Once the fridge had been nearly emptied out. Sly unlocked the back door for their next phase then quickly put the keys back in Ms. Puffin's desk. They stepped outside shivering as the cold breeze hit thier legs. Paris was very dark at night, they looked up at the windows above no lights on what so ever.
"Okay guys time for the biggest step" Bentley announced "Sly you got the grapple hook?"
"GRAPPLE HOOK?" Murray said excited "Yeah" Sly said laughing at Murrays response "we did leave our window open right?"
"Ofcourse a turtle never forgets!"
"isn't it an Elephant never forgets?" asked Sly "it works for us Turtles too!"
Sly handed the hook to Murray.
"Eye of the tiger pal" said Sly to Murray "you see the window?"
"Err yeah I think"
He took a shot, too high he quickly pulled it back in before any noise was made. He took a deep breath then swung the hook and threw it high, it flew into the air and crash down the wall above their window until safely securing itself inside their room!
"Excellent shot Murray" praised Bentley.
"Yeah sweet shot big guy" Sly added.
"Thanks" said Murray "The Murray never fails!"
Sly began to pull himself to the window passing the windows as fast as lightning like a shadow in the dark. He clambered into the bedroom.
"Okay Bentley hold on tight" Sly called down.
Bentley grabbed on tight and braced himself. Sly began to pull, Bentley wasn't too heavy and he was up in seconds.
"That was scary" Bentley panted "I think I just developed a fear of heights"
Sly laughed "Okay Murray hold on, this might take some doing but we'll get you up"
Murray braced himself and Sly and Bentley counted down "3,2,1 heave!!." pulling together as hard as they could Murray slowly lifted up.
"I wish we had an electronic winch" Bentley said still pulling with all his might.
The two nearly let go when they heard the back door swing open. Ms. Puffin stepped outside with Lefty. Murray stayed as still as possible hovering over the two. Sly struggling to keep hold tied the rope to one of bed legs and then did the same with Bentley's. They listened in hoping to god that Murray wasn't seen. Ms. Puffin pulled a lighter out of her pocket and then a cigarette, she lit it then took a drag.
"Damn kids" she said to Lefty who was scratching his head looking around.
"How are kids even capable of this? Vents broken. Could this have been planned?." Lefty pondered to himself.
"I don't care" Ms. Puffin told him firmly "get all your fellow colleagues on the radio, check all the bedrooms on each floor now, if you catch the little thieves behind this you'll all be greatly awarded for the capture and efforts mades"
"Yes ma'am" he said quickly rushing inside to tell the others, Ms. Puffin took another drag of her cigarette, eyed the darkness around her then stepped back inside.
"We have to hurry" said Bentley shaking like a leaf.
"Bentley snap out of it" Sly said shaking him "if were gonna suceed I need you on your toes, we have three objectives here, getting Murray up pronto, hiding the stolen goods and finally pretending to be asleep"
"R-r-right, sorry Sly"
With all their might they pulled Murray up till their last breaths were drawn. Murray clambered in as Sly quickly began to hide the goods.
"The Murray hovered over them like the almighty god!" Murray began.
"Not now Murray" Sly snapped "get the hook inside hide it, close the window, get to bed."
"Well sorry hard man" Murray sarcastically remarked pulling the hook in.
Footsteps could be heard down the hallway getting louder. The last snacks were hidden.
"Dive" said Sly as the three pounced into their beds.
Old Jim stepped inside just as they closed their eyes. Other footsteps could be heard trotting closer.
"Their in here I assume?" a voice called out all similar to the gang's ears.
"Yeah right in here ma'am" replied Jim.
Ms. Puffin stepped inside the room examining the sleeping trio.
"When did those two move in with him?" asked Ms. Puffin refering to Sly and Murray.
"I dont know ma'am" Jim replied "why does it matter?"
"They would certianly be a bad influence on a mind like his" she responded.
Bentley thought to himself 'maybe shes right, this has been pressuring, its given me a headache and shook me up, should I really care if I dont stay friends with these guys'. Bentley still pondered to himself as Ms. Puffin left the room and moved on down the hallway. For a few moments the three lay their silent as possible. Sly eventually whispered "eat whats near you and we'll huddle in the middle at midnight"
Bentley checked his watch it was 11:20, they still had a while. Bentley could hear Murray snacking away and could see Sly's shadow eating, he himself wasn't too hungry he was thinking of the whole night; it was very interesting and dangerous which excited Bentley and he seemed to be forgetting the whole thief thing being wrong. He didn't really have much of a chance to think it through since Sly decided to start the feast early.
Despite feeling pretty exhausted and tired, Bentley enjoyed the feast, they sat there for at least an hour talking about the entire operation.
"My favourite part was when Murray knocked that guy sensless" Sly laughed scoffing himself with biscuits "Nahh the best of tonight was the fridge raid" Murray 'argued' back "well at least my favourite part"
They all laughed to themselves "What about you Bentley?" Sly asked "what was your favourite part?"
"I didn't really have a favourite part" he answered "I enjoyed all of it, even as stressful as it was."
Sly and Murray laughed.
"Get used to it buddy" Murray said smiling.
Bentley didn't really know how to react to that he just quickly responded.
"So how long have you two been stealing?" he asked.
Sly and Murray stopped eating and looked at him for a moment.
"erm as soon as I could walk I think?" Sly replied.
"When ever I got hungry so a while" Murray said.
Bentley laughed "how does it feel? .. in the long run? to be a thief?"
Sly and Murray stopped to think again, there was a long silence.
"ermm? good?" Murray replied "It makes life easier"
"You do know Bentley, the best things in life are free?" Sly replied.
"So what in this case everythings the best?" Bentley asked sarcastically.
"Well let me give you a summary on crime and being a thief in general" Sly said "being a thief makes life so much more easy, fun, exciting, laughable. It makes you feel more relaxed and in control. Some people just do it for the rush but thats only half of it. Its truelly a challenge. We find a target and learn its weaknesses, we attack with the method found best and do it constantly until we are either defeated or triumph over the target. You may think that we could feel guilty, well sometimes it feels right to do so, if we see a black markets ripping people off we strip them of their products, if we see unfair high prices we take them for free, if we see a rich snob his pockets gone in a second and if we're caught we just laugh, especially when someone threatens us with the 'law' they can't do nothing, their power is simply words jotted down on a few peices of paper. Its impossible to stop crime since its in everyones head, arresting just one criminal isn't going to change anything, theres about six billion people in this world, every single one of them capable of committing crime. Crime can't be bullied, beat, reasoned or negotiated with, crime just wants to watch the world burn." (sorry i'm kinda making crime sound like a super-natural force or something). Bentley and Murray just stared at him amazed, a long silence followed.
"That was a summary?" said Murray finally breaking the silence.
"Well we bested be going to bed now" said Sly avoiding the awkwardness and jumping into bed.
Bentley and Murray just looked at each other, shrugged and went bed too.
Bentley fell asleep the second he hit the covers. He fell into a deep deep dream. His dream focused on a strange metallic bird who stared at the Orphanage opposite itself. A small mechanical noise came from within it as it seemed to be studying the Orphange carefully then came a deep male voice from within it 'This is the Orphanage Sly Cooper was sent to' its talons tapped on the rooftop ledge it was perched on like a tune 'Looks like hes met some friends too' his peircing eyes, flickered with delight 'Even they can't help him; a fat useless hippo and a timid little turtle, they are nothing in comparison to me, nothing'
Bentley began to panic in his nightmare, as the bird pounced into the air and took flight, hovering near their window, Bentley could see Sly relaxed in his bed and Murray flat out and .. himself panicking in his own dreams! 'These fools will meet me one day and I will kill them' the bird took flight once more and covered Bentley's nightmare in a black silhouette making Bentley wake up in fear. He immediatly leaped out of bed and darted at the window for any sign of the robotic creature, to his relief no sign of any airborn threat. Taking a deep breath he looked at the window sill, it had deep cuts in it from something sharp, he fell back his mind racing with fearful thoughts of the sharp cuts in the window coming from the Bird's talons. He ran over to his bed falling over on the way.
"Sly, Murray WAKE UP!" They didn't budge, the moon shining down in the bedroom began to fade as to Bentley's looked at the window in a stunned shock as a large owl peered in through the windows. It stared at Bentley for a short moment then out of nowwhere teleported Bentley outside the window. Within a few feet of each other, it studied him for a few seconds then went to eat him!
"Hey little buddy, Bentley? wake up! Ms. Puffins making an announcement" called a familiar voice.
Bentley screamed as he fell out of his bed.
"Ermm sorry Bentley" Murray apologised helping him up to his feet.
*WOULD ALL ORPHANS PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MAIN ASSEMBLY HALL IMMEDIATLY* Ms. Puffin's voice called through the speakers in the hallways.
It was all a dream Bentley thought relieved.
"This don't sound good" Sly said to them "we best split up in the assembly and don't say a word okay?"
They both nodded and Bentley check the window sill, no markings made. He didn't have a chance to think he was lifted up by Murray.
"Come on brainiac chum" he said laughing "we havn't got all day".
They entered the main assembly. Most of the staff and Orphans were already in there. Ms. Puffin eyed them suspicously.
"Okay guys cya later" said Sly, walking through the crowd, Bentley saw him sit behind the bullies grinning.
Bentley and Murray sat together as the assembly started. As the staff and security walked in they looked pretty ticked. Sly could over hear the bullies talking about getting revenge on Bentley obviously not realising he was right behind them. As a fun idea of extra revenge he began to pick their pockets of all their school needs and money. Ms. Puffin stepped up onto the stage and up to the speaker to shut the orphans up.
"Okay children, if you don't already know there was a raid of the Orphanage kitchen last night, one of our janitors had evidence and a short description of who the culprits might be, you can step you now to loosen your punishment" Ms Puffin informed eying the children one by one. Murray and Bentley gulped but didn't budge. Sly however was too busy to listen he was still raiding the bullies pockets, little did he know a dark skinned fox was watching him from across the assembly hall, his sharp eyes narrowed in on Sly's theivery but he didn't seem to mind infact he was almost smiling. Sly was done looting the bullies pockets, his eyes met with the charming fox who gave him a look of laughter which for once in Sly's life made him feel rather sheepish. "Well if no one wishes to pay for your actions then please listen to this charming man Mr Lucius Fox", the whole staff bursted into an applause, Sly watched as the very man who had intimidated him stepped up to the stage and took over Ms. Puffins place.
He cleared his throat and began "Thank you Ms. Puffin for that lovely warm welcome, now children I want you to think to yourselves whoever commited last nights daring heist why did you do it? was it simply greed? or were just trying to prove something to yourselves and show off?," before he could continue Jon stepped up with a bruised face, Murray tried not to laugh but drew attention from Lucius who now had his eye on both Sly and Murray, Jon grabbed the microphone "whoever did this better own so the same punishment can be executed" he laughed, Lucius just smiled and took the microphone off him "now don't worry children nothing like that will happen will it Mr Stanley?" Jon took a look at Lucius who just stood their smiling at him, he then glanced at the children then sat back down in his seat defeated. "Now continueing on, we don't want punish you children, well at least I don't, I'd just like to now why you did it"
Sly just stared at him and shared a small smile with Lucius, Bentley and Murray remained silent as to not draw any more attention to themselves, Bentley was still recovering from his nightmare.
"Okay then children you all dismissed for the rest of the day as it is a weekend" Ms. Puffin announced and opened the main doors "but be warned we will find out who it was."
The Orphans began to scramble out as, the gang joined up to walk out they were met by Jon.
"Strange" he said getting Lucius's and Ms. Puffin's attention "these kids look familar." Ms. Puffin walked up to the three.
"When did you three begin to stay in the same room?" she asked looking at Sly suspicously.
"A few days back" he lied as if to make it sound casual "who cares?"
"We might just" Lucius said kneeling down to him "that was quite some handy work back there" refering to bullies pockets being picked. Sly just looked shocked at him. "I'd recomend checking their room" Lucius informed Ms Puffin "you might just find something."
The gang looked at each other, failure was allover their faces. It didn't talk long for the staff to find the remaining food or litter around the room. The three were taking into Ms. Puffin's office along with her, Lucius Fox and 'Slim' Jon. Jon looked as though he was about to explode, Ms Puffin and Lucius whispered to each other before they began their interrogation.
"So lads, what inspired you do such a brave act of injustice?" Lucius asked "whos the brains behind this?"
Bentley lowered his head since it was his plan. Lucius looked down at him.
"Was it you?" he asked Bentley "Ms. Puffin tells me your the smartest in your class, how ashamed I would feel if I were using some brain power to such pointless acts"
To the suprise of Sly and Murray, Bentley Laughed.
"Something funny?" asked Lucius questioning Bentley's face.
"Pointless acts?" Bentley snickered "I don't think they were, they got me friendship, nothing being nice ever did, face it the worlds a harsh place, play your cards right either way and you win"
Lucius looked shocked for a brief moment then laughed "I wouldn't think that son, helping the law always gets you in the right place, but I feel it wasn't your idea in the beginning was it?" he looked at Sly "It was yours wasn't it?", He quickly dismissed Bentley and Murray out of the office aswell as Jon who ignored Murray on the way out.
"Now then Sly, I think your a child who grew up in the wrong family" Lucius began. "WRONG FAMILY? WRONG FAMILY?, ha he grew up in the cooper family line what do you expect to learn from them kid" Ms. Puffin interupted. Sly immediatly got up and swung his cane at Ms. Puffin she fell back on her chair, "SAY THAT AGAIN PUFFIN" he yelled preparing for a second shot. Ms. Puffin looked at him scared to death as he towered above her stood on her own desk. He was about to take another swing when Lucius took hold of his cane.
"Sly I was once like you, violent, confused, rebelious" Sly calmed down and looked at Lucius.
"I can help you" he continued "just because your ancestors were criminals dosn't mean you have to follow in their footsteps, let me take you in" Ms. Puffin's mouth dropped, Bentley and Murray looked at each other outside upset, they wouldn't want Sly to leave.
"If I take you in, you could stop this violent crime spree and become a valued member of the force"
Lucius got up out of Sly's face, he then opened the door. "You choose Raccoon, i'll be back in a few days or so, by the way my daughter would love to meet you I just know it" he laughed passing Bentley and Murray and winked walking out the Orphanage.
Sly walked slowly out of the office, he looked up at Bentley and Murray then fell on his knees, the sadness filled his eyes, they'd never seen him like this.
TO BE CONTINUED .............
Thanks if you managed to read this all the way, i'm gonna have to think of something good for the next chapter please review :)