King's Crown

Chapter 3: Heist (2)

"That was close," Arteus sighed, continuing until he arrived at the alley where they were supposed to meet. Derek was already there, holding a strange metallic object with two wheels and a sack at his side.

"What's that?" Arteus asked, sliding down a rooftop drainage pipe and placing his sack on the ground.

"Ah, it's an electric bike," Derek replied, smiling.

"...But how are you supposed to take it with you?"

"I'll chain it to the zipline and go after it to slow it down. Don't worry, I've done it before. I'll even go first to make it safer for everyone," Derek reassured him.

Arteus kept asking about more items — the strange rectangular boxes, the device labeled 'RadioMax,' and the weird platforms. Derek explained: cellphones, radios, and terraces.

Their conversation was interrupted as someone arrived — Abigail. She was dragging another unfamiliar wheeled object and placing her loot sack on it.

"Oh? A scooter? That's pretty nice!" Derek said.

"Really? I found it by a door and thought it looked interesting," she replied casually.

One by one, the rest of the group arrived.

"Okay... now we're only waiting for Jackson. He'll pro—"

Suddenly, someone came running — Jackson, panting and frantic. He carried a sack on his back and a bag in one hand.

"Huff... Huff... Ugh, shit... I got caught... grabbing some stuff in an alley... We need to move."

"...Did you rob someone?" Derek asked, narrowing his eyes at the bag Jackson was holding.

"Wh-what? Of course n—"

"Stop there! Give me back my bag, you bastard! I already called the guards—!" a woman in her twenties suddenly appeared, but stopped in shock upon seeing the group.

"Shit. EVERYONE RUN! AND DON'T HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE— THING. MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWED!" Derek shouted, immediately bolting into a different alley. Everyone scattered in separate directions, carefully avoiding the alley that led to the cable.

The woman pulled out a device and placed it to her ear. "Yes! They ran into alleys 64, 23, 24, and 65! Catch them — they're all carrying stolen goods!"

"Huff... Huff... Frick! I shouldn't have taken so much!" Abigail panted as she sprinted alongside Arteus.

"Huff... Give it to me—huff," Arteus said, running beside her.

"No! I'm fine. Focus on running!" she snapped.

Suddenly, they stopped. A shaky spotlight lit the floor ahead, accompanied by the sound of someone running.

Abigail looked at Arteus, nodded, and positioned herself at the corner. Arteus faked a panicked run around the corner.

"Halt! Don't make me use my power, kid! Stay right there!" the guard barked, hidden behind the blinding light.

"I—I'm innocent! I didn't do anything, I swear!" Arteus said, panic on his face.

"Tell that to the c—"

BANG!

A loud clatter of metal echoed as Abigail swung her sack into the man's face the moment he stepped into view, knocking him out cold.

"Quick! Let's run!" she said, grabbing the device that emitted the light. They bolted from the alley and into the main road.

BEEEP!!

"HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, BASTARDS!" a man inside a metal vehicle yelled as it screeched to a stop.

Arteus and Abigail didn't look back. They circled around and slowly made their way back to the alley — the rendezvous point. No one seemed to be following them.

"Let's go. I'll go first. Give me yo—"

Suddenly, rushed footsteps echoed. Jackson reappeared, panic on his face — then a sneer formed on his lips. He tossed the sack at them and kept the bag.

The sack hit Abigail and sent her crashing to the ground.

"Argh!! Sh-shoot!" she cried out, clutching her leg.

Arteus rushed over, lifting the sack. Abigail quickly tried to stand but stumbled and yelped.

"Ugh... I think it hit my ankle," she hissed. Then, with a determined look, she turned to Arteus. "Art, go—"

"Bitch, I ain't leaving you! Come on!" he growled, grabbing her and looping her arm around his neck. He carried both her and their loot sacks.

"HE WENT IN HERE! HURRY!" came a voice from the alley.

Their hearts pounded as they scrambled toward the cable.

On the other side of the cable...

"Come on..." Derek muttered. He and the rest of the group stared into the darkness above. A weak lamp lit only the immediate surroundings.

Suddenly, a shape appeared — Jackson, sliding down. He wasn't carrying a sack, only the bag.

"Huff... Huff... Arteus and Abigail are done for! I saw them get cau—URGH!"

Derek punched him square in the face. "I told YOU and everyone not to rob anyone! You fucking shit!"

He began kicking Jackson as the others stood in stunned silence. After a few moments, he stopped and looked back toward the darkness.

"Come on, Art... Make it out."

.

.

.

Abigail and Arteus stood.. they're on the platform, the cable is just on the other side when a sudden loud crash came from behind them as if something have dropped from above where the ladder stretched to.

"Don't fucking move." A voice came. Followed by three more crashes.

A guard with a bloodied nose stood with three others, blocking Arteus and Abigail's path. The cold night wind blew past them as the abyss yawned just beyond the ledge.

The lead guard sneered. He remembered them — especially the girl who knocked him out.

"So, a filthy rat dares to hit me? How did you bastards even get up here?" he growled.

Neither spoke.

"Fine. Then I'll just do this."

He punched Arteus in the stomach, dropping him to his knees, gasping.

"Art!!" Abigail cried, reaching for him — but another guard grabbed her by the hair.

"Ah, so this scum's name is Art? Disgusting. You're no art — just garbage from the slums."

"If we're scum, then you're a walking pile of shit," Abigail spat back, eyes blazing. Then, suddenly — she spat in his face.

The guard froze in shock. He wiped his cheek, fury twisting his face as he grab and threw her back making her whine in pain. 

"Hey, sir.. I think this is — ! " One of the guard spoke seeing the situation escalate when suddenly the man moved..

"NOO!!" Arteus screamed, reaching out his eye widened watching as the guard kicked Abigail off the ledge — into the darkness below.