Chapter fourteen
Southside Museum of Art
"Ouch!" Whispered Jhon walking into the modern art display.
"Shhhh!" We all scolded him.
"Sorry." Jhon whispered.
Tip toeing across the museum grand hall we stained for the sounds of burglars. When we arrived the security guard hadn't been very specific, actually he looked frightened (maybe he shouldn't have become a security guard) he just said they were in the museum. Very helpful. However he had said that the museum curator and the two other guards that shared his shift had disappeared, do I suppose you can't really blame him for being concerned.
In the hall there were three doors, not including the one we had just entered through, each leading to another exhibit, Pre 1850, post 1850 and modern greats.
"Split up." I whispered (which seemed to be my answer to everything lately) "Jhon and Mark you too take post 1850, Will and Jack modern greats, and I'll take pre 1850. Keep in contact via head peaces, and let everyone know if you find anything."
We separated and I approached my door, cautious of what would be on the other side I slid it open slowly, the door let out a long ominous creek, I closed my eyes. When no burglars popped out to attack me I carried on. I walked in pitch black down a lengthy corridor, uncertain of my footsteps I trod with care. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and revealed walls lined with painting of aproned women, grassy fields and varses of flowers, in the styles of realism, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism and Romanticism etc, hanging sombrely on painted gold frames (this was the Southside after all).
Other than the steady pace of my footsteps, all was silent. Glancing up and down the corridor showed me to be alone; I headed down the corridor aiming for a set of double doors at the end when I noticed my footsteps weren't the only noise in the room. The clip clop noises of my pumps were joined by the padding of someone's boots. My follower in exact step with me I stopped, so did my pursuer. Hearing the panting of heavy breathing and feeling warmth of his breath I spun round fists at the ready.
"Wait!" Explained a familiar voice and the man stood behind me in the shadows raised his hands. "It's me." He whispered stepping towards me, dressed from head to toe in dark colours and a white masquerade mask I recognised him as the crusader.
"Give me a cuffing heart attack next time why don't you!" I snapped with a smile, pleased to see him.
"Sorry." He whispered "Are we off then?"
When we reached the door I pressed my ear against the door, I could hear muffled talking sounds on the other side of the wood.
"Someone's in there." I said. Crusader nodded "I best tell the others."
Will and Jack
As they moved through the extremely bizarre Modern greats section of the museum, the pair had time to think. Not only about the confusing pointless paintings hanging on the walls, but about something that had been bothering then over the past two days.
The room was silent, it was clear to them that the burglars hadn't reached this room yet. Suddenly Jack stuck out her arm nearly causing Will to topple over after catching him unawares. She shushed the questions he was about to ask with a finger to her lips. Will loved it when she was like this, when she took control. Although he had only known Jack a few days now that was one thing he'd learned, she was very assertive and didn't care much for taking a back seat.
"Sorry, thought I heard something." She said putting down her arm, Will glanced at her and found he couldn't look away, she carried herself with confidence and grace but at the same time fought as well as any guy he'd ever met (much like Robin), her hazel eyes scrunched in suspicion as she took back her hood and attempted to place the noise, her dark brown hair curled softly to a end around her cheeks emphasising her defined neck. Will shook himself, whoa; he wasn't used to his mind wondering this way. She a friend, he told him self and carried on walking by Jacks side.
Jack tried the door.
"Locked." She announced disappointed. She then lent against the door, listening for any signs of life.
"Will!" She said "there's someone in there." They could make out muttering on the other side of the door.
"Let me take a look." Said Will and he began tapping softly on the door, examining its strength. This made Jack laugh, that was what she loved about him, he was so full of useless information. Although she had not known him long Jack had noticed this on the numerous occasions Robin had partnered her with Will, he got all the knowledge from the builder's yard where he worked and always found a way to fit these skills into every day life.
Will stood back and examined the door, and then the hinges. He then took an arrow from the cylinder case on his back, and used the tip as if it were a screwdriver and took out the nails. He repeated the process for all four of the hinges until the door was literally hanging by a thread.
"We best call the others." He said turning on his ear peace.
Jhon and Mark.
Walking through the post 1850's room Jhon and Mark were on high alert. Frustrated by the dark Mark took out a torch from his pocket, the beam of light illuminating the immediate section of the room.
"Good idea." Said Jhon.
"I thought so." Replied Mark.
Silently stepping they approached a second door, a sign to the side of the door read 'Classic Art.' Jhon motioned for them to approach the door. In front of the door both guys put an ear to the door, the sounds of arguing and banging floated through the wood.
"They must be in there" Whispered Mark "We'd best call the others."
They nodded to each other and switched on the microphone.
Robin and Crusader
"Guys!" All five of us outlaws spoke into their microphones at the same time. And simultaneously all five winced in pain and the noise they made.
"We've found something." Said Jack taking the lead.
"So did we." Said Jhon.
"We did too." I whispered.
"We?" Asked Will.
"Yeah the Crusader's here as well, I hate saying that" I said changing to address the guy next to me. "We seriously gotta think of something else for me to call you."
"What now?" Asked Jhon.
"Everyone see what you go I guess, let all of us know what you find, ok?" I said my hand on the door knob.
"Ok." They all replied.
"One." I started the Crusader beside me readied himself.
"Two." I turned the handle.
"Three!" Three doors were in chorus, kicked, bashed or twisted open.
The Crusader and I stood staring into an empty storage room, drat.
"But…I don't get it I heard something." I stuttered.
The Crusader walked over to a cardboard box and picked up a tape recorder playing a recorded conversation.
"Perfect." I said as he put it back down.
"Errrr Robin." Said Will in my ear.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"We've found the security guards." He said, Will and Jack had stumbled across the conference room, in a corner tied up and gagged were the security guards and the curator. They were a little shook up and had a few burses and scratches but other than that they were fine.
"How are they?" I asked.
"There fine, were just untying them now and Jack's fixing up some of their wounds." He replied, Jack, we had discovered, was good at medical stuff. "you find anything?"
"Nope, we got a decoy." I replied "Maybe Mark and Jhon had better luck, Mark? Jhon are you there?"
No answer.
"Guys?" Asked Will.
"You recon they found something?" Asked Jack.
"…Robin…guy's!" Stuttered Mark his voice inconsistent and heavy. He sounded as if he'd just ran the length of the Great Wall of China.
"Mark! What's up?" I asked.
"We found them...Were in another exhibit…. At the end of the corridor." He said.
"You guy's better get down here…quick…there beating us well and truly here!" Said Jhon his voice like Mark's.
"Don't worry, we'll be right there." I said concerned about my friends.
"Hang in there you two." Said Will. Hanging up I turned to Crusader.
"We need to get going." I said but as soon as I turned to the door it swung shut. With a glance at each other we both ran to the door, it was locked. I banged on the door.
"Hello, is anyone there?" I asked. In response I heard sniggering behind the door.
"Great!" I said and sat down on a cardboard box.
"You're always so negative." Said Crusader.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"You, you're negative. It's not the end of the world." He said, I was very much aware this was probably the most he's said to me yet.
"It might not be, but if we don't get out of here soon it might be the end of Mark and Johns!" I replied.
He didn't reply, he simply walked around the room, stopping occasionally to look at something. I watched him for lack of something better to do, stressing all the while about the well being of the others.
"Ah ha!" He suddenly exclaimed.
"Ah ha?" I asked.
Again he didn't answer; he began moving box's and covered up painting.
"You see that?" He asked.
"See what?" I asked back.
"That." He said taking me by the shoulders and pointing to a trapdoor in the ceiling. At his touch my whole body froze, electricity sparked by his finger tips zipping around me, snapping back to reality I asked.
"Where do you suppose it goes?"
"Why don't we find out?" I said jumping on a box and reaching for the trap door. With one good push the trap door opened up.
"Ladies first." He smiled he offered cupping his hands together for me to stand on; I shook my head and accepted the boost.
I poked my head out of the trap door and looked around, still supported by Crusaders strong hands. It appeared to lead to some sort of balcony, pulling myself up I gestured for him to follow me.
Curious I crouched down and shuffled to the railing of the balcony, peeking through the wooden columns, just to be on the safe side. Mark and Jhon stood below us in the centre of a hall, surrounded by, I assume anyway, the burglars. It didn't look good for them, well I wasn't going to sit here and watch my friends be attacked. I stood up, ready to pounce.
"What are you doing?" Whispered Crusader grabbing my wrist and spinning me away from the barrier and to face him. Tripping over myself I fell forwards placing my hands on his chest to steady myself. I blushed and took a step back.
"Helping them." I whispered.
"You can't just barrel on in there without a plan." He scolded softly.
"I can when people I love need me." I said my voice forgetting to whisper.
"You got one more chance buddy, let us go and I'll go easy on you." Warned the voice of Will. Running back to the balcony I saw Will and Jack being lead in by more burglars.
"Yeah, whatever" Said one guy shoving them in the middle of the room with the others "You know what? The boss only sent us here to put this place out of business, and he warned us you lot might try and stop him. So we set a trap for you lot, the boss'll be well pleased when he finds out we nabbed him a bonus."
Crusader (probably noticing the look on my face) pulled me away again.
"No" He warned "It's foolish."
"Like that's ever stopped me before" I said.
"It won't have to, I will." He said his voice rising as was mine.
"Well…." I started but didn't get the chance to finish as suddenly.
"Hey! Who's up there?" Someone shouted from below us."
"There goes the element of surprise." I said taking a run up at the balcony's wooden railing, and pushing up of the railing with my foot and jumping. My mind once again in one track mode, focused completely in helping my friends.
"Wait!" Shouted Crusader a little too late, I sailed through the air and pulled Marks new creation from its holder on my back, a modern silver cross bow. Aiming at the ceiling I sent an arrow, connected to a length of rope, into the ceiling decorations, grabbing the rope I swung towards the ground and the burglars. Readying myself I put swung forward my foot and kicked one burglar and then another and then another in the chest. I let go of the rope and landed a few feet away by the others.
I looked back up at the balcony and saw Crusader smiling back at me, laughing at my recklessness. His joy lifting my spirits, his smile placed me carefully on the highest cloud in the sky, I felt invincible, on top of the world, cloud nine.
"Right, who's next?" I asked.