The air was heavy with the smell of freshly baked bread and Historia was sitting comfy on a table in the corner. She loved spending her free mornings in the local bakery and reading or just fooling around on her laptop. She had already spent an hour in the park with Freya. Sadly she couldn't bring the dog in the bakery so she had to leave her home.

The shop wasn't spacious but it had its charm. There were six tables, but not enough chairs to fill all ends of all tables, so guest always moved chairs around. Various house plants filled the corners, that made the room smaller, but cozier. Historia guessed the baker's other passion were plants. The baker herself was a young woman around Historia's age, who knew bread was her passion as a child. She had wasted no time fulfilling her childhood dream and opening a bakery as soon as she had graduated. She had success in making her hobby a profession and that was easily tasted in her bread. Historia had sworn many times that the muffins were the most delicious thing she had ever eaten.

Historia had taken a liking to the girl and used every chance to strike up a conversation with her. But today the shop was busy. People came and went. Some stayed in to drink their morning coffee and read a newspaper or a magazine if they saw an open table.

Historia, unlike every other day, didn't have her laptop opened. Her mind was occupied with other important things and she couldn't concentrate on anything else. For example, was it illegal to aid a criminal by hiding information which could help their imprisonment? And why, after she knew it is, in fact, illegal, hadn't she shared that information with the police?

She was ready to phone te police the moment after she recognized that voice. Something stopped her that night. Was it the gentle smile or the sweet perfume? Historia didn't know. The only thing she knew was that she wasn't going to turn that woman over. She didn't want to. She wanted the girl with the leather jacket to be safe despite her crimes.

Historia felt like a bad person thinking like this. Was she? Which normal person would want the safety of a criminal? But Historia didn't just see a criminal in that girl. She saw more than that. Through the warm brown eyes and the soft smile, Historia saw a person who seemed in need.

Why did she care? She didn't normally care for random people. Why was she putting herself in potential danger by making sure that girl was safe?

How did she get away with it anyways? And how was she brave enough to just stroll around the same bank she had robbed? Yes, the police had made no progress in the investigation and even the local news stopped reporting about it, but still it was extremely dangerous. What if someone recognized her? Like Historia did.

Historia was emersed in her thoughts. Staring at the wall, she didn't pay much attention to who was entering or leaving the shop. The coffee in front of her was getting colder and people around her were getting angrier that she had occupied a table all by herself.

"Excuse me?" Historia snapped out and looked at the person who just addressed her.

It was the baker. She was holding a cup of coffee and a small plate.

"Oh, hi, Sasha! Um, I'm sorry I didn't say hello. You were just so busy and..."

"No problem, not at all" the girl offered a big smile and then placed the cup and the plate on the table. "You seemed to be super concentrated and I really didn't want to bother you, but I also wanted to bring you this."

Historia looked in front of her. Next to the coffee was a croissant with a beautiful golden crust.

"It's a new recipe. We are adding it to the menu starting tomorrow."

"Oh, Sasha, that's so nice! Thank you! And I've just been sitting here all morning, scaring away your customers with my serious staring face" Historia gestured as if showing all the people she had scared.

"Haha, oh my god, nonsense!" Sasha let out a sincere laugh. "You are a regular customer and I need your opinion on my new recipe" she pulled a chair and sat on the table. "Come on, try it!"

Historia smiled politely and took a bite of the pastry. It made a crunching noise and she cupped her hand under her chin to stop the crumbs from falling on her lap and on the floor.

"Its soo good!" Historia spoke, with her mouth still half full. "You have a great talent, Sasha. Everything you make is just amazing."

"Thank you! I really did spend a lot of time on this one" the girl put her elbow on the table and rested her head in her palm. "So, tell me, what were you thinking about? What is this thing, that got you so all so serious?"

"Oh, nothing that important. Don't worry" Historia raised her head to look Sasha in the eyes. "It's nothing, really."

Shasha had those big round eyes. Everyone who looked in those eyes would be tempted to share all of their worries. She was just the person one would feel safe and secure around.

But even if Historia trusted Sasha, she couldn't just share what was bothering her right now. That wasn't a piece of information she could just tell around.

"Well, I still think you have something on your mind, but I won't keep bugging you. If you want to tell me I'll be here, ok?" Shasha stood up but didn't break eye contact.

"Yes, thank you."

"I'll be going now. Got to get ready for lunch break" she let a short laugh and went back to the kitchens.

Historia watched as Sasha disappeared behind the doors, but not before giving one last smile. Historia smiled back and decided she needed to get going. She took the last bite of the croissant but left the coffee untouched. She grabbed her bag, said goodbye to the cashier and left.

It was a warm winter day. The snow from the previous days was slowly melting away. Historia hoped it will pile up again, just in time for Christmas.

Her home was ten minutes away and it was almost lunch time. She quickly revised in her mind the contents of her fridge and decided a trip to the supermarket wasn't necessary. She had enough ingredients to prepare lunch.

Her flat was on the last floor of a four-story building. She climbed the stairs and pulled the keys from her bag. She pushed them in the lock and tried to turn it but the door was already unlocked. Historia tensed. She remembered locking the door. She also didn't hear any sounds from Freya. The dog always started barking and scratching on the door, the moment Historia stepped on the floor. Now there was no sound at all.

A Million things ran through her head. She thought that she should just turn back. Maybe even run straight to the police. But what if the ones inside were the police and she was going to be arrested for assisting criminals?

But Freya was inside. Probably. Historia couldn't just leave without her. All she hoped was that the dog was unharmed and well. She needed to know if that was so. That's why she reached for the handle and slowly pressed it down.


I'm sorry if the chapter seems unfinished but I really wanted to leave a hook at the end there. I'll try to publish the next one soon.

Thank you so much for reading! And as always reviews are much appreciated!