed.
"It depends on the one person." He answered. "Max and Cleo aren't average people. Neither of them have had to work a day in their lives. By inheriting their fortunes they've received a lifestyle that allows them to do whatever they please. They find excitement in acquiring things that money cannot buy, and when someone tries to take what they believe is theirs...they tend to turn violent."
"Is that why Max killed my parents?" Sophie whispered.
"Possibly." Robert frowned, looking disturbed.
While Sophie was eager to keep questioning him, the time for answers had passed. The car slowly pulled to a stop, and before Sophie had realized they had arrived, Robert was unbuckling his seatbelt.
"Ready?" He asked as he opened the door to step outside of the car.
Sophie followed suit, frowning at the thousands of questions she still had racing through her mind.
"You said there was no danger, right?" Sophie replied, following close behind him as he began walking down the sidewalk. They were obviously on a college campus, but the area was unfamiliar.
"Right." He answered, shoving his hands in his pockets.
As she was examining him closely, Sophie saw him shift his behavior. His strides became slower and more relaxed, and his expression turned bored, rather than serious. For a moment he appeared to be like any of the other students walking around campus.
She tried to follow his lead, but she couldn't help feeling awkward. She'd worn a baggy sweatshirt, old sneakers, and a pair of faded blue jeans, though she still didn't feel masculine enough. She had no idea how she was supposed to act in her role. She didn't want to seem like she was trying too hard to appear like a male.
"Keep up." Robert ordered, glancing back at her.
"I'm trying." She hissed, pulling up her hood around her face as she quickened her pace so that she was walking beside of him. "How far away is this building?"
"Right up there." He motioned three buildings up. "Her office hours were over two hours ago, but we should wait until we're sure no one else is inside."
Street lights flickered on around them as they approached the building. Sophie checked her watch upon their arrival, wondering how long they would have to wait.
"Aren't there too many people around?" She asked when Robert stopped walking. Various college students were still wandering around campus, and Sophie couldn't see how they would be able to break inside the building.
"You worry too much." Robert replied casually. "People are less attentive than you give them credit for."
"So instead of being incredibly anxious, I should be bored?" Sophie crossed her arms. This job wasn't turning out to be what she expected.
Robert didn't answer her question. His eyes were focused intently on the top floor of the building, though Sophie didn't see anything that stood out.
"Shit." He whispered angrily, clenching his fist. "Someone's inside already."
Sophie glanced from him to the building. "What kind of someone?"
"If I knew he was going to be here..." Robert sighed, releasing his anger. "Well, at least we get two good things out of this unexpected turn of events." He began walking again, this time heading for the back exit of the building. "My suspicions were correct, and we don't have to worry about breaking in ourselves."
"Let me get this straight..." Sophie's voice was laced with frustration. She didn't like how Robert wasn't explaining anything. "Someone is already stealing the painting we were supposed to steal?"
"It's not that uncommon. Just mildly problematic." Robert smirked, a mischievous look on his face.
"What if he's dangerous?" Sophie asked worriedly.
"If you're that concerned, go wait in the car." Robert replied in an annoyed voice
Not a chance, Sophie thought, frowning. He wasn't going to get rid of her that easily.
"Here's the new plan." Robert began, his eyes focusing intensely on the building. "I have this area mapped out, and he'll most likely exit through that window." He motioned to the left part of the building where a window was already lifted open. "Initially, we were supposed to use that as an entrance, but it'll work just as well as an ambush point."
"You sound like you know who this thief is." Sophie accused.
"I was always a good guesser." Robert joked. "You should wait around the corner. His first instinct will be to head that direction. I'll be waiting to attack."
"Hold on, attack? What the hell is that supposed to mean? What happened to this not being dangerous?"
"Calm down. You are just a distraction. I'll be doing the fighting." He sounded nonchalant.
"You act like fighting is not that big of a deal. What if he has a weapon?"
"I'll improvise." Robert shrugged, then began walking off. "Hurry up and get into position." He ordered before disappearing behind another brick building.
Sophie's heart began to race as she crept around the corner he'd told her to hide behind. Everything was happening so suddenly she didn't have a chance to think.
She shivered as she realized how much danger she was in right now. She'd known being a thief would be difficult, but this situation seemed insane. Robert's confidence was the only thing keeping her in place. Despite his warning, she found that she did trust him, at least as a thief.
As she stood frozen in place, she felt something press gently against the back of her head. At first, she tried to believe she was being paranoid, but then she heard the heavy breathing of someone behind her.
Just as she began to scream, strong fingers wrapped around her mouth. Her eyes widened as she was swept around towards her attacker.
The stranger was twice her size and cloaked in black. However, they weren't what she was focused on. Her eyes flew to the weapon they still had pressed to her head, and her heart froze when she realized it was a gun.
All of a sudden her body shuddered in fear. She began struggling against the stranger with everything she had, panic only now setting in.
"Luke, I thought it was you."
Sophie froze at the sound of Robert's voice. Her eyes darted to him approaching casually, as if he were greeting an old friend.
Sophie's captor stiffened when he saw Robert. Instead of relaxing his grip on Sophie, he held her tighter.
"I'm surprised Max heard about this one. I guess I need new sources." Robert glanced at Sophie with unconcerned eyes.
Realization hit Sophie like a bullet.
Robert hadn't wanted Sophie to be a distraction, he'd wanted her to be the bait. The subtle difference between the two became apparent now. While the gun was pressed to her head, Robert could do as he pleased.
"Why don't you show me this painting, Luke?" Robert asked with a smile. "I've been dying to see it."
"Stop joking, Robert." Luke threatened in a deep voice. "I'm the one in control here. I'm the one with the gun."
Sophie's eyes pleaded with Robert to stop. Did he not realize this stranger had a gun pressed to her head? No matter how you looked at the situation, Luke was not bluffing.
"I'll shoot." Luke said coldly.
What Sophie heard next caused her knees to buckle.
"Go ahead." Robert replied, shrugging. His eyes were unforgiving. "See if I care."
There was a truth in his tone that made Sophie realize he wasn't bluffing either.<
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CHAPTER FIVE
The game I'd entered had only just begun, and the consequences of my actions wouldn't be felt until much later.
The chilling evening air brushed through the college campus, as the rolling thunder in the distance caused the few remaining students outside to rush for shelter. The oncoming storm could be felt in the atmosphere, though neither Sophie, Robert, or Luke realized anything beyond what they were experiencing in the moment.
Everyone had been frozen by Robert's last statement, though their shock was gradually wearing off.
"I didn't think you could be so cruel." Luke commented finally, sounding like he was genuinely shocked by Robert's coldness.
"I don't remember you ever caring whether I was cruel or not." Robert said, shrugging. "Let's not forget who's the bad guy in this situation. You're the one with the gun pressed to the innocent damsel's head."
"Damsel?" Luke asked, turning to glance at Sophie.
She couldn't make out his features clearly, as the only light source around them was too far away. She squinted through the darkness, trying to see the man who was willing to kill her. His voice sounded young and inexperienced, though she believed he would kill her if necessary.
"Max should've told you about her...or him I should say." Robert laughed, rocking back on his feet casually.
Sophie jerked in Luke's arms, feeling another wave of betrayal. What the hell was Robert doing? First he'd told Luke to shoot her, and now he'd blown her cover?
"Let's not talk about pointless things." Robert continued, his voice bored. "I have a busy schedule to keep, so if you're going to shoot, do it."
"Pointless." Luke muttered, laughing darkly. "You're too cocky, Locksley. I'm not getting anywhere near you."
Luke shoved the gun to Sophie's temple, causing her to whimper in shock.
"You'll have to try harder next time." Dragging Sophie backward, Luke made sure that Robert was still in his line of sight. "You should start thinking about what you're going to say to poor Cleo. I imagine she'll be disappointed."
Robert laughed, strolling forward without a care in the world.
Sophie noticed Luke stiffen. The gun in his hand was pressed even harder to her head.
"Don't come closer." Luke warned, his voice deadly.
Sophie watched Robert with begging eyes. There was no longer any grain of trust within her, but she hoped he wouldn't be this heartless in the end. Her life had to be more important than this painting, and she couldn't begin to believe how far he was taking this. No matter how much he hated her, this was too far.
Robert ignored Luke's warning, just as Sophie had feared he would.
"I told you to shoot her." Robert continued, only a few feet away now. "It won't matter to me. You know just as well as I do that she won't be missed. This girl's a nobody, like the two of us. Her body will be just another tragic mystery that will remain unsolved." Robert's voice was determined.
He continued to walk forward, closing the distance between himself and Luke in seconds. He lifted his hand and placed it on the gun.
"If you don't have the confidence, should I take over?" Robert asked, a wicked grin on his lips.
It was only now that Sophie realized Luke was shaking. His grip on her was loosening, and he quickly brought his hand away from her mouth.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Sophie screeched. Feeling a sharp sense of courage overcome her, Sophie reached up and knocked the gun out of her captor's hand. The weapon went flying through the air, landing only a few feet away in the grass.
Sophie turned on the two of them with eyes filled with fire. Now that she wasn't playing the damsel any longer, she was ready to fight back. Remembering all the self-defense she'd learned in the past, Sophie clenched her hand into a fist, and socked Luke in the jaw. Her punch wasn't nearly as effective as she'd wanted it to be, so she tackled him as hard as she could to break his hold on her.
Her captor had been so intent on watching Robert, he was too late to respond. Even though he was still too big for her to take down with one blow, her hit took his breath away.
"Robert!" Sophie turned to stare at him in anger. "Hurry up!" She motioned for him to help, and he reacted immediately. By the time Robert had begun to fight, Luke had already regained his breath. The two of them began to wrestle in the grass, punches and curses flying between them. Instead of waiting for the fight to subside, Sophie dived for the backpack that Luke had dropped mid-fight.
There was something in the way Robert and Luke were fighting that made Sophie realize their pent up frustration was about more than the painting itself. The way they were slugging each other was filled with too much hatred for them to be strangers.
Ignoring her thoughts, Sophie decided she needed to keep moving. As she had the benefit of being the only one of the three not engaged in combat, she now had the time to come up with a plan of her own.
Screw whatever Robert had been planning. He'd left her to defend herself in her moment of need, and now she was going to take control. Her mind was a jumbled frenzy, but she'd unexpectedly been able to think clearly in the moments of chaos. Now that she had the time to think through a plan of her own, the pieces clicked together easily.
Sophie's eyes fell on the gun lying only a few feet away. She walked towards it, no longer in a hurry to act. Both Robert and Luke were so wrapped up in their own fight, they barely noticed her.
Picking it up in her small hands, Sophie considered firing a shot to get them to stop. Instead, a few cold raindrops interrupted them before she could decide.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. In moments the few raindrops turned into a downpour and soon all three of the thieves were soaked to the bone.
Aiming the gun at where Robert and Luke were lying in the grass, Sophie scowled at the two of them. She was trying to seem threatening, but as Robert stood up he began laughing. The sound of his laughter was muted by the thunder, though Sophie could see his amused expression through the buckets of rain streaming down around them.
Suddenly, Sophie felt amused as well. Not in the same way, of course. She'd just experienced the most terrifying few minutes of her life and the shock had yet to wear off. No, she felt like laughing for another reason entirely. Now that she had miraculously taken control of the situation, she realized just how much power she wielded in her hands. For the first time since leaving with Robert this afternoon, she finally felt like she was thinking like a thief.
"I really don't see a reason you should be laughing." Sophie commented, raising her voice so that both of the men could hear her. "Unless you're under the impression you've won." Sophie tilted her head to the side, a slick smile spreading across her face. "Surely you don't think I'm going to share this painting with you?" She asked, laughing coldly at him.
Robert's laughter faded as realization passed over his face. He hadn't thought she'd have the guts to turn against him, but he hadn't calculated how beyond pissed she was at his betrayal.
"It's cute how you assumed I was going to let you take credit for finding the painting." Sophie glanced between the two men, who were watching her with shocked expressions. "You really shouldn't trust a thief. Not if you value yourself."
This time it was Luke who began to laugh. "Your own partner's turning against you. I believe this is what they call irony." He pulled down his hood so that Sophie could barely make out his features. Luke seemed only a few years younger than herself, and his shaggy black hair fell down into his eyes as rain slid down his face.
As he began walking towards her, Sophie lifted the gun at him. Luke raised his hands in surrender, a small smile on his pale lips. "I'm not going to hurt you." As he approached, Sophie saw he was watching her softly. "If I had known you were a girl, I wouldn't have touched you." He said, his voice lowering as he came closer.
"It seems everyone's having a difficult time remembering who's side they're on." Sophie commented bitterly. "I don't need your pity." She kept the gun pointed at his chest, not trusting him for a
second.
"I wasn't giving it." Luke reminded her, laughing again. "You can have the painting. You deserve it after beating that guy." He motioned to Robert, who was staring at them expressionlessly.
He nodded once at her before trudging away from the building.
"Luke!" Robert called out, turning to the other man for a moment. "Max can't find out about who she is."
Sophie glanced at Luke's retreating figure, and swore she heard him mutter "I understand," before disappearing into the night.