Heist - Part 1 | AEgna

Heist: Part 1

Another cheerful day in Verna, thought Benni as he ran down the street. He had just wanted to eat his lunch in peace and now he was being chased down a crowded street. In the rain. He felt it whip at his body as he ran.

“You just couldn’t help yourself could you!” He yelled at the blonde figure weaving through the crowded street in front of him.

“He was just waving it around. What was I supposed to do?” Asher called back “I doubt he could tell time off the damn thing if he had a digital one right next to him!”

Benni could see the glint of a gold strap poking out of his friend's clenched fist and hoped it would be worth getting his only set of clothes soaked.

Looking over his shoulder he saw four men in identical black suits chasing them. They had stopped their shouts of “Stop” and “Freeze” and “Hey you” and now seemed to be under the impression that maybe these two young men had, in fact, stolen their employer’s watch intentionally.

Benni thought he could see the cogs in their mind processing their new situation before they lurched into motion.

“At least some warning would have been nice.”

“You’re right, next time I lift something I’ll make sure to make it obvious beforehand what I’m doing. I’m sure that won’t tip my hand at all!” Asher huffed back.

“You know what I mean. I had to ditch my lunch when you took off!” Benni gave a longing look behind him. He could still smell the cheeseburger that had cost him the last of his money. At least he could take solace in helping it find a career in fashion. Seeing it spread down the front of a once pristine white shirt brought a smile to his lips.

He could see the owner of the shirt now leading the other three by an unspoken agreement that he was out to defend the honour of his defiled shirt. As usual, though, honour seemed to demand violence, and by the tightness of fabric around his biceps and the crookedness of his nose, Benni didn’t doubt that this was a man well versed in the duties of protecting honour.

The suits had picked up their pace, moving with military precision they now seemed to be far more formidable than he originally thought. They charged through the crowds, knocking down anyone who got in their way.

Benni could hear Old Colt’s voice in his mind Don’t matter how tough they are if you're faster. The old man was always ready to tell them how many times he had managed to escape whatever brute had fallen for his latest con. He tried not to think about how long the old man had been missing and focused on making sure he was faster.

“Shi-“ Was all he managed to get say as he collided with an old woman, hitting the wet ground hard and sliding several feet before being stopped by another pair of legs. Next thing he knew Asher was next to him.

“Hurry up, they’re gaining!” Yelled Asher pulling him to his feet.

Looking around he saw that one of the suits was almost upon them. This one had an unfortunate birthmark covering one side of his face and a cruel smile painted on his face. Their eyes met and Benni knew he would be seeing Old Colt again soon.

Then the crowds pressed in again, blocking the man with the birthmark from Benni’s sight.

“Quick, this way” Said Asher gesturing to a side alley.

Staying low they hurried to the opening and sprinted down the alleyway. They rounded another corner and stopped for a moment to catch their breath. The sound of four sets of heavy footsteps passed by the entrance to the alley and tension drained out of them.

“This is it Benni. This is our ticket out of this dump.” Said Asher waving his hand in front Benni, watch still gripped tightly within.

“Let me see it then.” Demanded Benni, seizing the golden watch from Asher’s hand. Looking at it closely in the dim light of the alley, he discovered it was beautifully made.

Its face, a sleek black with simple hands, was the only part that might be classified as anything other than the definition of ostentation. It was set in an oversized gold case that accented the hour markers with diamonds and a complicated strap would have kept it safe from any untoward attention had the previous owner not liked his watches to jangle with a sufficiently wealthy sound.

A bark of laughter escaped him and he saw Asher flinch. The two of them didn’t always agree on humour and Benni had a habit of following laughter with jovial, and unintentionally painful, punches.

“Well I can understand how the toff didn’t see it, but you should really know better mate” he tossed the watch back to Asher who snatched it out of the air and began his own inspection.

He watched with a wry smile as his friend poured over every facet, face slowly draining of colour.

Beggining the process again on the off chance that it had sprouted authenticity in the few moments it took him to look forlornly at Benni and back down.

Beautiful, truly.

Completely fake, but a marvellous fake at that.