Chapter 7
Walking through the late Venice night – or was it early Venice morning? – was just like walking through ink. It was impossible to see the silhouettes of any object, and if there weren't the lamp poles and lights in the houses, Rio would have felt like she was blind. Rufus had been right when he said tonight would be a dark one.
Crouching behind the railing on the bridge, Rio eyed the house she was planning to rob. When it was light enough to see the house, anyone would have fallen for the grand, old beauty with vines crawling up the walls. On other nights when Rio had been spying on the house, gold light would be pouring from its large windows, but it was too late for the woman in the house to be up at this hour. Rio felt guilty having to disturb the peaceful scene.
Beginning to pull herself up, Rio suddenly collapsed to the ground. She was in more pain than ever, and it was hard to get her legs to obey her. Catching her breath, Rio's mind was suddenly cast to Prosper. She had been watching out for him all day and spotted him trying looking for her. Knowing why he was after her, Rio had to force herself to stay away from him.
Using most of her strength, Rio pulled herself up on her wobbly legs. Ignoring the pain the best she could, Rio snaked her way to the old house, dodging any light that got in her way. Pulling out a nail file, she was able to break the lock less than a minute, thanks to Rufus.
Closing the door behind her so it didn't make a sound, Rio decided to creep up the stairs first.
"What am I looking for?"
"What type of question is that from a thief? Looking for whatever is expensive, dammit!"
Rio winced at the memory of her and Rufus's conversation. His pale blue, almost white, eyes were always scarier when he got angry. Squeezing her eyes shut to block out the image, Rio reached the second floor. There was suddenly the sound of a sink running, and Rio immediately ducked behind a table.
The bathroom door opened and silver light spilled onto the floor, just missing where Rio was crouching. The boy in pajamas stretched his arms and gave a yawn. Strange, Rio tensed, I didn't know the woman had kids? She ducked her head ever so slightly to get a look at the boy. About a second before the boy switched off the bathroom light, their eyes met.
Rio suddenly felt sick as she began to panic. Was it… no it couldn't be. But she knew it was, it was Prosper. What was he doing here, and in pajamas? She waited for him to approach her, but the boy just stood there for the longest time. Eventually he slipped into another room. His bedroom, though Rio, even though it didn't make sense. Prosper lived on the streets; he doesn't have a bedroom!
She continued to stay crouched in a ball, almost expecting for Prosper to come out to her again. But he never did, and eventually Rio couldn't take it anymore and bolted down the stairs. Ignoring the clomping sound her sneakers made on the wooden stairs, she burst through the front door. She didn't have time to stop and close the door for she was afraid her aching muscles would collapse if she did. A light somewhere in the house flicked on, but Rio knew that once she got far enough into the black, she would completely disappear from anyone's sight.
The house vanished. The bridge she crossed vanished. The whole area where Rio had been vanished, but she couldn't stop running. Prosper?! No, he was a thief, not some rich boy living in a mansion. But even though she had only made eye contact with him for a second, she knew it was him.
It was… it is… Prosper… Prosper… Prosper…
THWACK!
Suddenly flung to the ground, Rio was unable to move. She was in too much shock and too much pain to try and run. If was the police, well, let them take her away; who knew how Rufus would react if she returned empty handed.
"Oh geez," a worried voice said from above her (it didn't sound like the police), "are you okay?" A tall, dark figure crouched down before and lightly touched her face as he turned on a flashlight. Rio winced, not sure if it was from the stranger's touch or light.
"Was that black eye from me?" the stranger suddenly gasped.
"No," Rio blubbered, not being able to control the sticky tears that rolled down her face. It hurt to cry, but she would probably be in worse pain later. I'm going to die…
The strong, sturdy arms scooped Rio off the ground with ease. She was so light that it was nothing for the stranger to carry her to the nearest lamppost. He awkwardly placed her on the ground, and Rio immediately covered her face.
"I'm sorry," she gasped.
"About what?" the stranger chuckled, "You're just crying. I'm sure you're not the first thief to do so."
Rio looked up. He was handsome, the stranger, with dark features and a lopsided grin on his face. But he was an adult, and no matter how friendly he might be, the changes of an adult not turning in a thief were slim. Prison, death… it really is all downhill.
"I won't tell on you," he told her as if reading her mind, "that would be going against who I am… or was."
"I don't know who you are." Rio admitted softly, confused as to what was going on.
"That's understandable. Not many people recognize me anymore. It happens when you get old." The stranger paused, embarrassed with his babbling. Crouching down so he didn't tower the girl, he said softly, "So tell me what has made you so upset."
"I…" Rio sighed, not in the mood to explain anything at the moment, "I just screwed up. That's all."
"Hmm. Well if you're not going to tell me what's really going on, at least tell me how you got that black eye."
"I tripped and hit the curb," Rio mumbled her lie, feeling uncomfortable. She would have bolted ages ago if her body would have let her.
"You tripped," the stranger smirked, sounding doubtful, "and how many people have you told that fib to?"
Rio shrugged and gingerly whipped her eyes and let out a tiny laugh. "Only one other." She then added miserably, "The one who actually cared what happened to me."
"See?!" the stranger boomed, startling Rio, "Now we're getting somewhere. You have to tell me what's happened about you. You're a girl – don't girls tell other their feelings or something?"
Rio laughed again; he sounded like a kid. "I don't usually talk to strangers," she told him, although that rule of hers had changed quite drastically.
"You can trust me," the stranger softened his tone, "I mean I used to be a thief, too."
"What?" Rio gazed at him in awe.
"Sure," he chuckled, "I was… I am the Thief Lord."
Alright, so I was asked where Scipio was so I brought him in!! Tell me what you think cuz I love reviews x0
Vintage88
