The World of 

Zoë Behrens

         He was annoyed. That much was obvious. His hands were frantic. His skin shined as beads of sweat dripped off his cheek. He spun himself in circles before fallen to the ground. He scanned the tiled floor, eyes darting from one table to the next. His irritation slowly turned to panic as realization set in. He forced himself off the ground, ignoring his now soiled suit pants. He focused his attention on the other souls in the room, gaze searching for a recognizable face. He didn’t find it. I was gone.

         I felt the corner of my lips pull back into a smirk. As I had predicted, the leather folds were full to the brim. I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle as the digits added up in my mind. The paper cringed between my fingertips. They were still firm, crisp. The man looked like a well-polished man, but this was even better than I thought. It was effort not to jump with joy as I slipped through the thick crowd on the sidewalk. 

         He hadn’t even noticed. The thought burned with satisfaction. Like when a musician finds the perfect medley, or a dancer lands gracefully from a leap, executing the dance to its fullest. My dances were becoming increasingly more common, and increasingly more successful. My hands were light, like feathers. My steps silent, like a cat. And if that failed, which it rarely did, my voice would sooth any form of protest with charismatic daggers. I was at the height of my craft.

         Attention-drawn sirens soon revealed themselves, as I had expected. I watched them with fake inquiry as they sped past. Responses, at least immediate ones, were a rarity. Some might say that what I do is a call for action, but usually the answer is too late. The caller is gone. The only reason they answered today was because the caller stuck around. There were many more marks today, and I had a thirst. I saw no reason not to quench it. Others in my field would have opposing views on that, but then again they don’t share my level of expertise. The only reason I risk the unwanted attention is because the odds are in my favor. You tend to trust the cards in your hand when you dealt the deck. Everything was as it should be, and so I continued across the pavement. 

         I again looked at my prizes from today’s hunt. It was by far one the best collections I had made thus far. That businessman though, he had been the catch of the day. I cast my hook, and he took the bait. I drew out a card that no doubt belonged to the man. Hmm, so he’s a lawyer. Probably got what was coming to him. I let out a chuckle and proceeded down an adjacent alley. The worn bricks comforted me, suppressed the energy built up from my escapade. I could already feel my blood soften as the chipped concrete scrapped beneath my soles. I turned my head and, seeing there were no lurking eyes, removed a grate from its sentry in the ground. Careful to find my footing through the dark, I slid the grate back into its post. I pulled the small metal box out of my pocket and flicked the lid up. Whipping the gear with my thumb, I watched as the faint glow illuminated the damp walls of the tunnel. Small splashes followed as I walked through the passage, paying close mind to the uneven surface below my feet. 

         It wasn’t long until a series of small steps came into view, followed by the entry itself. The wood was eaten away at its edges, the bolts and hinges rusted with age. I knew already the   sound of the opening door, and subconsciously braced my ears as I pulled the knob aside. The screech was quickly drowned out by the jubilant hollers that presided within. The flame receded back into its metal seclusion and withdrew into my pocket. I moved forth from the opening and made my way through the joyous ruckus to the back. I nodded my head to the few comrades I saw around the table and let my body sink into the aged leather. They were curious. Only few knew of my true acquisition, but all were eager to see what trophies I had attained. I brought my prizes from their concealment and lay them across the stained wood. A few bellowed their heads back, while the majority stared in disbelief. Once again, I had surprised them. Again, I had proven myself to be equal and above their ranks. Again, I had shown my skill.

         I smiled.