Crouched at the edge of a roof top, concealed by the darkness, I waited. My heart pounded with anticipation. Any moment now.

A group of runners, batons hanging loosely from their hands, slumped passed the jewelry shop. So much for threatening law enforcement. As soon as they turned the corner I leapt forward, scrambling down the wall. The brick scraped my palms as I clambered down but I could not afford to slow down. My feet hit the cobbles of the alley beside the jewelry shop and I ducked into the shadows. The hulking forms of the shop's watchmen slouched in the doorway of the shop. A glowing fire built up in front of them sent ghoulish shadows flickering across their faces.

Where was Johnny? Doubt and fear stabbed my chest. Then I spotted him. A lurking shadow crouched on the rooftop ledge above the watchmen. Mine was the first move. Without anymore hesitation I took the stone that I had pocketed earlier and lobbed it down the alley. The watchmen jumped their feet, weapons raised. Silence. Cautiously they edged out from the doorway alcove into the main alley following the noise. Johnny leapt, both feet hitting the guards between the shoulders hard and sending them sprawling onto the floor. I grabbed the metal bar from my waist band and lunged from the shadows. I struck out with the bar lashing it across a watchman's head with a sickening crack. He hit the floor, blood gushing from his nose and cheek. He cursed spitting blood. Close by Johnny, still struggling to breath from the impact of his jump, wrestled with the other watchman. His dominating frame slowly overpowering Johnny. He needed my help. I brought the metal bar down, the watchman lifted his arm to defend his face but my previous blow had left him slow and weak. The bar struck the guard's head and his eyes rolled backwards before he slumped to the floor. I whipped around towards Johnny. Johnny was pushed up against the wall, both their weapons lying useless out of reach. The guard's fists pummeled Johnny in a continuously, he struggled against the bigger man but could not break free. Fierce anger consumed me and I attacked blindly, striking out with the bar. It struck the guard in the throat and he fell back gasping for breath. Johnny took the advantage smacking him across the face. The blow sent him tumbling backwards, he tried to right himself but was too late I was on him. My bar came down again and again. Each strike harder and more frenzied than the last. His snarling face attacking Johnny filled my vision and I couldn't stop, fuelled by an uncontrollable anger. A hand grabbed my wrist yanking my back. My head whipped round, muscles already tensed to attack but it was Johnny. His eyes wide and stricken. The hate and anger bled away from my chest leaving an empty hollow. Slowly I turned back towards the guardsman beneath me. His blood splattered the alley cobbles around me and over my shirt. I blanched when I saw his face. A mess of blood and bruises; so swollen it no longer resembled the watchman.

I recoiled sharply, scrambling onto my feet shakily.

"Are you alright?", Johnny asked a wary look haunting his eyes.

I turned away, not wanting to see the way he looked at me.

"We need to go inside," I replied bluntly and ran towards the door.

It didn't take long to pick the lock and I hurried inside leaving Johnny to deal with the two guards. It was cold inside the shop, my breath coming out in a puff of mist in front of me. The unnatural quiet sent shivers down my spine. Rows of glass cabinets holding an assortment of shiny necklaces and bracelets bejeweled with tacky, fake gems and boasting overly expensive prices. A dirty con if ever I saw one and these so called business men look down on us and our dealings.

I rolled my eyes in disgust as I passed the cabinets making my way swiftly across the room to the back room. A heavy locked door barred my way. I dropped to my knees to pick the lock. It was harder this time. The lock on this door was far more complicated than the last, so it must have been expensive. What could be so important about this globe that a cutthroat pirate is desperate to get his hands on it and a tacky shop is willing to spend so much on protecting it when they clearly have limited funds?

The lock gave way with a clunk and I yanked open the heavy door. Inside the room was icy cold. Where as before the quiet had only sent shivers down my spine, in the room it was suffocating. It was as if no sound could penetrate the gloom of the room. Slowly I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the shelves until I spotted an old metal chest placed up on a high shelf. I reached up towards it my feet straining as I pushed myself up on to my toes. My fingers grazed the chest, nudging it carefully towards the shelf's edge. It tipped and I caught it. The chest was heavier than I'd expected. I dropped it down onto the floor and lifted up the lid. Inside a faintly glowing glass orb sat on a cushion of velvet. It pulsed softly as if beckoning me. Before I knew what I was doing the orb was out of the chest in my hands. It's warm glow thawing my frozen fingers. I couldn't look away. Swirling colours of pinks, greens, yellows and blues filled the globe like tendrils of smoke. The more I stared, the harder it was to look away.

A sound caught my ear. Faint. Bearly a sound. A whisper caught on the wind. There it was again. Louder this time. A voice. Not loud enough to be comprehended. I strained to hear bringing the globe closer. A screeching face burst into globe! I jumped back in fear the globe falling from my fingers. It hit the ground! Black.